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📍 Rio de Janeiro, 6–7 July 2025 📄BRICS Summit Declaration Highlights the Role of the G20 in Strengthening Global South Cooperation The Leader’s Declaration adopted at the XVII BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro (6–7 July 2025), titled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”, placed particular emphasis on the importance of coordinated engagement within the Group of Twenty (G20) as the premier forum for international economic cooperation. The document reaffirms the commitment of BRICS countries to promoting a more equitable and representative global economic governance architecture through sustained interaction and dialogue within the G20 framework: 🔹 “We underscore the key role of the G20 as the premier global forum for international economic cooperation that provides a platform for dialogue of both developed and emerging economies on an equal and mutually beneficial footing for jointly seeking shared solutions to global challenges and fostering multipolar world.” 🔹 “We recognize the importance of the continued and productive functioning of the G20, based on consensus and with a focus on result-oriented outcomes.” 🔹 “We reiterate our strong support to the South African presidency and look forward to the successful hosting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025 under the South African Presidency and reaffirm our willingness to coordinate positions in order to enhance inclusiveness and amplify the voice of the Global South in the global economic governance system so it adequately reflects EMDEs’ rising weight in the global economy and further integrate their priorities in the G20 agenda through the consecutive G20 presidencies of BRICS member states – Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa – during 2022–2025 and beyond.” 🔹 “We salute strengthening of the EMDEs’ voice in the G20 through the accession of the African Union during India’s presidency of G20 in 2023 and the invitation of the NDB during Brazilian and South African presidencies including by their closer interaction and alignment.” #BRICS2025

📸#FamilyPhoto Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov takes part in family photo ceremony together with the heads of delegations, partner countries, invited states and executive bodies of international organizations and structures at the XVII #BRICS Summit 📍 Rio de Janeiro, July 7 #BRICS2025

🎙Remarks by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the main Plenary Session of the XVII BRICS Summit(July 6, 2025) 💬President Putin: Colleagues, friends. First of all, I would like to join the words of gratitude to President Lula da Silva and the Brazilian Chairmanship for their active efforts in advancing the strategic partnership within #BRICS. It is important that the BRICS countries continue to deepen their cooperation across key sectors in politics, security, the economy and finance, cultural and humanitarian contacts. This group has significantly grown and now includes leading states in Eurasia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Together, we possess a vast political, economic, scientific, technological, and human potential. 📈 The BRICS countries account for not only a third of the Earth’s landmass and almost half the planet’s population, but also for 40 percent of the global economy, while their combined GDP at purchasing power parity stands at $77 trillion. This is the 2025 data according to the IMF. By the way, BRICS is substantially ahead of other groups in this parameter, including G7 with $57 trillion. Year after year, our group’s global authority and influence continue growing. BRICS has rightfully established itself as one of the key centres of global governance, with our collective voice in support of the global majority’s vital interests resonating ever more powerfully across the international stage. BRICS has many supporters in the Global South and East. The culture of an open partnership and cooperation, mutual respect and consideration for each other’s interests in the group appeals to them. Based on this knowledge, during the summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, we decided to establish a category of BRICS partner states, to develop ad hoc practical cooperation with all interested countries. BRICS has ten partner states to date. 🌐 I will stress that the BRICS countries represent different development models, religions, authentic civilisations and cultures, while unanimously upholding equality and neighbourliness. They prioritise traditional values, the high ideals of friendship and accord, striving to contribute to global stability and security, the prosperity and success of all nations. Without doubt, this constructive approach and unifying agenda are highly relevant amidst the geopolitical challenges of today. We all see that the world is experiencing tectonic shifts. The unipolar system of international relations that once served the interests of the so-called golden billion, is losing its relevance, replaced by a more just multi-polar world. Global economic patterns are changing faster. Everything indicates that the liberal globalisation model is becoming obsolete while the centre of business activity is gravitating towards developing markets, launching a powerful growth wave, including in the BRICS countries. To maximise the emerging prospects, it is important to intensify cooperation within the group, primarily in technology, effective resource development, logistics, insurance, trade and finance. It is important to continue expanding the use of national currencies in mutual payments. It is believed that creating an independent payment and monetary system within BRICS will expedite currency transactions while also ensuring their effectiveness and security. Furthermore, using national currencies in trade within BRICS is steadily growing. In 2024, the share of Russia’s national currency, the ruble, and the currencies of our friendly states in transactions with Russia and other BRICS countries reached 90 percent. 📄Read in full

🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at Session II of the XVII BRICS Summit «Strengthening multilateral world order, financial and economic issues, artificial intelligence»(Rio de Janeiro, July 6, 2025) 📄Read in full Key talking points: • Strengthening the multilateral world order while the international system goes through fundamental transformations is one of the crucial tasks for#BRICS and for the entire international community. • Multipolarity is not a choice but rather an objective reality which succeeds the outdated neoliberal model that actually builds on neocolonial practices. The traditional paradigm of globalization where the predominant role is played by the so-called developed states of the West is becoming a relic. • Countries of the Global South and East are becoming a main driving force of the global economic growth. Regional organizations such as the African Union, CELAC, ASEAN, SCO, EAEU are playing an increased role. In this context conceptual and practical approaches are being developed to establish a new architecture of world economy based on the principles of equality, multilateralism and non-discrimination in trade, financial settlements, technology, logistics. • BRICS countries account for more than 40% of the global gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity, and together with partner countries this figure is at 45% or 93 trillion dollars. Today BRICS represents more than 20% of global trade and almost a half of world population. • The share of BRICS countries in trade with Russia is constantly growing and in 2014 it exceeded 48%, with 90% of mutual settlements made in national currencies. • It is of significant importance to pursue the reform and depolarization of the Bretton-Woods institutions which should reflect a real state of affairs in the world economy. The continued use of the IMF and WB with a view to preserve neocolonial practices is unacceptable. • The increasingly aggressive attempts by the West to introduce ideological ultimatums into the dialogue as what are virtually the main criteria – based on Western interpretations of human rights and democracy – are having an extremely negative impact on the delivery of the UN sustainable development goals. • To address imbalances and to mobilize resources for development Russia introduced an initiative to create within BRICS a New Investment Platform with the participation of the New Development Bank (NDB). We thank colleagues for showing their interest to the promising initiative. • Artificial Intelligence is becoming a critical technology. Experts estimate that AI contribution to the global domestic product will be at 20 trillion dollars by 2030. • We will need to address issues related to ensuring universal access to advance developments in this field. Secret initiatives put forward by a number of countries and with restricted participation with a view to promote non-consensus approaches are fraught with the most serious consequences. • The challenges associated with the development of digital technologies are transnational in nature and require collective response. • I am convinced that BRICS nations together with like-minded countries will continue to lead in promoting a just multipolar world order that will provide favourable conditions for sustainable development of all States without exception.

📄XVII BRICS Summit Rio de Janeiro Declaration "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance" Full text of the Declaration Excerpts from the Declaration: • We reiterate our commitment to reforming and improving global governance by promoting a more just, equitable, agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable international and multilateral system in the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. • We reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism and upholding the international law, including the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN), in their entirety and interconnectedness as its indispensable cornerstone, and the central role of the UN in the international system. 🇺🇳 We reiterate our support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including BRICS countries, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council. 🌐 We acknowledge that multipolarity can expand opportunities for EMDCs to develop their constructive potential and enjoy universally beneficial, inclusive and equitable economic globalization and cooperation. • We condemn the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law, and reiterate that such measures, inter alia in the form of unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, have far-reaching negative implications for the human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security, of the general population of targeted states, disproportionally affecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations, deepening the digital divide and exacerbating environmental challenges. We call for the elimination of such unlawful measures, which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. • We reaffirm that BRICS member states do not impose or support non-UN Security Council authorized sanctions that are contrary to international law. • We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025, which constitute a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and express grave concern over the subsequent escalation of the security situation in the Middle East. • We recall that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. We underline, in this regard, the importance of unifying the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under the Palestinian Authority, and reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine. • We reiterate that the principle 🌍“African solutions to African problems” should continue to serve as the basis for conflict resolution on the African continent. ❗️We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks against bridges and railways infrastructure deliberately targeting civilians in Bryansk, Kursk and Voronezh regions of the Russian Federation on 31 May, 1 and 5 June 2025, resulting in multiple civilian casualties, including children. • We commend🇧🇷Brazil’s BRICS Chairshipin 2025 and express our gratitude to the government and people of Brazil for holding the XVII BRICS Summit in the city of Rio de Janeiro. • We extend full support to🇮🇳 India for its BRICS Chairship in 2026 and the holding of the XVIII BRICS Summit in India.

🔴#ПрямойЭфир: Выступление С.В.Лаврова на II сессии XVII саммита БРИКС по теме «Укрепление многостороннего миропорядка, финансово-экономические вопросы и искусственный интеллект» 🔴Rutube 🔴YouTube 🔴ВКонтакте 🔴Ruptly 🔴Сайт МИД России

🎙Comment by Yury Ushakov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, on the outcomes of Russia's President Vladimir Putin’s telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump(July 3, 2025) 💬 Yuri Ushakov: Dear colleagues, 🇷🇺🇺🇸📞 Another almost hour-long telephone conversation between President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and President of the United States Donald Trump has just concluded. Donald Trump began the conversation by announcing that the US Congress passed his administration's flagship bill envisaging reforms in taxation, immigration, and the energy sector. President Trump himself calls it the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Vladimir Putin wished Donald Trump success in implementing the changes he envisioned and, naturally, offered greetings for Independence Day, the national day of the United States, which will be celebrated tomorrow. At the same time, it was noted by our side that Russia had played a significant part in the establishment of the United States as a nation, including during the War of Independence, fought 250 years ago, and later during the Civil War, which ended 160 years ago. It was stated that our countries are bound not only by their alliance during World Wars One and Two, but also by deeper historical ties. Incidentally, Vladimir Putin mentioned that just before speaking with Donald Trump, he had a conversation with representatives of Russia's business community. One of the ideas suggested during that meeting was holding an exchange of motion pictures promoting traditional values, which both we and the Trump administration hold dear. President Trump reacted immediately and said he liked this idea. There was a detailed discussion of the situation surrounding Iran, and the state of affairs in the Middle East in general. The Russian side emphasised it was crucial to settle any and all contentious issues, differences, and conflicts exclusively via political and diplomatic means. The two leaders agreed to maintain contact on the issue between the respective foreign services, defence ministries, and presidential aides. The latest developments in Syria were addressed as well. Similarly, the Russian and US sides intend to continue the dialogue on the matter. Naturally, the issues surrounding Ukraine were also discussed. Donald Trump has once again raised the issue of ending the hostilities as soon as possible. In turn, Vladimir Putin noted that we still continued the search for a political, negotiated solution to the conflict. He informed his counterpart on the progress in implementing the humanitarian agreements reached during the second round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks held in Istanbul. He also noted Russia was willing to pursue negotiations. ☝️ Additionally, the President of Russia said that Russia would strive to achieve its goals, namely the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs, the bitter confrontation that we are seeing now. Russia will not back down from these goals. While exchanging views on bilateral matters, the two sides confirmed their mutual interest in implementing a number of promising projects in economy, notably the energy sector and space exploration. Overall, I would like to point out that the conversation between the two Presidents has, as always, shown that they are on the same page. It was candid, business-minded, and concrete. The two Presidents will naturally continue communicating and will have another conversation soon.

🔴#LIVE: Briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on topical foreign policy issues 🔴X (ex-Twitter) 🔴Facebook 🔴Ruptly 🔴Russia’s MFA website

💫Примите участие в Открытой международной астрономической олимпиаде (Open World Astronomy Olympiad 2025 (OWAO). ❗В команду могут входить участники различных возрастов (до 18 лет включительно). C заданиями прошлого года можно ознакомиться тут. 🗓В 2025 году олимпиада пройдёт с 20 по 27 сентября на федеральной территории «Сириус». 👉Подробности 💫Take part in the Open World Astronomy Olympiad (OWAO) 2025. ❗Teams are made up of the participants of various ages. The age of the Olympiad participants included in the team must not exceed 18 years. Click here to get acquainted with last year’s assignments. 🗓The Olympiad will take place at Sirius Federal Territory on September 25-27, 2025. 👉More info

✍South African journalist Gillian Schutte has published a critical article titled “The Spectacle of Innocence: How the Narrative of ‘Stolen Children’ Became the West’s Weapon of War,” in response to a piece originally published by The Washington Post under the headline “Thousands of Ukraine’s children vanished into Russia. This one made it back” and later republished by South African IOL Schutte’s article directly challenges the accusations against Russia presented in the original story, offering a sober reassessment of the narrative widely promoted in Western media regarding alleged “child abductions” during the Ukraine conflict. 🔍 Key Points: 📌Discrepancy Between Reported Figures and Verified Data “Ukrainian officials inflate the figure still further: ‘maybe 50,000, maybe 100,000.’ No one knows for sure. No one can prove anything.” "According to Russia’s official delegation at the Istanbul peace talks… the only list ever presented to Moscow by Ukraine includes 339 names. Russia says it has already returned 101 of these children.” 📌Deliberate omission of Russia’s humanitarian actions: evacuation of children from conflict zones by Russian forces “Many [children] were found alone in buildings or hospitals. Others were taken to safety at great personal risk by Russian soldiers, some of whom died in the effort.” 📌 “Western soft power thrives on emotional shorthand: Saddam’s incubator babies, Gaddafi’s Viagra-fuelled soldiers, and now Putin’s child kidnappers.” 📌“A child is the cipher of innocence, the mirror of adult failure, the vessel into which we pour our grief, outrage, and moral certainty.” 📌“The story reads like it was written by a Pentagon-funded scriptwriter, with emotional cues planted at every paragraph break, not to report on the tragedy of war, but to mobilise sentiment for war.” 📌“Western soft power thrives on emotional shorthand: Saddam’s incubator babies, Gaddafi’s Viagra-fuelled soldiers, and now Putin’s child kidnappers.” 📌“Medinsky’s statement in Istanbul was clear. Russia is open to verification. Russia is returning children. Russia is establishing regular exchanges.” 📌 “We should care for every child affected by war. But we should be suspicious of which children we are told to care about, and why.” 🔗Read the full article ✍ Author: Gillian Schutte #russianMFA

#Think4Yourself 🎥Cults: The Cia's Secret Weapon — an RT Doc Film. Synopsis: A story how Ukrainian neo-Nazis turned generations of Russian-speaking and even ethnically Russian kids into nationalists and Russophobes, full of hate and having acquired lethal skills. Gennady Mokhnenko presented himself as a pastor and was involved in recruiting orphaned children as soldiers for the Ukrainian army, leading a neo-Nazi totalitarian sect in Severodonetsk. The transformation of children from orphanages into cold-blooded killers was actively supported by foreign religious organizations. Security service personnel are finding traces of their involvement in nearly every liberated settlement of Donbass. The strange Ukrainian 'religion' is the result of a secret CIA project called 'Prolog,' which emerged right after the end of #WWII. Even back then, US intelligence agencies aimed to foster separatist and nationalist sentiments in Soviet Ukraine. Today, the Ukrainian nationalist cult 'RUNVira' still promotes the ideas of Ukrainian exceptionalism and harbours hatred towards Russians and Jews. This documentary tries to give answers to the following questions: ❓ How did Ukraine become a centre for neo-Nazi cults, and who is responsible for it? ❓ How did this country become one of the global centers of spiritual permissiveness? ❓ Why are the newly formed Ukrainian 'churches' seizing Orthodox holy sites? ❓ What are the main goals of these sectarians?

🕊️ South African Journalist Gillian Schutte Responds Critically to The Washington Post’s Narrative on Ukrainian Children ✍️ South African Journalist Gillian Schutte has published a critical commentary in response to an article originally published by The Washington Post and later republished by South African news platform IOL. The piece in question details the story of a 12-year-old Ukrainian boy allegedly taken to Russia and later “rescued.” According to Schutte, the article represents a highly stylised narrative designed more to mobilise emotion than to inform public understanding. Her response, titled “The Spectacle of Innocence: How the Narrative of ‘Stolen Children’ Became the West’s Weapon of War,” was published by African Stream and offers a sober reassessment of the narrative widely promoted in Western media regarding alleged “child abductions” during the Ukraine conflict. 📌 Key Points from Schutte’s Analysis: 1. Discrepancy Between Reported Figures and Verified Data Schutte notes the striking difference between media claims and officially documented figures. 🗨 “Ukrainian officials inflate the figure still further: ‘maybe 50,000, maybe 100,000.’ No one knows for sure. No one can prove anything.” 🗨 “According to Russia’s official delegation at the Istanbul peace talks… the only list ever presented to Moscow by Ukraine includes 339 names. Russia says it has already returned 101 of these children.” 2. Lack of Balanced Coverage of Humanitarian Actions She highlights the absence of media attention to cases where Russian forces reportedly evacuated children from conflict zones and facilitated family reunifications. 🗨 “Many [children] were found alone in buildings or hospitals. Others were taken to safety at great personal risk by Russian soldiers, some of whom died in the effort.” 3. Selective Framing of Child Suffering Schutte questions why only certain child stories are given prominence in the international media, often those that reinforce a specific political message. 🗨 “There is no Pulitzer bait in the case of a child returned to a reunited family in Donetsk. These children do not cry in English. They are not crying for NATO.” 4. Historical Pattern of Emotional War Narratives She draws parallels with earlier emotionally charged media campaigns used to justify foreign intervention. 🗨 “Western soft power thrives on emotional shorthand: Saddam’s incubator babies, Gaddafi’s Viagra-fuelled soldiers, and now Putin’s child kidnappers.” 5. A Call for Balanced Humanitarian Concern Schutte urges readers to approach such narratives with compassion — but also with critical thinking and insistence on factual accuracy. 🗨 “We should care for every child affected by war. But we should be suspicious of which children we are told to care about, and why.” 📎 Read the full article (English): 👉https://africanstream.media/opinion/the-spectacle-of-innocence ✍ Author: Gillian Schutte #MediaLiteracy#InformationSecurity#ChildrenInConflict#NarrativeWars#HumanRights#RussiaSouthAfrica#AfricanVoices#GillianSchutte