Найти похожее

🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with TASS news agency (December 30, 2024) Key points: #Ukraine#USA • We have not received any official signals [from the USA] regarding a settlement in Ukraine. • We are not happy with the proposals made by members of the Trump team to postpone Ukraine’s admission to NATO for 20 years and to station British and European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. • What we need is reliable and legally binding agreements that would eliminate the root causes of the conflict and seal a mechanism precluding the possibility of their violation. #RussiaUSA#NATO • We are ready to renew the political dialogue which Washington terminated after the start of the special military operation, if the United States is ready for this. Since it was the Americans who cut it off, it is for them to make the first move. • They [the West] have been long relying on efforts to interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries, including our closest neighbours, as their foreign policy tool. For many years, Washington and its satellites have been acting this way in an effort to deter and contain their geopolitical rivals and do away with any unwanted actors, as confirmed by what happened in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Ukraine. #Georgia • The developments in Georgia stem from the double standards when caring for democracy and human rights serves as a pretext for overturning election results after even the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights with its tainted reputation recognised the election as being free and fair. Why do they want to change the results? Just because the puppet masters in Washington and Brussels did not find the way people voted there to their liking. • The United States and the European Union are trying to impose a distorted vision on Tbilisi which consists of dividing everyone into those who are with us and those who are against us. Meanwhile, it seems that Georgian authorities have opted for a sovereign policy which meets the country’s national interests. They refuse to act as pawns manipulated by the West in its effort to destabilise Georgia, undermine its economy and incite escalation in its relations with Russia. #Syria#MiddleEast • The Syrians’ hopes for improvements after a convincing defeat of international terrorism, including with the help of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, have not materialised. • Washington, which has effectively occupied the resource-rich north-eastern part of Syria and is putting serious sanctions pressure on Damascus together with a coalition of its satellites, bears a great deal of blame for this. This line for strangling the Syrian economy stirred up social discontent. • Trying to maintain its influence [in the Middle East and North Africa], Washington actively interfered in the internal affairs of Arab countries and aggressively drew new dividing lines there. Iraq and Libya are still trying to clear up the consequences of the Americans and their satellites’ reckless behaviour. #China • The Americans are taking inciting actions in the Taiwan Strait and supplying weapons to Taipei while forging a quasi-political dialogue with the local authorities. • It is clear to us that this policy pursued by Washington in violation of its obligations to Beijing on Taiwan is part of their strategy to step up military and political pressure on the PRC and eventually undermine regional security at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent. • Russia reaffirms its adherence to the #OneChina principle, recognises that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, opposes any form of “Taiwan independence,” and firmly supports China’s measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and achieve national reunification. Read in full

🎙 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview to the newspaper "Arguments and Facts" (October 21, 2024) Key Points: #BRICS • BRICS epitomises the shifts that have long been underway in the global economy. New centres of economic growth are emerging, and alongside them comes financial influence, which in turn brings political influence. • BRICS is a consortium where no single nation leads or is led, devoid of the bureaucratic machinery akin to that observed in Brussels, where EU officials impose decisions that contravene the will and interests of several member states, failing to align with the aspirations of voters across many countries. • BRICS does not stand in opposition to any entity, nor does it orchestrate operations or initiate projects. BRICS is committed to enhancing the combined potential of its nations and devising collaborative strategies for harnessing these potentials for mutual benefit. • What makes BRICS and other World Majority or Global East associations that do not include Western countries stand out, is that they are not created for the purpose of struggling or fighting with anyone. They are established to collectively benefit from their competitive advantages such as geographical location, shared history, cultural and humanitarian proximity <...>. #USA • The US is unwilling to relinquish the reins of power that they have held since World War II through the Bretton Woods institutions and through the role assigned to the US dollar in the international monetary system, even after free exchange of US dollars for gold had been cancelled. • The key goal of the US ruling class is to make sure no one can undermine their dominance. This goal is illusory. The historical process is objectively heading in a different direction, and this has to be reckoned with. • We are ready to interact with any administration voted in by the American people, but only if such a dialogue is mutually respectful, and both parties listen and hear what the other party has to say. #Ukraine • On multiple occasions, European leaders from Brussels have repeatedly made it clear that they must support Ukraine for as long as it takes, because Ukraine is fighting for the European values. • It turns out that European leaders are still willing to uphold Nazi values, which is why denazification is not just a motto, but an objective of utmost importance. #UN • The United Nations is not a valiant knight expected to “charge in and extinguish the fire” upon witnessing injustice. The UN is an assembly of its member states, each with established rules, including the Security Council's veto rights. The United States has effectively exercised this right five times over the past year, blocking a resolution proposed by several countries, including Russia, demanding an immediate ceasefire. <...> Presently, the United States is taking every measure to avoid antagonising Israel. • Nations such as India, Brazil, and African representatives should have long held permanent seats on the Security Council. This is essential to ensure representation of the World Majority. #Finland#Sweden#NATO • The zeal that the Finns and Swedes are showing in NATO, advocating for defeating Russia, is not only rooted in their historical instincts. They are also eager to show their Big Brothers in the North Atlantic Alliance that they have brought added value <...>. • I am confident that reasonable people in Europe, who have learned the lessons taught by history, see this too, including in Finland and Sweden. #Europe • To reiterate, the so-called right-wing conservatives are loyal to their countries and their people. We will engage with anyone who approaches us with a proposal to talk, to seek common ground, and to think about how we can jointly make the lives of our citizens better. #EurasianSecurity • We suggest discussing the Eurasian continent-wide security architecture, emphasising the fact that its doors will be open to everyone, including countries from the West of the Eurasian continent. Read in full(Telegraph)

🎙 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview to the newspaper "Arguments and Facts" (October 21, 2024) Key Points: #BRICS • BRICS epitomises the shifts that have long been underway in the global economy. New centres of economic growth are emerging, and alongside them comes financial influence, which in turn brings political influence. • BRICS is a consortium where no single nation leads or is led, devoid of the bureaucratic machinery akin to that observed in Brussels, where EU officials impose decisions that contravene the will and interests of several member states, failing to align with the aspirations of voters across many countries. • BRICS does not stand in opposition to any entity, nor does it orchestrate operations or initiate projects. BRICS is committed to enhancing the combined potential of its nations and devising collaborative strategies for harnessing these potentials for mutual benefit. • What makes BRICS and other World Majority or Global East associations that do not include Western countries stand out, is that they are not created for the purpose of struggling or fighting with anyone. They are established to collectively benefit from their competitive advantages such as geographical location, shared history, cultural and humanitarian proximity <...>. #USA • The US is unwilling to relinquish the reins of power that they have held since World War II through the Bretton Woods institutions and through the role assigned to the US dollar in the international monetary system, even after free exchange of US dollars for gold had been cancelled. • The key goal of the US ruling class is to make sure no one can undermine their dominance. This goal is illusory. The historical process is objectively heading in a different direction, and this has to be reckoned with. • We are ready to interact with any administration voted in by the American people, but only if such a dialogue is mutually respectful, and both parties listen and hear what the other party has to say. #Ukraine • On multiple occasions, European leaders from Brussels have repeatedly made it clear that they must support Ukraine for as long as it takes, because Ukraine is fighting for the European values. • It turns out that European leaders are still willing to uphold Nazi values, which is why denazification is not just a motto, but an objective of utmost importance. #UN • The United Nations is not a valiant knight expected to “charge in and extinguish the fire” upon witnessing injustice. The UN is an assembly of its member states, each with established rules, including the Security Council's veto rights. The United States has effectively exercised this right five times over the past year, blocking a resolution proposed by several countries, including Russia, demanding an immediate ceasefire. <...> Presently, the United States is taking every measure to avoid antagonising Israel. • Nations such as India, Brazil, and African representatives should have long held permanent seats on the Security Council. This is essential to ensure representation of the World Majority. #Finland#Sweden#NATO • The zeal that the Finns and Swedes are showing in NATO, advocating for defeating Russia, is not only rooted in their historical instincts. They are also eager to show their Big Brothers in the North Atlantic Alliance that they have brought added value <...>. • I am confident that reasonable people in Europe, who have learned the lessons taught by history, see this too, including in Finland and Sweden. #Europe • To reiterate, the so-called right-wing conservatives are loyal to their countries and their people. We will engage with anyone who approaches us with a proposal to talk, to seek common ground, and to think about how we can jointly make the lives of our citizens better. #EurasianSecurity • We suggest discussing the Eurasian continent-wide security architecture, emphasising the fact that its doors will be open to everyone, including countries from the West of the Eurasian continent. Read in full(Telegraph)

🎙 Din interviul Ministrului Afacerilor Externe al Rusiei, Serghei Lavrov, realizat de agenția de presă „Rossiya Segodnya” (Moscova, 5 noiembrie 2024): #BRICS - Cel de-al XVI-lea summit BRICS de la Kazan a fost fără exagerare unul dintre evenimentele internaționale de referință nu numai din acest an, ci și din toată perioada recentă. Succesul acestuia a evidențiat în mod clar inutilitatea încercărilor de a izola Rusia la nivel internațional. - După cum am simțit la summit, [formarea unui sistem de decontări și plăți care să nu fie expus riscurilor externe] atrage o atenție sporită din partea unui număr tot mai mare de state non-occidentale. #NATO - Dacă armele [cu rază lungă de acțiune] încep să fie utilizate [de Kiev pentru a lovi teritoriul rus], aceasta va însemna că nu numai Ucraina, ci și țările NATO sunt deja în război deschis cu Rusia. - Oponenții noștri nu ar trebui să se înșele. În cazul unor acțiuni agresive ale NATO sau ale unor state membre separate împotriva țării noastre, vor fi luate măsuri de retorsiune adecvate, în deplină conformitate cu dreptul suveran al Rusiei la autoapărare și la utilizarea oricăror mijloace pentru a-și asigura securitatea, în conformitate cu Carta Organizației Națiunilor Unite. Și nimeni nu se va putea ascunde în spatele Oceanului Atlantic sau al Canalului Mânecii. #Ucraina#ONU - Kievul, demonstrând lipsa sa de respect deschisă inerentă pentru Carta ONU, continuă să facă presiuni asupra lui A. Guterres pentru a-l forța pe acesta și întregul Secretariat al ONU să ia în cele din urmă partea Ucrainei și a sponsorilor săi occidentali. Această linie este o încălcare directă a documentului fondator al Organizației, și anume a articolului 100 paragraful 2 din Carta ONU, care interzice oricărui stat membru să încerce să influențeze Secretarul General sau alți reprezentanți ai ONU. #Transnistria - Situația din jurul Transnistriei nu este simplă. <...> Sper că autoritățile din Republica Moldova vor avea suficient bun simț pentru a evita demersuri nechibzuite care ar putea duce la o escaladare a tensiunilor. - Există discuții potrivit cărora contextul regional ar impune crearea unor noi platforme de dialog pe problema transnistreană. Este pusă la îndoială importanța formatului „5+2”. Nu suntem de acord cu această formulare a problemei și considerăm că este necesar un sprijin extern pentru un dialog direct între Chișinău și Tiraspol. https://t.me/MID_Russia/47593

🎙Briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova(Moscow, May 6, 2025) 🔹 The decisive role of the Soviet Union and the Red Army in defeating Nazi Germany and lessons drawn from history 🔹 Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Russia and around the world 🔹 Ukraine crisis 🔹 Kiev regime crimes 🔹 On Stephane Dujarric’s comments 🔹 On Argentina’s authorities declassification of documents regarding Nazi presence in the country 🔹 NATO-Georgia command and staff exercise 🔹 Russia's EMERCOM assistance to friendly Iran in fighting the Shahid Rajaee Port fire 📰Read 📺Watch *** #Victory80 We will foreverremember the price we paid for Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Unlike countries of the Western Europe overpowered by Nazis, the Soviet Union did not succumb to Nazis who planned to exterminate us all. We faced a war of annihilation. For decades after Nuremberg, this was never questioned. Now, we are forced to prove that it was genocide. The peoples of the Soviet Union not only defeated the Wehrmacht, but also brought life, liberation and salvation to the peoples of Eastern and Central Europe. The Red Army, the Soviet soldiers halted the Nazi extermination machine in its tracks and extinguished the Holocaust crematoria. Those who deny this are clearly supporting the resurgence of Nazism and the rise of neo-Nazism. In a futile attempt, the embassies of the Kiev regime and its Western patrons are trying to propagate deep-rooted falsehoods that defy history. In their hatred, Ukrainian diplomats go so far as to equate the Soviet Union (homeland of their forefathers) with the Third Reich. <...>What they are doing causes nothing but indignation and disgust. Fathers and grandfathers of many of them, including the ringleader of the Kiev junta Zelensky, were front-line soldiers who fought for the common Soviet Motherland against Nazi invaders and criminals. What would their ancestors say, looking them in the eye, seeing their descendants who, for the sake of personal gain or a pat on the shoulder from their Western master, smear their own past and betray their own history? #KievRegimeCrimes The Kiev regime has really pushed the limits in its so-called de-communisation policy. It now advises Great Patriotic War veterans living in Ukraine – as unbelievable as this may sound – to conceal the war-time decorations they earned for winning the war, for the battles they fought and the feats they accomplished during the Great Patriotic War. They are being told to wear their decorations on the inside of their jackets so that they do not cause any misgivings to those around them who might somehow be disturbed. They referred to them as "sensitive people" without going as far as calling them Russia-haters, but there is no doubt that this is what they had in mind. How can this be? And how do we frame this posture? This is a deliberate effort to sneer at these people, mock and disparage them. The Kiev regime now wants the real heroes not only to stay in the shadows, but to stage their self-annihilation of sorts so that they keep their heads underwater without even daring to show their decorations and medals. It is quite obvious that the Kiev regime views those who saved the world from Nazism with fear, hatred and resentfulness. #UN#DoubleStandards During his regular media briefing, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric made yet another outrageous comment regarding the situation in Ukraine. The UN Secretary-General, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and some other UN agencies are not averse to seizing on even the most absurd accusations against our country. #Georgia#NATO The Alliance is continuing with its policy of drawing South Caucasus republics into its orbit. It should be clear to everyone that NATO’s actions in the South Caucasus are not aimed at enhancing security but at creating a zone of instability and military-political tension in the region.

📰 Presidential Aide Nikolay Patrushev gave an interview to Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper(January 14, 2025) Key points: #USA • The US establishment has been divided and lacks a common policy vision for the world and domestically. • Trump’s core message is that he supposedly has a plan to revive pragmatic politics in the United States, which is expected to benefit both the state and its people. It has yet to be seen how this compares with the interests of other countries and nations. • If Trump’s first term as president is any guide, the infamous deep state has a lot of clout in the USA. It can prevent Trump from pursuing his agenda. • Trump will not view Ukraine as a priority. China is a much bigger concern for him. • Trump has outlined his interests regarding Greenland, the Panama Canal, Mexico and Canada. There is an American tradition that consists of reshaping the world map to suit the US interests and interfering in the affairs of other countries across various continents. • It seems unlikely that Trump sends the army to invade new states for the United States, as some have been saying. What is clear, however, is that the new administration will be proactive in asserting its interests in its dealings with all these countries. #ChinaUS • I believe that disagreements between Washington and Beijing will escalate, and it will be the United States that will intentionally fan these flames. #RussiaChina • For Russia, China has been and will remain a key partner as part of our privileged strategic cooperation. These relations are immune to momentary consideration and will endure regardless of who gets into the Oval Office. #Ukraine • Talks on Ukraine must take place between Russia and the United States without any other Western countries. • The people of Ukraine remain a kindred, brotherly nation with our ties reaching back centuries, no matter what the Kiev propaganda mouthpieces say in their Ukrainisation frenzy. We do care about what is happening in Ukraine. #Moldova • Chisinau must be honest with itself and stop deceiving its people. The Moldovan authorities must recognise their mistakes and get down to mending fences instead of searching for enemies inside the country and in Transnistria. #Europe • We have nothing to discuss with either London or Brussels. For example, EU leadership has long lost the right to speak on behalf of many members including Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Romania and several other countries which are interested in ensuring stability in Europe and have adopted a balanced position towards Russia. Read in full

Din briefingul Purtătorului de cuvânt al MAE Rusiei, Maria Zaharova (Moscova, 24 iulie 2025) Cu privire la situația din R. #Moldova https://telegra.ph/Din-briefingul-Purt%C4%83torului-de-cuv%C3%A2nt-al-MAE-Rusiei-Maria-Zaharova-Moscova-24-iulie-2025-07-25

#Outcomes2024 🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions during a news conference on the outcomes of Russian diplomacy in 2024 (January 14, 2025) Read in full *** 💬 FM Sergey #Lavrov: We are living in a historical era or confrontation between those who uphold the fundamental principles of international law <...> which have been formulated, set out and put forth in the most important international document – the UN Charter – and those who are not satisfied with that document, who decided <...> that they could not live in accordance with the wishes of the “political West”, <...> those who oppose multipolarity. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has repeatedly explained the true root causes of the special military operation in Ukraine. We had to begin to repel an attack, a war waged against us by the collective West with the main goal of suppressing competition when Russia re-emerged as its strong rival on the international arena. Their main goal was to weaken our country geopolitically, creating direct military threats to us right on our borders, on Russia’s native territories, <...> in an attempt to slash our strategic potential and devalue it as much as possible. The second reason also has to do with the history of the region, only it was more about the people who have lived on that land for centuries. <...> These people were labelled ‘terrorists’ by the current Ukrainian regime, which came to power through a coup d'etat. And when they refused to accept it, that regime launched an all-out offensive against all things Russian. <...> There has been a revival in efforts to oppose the Western diktat, with emerging economies and new centres of financial power in China, India, ASEAN, the Arab world, and CELAC. This group also includes a resurgent Russia together with its allies from the EAEU, the CIS, and CSTO. This also includes the SCO and #BRICS. The United States does not want to have any competitors anywhere, starting with the energy sector. <...> The United States and its allies have placed sanctions policies at the core of what they do on the international stage, including regarding Russia. This demonstrates their refusal to engage in fair economic competition and their commitment to using unfair, aggressive practices for suppressing their opponents. *** #CollectiveWest The West is intoxicated by its perceived “greatness,” its impunity, and its self-endowed authority to dictate the destinies of peoples worldwide. This reflects arrogance and a disdainful attitude towards the rest of the world. It is yet another brazen assertion that when we speak of “democracy,” it signifies merely one thing – “we do as we please.” <...> It is sheer hypocrisy, dictatorial behaviour, disrespect for the populace. #UN UN Security Council reform is needed. Not all countries that bear special responsibility in the global economy, finance, politics, and military affairs are represented in the UN Security Council. It has been pointed out repeatedly that countries such as India and Brazil have long earned permanent Security Council membership on all counts, as has Africa. #RussiaChina Russia-China partnership is among the key factors stabilising modern international life and the ongoing processes that are used, among other things, to escalate confrontation and hostility in international affairs, which is what our neighbours from NATO engage in under US guidance. #USA#Ukraine As soon as Donald Trump assumes the presidency and articulates his final stance on Ukrainian matters, we will examine it. <...> The increasing reference to the realities “on the ground” is a development likely to be welcomed. #RussiaSerbia Our relations with Serbia are grounded solely in the interests of the Serbian and Russian peoples, as well as our respective states. Our interests align on the vast majority of issues. These relations are rich with specific agreements and projects, including those in the energy sector, approved by our heads of state, governments, and companies.

🎙Following the EAEU summit, President of Russia Vladimir Putin answered questions from Russian journalists #EAEU As for the outcomes of today’s EAEU summit, we are satisfied with the results and have drawn certain conclusions. The President of Belarus has already noted that our development strategy, which was designed to run until this year, is nearing completion. We are considering how to structure our joint efforts moving forward. However, overall, the results of our work cannot but satisfy us. They satisfy all of us. Why? Because the key aggregate indicator of economic performance is the growth rate. In the EAEU, it exceeds the global average. As is known, global growth stands at 3.3 percent. The EAEU’s growth is over 4 percent – significantly higher. In some countries, it is substantially greater, reaching 5 percent or even approaching 6 percent, in my view. This is, among other things, a direct result of our joint efforts, as the very purpose of our work is to eliminate trade and other economic barriers to cooperation. Without exaggeration, this multiplies the potential for economic growth. #Ukraine Regarding the memorandums [Russian and Ukrainian], as expected, there were no surprises. I will not tell you anything surprising, either. These are two absolutely opposing memorandums, but that is precisely why talks are set up and held – to find ways to bring positions closer. The fact that they were diametrically opposed does not seem surprising to me, either. I would not like to go into details, as I believe it would be counterproductive – even harmful – to get ahead of the talks. With regard to what has been achieved so far following the talks, I think you can see it for yourself. Today, if I am not mistaken, another exchange took place… or was it yesterday? Today, right? And this is important. The humanitarian aspect matters because, as diplomats say, it creates conditions for substantive discussions on core issues. We agreed that after completing these exchanges and the humanitarian operation which we proposed – specifically, the transfer of the servicemen’s bodies – we would press ahead with more contacts. We have already handed over more than 6,000 bodies and are ready to transfer nearly 3,000 more, but it is now up to the Ukrainian side to agree to accept the remains of their fallen soldiers. We agreed that after this phase is completed, we would hold the third round of talks. We are ready for it overall. The venue and the time need to be agreed upon. I expect President Erdogan to keep unchanged his supportive stance with regard to this process. We are very grateful to him for that. We stand ready to hold this meeting in Istanbul. As for the exact timeframe, the heads of the negotiating teams from both sides – who remain in constant, direct contact and regularly get on the phone with each other (which, I believe, is a good sign) – are discussing the date for the next meeting. The agenda? In my opinion, the discussion should focus on the memoranda from both sides. #EU#NATO We are planning to cut the defence expenses next year and the year after, as well during the next three years. The Defence Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Economic Development have yet to reach the final agreement, still, in general, everybody is thinking along these lines. And Europe is thinking about raising its defence expenses. So, who is getting ready for any aggressive actions, us or them? Yes, we do want to complete the special military operation with the result we need. Certainly. This is what we take into account when planning our defence expenses, not aggressive aspirations against Europe and NATO countries. And we want to decrease the expenses, while they want to increase them. 📄Read in full

🎙Following the EAEU summit, President of Russia Vladimir Putin answered questions from Russian journalists 📍 Minsk, June 27, 2025 #EAEU As for the outcomes of today’s EAEU summit, we are satisfied with the results and have drawn certain conclusions. The President of Belarus has already noted that our development strategy, which was designed to run until this year, is nearing completion. We are considering how to structure our joint efforts moving forward. However, overall, the results of our work cannot but satisfy us. They satisfy all of us. Why? Because the key aggregate indicator of economic performance is the growth rate. In the EAEU, it exceeds the global average. As is known, global growth stands at 3.3 percent. The EAEU’s growth is over 4 percent – significantly higher. In some countries, it is substantially greater, reaching 5 percent or even approaching 6 percent, in my view. This is, among other things, a direct result of our joint efforts, as the very purpose of our work is to eliminate trade and other economic barriers to cooperation. Without exaggeration, this multiplies the potential for economic growth. #Ukraine Regarding the memorandums [Russian and Ukrainian], as expected, there were no surprises. I will not tell you anything surprising, either. These are two absolutely opposing memorandums, but that is precisely why talks are set up and held – to find ways to bring positions closer. The fact that they were diametrically opposed does not seem surprising to me, either. I would not like to go into details, as I believe it would be counterproductive – even harmful – to get ahead of the talks. With regard to what has been achieved so far following the talks, I think you can see it for yourself. Today, if I am not mistaken, another exchange took place… or was it yesterday? Today, right? And this is important. The humanitarian aspect matters because, as diplomats say, it creates conditions for substantive discussions on core issues. We agreed that after completing these exchanges and the humanitarian operation which we proposed – specifically, the transfer of the servicemen’s bodies – we would press ahead with more contacts. We have already handed over more than 6,000 bodies and are ready to transfer nearly 3,000 more, but it is now up to the Ukrainian side to agree to accept the remains of their fallen soldiers. We agreed that after this phase is completed, we would hold the third round of talks. We are ready for it overall. The venue and the time need to be agreed upon. I expect President Erdogan to keep unchanged his supportive stance with regard to this process. We are very grateful to him for that. We stand ready to hold this meeting in Istanbul. As for the exact timeframe, the heads of the negotiating teams from both sides – who remain in constant, direct contact and regularly get on the phone with each other (which, I believe, is a good sign) – are discussing the date for the next meeting. The agenda? In my opinion, the discussion should focus on the memoranda from both sides. #EU#NATO We are planning to cut the defence expenses next year and the year after, as well during the next three years. The Defence Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Economic Development have yet to reach the final agreement, still, in general, everybody is thinking along these lines. And Europe is thinking about raising its defence expenses. So, who is getting ready for any aggressive actions, us or them? Yes, we do want to complete the special military operation with the result we need. Certainly. This is what we take into account when planning our defence expenses, not aggressive aspirations against Europe and NATO countries. And we want to decrease the expenses, while they want to increase them. 📄Read in full