☕️ 21 May marks International Tea Day.
The UK may be famous for its tea traditions, from 5 o’clock tea to a cup with a splash of milk, but Russia has its own rich and fascinating tea culture — just as warm and distinctive.
At the heart of it all is the unmistakable charm of the samovar (literally "self-boiler") — a large ornate metal vessel used to heat water. The Russian city of Tula has been crafting samovars since the 18th century, turning them into both everyday objects and true cultural icons. The Samovar Museum there even holds a tiny 10 mm model capable of boiling just a few drops of water at a time.
Russian tea parties also inspired some of the country's greatest artists, including Boris Kustodiev and Vasily Perov, whose paintings often captured warm and colourful tea gatherings.
And then there's the famous story of "drinking tea like Gagarin". During his 1961 visit to the UK, the Soviet cosmonaut attended a reception with Queen Elizabeth II and reportedly surprised everyone by taking the lemon slice from his tea and eating it separately. The gesture amused his hosts entirely and became a lasting cultural symbol. Many Russians still have this curious habit though.
The UK may be famous for its tea traditions, from 5 o’clock tea to a cup with a splash of milk, but Russia has its own rich and fascinating tea culture — just as warm and distinctive.
At the heart of it all is the unmistakable charm of the samovar (literally "self-boiler") — a large ornate metal vessel used to heat water. The Russian city of Tula has been crafting samovars since the 18th century, turning them into both everyday objects and true cultural icons. The Samovar Museum there even holds a tiny 10 mm model capable of boiling just a few drops of water at a time.
Russian tea parties also inspired some of the country's greatest artists, including Boris Kustodiev and Vasily Perov, whose paintings often captured warm and colourful tea gatherings.
And then there's the famous story of "drinking tea like Gagarin". During his 1961 visit to the UK, the Soviet cosmonaut attended a reception with Queen Elizabeth II and reportedly surprised everyone by taking the lemon slice from his tea and eating it separately. The gesture amused his hosts entirely and became a lasting cultural symbol. Many Russians still have this curious habit though.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇨🇳 Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China on the Emergence of a Multipolar World and International Relations of a New Type (Beijing, May 20, 2026)
📄 FULL DECLARATION
Since the end of the Second World War, changes in the international landscape and in the global balance of power have been accelerating.
On the one hand, the wave of decolonisation and the end of the Cold War led to a significant increase in the number of sovereign states in the world.
The international community has become more diverse and complex. The level of development and international influence of the countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean has grown. The number of regional and interregional associations has increased, with their activities covering all areas of international relations – from politics and security to the economy and the humanitarian dimension – and their role in world affairs is steadily growing. Interconnectedness and interdependence in the world have reached an unprecedented level in human history.
☝️ Attempts by a number of states to single-handedly manage world affairs, impose their interests on the entire world and restrict the sovereign development opportunities of other countries in the spirit of the colonial era have failed.
In the 21st century, the system of international relations is undergoing a profound transformation, evolving towards a long-term state of polycentricity and the formation of international relations of a new type.
Most states, taking into account their historical experience, have become deeply aware of the advent of a new era and the need to follow the path towards building a more cohesive international community, as well as mutual respect for fundamental interests, equality, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation – without dividing the world into opposing regions and blocs.
On the other hand, the global situation is becoming more complex. Negative neocolonial trends are on the rise, including the practice of unilateral force-based approaches, hegemonism and bloc confrontation.
The basic universally recognised norms of international law and international relations are being regularly trampled upon; it is becoming more difficult for states to coordinate their actions and settle conflicts within global governance institutions, many of which are losing their effectiveness. The global agenda of peace and development is facing new risks and challenges, and there is a danger of fragmentation of the international community and a return to the “law of the jungle”.
***
🌐 Advocating a harmonious process of shaping an equal and orderly multipolar world and international relations of a new type, including a more just and rational system of global governance, Russia and China undertake and call on the international community to adhere to the following basic principles in their relations with one another:
Russia and China will continue to develop a shared vision for shaping a #MultipolarWorld and more just international relations of a new type.
#RussiaChina
📄 FULL DECLARATION
Since the end of the Second World War, changes in the international landscape and in the global balance of power have been accelerating.
On the one hand, the wave of decolonisation and the end of the Cold War led to a significant increase in the number of sovereign states in the world.
The international community has become more diverse and complex. The level of development and international influence of the countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean has grown. The number of regional and interregional associations has increased, with their activities covering all areas of international relations – from politics and security to the economy and the humanitarian dimension – and their role in world affairs is steadily growing. Interconnectedness and interdependence in the world have reached an unprecedented level in human history.
☝️ Attempts by a number of states to single-handedly manage world affairs, impose their interests on the entire world and restrict the sovereign development opportunities of other countries in the spirit of the colonial era have failed.
In the 21st century, the system of international relations is undergoing a profound transformation, evolving towards a long-term state of polycentricity and the formation of international relations of a new type.
Most states, taking into account their historical experience, have become deeply aware of the advent of a new era and the need to follow the path towards building a more cohesive international community, as well as mutual respect for fundamental interests, equality, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation – without dividing the world into opposing regions and blocs.
On the other hand, the global situation is becoming more complex. Negative neocolonial trends are on the rise, including the practice of unilateral force-based approaches, hegemonism and bloc confrontation.
The basic universally recognised norms of international law and international relations are being regularly trampled upon; it is becoming more difficult for states to coordinate their actions and settle conflicts within global governance institutions, many of which are losing their effectiveness. The global agenda of peace and development is facing new risks and challenges, and there is a danger of fragmentation of the international community and a return to the “law of the jungle”.
***
🌐 Advocating a harmonious process of shaping an equal and orderly multipolar world and international relations of a new type, including a more just and rational system of global governance, Russia and China undertake and call on the international community to adhere to the following basic principles in their relations with one another:
1. The principle of openness of the world to inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation.
2. The principle of indivisible and equal security.
3. The principle of democratisation of international relations and improvement of the global governance system.
4. The diversity of world civilisations and values.
Russia and China will continue to develop a shared vision for shaping a #MultipolarWorld and more just international relations of a new type.
#RussiaChina
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🛡 President Vladimir Putin and President Alexander Lukashenko conducted a nuclear forces exercise in accordance with the joint training plan of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus.
💬 President Putin: The use of nuclear weapons is an extreme and exceptional measure to ensure the national security of our countries.
At the same time, considering the escalation of tensions around the world and the emergence of new threats and risks, our nuclear triad must continue to serve as a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, ensuring strategic deterrence and maintaining nuclear parity and the global balance of power.
The joint exercise will cover a wide range of objectives with a focus on officials’ actions regarding management and interaction when engaging nuclear weapons, including those deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
Read in full
💬 President Putin: The use of nuclear weapons is an extreme and exceptional measure to ensure the national security of our countries.
At the same time, considering the escalation of tensions around the world and the emergence of new threats and risks, our nuclear triad must continue to serve as a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, ensuring strategic deterrence and maintaining nuclear parity and the global balance of power.
The joint exercise will cover a wide range of objectives with a focus on officials’ actions regarding management and interaction when engaging nuclear weapons, including those deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
Read in full
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