Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🇷🇺🇵🇰 May 1 marks 7️⃣8️⃣ years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our country and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In the early years of #Pakistan’s independence, the Soviet Union provided significant economic assistance to the newly-established state, having supplied back then tens of thousands of tonnes of food grain. In the 1970s, with Moscow’s expertise, Pakistan launched the development of its largest steel mill in Karachi, the Muzaffargarh; Multan-II and Guddu thermal power plants, and a radio station near Islamabad. The USSR also helped in setting up the Oil & Gas Development Company and in developing agriculture in the Islamic Republic. 🤝Enhancing the mutually beneficial partnership with Pakistan is one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities in #SouthAsia. The dialogue between Moscow and Islamabad is actively developing. The bilateral cooperation between our countries is based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests, overlapping positions on the majority of aspects on the international agenda. Regular meetings are held by Russia-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. In 2023, our mutual trade turnover between our countries exceeded $1 billion. Today, Russian and Pakistani pharmaceutical companies are preparing to launch a joint project to produce insulin in Pakistan. Cooperation in education is also expanding: for the 2025-2026 academic year, 152 Russian government grants have been given for Pakistani students to study at Russian universities. The number of students studying Russian at universities in Pakistan has been steadily increasing year-to-year. 🌐 Russia and Pakistan work closely together on international platforms, including the #UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) which is a key element of the security and sustainable development system in #Eurasia. Pakistan is also one of Russia’s key international partners in addressing the security challenges and threats. We stand ready to continue working together to further strengthen ties between our nations and peoples, and to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, economic, educational, cultural, humanitarian and other areas. 🎉 We extend our warmest greetings to our Pakistani colleagues on this shared landmark day — the anniversary of diplomatic relations between our nations! #RussiaPakistan

🇷🇺🇰🇿 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

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement at a meeting of the Council of the #CSTO Parliamentary Assembly (Moscow, April 20, 2026) 💬 On January 1, 2026, Russia assumed the chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. Our tenure proceeds under the motto, Collective Security in a Multipolar World: Common Goal, Shared Responsibility. In collaboration with our allies within the CSTO, we are intensifying efforts to uphold shared approaches to resolving international security issues. Much has already been articulated on this subject today. The foundational documents of the Organisation – and I wish to underscore this with particular emphasis – enshrine the principles of peaceful coexistence among states, the primacy of political and diplomatic methods of resolution, and adherence to the norms of international law, with the United Nations playing a central role. I consider it of fundamental importance that, in the current period, as the West resorts more frequently and extensively to illegitimate use of force, neocolonial methods of diktat, and outright plunder, the CSTO countries are neither altering nor revising the aforementioned goals of their activities. We will not deviate from the universal norms of international law. On the contrary, we will counter attempts to undermine them and oppose efforts to impose lawlessness in global affairs, whilst upholding the universal norms of international law, above all the sovereign equality of states, as enshrined in the UN Charter. <...> The Collective Security Treaty Organisation has established itself as an authoritative association of allied states whose activities are not directed against anyone, contain no aggressive aspirations, and are built exclusively in the interests of maintaining regional stability and the well-being of its member countries. <...> Russia maintains continuity in advancing the principal vectors of our collaboration within the CSTO. We continue our work to implement the initiatives of the preceding chairmanship – that of the Kyrgyz Republic. Our goal is to preserve the truth concerning our common struggle to liberate the world from Nazism and to perpetuate the heroic feat of the Soviet people, who defended the independence of their native land and liberated Europe and the world from the brown plague. <...> We are continuing our course towards expanding our Organisation’s contacts with the Eurasian countries. Security in this geopolitical area and close interaction with integration associations within our shared space matters a lot to us. Anyone who has been closely following recent developments is aware that threats in Eurasia are significantly up which requires us to make additional efforts. <...> We must work with our closest neighbours and partners from the #CIS and the #SCO. The SCO has a substantial programme aimed at strengthening stability and security. Recently, the secretaries-general of the CSTO, the CIS, and the SCO approved a roadmap that provides for, among other things, holding joint conferences on security issues in Central Asia and Afghanistan in Moscow. <...> We attach great importance to strengthening the Organisation’s military component. The programme of our chairmanship which was presented by President Putin places emphasis on increasing the combat potential of the CSTO’s collective forces and equipping them with modern and interoperable weapons and military equipment. <...> We will pay special attention to the Organisation’s peacekeeping forces, including refining the regulatory framework governing CSTO participation in UN peacekeeping operations. <...> We are likewise focusing on strengthening cooperation in international information security. We intend to expand the toolset for jointly countering international terrorism and extremism, combatting terrorism financing, money laundering, drug trafficking, transnational organised crime, and illegal migration. Read in full

🎙 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.

🎙Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at a joint press conference with CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev following the meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers(April 17, 2026, Moscow) 💬Sergey Lavrov: Today's meeting was held in the traditionally warm and friendly atmosphere. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my colleagues for a substantive, frank and focused exchange of views. We noted with satisfaction that the Plan of Inter-MFA Consultations within the CIS was successfully implemented in 2025. This remains a traditional instrument for coordinating our foreign policy activities. This work will continue in 2026 as well. We discussed current international issues. Naturally, particular attention was paid to various aspects of the unprecedented escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf, triggered by the military aggression of the US and Israel against Iran. The seven CIS foreign Ministers adopteda special statement on this matter, which will be circulated. It was noted that the crisis created in the Persian Gulf, which has, de facto, engulfed the entire Middle East, is fundamentally reshaping broader trends across the Eurasian continent, including with regard to approaches to ensuring the security of countries in various Eurasian subregions and, of course, to the reliability and security of routes for the delivery of energy supplies, food and fertilisers. All of this will have to be rethought as we continue to develop our common concept for advancing the Greater Eurasian Partnership with the participation of the #CIS, the #SCO, #ASEAN and other integration associations. In the context of shaping our shared approach, together with our Belarusian friends we have begun promoting this idea – a concept for building a security architecture across the Eurasian continent. It is clear that many countries across Eurasia are now reassessing and rethinking the arrangements on which their economic interests, development prospects and security interests have long rested. I would like highlight the task of stepping up efforts to consolidate our work in the interests of the sustainable development of all CIS countries, safeguarding their interests, their security interests and, more broadly, their foreign policy interests on the international stage. ☝️We also agreed – and I consider this especially important – to continue working to preserve the historical truth about the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War, and to devote special attention to educating young people in the CIS countries in a spirit of respect for the great collective feat accomplished by all the peoples of the USSR. Read full

🇷🇺🇨🇳On April 14-15, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov paid an official visit to China. During the visit, he was received by President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping and held substantive talks with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi. 📹Statement and answers to media questions by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following his visit to China President Xi welcomed the Russian Foreign Minister's visit and spoke highly of the unprecedented level of bilateral relations, highlighting the significant results achieved over 30 years of strategic cooperation, grounded in the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation of July 16, 2001, which has successfully guided ties between the two countries for a quarter of a century. Sergey Lavrov conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to Xi Jinping from President Vladimir Putin, who is preparing to pay an official visit to China in the first half of the year. Russia’s Foreign Minister underscored the guiding role of leader-level diplomacy in steadily advancing Russia-China ties across all areas. During his talks with Wang Yi, Sergey Lavrov held an in-depth exchange of views on a broad range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest. ☝️Particular attention was given to pressing international issues, including the situation around Iran, the Ukraine crisis and developments in Latin America. The Sides emphasiszed the importance of further strengthening coordination between Moscow and Beijing on the international stage, including at the #UN and its Security Council, the #SCO, #BRICS, #APEC, the #G20 and other multilateral platforms. The Ministers also touched upon issues related to maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and discussed cooperation in the post-Soviet space. 🤝 The talks were held in the friendly, trusting and constructive atmosphere that has come to define Russia-China relations. #RussiaChina

🎙Opening remarks by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during talks with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping: 📍April 15, 2026, Beijing 💬Sergey Lavrov: Mr President, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your warm words addressed to us and for this meeting. It underscores your personal attention to the development of mutually beneficial strategic relations with Russia, as well as to the agenda that will be discussed at the next summit during the upcoming visit of President Vladimir Putin to China. Yesterday, my colleague and friend Wang Yi and I held very detailed discussions on preparations for this major upcoming visit. Thanks to the diplomacy of the two Leaders – yourself and Vladimir Putin – our relations continue to demonstrate a high degree of resilience amid the upheavalsthat have engulfed the modern world both economically and geopolitically. Regrettably, these contradictions are increasingly taking on a military dimension. Against this backdrop, Russia-China relations, which serve as a stabilizing factor in international affairs, are becoming ever more significant for the rest of the world, for the Global Majority, which seeks not problems or turbulence, but calm conditions for sustainable long-term development. It is in this context that we held detailed discussions and will brief you today on the outcome of our exchange. Bilateral relations are on the rise in trade, investment, humanitarian affairs, culture and across all other areas. We also discussed regional and international issues, both from the standpoint of future Russia-China coordination on the bilateral track and in terms of our joint work at the #UN, the UN Security Council, the #SCO, #BRICS, the #G20 and #APEC. As we agreed yesterday,we now haverobust roadmaps for further progress across all tracks identified by you and President Vladimir Putin for the period ahead. #RussiaChina

#Announcement 🇷🇺🇨🇳 On April 14-15, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China, as part of which he is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Foreign Ministers will discuss a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation, prospects for contacts at various levels, and coordination on the international stage, with a focus on joint work within the #UN, #BRICS, the #SCO, the #G20, #APEC and other multilateral mechanisms and forums. A substantive exchange of views is also expected on a number of pressing international and regional issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East. #RussiaChina