🇷🇺🇰🇿📞 President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the initiative of the Russian side.

The Leaders exchanged condolences in connection with the December 25 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near the city of Aktau, the plane was carrying Russian and Kazakh citizens on board, among other passengers.

The Parties are operating on the premise that Kazakhstan’s government commission which is investigating the details of the accident will bring in experts from Russia, Azerbaijan and Brazil for them to read the flight recorders found at the crash site. This work within the borders of Kazakhstan will be conducted in an objective and transparent manner.

The President of Kazakhstan thanked Vladimir Putin for the hospitality during the informal Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit and the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting, both of which were held recently in the Leningrad Region.

The two countries’ Leaders will remain constantly in contact on matters related to investigation into the circumstances of a tragic incident involving the Azerbaijani airplane and on important issues of fostering Russia-Kazakhstan cooperation.

Читать полностью…

🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with '60 Minutes' television programme (December 25, 2024)

💬 Sergey Lavrov: We have not had any illusions about the prospects [of 2025]. Resolving the Ukraine crisis doesn’t have any prospects, either. It has long been clear to everyone holding unbiased positions that it can be settled only in the context of agreements on lasting security and stability in Europe, which would take into account the interests of the Russian Federation and the legitimate interests of all other countries. <...>

President Putin has repeatedly stressed that we never walk away from talks. We need to see serious, concrete proposals. When we have them, we will decide on how to respond to them based on our national interests, the goals of the special military operation, and President Vladimir Putin’s June 14 speech at the Foreign Ministry.

Other key points

• The prevailing discourse we are hearing both in the West and in Ukraine today is about a truce and only truce. It is about buying time to allow the Kiev regime to regain strength, with the help of the West, and resume its attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, acting on their Western bosses’ instructions.

President Vladimir Putin has mentioned this repeatedly – during the Direct Line, at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting, and at the Russia Calling! investment forum. We will not be satisfied with a truce. We need reliable and legally binding agreements aimed at eliminating the root causes of the conflict, addressing problems such as common security in Europe, NATO expansion, the European Union’s recent decision to become an appendage of the North Atlantic bloc, in fact, erasing all differences between these organisations, and above all, upholding the rights of the people living in these territories who have supported reunification with the Russian Federation.

• We have never initiated a discussion regarding what should be done with nuclear weapons and whether they can be used. On the contrary, it was at Russia's initiative that in 2021, first at the level of Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, and subsequently among the leaders of the entire G5 nuclear-armed states – the permanent members of the Security Council – the 1987 Gorbachev-Reagan principle was reaffirmed: there can be no victors in a nuclear war, thus it should never be instigated. This was a Russian initiative.

We are not interested in escalating the issue of nuclear weapons usage risks. We firmly adhere to the principle I mentioned earlier: there can be no victors in a nuclear war.

• Regarding the incessant terrorist acts perpetrated by the Kiev regime, which deliberately targets purely civilian structures such as residential buildings, hospitals, clinics, shops, and places where people congregate and relax – this is outrageous. It is a blatant violation of all anti-terrorism conventions and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We express our condemnation, although regrettably, almost no one in the West and none of the leaders of international organisations, including the #UN, the #OSCE, #UNESCO, and others, join us in this denunciation. Naturally, we do not stop there.

We regularly disseminate information and present relevant videos illustrating our efforts to dismantle facilities directly associated with the preparation and execution of activities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

❗️We caution that any continuation of this path will be met with increasingly decisive responses on our part.

Read in full

Читать полностью…

Могу подтвердить, что австралийская сторона обратилась к нам по этому вопросу. В настоящее время информация о задержанном гражданине Австралии проверяется. Мы вместе с компетентными ведомствами следим за ситуацией. Если будут факты, которыми можно будет поделиться, обязательно это сделаем.

<…> В произошедшем (если сведения подтвердятся) виновата, прежде всего, официальная Канберра, которая откровенно попустительствует австралийским наемникам, воюющим на стороне киевского режима.

<…> Канберра послушно следует в фарватере русофобского курса «коллективного Запада». Вклад Австралии в поддержку киевского режима составил порядка 600 млн долл. США, из которых 500 млн приходится на военную помощь. К чему привела эта военная «помощь»? К разрушению Украины и к убийству колоссального количества украинских граждан <…>

Захваченные иностранные наемники (говорю в контексте конкретной ситуации и в целом) понесут ответственность. Регулярно информируем вас не только о преступлениях наёмников, но и их наказаниях. Они несут ответственность в соответствии с российским законодательством, особенно в случае причастности к зверствам против мирного населения.

Хочется передать в Канберру следующий вопрос: не думали ли власти Австралии, что если бы из 600 млн долл. они бы выделили пару тысяч или нескольких десятков тысяч долл. на создание условий для обучения, организации рабочих мест для собственных граждан, для тех, кто «зафрахтовался» в качестве наёмников, это было бы выгоднее для страны? <…>

Вижу, как западные страны собирают «по копеечке» на какие-то благотворительные цели, как они пытаются наскрести или жадничают, вообще не выделяя деньги на вопросы экологической повестки. Они секвестрируют бюджеты, связанные с культурой, образованием. Считают, что совершили подвиг, когда отправили пару миллионов долларов на поддержку развивающихся стран. Они разворачивают целые пиар-кампании по проблематике продовольственной безопасности <…> А тут вдруг такие колоссальные суммы, которые идут не на жизнь, а на смерть.

Читать полностью

Читать полностью…

#KievRegimeCrimes

⚡️ Human Rights Violations and Killings of Civilians by Ukraine's Troops and Nationalist Organisations in July-August 2024 report was prepared and published recently for public.

It includes facts of crimes committed by the Kiev regime in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Kherson and Bryansk regions recorded between July 1 and August 31, 2024:

• The armed forces and nationalist formations of Ukraine continued to destroy civilian infrastructure in settlements of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and commit war crimes against civilians. Peaceful inhabitants died under strikes of heavy NATO-supplied weapons. Many of civilians sustained serious injuries and were maimed. Targeted drone attacks on peaceful people and civilian objects have become the new normal for the Ukrainian military.

• In Kherson region Ukraine’s army mounted more than 25 massive attacks, firing over 1,500 artillery shells at civilian infrastructure facilities. As a result, 50 people sustained varying degrees of injuries.

• The Ukrainian nationalists mounted 69 targeted attacks against civilian infrastructure and peaceful inhabitants of the Bryansk region. Unlike to previous months, their attacks have become systematic. As a result, significant damage was inflicted to the housing stock, vehicles and peaceful energy facilities of the region. The most egregious crimes were onslaughts against populated areas, which injured and maimed local residents.

***

☝️ The situation regarding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate was emphasized separately: in August, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) adopted a law banning the canonical church in the country, after which the Presidential Council appealed to the world leaders of traditional religious denominations to protect the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, its clergy and flock from persecution.

***

👉 Read the report in full to learn about human rights violations and killings of civilians by Ukraine's troops and nationalist organisations in July-August 2024.

Читать полностью…

⚡️ Comment by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Kiev regime’s terrorist attack on Kazan

💬 On the morning of December 21, the neo-Nazi Kiev regime committed another terrorist act by cynically attacking residential blocks and purely civilian infrastructure in Kazan with drones. A total of eight fixed-wing drones were used, three of which had been downed by air defences and another three jammed by the EW systems.

Two UAVs flew into the 37-storey 'Lazurnye Nebesa' (Azure Skies) apartment complex, damaging the building. Two more apartment buildings were damaged, a fire that broke out in one of them has been contained. The damage is being assessed.

According to preliminary reports, there are no casualties. Kazan’s authorities are providing the residents with necessary assistance. It has been established that Bandera followers also targeted an industrial enterprise which did not sustain any damage.

Kiev is venting out its impotent rage for tangible military defeats on the peaceful population of Russia. The strike on the capital of Tatarstan is, in a way, the Kiev regime's 'revenge' for the successful BRICS Summit held in October this year, which demonstrated the power and influence of this Group in the world, as well as an attempt to intimidate the population of one of the dynamically developing regions of our country. It is no coincidence that all Ukrainian media and Telegram channels post images from Kazan with sadistic pleasure, accompanying them with lewd verbal effusions.

👉 This only shows the inhumane essence of the regime of the ‘overdue president.’ We are outraged by the demonstrative hypocritical silence of the collective West and its mass media which immediately react to any extremist outbreak, and even more so to terrorist attacks in various parts of the world but pretend as if nothing is happening when it comes to Russia.

We urge the international community once again to give a tough assessment of the criminal acts by Zelensky’s junta.

❗️ There is no justification for terrorism. It cannot be ignored. It deserves condemnation and zero tolerance.

Читать полностью…

🔴 #LIVE: 2024 Annual News Conference and Direct Line with the people of Russia by President Vladimir Putin

Russia's Head of State holds the yearly 'Direct Line' call-in session for the Russian citizens and journalists combined with the annual news conference

🔴 X (ex-Twitter)

🔴 Facebook

🔴 Ruptly

🔴 Kremlin. News

Читать полностью…

📄 Article by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation (December 13, 2024)

National identity and political choice on the example of Russia and China

✍️ The people of Russia and China are united by the bonds of friendship and neighbourliness based on deep historical traditions. In 2024, we marked 75 years of our diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Despite the fundamental shifts underway in the world due to the rise of a multipolar world, some factors have not changed for decades. Russia and China remain responsible for the present and future of humanity. We will continue working together to implement this challenging mission, settling the problems we inherited from the past, which I would like to dwell on in greater detail.

Read the article in full

Key points:

• The Western civilisation has always tried to impose its will on external players throughout its history. Its most effective method was not inflicting a direct military defeat on them, which Europe could seldom accomplish due to the permanent shortage of material and human resources. It employed a much simpler strategy of destroying the existing power structures from within and by proxy. The Western world tried to prevent people from joining forces to repel the enemy, and to incite rivalry and dissent among them. <...> The ultimate form of such policy is the divide et impera – divide and rule – principle.

• The current-day Anglo-Saxon powers have long devised and implemented strategies to encourage separatism for all those who oppose their aggressive meddling in the internal affairs of states worldwide.

• Western forces are acting against us according to the same hypocritical principle of “divide et impera.” Their establishments and Ukrainian ideologues are persistently attempting to apply the Taiwanese, Hong Kong, and other experiences (including Manchukuo) in Ukraine. Their aim is to demonstrate that Russians and Ukrainians are as disparate as possible, to sever Ukraine from Russia, to sow discord, and to create ethnic divisions.

• Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Historical attempts to drive a wedge between us are utterly unfounded and criminal. All those Vygovskys, Mazepas, Skoropadskys, and Banderas, throughout different eras, found themselves dashed against the pan-Russian wall. It will be no different now.

• In addition to the unfettered supply of arms to Taiwan, there is a deliberate tendency to turn a blind eye to the efforts of the Taiwanese administration to “de-Sinicise” and “Taiwanise” the island. This is achieved through the implementation of policies aimed at fostering the so-called Taiwanese identity or Taiwanese consciousness – encouraging the self-identification of its inhabitants as “some kind of Taiwanese detached from their roots” and not Chinese.

• The classical principle of Western 'civilisers', “divide et impera,” inflicts untold suffering and hardship across the globe, serving as a source of numerous ethnic and socio-cultural conflicts, as well as pervasive economic inequality. This was true in the past, and it remains so today.

Читать полностью…

🎙 Excerpts from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin's speech during an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation (December 16, 2024)

💬 The military-political situation in the world remains challenging and unstable. Bloodshed continues in the Middle East, and there is a high potential for conflict in a number of other regions of the world.

• We observe the current US administration and practically the entire collective West attempting to maintain their global dominance. They continue to impose their so-called rules on the international community, which they change time after time, juggling them as they see fit.

• In a bid to weaken our country and inflict a strategic defeat on us, the US continues to pump the de facto illegitimate Kiev regime with weapons and money, as well as sending mercenaries and military advisors, thereby encouraging further escalation of the conflict.

• NATO’s ambitions have long surpassed its so-called historical responsibility zone. Apart from the so-called eastern flank, it is also building up its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Equally concerning is the US activity in developing high-precision ground-based strike systems with a firing range of up to 5,500 km and preparing them for deployment in forward zones. Moreover, the transfer and deployment of these missile systems are already being prepared in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

• Given the escalating geopolitical tensions, we must adopt additional measures to ensure the security of Russia and its allies. We are doing this carefully and thoughtfully, without becoming drawn into a full-scale arms race that would damage the socioeconomic development of the country.

• Meanwhile, we have specified the fundamental principles for the use of nuclear weapons envisaged in the updated Basic Principles of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence. Let me stress once again, so that no one accuses us of trying to scare everyone with nuclear weapons: this is a policy of nuclear deterrence.

• Earlier today, I spoke about the risks associated with the United States deploying medium-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. We will respond to such threats in a comprehensive manner. The most important task is to ensure the timely detection of the launch of such missiles and to intercept them.

• We need to continue to further expand military and military-technical cooperation with allies and partners, with those who are ready and willing to work with us, and that is the majority of countries around the world.

Read in full

Читать полностью…

On adoption of two UN General Assembly resolutions on Palestine 🇵🇸

On December 11, during the 10th Extraordinary Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly, two resolutions were endorsed by an overwhelming majority. These resolutions:

• support the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),

• called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

✅ Respectively, 159 and 158 states, including Russia, cast their votes in favour.

❌ In contrast, only seven countries, alongside Israel and the United States, opposed the resolutions including Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga among them.

The initial UNRWA document reaffirmed comprehensive support for the Agency’s mandate to deliver vital assistance to six million Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Furthermore, the document denounces the adoption by the Israeli Knesset of two bills prohibiting the activities of this indispensable and key humanitarian organisation. It urges Israel to adhere to its international legal obligations as the occupying power and to respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA, including ensuring the safety of its personnel. Notably, 254 Agency staff members have been killed since the onset of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The second resolution of the UN General Assembly essentially reiterates the provisions of a draft Security Council resolution that was vetoed by the United States on November 20. It advocates for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire; the release of hostages and those forcibly detained; and full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access to all victims and those in need in the Gaza Strip. The resolution reaffirms the steadfast commitment to a two-state solution to the conflict, allowing for the establishment of the State of Palestine within internationally recognised borders without demographic or territorial changes.

The Russian delegation observes that, once again, since the onset of the unprecedented escalation of violence and bloodshed in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone, it is the UN General Assembly that is undertaking the necessary decisions to halt hostilities and provide humanitarian assistance – actions that are a moral imperative in the current dire circumstances.

❗️ Meanwhile, the UN Security Council, the principal body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, remains hamstrung due to Washington’s exercise of its veto, which has been utilised six times since the beginning of the current crisis.

Читать полностью…

Russia votes in favor of UN demands for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

The UN General Assembly passed a resolution with 158 votes in favor, nine against, and 13 abstentions, calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the release of all hostages.

The resolution faced opposition from the US and Israel, underscoring sharp divisions over the crisis.

#UN

Читать полностью…

🇷🇺🇭🇺📞 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.

The discussion focused on a number of pressing issues related to bilateral trade and economic cooperation, which is generally developing steadily. Particular attention was given to further advancing mutually beneficial energy projects.

The Leaders conducted a detailed exchange of opinions on the Ukrainian issue. Viktor Orban expressed interest in facilitating a joint search for political and diplomatic solutions to the crisis, including in the context of his contacts with a number of Western leaders.

In turn, Vladimir Putin set forth his principled assessments of current developments around Ukraine and the destructive stance of the Kiev regime, which continues to rule out the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The tense situation in the Middle East was also discussed, particularly in light of recent events in Syria.

#RussiaHungary

Читать полностью…

⚡️ We are monitoring the dramatic developments in Syria with extreme concern.

Following his talks with a number of participants in the armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar al-Assad decided to step down as the Syrian President and leave the country, instructing the government to transfer power peacefully.

Russia was not involved in those negotiations.

However, we call on all the parties involved to renounce the use of violence and resolve all governance issues through political efforts.

In this regard, the Russian Federation maintains contact with all Syrian opposition groups.

We urge all parties to respect the opinions of all ethnic and religious groups in Syrian society. We strongly support efforts to establish an inclusive political process based on Resolution 2254, unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council.

We hope that these approaches will be taken into account by the UN and all stakeholders, including in the context of implementing UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen’s recent initiative for urgent inclusive intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.

Additionally, Russia is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our citizens in Syria.

Russian military bases in Syria are on high alert. There is no serious threat to their security at the moment.

Читать полностью…

❗️Thirty years ago, on 5 December 1994, the Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, known as the Budapest Memorandum, was signed in Budapest.

👉Against the backdrop of a disinformation campaign launched by the Kiev regime around this anniversary and the legally untenable insinuations about Russia allegedly violating the obligations arising from this document, we would like to call your attention to the following.

🔹The Memorandum is not an international treaty and does not create rights or obligations under international law.

🔹This document is a component of a package of political agreements that impose certain obligations on all parties equally.

🔹Contrary to Ukraine’s initially neutral status, the United States and a number of EU countries dragged it into bloc confrontation-driven schemes against Russia, cynically playing on the Russophobic and nationalist sentiments entertained by a portion of the population.

🔹The agreements were also scuttled by destabilising course towards unchecked expansion of NATO and the military and political development of the post-Soviet space to the detriment of Russia’s fundamental security interests.

🔹Kiev itself has also failed to honour its commitments under the Budapest agreements. In particular, those commitments to “counter the growth of aggressive nationalism and chauvinism.” Kiev openly encouraged nationalism in its radical forms. The heroisation of Nazi criminals became part of state policy and ideology.

🔹The push to uphold their historical beliefs and to protect their indigenous interests has prompted the inhabitants of some regions of Ukraine to exercise the right to self-determination.

🔹Ukraine’s loss of territorial integrity was the result of internal centrifugal processes stoked by the external destabilising influence of the West, to which neither Russia, nor its obligations under the Memorandum have the slightest connection.

Read in full

Читать полностью…

🗓 On December 5, Russia marks the Day of Military Glory. #OnThisDay in 1941, the Red Army launched its counteroffensive against Nazi invaders that heralded an incipient turn of the tide in the Great Patriotic War.

By early December 1941, the Soviet group comprised 1.1 million officers and soldiers, over 7'500 artillery systems, 774 tanks and 1'000 aircraft prior to the counteroffensive. The Germans had a marked advantage, including 50% more service personnel, 80% more artillery systems and 50% more tanks.

Contrary to the predictions of the German high command that considered a large-scale Soviet counteroffensive to be impossible, it took the Red Army just 11 days to defeat the Wehrmacht’s Army Group Centre. The Soviet forces advanced 65-125 km along the entire line of contact, hurled the enemy back by 100-250 km and stopped it 150-400 km from Moscow by April 20, 1942.

The enemy was expelled from the Moscow, Tula and Ryazan regions, as well as from numerous districts of the Kalinin and Smolensk regions.

❗️ German troops’ morale was undermined. During the counteroffensive near Moscow, Soviet defenders managed to dispel the myth of the Wehrmacht’s invincibility and to inflict the first major defeat on Hitler during World War II.

Over 500'000 enemy officers and men were killed, wounded or went missing in action during the operation. The Nazis lost 1'300 tanks and 2'500 artillery systems.

The Soviet counteroffensive during the Battle of Moscow came to symbolise heroism and fortitude and had tremendous strategic significance for the entire course of the Great Patriotic War. The Red Army’s success bolstered the ties within the Allies, forced and forced the governments of Japan and Turkiye to refrain from entering the war on the side of Germany against the USSR.

🎖 ~ One million defenders defenders of the Soviet capital received the Medal for the Defence of Moscow, and 110 people became Heroes of the Soviet Union.

In May 1965, ahead of the 20th Victory Day anniversary, Moscow was awarded the honorary title of the Hero City.

#Victory80

Читать полностью…

🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin's remarks at the Plenary Session of the Russia Calling! forum (December 4, 2024)

📄 Read
📹 Watch

Key points:

• Our entrepreneurs, companies and entire industries faced serious challenges in 2022 as a result of actions taken by, let me put it mildly, some countries or more precisely, their leading elites. These countries have shown themselves to be unreliable partners. Many industrial and logistics chains, as well as cooperative ties that took decades to develop, have been endangered or even disrupted.

• We often hear people from the political, military, or economic fields say that these countries set the task of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, including in the economy and technology, to drastically weaken our country’s manufacturing industry, finance and services, to create an insurmountable shortage of goods on our market, to destabilise the labour market, and to lower the living standards of our citizens. It is obvious that these plans have failed to materialise. Following a challenging period, the Russian economy has not only fully recovered, but is also living through qualitative structural changes, which is vitally important and, perhaps, is the most important outcome of our work in the economy over the past two to three years.

• Russia’s technological, production and logistics potential is making strides. Ties with promising partners are getting stronger.

📈 Last year, Russia’s gross domestic product grew by 3.6 percent, which is a well-known fact, and increased by 4.1 percent in January-October of this year. The growth mainly comes from the manufacturing industries and sectors with high added value.

💼 Russia has a record-low unemployment rate of just 2.3 percent. Compared to the majority of the world’s leading and developing economies, this figure is minimal.

• Russia’s leadership in financial technologies positions us well to forge flexible partnerships with foreign counterparts, promote integration projects, and leverage the complementary strengths of our respective economies. I am also referring to the investment platform we are developing with our BRICS partners. This work is in its early stages but all the parties involved agree on its potential benefits and good prospects. It is expected to become an important instrument for supporting our economies and providing financial resources to the countries of the Global South and East.

• Despite the political pressure, many of our partners, including those from Western Europe and the United States, have not left the Russian market. Some of these companies continue to operate as before, probably about half of them; others have transferred management to the persons and entities they control. About one quarter of those companies have really left, while some continue to procedure to exit the Russian economy.

• Russia has not pivoted now to the Global South or East, no. Russia has engaged in this policy for a long time now, since the 2000s, mindful of the global development and global economic trends. We have been doing that for a long time now in an orderly and consistent manner.

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Our relations with China are not impacted by events that are taking place, for example, in Ukraine. China has long ago become our largest trade and economic partner, even before that.

Читать полностью…

⚡️ With its new leadership, the European Union has persisted with its aggressive and confrontational policy towards Russia and kept relying on unilateral restrictive measures as a tool for exerting pressure on our country.

The EU member states approved the latest sanctions package on December 16. It was the 15th time they did so. At the same time, the EU bureaucrats have been turning a blind eye to the fact that these steps are illegitimate in terms of international law when taken bypassing the UN Security Council.

📉 They fail to produce any meaningful results, except for undermining and eroding the EU’s reputation in the eyes of the Global Majority.

In response to these unfriendly actions, Russia has substantially expanded the list of representatives from EU institutions and EU member states who will be banned from entering the territory of our state as per Federal Law No 114-FZ of August 15, 1996, on the Procedure of Exit from and Entry to the Russian Federation.

The list includes:

🔻 representatives of law enforcement and security agencies, state-run and private entities from the EU, citizens of EU member states in charge of providing military aid to Kiev;

🔻 staff members at EU institutions and state bodies in EU member states who were involved in persecuting Russian officials for carrying out “illegal arrests and kidnappings from Ukrainian territories,” in organising a “special tribunal” for Russian leaders, officials who advocate confiscating Russian state assets or using revenues from them in Kiev’s interests, officials responsible for introducing sanctions against our country and trying to undermine its relations with other countries;

🔻 civil activists and representatives of the academic community notorious for their rhetoric;

🔻 members of parliament from EU member states and members of the European Parliament who voted in favour of anti-Russian resolutions and draft laws.

❗️ Russia reaffirms its commitment to responding to any unfriendly steps on behalf of the European Union accordingly and in a timely manner.

Читать полностью…

🇺🇳 On December 24, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a new convention to combat cybercrime (full title: Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes), developed at Russia’s initiative.

The new document, which crowns a five-year painstaking effort by UN member states, is the first ever universal international treaty concerning information security, adopted in response to the demand for new international acts for fair regulation of the digital sphere in the interests of the entire international community.

The Convention is intended to become a solid foundation for law enforcement cooperation in countering the use of information and communication technologies (#ICT) for criminal purposes.

👉 It aims at combating:

• unauthorised access to electronic data and unlawful interception of electronic data transmissions;
• forgery, theft or fraud;
• laundering of proceeds of crime;
• online child sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation.

It protects digital sovereignty of states parties over their information landscape, including through bolstered international cooperation between their competent authorities.

In the future, its scope may be expanded by developing a supplementary protocol addressing additional criminal offences, while focusing on combating the use of ICT for terrorist and extremist purposes, as well as drug and arms trafficking.

✍️ The States Parties to the Convention will sign it in a formal ceremony to be hosted by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 2025.

Читать полностью…

🗓 On December 17, during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the resolution titled “Combatting glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance” was adopted at the Russian Federation’s initiative.

In addition to Russia, 39 countries from various regions of the world co-authored the document, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Venezuela, Vietnam, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Cameroon, Kyrgyzstan, China, the DPRK, Congo, Cuba, Laos, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Serbia, Syria, Sudan, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, the Central African Republic, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

The resolution was supported by 119 states, with 53 delegations voting against and ten countries abstaining.

The document strongly reaffirmed its condemnation of the glorification of the Nazi movement and the attempts to rehabilitate former SS members, including the Waffen-SS units, which were declared criminal by the Nuremberg Tribunal.

☝️ The participants of the resolution expressed grave concern over the continued targeting of monuments dedicated to those who fought against Nazism and fascism, as well as soldiers liberators – acts that have evolved into official state policies in recent years.

Additionally, the resolution voiced profound indignation at events glorifying Nazis and their collaborators, such as neo-Nazi marches, torchlight processions, and gatherings of radical nationalists.

The resolution highlights the trend of erecting memorials and renaming streets, schools, and other public places after individuals who fought alongside the Nazis or collaborated with them.

It expresses concern over efforts to glorify as national heroes those who fought against the Anti-Hitler Coalition during World War II, collaborated with the Nazis, and were responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

❌ The resolution also condemns attempts by certain countries to prohibit symbols associated with the victory over Nazism. It underscores that such actions desecrate the memory of the countless victims of Nazism, have a detrimental impact on younger generations, and stand in direct contradiction to the obligations of UN member states under the Charter of the United Nations.

The collective West, particularly the EU countries where the aforementioned violations occur systematically, has abandoned even the pretence of justifying its refusal to support the resolution. Citing baseless arguments about freedom of assembly and speech, these nations have opposed international efforts to combat aggressive manifestations of racism and xenophobia.

The stance taken by Germany, Italy, and Japan deserves particular condemnation. Their vote against the resolution represents a dangerous trend, given the dark chapters in their XX-century history. It raises serious questions about the sincerity of their repentance for the numerous war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide committed during World War II.

❗️ The voting results clearly highlight the increasing support from the international community for Russia’s longstanding initiative, which is presented annually at the #UN General Assembly.

The adoption of this thematic resolution holds particular significance as it coincides with the approaching 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II.

Читать полностью…

🇷🇺🇸🇰 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin met with Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico (December 22, 2024)

On the Russian Side, the meeting was attended by Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov.

Robert Fico is in Moscow on working visit.

#RussiaSlovakia

Читать полностью…

🇷🇺🇨🇭📞 On December 18, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke over the phone with Head of the Federal Department (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis.

The Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in the OSCE and ways to prevent further deterioration of the Organisation. The Russian Side noted that it was necessary to strictly adhere to the fundamental rule of consensus if the OSCE wanted to continue as a truly pan-European forum.

The Parties discussed the conflict around Ukraine. The Minister went into details to discuss Russia’s position on settling the crisis emphasising the approaches President of Russia Vladimir Putin outline on June 14.

☝️ The unacceptability of NATO expansion to the east was noted, which became one of the root causes of the current situation, leaving no alternative but to hold the special military operation uncontested. In this context, Russia’s readiness was reaffirmed to take every action necessary to ensure its security.

Considering Bern’s attempts to promote the idea of settlement based on Zelensky’s formula, the Russian Side noted that it was absolutely senseless to count on presenting Moscow with any ultimatums to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, agreed upon behind the scenes by the West and Kiev.

Sergey Lavrov drew special attention to the 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law, which stipulates that the principle of respect for territorial integrity applies to states that observe the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

❗️ The Minister also pointed out the imperative of observing linguistic and religious human rights enshrined in the UN Charter, which were legally prohibited by the Kiev regime, which intended to exterminate the Russian language and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

This was another root cause of the Ukrainian crisis, however, all the current peace initiatives carefully sidestep the topic.

Switzerland, being a country that is interested in mediating the settlement process, could state publicly that it was unacceptable to violate the UN Charter so crudely, and also present its unique experience when representatives of different cultures and languages coexist peacefully in one state as an example for Kiev.

Читать полностью…

⚡️❗️EAEU and UAE completed negotiations on economic partnership agreement.

🇦🇲🇧🇾🇰🇿🇰🇬🇷🇺🤝🇦🇪

Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrey Slepnev and Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi announced the completion of negotiations on an economic partnership agreement.

💬Andrey Slepnev:

The EAEU is actively establishing a network of economic partnerships with friendly countries. The agreement with the UAE is an important milestone given the country's role as a global hub in the region. The agreement will give an additional impetus to trade between our countries, which is already showing unprecedented growth, as well as create a systemic basis for the development of cooperation ties.

💬Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi:

The UAE and the EAEU are developing fruitful relations based on a shared commitment to long-term growth and economic diversification. The completion of negotiations on an economic partnership agreement will deepen our interaction and allow us to develop numerous synergies.

The agreement has to undergo the appropriate internal legal procedures prior to its signing.

#EAEU

Читать полностью…

⚡️ Russia’s Foreign Ministry Statement on the development of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic

Moscow is carefully monitoring the evolving situation in Syria following the transfer of control over most of the country's territory to an alliance of armed factions operating under the leadership of the so-called Military Operations Command, headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa.

We acknowledge the declarations made by representatives of the new authorities concerning their intention to facilitate the restoration of governmental functions, maintain order and security, firmly suppress criminal activities, and prevent extrajudicial executions. In a recent interview, Mr al-Sharaa himself asserted that following the revolutionary transition of power, it is imperative to swiftly abandon the "tools of rebellion" and, while heeding past errors, initiate the construction of a state grounded in the rule of law and justice, taking into consideration the interests of all segments of Syrian society.

❗️ From our perspective, the path to a sustainable normalisation of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic lies in the initiation of an inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue aimed at securing national consensus and advancing a comprehensive political settlement process in alignment with the fundamental principles outlined in UNSC resolution 2254.

We emphasise that Muslims and Christians have coexisted in the Syrian Arab Republic for many centuries, and Damascus is the see of the Orthodox Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, the head of the Church of Antioch, which shares a sisterly relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church. We express our hope that Syria will continue to be a homeland for all its citizens, irrespective of their religious affiliation.

☝️ It is crucial for Russia that the future of the Syrian Arab Republic be determined by the Syrians themselves.

We are confident that the bonds of friendship and mutual respect that have developed between the peoples of our countries over the past decades will continue to evolve constructively.

Читать полностью…

🌍 On December 14, 1960, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples was adopted at the 15th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The document, which our country vigorously promoted, became a major milestone in eliminating the system of colonial domination of the West over the countries of Africa and Asia.

🇺🇳 As far back as 1945, the Soviet delegation insisted on including in the UN Charter the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without any discrimination based on race, gender, language and religion.

Our country opposed colonialism on international platforms and actively helped African nations in their struggle for independence, supported the national liberation movements in Angola, Ethiopia, Egypt, Mozambique and a number of other countries, as well as played an important role in the formation of new states on the continent.

In 1960, Soviet initiatives aimed at dismantling the colonial system were included in the draft Declaration, which was approved by the overwhelming majority of the countries participating in the UN General Assembly. It contributed to the liberation of approximately 750 million people from colonial oppression and the emergence of more than 80 newly independent states.

❗️ Today, the world still has non-self-governing territories where people have not been able to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.

Russia is pursuing an active policy aimed at complete elimination of colonialism across the globe. On December 4, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled Eradication of Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, which was drafted by the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter with the guiding role of Russia.

The main goal of that initiative is to ensure the full implementation of the 1960 Declaration and provide for declaring December 14 as an annual International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations.

Читать полностью…

📄 В соответствии с распоряжением Правительства Российской Федерации от 5 декабря 2024 года № 3583-р в перечень иностранных государств, гражданам которых оформляется единая электронная виза, включены 11 стран:

🇧🇧 Барбадос,
🇧🇹 Бутан,
🇿🇼 Зимбабве,
🇯🇴 Иордания,
🇰🇪 Кения,
🇵🇬 Папуа - Новая Гвинея,
🇱🇨 Сент-Люсия,
🇹🇴 Тонга,
🇹🇹 Тринидад и Тобаго,
🇹🇲 Туркменистан,
🇸🇿 Эсватини.

Кроме того, данным распоряжением из указанного перечня исключены Андорра и Сербия, с которыми имеются действующие двусторонние соглашения о взаимных безвизовых поездках граждан.

🌐 Таким образом, теперь в указанный перечень входят 64 страны.

Распоряжение Правительства Российской Федерации разработано МИД России в целях развития концепции системы единой электронной визы, функционирующей с 1 августа 2023 года, и по результатам годового мониторинга её работы, который свидетельствует о большом потенциале и высоком уровне востребованности данной категории визы.

Читать полностью…

🇷🇺 On December 12, 1993, the fundamental law of our country — the Constitution of the Russian Federation — was adopted at a nationwide referendum.

The Constitution possesses supreme legal force and direct effect, and is applied throughout Russia.

The principle of separation of powers and the federal system of the State are enshrined in the country's basic document.

📕 #IntrerestingFact: The Russian Constitution is composed of the Preamble, two sections, nine chapters, 137 articles and nine paragraphs of interim and concluding provisions.

📄 Article 86 of the Constitution states:

The President of the Russian Federation:

a) shall direct the foreign policy of the Russian Federation;
b) shall hold negotiations and sign international treaties of the Russian Federation;
c) shall sign instruments of ratification;
d) shall receive letters of credence and letters of recall of diplomatic representatives accredited to his (her) office.

The main copy of the nation’s fundamental law is stored in the Kremlin Library. When assuming office, the President of the Russian Federation takes an oath of allegiance, placing his right hand on this copy of the Constitution. The text of the 33-Russian word presidential oath of allegiance is as follows:

💬 In the execution of the duties vested in me as the President of the Russian Federation, I solemnly vow to uphold and safeguard human rights and freedoms, to honour and protect the Constitution of the Russian Federation, to preserve the sovereignty, independence, security, and integrity of the state, and to faithfully serve the people.

The role of international law as an integral part of Russia's legal system is particularly emphasised. Article 15, paragraph 4 states:

Universally recognized principles and norms of international law as well as international agreements of the Russian Federation should be an integral part of its legal system. If an international agreement of the Russian Federation establishes rules, which differ from those stipulated by law, then the rules of the international agreement shall be applied.

Читать полностью…

⚡️ Foreign Ministry statement on the Kiev regime’s attack on IAEA staff (December 11, 2024)

During a planned rotation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretariat staff at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant on December 10, the armed forces of Ukraine carried out a series of strikes on the official vehicle used for the rotation of Agency personnel.

🔻 The vehicle carrying IAEA staff was attacked at around 3 pm within the Ukrainian controlled territory.

🔻 At 4.37 pm, Ukraine attacked a Russian convoy that was moving from Kamenskoye after delivering the IAEA Secretariat team to the frontline.

❗️We share the outrage of the IAEA management over these provocative and irresponsible actions by the Kiev regime, which not only continues to commit crimes, endangering and attacking Russian nuclear facilities, but has now decided to put at risk the lives of international personnel and the Russian servicemen responsible for the rotation.

That attack, which could have claimed lives, is evidence of the Ukrainian authorities’ complete disregard for the universal norms of humanitarian law and the agreements reached, as well as their undisguised contempt for the immunity of international staff.

We strongly condemn these actions of the Kiev regime, which believes in its impunity. <...>

☝️ We would like to point out that this latest action of Kiev is an obvious provocation staged ahead of the meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, which will convene on December 12 at Kiev’s initiative. We call on the US, Great Britain and their allies to withdraw any support from Zelensky’s regime and to take measures to bring to account the culprits and those responsible for organising and carrying out that provocation.

Read in full

Читать полностью…

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to questions at the 22nd Doha Forum session (07 December 2024)

Key points:

#Syria #terrorism

• It’s inadmissible to allow the terrorist groups to take control of the lands in violation of agreements which exist starting with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 which strongly reiterated the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Syrian Arab Republic, which condemned any attempts by terrorists to disturb the life of Syrians, and which called for the direct dialogue between the government and the opposition.

• We are absolutely convinced of inadmissibility to use terrorists like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to achieve geopolitical purposes, as it is being done now with the organization of this offensive from the Idlib de-escalation area.

• We are trying to do everything not to allow terrorists to prevail, even if they say that they are no longer terrorists.

#AstanaFormat

• We [Foreign Ministers of Russia, Iran and Türkiye] strongly reiterated territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of the Syrian Arab Republic. We called for immediate end of hostile activities. We stated, all of us, that we want the Resolution 2254 to be fully implemented and for this purpose called for the dialogue between the government and legitimate opposition, as provided in that Resolution.

• I have no slightest doubt that the relations between Syria and Türkiye must be normalized and we will be doing anything to be helpful.

#Palestine

• We strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the 7th of October last year. But at the same time, we strongly condemned the way Israel reacted, basically by starting a collective punishment of the Palestinians.

• Unless Palestinian state is created (which was, by the way, a precondition for the creation of Israeli state), extremism would be breeding and breeding and breeding in the region, there is no doubt.

#Ukraine

❗️ Many initiatives have been put forward <...> But none of them mentions what President Xi Jinping of China proclaimed in his global security initiative, which he made public, I think, in February 2023. Not about Ukraine. It's a generic initiative on the principles which you must apply when you address any conflict. And one of the principles says - address and eliminate root causes of a conflict. This is key to any situation, be it lack of Palestinian state and what is going on in the Middle East, or be it Ukraine. The root causes of the Ukrainian crisis are not mentioned in any initiative.

#USA

• Everything they [the Biden Administration] do indicates that they persuade Europeans not to believe in Russian red lines. They push them farther and farther, providing an example like ATACMS to make the French and the British with their Scalp and Storm Shadow missiles more aggressively involved. They also pressure the Germans with Taurus, as far as I understand.

📄 Read in full

Читать полностью…

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview to Tucker Carlson (Moscow, December 6, 2024)

Read in full
Watch on Youtube

Key talking points

#RussiaUS

• We would like to have normal relations with all countries especially with the United States. We don't see any reason why Russia and the United States cannot cooperate for the sake of the universe.

• The Ukrainians would not be able to do what they're doing with long-range modern weapons without direct participation of the American servicemen. We don't want to aggravate the situation, but since ATACMS and other long-range weapons are being used against mainland Russia as it were, we are sending signals. <...>

[The US and its allies] must understand that we would be ready to use any means not to allow them to succeed in what they call strategic defeat of Russia. They fight for keeping the hegemony over the world on any country, any region, any continent. We fight for our legitimate security interests.

• We don't want to aggravate the situation, but since ATACMS and other long-range weapons are being used against mainland Russia, we are sending signals. We hope that the last one, a couple of weeks ago, the signal with the new weapon system called #Oreshnik was taken seriously.

• When the United States and other Western countries recognized unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, they said this is the self-determination being implemented. There was no referendum in Kosovo — unilateral declaration of independence. <...> And when a few years later, Crimeans were holding referendum with invitation of many international observers, not from international organizations, but from parliamentarians in Europe, in Asia, in post-Soviet space, they said that they cannot accept this because this is violation of territorial integrity 🤷‍♂️

The UN Charter is not a menu. You have to respect it in all its entirety 👉 #UNCharterIsOurRules

• I think [Donald Trump] is a very strong person. A person who wants results. Who doesn't like procrastination on anything. But this does not mean that he's pro-Russian as some people try to present him. The amount of sanctions we received under the Trump administration was very big.

#Ukraine

• We strongly prefer peaceful solution through negotiations on the basis of respecting legitimate security interest of Russia, and on the basis of respecting the people who live in Ukraine, who still live in Ukraine being Russians. <...>

No military bases, no military exercises on the Ukrainian soil with participation of foreign troops. <...> We cannot tolerate a deal which would keep the legislation which are prohibiting Russian language, Russian media, Russian culture, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, because it is a violation of the obligations of Ukraine under the UN Charter.

• We are not talking about exterminating anybody's population. We don't have any intention to exterminate Ukrainian people. They are brothers and sisters to the Russian people.

• It is becoming clear that there is a fatigue in some capitals, and there are talks every now and then that the Americans would like to leave [Ukraine] with the Europeans and to concentrate on something more important.

#Syria

• The Americans in the east of Syria groom some Kurdish separatists using the profits from oil and grain sold, the resources which they occupy. <...> The information [on who's backing Islamist groups] which is being floated and it's in the public domain mentions among others the Americans, the Brits. Some people say that Israel is interested in making this situation aggravate. So that Gaza is not under very close scrutiny.

Читать полностью…

🇺🇳 On the adoption of UN General Assembly resolution on eradicating colonialism in all its forms and manifestations

🗓 On December 4, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled Eradication of Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, which was drafted by the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter with the guiding role of Russia. A total of 113 countries voted for it, 63 states abstained, and none of the UN member states voted against it. The document was previously approved by the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (C-24) and the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly.

☝️ This convincing support shows that this initiative fully meets the fundamental interests of the Global Majority.

🌐 Its representatives are resolved to join forces in the struggle against the relics of the shameful colonial era and the modern manifestations of colonialism, which are seriously hindering the development of a more just multipolar world that will provide conditions for the comprehensive and sovereign development of states without any form of coercion.

The core of the abstaining group is made up of the former Western parent states, which bear the brunt of responsibility for centuries of colonial oppression of Asian, African and Latin American countries. This resolution was extremely unsuitable for them. However, they decided against opposing the Global South and East.

The main goal of that initiative is to ensure the full implementation of the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. In this context, it provides for declaring December 14 as an annual International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations (marking the day when the Declaration was adopted) and preparing thematic information awareness and educational programmes.

This resolution will help organise systemic efforts to eradicate all manifestations of colonialism. Moreover, it will serve as a solid foundation for advancing new anti-colonial initiatives within the UN framework and at other multilateral platforms.

🇷🇺 Russia is fully ready for this work together with the many countries that think likewise.

Читать полностью…

💬 Russia’s MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

❗️ The Kiev regime continues to sabotage prisoner exchanges with Russia in every possible way, avoiding meaningful and result-oriented efforts in favour of endless international political theatrics. They seem to treat these delays as a media tool to advance their own interests.

The real issue, however, is that they refuse to take back their own people. Zelensky has abandoned 630 Ukrainian citizens who were taken prisoner. They are now considered unnecessary / unwanted by Kiev.

Yesterday, Russia's ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova published their names. All 630, complete list with full names and dates of birth.

We provided detailed information about this during a special briefing on November 2 and the weekly briefing on November 27. However, due to the actions of the Kiev regime, the situation has remained unchanged.

Let me remind you that earlier this year, the Defence Ministry of Russia proposed handing over 935 Ukrainian prisoners of war as part of exchange agreements. Despite this, the Ukrainian regime has refused to take back over 600 Ukrainian servicemen without providing any explanation. As of today, the list includes 630 Ukrainian POWs whom Russia is ready to hand over to Kiev without delay on a reciprocal basis.

👉 List of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

So, when you hear claims that Russia allegedly refuses to exchange prisoners and to return people to Ukraine, you should know that it is a lie. The figures and facts speak for themselves: the Kiev regime does not want to take back its own people.

Читать полностью…