🇷🇺 February 10 is Diplomatic Workers' Day aka #DiplomatsDay in #Russia!

The date goes back to the earliest documented mention (February 10, 1549) of the Ambassadorial Prikaz —the first state body in our country’s history that oversaw foreign affairs.

Proud longstanding traditions of ensuring Russia's national interests!

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with NTV television channel (Moscow, February 10, 2026)

Key points:

• President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly addressed the unfolding global processes. These are objectively shaped by the entire course of history and contemporary developments – where, after 500 years of Western dominance, sustained through slavery and colonialism at the expense of others, a multipolar order is now emerging to replace that system.

• Countries such as China, India, and Brazil, alongside integration blocs like the #GCC and such Eurasian sub-regional groupings as ASEAN, our post-Soviet structures, such as the #CIS, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the Union State of Russia and Belarus – are increasingly asserting themselves as influential actors on the international stage, not only in economic, trade, and financial spheres but politically as well.

• Europe persists in attempting to dictate its approaches across the Eurasian continent, blatantly obstructing and undermining the natural processes of cooperation between Russia and Central Asian states, as well as our allies in the South Caucasus. Europe is aggressively pushing into the Black Sea region, disregarding the existing Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The same applies to the Arctic.

• Certain analysts suggest that the United States will now leave Europe to its own devices, seek to pacify the Middle East – halting yet another war – and negotiate with Russia to remove the Ukrainian issue from the agenda.

• We find it important to guarantee our national interests. We agree with the administration of Donald Trump that the foreign policy of normal major powers, especially such as the United States and Russia, should be based on national interests.

• If we analyse practical steps taken by US President Donald Trump and his team with regard to Russia during the Trump administration’s second tenue in the White House, then we can see that we are moving in the wrong direction.

• The root causes [of the Ukraine crisis] will not go anywhere unless we consider eliminating them in any peace agreement we may sign. We are ready to do that. We have said many times that President Trump publicly recognised our interest in NATO not expanding any farther. That is a huge step. No other Western leader has ever said that publicly, while he has reiterated it on several occasions.

• The recognition of territories is an issue that arises directly from these root causes, as these territories came under Russian control following attempts to threaten our security and to persecute the people who had lived there for centuries.

• If, contrary to expectations, Europe does implement its threats to prepare for war against us and attacks the Russian Federation, we will not launch, as President Vladimir Putin has put it, another special military operation. Our response will be a full-blown military retaliation involving all available forces and assets in keeping with the doctrinal documents to this effect.

• We will closely follow what the American side will do now that formal restrictions [of strategic offensive arms] are no longer in place. We will treat this situation with full responsibility and we will not be the first to escalate.

• [Epstein files] have nothing to do with the diplomatic work. It has everything to do with exposing the countenance known as the collective West. It’s no longer called the Deep State, but a deep alliance that rules the entire West and is trying to rule the rest of the world. Any right-minded person would agree that this is pure Satanism and is beneath human comprehension.

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✉️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent greetings to current and former staff of the Foreign Ministry on their professional holiday, Diplomatic Worker’s Day (February 10, 2026).

The message reads, in part:

💬 The history of Russia's Foreign Ministry contains many distinguished chapters. Our diplomats have always served the Fatherland with dignity and integrity, demonstrating genuine patriotism, dedication to duty, civic courage, and a high level of professionalism.

Amid increasing global turbulence and the tense, volatile situation unfolding in a number of regions, the active, constructive, and unifying role of Russian diplomacy is especially needed.

It is essential to make consistent and comprehensive use of all foreign policy instruments and opportunities so as to reliably safeguard Russia’s national security, defend its legitimate interests, and create favourable conditions for the country’s steady and comprehensive development.

Further strengthening friendly relations with our closest allies and neighbours within the CIS, as well as advancing Eurasian integration processes, remain unconditional priorities.

At the same time, deepening cooperation with countries of the Global Majority for the sake of building a just, genuinely democratic, multipolar world order grounded in international law and the principle of equal and indivisible security remains highly relevant.

Of course, equally significant are efforts to protect the rights of compatriots abroad, promote the Russian language, highlight Russia’s scientific and cultural achievements, and foster an objective image of our country in the global information space.

I firmly believe that the staff of the Central Office and foreign missions of the Foreign Ministry will continue their work across all areas with creativity, energy, and initiative.

#DiplomatsDay

🎙 On February 10, 2007, President of Russia Vladimir Putin delivered his historic and in many ways prophetic address at the Munich Security Conference, focusing on the state of international relations and the mounting challenges to global security.

❗️ The issues and themes raised by the President have lost none of their relevance.

Nineteen years ago, Vladimir Putin issued a clear and unambiguous warning to Western countries: the refusal to engage in an equal dialogue with Russia, arrogant disregard for international law, and attempts to entrench a unipolar world by force would inevitably lead to rising tensions and a systemic security crisis. That is exactly what happened.

💬 Key excerpts from Vladimir Putin’s historic address:

• International security issues extend far beyond military-political stability. The comprehensive, indivisible nature of security is reflected in its core principle: security for one is security for all.

• A unipolar world means a world with one master, one sovereign. Ultimately, this is destructive not only for everyone within such a system, but also for the sovereign itself, as it corrodes it from within.

• A unipolar world has nothing to do with democracy. Democracy, as is well known, is the rule of the majority with due regard for the interests and opinions of the minority. Russia is constantly being lectured on democracy – yet those who do the lecturing seem unwilling to learn themselves.

• Unilateral, illegitimate actions have not resolved a single problem. On the contrary, they have generated new human tragedies and new centres of tension. Judge for yourselves: the number of wars, local and regional conflicts has not decreased.

• [In 2007] We have reached a pivotal moment when we must seriously reflect on the entire architecture of global security. This must be based on seeking a reasonable balance between the interests of all participants in international relations.

• It is obvious that NATO expansion has nothing to do with the modernization of the Alliance or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it is a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust.

• We have the legitimate right to ask frankly: against whom is this expansion directed? And what happened to the assurances given by Western partners after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those statements now? No one even remembers them.

• The main global challenge for Russia, the US and Europe alike is terrorism and the fight against it. Does one need Russia to fight against terrorism? Certainly! But we are not in NATO – nor are many other countries. Yet we can work effectively on this issue only by joining our efforts. Therefore, the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure and its advance towards our borders have nothing to do with the democratic choices of individual states. I would ask that these two concepts not be confused.

• Will Russia use military force without UN authorization? We will always act strictly within the framework of international law. Let me remind both myself and my colleagues that, under the UN Charter, peacekeeping operations require authorization from the UN Security Council. At the same time, the UN Charter contains an article on the right to self-defence – and no sanctions are required in that case.

• Russia is a country with a history spanning more than a thousand years, and for virtually all that time it has exercised the privilege of pursuing an independent foreign policy. We do not intend to abandon this tradition today.

🇷🇺🇿🇦📞 On February 10, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa spoke over the phone.

Issues related to the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade, economic and investment spheres were discussed, in line with the Russia-South Africa Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The situation around Ukraine was also addressed. Cyril Ramaphosa expressed support for Russia’s efforts aimed at achieving a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict.

During an exchange of views on current international affairs, the Presidents noted the importance of continuing coordination between Russia and South Africa, including within the frameworks of the #G20 and #BRICS.

#RussiaSouthAfrica

🎙 Remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the 15th Middle East Conference (Moscow, February 9, 2026)

💬 Sergey Lavrov: The Middle East is the focal point of numerous global processes.

Even if they originate elsewhere, many of these processes spill over into the Middle East in one way or another conflicting with the interests of other countries.

Much to my regret, I don’t think things in this region will calm down anytime soon, despite the vast number of initiatives we are all aware of.

Many of them emerged shortly after the Arab Spring, when in 2011 the West set out to ravage undesirable regimes in Libya and Syria. Thankfully, not much blood was shed in Tunisia. The regime there changed without significant casualties. Iraq is on that list, too, of course, but Iraq was before the Arab Spring. <...>

Developments are underway in Yemen and Sudan. The ripple effect of the developments in Somalia can be felt in the Middle East, especially after Somaliland had been recognised recently by our Israeli colleagues, and the ensuing reaction from Mogadishu.

All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of the principal trend which is driving the Palestinian issue into a hopeless impasse. This isn’t the first time this is happening, as the previous Trump administration promoted the Abraham Accords when the Saudi Arabian King’s 2002 Arab Peace Initiative was turned upside down.

It proclaimed the creation of a Palestinian state and the recognition of Israel by the entire Arab world. Everyone hoped that this would actually come to pass.

Moreover, after the Arab League endorsed this Saudi Arabian initiative, it was also endorsed at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Summit in Beirut. All Islamic countries unanimously backed the initiative to recognise Israel in the context of the creation of a viable Palestinian state in accordance with UN resolutions.

The Abraham Accords dramatically changed the sequence of events. First, everyone was supposed to recognise Israel, and, they said, we’ll see what happens next. We are now observing what stood behind “we’ll see.” <...>

We get convinced on a daily basis that more efforts are needed. Yes, a Peace Council has been established, as have bodies subordinate to it, including an executive body made up of Palestinian technocrats. Their real powers remain unknown.

We hope that these issues will be clarified all the more so as our American colleagues have now suddenly announced a transition to the second phase of implementation of President Trump’s plan. This phase includes reconstruction work and humanitarian issues.

The prospect of creating a Palestinian state remains the key issue. The arrangements can be made to provide temporary housing for the Palestinians. As you may be aware, nothing in this world is more permanent than a temporary solution. Everyone understands this. <...>

I cannot help but say that we are closely following the Iran-related developments. We welcome the mediation efforts offered by the Sultanate of Oman. Yesterday, I spoke at length with my friend, the head of the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Badr Al Busaidi. We believe this issue must be settled peacefully.

We understand that, as in the case of Palestine, some of the direct participants in the process may be tempted to use force and finish off their opponents, so to speak.

However, this is the wrong approach. It will only lead to more problems and will in no way resolve the issue or ensure the security of any country. I think you are well aware of it. Therefore, we and our Chinese colleagues remain in constant contact with our Iranian friends. <...>

Events are currently unfolding in Syria. In addition to maintaining unity and interethnic and interfaith harmony in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Kurdish issue has also become a pressing issue, affecting not only Syria but many other countries in the region as well. The events currently unfolding around the Syrian Kurds also deserve a separate discussion. This, as I earlier said, is an issue of regional dimension.

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🎙 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with the online project “Empatia Manuchi” (Manuchi's Empathy) (February 11, 2026)

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Key outtakes:

• Russia's legitimate interest lies in ensuring its own security. Like any normal country, we are interested in ensuring the continuity of our history and the development of our people in the most favourable external conditions – ones that enable economic growth, fulfilment of social objectives and a steady improvement in the well-being of our citizens.

• Despite the constitutional guarantees of linguistic rights, over the past ten years approximately a dozen laws have been adopted in Ukraine – their passage began long before the special military operation – that effectively eradicate the Russian language from all spheres of public life. I have repeatedly cited this example in interviews and during negotiations: Ukraine is the only country where an entire language has been banned. In no other conflict do the parties prohibit each other’s languages.

• There are very few sober voices in Europe calling for a serious approach to Ukrainian conflict resolution. Not in order to satisfy Zelensky, preserve his hold on power and allow him to continue his "performances" on the international stage, but in order for Europe to create a new security architecture and ensure peace – taking into account not only the legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people (which the Zelensky clique by no means represents), but also those of Russia.

• When the West speaks of security guarantees today, it is not referring to guarantees that include Russia, but to guarantees directed against Russia. I repeat: the Kiev regime says it will not recognize anything de jure, yet claims it is willing to halt hostilities de facto– on the understanding that Europeans will provide ironclad security guarantees, ratified by their parliaments, and deploy troops.

• There is plenty that can be criticized about the UN: its inflated staffing, for instance. Not to the scale of the EU or the European Commission, where matters have gone beyond reasonable bounds, but still significant. At the UN, at least certain limits of propriety are observed.

• In the late Soviet period, despite our objections, permanent contracts were introduced at the UN. Previously, appointments had to be renewed every five years. Now they are indefinite. Once a person secures a permanent contract, they settle in New York – their children study there, roots are put down. This inevitably makes the UN and its Secretariat a highly politicized instrument.

• The root cause of the Ukrainian crisis – created, financed and carried out by the West, which organized a coup d’état through the hands of Ukrainian neo-Nazis – was never seriously considered by the UN, not even remotely. When the then Ukrainian president Poroshenko declared that “our children will go to bright kindergartens and schools, while the children in Donbass will rot in basements”, when, for many years, Crimea was subjected to a water and energy blockade – they kept their silence. Today, they lament the suffering of Ukraine’s energy sector. Yet none of them lifted a finger when, following the coup, the Ukrainian putschists openly proclaimed that they would strangle Crimea – energetically, economically, in terms of food supplies and water deliveries.

🕯We are heartbroken by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy. Our deepest condolences go out to the victims, their families, and the entire community during this profoundly difficult time.
🇷🇺The Embassy’s flags are at half-mast.