🇺🇳 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 separate meetings 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 (https://russiaun.ru/en/news/190724_vershininunsc) 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.
👉 The African agenda covered discussions of the situation in West Africa, the Sahara and Sahel region, and the DR 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.
🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin's speech at the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads of State Council.
💬 President Putin: We believe it is important that all members of the association share their approaches to the situation in global politics, security, the social and economic spheres.
At the same time, our organisation is strongly committed to creating a truly just and multipolar world order, an order based on international law and common principles of mutually respectful cooperation between sovereign states with the central, coordinating role of the United Nations.
Our organisation plays an increasingly important role in international affairs and brings a substantial contribution to maintaining peace and stability, ensuring sustainable economic growth of its member states and developing ties between peoples.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in the #SCO member states who have expressed their support for the Russian leadership in defending the constitutional order, lives and security of its citizens. We greatly appreciate this.
Russia has been in favour of strengthening cooperation between the member states in investment, banking and finance, as well as in industry, energy, transport and logistics, agriculture, telecommunications, digitalisation and high tech.
Counterterrorism, countering extremism and religious radicalism, curbing drug trafficking and other types of smuggling, combating militant formations must remain a priority of the SCO.
It is a matter of satisfaction that the authority and influence of our association continue to improve, and other countries and international structures show interest in its activity. They trust us and want to be friends and work together.
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🗓 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Foreign Ministers Council, held in Panaji, state of Goa, India, on May 4 and 5.
The Foreign Ministers discussed the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the #SCO Heads of State Council (HSC), which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on July 3 and 4. Among other things, they reviewed draft documents to be submitted to the heads of state.
🌐 The Ministers paid special attention to expanding the organisation’s membership, with Iran expected to be granted full SCO membership at the upcoming summit. Procedures to accept Belarus into the organisation have been launched and are well underway. Bahrain, Kuwait, Myanmar, the Maldives and the UAE are about to join SCO-led cooperation efforts as new dialogue partners.
The meeting included a detailed exchange of views on key regional and international matters, during which the participants were unanimous in stating the importance of deeper foreign policy coordination among SCO countries, primarily at the UN.
In the context of the combined efforts by SCO member states to counter terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and cross-border organised crime, the foreign ministers paid special attention to the situation in Afghanistan, considering the urgency of preventing the instability there from spilling over into the SCO space.
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📅 On May 4 and 5, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be taking part in the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Foreign Ministers’ Council (#SCO FMC) in Panaji, Republic of India.
🇷🇺🇮🇳 This meeting will open the final stage in the preparations for the SCO Summit under India’s presidency, which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on July 3 and 4. <...> Russia praises its Indian partners for their proactive efforts and is committed to effectively enabling them to deliver on their agenda.
The Foreign Ministers will focus on preparing the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council (HSC). Among other things, they will discuss draft documents to be submitted to the heads of state.
The Foreign Ministers will exchange views on key regional and international matters with a focus on foreign policy coordination with the aim of strengthening the UN’s central coordinating role in reliably ensuring global security and sustainable economic development.
During the SCO FMC meeting, participants will pay special attention to expanding the ranks of the organisation. The Ministers will approve the SCO HSC draft resolution granting membership status to Iran and will discuss the application by Belarus asking if ways can be found to accelerate the procedures to accept it into the organisation.
🤝 Russia stands ready to work closely with all its partners in order to prepare a meaningful agenda and ensure the success of the upcoming SCO Summit in New Delhi, as well as further step-up constructive cooperation within the organisation.
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⚡️Statement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization regarding the Situation around the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (#SCO) express serious concern over the developments in the Middle East and the military strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The SCO Member States consider the use of force as unacceptable and advocate for the resolution of existing differences exclusively by peaceful means, based on dialogue, mutual respect, and taking into account the legitimate interests of all parties, in accordance with the norms of the international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
The SCO Member States underscore the need to ensure sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Iran, and call on all parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from actions that could aggravate the situation.
The SCO Member States strongly urge the United Nations and the UN Security Council to take immediate measures to counteract the undermining of international peace and security.
The SCO Member States express sincere condolences to the families of those murdered as a result of the attack and declare their solidarity with and support for the Government and the people of Iran.
2 March, 2026
🎙Remarks by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at SCO Plus meeting(Tianjin, September 1)
💬 President Putin: President Xi Jinping, colleagues.
It is a pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all participants of today’s meeting in the SCO Plus format. This is not our first gathering in such an expanded format, bringing together the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, leaders of observer states and SCO dialogue partners, honoured guests invited by the current chair, and the heads of leading international organisations.
This clearly reflects the growing interest and attention of the international community in the multifaceted work of the #SCO. More and more countries are seeking open and equal dialogue.
In addition to its ten full members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation also engages two observer states – Mongolia and Afghanistan – as well as 15 dialogue partners.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on his country’s unanimous admission as a partner of the SCO, as decided by the Heads of State Council.
Applications from more than a dozen other countries seeking observer or dialogue partner status are currently under consideration. <...>
Since its founding in 2001, the SCO has actively worked to promote peace, security, trust, and cooperation across our common Eurasian continent. In this context, we have carefully considered the proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping for establishing a more effective and functional system of global governance. Such efforts are particularly relevant at a time when certain countries continue to pursue dictatorial practices in international affairs.
Russia supports President Xi Jinping’s initiative and is eager to engage in a substantive discussion of the proposals presented by our Chinese friends.
It seems that the SCO is capable of playing a leading role in shaping a more just and equitable system of global governance. Such a system should be based on the primacy of international law and the core provisions of the UN Charter, be truly balanced, take into account the interests of the widest possible range of countries, and ensure opportunities for their sustainable development and security.
The SCO is also actively advancing trade, economic, investment, and financial cooperation. It is noteworthy that, despite continuing challenges in the global economy, the combined GDP of the SCO member states grew by more than five percent in 2024, surpassing global averages. Industrial output rose by 4.6%. Cooperation is steadily deepening in such sectors as energy, finance, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, high technology, innovation, and transport.
It is equally important that the SCO participants consistently uphold historical and cultural values as well as civilisational diversity. On this basis, people-to-people ties are expanding, and cooperation in science and education, healthcare, and sports continues to strengthen. <...>
We would also like to invite delegations from all your countries to take part in the St Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures, which opens next week, as well as the Russia – a Sports Power forum, scheduled to take place this November in Samara.
🤝 I am confident that today’s meeting will be fruitful, strengthen the bonds of friendship among all the countries represented here, and help advance wide-ranging cooperation across many spheres.
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🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to questions from Belarus 1 television channel (June 30, 2024)
❓ Question: President Alexander Lukashenko emphasised that the relationship between Belarus and Russia serves as an example for other countries. In your opinion, where is Belarus’s support for Russia most evident right now? Would you like to see even more support?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: We don’t frame the question as where Belarus can support Russia. Our alliance and strategic partnership are based on reciprocity. All decisions made by the presidents regarding the development of the Union State and its foreign policy activities are founded on the principle of reciprocity and a balance of interests.
Everything we do is mutually beneficial. This principle ensures the success of the allied relations between Russia and the Republic of Belarus across all areas of our cooperation.
❓ Question: Are there any plans for personal meetings between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in the near future?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: There are such plans.
❓ Question: Do you mean the SCO or some other events?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: They will definitely meet at the #SCO Summit.
http://tiny.cc/12uxyz
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting (Astana, May 21, 2024)
Key talking points:
▪️ At a group meeting of the heads of delegations with President of Kazakhstan and during the Ministerial Council meeting (https://t.me/MFARussia/20291), we expressed our deepest condolences and solidarity with the Iranian people, as well as confidence that Tehran will continue its foreign policy, including with regard to its active participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
• The #SCO remains one of the supporting pillars of the multipolar world order. It is well positioned to become a driving force behind transforming Eurasia into a single continental space of peace, stability, mutual trust and progress.
• Security can be reliably ensured only by the Eurasian countries themselves, without the intervention of extra-regional forces. We observe such attempts on the part of the United States, the European Union and NATO, which strive to assume responsibility for everything that happens in the region.
• We are all aware of the importance of intensifying the work of the SCO, considering its weight and role in Eurasia, and its partners, including the OSCE, the CIS, the EAEU, and ASEAN.
• Developing common approaches to ensuring Eurasian security and cooperation by the countries of this continent is a crucial goal. We underscored that the SCO could well catalyse these processes with the involvement of other partners in the region.
• The SCO has two observers and 14 dialogue partners. Recently, Laos and Algeria have applied for partner status. We discussed improving the efficiency of interaction with these countries within the SCO Plus format.
🇧🇾 Starting from the July summit, Belarus will become a full-fledged SCO member. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will take part in all events of the Astana summit without exception. The Belarusian minister attended our discussion.
🇲🇳 Mongolia is the obvious next candidate for SCO membership.
Read in full: http://tiny.cc/wi87yz
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview to the TV BRICS international media network (Moscow, February 9, 2026)
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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.
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview to the TV BRICS international media network (Moscow, February 9, 2026)
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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.
📺Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with NTV television channel(Moscow, February 10, 2026)
Key points:
• President Vladimir Putinhas repeatedly addressed the unfolding global processes. These are objectively shaped by the entire course of history and contemporary developments – where, after 500 years of Western dominance, sustained through slavery and colonialism at the expense of others, a multipolar order is now emerging to replace that system.
• Countries such as China, India, and Brazil, alongside integration blocs like the #GCC and such Eurasian sub-regional groupings as ASEAN, our post-Soviet structures, such as the #CIS, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the Union State of Russia and Belarus – are increasingly asserting themselves as influential actors on the international stage, not only in economic, trade, and financial spheres but politically as well.
• Europe persists in attempting to dictate its approaches across the Eurasian continent, blatantly obstructing and undermining the natural processes of cooperation between Russia and Central Asian states, as well as our allies in the South Caucasus. Europe is aggressively pushing into the Black Sea region, disregarding the existing Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The same applies to the Arctic.
• Certain analysts suggest that the United States will now leave Europe to its own devices, seek to pacify the Middle East – halting yet another war – and negotiate with Russia to remove the Ukrainian issue from the agenda.
• We find it important to guarantee our national interests. We agree with the administration of Donald Trump that the foreign policy of normal major powers, especially such as the United States and Russia, should be based on national interests.
• If we analyse practical steps taken by US President Donald Trump and his team with regard to Russia during the Trump administration’s second tenue in the White House, then we can see that we are moving in the wrong direction.
• The root causes [of the Ukraine crisis] will not go anywhere unless we consider eliminating them in any peace agreement we may sign. We are ready to do that. We have said many times that President Trump publicly recognised our interest in NATO not expanding any farther. That is a huge step. No other Western leader has ever said that publicly, while he has reiterated it on several occasions.
• The recognition of territories is an issue that arises directly from these root causes, as these territories came under Russian control following attempts to threaten our security and to persecute the people who had lived there for centuries.
• If, contrary to expectations, Europe does implement its threats to prepare for war against us and attacks the Russian Federation, we will not launch, as President Vladimir Putin has put it, another special military operation. Our response will be a full-blown military retaliation involving all available forces and assets in keeping with the doctrinal documents to this effect.
• We will closely follow what the American side will do now that formal restrictions [of strategic offensive arms] are no longer in place. We will treat this situation with full responsibility and we will not be the first to escalate.
• [Epstein files] have nothing to do with the diplomatic work. It has everything to do with exposing the countenance known as the collective West. It’s no longer called the Deep State, but a deep alliance that rules the entire West and is trying to rule the rest of the world. Any right-minded person would agree that this is pure Satanism and is beneath human comprehension.
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🎙Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the Government Hour during the Plenary Session of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation(February 11, 2026)
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💬Sergey Lavrov: Russia is defending its legitimate rights in the emerging #MultipolarWorld amid intense competition. We are often compelled to do so despite the Western minority’s reluctance to curb its excessive ambitions.
Russia engages respectfully with those prepared to work on the basis of sovereign equality and other principles of international law. Such countries constitute the #GlobalMajority. They are our reliable and promising partners. The West, however, has yet to rid itself of its obsession with colonial – and, I dare say, slave-owning – grandeur.
The dramatic events of the beginning of 2026, including the armed invasion of Venezuela by the US, increased American pressure on Cuba, attempts to destabilize Iran, and the crisis around Greenland, have confirmed our assessment that the world has entered an era of rapid and profound change.
The central trend toward a more just and sustainable multipolar system will be accompanied by a struggle between the “old” former leaders – concentrated in the West – and the rising centres of development representing the Global Majority. This struggle is gaining momentum and affects virtually all regions.
Viewed through this perspective, it becomes clear why a former colonial power such as France seeks to undermine nationally oriented governments in the Sahel and other parts of Africa. Berlin is not far behind, driven by revanchist ambitions.
🤔 The current generation of German, French and other European politicians seems to have forgotten the “outcomes” of Poltava, Berezina, Stalingrad and the Kursk Bulge.
The state of strategic stability remains a matter of concern. A number of European Russophobes continue to groundlessly blame Russia for its deterioration. At the same time, President Vladimir Putin’s initiative proposing continued voluntary compliance by the parties to New START with its core quantitative limits has received no official response from the US.
☢️ We proceed from the understanding thatthe moratorium declared by President Putin remains in force – but only as long as the US does not exceed those limits.
We will defend truth and law in all contacts with our international partners. We will provide political and diplomatic support to ensure the achievement of all the goals and objectives of the special military operation.
❗️We consistently emphasize that a sustainable settlement of the crisis provoked by the “collective West” in Ukraine is impossible without eliminating its root causes.
Unlike those who, in President Putin’s words, claim the “right of might” to dictate their will, lecture others and issue orders, we threaten no one and impose our views on no one. On the contrary, our diplomacy consistently advances honest, equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with all who are prepared to engage on these principles.
Our strategic partnerships and allied relations with our neighbours – the #CIS and #CSTO member states – play a key role in ensuring national security and maintaining regional stability. We will continue to further develop these ties.