🇷🇺🇻🇳 The President of Russia Vladimir Putin took part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square.

ℹ️ The mausoleum was opened to visitors in September 1975. It is a two-story building made of grey marble, with a transparent sarcophagus containing the body of Vietnam's first President on the first floor. The mausoleum was designed and built with the assistance of Soviet specialists.

🇷🇺🇻🇳 Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President of Vietnam To Lam made statements to the media (June 20, 2024)

💬 Vladimir Putin: Russia places great emphasis on further strengthening the Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive, long-standing and friendly relations, our strategic partnership. Our ties continue to expand and progress in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests. Our countries are linked by a strong bond of shared history. Next year will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and Vietnam. <...>

Today, Comrade President and I have adopted a statement that supports the principles of the Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive strategic partnership and announces new guidelines for our joint work in the future.

☝️ I would like to mention the tangible benefits our friends have derived from the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Enacted in 2016, it has since then vastly promoted growth in Russian-Vietnamese trade through favourable conditions for access of goods and services to each other’s markets, also fostering investment, technology exchange and innovation.

Equally important is that our countries are consistently pursuing the transition to settlements in national currencies and striving to create sustainable channels of cooperation in lending activities and banking.

⚛️ A strategic point of our bilateral cooperation is the energy sector. <...> Russia and Vietnam have excellent opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy. <...> Another promising area for expanding bilateral cooperation is nuclear energy.

We consider our cooperation on the Vladivostok – Ho Chi Minh City maritime transport corridor, a large-scale infrastructure project, to be highly promising. Since its opening in 2022, this corridor has facilitated regular cargo shipments with container ships operating on a weekly basis.

Currently, more than 3,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Vietnam are studying in Russian universities.

🤝 Russia's and Vietnam's respective stances on these issues are largely in accord or closely aligned. Our countries remain committed to the principles of the rule of international law, sovereignty, and non-interference in countries' domestic affairs. They coordinate their efforts on key international platforms, including the UN, as well as within the #RussiaASEAN dialogue and at summits in East Asia.

During our discussion on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, we expressed mutual interest in building a strong and reliable security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region based on the principles of the non-use of force and peaceful settlement of disputes, with no room for closed military-political blocs.

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#RussiaVietnam

🛬 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Kazakhstan to take part in the upcoming #CSTO Foreign Ministers Council meeting

📍 Almaty, June 20

🇷🇺🇻🇳 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Nguyen Phu Trong.

💬 Vladimir Putin: Vietnam has been and continues to be a reliable friend and partner for us. <...> Our relationship has withstood the test of time, including during the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people for their independence. These ties are built on trust and mutual support, enabling us to tackle even the most challenging issues and make progress with confidence.

It is noteworthy that my visit to Vietnam coincides with a significant milestone, the 30th Anniversary of the Treaty on the Foundations of Friendly Relations, which established the legal framework for our ongoing cooperation.

We are steadfast in our commitment to further enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, which remains a key priority for Russian foreign policy. We are prepared to continue our collaborative efforts across various areas, including the economy, science, technology, defence, security, culture and humanitarian contacts.

📈 Bilateral trade is showing positive dynamics with a growth rate of over 8 percent in the past year. The intergovernmental commission is tasked with further solidifying this upward trend and contributing significantly to its continuation.

Cooperation in personnel training continues as well. Over the years, approximately 75,000 Vietnamese specialists have received education in Russian universities. Currently, more than 3,000 Vietnamese citizens are pursuing their studies in Russia under the state quota system.

<...>

🤝 Russia and Vietnam hold similar positions on numerous pertinent international issues. We are aligned in our vision of building a just, democratic, multipolar international order grounded in international law, sovereignty principles, and equality among nations.

We interact closely and constructively within international organisations, particularly in the UN, and we value your balanced stance on the most pressing crises.

Today presents a valuable opportunity to discuss key aspects of our comprehensive bilateral cooperation and to outline joint priorities for the future. Moreover, we will discuss the state of international affairs.

☝️ I am confident that the current visit will significantly boost the advancement of our relations across the entire spectrum of Russian-Vietnamese relations.

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#RussiaVietnam

🇷🇺🇻🇳 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of Vietnam To Lam met with graduates of Soviet and Russian universities at the Grand Opera House in Hanoi.

💬 Russia’s deep admiration for the courage, resilience, and heroism of the Vietnamese people in their struggle for independence. We also hold in high regard the hard work of the Vietnamese people, who have faced significant challenges with honour while defending the independence and freedom of their homeland, as well as preserving their vibrant culture and rich historical heritage.

❗️I believe that preserving historical roots and traditional values is crucial for any nation, people, or country that wishes to endure and maintain its identity. It is a unifying factor for the peoples of our two nations, and we take pride in knowing that our contribution, the Soviet Union’s efforts, played a significant role in Vietnam’s illustrious victories. These victories include the restoration of Vietnam, the development of its economic and defence capabilities, addressing social challenges, and training skilled professionals across various fields.

I firmly believe that by building upon our strong traditions of friendship and mutual support, we will steadfastly advance the Russian-Vietnamese partnership, establish new ambitious goals, and undoubtedly achieve success.

#RussiaVietnam

🎙 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s comment on NATO countries’ defence expenditure report (June 20, 2024)

💬 On June 17, the North Atlantic Alliance published an updated version of collected defence expenditure data from its member states. According to the report, the number of states that expect to meet the alliance’s target of allocating at least 2 percent of GDP to defence will reach 23, with a cumulative total of $1.474 trillion this year.

In simple words, the champions of democratic values, which the members of the bloc consider themselves to be, have been inflating financial resources they channel to destabilise global security for ten years now. And all along, NATO governments continued to lie to their own citizens while using their taxes to escalate the military situation in Europe and beyond. They have been indoctrinating taxpayers for years, maintaining the myth of an alleged threat posed by Russia and China just to remove handsome amounts from their wallets. This disinformation underlies NATO military plans, and armies are being prepared for an eventual confrontation with their “major enemy.”

❗️ It has long become clear to many representatives of the international community, including our country, that the main beneficiary of these policies is the United States and its defence companies. Most of the funds allocated by other NATO members will be used to pay for their products.

Unfortunately, the European members of the alliance continue to obediently adopt policies dictated by Washington, while undermining their own economic and social progress, inducing an even deeper crisis. In this context, it is symbolic that the NATO defence expenditure update was published on the same day when outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US President Joe Biden. The idea was for Stoltenberg to deliver a performance report to his “boss” in the hope that his accomplishments would be considered for his future employment.

❗️Statement by the Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation Member States: on the current issues related to the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes (June 21, 2024)

✍️ We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Tajikistan, <...>

• state the importance of a strict compliance with the existing legal regime providing for the exclusively peaceful use of outer space,

• advocate the use of civilian space systems, including commercial ones, as well as the achievements of space science, technologies and services solely for declared peaceful purposes,

• reaffirm the inadmissibility of using the civilian space systems and the related ground infrastructure for undeclared purposes,

• stress the need for a higher level of coordinating interaction between our states at the relevant international venues,

• agreed to intensify the dialogue on a broad range of issues related to strengthening international cooperation between the CSTO member states in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,

• are convinced that our joint efforts alone will be able to preserve outer space for future generations as a peaceful space free from armed conflicts and weapons of any type.

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⚡️ Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation Member States in connection with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders

💬 We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan, as we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders, honour the heroic deeds, courage, and unwavering fortitude displayed by the heroes during the Great Patriotic War.

Belarus was one of the first countries to be attacked by the Nazis in June 1941, enduring severe hardships. The Republic lost one-third of its population during the years of occupation.

▪️ Numerous towns and villages were burned down and destroyed, and dozens of death camps and other sites of mass destruction were established. The village of Khatyn, which was burned together with all its residents, stands as a symbol of the suffering endured by the Belarusian people.

The Nazis failed to break the fortitude and fighting spirit of the Belarusian people. <...> An unprecedented partisan and underground movement were organised on the territory of the republic, which made an invaluable contribution to driving out the enemy.

We take pride in the fact that thousands of people from our countries fought shoulder to shoulder with other nations to liberate Belarus from the Nazi invaders. We honour the memory of all Soviet citizens who gave their lives in fierce battles to free Belarus. Their bravery will forever be etched in history as an integral part of the fight against Nazism.

<...>

❗️Preserving the memory of the victory over Nazism, we firmly reject and condemn any attempts to revise the events and outcome of the Second World War. <...>

We call upon all states and nations to reject neo-Nazism and its ideology which justifies and glorifies Nazism and promotes racial, ethnic and religious intolerance. Any celebration or commemoration of the Nazi movement and former members of the Waffen-SS.

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🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following the meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council (Almaty, June 21, 2024)

💬 At the meeting of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, we focused on preparations for the CSTO Summit scheduled for November of this year in Astana. <...>

During the discussions on the state of affairs in the world, we paid special attention to the agenda related to shaping a Eurasian security architecture that will replace the discredited Euro-Atlantic security arrangements. President of Russia Vladimir Putin focused on this in his remarks at the Foreign Ministry on June 14. <...>

In the same Eurasian interaction context, we have agreed to build up cooperation and joint practical projects with the CIS and the SCO. Among other things, there is a shared interest in using these organisations’ potential for more effective anti-terrorist actions.

✔️ In the context of the fight against terrorism and new challenges and threats, we have approved a draft programme to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border. <...> It will be submitted for approval to the heads of state.

✍️ A document has been signed, which provides an additional impetus to the CSTO’s peacekeeping activities, including in cooperation with the UN peacekeeping operations. This is a very promising line. We see much potential there.

We have agreed to step up biosecurity efforts at the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils and have created a coordination committee on the biological aspects of security. It is currently chaired by the Republic of Kazakhstan. <...>

🇺🇳 On July 19, Russia will chair a UN Security Council meeting in New York on the council’s cooperation with the #CSTO, #CIS and the #SCO. <...> We have invited CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov to speak at that meeting.

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🕯 June 22 marks the Day of Memory and Sorrow in Russia.

At dawn on June 2️⃣2️⃣, 1941, enemy aviation launched massive attacks on airfields, railway stations, Soviet naval bases and numerous cities along the entire western state border to a depth of up to 250-300 km.

This opened one of the most tragic chapters in our country’s history. The Great Patriotic War broke out.

Hitler had a lightning war in mind. Operation Barbarossa implied a crushing defeat of the Red Army and the defeat of the Soviet Union within a few months with the help of the hitherto faultless blitzkrieg tactics.

Romania, Italy and other countries joined Germany to form a united front against the Soviet Union.

However, the Red Army’s fierce resistance and the efforts of all Soviet people foiled the Third Reich’s plans.

🎙 The news about German invasion and the beginning of the war was announced over the radio. At noon on June 22 the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs V.Molotov addressed the Soviet citizens with a phrase that went down in history:

“Ours is a righteous cause. The enemy shall be defeated. Victory will be ours”.

The Great Patriotic War lasted 1418 days and nights and ended on May 9, 1945 with the victory of the Soviet Union and the complete rout of the Nazi bloc.

❗️ The Soviet people perished amounts to 40% of all human losses in WWII, i.e. 26.6 million people! Of them, more than 8.7 million died in combat, 7.42 million were intentionally exterminated by the Nazis in the occupied territories, and over 4.1 million died from the atrocious conditions of the occupation regime.

• Since 2009, the day marked by the Candle of Memory nationwide action. Candles are lit throughout Russia in the silence of the night in memory of all those who died during the Great Patriotic War protecting our peaceful life.

Since 2020, an annual nationwide minute of silence has been held at 12:15 Moscow time the exact time when the Soviet government announced Nazi Germany’s invasion.

🔗 Read our full material for more information

#Victory79 #WeRemember

🕯 June 22 is one of the most tragic and sorrowful dates in the history of our country. Eighty-three years ago, the Great Patriotic War began, which lasted 1,418 days and claimed the lives of almost 27 million Soviet citizens.

On this day in 1941 at 3.30am, Nazi Germany attacked our country without a declaration of war. There were massive strikes on airfields, railway hubs and cities to a depth of 250-300 km from the state border. The Soviet-German front became the main front of the Second World War.

📻 "Our cause is just, the enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours!" — these words from the address of the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov went down in history, inspired millions to fight the then seemingly unbeatable military machine of the Third Reich and, in the end, turned out to be prophetic. At the cost of irreplaceable losses, our country made a decisive contribution to the defeat of the Third Reich, liberated Europe from the Nazi plague and saved the world.

Eternal glory to those who perished for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!

🎥 © Russian Military Historical Society

#NoStatuteOfLimitations #Victory79

🕯 On the Day of Memory and Sorrow, President of Russia Vladimir Putin per a long-standing tradition laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The ceremony was attended by combat veterans, servicemen and graduates of military universities. Flowers to the Eternal Flame were also laid by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.

#Victory79 #WeRemember #NoStatuteOfLimitations