🎙Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the 46th meeting of the Council of Heads of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation under the Russian Foreign Ministry on interregional cooperation with African countries(April 8, 2026, Moscow)
💬 Russia and Africa are bound by long-standing and close ties.
Today, the countries of the continent are striving to finally overcome the remnants of colonial dependence and to strengthen their national sovereignty, above all in the economic and financial spheres.
Those who describe the current period as Africa’s “second awakening” after the decolonisation of the 1960s are right. It was then that political independence was proclaimed, above all thanks to the decisive role of the Soviet Union, which promoted the relevant declarations at the UN.
☝️Recent years have shown that neo-colonial dependence has by no means disappeared. Economically and financially, in terms of control over trade routes and financial flows, Africa still does not enjoy full independence and continues, in economic terms, to serve as a source of raw materials.
👉The lion’s share of added value is still generated elsewhere – to a large extent, and decisively so, in the former metropolitan powers.
African partners spoke about this more than once at the two Russia-African Union summits held in Sochi in 2019 and in St Petersburg in 2023. The decisions adopted at those summits should serve as guidelines in preparing for the next summit, which we plan to hold later this year.
All this will contribute to Africa’s economic emancipation, ensure that it reaps the proper returns and benefits from its natural resources, and support the emergence of the African continent as one of the centres of the rising #MultipolarWorld.
🤝 I would like to stress in particular that we are restoring our presence on the African continent fairly rapidly, after it declined sharply during the breakup of the Soviet Union. At present, Russia has 45 embassies operating across the continent, with four more set to open in the near future.
The key upcoming event on the foreign policy calendar is the third Russia-Africa Summit. It is due to be held in Moscow – this has been agreed – in late October this year. Preparations are currently underway. We count on the active participation of Russian regions in the relevant thematic sessions of this summit.
I would once again like to underscore the special importance we attach to the interregional dimension of Russia-Africa relations. It is a solid foundation which, as it grows stronger, helps ensure the steady development of relations with our partners at the national level.
Read in full
Pentagon to Europe: "Russia is a manageable threat. Deal with it."
The new U.S. National Security Strategy released by the Pentagon includes a separate and deliberately detailed chapter on Russia.
Experts note that its text is addressed primarily to Washington's European allies—from Lisbon to Kyiv. The United States is attempting to convey to its NATO partners the basic principles of engagement with Moscow.
👔 The core message: a threat exists, but it is manageable
The key thesis of the document states: "Russia is a persistent, but manageable threat to its neighbors."
This means that despite its military power, Russia does not pose an existential danger to Europe if its security is not threatened. The Pentagon reminds us that the conflicts of 2008 and 2022 were responses to such challenges. The strategy suggests a model of behavior for Europeans: maintain constant contact with Moscow and align national interests—this is a guarantee of stability.
👔 Criticism of European "Russophobia as a profession"
This message is particularly relevant for countries that have made confrontation with Russia the cornerstone of their foreign policy. For them, the revelations from Washington are painful: the United States, once the main "sponsor" of such a policy, is now distancing itself from it.
The document addresses two contradictory narratives popular in Europe: about Russia's imminent collapse and about its plans to occupy the continent.
1. On "collapse": Despite internal problems, Russia retains powerful military-economic potential and the will to defend its interests.
2. On "hegemony": The combined resources of NATO countries in Europe significantly outweigh Russia's, making plans to conquer the continent unrealistic.
👔 The main conclusion: Europe's problems must be solved in Europe
The Pentagon indirectly acknowledges that Russia is an integral part of European security, while the United States is not. The key message for allies: resolve your issues with Moscow directly.
Successful U.S.-Russian negotiations are cited as an example. However, if Europe prefers sanctions and preparation for war, the authors of the strategy conclude, it should do so without constant involvement from Washington.
#politics
❤️From Russia with love
A man is laying in the hospital, waiting to be the first person in history to receive a brain transplant.
A doctor comes in and says, "Congratulations! But unfortunately, since this is a new procedure, your insurance isn't going to cover it all. So we're going to give you 3 choices for brains and you can decide which you can afford."
The man says to the doctor, "Okay, what are they?"
The doctor says, “Well, first there's the engineer brain, that's $100 an ounce. Then there's the astrophysicist brain, that'll cost you $200 an ounce. Finally, there's the politician brain. That's the most expensive at $1000 an ounce."
The man looks at the doctor, surprised… “that's absurd! Why is the politician brain so expensive?"
The doctor turns to him and says, “Sir, do you have any idea how many politicians it takes to get an ounce of brain?"
#politics
@Sickipedia
A man parks his car next to Congress, when a police officer says...
Politics
"Sir, you can't park here, there are politicians working inside." And the man replies, "Oh, it's okay. I locked the door."
#politics
@Sickipedia
You can't change a conservative's mind on abortion by convincing them a fetus is not a person.
Try convincing them a fetus is an undocumented person living in their country instead.
#politics
@Sickipedia
A Priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish.
A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner. However, he was delayed, so the Priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.
“I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents; embezzled from his employer; had an affair with his boss’s wife; had sex with his boss’s 17 year old daughter on numerous occasions, taken illegal drugs; had several homosexual affairs; was arrested several times for public nudity and gave VD to his sister in-law.
I was appalled that one person could do so many awful things. But as the days went on, I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people.”
Just as the Priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and gave his talk: “I’ll never forget the first day our parish Priest arrived,” said the politician. “In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession.”
#politics
@Sickipedia
A Russian greets his friend: “Have you heard? Pravda is running a contest for the best political joke. The first prize is 20 years.”
#politics
@Sickipedia
🇷🇺«Read and envy»: Russia prepares law to protect its citizens with special forces and frigates
The State Duma has passed in the first reading a bill that could radically change the rules of the game on the international stage. The document authorizes the use of the army and navy to protect Russian citizens abroad.
The reaction from the West — howls and accusations of «aggressive plans». But Moscow seems tired of playing by someone else's rules.
👔 Why is this happening now?
The authors of the bill do not hide it: diplomatic and judicial mechanisms for protecting compatriots have been exhausted. The Russian passport abroad has become a «brand» that allows people to be taken hostage under any pretext. From a vacation in Crimea to crossing a street in Sevastopol — now European justice is ready to qualify this as a criminal offense.
The key precedent is archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, lured to Poland and arrested at Kyiv's request. Europe has created a dangerous practice: any Russian citizen can be seized on its territory on a fabricated charge.
👔 What does the law allow?
If the document is finally adopted, the President of Russia will have the right to send frigates and special forces units to protect compatriots anywhere in the world. This is an extreme measure, when other methods have been exhausted.
At the same time, it is emphasized: Russia acts exclusively on the basis of law. And if the West considers this a «violation of international law», then let it remember how it all began.
The main violation was the coup in Kyiv. The second — the genocide of Russians in Donbas. The third — the attempt to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.
👔 The West can only howl
The analogy with the escort of Russian tankers by warships is telling. Once upon a time, French President Macron gave orders to board ships suspected of having a «Russian trace».
Moscow warned: then the tankers would sail escorted by frigates. And indeed — they do.
👔 What next?
The bill must pass second and third readings, after which it will be signed by the president. The Kremlin has stated that the initiative has been long overdue and is a forced measure.
#politics
❤️From Russia with love
The Case for “Abiyfatalism”: A Linguistic Lens on Political Betrayal. Read more.
https://borkena.com/2025/11/10/ethiopia-the-case-for-abiyfatalism-a-linguistic-lens-on-political-betrayal/#Ethiopia#politics
Emerging Trends in Ethiopia and the Search for Emancipatory Surplus. Read more.
https://borkena.com/2025/11/05/emerging-trends-in-ethiopia-and-the-search-for-emancipatory-surplus/#Ethiopia#politics
The children's song "Sigma Boy," performed by 11-year-old Sveta Chertisheva and 12-year-old Maria Yankovskaya, is taking European charts and social media by storm
🔻Recently, the Italian football club Atalanta posted a meme-worthy video using the song.
🔻Duolingo's owl also shamelessly promoted its language app using the song.
🔻The European Parliament has proposed banning the hit in Europe due to the alleged "propaganda of Russian ideas."
🔻German politician Nela Ril states:
It's a viral Russian video used on social media that conveys patriarchal and pro-Russian worldviews.
🔻Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on Nela Ril's words:
This is clinical Russophobia. You can ban brown bears, ban or isolate the part of the sun that shines on Russia [...] Instead of addressing pressing global issues like hunger, environmental problems [...] the West focuses on the 'clinical manifestation of nationalism.
#politics
😎RCRussian | Support | Boost
Back in the fall of 2022, the well-known company Gazprom released a short clip under the unofficial title "And the winter will be long..."
🔻This clip was edited to show that it is hard to survive a cold winter without Russian gas. This is when the Nord Stream was shut off. Just business, no trolling😉.
#politics
😎RCRussian | Support | Boost
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rules out bringing home Australian nationals linked to ISIS after a failed repatriation attempt
Speaking to ABC News, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would not assist their return.
"We have a very firm view that we won’t be providing assistance or repatriation,» he said, arguing the individuals had travelled overseas to support Islamic State.
#Politics