Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📄 Russia's Foreign Ministry's report on the "Situation in several European countries with the desecration and destruction of monuments dedicated to those who fought against Nazism during World War II"
Full text of the report
Since the end of the World War II, approximately 4'000 monuments to Soviet soldiers have been erected in Europe. A total of more than one million Red Army soldiers are buried in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. In general, the peoples of the USSR and Europe paid a much higher price for the Victory over Nazism, measured in tens of millions of lives.
The Soviet army liberated Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria (the eastern part of the country and Vienna), Romania, Yugoslavia and a number of other European countries from Nazism.
The majority of Soviet monuments were erected specifically in these countries. There are also monuments to the Soviet soldier in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, and France.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many memorials ended up on the territory of states bordering Russia that emerged from the former Soviet republics. In several of these countries, the chosen course toward reviving Nazism and rewriting history has had a serious impact on the memorial legacy of the Great Patriotic War.
❌ Decommunization, the destruction of monuments to our common history and culture, the desecration of the graves of fallen Soviet soldiers, neo-Nazi torch marches, the glorification of Nazis and their collaborators, the physical elimination of ideological opponents — many of these practices, and often all of them at once, have become commonplace in Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as in Poland, the Czech Republic and a number of other European countries.
These very countries are the focus of this report. Under the guise of "decommunization" laws and by dismantling monuments to Soviet soldiers, the governments of these countries are attempting to "reinforce an anti-Russian front".
At the same time, monuments to Nazi criminals are being erected, their protection is being enshrined in law, and rare acts of activists opposing Nazi memorials are harshly prosecuted. The key objective of such steps is the complete erasure of historical memory.
This report has been prepared as part of the Russia's Foreign Ministry's efforts to draw attention to the manifestations of various forms of Nazi glorification, neo-Nazism, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance in foreign countries.
The report focuses on the actions of certain countries, primarily the Baltic states, Poland, and Ukraine, which, using Russia’s special military operation aimed at denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, as well as the protection of the peaceful population of Donbass, as a pretext, have sharply escalated a long-standing practice of destroying Soviet, Russian, and often their own memorial heritage on their territories.
👉 Detailed account of the unlawful actions by authorities of Ukraine, the Baltic states, Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland, Finland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, targeting Russian and Soviet monuments.
Full text of the report
Since the end of the World War II, approximately 4'000 monuments to Soviet soldiers have been erected in Europe. A total of more than one million Red Army soldiers are buried in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. In general, the peoples of the USSR and Europe paid a much higher price for the Victory over Nazism, measured in tens of millions of lives.
The Soviet army liberated Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria (the eastern part of the country and Vienna), Romania, Yugoslavia and a number of other European countries from Nazism.
The majority of Soviet monuments were erected specifically in these countries. There are also monuments to the Soviet soldier in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, and France.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many memorials ended up on the territory of states bordering Russia that emerged from the former Soviet republics. In several of these countries, the chosen course toward reviving Nazism and rewriting history has had a serious impact on the memorial legacy of the Great Patriotic War.
❌ Decommunization, the destruction of monuments to our common history and culture, the desecration of the graves of fallen Soviet soldiers, neo-Nazi torch marches, the glorification of Nazis and their collaborators, the physical elimination of ideological opponents — many of these practices, and often all of them at once, have become commonplace in Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as in Poland, the Czech Republic and a number of other European countries.
These very countries are the focus of this report. Under the guise of "decommunization" laws and by dismantling monuments to Soviet soldiers, the governments of these countries are attempting to "reinforce an anti-Russian front".
At the same time, monuments to Nazi criminals are being erected, their protection is being enshrined in law, and rare acts of activists opposing Nazi memorials are harshly prosecuted. The key objective of such steps is the complete erasure of historical memory.
This report has been prepared as part of the Russia's Foreign Ministry's efforts to draw attention to the manifestations of various forms of Nazi glorification, neo-Nazism, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance in foreign countries.
The report focuses on the actions of certain countries, primarily the Baltic states, Poland, and Ukraine, which, using Russia’s special military operation aimed at denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, as well as the protection of the peaceful population of Donbass, as a pretext, have sharply escalated a long-standing practice of destroying Soviet, Russian, and often their own memorial heritage on their territories.
👉 Detailed account of the unlawful actions by authorities of Ukraine, the Baltic states, Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland, Finland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, targeting Russian and Soviet monuments.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
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🎙 Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at a UN Security Council Briefing on Western Arms Supplies to Ukraine (New York, May 30, 2025)
💬 Vassily Nebenzia: The “expired” Ukrainian president does not want to stop hostilities because he is afraid of losing his grip on power — after all, he will have to hold elections and answer to the voters for what he has turned Ukraine into over the past 6 years, he will also have to account for the hundreds of billions of dollars of budget funds and Western (primarily American) aid that he has embezzled.
European warmongers are not interested in stopping hostilities either. They have been implementing their “anti-Russia” project in Ukraine since at least 2014, and they are not ready to give up on it and allow the cessation of hostilities until Russia is defeated or at least bled dry.
Having lost millions of its citizens, it is Ukraine that is on the verge of total defeat today; therefore, the European sponsors of “private military company Ukraine” order Zelensky and his clique to continue fighting until the last Ukrainian, which compels the Kiev regime to capture the last Ukrainian men in the streets and throw them into the senseless meat grinder.
***
Our Armed Forces stand ready to continue and step up their combat activities for as long as it may take. Just look at any military reports, even those that are most biased vis-a-vis Russia – they clearly show that Russian troops are successfully making headway along virtually the entire front line.
Russia's Ministry of Defense provides information about the liberation of various settlements and destruction of foreign-supplied equipment.
☝️ Despite all this, we have always emphasized that we are committed to a political and diplomatic settlement of the crisis.
***
It is fundamentally important for us that the root causes of the conflict be addressed once and for all.
2014 witnessed an unconstitutional coup d'état in Ukraine, which was supported and sponsored by the US and the EU. That coup brought to power a new regime that set out to destroy all things Russian. For all these years, it has trampled on the rights of the people in the east and the south of Ukraine.
We cannot and will not stand idly by and watch as millions of Russian-speaking people remain under the regime pursuing the policies that flagrantly violate their fundamental rights and freedoms.
If the neo-Nazi authorities in Kiev believe that they can achieve a cessation of hostilities while maintaining institutionalized oppression and discrimination vis-a-vis a significant portion of the population in the rest of Ukraine, they are deeply mistaken.
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💬 Vassily Nebenzia: The “expired” Ukrainian president does not want to stop hostilities because he is afraid of losing his grip on power — after all, he will have to hold elections and answer to the voters for what he has turned Ukraine into over the past 6 years, he will also have to account for the hundreds of billions of dollars of budget funds and Western (primarily American) aid that he has embezzled.
European warmongers are not interested in stopping hostilities either. They have been implementing their “anti-Russia” project in Ukraine since at least 2014, and they are not ready to give up on it and allow the cessation of hostilities until Russia is defeated or at least bled dry.
Having lost millions of its citizens, it is Ukraine that is on the verge of total defeat today; therefore, the European sponsors of “private military company Ukraine” order Zelensky and his clique to continue fighting until the last Ukrainian, which compels the Kiev regime to capture the last Ukrainian men in the streets and throw them into the senseless meat grinder.
***
Our Armed Forces stand ready to continue and step up their combat activities for as long as it may take. Just look at any military reports, even those that are most biased vis-a-vis Russia – they clearly show that Russian troops are successfully making headway along virtually the entire front line.
Russia's Ministry of Defense provides information about the liberation of various settlements and destruction of foreign-supplied equipment.
☝️ Despite all this, we have always emphasized that we are committed to a political and diplomatic settlement of the crisis.
***
It is fundamentally important for us that the root causes of the conflict be addressed once and for all.
2014 witnessed an unconstitutional coup d'état in Ukraine, which was supported and sponsored by the US and the EU. That coup brought to power a new regime that set out to destroy all things Russian. For all these years, it has trampled on the rights of the people in the east and the south of Ukraine.
We cannot and will not stand idly by and watch as millions of Russian-speaking people remain under the regime pursuing the policies that flagrantly violate their fundamental rights and freedoms.
If the neo-Nazi authorities in Kiev believe that they can achieve a cessation of hostilities while maintaining institutionalized oppression and discrimination vis-a-vis a significant portion of the population in the rest of Ukraine, they are deeply mistaken.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (Moscow, May 27, 2025)
🔹 Ukraine crisis
🔹 Kiev regime crimes
🔹 Norway’s aggressive war preparations
🔹 Narrow Waters – 25 Navy exercises in Finland
🔹 US missile defence system Golden Dome
🔹 Sanctions pressure on Russia
🔹 Crimes against the Soviet memorial legacy in the EU
🔹 West's crimes in Afghanistan
🔹 The 70th anniversary of the Baikonur Cosmodrome
📰 Read
📺 Watch
***
#KievRegimeCrimes
❗️ The Kiev regime has significantly intensified terrorist attacks against civilians. Apparently, emboldened by Western fantasies about militarisation, the regime now feels completely unrestrained. These terrorist attacks target civilian infrastructure across multiple Russian regions, including Moscow.
Between May 20-25, at least 15 civilians were injured by dozens of strikes and drone attacks across the Belgorod Region.
In the Kursk Region, on May 22, a 50-year-old civilian was killed and four others injured by Ukrainian Armed Forces strikes and drone attacks on populated areas. <...> On May 23, militants from the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the town of Lgov using HIMARS rocket launchers, injuring 16 people, including two children, and damaging 64 single-family homes, 28 flats in three buildings, and two shops.
Since May 20, relentless shelling of communities in the Kherson Region has led to one civilian death, and at least 10 people have been wounded, including a 19-year-old girl.
In total, according to the Investigative Committee, since the start of the special military operation, 43 Russian regions have come under attack with over 8'000 shelling incidents in border areas and deeper into our country’s territory.
#Afghanistan
Western governments have been seeking to sweep under the carpet efforts by the courts to investigate crimes dating back to the time when Afghanistan was under occupation, despite all the pressure they face from the civil society.
Only one out of 19 Australian soldiers whose names appeared in an investigation into the killings of Afghans, including civilians, was indicted. As for the UK, where there has been a lot of reporting lately about these monstrous crimes, there has been hardly any progress in investigating these cases.
We welcome the fact that human rights activists are becoming increasingly vocal in requesting retribution against the Western military for the crimes they committed during Afghanistan’s occupation so that all the perpetrators are held to account.
#Finland #NATO
Navy ships and service personnel from Germany, Sweden and Estonia are taking part in the Narrow Waters – 25 Navy exercise in Finland. <...> The manoeuvres include performing wartime tasks.
This means that an ordinary Navy exercise, which used to be held at a national level without any foreign military forces, has suddenly evolved into yet another means of escalation at NATO’s disposal along the Russian border, and the Finnish authorities offered their full-throttle support to this initiative.
#RussiaAfrica
🌍 In 2023 and 2024, we opened our embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. In December 2024, the Russian Government adopted resolutions on reopening our embassies in Niger and Sierra Leone and opening an embassy in South Sudan. These efforts have recently moved into the implementation phase. Future plans include opening embassies in Gambia, Togo and the Union of the Comoros.
The expansion of Russian diplomatic presence in Africa will not only promote trade, economic and investment ties but will also help strengthen our political and humanitarian cooperation.
🔹 Ukraine crisis
🔹 Kiev regime crimes
🔹 Norway’s aggressive war preparations
🔹 Narrow Waters – 25 Navy exercises in Finland
🔹 US missile defence system Golden Dome
🔹 Sanctions pressure on Russia
🔹 Crimes against the Soviet memorial legacy in the EU
🔹 West's crimes in Afghanistan
🔹 The 70th anniversary of the Baikonur Cosmodrome
📰 Read
📺 Watch
***
#KievRegimeCrimes
❗️ The Kiev regime has significantly intensified terrorist attacks against civilians. Apparently, emboldened by Western fantasies about militarisation, the regime now feels completely unrestrained. These terrorist attacks target civilian infrastructure across multiple Russian regions, including Moscow.
Between May 20-25, at least 15 civilians were injured by dozens of strikes and drone attacks across the Belgorod Region.
In the Kursk Region, on May 22, a 50-year-old civilian was killed and four others injured by Ukrainian Armed Forces strikes and drone attacks on populated areas. <...> On May 23, militants from the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the town of Lgov using HIMARS rocket launchers, injuring 16 people, including two children, and damaging 64 single-family homes, 28 flats in three buildings, and two shops.
Since May 20, relentless shelling of communities in the Kherson Region has led to one civilian death, and at least 10 people have been wounded, including a 19-year-old girl.
In total, according to the Investigative Committee, since the start of the special military operation, 43 Russian regions have come under attack with over 8'000 shelling incidents in border areas and deeper into our country’s territory.
#Afghanistan
Western governments have been seeking to sweep under the carpet efforts by the courts to investigate crimes dating back to the time when Afghanistan was under occupation, despite all the pressure they face from the civil society.
Only one out of 19 Australian soldiers whose names appeared in an investigation into the killings of Afghans, including civilians, was indicted. As for the UK, where there has been a lot of reporting lately about these monstrous crimes, there has been hardly any progress in investigating these cases.
We welcome the fact that human rights activists are becoming increasingly vocal in requesting retribution against the Western military for the crimes they committed during Afghanistan’s occupation so that all the perpetrators are held to account.
#Finland #NATO
Navy ships and service personnel from Germany, Sweden and Estonia are taking part in the Narrow Waters – 25 Navy exercise in Finland. <...> The manoeuvres include performing wartime tasks.
This means that an ordinary Navy exercise, which used to be held at a national level without any foreign military forces, has suddenly evolved into yet another means of escalation at NATO’s disposal along the Russian border, and the Finnish authorities offered their full-throttle support to this initiative.
#RussiaAfrica
🌍 In 2023 and 2024, we opened our embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. In December 2024, the Russian Government adopted resolutions on reopening our embassies in Niger and Sierra Leone and opening an embassy in South Sudan. These efforts have recently moved into the implementation phase. Future plans include opening embassies in Gambia, Togo and the Union of the Comoros.
The expansion of Russian diplomatic presence in Africa will not only promote trade, economic and investment ties but will also help strengthen our political and humanitarian cooperation.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
✉️ President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin extended greetings to Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on his 50th birthday.
✍️ Russia and Armenia have always been linked by a strong bond of friendship. I am certain that through concerted efforts, we can achieve the further advancement of relations across the board. This undoubtedly meets the fundamental interests of our nations and will contribute to greater stability, security and prosperity in Eurasia.
I wish you excellent health, happiness and every success in your esteemed position.
✍️ Russia and Armenia have always been linked by a strong bond of friendship. I am certain that through concerted efforts, we can achieve the further advancement of relations across the board. This undoubtedly meets the fundamental interests of our nations and will contribute to greater stability, security and prosperity in Eurasia.
I wish you excellent health, happiness and every success in your esteemed position.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇦🇲📞 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.
During the conversation, Vladimir Putin extended his warm greetings to Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on his 50th birthday.
Mr Putin and Mr Pashinyan discussed a number of pressing issues on the bilateral and regional agendas, reaffirming their mutual commitment to make an extensive effort to boost relations of strategic partnership and alliance.
A message of greetings was also sent to Mr Pashinyan.
#RussiaArmenia
During the conversation, Vladimir Putin extended his warm greetings to Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on his 50th birthday.
Mr Putin and Mr Pashinyan discussed a number of pressing issues on the bilateral and regional agendas, reaffirming their mutual commitment to make an extensive effort to boost relations of strategic partnership and alliance.
A message of greetings was also sent to Mr Pashinyan.
#RussiaArmenia
📆 On May 31, 2025, the Russian Embassy in Canada, together with the Consulate General in Montreal, held a memorial service for N.A. Erickson and N.P. Passek.
❗With the active support of the Russian community and Orthodox clergy of Montreal, a solemn memorial service was held at Mount Royal Cemetery for Nikolai Adolfovich Erickson (1890–1942), the last commander of the cruiser Aurora, and Nikolai Pompeyevich Passek (1890–1914), Consul General of the Russian Empire in Canada.
☦️ The service was part of ongoing efforts to preserve historical memory of prominent figures whose destinies were closely tied to Canada.
💬 Ambassador of Russia to Canada Oleg Stepanov:
☕ Following the service, a small memorial reception was held where attendees honored the departed and shared their memories.
❗With the active support of the Russian community and Orthodox clergy of Montreal, a solemn memorial service was held at Mount Royal Cemetery for Nikolai Adolfovich Erickson (1890–1942), the last commander of the cruiser Aurora, and Nikolai Pompeyevich Passek (1890–1914), Consul General of the Russian Empire in Canada.
☦️ The service was part of ongoing efforts to preserve historical memory of prominent figures whose destinies were closely tied to Canada.
💬 Ambassador of Russia to Canada Oleg Stepanov:
Today’s event holds special meaning. We commemorate our compatriots who found their final resting place on Canadian soil. Our shared prayer strengthens the bond between generations. If we remember — so will our children and grandchildren.
☕ Following the service, a small memorial reception was held where attendees honored the departed and shared their memories.
3️⃣1️⃣ мая 2025 г. Посольство России в Канаде совместно с Генеральным консульством в Монреале провели панихиду по Н.А.Эриксону и Н.П.Пассеку
❗При активном содействии русской общины и православного духовенства Монреаля на кладбище Мон-Руаяль состоялась торжественная поминальная служба по последнему командиру крейсера «Аврора» Николаю Адольфовичу Эриксону (1890–1942 гг.) и Генеральному консулу Российской Империи в Канаде Николаю Помпеевичу Пассеку (1890–1914 гг.).
☦️ Богослужение стало частью важной работы по сохранению исторической памяти о выдающихся представителях нашей Родины, чьи судьбы связаны с Канадой.
💬 Посол России в Канаде Олег Степанов отметил:
☕ После службы состоялся небольшой поминальный фуршет, где участники почтили память усопших и поделились воспоминаниями.
❗При активном содействии русской общины и православного духовенства Монреаля на кладбище Мон-Руаяль состоялась торжественная поминальная служба по последнему командиру крейсера «Аврора» Николаю Адольфовичу Эриксону (1890–1942 гг.) и Генеральному консулу Российской Империи в Канаде Николаю Помпеевичу Пассеку (1890–1914 гг.).
☦️ Богослужение стало частью важной работы по сохранению исторической памяти о выдающихся представителях нашей Родины, чьи судьбы связаны с Канадой.
💬 Посол России в Канаде Олег Степанов отметил:
Сегодняшнее мероприятие имеет особое значение. Мы поминаем наших соотечественников, почивших на канадской земле. Наша совместная молитва укрепляет связь поколений. Помним мы - будут помнить наши дети и внуки.
☕ После службы состоялся небольшой поминальный фуршет, где участники почтили память усопших и поделились воспоминаниями.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇺🇸📞 On June 1, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation.
The discussion focused on the ongoing crisis surrounding Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed sincere condolences over the civilian casualties that resulted from the June 1 rail infrastructure explosions in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions.
The Russian Side stressed that the relevant authorities were conducting a thorough investigation and that its results would be published soon. Those responsible will be identified and inevitably face well-deserved punishment.
Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio also exchanged views on various initiatives related to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, including plans to resume direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul on June 2.
#RussiaUSA
The discussion focused on the ongoing crisis surrounding Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed sincere condolences over the civilian casualties that resulted from the June 1 rail infrastructure explosions in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions.
The Russian Side stressed that the relevant authorities were conducting a thorough investigation and that its results would be published soon. Those responsible will be identified and inevitably face well-deserved punishment.
Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio also exchanged views on various initiatives related to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, including plans to resume direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul on June 2.
#RussiaUSA
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answer to a question from the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin news show (Moscow, June 1, 2025)
❓ Question: I am not asking you to comment, but still… We saw President Macron being publicly slapped in the face by his wife. Ahead of that we saw the napkin footage. In general, there were many different situations where European leaders were involved, which confirmed the impression that something odd, to put it mildly, was happening to the political elites over there. Does the fact that Europe today has political elites of this sort pose any danger to the world at large?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: All people are living beings. Everyone has passions or hobbies of their own. I am not interfering with anyone’s privacy. I think that politicians should be judged by their political actions and their foreign policy decision-making, since foreign policy is my own métier.
I do not see any politicians on the international scene in Europe today, who would amount at least to something – with the exception of two or three individuals.
❓ Question: I am not asking you to comment, but still… We saw President Macron being publicly slapped in the face by his wife. Ahead of that we saw the napkin footage. In general, there were many different situations where European leaders were involved, which confirmed the impression that something odd, to put it mildly, was happening to the political elites over there. Does the fact that Europe today has political elites of this sort pose any danger to the world at large?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: All people are living beings. Everyone has passions or hobbies of their own. I am not interfering with anyone’s privacy. I think that politicians should be judged by their political actions and their foreign policy decision-making, since foreign policy is my own métier.
I do not see any politicians on the international scene in Europe today, who would amount at least to something – with the exception of two or three individuals.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Video address by President of Russia Vladimir Putin on 70th anniversary of Baikonur Space Centre (June 2, 2025)
💬 Mr. President Tokayev, Russian and Kazakh friends, employees and veteran workers of the Baikonur Space Centre.
I extend my heartfelt greetings on this momentous occasion, the 70th anniversary of the legendary Baikonur Space Centre.
It was on June 2, 1955, that a historic state decision marked the beginning of a unique rocket testing site in the Soviet Union – destined to become the world’s first spaceport.
Just a decade after the end of the Great Patriotic War, the multiethnic Soviet nation, having endured immense tragedy and devastating losses, achieved the remarkable. The Soviet people not only rebuilt cities and towns from the ruins and ignited powerful economic and technological progress, but also took a bold leap into the future, launching visionary and ambitious plans that opened the path to space, to the stars.
The creation of Baikonur, along with the entire space programme, stands as a true feat, a testament to courage, determination, and heroic spirit. We honour the monumental, selfless labour of the hundreds of thousands from all the republics of the Union who envisioned, designed, and built Baikonur, and who worked at the cosmodrome from its earliest days.
<...>
It was here, at Baikonur, that the countdown to a new era in human history began – where dreams took flight and became reality. From this very site, in 1957, the R-7 rocket carried the first artificial satellite into orbit, and on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin launched from Baikonur to become the first human to journey around the Earth in space.
The history of Baikonur is rich with remarkable milestones. Among them are the pioneering flight of the first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963; the launch of the world’s first manned orbital station, Salyut-1, in 1971; and the historic liftoff of the reusable spacecraft Buran in 1988. It was also from Baikonur that the Zarya module was launched in 1998, ushering in the construction of the International Space Station, which continues to operate in orbit to this day.
Baikonur has witnessed more than 2,500 launches and has sent over 200 cosmonauts into orbit. From its launch pads, representatives of numerous countries have embarked on space missions, many of them scientists conducting groundbreaking experiments and advancing both fundamental and applied research.
It is fitting that the space centre was named Baikonur, meaning “rich land” in Kazakh. Indeed, its contribution to international scientific and technological progress is immense, truly rich in every sense, and beyond measure.
Baikonur remains one of the largest and most advanced spaceports in the world. With a workforce of around seven thousand, this versatile complex plays an active role in the space programmes of Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and numerous other countries.
🇷🇺🤝🇰🇿 Baikonur also stands as a powerful symbol of the strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan. Dozens of treaties and agreements have been signed between our nations, governing all aspects of the cosmodrome’s operations and the administration of the city of Baikonur.
Baikonur stands as a vivid example of how cooperation and integration can serve the mutual interests of both Russia and Kazakhstan, enhancing their international standing and reinforcing their leadership in science, innovation, and various high-tech sectors.
Russia will continue to make significant efforts to support the development of the city of Baikonur and to ensure the wellbeing of its residents, both Russian and Kazakh citizens. The active operation of the space centre and the creation of favourable conditions for its continued use remain among our top priorities.
I wish you good health and continued success in advancing our national space industry and in strengthening the partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan.
Once again, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this memorable anniversary.
Read in full
#RussiaKazakhstan
💬 Mr. President Tokayev, Russian and Kazakh friends, employees and veteran workers of the Baikonur Space Centre.
I extend my heartfelt greetings on this momentous occasion, the 70th anniversary of the legendary Baikonur Space Centre.
It was on June 2, 1955, that a historic state decision marked the beginning of a unique rocket testing site in the Soviet Union – destined to become the world’s first spaceport.
Just a decade after the end of the Great Patriotic War, the multiethnic Soviet nation, having endured immense tragedy and devastating losses, achieved the remarkable. The Soviet people not only rebuilt cities and towns from the ruins and ignited powerful economic and technological progress, but also took a bold leap into the future, launching visionary and ambitious plans that opened the path to space, to the stars.
The creation of Baikonur, along with the entire space programme, stands as a true feat, a testament to courage, determination, and heroic spirit. We honour the monumental, selfless labour of the hundreds of thousands from all the republics of the Union who envisioned, designed, and built Baikonur, and who worked at the cosmodrome from its earliest days.
<...>
It was here, at Baikonur, that the countdown to a new era in human history began – where dreams took flight and became reality. From this very site, in 1957, the R-7 rocket carried the first artificial satellite into orbit, and on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin launched from Baikonur to become the first human to journey around the Earth in space.
The history of Baikonur is rich with remarkable milestones. Among them are the pioneering flight of the first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963; the launch of the world’s first manned orbital station, Salyut-1, in 1971; and the historic liftoff of the reusable spacecraft Buran in 1988. It was also from Baikonur that the Zarya module was launched in 1998, ushering in the construction of the International Space Station, which continues to operate in orbit to this day.
Baikonur has witnessed more than 2,500 launches and has sent over 200 cosmonauts into orbit. From its launch pads, representatives of numerous countries have embarked on space missions, many of them scientists conducting groundbreaking experiments and advancing both fundamental and applied research.
It is fitting that the space centre was named Baikonur, meaning “rich land” in Kazakh. Indeed, its contribution to international scientific and technological progress is immense, truly rich in every sense, and beyond measure.
Baikonur remains one of the largest and most advanced spaceports in the world. With a workforce of around seven thousand, this versatile complex plays an active role in the space programmes of Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and numerous other countries.
🇷🇺🤝🇰🇿 Baikonur also stands as a powerful symbol of the strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan. Dozens of treaties and agreements have been signed between our nations, governing all aspects of the cosmodrome’s operations and the administration of the city of Baikonur.
Baikonur stands as a vivid example of how cooperation and integration can serve the mutual interests of both Russia and Kazakhstan, enhancing their international standing and reinforcing their leadership in science, innovation, and various high-tech sectors.
Russia will continue to make significant efforts to support the development of the city of Baikonur and to ensure the wellbeing of its residents, both Russian and Kazakh citizens. The active operation of the space centre and the creation of favourable conditions for its continued use remain among our top priorities.
I wish you good health and continued success in advancing our national space industry and in strengthening the partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan.
Once again, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this memorable anniversary.
Read in full
#RussiaKazakhstan
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#Antifake
⚡️ We have taken note of the recent “investigation” by Associated Press timed to the end of the “1,000 for 1,000” exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. The article alleges systematic torture and even murder of Ukrainian militants held in Russian custody.
The fiction covers a story of an elderly man, who was mobilised by the Kiev regime and surrendered to Russian forces in the summer of 2022. While in custody, he died of a stroke, as confirmed by an official medical report that was handed over to the Ukrainian side along with his body. However, the Associated Press capitalised on this story and, ignoring the facts, turned a private tragedy of one family into an opportunity to spin yet another propaganda narrative about alleged “mistreatment” of Ukrainian prisoners.
This episode was used to create fake news about 200 Ukrainians who have allegedly died in Russian custody. This is a typical propaganda stunt based on allegations and false accusations that have not been substantiated with evidence or facts.
❗️ What stands out in particular is the insistence on the number 200. It’s clear that this figure was not chosen at random, but rather calculated to evoke an associative link with the term “Cargo 200” – a military code word used to designate fatalities. This is nothing less than a psychological trick used to convince people in Ukraine that their loved ones are dying not because the Kiev regime is using them as cannon fodder at the behest of its Western handlers, but are killed by “butchers” (reminiscent of the Bucha hoax?) in Russian custody.
All of this follows a well-known playbook. The manipulative image of the “200 martyrs in captivity” is a carbon copy of the myth of the “Heavenly Hundred,” which has been similarly transformed into a cult-like legend to obscure the real causes behind the 2014 Euromaidan events. It seems that decade-old PR manuals are still very much in use by Ukrainian spin doctors.
☝️ At the same time, AP and other Western mainstream media don’t say a word regarding the barbaric crimes committed against Russian POWs by the Ukrainian armed forces and security service. Neither the latest “investigation” nor any of the previous ones mention the Ukrainian neo-Nazis’ crimes, which are regularly reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the International Public Tribunal for Ukraine.
Russia has recorded numerous cases of atrocities committed against our soldiers in Ukrainian captivity, including murder, torture, beatings and abuse – actions that clearly fall under the definition of war crimes as outlined in the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Another report containing concrete evidence of the Kiev regime’s atrocities against Russian soldiers was presented on May 30 at the Rossiya Segodnya press center.
However, the Associated Press and other so-called “independent” media have predictably paid NO attention to it. After all, in their selective moral framework, this all falls under the familiar category of “you don’t understand, this is different” – the kind of thing that simply is a taboo in “the free Western world.”
⚡️ We have taken note of the recent “investigation” by Associated Press timed to the end of the “1,000 for 1,000” exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. The article alleges systematic torture and even murder of Ukrainian militants held in Russian custody.
The fiction covers a story of an elderly man, who was mobilised by the Kiev regime and surrendered to Russian forces in the summer of 2022. While in custody, he died of a stroke, as confirmed by an official medical report that was handed over to the Ukrainian side along with his body. However, the Associated Press capitalised on this story and, ignoring the facts, turned a private tragedy of one family into an opportunity to spin yet another propaganda narrative about alleged “mistreatment” of Ukrainian prisoners.
This episode was used to create fake news about 200 Ukrainians who have allegedly died in Russian custody. This is a typical propaganda stunt based on allegations and false accusations that have not been substantiated with evidence or facts.
❗️ What stands out in particular is the insistence on the number 200. It’s clear that this figure was not chosen at random, but rather calculated to evoke an associative link with the term “Cargo 200” – a military code word used to designate fatalities. This is nothing less than a psychological trick used to convince people in Ukraine that their loved ones are dying not because the Kiev regime is using them as cannon fodder at the behest of its Western handlers, but are killed by “butchers” (reminiscent of the Bucha hoax?) in Russian custody.
All of this follows a well-known playbook. The manipulative image of the “200 martyrs in captivity” is a carbon copy of the myth of the “Heavenly Hundred,” which has been similarly transformed into a cult-like legend to obscure the real causes behind the 2014 Euromaidan events. It seems that decade-old PR manuals are still very much in use by Ukrainian spin doctors.
☝️ At the same time, AP and other Western mainstream media don’t say a word regarding the barbaric crimes committed against Russian POWs by the Ukrainian armed forces and security service. Neither the latest “investigation” nor any of the previous ones mention the Ukrainian neo-Nazis’ crimes, which are regularly reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the International Public Tribunal for Ukraine.
Russia has recorded numerous cases of atrocities committed against our soldiers in Ukrainian captivity, including murder, torture, beatings and abuse – actions that clearly fall under the definition of war crimes as outlined in the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Another report containing concrete evidence of the Kiev regime’s atrocities against Russian soldiers was presented on May 30 at the Rossiya Segodnya press center.
However, the Associated Press and other so-called “independent” media have predictably paid NO attention to it. After all, in their selective moral framework, this all falls under the familiar category of “you don’t understand, this is different” – the kind of thing that simply is a taboo in “the free Western world.”
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⚡️ Statement by Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky following the second round of resumed Russia-Ukraine direct talks in Istanbul (June 2, 2025)
Read in full
💬 We handed our two-part memorandum to the Turkish side.
• The first part concerns ways to achieve a durable and sustainable peace.
• The second part outlines the steps towards making a genuine ceasefire possible.
<...> The Ukrainian side took it for further review. They will study it and tell us what they think about it, and we will take it from there.
In addition to that, we resolved several practical matters.
Firstly, we will unilaterally hand over 6'000 frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to the Ukrainian side. <...> Next week, we will return these bodies to the Ukrainian side so they may be laid to rest with dignity. <...>
We have agreed on the largest prisoner swap to date. All gravely wounded and seriously ill soldiers will be exchanged all for all. This is a humanitarian gesture on our part. The same approach — all for all — will be used to exchange young soldiers under the age of 25. The overall exchange quota will be at least 1'000 people from each side, possibly more. These numbers are being finalised.
Furthermore, we agreed to create permanent medical commissions that will compile reports which the parties will use to draw up exchange lists of severely wounded soldiers without having to wait for major political decisions. These exchanges will be conducted regularly as part of routine operations.
❗️ We proposed imposing a short-term ceasefire for two to three days on several stretches of the line of contact. Our military experts will work on it in coordination with the Ukrainians. <...>
The Russian army is advancing, and there are significantly more bodies of the Ukrainian soldiers in the grey zone. For this reason, we propose collecting the bodies of their fallen soldiers and transferring them immediately on-site to the opposing side for proper burial under Christian traditions. We let them know about this proposal. The Ukrainian military promised to review it promptly. <...>
Children are central to us, and I would like to say a few words about them. We’ve been hearing lately <…> that “1.5 million Ukrainian children were abducted by the Russians.” Then it came down to “200'000 Ukrainian children abducted by the Russians.” Now, the official figure is “20'000 children abducted by the Russians.” We’ve constantly asked to provide documentary evidence. Show us who these children are, give us something, such as missing child reports filed by their parents. Who are these children? They weren’t on any lists. What we get are mere numbers with no substance. <...>
We finally obtained a complete list. As you can see, it’s not 1.5 million, and not even 20'000 names. It includes 339 names. We will look into each case. We have reviewed every single inquiry lately. The Commissioner for Children’s Rights office had 101 children reunite with their families. 22 children have come back home from Ukraine and reunited with their families. Our children, too, may end up in the midst of a combat zone and lose contact with their families. <...>
This list of 339 names only underscores the fact that child abduction has, unfortunately, been turned by the Ukrainian authorities into a media show for bleeding-heart Europeans. <...> In reality, we are talking about dozens of children. None of these children have been abducted. Not a single one. These are the children who were rescued by our soldiers — often at the cost of their lives — pulled from combat zones and taken to safety. We are looking for their parents. If the parents are found, the children are returned.
☝️ Every child will reunite with their parents. All families on both sides will come together. We are working on it. It’s a matter of honour.
❓Question: What language were the talks held in?
💬 Vladimir Medinsky: I’ll give you three guesses.
❓Question: Was it Russian?
💬 Vladimir Medinsky: Correct, you got it right straight away.
Read in full
💬 We handed our two-part memorandum to the Turkish side.
• The first part concerns ways to achieve a durable and sustainable peace.
• The second part outlines the steps towards making a genuine ceasefire possible.
<...> The Ukrainian side took it for further review. They will study it and tell us what they think about it, and we will take it from there.
In addition to that, we resolved several practical matters.
Firstly, we will unilaterally hand over 6'000 frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to the Ukrainian side. <...> Next week, we will return these bodies to the Ukrainian side so they may be laid to rest with dignity. <...>
We have agreed on the largest prisoner swap to date. All gravely wounded and seriously ill soldiers will be exchanged all for all. This is a humanitarian gesture on our part. The same approach — all for all — will be used to exchange young soldiers under the age of 25. The overall exchange quota will be at least 1'000 people from each side, possibly more. These numbers are being finalised.
Furthermore, we agreed to create permanent medical commissions that will compile reports which the parties will use to draw up exchange lists of severely wounded soldiers without having to wait for major political decisions. These exchanges will be conducted regularly as part of routine operations.
❗️ We proposed imposing a short-term ceasefire for two to three days on several stretches of the line of contact. Our military experts will work on it in coordination with the Ukrainians. <...>
The Russian army is advancing, and there are significantly more bodies of the Ukrainian soldiers in the grey zone. For this reason, we propose collecting the bodies of their fallen soldiers and transferring them immediately on-site to the opposing side for proper burial under Christian traditions. We let them know about this proposal. The Ukrainian military promised to review it promptly. <...>
Children are central to us, and I would like to say a few words about them. We’ve been hearing lately <…> that “1.5 million Ukrainian children were abducted by the Russians.” Then it came down to “200'000 Ukrainian children abducted by the Russians.” Now, the official figure is “20'000 children abducted by the Russians.” We’ve constantly asked to provide documentary evidence. Show us who these children are, give us something, such as missing child reports filed by their parents. Who are these children? They weren’t on any lists. What we get are mere numbers with no substance. <...>
We finally obtained a complete list. As you can see, it’s not 1.5 million, and not even 20'000 names. It includes 339 names. We will look into each case. We have reviewed every single inquiry lately. The Commissioner for Children’s Rights office had 101 children reunite with their families. 22 children have come back home from Ukraine and reunited with their families. Our children, too, may end up in the midst of a combat zone and lose contact with their families. <...>
This list of 339 names only underscores the fact that child abduction has, unfortunately, been turned by the Ukrainian authorities into a media show for bleeding-heart Europeans. <...> In reality, we are talking about dozens of children. None of these children have been abducted. Not a single one. These are the children who were rescued by our soldiers — often at the cost of their lives — pulled from combat zones and taken to safety. We are looking for their parents. If the parents are found, the children are returned.
☝️ Every child will reunite with their parents. All families on both sides will come together. We are working on it. It’s a matter of honour.
❓Question: What language were the talks held in?
💬 Vladimir Medinsky: I’ll give you three guesses.
❓Question: Was it Russian?
💬 Vladimir Medinsky: Correct, you got it right straight away.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#Antifake
❗️ On May 27, in an act of shameless cynicism, The Insider foreign agent publication tried to concoct an image of “gracious Ukrainian occupiers.” Allegedly, they did not forcibly ship, but rather “evacuated” civilians from the Kursk Region to Ukraine.
This narrative has nothing to do with reality. Moreover, even the forcible shipment of our fellow citizens to Ukraine pales in comparison to the horrendous atrocities committed at the same time by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and mercenaries in the Kursk Region.
Here’s what Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia, Tatyana Moskalkova, had to say in an interview on October 14, 2024:
Following the 1'000 for 1'000 prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on May 23-25, 2025, 20 of whom were residents of the Kursk Region, Tatyana Moskalkova said that 34 more residents of the region remained in captivity.
Earlier, on May 13, 2025, the Press Bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation reported that people from Zelensky’s inner circle refer to civilians from the Kursk Region captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and taken to Ukraine as “valuable assets,” which can be used to bargain for “something more substantial than wounded POWs that are unfit for combat”. This is terrorist logic through and through.
On May 28, Tatyana Moskalkova shared details about the circumstances of the abduction and the conditions of detention of the residents of the Kursk Region in Ukraine:
Numerous testimonies have been published about civilians being executed in the Kursk Region (entire families that were fleeing the combat operations zone in an attempt to go deeper into the region) by Ukrainian militants along with targeted FPV drone strikes on civilians regardless of gender or age.
A grim climax came in the form of a mass murder of people in the village of Russkoye Porechnoye, Sudzha District, by Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Russian law enforcers released horrifying footage of bodies with tied hands, signs of torture, and gunshot wounds — bodies of people who died after many hours of torment.
Ukrainian militants did all of that being fully aware of the non-combatant status of the victims which is confirmed by the footage of captured Ukrainian soldiers’ interrogations.
The surviving civilians shared stories of inhuman suffering that makes the blood run cold. Their testimonies are cited, among other publications, in the book “Crimes of the Kiev Regime. Materials of the International Public Tribunal on the Crimes of Ukrainian Neo-Nazis 2023-2024,” the concluding report on the crimes of the Kiev regime in 2024, and the quarterly report on the crimes committed by the Kiev regime in January-March 2025.
However, there is nothing surprising about the fact that The Insider’s “investigators” have no interest in real investigations: their patrons/employers pursue other objectives, which The Insider is diligently carrying out.
False claim regarding the “forcible shipment of Ukrainian children” that was brought from oblivion by this publication has long been repeatedly and thoroughly debunked by Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova.
❗️ On May 27, in an act of shameless cynicism, The Insider foreign agent publication tried to concoct an image of “gracious Ukrainian occupiers.” Allegedly, they did not forcibly ship, but rather “evacuated” civilians from the Kursk Region to Ukraine.
This narrative has nothing to do with reality. Moreover, even the forcible shipment of our fellow citizens to Ukraine pales in comparison to the horrendous atrocities committed at the same time by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and mercenaries in the Kursk Region.
Here’s what Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia, Tatyana Moskalkova, had to say in an interview on October 14, 2024:
The forced removal of civilians from their homes is a gross violation of the Geneva Convention <…> On September 16, I met with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric to discuss the situation of the Kursk Region residents, including children, who, I believe, need help. We have no information about their whereabouts.
Following the 1'000 for 1'000 prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on May 23-25, 2025, 20 of whom were residents of the Kursk Region, Tatyana Moskalkova said that 34 more residents of the region remained in captivity.
Earlier, on May 13, 2025, the Press Bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation reported that people from Zelensky’s inner circle refer to civilians from the Kursk Region captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and taken to Ukraine as “valuable assets,” which can be used to bargain for “something more substantial than wounded POWs that are unfit for combat”. This is terrorist logic through and through.
On May 28, Tatyana Moskalkova shared details about the circumstances of the abduction and the conditions of detention of the residents of the Kursk Region in Ukraine:
These civilians were captured by the Ukrainian forces at about the same time when the Ukrainian formations occupied the Kursk Region in August 2024.
The circumstances surrounding their capture are similar. Ordinary, unarmed civilians suddenly came under the steamroller of a ruthless and morally bankrupt Ukrainian war machine.
While in captivity, they suffered moral and physical abuse — blindfolds, hands tied with duct tape, torture, starvation-level rations, endless interrogations, multiple transfers across Ukraine and, of course, theft of IDs and personal belongings.
Numerous testimonies have been published about civilians being executed in the Kursk Region (entire families that were fleeing the combat operations zone in an attempt to go deeper into the region) by Ukrainian militants along with targeted FPV drone strikes on civilians regardless of gender or age.
A grim climax came in the form of a mass murder of people in the village of Russkoye Porechnoye, Sudzha District, by Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Russian law enforcers released horrifying footage of bodies with tied hands, signs of torture, and gunshot wounds — bodies of people who died after many hours of torment.
Ukrainian militants did all of that being fully aware of the non-combatant status of the victims which is confirmed by the footage of captured Ukrainian soldiers’ interrogations.
The surviving civilians shared stories of inhuman suffering that makes the blood run cold. Their testimonies are cited, among other publications, in the book “Crimes of the Kiev Regime. Materials of the International Public Tribunal on the Crimes of Ukrainian Neo-Nazis 2023-2024,” the concluding report on the crimes of the Kiev regime in 2024, and the quarterly report on the crimes committed by the Kiev regime in January-March 2025.
However, there is nothing surprising about the fact that The Insider’s “investigators” have no interest in real investigations: their patrons/employers pursue other objectives, which The Insider is diligently carrying out.
False claim regarding the “forcible shipment of Ukrainian children” that was brought from oblivion by this publication has long been repeatedly and thoroughly debunked by Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at President Vladimir Putin's meeting with members of the Government (June 4, 2025)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Mr. Medinsky spoke on the main results. I believe that this is important and useful. The process of direct talks, which you previously agreed on in one of the latest telephone conversations with Donald Trump, is underway.
As we know, both rounds yielded tangible results, including the 1'000 for 1'000 POWs swap. Now, as head of our delegation Vladimir Medinsky said, additional agreements on a new swap, which is as large as the previous one, and not just of prisoners of war in equal numbers, but also of the seriously wounded, the sick, as well as the return of the remains of the deceased, have been made.
I believe it is better to always have a channel of communication. It enables us to address urgent humanitarian concerns above all else. At this stage, the coordination of reciprocal humanitarian measures as goodwill gestures and steps toward building trust is especially vital. As I have noted, we are seeing real progress in this area.
In light of what was just mentioned regarding the proposal for a brief two- or three-day pause to allow for the dignified recovery of the bodies of the deceased along sections of the contact line – where wounded individuals may still be present – I consider Kiev’s categorical and harsh rejection of this initiative to be a grave mistake. This comes on top of similar refusals of our proposals for humanitarian pauses during Easter and during the celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory.
Nevertheless, Mr. President, despite all this, and despite the serious criminal provocations that have taken place in recent days, I believe it is important not to fall into the trap of these provocations, which are clearly designed to derail the talks and continue receiving arms deliveries from European nations.
I believe that all means to achieve the just goals of the special military operation, including negotiations, must be put to use. The Foreign Ministry is actively engaged in Vladimir Medinsky’s delegation.
President Putin: I agree. There was a report that there also was some comment made by the Ukrainian side about the composition and level of our delegation.
Sergey Lavrov: Yes, Mr. President, the comment was anonymous, but it was spread in the media. Nobody approached us with specific questions or specific ideas. Journalists asked about this, and we explained what the level of Aide to the President of the Russian Federation means.
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Mr. Medinsky spoke on the main results. I believe that this is important and useful. The process of direct talks, which you previously agreed on in one of the latest telephone conversations with Donald Trump, is underway.
As we know, both rounds yielded tangible results, including the 1'000 for 1'000 POWs swap. Now, as head of our delegation Vladimir Medinsky said, additional agreements on a new swap, which is as large as the previous one, and not just of prisoners of war in equal numbers, but also of the seriously wounded, the sick, as well as the return of the remains of the deceased, have been made.
I believe it is better to always have a channel of communication. It enables us to address urgent humanitarian concerns above all else. At this stage, the coordination of reciprocal humanitarian measures as goodwill gestures and steps toward building trust is especially vital. As I have noted, we are seeing real progress in this area.
In light of what was just mentioned regarding the proposal for a brief two- or three-day pause to allow for the dignified recovery of the bodies of the deceased along sections of the contact line – where wounded individuals may still be present – I consider Kiev’s categorical and harsh rejection of this initiative to be a grave mistake. This comes on top of similar refusals of our proposals for humanitarian pauses during Easter and during the celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory.
Nevertheless, Mr. President, despite all this, and despite the serious criminal provocations that have taken place in recent days, I believe it is important not to fall into the trap of these provocations, which are clearly designed to derail the talks and continue receiving arms deliveries from European nations.
I believe that all means to achieve the just goals of the special military operation, including negotiations, must be put to use. The Foreign Ministry is actively engaged in Vladimir Medinsky’s delegation.
President Putin: I agree. There was a report that there also was some comment made by the Ukrainian side about the composition and level of our delegation.
Sergey Lavrov: Yes, Mr. President, the comment was anonymous, but it was spread in the media. Nobody approached us with specific questions or specific ideas. Journalists asked about this, and we explained what the level of Aide to the President of the Russian Federation means.
Audio
Комментарий помощника Президента Юрия Ушакова по итогам телефонного разговора Владимира Путина с Дональдом Трампом
Forwarded from Kremlin. News
🇷🇺🇻🇦 Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Pope Leo XIV
🔹Vladimir Putin once again congratulated the pontiff on his election and wished him every success in accomplishing his noble mission.
🔹Both sides acknowledged Pope Francis' immense personal contribution to strengthening the ties between Russia and the Holy See. They agreed to pursue efforts to develop these ties further on the basis of common spiritual and moral values with a view to establishing a more just world order. They expressed mutual commitment to deepening cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian affairs and in the name of protecting Christians and holy sites of Christianity all over the world and, notably, in the Middle East.
🔹At the request and on behalf of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Vladimir Putin conveyed to Pope Leo XIV best wishes for success in his pastoral duties. In turn, the pontiff expressed support for continuing the important dialogue between the two sister churches.
🔹While exchanging views with the pope on the situation in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his willingness to achieve peace through political and diplomatic means, pointing out that in order to reach an ultimate, fair, and thorough resolution, it was necessary to eliminate the root causes of the crisis.
🔹Concerning the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, the President of Russia detailed the specific agreements during the second round of negotiations involving the exchange of prisoners of war and bodies of dead soldiers. It was emphasised that the Russian side was taking all possible measures to reunite children with their families.
🔹Appreciation was expressed to the pontiff for his willingness to contribute to resolving the crisis, notably, for Vatican's depolitisised participation in solving pressing humanitarian issues.
🔹Vladimir Putin drew special attention to the fact that Kiev regime was banking on escalating the conflict and carried out sabotage against civilian infrastructure in Russia's territory. It was emphasised that the deliberate and targeted strike on civilians made by the Ukrainian side recently was unequivocally defined as terrorism by international law.
🔹Due to the Kiev regime's well-known commitment to dismantling the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the hope was expressed that the Holy See would be more active in speaking out in support of freedom of religion in Ukraine.
🔹The conversation was constructive. Both sides expressed their intention to maintain contact.
🔹Vladimir Putin once again congratulated the pontiff on his election and wished him every success in accomplishing his noble mission.
🔹Both sides acknowledged Pope Francis' immense personal contribution to strengthening the ties between Russia and the Holy See. They agreed to pursue efforts to develop these ties further on the basis of common spiritual and moral values with a view to establishing a more just world order. They expressed mutual commitment to deepening cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian affairs and in the name of protecting Christians and holy sites of Christianity all over the world and, notably, in the Middle East.
🔹At the request and on behalf of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Vladimir Putin conveyed to Pope Leo XIV best wishes for success in his pastoral duties. In turn, the pontiff expressed support for continuing the important dialogue between the two sister churches.
🔹While exchanging views with the pope on the situation in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his willingness to achieve peace through political and diplomatic means, pointing out that in order to reach an ultimate, fair, and thorough resolution, it was necessary to eliminate the root causes of the crisis.
🔹Concerning the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, the President of Russia detailed the specific agreements during the second round of negotiations involving the exchange of prisoners of war and bodies of dead soldiers. It was emphasised that the Russian side was taking all possible measures to reunite children with their families.
🔹Appreciation was expressed to the pontiff for his willingness to contribute to resolving the crisis, notably, for Vatican's depolitisised participation in solving pressing humanitarian issues.
🔹Vladimir Putin drew special attention to the fact that Kiev regime was banking on escalating the conflict and carried out sabotage against civilian infrastructure in Russia's territory. It was emphasised that the deliberate and targeted strike on civilians made by the Ukrainian side recently was unequivocally defined as terrorism by international law.
🔹Due to the Kiev regime's well-known commitment to dismantling the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the hope was expressed that the Holy See would be more active in speaking out in support of freedom of religion in Ukraine.
🔹The conversation was constructive. Both sides expressed their intention to maintain contact.