#Opinion

✍️ Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, former State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (in 2005-2019) Grigory Karasin (May 17, 2025)

💬 Grigory Karasin: It is clear that Istanbul marked a crucial turning point.

Despite the camouflage sheen of certain Kiev negotiators and the traditionally cunning faces of the European masterminds constantly surrounding Zelensky, the talks in Türkiye should be regarded as a serious milestone on the path towards resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

The first face-to-face meeting between the two delegations after the three years of fierce military confrontation — despite all the Western propaganda tricks — has nonetheless opened the door to contacts and solutions on specific, sensitive issues.

👉 Credit should be given to the calm and confident manner in which the Russian delegation conducted the dialogue.

The POWs exchange and the agreement to continue negotiations are significant outcomes of a difficult and complex process.

Russia’s objectives remain unchanged and were clearly stated by the President in June 2024. There is a growing sense that these goals are now being perceived with greater clarity, both by Kiev and its handlers.

❗️ The important thing is that the process has begun.

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s video address to organisers and participants in the CIS International Legal Forum on the theme Legal Legacy of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War: Historical Significance and Modern Challenges (May 19, 2025)

💬 I am glad to welcome you at the first CIS International Legal Forum timed to coincide with the 80th Anniversary of Great Victory.

The Commonwealth of Independent States has declared 2025 the Year of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – Year of Peace and Unity in the fight against Nazism. It is gratifying therefore that it is the CIS that is holding a panel dedicated to the legal heritage of Victory, its historic significance and modern challenges at the St Petersburg International Legal Forum.

What is particularly important is that it is attended by representatives of states and multilateral organisations, on the one hand, and the academic community, including university teachers, on the other. Your role in promoting the historical truth can hardly be overestimated.

The Great Victory – a heroic page in our common history – has made it possible to lay the foundation of the modern world order, whose cornerstone is the United Nations. Eighty years ago, the UN Charter asserted the fundamental principles of international law. Today, they constitute, in their entirety and interconnection, the basis of fair and equitable international relations and are a reliable aid in the context of efforts to establish a stable multipolar world order.

To “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,” as the UN Charter says at the start of its Preamble, it was essential to understand the reason why the horrors of World War II had become possible. The Nuremberg Trials provided incontestable legal assessments with regard to Nazism. This process has become an example of a profound and comprehensive insight – legal and moral – into the ideology and practices of Nazism as the primary cause of the tragedy of the world conflict. The verdicts passed by the Nuremberg Trials were immediately recognised by the UN as one of the legal foundations of the world order and collective efforts to strengthen global security.

❗️ Regrettably, a number of states in the West are losing the last vestiges of immunity to the “pest of the brown-shirts” that was built up as a result of wartime suffering and grief. Failure to comply with the key principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, is a blow to the heritage of Victory, while disdain for the results of the Nuremberg Trials, including the glorification of Nazi collaborationists, amounts to a betrayal and an insult to the memory of the countless victims of Nazism.

It is of fundamental importance against this background that we continue to uphold historical truth. Let me remind you that the Address by the Leaders of the CIS Member-States to the people of the CIS and the international community regarding the 80th anniversary of the Soviet people's Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War was adopted on October 8, 2024, in which our leaders countless the crimes committed by Nazi invaders as genocide against the peoples of the USSR.

☝️ We should continue to be at one in denouncing any attempts to falsify history, glorify Nazi criminals and their accomplices, and resolutely counteract the revision of internationally recognised results of World War II. We are pleased that the overwhelming majority of the members of the international community are in solidarity with us in this regard, as is evident from the vote on Russia’s annual draft resolution of the UN General Assembly against the glorification of Nazism.

Thank you for your time. I wish you productive discussions and all the best.

⚡️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s statement to the media following a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump (May 19, 2025)

💬 Vladimir Putin: Good evening.

Our colleagues asked me to briefly comment on the outcome of my telephone conversation with the President of the United States.

This conversation has effectively taken place and lasted more than two hours. I would like to emphasise that it was both substantive and quite candid. Overall, I believe it was a very productive exchange.

First and foremost, I expressed my gratitude to the President of the United States for the support provided by the United States in facilitating the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at potentially reaching a peace agreement and resuming the talks which, as we know, were thwarted by the Ukrainian side in 2022.

The President of the United States shared his position on the cessation of hostilities and the prospects for a ceasefire. For my part, I noted that Russia also supports a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis as well. What we need now is to identify the most effective ways towards achieving peace.

We agreed with the President of the United States that Russia would propose and is ready to engage with the Ukrainian side on drafting a memorandum regarding a potential future peace agreement. This would include outlining a range of provisions, such as the principles for settlement, the timeframe for a possible peace deal, and other matters, including a potential temporary ceasefire, should the necessary agreements be reached.

Contacts among participants of the Istanbul meeting and talks have resumed, which gives reason to believe that we are on the right track overall.

I would like to reiterate that the conversation was highly constructive, and I assess it positively.

The key issue, of course, is now for the Russian side and the Ukrainian side to show their firm commitment to peace and to forge a compromise that would be acceptable to all parties.

☝️ Notably, Russia’s position is clear. Eliminating the root causes of this crisis is what matters most to us.

Should any clarifications be necessary, Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov and my aide, Mr Yuri Ushakov, will provide further details on today’s telephone talks with President Trump.

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a reception on the occasion of Orthodox Easter (May 20, 2025)

💬 It is deeply symbolic that this year our meeting is being held several days after the people of Russia and all progressive people in the world celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory. We remember that following in the path of the Holy Fire, the Eternal Flame burning in the Alexander Garden has been delivered to many cities across our Motherland.

I would like to use this occasion to congratulate everyone on both Easter Sunday and the anniversary of the Great Victory. Our country made a crucial contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of Europe and the rest of the world from the Nazi plague. In the face of the deadly threat, our people rallied to wage an uncompromising struggle against the Nazi invaders.

The immortal deed of all Soviet peoples would have been unthinkable without the spiritual guidance of the clergy, who bravely endured the hardships of the war together with their flock. The Russian Orthodox Church collected funds for defence, extended moral assistance to our service personnel and civilians, including in the temporarily occupied territories, and strongly condemned traitors and collaborators in prayers and sermons. <...>

After the violent takeover of power in 2014, the Kiev clique has been destroying everything that is associated with Russia one way or another, including the Russian language and culture, Russian traditions and the Russian-language media. The Kiev regime has also been harassing canonical Orthodoxy, as we clearly see.

A tragic but clear example of its inhuman essence is the years-long harassment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the largest confession in the country, which those who have seized power in Kiev have pushed towards the brink of legal termination. They continue to seize and vandalise churches and to attack the clergy and believers. <...>

❗️ Russia will not abandon the Orthodox faithful in Ukraine in their time of need and will ensure that their legitimate rights are respected, while canonical Orthodoxy regains its central place in the spiritual life of the people across Ukraine. <...>

The Russian state and our Ministry will continue to align our efforts on the international stage with those of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is heartening to witness the expanding constructive work of the Moscow Patriarchate across many parts of the world. The Patriarchal Exarchates in Africa and Southeast Asia are developing intensively, while the number of overseas parishes continues to grow. <...>

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs greatly appreciates the Russian Orthodox Church’s contribution to improving the global situation and preventing the deepening of divisions along ethnic and religious lines.

☝️ We stand ready to further enhance our collaboration with the Moscow Patriarchate and representatives of all other faiths in our country to uphold the ideals of goodness and justice while deepening broad international cooperation.

Read in full

📰 Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev's article, “Lost Illusions, or How the International Criminal Court has become a legal nonentity”, 'Pravovedenie' journal (Saint Petersburg State University)

💬 If the Hague Court is irreversibly flawed at present, the interested states will find an opportunity to establish a different international criminal court which will be spared of these flaws.

Key points

🔷 The Rome Statute contradicts the UN Charter, prioritizing its own rules over universally recognized principles.

🔷The ICC has lost impartiality and turned into a political tool of the collective West.

🔷Arrest warrant for the Russian President is legally void — Russia is not a party to the Statute.

🔷Disregard for heads-of-state immunity violates international legal norms.

🔷The ICC shows consistent bias, focusing mainly on African states and ignoring NATO crimes.

🔷The Court failed to investigate U.S./NATO war crimes in Afghanistan.

🔷Russia and BRICS partners should consider establishing an alternative court, rooted in UN principles and sovereign equality.

Read in full

#Анонс

🗓 27-29 мая 2025 года в Москве под председательством Секретаря Совета Безопасности Российской Федерации Сергея Шойгу состоится 13-я международная встреча высоких представителей, курирующих вопросы безопасности.

Приглашения для участия в форуме направлены в более чем 150 государств Глобального Юга и Востока, страны #СНГ, #ОДКБ, #ЕАЭС, #ШОС, а также в адрес руководства более 20 международных организаций.

ℹ️ В повестке дня Форума – вопросы международного сотрудничества в сфере безопасности. В частности, будет обсуждаться тематика формирования новой – более справедливой и отвечающей современным реалиям – архитектуры равной и неделимой безопасности.

💬 Секретарь Совета Безопасности России Сергей Шойгу:

Тектонические сдвиги в области внешней политики и международных экономических отношений порождают как вызовы так и возможности для стран Глобального Юга и Востока. Современные вызовы и угрозы безопасности носят глобальный, трансграничный характер. Справиться с ними в одиночку или на двусторонней основе не представляется возможным ни для одного современного государства.

👉 Аккредитация СМИ открыта до 20 мая 2025 года.

🇷🇺🇦🇲 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan
 
📍 Yerevan, May 21
 
#RussiaArmenia

📸 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with Russian compatriots at the Russian House in Yerevan.

🇷🇺🇦🇲 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was received by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

📍 Yerevan, May 21

#RussiaArmenia

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement at a joint news conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan

📍Yerevan, May 21, 2025

💬 Our talks are taking place in accordance with the agreements reached between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who, in the autumn of 2024, came to an agreement to restore regular contacts across all areas.

In accordance with that agreement, we are holding the second ministerial meeting this year. Between our January meeting and today’s visit, consultations were held at the deputy minister level. Further ministerial contacts at various levels have been scheduled. We signed a Consultation Plan to this effect today.

I would also like to take this opportunity to once again thank our Armenian friends and personally Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the participation at the top level in the Victory Day events in Moscow, and for the fact that Armenia, just like the Russian Federation, cherishes and honours the sacred memory of the Great Victory.

<...>

We had an in-depth discussion of the status of the implementation of the agreements reached at the top level, including trade and economic cooperation, security issues, and the expansion of mutual diplomatic presence, in particular, the opening of a Russian Consulate General in Kapan, for which preparatory work is underway. <...>

📈 Thanks to these efforts, we have seen record-high bilateral trade figures, which reached an impressive $11.6 billion in 2024, accounting for over a third of Armenia’s total foreign trade. Russia remains Armenia’s number one trading and investment partner. We noted that 96% of bilateral trade is conducted in national currencies, roubles and drams. Russian economic operators traditionally serve as key taxpayers and employers in Armenia and implement projects of high social importance.

<...>

We exchanged views on bilateral cooperation within shared integration associations, primarily the #EAEU. Our assessments overlap. The EAEU membership is a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and improved standards of living of our citizens. <...>

When discussing international and regional issues, we focused on the situation in our shared region, the South Caucasus. We are convinced that the issues arising here should be addressed primarily by the countries of the region and their closest neighbours. <...>

🤝 We are satisfied with the outcome of the talks. Our discussions were candid without any attempt to hide the specifics of the national stances. These specifics exist in all bilateral relations.

I hope that the results of our conversation, agreements and plans that we outlined today, will be supported by President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who have kindly agreed to host our delegation later today.

Read in full

#RussiaArmenia

#KievRegimeCrimes

❗️ Maxim Grigoryev, the Сhairman of the International Public Tribunal on the Crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, which includes representatives of civil society from more than 30 countries, continues recording reports of war crimes committed by the Kiev regime towards prisoners of war (POWs).

Below are their first-hand accounts 👇

💬 Prisoner of war Matvey Ainyaurgin:

"When they [Ukrainian Armed Forces] captured me, the first thing they did was beat me up. <...> They said they were going to 'zero me out,' which meant killing me. <...> I had wounds on my legs, and they kicked me directly on those wounds."

💬 Prisoner of war Oleg Kisilev:

"The [Ukrainian Armed Forces] attacked me from all sides with two or three bats. They smashed my head. <...> They broke my arm and my leg; they shattered my kneecaps with a bat. <...> They constantly broke me down morally. I asked for painkillers, but they never gave me any."

💬 Prisoner of war Ivan Fomenko:

"The [Ukrainian Armed Forces] stripped us naked, then took bats, clubs, and sticks and beat us. They set two dogs on us and watched as the dogs tore people apart. The dogs bit hard. <...> Some were tortured with electric shocks."