📞 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the transitional phase of the Syrian Arab Republic Ahmed al-Sharaa

Vladimir Putin wished Ahmed al-Sharaa every success in addressing various objectives facing the country’s new leadership for the benefit of the Syrian nation with which Russia has been traditionally linked by relations of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Presidents conducted a detailed exchange of opinions regarding the situation in Syria. The Russian Side emphasised its principled position in support of the Syrian state’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. In this connection, the leaders noted the importance of implementing a range of measures for the sake of sustained national normalisation, invigorating intra-Syrian dialogue involving leading political forces and ethnic and religious groups.

Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s invariable readiness to help improve the socio-economic situation in Syria, including the provision of humanitarian aid to its residents.

The Presidents touched upon multiple key issues of practical collaboration in trade and economic, educational and other spheres, including in the context of recent talks in Damascus that involved a Russian interdepartmental delegation. They agreed to continue these useful contacts for elaborating a wide-ranging agenda of expanded bilateral cooperation.

The Presidents had a constructive, business-like and detailed telephone conversation.

#RussiaSyria

🇷🇺🇺🇸📞 Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President of the United States of America Donald Trump had a telephone conversation.

The Leaders discussed issues related to the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. The US President assured the Russian President of the American side's commitment to fulfill all the agreements reached.

The Leaders also discussed a possible Ukraine settlement. Donald Trump spoke in favour of stopping the hostilities as soon as possible and solving the crisis peacefully. In turn, Vladimir Putin pointed out it was necessary to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and agreed with Donald Trump in that a sustainable settlement could only be reached via peaceful negotiations.

❗️ Additionally, the Russian President expressed support for one of the US President's key arguments, which was that it's time for both countries to work together.

The issues of Middle East settlement, Iran's nuclear programme, and bilateral economic relations between Russia and the United States were also brought up during the conversation.

The Russian President invited the US President to visit Moscow and expressed willingness to receive visiting officials from the United States to discuss topics of mutual interest, including a possible Ukraine settlement.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to maintain personal contact in the future, involving in particular in-person meetings.

The ABC has been tirelessly brainwashing its audience to demonise Russia and obfuscate the responsibility the West and their Kiev puppets bear for the tragic conflict in Ukraine. The recent Four Corners production, Endurance, marks a new and shameful low in ABC’s propaganda journalism.

During prime time on 10 February reporter Mark Willacy invited Australians to savour in detail the process of killing of a Russian soldier by kamikaze drones. «Kill Russians» was suggestively reiterated, accompanied by smiles and jeering laughter, for a dozen times throughout the documentary.

Let’s face it: Australia’s national broadcaster is openly inciting hatred based on ethnic origin.

It is well known that all Australian mainstream media are strongly biased against Russia. However, the ABC takes it to a degree of sickening Russophobia. Not bothering, notably, about the hate crimes legislation passed by the Federal Parliament just a few days ago.

Австралийская вещательная корпорация «Эй-Би-Си» хорошо известна тем, что неустанно «промывает мозги» своей аудитории, демонизируя Россию и всячески затушевывая вину Запада и его киевских марионеток за трагический конфликт на Украине. Фильм «Стойкость», показанный в прайм-тайм 10 февраля в программе «Четыре угла», свидетельствует о падении пропагандистской журналистики «Эй-Би-Си» до совсем уже позорного уровня.

Корреспондент М.Уилласи, который вел репортаж из бункера ВСУ, пригласил зрителей понаблюдать в деталях за процессом дистанционного убийства российского солдата дронами-камикадзе. Вообще, слова «убивать русских» навязчивым рефреном многократно повторялись в фильме, порой сопровождаясь глумливым смехом.

Будем называть вещи своими именами: государственное СМИ Австралии открыто пропагандирует ненависть по национальному признаку.

Оголтелая враждебность австралийского медийного мейнстрима к России не нова, но у «Эй-Би-Си» это доведено до степени омерзительной русофобии. А ведь, казалось бы, всего несколько дней назад парламент Австралии принял закон, ужесточающий наказания за преступления на почве ненависти.

⚡️ On Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

🇷🇺🇺🇸📞 On February 15, at the initiative of the American Side, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Building on the February 12 telephone conversation between the Presidents of Russia and the United States, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to maintain an open channel of communication to address longstanding issues in Russian-American relations. Their goal is to remove unilateral barriers inherited from the previous US administration that have hindered mutually beneficial trade, economic and investment cooperation.

Both Sides expressed a shared commitment to engaging on key international issues, including the Ukraine settlement, developments in Palestine and the broader Middle East, as well as other regional matters.

The conversation also covered ways to swiftly reverse the restrictions on Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, which were introduced by the Obama administration in 2016 and led to reciprocal measures. It was agreed that expert-level meetings will be organised in the near future to coordinate specific steps towards removing these obstacles to the functioning of diplomatic missions in Russia and the United States.

❗️ Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio reaffirmed their readiness to restore a respectful and constructive interstate dialogue in line with the approach set by the Presidents. They agreed to maintain regular contact, including discussions on preparations for a potential high-level Russian-American summit.

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Press release on Russia-US consultations (February 18, 2025)

⚡️ In accordance with the agreement between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump to step up contacts to discuss international issues and bilateral agenda, on February 18, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov held talks in Riyadh with a US delegation represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

The participants discussed a broad range of issues, including prospects for normalising bilateral relations. The sides agreed to appoint respective ambassadors as soon as possible, and to start consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers to remove restrictions on activities of the diplomatic missions of the two countries.

The Sides agreed to establish a dialogue to identify ways to resume cooperation in the economy, including energy, outer space exploration, and other areas of mutual interest.

The Sides exchanged views on the situation surrounding Ukraine and reiterated their mutual commitment to settle the conflict.

❗️ The Russian side emphasised the importance of eliminating the root causes of the conflict, creating proper conditions for achieving a lasting and enduring peace, and ensuring security and legitimate interests of all countries in the region. An agreement was reached to continue joint work in this area through special envoys to be appointed in the near future.

The Sides agreed to resume communication channels to discuss other international issues, being mindful of Russia and the United States’ special responsibility in matters of peace and security as nuclear powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council. The interest in continuing joint work to prepare the meeting between the Russian and American presidents was confirmed.

During their stay in Riyadh, Sergey Lavrov and Yury Ushakov were received by Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. They expressed gratitude for the excellent organisation of #RussiaUS talks. The participants discussed matters related to implementing the agreements on comprehensive expansion of bilateral relations reached by President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

🎙️Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to questions from Rossiya 1 television channel (Riyadh, February 18, 2025)

❓Question: When will President of Russia Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump meet?

Sergey Lavrov: When the presidents come to an agreement.

❓Question: Has a dedicated negotiation team been established?

Sergey Lavrov: It was agreed that teams from both sides would be formed following reports to our respective heads of state.

❓Question: Do you consider today’s negotiations successful?

Sergey Lavrov: I would characterise them as positive.

❓Question: Were you acquainted with Mr Marco Rubio prior to this meeting, or was this your first interaction?

Sergey Lavrov: This was our first meeting.

❓Question: What impression did the other negotiators leave?

Sergey Lavrov: We engaged in good, positive negotiations. The atmosphere was exceedingly positive. A positive atmosphere is cultivated by positive individuals.

❓Question: Reports suggest you employed humour extensively during the talks.

Sergey Lavrov: Those are intimate details. Who precisely alleges this?

❓Question: American representatives claim you made jokes during negotiations.

Sergey Lavrov: I am gratified that they enjoyed it, given their comments.

On 17 February, Howard Hall, 38, died at the Alexander Maconochie Centre after he suffered a "medical episode", according to police. He was the second Aboriginal man who had died in just four days at Canberra's prison and the seventh death in custody in Australia since 1 January 2025.

On the same day, the Australian Government made a strong statement. It had nothing to say, though, about Howard Hall or 109 inmates who lost their lives in detention centres across the country in the last year. Instead, the document harshly criticised the Russian authorities for Alexei Navalny’s death in prison.

So emblematic of Australia’s hypocritical stance on human rights.

🎙 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following talks with US administration officials (Riyadh, February 18, 2025)

💬 Sergey Lavrov: We wish to extend our gratitude to the Saudi Arabian leadership for facilitating a meeting between Russian and American representatives. This appreciation was conveyed personally to the Kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an audience attended by Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and myself. <...>

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the fundamental importance of each nation being guided by its national interests in international relations. We fully concurred with this, along with the understanding that these national interests will not always coincide. However, when they diverge, it is essential to manage these differences, not leave them to chance, and certainly not incite confrontations, whether military or otherwise. <...>

The dialogue was highly fruitful. We not only listened but also understood each other.

❗️ Concerning the agreements reached: firstly, and perhaps most urgently and relatively straightforward, is to ensure the prompt appointment of ambassadors of Russia to the United States and of the United States to Russia. Furthermore, to dismantle the hurdles that have been erected over many years, primarily by the Biden administration in the past four years, which have considerably obstructed the work of our diplomatic missions <...> We agreed that our deputies will soon convene a meeting to assess the need for removing these artificial barriers in the operations of embassies and other foreign missions of Russia in the United States and of the United States in Russia. <...>

The second arrangement: we have agreed that a “process for Ukrainian settlement” will be initiated shortly. The American Side will inform us who will represent Washington in this endeavour. Upon learning the name and position of the designated representative, as President of Russia Vladimir Putin advised President of the United States Donald Trump, we will immediately appoint our participant in this process.

Thirdly, in a broad conceptual sense, as the processes related to resolving the crisis in Ukraine advance, we will concurrently establish conditions for our cooperation to resume in full and expand across various domains.

There is considerable interest (which we share) in resuming consultations on geopolitical issues, including various conflicts in different regions where both the United States and Russia have vested interests.

A strong interest has been expressed in removing artificial barriers to the development of mutually advantageous economic cooperation.

***

Excerpts from the news conference:

• We met because the Presidents of Russia and the United States decided so and agreed to start preparations for a summit.

• We took note of President Trump being the first Western leader to clearly state on several occasions that pulling Ukraine into NATO was one of the main reasons for what is happening now, and that this was one of the biggest mistakes committed by Biden and his administration, and that if Trump were president, this would have never have happened.

• We were clear with our counterparts that President Putin has repeatedly emphasised that NATO expansion and absorption of Ukraine was a direct threat to the interests of the Russian Federation and our sovereignty. Considering this, the troops from NATO countries [in Ukraine] under a foreign flag — a EU flag, or any national flags — does not change anything in this regard. This is unacceptable.

• Our US colleagues mentioned a moratorium on attacks on energy facilities. We told them we have never put household energy supply systems in danger, and targeted exclusively the facilities that supply energy to the Ukrainian armed forces.

• It is obvious to many that serious attempts are being made to torpedo the efforts to establish and to resume Russia-US relations. Truth be told, it was not a wasted effort.

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🇷🇺 The Press-bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation reports that, according to the information available, European capitals have noticed with great concern that Ukraine is unwilling to make any agreements with Moscow that will involve “excessive concessions” from Kiev.

❗️ According to these sources, Kiev is considering a scenario to derail potential peace talks that involves carrying out terrorist attacks against Russia’s diplomatic offices in European countries. Ukraine will most likely focus on Germany, the Baltic states and Scandinavia.

It is a fact that cooperation between these states and Russia is currently at the lowest level in the EU, with contacts between their counterterrorism agencies all but curtailed. Or Ukraine might choose to attack Slovakia and Hungary because this promises additional benefits, namely the discreditation of these EU states that have taken “a special stance” regarding the Ukrainian conflict.

Few will now be surprised by the Kiev regime’s terrorist plans, as evidenced by the European politicians’ cynical calls for special vigilance to prevent the derailing of the settlement process of the Ukrainian crisis, which Europe has grown tired of.

Not a word of condemnation of the crimes planned in Ukraine. Not the slightest hint of concern about the potential danger to the lives of Russian diplomats.

It appears that the experience of the EU’s “war against Russia to the last Ukrainian” has taught them to accept the cannibalistic math where the loss of several hundred lives is statistically insignificant collateral damage, and terrorism is the continuation of diplomacy through other means.

👆An irresistible urge to frighten fellow Australians with the mythical Russian threat. No evidence? Never mind, "it is conceivable".

🙏 This time, at least, the audience was spared cheap theatrical tricks like conversing with imaginary Russian spies.

🇷🇺🇸🇦📞 President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud had a telephone conversation.

The President offered the Crown Prince, the authorities, and the people of the Kingdom his warmest greetings for the upcoming Saudi Founding Day, and expressed gratitude to the Saudi side for creating a supportive environment for the Russia-US talks held in Riyadh on February 18, thereby enabling the two delegations to work constructively and productively.

The two Sides confirmed their willingness to further develop the Russia-Saudi Arabia cooperation, including in areas like trade, investment, and energy. The two sides continue to cooperate closely within OPEC+ to ensure stability in the global oil market.

🇷🇺🇨🇳 On February 20, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the #G20 Ministerial in Johannesburg.

The Parties praised the development of political dialogue and practical cooperation between Russia and China as a stabilising factor in the context of continuing turbulence of the global system.

Special focus was placed on the work to ensure the implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries’ heads and preparations for the upcoming Russian-Chinese contacts at the high and highest levels in 2025.

An in-depth discussion was held on global and regional problems, such as Eurasian security, developments in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific Region, relations with the US, and Ukrainian crisis.

🇺🇳 The Foreign Ministers discussed the two countries’ cooperation within the UN and other international organisations and in various multilateral formats.

☝️ Wang Yi stressed that, while promoting initiatives for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, Beijing believes it necessary to eradicate its root causes in accordance with the corresponding principles of the UN Charter, above all unconditional respect for human rights.

Special focus was placed on the #G20’s activities to build an equal dialogue between representatives of the Global Majority and the West in the financial and economic sphere based on everyone complying with the G20 mandate.

The Ministers also compared their approaches on issues related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and #BRICS.

The conversation was held in the traditionally confidential and constructive spirit that characterises Russian-Chinese strategic partnership.

#RussiaChina

🇷🇺🇩🇿 On February 20 in Johannesburg, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs Ahmed Attaf on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

In the course of the conversation, the Parties discussed priority tasks of further strengthening the relations of deep strategic partnership between Russia and Algeria.

🤝 Both Sides expressed satisfaction with the high level of trust-based political dialogue and established interaction in various multilateral formats, including at the UN Security Council.

The Ministers had a thorough exchange of views on topical issues on the global and regional agenda, with a focus on the situation in the #MiddleEast and the Sahara-Sahel region. They stressed their readiness to continue close foreign policy co-ordination for an early settlement of conflicts exclusively by political and diplomatic means on the basis of the universally recognised principles of international law.

#G20 #RussiaAlgeria

🤔 Struggling to recollect when President Vladimir Putin asked for Mr Albanese’s time

🇷🇺🇿🇦 On February 20, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was received by the President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

During the meeting, the officials reviewed the main aspects of the diverse Russia – South Africa partnership and prioritised efforts to expand political, trade, economic, investment, scientific and technological cooperation in accordance with agreements reached by the Presidents of Russia and the Republic of South Africa. They prioritised promising long-term projects in the field of peaceful space exploration.

They emphasised the commitment of both countries to continued constructive cooperation on the main issues of the international and regional agenda, including coordinated efforts at the UN, the G20 and #BRICS.

The officials also discussed the situation around Ukraine. Sergey Lavrov informed Cyril Ramaphosa about the February 18 #RussiaUS talks in Riyadh.

#RussiaSouthAfrica

🇷🇺🇺🇿📞 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev (February 21, 2025)

The Leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in bilateral cooperation, which is actively progressing in all areas.

They highlighted significant trade growth, the successful implementation of major joint projects in energy and industrial cooperation, and productive contacts between the regions.

The Sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening the comprehensive Russian-Uzbek strategic partnership and alliance, as well as stepping up interaction between the governments, relevant ministries, and agencies of the two countries.

#RussiaUzbekistan