⚡Comment by the Russian Permanent Mission to the EU regarding the meeting of the so-called “International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children” in Brussels on 11 May 2026

In connection with the high-level meeting of the so-called “International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children” held in Brussels on 11 May 2026, which involved the dissemination of propagandistic and false accusations against Russia, we would like to note the following.

☝ We view this event, organized by the European Union together with Ukraine and Canada, as a deliberate attempt to politicize this sensitive issue in order to discredit Russia’s humanitarian policy. In reality, there have never been and there are no “forced transfers and deportations” of Ukrainian children. From the very first days of the Special Military Operation, our country’s efforts have been aimed at evacuating minors from combat zones to safeguard their lives and health, as well as at reuniting families separated during the Ukrainian conflict.

Despite the disinformation actively spread by the EU alleging that Russia is creating obstacles and is unwilling to cooperate on this issue, the family reunification process continues to move forward steadily. Since 2023, a direct channel of interaction with the Ukrainian side has been established, enabling prompt resolution of issues in the interests of children. Every minor, regardless of their location or status, has every opportunity to reunite with their relatives, provided that they come forward and have the relevant legal rights.

❗The Russian side remains open to constructive dialogue. We highly appreciate the mediation efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Vatican and Qatar, which also provides substantial logistical assistance. Since autumn 2025, First Lady of the United States Melania Trump has joined these important efforts. We consider unacceptable any speculation on this matter, which could hinder the humanitarian work of Russia and of its international partners. Detailed information on the process of family reunification for children separated during the Ukrainian conflict is available in the 4th Bulletin of the Russian Federation Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights dated 7 May 2026.

Contrary to the claims made by Kiev and representatives of the European Union regarding the alleged “tens of thousands of abducted children”, the actual facts indicate otherwise. During the negotiations in Istanbul on 2 June 2025, the Ukrainian side handed over to Russia a list consisting of only 339 children allegedly located on the territory of our country. At the same time, following the review carried out by the Russian side, it became clear that a substantial part of the list was based on the outdated and irrelevant information. As for the remaining minors on the list, meticulous work is being carried out, in contact with the Ukrainian side, to identify and verify their relatives.

❗We call on the European Union to stop politicizing this issue and to pay attention to its own systemic problems. In the EU Member States, there are cases of Ukrainian children being unlawfully taken away from their parents by local social services. Furthermore, serious concerns remain regarding the fate of minors who entered the EU from Ukraine unaccompanied in recent years.

🎙 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with RT India (Moscow, May 13, 2026)

Key points:

#RussiaIndia

• From the moment India gained independence, Indian Leaders visited the Soviet Union, while Soviet Leaders travelled to India. This helped lay a solid foundation of trust-based personal relations between the Leaders of the two countries – something that is always useful. At the same time, a robust material basis was being created for partnership between India and Russia.

• The understanding of the Russia-India partnership has evolved over time. It began as a partnership, then became a strategic partnership, and was later elevated to a privileged strategic partnership. Subsequently, under Manmohan Singh, Russia-India relations reached the level of a special and privileged strategic partnership. The fact that the Russian and Indian economies complement each other also has a positive effect.

• From the outset, India was deeply interested in military-technical cooperation, which also played an important role. For a long time after gaining independence, no Western country was willing to help India develop its own military technology. 👉 With Russia, things were different. We began cooperation with India as a “seller and buyer”. Today, the situation has changed dramatically: we are no longer simply selling weapons and equipment to India. We are selling less, as we are gradually moving towards joint production in India.

• Our flagship project today is the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. It meets a significant share of India’s electricity needs. Cooperation continues on building new power units for this nuclear power plant. Still, this is not enough for India. Supplies of our hydrocarbons – gas, oil and coal – also continue.

• No single word can capture the essence of Russia-India relations. Not because human language lacks eloquence, but because relations this rich are hard to imagine. Nor is there any situation in which our paths could diverge. It is simply impossible. We began our conversation with what Russia–India relations are built on – friendship #DruzhbaDosti.

#BRICS #India

• In setting its BRICS presidency priorities, India has outlined goals that, first, reflect its national interests, including progress towards the 2047 objectives; second, reflect the principle of consensus, which is indispensable in BRICS; and third, ensure continuity.

• I mentioned the decision of the Kazan Summit to create settlement, payment, reinsurance and exchange mechanisms that will not depend on the arbitrariness and whims of our Western colleagues. India is determined to continue this work.

#RussiaUS

• US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Ukraine is Joe Biden’s war, not his. We appreciate the fact that President Trump has launched a dialogue with us, with President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Many correct words are being said about Russia and the US having enormous prospects for mutually beneficial, modern, technological, energy and other projects.

• ☝️ But in practice, nothing is happening. In reality, apart from this regular dialogue – which is normal in communication between people and states – everything else remains on the same track laid down by Joe Biden. All sanctions against Russia adopted under him remain in force. Moreover, the Trump administration is now advancing its own initiatives aimed at economically “punishing” Russia.

#MiddleEast #Iran

• I have no doubt that when plans were being hatched to unleash aggression against Iran, one of the objectives was to prevent the normalisation of relations between Iran and the Arab states.

• I am convinced of this not because we are formalists who demand the implementation of UN decisions on the establishment of a Palestinian State simply because these decisions exist. I have no doubt whatsoever that, without creating a Palestinian State, we will preserve a hotbed of extremism for many decades to come – one from which everyone will suffer.

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🇷🇺🇳🇴 14 мая исполняется 200 лет со дня установления российско-норвежской границы.

В этот день в 1826 году в Санкт-Петербурге был заключен «Трактат между Его Величеством Императором Всероссийским и Его Величеством Королём Шведским и Норвежским о границах между Россией и Норвегией в Лапландских погостах».

История российско-норвежской границы уходит еще дальше вглубь веков. Ее основа была заложена 700 лет назад, в 1326 году, когда Новгородская республика и Королевство Норвегия заключили мирный договор, на столетия урегулировавший конфликты и споры на Севере. С тех пор соседние народы не пересекали эту границу с враждебными, захватническими или каким-то иными злонамеренными целями.

Сегодня российско-норвежские отношения переживают самый глубокий кризис с конца Второй мировой войны. Прекращены политдиалог, контакты между регионами, заблокирована отраслевая кооперация. Санкции нанесли сокрушительный удар по двусторонней торговле.

Нас не может не беспокоить, что соседняя с нами страна, еще недавно ответственно подходившая к поддержанию низкой напряженности в высоких широтах, добивается нанесения Российской Федерации «стратегического поражения», размещает военную инфраструктуру в интересах НАТО вблизи границ с Россией, что создает угрозы для нашей нацбезопасности, повышает вероятность опасных инцидентов и ведет к росту военно-политической напряженности в Арктике.

❗️При этом продолжаются важные для обеспечения режима границы и предотвращения инцидентов контакты по линии оборонных, пограничных и таможенных ведомств России и Норвегии.

Сохраняется и двустороннее сотрудничество в сфере рыболовства, которое в этом году также отмечает свой юбилей – 50 лет со дня подписания соглашений в сфере рыболовства между СССР и Норвегией, ставших основой совместного управления рыбными ресурсами Баренцева моря.

💬 Посол России в Норвегии Н.В.Корчунов:

«Несмотря на сложные времена, необходимо помнить, что Россия и Норвегия являются соседями, и прагматично подходить к решению вопросов, представляющих взаимный интерес. Объективная картина такова, что Россия и Норвегия «обречены» на сотрудничество. Наши страны не просто соседи – будучи арктическими государствами мы несем особую ответственность за судьбу арктического региона, в котором эффективное решение актуальных задач и проблем предполагает совместные усилия».

Опубликовано в ТАСС

🇷🇺🇳🇴 200-årsdag for grensen mellom Russland og Norge (14. mai 2026)

14. mai er det 200 år siden den russisk-norske grensen ble fastsatt. På denne dagen i 1826 ble det i St. Petersburg inngått en «Konvensjon mellom Hans Majestæt Kongen af Sverige og Norge og Hans Majestæt Keiseren af Rusland angående fastleggelsen av grensen mellom Norge og Russland». 

Historien til den russisk-norske grensen strekker seg enda lenger tilbake i tid. Grunnlaget ble lagt for 700 år siden, i 1326, da Novgorod-republikken og Kongeriket Norge inngikk en fredstraktat som i århundrer løste konflikter og tvister i nord. Siden den gang har de to nabofolkene ikke krysset denne grensen med fiendtlige, erobringslystne eller andre ondsinnede hensikter.

I dag gjennomgår de russisk-norske forholdene den dypeste krisen siden slutten av andre verdenskrig. Den politiske dialogen og kontakten mellom regionene er avbrutt, og samarbeidet mellom næringslivene er blokkert. Sanksjonene har påført den bilaterale handelen et knusende slag.

Vi kan ikke unngå å være bekymret for at vårt naboland, som inntil nylig hadde en ansvarlig holdning til å opprettholde lav spenning i nordområdene, nå forsøker å påføre Den russiske føderasjonen et «strategisk nederlag», plasserer militær infrastruktur i NATOs interesse nær grensene til Russland, noe som utgjør en trussel mot vår nasjonale sikkerhet, øker sannsynligheten for farlige hendelser og fører til økt militærpolitisk spenning i Arktis. 

❗️Samtidig fortsetter kontakten mellom forsvars-, grense- og tollmyndighetene i Russland og Norge, noe som er viktig for å sikre grenseordningen og forebygge uønskede hendelser.

Det bilaterale samarbeidet innen fiskeri opprettholdes også, og i år feirer vi 50-årsjubileet for undertegnelsen av fiskeriavtalene mellom Sovjetunionen og Norge, som dannet grunnlaget for den felles forvaltningen av fiskeressursene i Barentshavet.

💬 Russlands ambassadør i Norge, Nikolay Korchunov:

«Til tross for vanskelige tider må vi huske at Russland og Norge er naboer, og vi må ha en pragmatisk tilnærming til å løse spørsmål av felles interesse. Det objektive bildet er at Russland og Norge er «dømt» til å samarbeide. Våre land er ikke bare naboer – som arktiske stater har vi et særskilt ansvar for skjebnen til den arktiske regionen, hvor en effektiv løsning på aktuelle oppgaver og problemer forutsetter felles innsats».

Publisert i TASS