🎙 Remarks to the press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia following UNSC consultations on the Middle East (October 13, 2023)

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💬 We unequivocally condemn the acts of extreme brutality, killings and the horrifying scale of violence. Any killings and violence against peaceful civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian citizens, is inadmissible.

What happened on October 7 on Israeli territory is unacceptable. Israel by all means has the right to protect its own citizens. We also reiterate the right of Israel to ensure its security.

However, there are two inseparable dimensions of the unfolding tragedy, and we can’t highlight one and ignore the other. Indiscriminate shelling of residential areas in Gaza, cutting this territory from water and electricity, its blockade which brings to our minds in particular the memories of the siege of Leningrad during the Second World War are also unacceptable.

Israel’s actions of collective punishment of Gaza citizens as well as its demands to evacuate more than 1 mln civilians in 24 hours and concentrate them in a de-facto ghetto in the south of the sector are also unacceptable and can lead to irreversible catastrophic consequences, regionally and globally.

<…>

We call for an immediate ceasefire and the prevention of further escalation of the conflict. We are convinced that the Security Council must act to put an end to the bloodshed and restart peace negotiations with a view to establishing a Palestinian State as it was supposed to do so long ago.

To this end, we are circulating a draft resolution of the UN Security Council which calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire and for an unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance, as well as condemns all violence and all acts of terrorism. This draft is open for cosponsorship of all UN Member-States.

<…>

We stand ready for the mediation and we have capacities for it, provided both sides are interested in it.

#Think4Yourself & #See4Yourself

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• Historical facts that you probably have never heard about before;
• The ultimate goal of the West in Ukraine.

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⚠️ Warning: the programme contains sensitive images, viewer discretion is advised.

🎙 Excerpts from the answers to media questions by President of Russia Vladimir Putin following his official visit to Kyrgyzstan and #CIS Summit events.

#Moldova

💬 President Putin: The current political elite [of Moldova] do not regard themselves as Moldovans. They say they are Romanians and have dual citizenship. <...> I do not understand entirely what advantages Moldova would have if it pursued other development paths. <...>

We have heard recently that Moldova declined to purchase Russian gas. But it turns out, it did not, and is successfully receiving it now. And where else would they get it from? Not to mention for the prices Russia’s Gazprom offered, and we accommodated them in terms of pricing.

#SouthernCaucasus

🇦🇲 Armenia recognised that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. <...> They even referred to the 1991 treaty when the state borders of the former Soviet republics were defined as coinciding with the borders they had within the USSR. That’s it, the matter is closed.

#RussiaKyrgyzstan

🇷🇺🇰🇬 The establishment of the joint air defence system [with Kyrgyzstan] is a very important endeavour, especially bearing in mind that these are high-tech and expensive elements of the security of all our countries. Everyone expressed the desire to develop this security component.

#MiddleEast

🇵🇸🇮🇱 Palestine was once promised that a Palestinian state would be established with East Jerusalem as its capital. Decisions were taken at the UN level. They have the right to expect these promises to be kept. All of this taken together should be addressed and we should think about the people who are not to blame for the current escalation.

Russia can [assist], because we have very good relations with Israel, and we have traditionally good relations with Palestine.

#Ukraine

❗️ I do not doubt that weapons are being illegally taken out of Ukraine. The scale of corruption in Ukraine is is very high; many are seeking to buy on the black market and there are many in Ukraine seeking to sell weapons.

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🇷🇺📞🇸🇾🇮🇷🇵🇸🇪🇬 Today, President of Russia Vladimir Putin had telephone conversations with President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

During the discussions, the focus was on the rapidly escalating Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Parties expressed deep concern about the massive escalation of hostilities that have led to a catastrophic increase in civilian casualties and a deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

They unanimously agreed on the need to immediately cease fire and to establish a humanitarian truce in order to provide urgent help to those in need.

President Putin emphasised the unacceptability of using any form of violence against civilians and conveyed Russia's deep sympathy for all those affected and the families and friends of the people who have died in the hostilities and noted Russia’s readiness to provide humanitarian aid.

The Russian Side reaffirmed its commitment to coordinating efforts with all constructively-minded partners with an eye towards bringing the hostilities to an end and stabilising the situation. This aligns with Russia's submission to the UN Security Council of a draft resolution calling for an immediate, balanced and non-politicised ceasefire.

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🇷🇺🇮🇱📞 President of Russia Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu.

The focus was on the crisis situation caused by the dramatic escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The President of Russia expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the Israeli victims and stressed his total rejection and condemnation of any actions that result in civilian casualties, including among women and children.

Vladimir Putin laid out the steps being taken by Russia to help normalise the situation, to prevent the further escalation of violence and to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. In particular, the Israeli side was informed of the key points of today's telephone calls with the leaders of Palestine, Egypt, Iran and Syria.

☝️ Russia’s principled commitment to continue its work to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieve a peaceful settlement through political and diplomatic means was reaffirmed.

🇷🇺🇪🇬📞 A telephone conversation was held on October 16 between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sameh Shoukry.

Their discussion centred around the abrupt escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with a focus on the drama unfolding in the wake of the flare-up in the Gaza Strip and the surrounding areas.

☝️ The Foreign Ministers of Russia and Egypt were clear that attacks on civilian infrastructure were unacceptable and emphasised the immediate necessity of ending the violence against innocent civilians, regardless of their location. They stressed the urgency of achieving a ceasefire and establishing safe corridors for the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected regions within the Palestinian enclave, as well as ensuring the safe passage of civilians.

Sergey Lavrov and Sameh Shoukry outlined the key reasons behind the unprecedented escalation in the region and highlighted the fact that it was sparked primarily by lack of progress in the political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They emphasised that such a resolution should be based on an established international legal framework which includes the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders which would coexist in peace and security alongside Israel.

👉 Sameh Shoukry briefed Sergey Lavrov about the upcoming summit in Cairo on October 21, where the Palestinian situation will be comprehensively reviewed. The Parties agreed to maintain close interaction on all aspects of the ongoing developments in the Middle East.

🇷🇺🇺🇳 Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN:

🎙 Explanation of vote by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia before UNSC vote on a draft resolution on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (October 16, 2023)

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💬 From the very start, Russia has been calling on the Security Council to react to an unprecedented exacerbation of the current crisis. Unfortunately, for 5 days, there have been no progress at this track.

In view of the fact that the number of those killed and injured is multiplying by the hour, we could not wait any longer watching precious time being wasted on either repetitive discussions or idleness on the part of the Council. On October 13, we proposed that the Council should consider our brief and purely humanitarian draft resolution.

❗️ Its main element is the call to an immediate, lasting, and effective ceasefire. No humanitarian efforts are possible unless there is a ceasefire. Our draft resolution provides for condemnation of all violence and all terrorist attacks, opening of humanitarian corridors, and safe release of all hostages.

🎙 Explanation of vote by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia after UNSC vote (October 16, 2023)

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💬 We regret that the Security Council once again was taken hostage by the egoistic ambitions of the Western bloc. This is the only reason why the Council was not able to send a clear, strong collective signal aimed at a de-escalation.

This vote of Security Council members is very telling. It clearly showed who really stands for an immediate ceasefire, putting an end to indiscriminate bombings of Gaza, and ensuring unconditional humanitarian assistance for the residents of this enclave, and who persists in preventing this Council from sending a strong message for egoistic political purposes.

☝️ Regardless of the results of the vote on our draft, it has achieved its goal anyway, for it has given an impetus to a targeted discussion as to how the Security Council should react.

🇷🇺🤝🇻🇳 In Beijing, President Vladimir Putin met with President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong.

💬 Vladimir Putin: The relations between our countries are developing in a traditionally friendly atmosphere.

🤝 Next year will mark the 30th Anniversary of the backbone document between our countries, the Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations. It was signed in June 1994. But the relations between Russia and Vietnam have deeper roots and there is no need to say how close our peoples are and how this connection was formed in the previous decades.

In the beginning of our meeting, I would like to speak about the foundation of our relations, the foundation of relations between any countries, which is trade and economic ties.

📈 This year, there is a trend towards improvement, and the growth in the first half of this year was over 6 percent. A joint intergovernmental commission is working to make trade ties develop at the pace we need. From the Russian side, it is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, who is also present here.

Since 2015, a free trade agreement between the #EAEU and Vietnam has been in force, and I believe that its potential has not been fully unlocked yet.

Cultural ties are also developing. In this regard, I would like to note a very important issue that symbolises our relations: the unveiling of a monument to comrade Ho Chi Minh in St Petersburg on June 30. The unveiling was to mark the 100th anniversary of his first visit to Russia’s northern capital. The Russian Culture Days in Vietnam were also successfully held in July.

Of course, we are also actively cooperating on the global stage.

I am sure that this meeting will be efficient, constructive and fruitful.

#RussiaVietnam

🇷🇺🤝🇭🇺 President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.

💬 Vladimir Putin: We are happy to meet with you here, on the sidelines of the international forum in Beijing.

Even though our opportunities to maintain contacts and develop relations are limited due to the current geopolitical situation, it is satisfying that we maintain and develop relations with many countries in Europe. Hungary is one of these countries.

🤝 Relations between Hungary and Russia have been built exclusively on respect for each other’s interests and based on everything positive given to us by the past. It relates to many areas of activity, first of all, the economy.

👉 Last year, our trade and economic interaction grew by more than 80 percent, which is a very significant figure. Unfortunately, in the first seven months of this year, we saw a 35 percent decline. The good news is that it does not eliminate last year’s 80-percent growth, but there is reason to think about what we can do additionally to improve the process.

👉 It is very important that we have the opportunity to exchange opinions on both bilateral relations and also on the situation in Europe and the world with a European country, in this case, Hungary. We know that our positions are not always aligned, but I believe it is extremely important that we have the opportunity to exchange opinions.

#RussiaHungary

President Vladimir Putin arrives at the Third #BeltandRoad Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, takes part in the welcome & family photo ceremonies.

🇷🇺🇨🇳 🤝 President Xi Jinping greeted President Vladimir Putin on his arrival, the two Leaders had a brief conversation.

🇷🇺🤝🇹🇭 In Beijing, President Vladimir Putin met with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Srettha Thavisin.

💬 Vladimir Putin: Thailand is Russia’s oldest partner in Southeast Asia. Last year, we celebrated the 125th Anniversary of our diplomatic relations.

👉 Our relations have always been based on mutual respect, friendship and regard for each other’s interests, and they are still developing in a wide range of areas, including in the cultural, economic and political spheres.

Unfortunately, amid the turbulence in international relations, our mutual trade decreased slightly last year. I hope that the joint commission on bilateral trade and economic cooperation will make its contribution to reverse this trend.

I am very pleased to note that our cultural relations have not been put on hold. As of today, 150 young people from Thailand are studying in Russia. The tourist flow is increasing; in January-September 2023, almost one million Russian nationals visited Thailand. In 2024–2025, we will hold cross years of cultural exchanges and tourism in Russia and Thailand.

🤝 Mr Prime Minister, we are cooperating actively on the global stage. For our part, we will do our best to make our relations develop as intensively as possible and contribute to the development of our states.

#RussiaThailand

🇷🇺🇨🇦 Посол России в Канаде О.В.Степанов прокомментировал РИА Новости решение правительства Канады ввести санкции против шести СМИ в Молдавии, включая "Первый канал в Молдове", "РТР Молдова" и "НТВ Молдова":

💬 Санкционная политика Канады — в целом абсолютно нелегальная, с точки зрения международного права, — становится всё более абсурдной. Русофобия зашкаливает настолько, что её пытаются распространить на другие юрисдикции.

По сути, это пустое позёрство, подтверждающее, что санкции не работали и не работают, а потенциал их наполнения исчерпан. Вводя же санкции в отношении ряда новых СМИ, канадское правительство ещё раз подтверждает фальшивую сущность проповедуемой им либеральной демократии.

Когда на государственном уровне внедряется подавление свободы слова и печати, это уже не демократия, а существующий под её маской неолиберальный фашизм.

🎙 News conference by Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova (October 16, 2023)

Key talking points:

💬 We are working on establishing in new regions a system of protecting children. Within the project To the Hands of Children we have organized 27 humanitarian convoys. Targeted assistance was provided to ~13,000 people.

New regions are continuing to suffer from military aggression from Ukraine. Children get killed and injured. We help in organizing emergency medical assistance and rehabilitation of children. We bring them to federal clinics and buy the necessary equipment.

We have been reuniting families since the beginning of the special military operation in a consistent and open way. 35 children from 24 families have reunited with their families living in Ukraine and other countries.

The Committee of the Red Cross provides significant aid to us, as its representatives accompany the families on the territory of Russia and Belarus. Strangely enough, Ukraine itself and the ICRC representatives in Kyiv are extremely reluctant to work in this area.

❗️We see the politicizing of the situation by Ukraine, so-called information bubble around our activities. <...> You can read our bulletin on our website & in social networks. It is a source of truth.

Despite the unprecedented sanctions, pressure and disinformation around Russia our international agenda has expanded last year.

Yesterday, a flight landed, which brought 34 children back to Russia from Syria. Since 2018, Russia has managed to bring 513 children back from armed conflicts zones in Syria and Iraq. <...> We have been carrying out charity projects in Africa, primarily in health care and education.

It does not have nationalities, regardless whether the children are Abkhazian, African, Russian, Ukrainian, Syrian. These children need safety, care, warmth, and family environment. We see our mission there.

🇷🇺🇱🇦 In Beijing, President Vladimir Putin met with President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith.

💬 President Putin: Mr President, friends, I am delighted to see you.

I recently met with the Vice President [of Laos] on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Today we have an opportunity to continue that dialog, that conversation.

We in Russia know you as a reliable friend. Actually, you and I were university students in Leningrad at almost the same time, during the same years. I was there during the same period as you.

Overall, the political level [of our relations] is quite high. What we need to do is fill it with more economic content. Unfortunately, bilateral trade further decreased last year. Nevertheless, I believe there are prospects, good prospects. We will discuss this now.

#RussiaLaos

🇷🇺🇲🇳 In Beijing, President Vladimir Putin met with held a meeting with President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.

💬 President Putin: Mr President, friends. I am very happy to see you again. I remember our Moscow meeting in 2021, when we marked the 100th anniversary of our diplomatic relations.

The Soviet Union was the first country to recognise Mongolia, and next September, we will celebrate the 85th anniversary of our joint victory in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol. Over 10,000 Red Army soldiers and commanders gave their lives defending Mongolia.

Much was done at that time to build the foundation and economy of Mongolia, its healthcare and education systems. In 2019, a backbone document, the Treaty on Strategic Partnership, was signed.

📈 Last year, our mutual trade increased significantly, by some 40 percent. This year, the growth slowed slightly. But we have something to discuss in this area, and our intergovernmental commission should pay proper attention to it.

We also have major projects in many areas, including joint projects with the People’s Republic of China. These are, for instance, the construction of a gas pipeline through Mongolia to China. Everyone approved of this project and all parties want to participate. The next step is its implementation. I think, we will be moving fast.

There are also such famous flagship projects as the Ulaanbaatar Railway. We will talk about it later in detail.

#RussiaMongolia

💬Ambassador Stepanov’s comment to Sputnik news agency:

Canada’s sanctions policy, being absolutely illegal within the scope of international law, is getting increasingly absurd.
The russophobic campaign is so utterly intense that the government is trying to extrapolate anti-Russia ideas beyond national borders.

Trudeau’s cabinet exists in a political Wonderland and has long been acting out of touch with reality. Such a senseless posturing testifies that sanctions have never been effective. That they have simply exhausted its potential.

And through new restrictions imposed against the media outlets, the Canadian officials reaffirm the fake character of the liberal democracy they worship. The government that uses oppression of free speech and press as a part of its State policy is no longer a democratic one. It’s the neoliberal fascism that is thriving in democracy’s disguise.

🎥 President Vladimir Putin's interview with Rossiya TV channel (Beijing, October 17, 2023)

❓Question: President Biden is pondering running for re-election, and in his latest interview he said that the main priority of the collective West is to finally put Putin “down where he cannot cause the kind of trouble he’s been causing.” What kind of trouble do you think you were causing and what do you feel about this desire to put you down?

💬 President Putin: You know the point is… First of all, I believe that President Biden is certainly one of the most experienced politicians in the world <...>

So, despite the experience I have mentioned, still…We have a well-known saying in Russia: live a lot, learn a lot. And this applies not only to President Biden, but to the political elites in the United States as a whole. We must learn to respect others, and then there will be no need to put anyone down. But the desire to suppress someone all the time for some reason or no reason at all leads to problems <...>

❓Question: Actually, is it possible to put you down?

💬 President Putin: This is not about me personally. This is about the country’s interests, and it is impossible to put down Russia’s interests, they will have to be taken into account.

❓Question: Today, you had several back-to-back bilateral meetings. Clearly, journalists were most interested in your talks with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban. It is also clear that he will now face obstruction from his Western counterparts. What do you think about these methods?

💬 President Putin: Regarding my counterpart today, Mr Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, he is part of a small cohort of European politicians who know how to assert their interests. He does this persistently, consistently, and in my view, quite tactfully. Our views do not always overlap, and moreover, we often find ourselves on entirely different platforms. But this does not prevent us from talking and looking for solutions to various issues and problems.

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