Russian Consulate in Cape Town

⚡️ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sstatement and answers to questions at the Government Hour hearings during a plenary session of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (February 11, 2026): Key takeaways: • The world is undergoing a long-term transition to a multipolar order, marked by growing competition between the Western minority and the World Majority. • Western countries continue to pursue neo-colonial policies, double standards, and attempts to preserve dominance, including through pressure, destabilisation, and military actions. • Russia views current global upheavals as part of a profound and lasting shift in international relations, not a temporary phase. • Strategic stability is deteriorating due to Western actions, while Russia maintains responsible conduct and observes arms control limits as long as the US does the same. • The Arctic should remain a zone of peace and cooperation; Russia will respond if military threats against it emerge there. • Russia rejects Western double standards on self-determination, defending the choices of #Crimea, #Donbass, and #Novorossiya. ❗️A sustainable settlement in Ukraine is impossible without addressing root causes; understandings reached with the US in 2025 remain valid. • Russia continues negotiations to ensure its security, protect Russian-speaking populations, and eliminate threats from the Kiev regime and its external sponsors. • The comprehensive strategic partnership with #China is a stabilising factor in global affairs and a cornerstone of regional security. • Strategic partnerships with #Belarus, the #DPRK, #Iran, the #CIS and the #CSTO members strengthen regional stability and Russia’s security. • Russia is deepening ties across #Eurasia, including with India, Türkiye, the Arab world, Southeast Asia, and regional organisations such as the #EAEU, #SCO, and #ASEAN. • The #Russia-#Africa partnership is expanding, with preparations underway for the Third Russia-Africa Summit. • #BRICS is emerging as a key platform for the World Majority, promoting cooperation free from sanctions and Western restrictions. • Russia supports #GlobalSouth efforts against modern forms of colonialism and unilateral coercive measures, including through new UN international days. 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.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to media questions following a meeting of the CSTO Council of Ministers (Cholpon-Ata, June 30, 2025) ❓Question: How do you assess the current developments in Armenia? Was this issue addressed during today’s closed meeting? Do CSTO member states plan to respond in the event of a sharp escalation in Armenia? 💬Sergey Lavrov: Yes, the situation in Armenia was discussed. All participants expressed deep concern over the events unfolding within the republic. While it is understood that this is an internal matter for our neighbours, we are particularly troubled by the attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church – a canonical institution with a thousand-year history. The church has traditionally been a cornerstone of Armenian society, and Russia is concerned about any unjustified and unprovoked actions directed against it. We note that the public movement in defence of the church reflects a strong sentiment within Armenian society, rooted in its deep Orthodox traditions inherent to Armenia. Russia hopes the current tensions will be resolved promptly, in full accordance with Armenia’s Constitution and with respect for the rights of believers and fundamental human rights. As for today’s discussions concerning Armenia’s participation in the #CSTO, we took note of the fact that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan once again declined to attend the event. We proceed from the understanding that, during meetings within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, our heads of state acknowledged Armenia’s current stance towards the CSTO. We continue to regard Armenia as a full member of the Organisation. However, full membership entails active participation and adherence to all obligations set forth in CSTO’s foundational documents, including the payment of membership dues. Statements from the Armenian leadership suggest that the country is pursuing a multi-vector approach. Recently, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indicated that Armenia will soon need to make a choice between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union. Additionally, representatives of the Armenian leadership have acknowledged that a definitive decision regarding their membership in the CSTO will need to be made in the near future. Russia is exerting no pressure on Armenia’s leadership and prefers to wait for clarity on these important matters. It is widely understood that should Armenia distance itself from its allies, closest partners, and neighbours, such a course is unlikely to serve the interests of the Armenian people. ❓ Question: Are you following the developments in Belgrade? What is your assessment of current events over there? 💬Sergey Lavrov: We are following the developments, of course. We are interested in the unrest being quelled, as President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said, based on the Constitution and laws of this friendly state. Our great hope is that the Western nations, which, as usual, are attempting to use some or other domestic events in various countries to promote their own interests to the detriment of those of partners in relevant countries, will not, in this case, engage in colour revolutions. <...> ❓ Question: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski went on record as saying that Russia would collapse if it continued to build up its military spending. NATO increased its military budget by an order of magnitude just a few days ago. What is your comment on statements of this sort? 💬Sergey Lavrov: Well, if Mr Sikorski is a prophet on this scale, he may perhaps visualise that what I see as a disastrous boost in the NATO military budget will lead to the collapse of this organisation. Russia, for its part, is planning to cut its military expenditures, as President Vladimir Putin told a news conference following a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk on June 27, 2025. Russia is guided by common sense, not by imaginary threats, as do NATO member countries, such as e.g. Mr Sikorski’s Poland. Read in full

🇷🇺 The Security Council of the Russian Federation: ⚡️The comprehensive high-level international dialogue on the future architecture of global security has definitively dispelled the myth of Russia’s isolation. The 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues concluded in Moscow. The three-day international dialogue chaired by Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu held at Rossiya National Centre was attended by 126 delegations from 105 countries that are members of #BRICS, the #SCO, #ASEAN, the #CIS, #CELAC, the African Union, the #CSTO, and other international organisations. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the plenary session, during which 60 speakers delivered their remarks. The Minister shared his assessments of the Ministry’s performance amid dynamic global processes. The Russian delegation held over 80 bilateral meetings, while foreign representatives held more than 40 bilateral meetings among themselves. Multilateral meetings were held in BRICS, the SCO, the CIS, and Russia-ASEAN formats. A briefing was organized for delegations from African countries, while an expert seminar on global security issues took place as well. 💬 From Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Sergey Shoigu’s remarks at a news conference following the meeting: “The high level of participants and the sheer number of participating countries clearly showed the urgency and the demand for holding such events and dispelled the myth of Russia’s isolation this time again. The participants unanimously noted that the meeting was held in an atmosphere of mutual trust, and the discussions were informative and productive. The open and trust-based dialogue about the need for forming equal and indivisible security architecture served as an effective confirmation of the fact that the multipolar world, in which the security of each country matters, already exists.” Foreign delegations expressed strong interest in the exhibition ‘Journey across Russia’ by the National Centre, which showcased the diversity of our country’s scientific research and cultural endeavours and the multifaceted achievements of modern-day Russia, as well as in the ‘We Accuse’ photo exhibition about the crimes committed by the Kiev regime during the special military operation in Ukraine, as well as in an exhibition dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

🎙 FM Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the reception on Africa Day (Moscow, May 26, 2025) 💬 Sergey Lavrov: Each year in May, we traditionally convene at the Foreign Ministry Mansion to mark Africa Day — a commemoration that holds profound significance not only for Africans but for all humanity. This date symbolises the surmounting of a colonial past and embodies the unwavering resolve of African peoples in their quest for freedom and justice. <...> This year is marked by the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War, as well as the 65th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. This is emphasised in the message from President of Russia Vladimir Putin. These epoch-making events are closely interconnected. On May 10, 1945, in a congratulatory telegram to the head of the Soviet government, Joseph Stalin, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia remarked: “This victory, bringing us the end of the most savage tyranny the world has ever known, has ushered in the threshold of an era of greater happiness and justice for all peoples threatened with annihilation.” ☝️We remember and honour the hundreds of thousands of Africans who fought in the armies of the anti-Hitler coalition, hastening Victory. In turn, the defeat of Nazism galvanised the national liberation movement, accelerating the collapse of the colonial system. Our nation made an immense contribution to the decolonisation process, grounded in one of the UN Charter’s key principles — the right of nations to self-determination. For many years, we selflessly supported Africans in their struggle for freedom and independence, consistently aiding the formation of young states and their comprehensive socio-economic development. Today, Russia continues to foster the strengthening of Africa’s position as a unique and influential centre of global development. In particular, we support African aspirations to secure a permanent ‘seat’ within the UN Security Council. We will further assist interested African nations in enhancing their defence capabilities, countering terrorism, and ensuring food and energy security. In recent years, the African continent, asserting itself as one of the pillars of a sustainable multipolar world order, has achieved impressive results. Such progress has largely been made possible by the collective will of Africans to address shared challenges and pursue common goals. We welcome the dynamic development of integration processes, which strengthen solidarity across the continent and amplifyitsvoice. The African Union plays a pivotal role in this regard. <...> 🤝Russia remains a reliable and steadfast partner to African nations in strengthening their sovereignty, the foremost threat to which remains persistent neocolonial practices. <...> One of the most dynamic areas of Russian-African cooperation remains education. Today, more than 32,000 African students are enrolled in our universities. Our collaboration with the African Union and other multilateral structures on the continent is expanding actively. We see significant potential in fostering their ties with Eurasian integration bodies the #EAEU, #CSTO, and #SCO. Naturally, we wholeheartedly support the development of cooperative relations between the African Union and #BRICS. Our commitment to deepening a multifaceted strategic partnership with Africa is reflected in the establishment of a new structural unit within the Russian Foreign Ministry — the Department of Partnership with Africa. On the agenda is the preparation of the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, to be held this year in an African country. There is no doubt that its outcomes will contribute to the substantive groundwork for the third Russia-Africa Summit, planned for 2026 — also on the African continent. <...> I would like to once again extend my congratulations on this occasion and wish the peoples of Africa and all those present peace, health, and prosperity. Read in full #RussiaAfrica

🗓 On February 19, a ‘Government Hour’ with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the priorities of the foreign policy of the Russian Federationwas held as part of a plenary meeting of the State Duma. The Foreign Minister informed the parliamentarians about the key areas of the Russian diplomacy’s efforts in the context of the current geopolitical realities and the Ministry’s tasks to protect national interests and strengthen the country’s leading positions on the global arena. The list of issues raised at the meeting included settling the conflict around Ukraine, initiatives to create a Eurasian security architecture and combat neocolonialism, cooperation within the Union State, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, the #CIS, the #SCO, expanding multifaceted interaction with all sensible partners and, above all, with the states of the Global Majority, countering the hegemonic aspirations of the West, protecting the rights and interests of Russian citizens and compatriots abroad. Following the discussion, Sergey Lavrov highlighted the importance of further deepening the regular dialogue with elected representatives that contributes to the effective implementation of the unified foreign policy of the Russian Federation, which enjoys consensus support.

🇺🇳 The Russian Federation completed its Presidency in the United Nations Security Council on July 31. Its packed agenda revolved around three central events, with the first two of them attended by FM Sergey Lavrov. On July 16, we held a high-level open debate titled “Multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order,” which reaffirmed the need to hold detailed discussions dealing with the underpinnings of the emerging multipolar world order, the objective to reinforce a UN-centred system of international relations, as well as the need to carry out a comprehensive review of the root causes of present-day conflicts and to consolidate our efforts in order to overcome them. The fact that the Global Majority tends to distrust the infamous Western concept of a rules-based world order was also mentioned during the debate. On July 17, the Security Council held a quarterly ministerial-level debate on the agenda item titled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.” During this meeting, participants discussed the situation in the region with all its tension, while placing a special emphasis on the escalating violence in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone for finding ways out of this unprecedented crisis. In addition to this, the UNSC held separatemeetings on July 26 and 31 on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the assassination of the Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. On July 19, the UNSC held a debate titled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (#CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (#CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (#SCO).” In his remarks, Deputy FM Sergey Vershinin stressed the importance for the UN to work closer with constructive regional organisations. <...> In addition to this, Russia’s UNSC Presidency included all the events as part of the mandate-reporting cycle. 👉 The Middle East bloc included meetings on Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. 👉 TheAfrican agenda covered discussions of the situation in West Africa, the Sahara and Sahel region, and theDR Congo. 👉 The council also touched upon peacebuilding efforts in Columbia and the start of deploying the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti. 👉 We exchanged views on the activities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and the Cyprus settlement. ❗️The Ukraine crisis remained high on the agenda. On July 9, Western countries convened a Security Council meeting in connection with the tragic incident involving a children’s hospital in Kiev. During the debate, the Russian delegation refuted accusations by its opponents and shared evidence demonstrating that the Ukrainian air defence systems were to blame for the incident. On July 25, Russia initiated a UNSC meeting to discuss the unrelenting flow of Western weapons into Ukraine, which delays a settlement in this conflict and leads to more victims. The Security Council adopted four resolutions in July: ✅ on focusing the CAR arms embargo on illegal armed groups; ✅ extending the mandates for the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement and the UN Integrated Office in Haiti; ✅ regarding the UN Focal Point on delisting-related matters and re-establishing the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General UNSC Sanctions Issues. 🇺🇳 Russia went to great lengths to enable the Security Council to be effective and responsive in its work. We encouraged our colleagues within the Council to come up with collective responses when dealing with challenges to peace and security, while seeking guidance from a holistic view of the purposes and principles set forth in the UN Charter and their inter-connected nature. The central events on the agenda of the Russian Presidency attracted a lot of attention within the international community, reaffirming our country’s high authority and the respect it commands as a UN founding member and permanent member of the Security Council. Read in full #RussiaUN