Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🇷🇺🇰🇿 On April 30 in Astana, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovwas received by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Sides praised the consistent development of Russia-Kazakhstan relations of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance, including large-scale trade, economic and investment cooperation, close and effective coordination within Eurasian integration associations, as well as identical or similar positions on major regional and international issues. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further active joint work to advance the entire range of bilateral ties, including deeper interstate dialogue at the highest and high levels. *** Sergey Lavrovheld talks with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev. 👉Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks The Foreign Ministers had a substantive discussion on a wide range of issues related to expanding Russia-Kazakhstan relations in the political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, educational and other spheres. They reviewed the progress in implementing key agreements reached by the Leaders of the two countries. The Ministers paid special attention to cooperation within common integration associations in the Eurasian space – the #EAEU, #CSTO, #CIS and #SCO – as well as the International Organisation for the Russian Language, recently established at Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's initiative, and other multilateral platforms, primarily the UN. The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening trust-based political dialogue and promptly coordinating positions on key regional and international issues. During the talks, Minister Lavrov briefed the Kazakhstani Side in detail on Russia’s approaches to resolving the crisis around Ukraine. ✍️The Action Plan for Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2027-2028 was signed. 👉Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the joint news conference following the talks The talks were held in a traditionally warm and friendly atmosphere. #RussiaKazakhstan

🎙Remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev(Astana, 30 April 2026) 💬Sergey Lavrov: I would like to thank our Kazakhstani friends for their traditionally warm welcome, hospitality and excellent organisation of the work. Yermek Kosherbayev and I held extensive talks. As always, they took place in a friendly and trust-based atmosphere and proved useful. Today, we thoroughly reviewed the current state and prospects of our multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation. We paid particular attention to implementing the agreements reached by our Leaders, including those following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Russia in November 2025. We discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest, high and other levels, primarily the planned state visit of President Vladimir Putin to the Republic of Kazakhstan. ☝️We also highly value the close cooperation between our Foreign Ministries. We share the view that the Inter-MFA Cooperation Plan for 2027-2028, just signed in your presence, will help further strengthen this interaction. We also discussed key regional and international issues in a spirit of friendship and alliance. We highly value our cooperation within integration mechanisms – the #EAEU, #CSTO, #CIS and #SCO. In our common view, this cooperation remains an important factor in ensuring security and stable conditions for sustainable development across the entire Eurasian space. In this context, we are interested in further advancing Kazakhstan’s initiative within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. Another important area of joint work is the Caspian Sea. We are compelled to state that the unprovoked armed aggression by the US and Israel against Iran has had the most negative impact on the Caspian Sea and its coastline, which must remain a zone of peace and cooperation. The strike by the anti-Iranian coalition on March 18 against the infrastructure of the Anzali seaport – which serves the trade and logistics interests of all five Caspian littoral states – was inadmissible and unacceptable. Speaking of the Middle East, we believe it is important not to lose sight of developments in Lebanon and, especially, the deadlock over the establishment of a Palestinian State, which currently shows no clear way forward. We also touched upon the situation in and around Ukraine. We are grateful to our Kazakhstani partners for their understanding and balanced assessment of the developments there. We know that these assessments are regularly voiced at various international events, including by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The key point remains that a just and lasting settlement is impossible without addressing the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. We remain interested in resuming the negotiating process on the basis of the existing Russian-US understandings. Yesterday, during a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed this position. We expect the understandings reached in Alaska to be implemented. 🤝 I believe we can express mutual satisfaction with the results of today’s conversation. We will continue to maintain the closest possible contacts going forward. Read in full #RussiaKazakhstan

🇷🇺🇰🇿Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev (Astana, 30 April 2026) 💬Sergey Lavrov: Kazakhstan and Russia are closest neighbours and allies. Our peoples are bound by centuries-old traditions offriendship and mutual respect. These relations are enshrined in numerous interstate documents. One of the most important dimensions of the quality of our relations is our shared memory of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We always mark the anniversary of the Great Victory together, holding special events both in Kazakhstan and in Russia. There is no doubt that, in the current conditions, this memory has not only historical significance, but also a very practical dimension, given the persistent line of a number of European states to revive Nazism in new forms, including by once again setting the peoples of Europe against our country. ☝️Once, they targeted our common state. Today, Russia is the main target – but the essence has not changed. Russia-Kazakhstan relations are highly intensive, multidimensional and comprehensive. Most importantly, they contribute to maintaining stability across the common Eurasian space. Today, our interstate dialogue spans virtually every area, underpinned by the maturity, stability and steady development of Kazakhstan’s statehood. In our practical work on the bilateral track, we are guided by the instructions of our Leaders, who maintain regular close contact, meeting in person and speaking by phone, to discuss current aspects of cooperation and the increasingly complex international situation. 🤝Russia and Kazakhstan maintain extensive economic ties – we are key trade and investment partners. We maintain positive dynamics in these areas and note the growing non-resource component of export-import operations, while the lion’s share of settlements is carried out in national currencies and without intermediaries. We are developing privileged partnership in transport and energy, with particular emphasis on peaceful nuclear energy. We are committed to continuing constructive engagement on the international stage, primarily within the #EAEU, #CSTO, #CIS and #SCO. In our conversations and talks, we also touch upon the #UN. We have matching assessments of the difficult processes unfolding in that organisation. In particular, we paid close attention to the assessments of the UN’s activities recently set out by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye. We are ready to exchange views on the situation in Central Asia, which is of common interest to us. We also expect to continue discussing developments in the broader Eurasian context. Read in full #RussiaKazakhstan

🇺🇳#UNCharterIsOurRules 🌐 International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was observed on April 24. It was established by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/73/127 on December 12, 2018, in order to promote the UN values and to reaffirm the belief of our peoples in the purposes and principles enshrined in its Charter: “The International Day constitutes a means to promote the values of the United Nations and to reaffirm the faith of our peoples in the purposes and principles enshrined in its Charter, to reaffirm the importance and relevance of multilateralism and international law and to advance the common goal of lasting and sustained peace through diplomacy.” Russia has consistently supported multilateralism and the leading role of the UN in world affairs, actively participating in efforts to reform and adapt the UN to new international realities. This is especially relevant today, when the UN and other multilateral institutions have come under unprecedented pressure from a small group of states, and the standing of the World Organisation has been noticeably down, including due to the Secretariat refusing to adhere to the equidistance principle. The collective West keeps attempting to subordinate the Organisation to its narrow self-interests and to impose the controversial concept of a rules-based world order to replace international law. 💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov(excerpt from a speech on February 11, 2026): At the UN platform, in conjunction with our like-minded partners in the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter, we are working to ensure that the principles enshrined in the UN Charter are observed in their full scope, entirety, and interconnection, rather than selectively, as the West prefers. The UN is going through rough times and is bearing the brunt of profound differences between the world’s leading powers. Nevertheless, the Organisation’s role as a platform for aligning states’ interests is undeniable. According to the Foreign Policy Concept, Russia prioritises restoring the UN’s role as the central coordinating mechanism for aligning the interests of member states. Our country contributes to the formation of a more representative, democratic, fair, and multipolar world order with the central coordinating role of the UN, based on respect for cultural diversity, mutually beneficial and equal cooperation among countries. 📄 Excerpt from the Concept: “The mechanism for shaping universal international legal standards should be based on the free will of sovereign states, and the UN should remain the main venue for progressive development and codification of international law.” Our shared responsibility is to preserve the UN as a model of multilateralism and coordination in global politics. The path to this end lies through joint work, rejection of claims to any form of exclusivity, and respect for the sovereign equality of states. At the same time, an important task includes strengthening the potential of multilateral regional associations and integration entities involving Russia, including enhancing the international role of #BRICS, #SCO, #CIS, #EAEU, #CSTO, #RIC, and other interstate associations and international organisations.

🗓On April 21, Kazan hosted a meeting of senior officials of Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (#ASEAN) at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers. The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. The event was held under the banner of the 35th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations, which is being marked in 2026. The Sides held a detailed discussion on advancing the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres. Concrete steps were outlined for the further development and diversification of practical cooperation, with an emphasis on launching new joint mechanisms and projects. The Sides also reviewed progress in implementing the 2021-2025 Comprehensive Plan of Action #RussiaASEAN and preparations for a new medium-term programme document. The exchange of views on international and regional issues confirmed the commitment of Russia and ASEAN to strengthening the security architecture in Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific on the basis of openness, equality and respect for international law. The Sides also reaffirmed their readiness to expand cooperation in multilateral formats and to promote closer practical ties between #ASEAN, the #EAEU and the #SCO. #RussiaASEAN

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks during the 9th Ministerial Meeting of Russia and Central Asia (Moscow, April 17, 2026) 💬Sergey Lavrov: I am pleased to welcome you to Moscow. We began our joint work yesterday at the CIS Foreign Ministers Council, and today we are holding the ninth meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia and Central Asia. This in itself underscores the relevance of this six-party dialogue mechanism. In our view, it is developing successfully and dynamically, to the benefit of all participants. In October 2025, the Second Russia – Central Asia Summit was held in the welcoming city of Dushanbe. During the summit, our leaders approved a Joint Action Plan for 2025-2027 and put forward a number of important initiatives. Our task now is to translate these decisions into concrete steps. The Action Plan serves as a framework document, outlining the key areas of our cooperation: trade, economic and investment ties, transport, energy, healthcare, environmental protection, security, cultural and humanitarian engagement, and migration. Specific projects and initiatives are currently being developed within the six-party working groups established by the relevant agencies of Russia and your countries. As we noted today during the #CIS meeting, our relations are grounded in equality, mutual respect, and careful consideration of each other’s interests. They truly deserve the highest recognition as an example of a modern and forward-looking model of international partnership. Our leaders maintain close and regular communication, both bilaterally and within integration frameworks such as the #CIS, the #EAEU, the #CSTO, and the #SCO. Active contacts are also sustained among heads of government, deputy prime ministers, and the leadership of parliaments, ministries, and agencies. Despite the current geopolitical turbulence – which we examined in detail during today’s CIS meetings – we have succeeded in maintaining a consistently high level of trade turnover. In 2025, it continued to grow, approaching the $50 billion mark. As I have already noted, cultural and humanitarian cooperation continues to develop. Through our joint efforts, and at the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,the International Organisation of the Russian Language was established. The Russian language remains a key means of communication not only between Russia and the Central Asian states, but also among the peoples of the broader post-Soviet space. Our approaches to international issues are closely aligned and, in most cases, coincide. We greatly appreciatethat, despite unprecedented external pressure, the Central Asian countries remain committed to their allied obligations, thereby contributing to the dynamic development of our friendly and mutually beneficial relations, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, including the Russia – Central Asia mechanism. I hope that today we will be able to make a tangible contribution to the implementation of the decisions adopted at the second Russia – Central Asia Summit in Dushanbe.

🇷🇺🇦🇲 On April 1, President Vladimir Putin held talks at the Kremlin with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in Moscow on a working visit. 💬 President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, friends, We are delighted to welcome you in Moscow. Thank you very much for accepting our invitation and coming here. We can see that domestic political processes in Armenia are gaining momentum, with elections approaching. In this context, I would like to emphasise several key points: such processes often become more intense during election campaigns, as is the case not only in Armenia, I believe, but also in Russia and other countries. However, this escalation must not be allowed to affect relations between Russia and Armenia. We have discussed this many times. Russia and Armenia have special relationships which have evolved over centuries rather than decades. We are united by our common history as well as our cooperation to solve the challenges that we faced in years past. Crucially, we are also united by civilizational affinity. I have already told you this privately before, and I can say it publicly now: we are always in favour of anything that benefits the Armenian people, and you can always rely on it. As for economic cooperation, it continues to develop at a solid pace. Trade reached approximately $11 billion the year before last, and amounted to $6.4 billion in 2025. <...> We observe that there is an ongoing discussion in Armenia concerning the development of relations with the European Union. We remain entirely calm about this, understanding that each nation endeavours to maximise the advantages of cooperation with third countries. However, this must be transparent and articulated honestly, in advance, as it were, “on the shore,” beforehand. Simultaneous membership in the Customs Union with the European Union and the #EAEU is impossible; it is simply untenable by definition. The issue is not even a political one; it is purely economic. <...> There are also numerous other issues today, at this present moment. Perhaps years will pass, and we – the EAEU and the European Union – I hope this will eventually be the case, given that we reside on the same continent – will be able to resolve them. <...> Now, regarding energy. I hope the situation will improve there as well. However, currently, as you are aware, energy prices, gas prices, for instance, in Europe exceed 600 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres, whereas Russia provides gas to Armenia at 177.5 per 1,000 cubic metres. The disparity is vast, the difference is substantial. <...> Now, turning to security issues. Of course, the most sensitive issue to this day – and we recognise this, we discuss it often – is everything relating to #Karabakh. <...> But I think it is also clear that, after you recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan in Prague in 2022, it simply became wholly inappropriate for the #CSTO to become involved in a process that had taken on an intra-Azerbaijani dimension. <...> Incidentally, thanks to your efforts and those of the President of Azerbaijan, I believe you have now managed to stabilise relations. The US President has played an active role in this, and I understand transport links are being unfrozen, and so on. But I think we also need to draw a line under this matter. And it would be better if this did not become entangled in the domestic political process, especially during an election campaign. <...> Let me say again that, whatever happens, we in Russia will always be guided by what is best for the Armenian people. I have said this to you before, and I want to emphasise it once again. 🤝 And I would like to express my hope that, regardless of the outcome of the elections in Armenia, our shared commitment to building and strengthening #RussiaArmenia ties will continue. Thank you.

📺Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with NTV television channel(Moscow, February 10, 2026) Key points: • President Vladimir Putinhas repeatedly addressed the unfolding global processes. These are objectively shaped by the entire course of history and contemporary developments – where, after 500 years of Western dominance, sustained through slavery and colonialism at the expense of others, a multipolar order is now emerging to replace that system. • Countries such as China, India, and Brazil, alongside integration blocs like the #GCC and such Eurasian sub-regional groupings as ASEAN, our post-Soviet structures, such as the #CIS, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the Union State of Russia and Belarus – are increasingly asserting themselves as influential actors on the international stage, not only in economic, trade, and financial spheres but politically as well. • Europe persists in attempting to dictate its approaches across the Eurasian continent, blatantly obstructing and undermining the natural processes of cooperation between Russia and Central Asian states, as well as our allies in the South Caucasus. Europe is aggressively pushing into the Black Sea region, disregarding the existing Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The same applies to the Arctic. • Certain analysts suggest that the United States will now leave Europe to its own devices, seek to pacify the Middle East – halting yet another war – and negotiate with Russia to remove the Ukrainian issue from the agenda. • We find it important to guarantee our national interests. We agree with the administration of Donald Trump that the foreign policy of normal major powers, especially such as the United States and Russia, should be based on national interests. • If we analyse practical steps taken by US President Donald Trump and his team with regard to Russia during the Trump administration’s second tenue in the White House, then we can see that we are moving in the wrong direction. • The root causes [of the Ukraine crisis] will not go anywhere unless we consider eliminating them in any peace agreement we may sign. We are ready to do that. We have said many times that President Trump publicly recognised our interest in NATO not expanding any farther. That is a huge step. No other Western leader has ever said that publicly, while he has reiterated it on several occasions. • The recognition of territories is an issue that arises directly from these root causes, as these territories came under Russian control following attempts to threaten our security and to persecute the people who had lived there for centuries. • If, contrary to expectations, Europe does implement its threats to prepare for war against us and attacks the Russian Federation, we will not launch, as President Vladimir Putin has put it, another special military operation. Our response will be a full-blown military retaliation involving all available forces and assets in keeping with the doctrinal documents to this effect. • We will closely follow what the American side will do now that formal restrictions [of strategic offensive arms] are no longer in place. We will treat this situation with full responsibility and we will not be the first to escalate. • [Epstein files] have nothing to do with the diplomatic work. It has everything to do with exposing the countenance known as the collective West. It’s no longer called the Deep State, but a deep alliance that rules the entire West and is trying to rule the rest of the world. Any right-minded person would agree that this is pure Satanism and is beneath human comprehension. Read in full

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sgreetings and video message on Diplomats’ Day (February 10, 2026) 💬 Friends, Today marks Diplomats’ Day, our professional holiday. I would like to use this occasion to wish a happy holiday to all Russian diplomats who are working at the Central Office and territorial offices, and diplomats fulfilling their duty abroad. The history of Russian diplomacy spans many centuries and follows every stage of Russia becoming stronger as a state. Times change, but our spiritual and moral values — sincere, dedicated, and selfless devotion to the Fatherland, and firm commitment to the ideals of truth and justice — remain unshakeable. We are rightfully proud of the achievements of our outstanding predecessors. We honour the courage of the staff of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs who, during the tumultuous years of the Great Patriotic War, took arms to defend the Motherland. Their immortal feat stands as a benchmark for Foreign Ministry personnel and staff of subordinate institutions participating in the special military operation. Other ministerial staff members are also involved and are helping the front line soldiers and their families, and supporting those affected by crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Today, as we are witnessing another turning point in history, Russian diplomacy continues to do everything within its power to ensure safe and favourable external conditions for Russia’s steady domestic development and for improving the quality of life of its people. In many ways, our consistent and balanced foreign policy course sets the trajectory of global transformations, thus facilitating the emergence of a new multipolar world order. We seek to further develop honest and equitable international cooperation based on mutual understanding, trust, and neighbourliness. Following President Putin’s initiative, we are working to establish, across the Eurasian region, architecture of equal and indivisible security and extensive practical cooperation. In this context, we attach particular importance to the conclusion and implementation of bilateral agreements, including our treaties on security guarantees with Belarus and on comprehensive strategic partnership with the DPRK and Iran. We continue to expand relations across multiple areas with the World Majority, among them countries such as China, India, and other like-minded countries, our strategic partners and allies, primarily within the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the #CIS, as well as the #SCO and #BRICS. Countering neo-colonial practices of all kinds ranging from unilateral coercive measures to military interventions remains firmly in our focus. In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba. We are convinced that only they can determine their own future. ☝️ The country’s leadership and Russian society hold our work to high standards. We are required to demonstrate discipline and dedication, as well as a passionate and creative approach to our duties. I trust that you will continue to work honourably for the good of the Fatherland and to contribute your share to addressing large-scale foreign policy goals set by the President. On this day, we express special gratitude to former ministerial employees, who taught us the fundamentals of diplomacy by their example. Many of them, to the extent of their abilities, remain active in the close-knit diplomatic ranks. By all means, I would like to separately thank all the relatives and loved ones of our employees. Your unconditional support gives us strength and keeps us focused. It is especially important for those who carry out their diplomatic service far from the Motherland. Once again, happy Diplomats’ Day to all. I wish you excellent health, well-being, and new accomplishments for the benefit of the Fatherland. #DiplomatsDay

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview to the TV BRICS international media network (Moscow, February 9, 2026) Read in full Key talking points • The global arena is undergoing a transformation that began some time ago with the objective transition toward a multipolar world order. This is neither the bipolarity of the Soviet-American era with the Warsaw Pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, nor the unipolarity that emerged after the Soviet Union’s collapse. <...> Multiple centres of rapid economic growth, power, and financial and political influence have thus emerged. • It is equally important that we develop action plans tailored for each partner country covering trade and economic cooperation, investment, scientific collaboration, and coordinated activity on the international stage, including at the United Nations and other organisations, based on agreements reached between presidents and prime ministers. Particular attention is devoted to #CIS, #EAEU, #CSTO, and the post-Soviet space at large. This day-to-day work relies on long-term planning and delivers tangible mutual benefits to both Russia and its partners. • Multiple centres of rapid economic growth, power, and financial and political influence have thus emerged. The world is being reshaped through competition. The West is reluctant to relinquish its formerly dominant positions. • Safeguarding security demands sustained action to ensure that the Nazi state established on our borders in Ukraine – and supported by the West as a vehicle for renewed confrontation – cannot continue to exist in its present form. Nazi foundations must be eliminated. We will ensure, and I have no doubt about it, our own security interests, by preventing the deployment on Ukrainian territory of any weapons threatening us, and, second, by guaranteeing reliable and full protection for the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking people, who have been living in Crimea, Donbass and Novorossiya for centuries, and whom the Kiev regime that came to power after a coup declared subhuman “species” and “terrorists” and unleashed a civil war against. • Russia chaired#BRICS in 2024. At that time, a summit was held in Kazan, and a number of our initiatives were put into action: alternative payment platforms, payment mechanisms in national currencies, the creation of reinsurance opportunities for trade within BRICS and between the association and its partners, the creation of a grain exchange, and a new investment platform. All this is not to spite anyone, especially the United States. This is due to the fact that the United States seeks to bring all processes in the areas I mentioned under its strict control and demands unilateral concessions. Without giving up contacts with them, to the extent that they are willing to engage on a mutually beneficial basis, we are interested, together with our BRICS partners, in creating an architecture that will not be subject to the illegal actions of one or another player from the Western flank. • The Greater Eurasian Partnership was bound to appear on the agenda. Many years ago, at the 2015 Russia – #ASEAN Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested this term which is based on an objective trend of Eurasia becoming the biggest, richest and fastest-growing continent, especially its Pacific part. It is the most heavily-populated continent which, importantly, has seen several great civilisations emerge and continue to exist – the Chinese, Indian, Arab, Persian and Russian civilisations. ☝️ It is for a reason that our initiative on building a common Eurasian security architecture, set forward by President Putin in 2024, is gaining momentum. It is increasingly attracting interest.

#Outcomes2025 ✍️Russia’s Foreign Ministry’s answers to media questions received for Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s news conference on the performance of Russian diplomacy in 2025 Read in full Key points #UkraineCrisis#KievRegimeCrimes • [Following the Kiev regime attack on Russia’s President’s state residence in the Novgorod Region] many countries could once again see the terrorist nature of Zelensky’s clique <…> Terrorism in any form is unacceptable and certainly does not help achieve a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict. Kiev is only making matters worse for itself with its recklessness and impeding efforts to find possible compromises. • The deployment of military units, facilities, warehouses and other infrastructure of the Western countries in Ukraine <…> will be considered as foreign intervention that directly threatens Russia’s security. #Multipolarity • The situation surrounding Denmark’s northern autonomous territory vividly demonstrates the bankruptcy of the so-called “rules-based international order” so dear to many in the West. • Cooperation is being actively forged in formats with limited membership. Alongside the CIS, mechanisms such as the #EAEU, #BRICS, #SCO, #ASEAN, #LAS, #GCC, the #AfricanUnion, and #CELAC, among others, maintain momentum. <...> We regard these developments as part of the historically determined process of shaping a multipolar world order, which will lead to the further consolidation of several global and an even greater number of regional centres of power and development. #InternationalSecurity • The international security system is indeed undergoing a period of profound transformation today. This is driven by two primary factors: the objective processes shaping a polycentric world order, and attempts to substitute international law with the law of the mightiest. • Relying on force as the primary instrument in foreign policy and undermining of the existing institutional and legal framework of international relations risks chaos and escalating confrontation, <...> increase of the likelihood of direct clashes between major states, including nuclear powers. Under these conditions, developments become highly unpredictable. • Russia firmly opposes this scenario. We are capable of defending our interests – history provides ample evidence of this. Our country has traditionally played a stabilising and balancing role in global affairs. #RussiaUS • Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the Presidents of Russia and the US <...> agreed to maintain a high tempo of work. This was founded upon a mutual understanding of the necessity to rid ourselves as soon as possible of the “toxic legacy” of the Joe Biden administration. <...> Our American counterparts made it clear: great powers, when their national interests diverge <...> must not allow differences to escalate into confrontation. • President Donald Trump is perhaps one of the few Western politicians who not only immediately rejected imposing meaningless and destructive preconditions for substantive dialogue with Moscow on the Ukraine crisis but also publicly addressed its root causes. • It was precisely the elimination of these root causes that was discussed in Anchorage on August 15, 2025. <...> We anticipate that, provided the original Anchorage formula is preserved and Russian interests are handled with due care, we can, sooner or later, come close to a negotiated resolution of the Ukraine issue. #Iran • We strongly condemn subversive external interference in Iran’s domestic political processes. <...> Threats of new military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran are absolutely unacceptable. • Those who intend to exploit foreign-inspired unrest as a pretext to repeat the aggression against Iran <...> must clearly understand the catastrophic consequences such actions would have for the situation in the Middle East and for international security as a whole.

⚡️Article by Mikael Agasandyan, Director of the First CIS Countries Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, published in Eurasian Dialogue(December 22, 2025) Read in full ✍️A prosperous and dynamic business sector is undoubtedly one of the key system-forming drivers across a wide range of areas. Creating the most favourable conditions for entrepreneurship, including in the external dimension, is a strategic priority. Supporting Russian participants in foreign economic activity through diplomatic and international-legal instruments has therefore become one of the core tasks of Russia's Foreign Ministry. In practical terms, efforts are focused on the consistent advancement of economic integration processes, improving the legal and regulatory framework, strengthening interstate trade ties and technological sovereignty, and facilitating dialogue between regions and the business community. The principal driving force behind dynamic progress on the economic track is joint work with partners within regional multilateral structures involving Russia – the #EAEU, the #CIS and, to a certain extent, taking into account its specific mandate, the CSTO. #EAEU The flagship project in this regard is the Eurasian Economic Union – not only as an economic organization, but also as the most deeply integrated interstate association with supranational regulation. The #EAEU’s external trade activities open up broad opportunities for business, primarily through the conclusion of free trade agreements with third countries. The Eurasian Development Bank (#EDB) has a substantial set of instruments to support and promote entrepreneurship. The EDB provides financing and/or technical assistance for projects that generate or strengthen an integration effect within the region. Particular attention should also be paid to the EAEU Business Council. Its work is aimed at establishing direct links between entrepreneurs, fostering a favourable business environment, promoting trade-economic, industrial and investment cooperation, and supporting the EAEU’s external trade agenda. #CIS The economic dimension is likewise a key pillar of cooperation within the CIS. An extensive legal framework has been established, an integral component of which is the Free Trade Area Agreement of October 18, 2011, ensuring the functioning of a full-fledged free trade regime for goods. According to the CIS Interstate Statistical Committee, the foreign trade turnover of CIS countries reached USD 1.1 trillion in 2024. Special mention should be made of the statement on the inadmissibility of the use of unilateral restrictive measures in international relations, approved at the meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers on October 7, 2024. <…> #CSTO Within the CSTO framework, member states attach particular importance to military-economic and industrial cooperation, which is directly linked to the development of national defence-industrial complexes and the corresponding logistics and supply systems of the armed forces of the Organization’s member states. In the spirit of alliance and commitment to shared objectives, and with due regard for the national interests of each member state, painstaking work continues to further integrate and consolidate the efforts and competencies of defence-sector enterprises and organizations across the CSTO area, as well as to create the necessary conditions for implementing joint projects in priority fields. ☝️ In conclusion, despite the progress achieved, considerable reserves for further economic development within our common space remain untapped. The experience and resources of our regional structures are especially in high demand in the context of implementing the initiative of Russia's President Vladimir Putin to form a Greater Eurasian Partnership (#GEP). #Eurasia4You