🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to media questions following the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting (Cape Town, June 1, 2023)

❓Question: Many countries have been declaring their desire to be invited into the BRICS group. For instance, today, you met with the delegation from Saudi Arabia, who also expressed their desire to do that. Could you please tell us about the progress that is being made in this direction and why do you think BRICS attracts so many countries?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: Indeed, we discussed this issue, and I did discuss it with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud this morning.

As regards the approach of #BRICS, it is still being shaped, it is evolving. The sherpas reported to us about the results they reached at this stage. The Chair authorised them to continue after they listened to the comments made by each of us at the meeting.

BRICS is a different kind of structure. It is a new organisation based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, consensus, non-interference and strict adherence to the United Nations Charter, to all its principles in their interlinkages. It is not for BRICS to pick and choose something you like in this Charter for this particular situation and then to do the opposite for another situation. I think BRICS symbolises the evolution of the multipolar world, which is talked about very often, and more and more so. And the fact that more than 12 countries have expressed their desire to be part of BRICS is a testimony to that.

❓ Question: May I ask you to comment on the reports alleging that the BRICS Summit may be moved to China from South Africa? What do you think about these plans?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: As far as I know, this news story appeared in a single British tabloid of some sort.

And I do not read English papers.

🇷🇺🇦🇪 On June 2, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met in Cape Town on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting.

🤝 During their conversation, the Ministers reaffirmed the shared intention of Moscow and Abu Dhabi to continue the steady development of the traditionally friendly Russia-UAE relations in the spirit of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, approved on June 1, 2018 in Moscow.

In this context, they discussed objectives to ensure the future progress of mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres, including industry, state-of-the-art technologies, transport, energy, tourism and space exploration for peaceful purposes.

The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting close coordination between Moscow and Abu Dhabi at various international platforms, including the UN and its Security Council. The UAE became a rotating non-permanent UN Security Council member in January 2022.

☝️ While exchanging opinions on key aspects of the international and regional agenda, the Ministers focused on the situation in Syria, Yemen and Libya.

#RussiaUAE

📸 #PhotoOfTheDay

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov together with other BRICS FMs was received by President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa following the #BRICS Ministerial in Cape Town

📄 XV BRICS Summit Johannesburg II Declaration (Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa, August 23, 2023)

Read in full (Telegraph: part I, part II)

✍️ We, the Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met in Sandton, South Africa, from 22 to 24 August 2023 for the XV BRICS Summit held under the theme: "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism".

We reaffirm our commitment to the #BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, strengthened collaboration and consensus. As we build upon 15 years of BRICS Summits, we further commit ourselves to strengthening the framework of mutually beneficial BRICS cooperation under the three pillars:

✅ political and security;
✅ economic and financial;
✅cultural and people-to-people cooperation;

and to enhancing our strategic partnership for the benefit of our people through the promotion of peace, a more representative, fairer international order, a reinvigorated and reformed multilateral system, sustainable development and inclusive growth.

Key points:

🇺🇳 We support a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships.

• We are concerned about ongoing conflicts in many parts of the world. We stress our commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and inclusive consultations.

• We have decided to invite Argentina 🇦🇷, Egypt 🇪🇬, Ethiopia 🇪🇹, Iran 🇮🇷, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and the UAE 🇦🇪 to become full members of BRICS from 1 January 2024.

🇧🇷🇮🇳🇨🇳🇿🇦 Brazil, India, China and South Africa extend their full support to Russia 🇷🇺 for its BRICS Chairship in 2024 and the holding of the XVI BRICS Summit in the city of Kazan, Russia.

🇷🇺🇸🇦📞 President Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

The Crown Prince thanked the Russian Side for consistently supporting Saudi Arabia’s request to join #BRICS. In turn, the President of Russia warmly congratulated the leadership of Saudi Arabia on the relevant decision, made at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, and informed the Crown Prince about the priorities of Russia’s BRICS chairmanship in 2024.

🤝 The Parties praised bilateral collaboration within the OPEC Plus format and noted that specific agreements on reducing oil production, combined with voluntary obligations to limit raw materials deliveries, made it possible to stabilise the global energy market.

The leaders expressed satisfaction with the development of diverse cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia and reviewed a number of topical issues related to further deepening cooperation in trade, the economy, transport, logistics and investment.

They agreed to continue their personal contacts.

#RussiaSaudiArabia

🇷🇺🇦🇪 📞 On October 9, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke over the phone with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Ministers emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire between HAMAS and Israel, the cessation of all violence in the region, the release of civilian hostages, and the unacceptability of attacks on civilians on both sides.

☝️ The two Parties confirmed the objective to lead the Palestinian-Israeli settlement out of its present deadlock, based on UN resolutions and the revival of the role of the Quartet of international intermediaries composed of the UN, Russia, the US and the EU.

The Foreign Ministers also discussed current bilateral issues and interaction within #BRICS in the context of the Russian Presidency in the association in 2024, and with account taken of the UAE joining BRICS as a full member.

🎙 President Vladimir Putin took part in an extraordinary #BRICS summit on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, being held via videoconference.

💬 Vladimir Putin: The thousands of deaths and mass expulsion of civilians, the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the area are causing deep concern.

And all of that is, in fact, happening as a consequence of the US’ aspiration to monopolise the mediation role in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement process and block the activities of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators.

☝️ Because of the sabotage of UN decisions, which clearly called for the establishment and peaceful coexistence of two independent and sovereign states – Israel and Palestine – more than one generation of Palestinians has grown up in an atmosphere of injustice, and Israelis cannot fully guarantee the security of their state either.

It is worth noting that all BRICS countries have similar positions on the need to collectively reach long-term and durable settlement of the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli problem.

👉 The most urgent goal is to reach a truly long-term and sustainable truce. It is important that other states not get drawn into a war in the Middle East and that the conflict not spread in any way, as is preserving the fragile peace between religions.

Read in full

⚡️ From President Vladimir Putin's Address to the Federal Assembly (February 29, 2024)

Key talking points:

• Just like any other ideology promoting racism, national superiority or exceptionalism, Russophobia is blinding and stupefying. The US and its satellites have, in fact, dismantled the European security system which has created risks for everyone.

• We need to shore up the forces in the western strategic theatre in order to counteract the threats posed by NATO’s further eastward expansion, with Sweden and Finland joining the alliance.

• A new equal and indivisible security framework must be created in Eurasia in the foreseeable future. We are ready for a substantive discussion on this subject with all countries and associations that may be interested in it. At the same time, I would like to reiterate (I think this is important for everyone) that no enduring international order is possible without a strong and sovereign Russia.

• We strive to unite the global majority’s efforts to respond to international challenges, such as turbulent transformation of the world economy, trade, finance, and technology markets, when former monopolies and stereotypes associated with them are collapsing.

• The principles of equality and respect for each other’s interests guide us in our interactions with our partners. This is why more and more countries have been proactive in seeking to be part of the activities of the #EAEU, the #SCO, #BRICS and other associations involving Russia.

📄 Read in full

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping made a media statement following Russia-China talks (May 16, 2024)

💬 Vladimir Putin: The talks we have just finished highlighted the great significance that Moscow and Beijing attach to the development and strengthening of comprehensive Russia-China partnership and strategic interaction. This partnership can certainly set an example of ties between neighbouring states.

Key talking points:

• This state visit takes place in the year of the 75th Anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Our country was the first to recognise the People’s Republic of China on October 2, 1949, the day after its declaration.

• I want to note the significance of the Joint Statement we have adopted, which sets new objectives and long-term directives for advancing the entire spectrum of Russian-Chinese relations.

📈 In 2023, bilateral trade surged by a quarter, reaching a new milestone of $240 billion, as reported by Chinese statistics. While there may be a slight variance in figures, the overall total is entirely accurate. <...> Currently, there are over 80 priority projects valued at approximately $200 billion in progress or in preparation for implementation through the respective intergovernmental commission.

• Our talks have reaffirmed that Russia and China have similar or identical views on many international and regional issues. Both countries have an independent and sovereign foreign policy. We are working together to create a fairer and more democratic multipolar world order.

• We have agreed to further improve communication between credit and banking institutions of Russia and China, while actively employing national payment systems to support our economic operators.

🤝 Russia and China are fruitfully working together in #BRICS and the #SCO. <...> Our countries are resolved to continue working to align integration processes underway within the framework of the #EAEU with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Read in full

🇷🇺🇸🇦 Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud hold a meeting on the sidelines of the #BRICS Ministerial

📍 Nizhny Novgorod, June 10

🇷🇺🇪🇬 On June 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sameh Shoukry on the sidelines of the #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

During their conversation, the Officials discussed various important aspects of the Middle East agenda, with a particular focus on the current escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They emphasised the urgent need to increase international efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and provide sustainable humanitarian access to the area, ensuring necessary assistance to the population of the Palestinian enclave.

The Ministers also explored ways to further strengthen the traditionally friendly Russian-Egyptian relations, including efforts to maintain political dialogue and advancing trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties.

#RussiaEgypt

🎙 Statement by FM Sergey Lavrov during the UNSC meeting on multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order

📍 New York, July 16, 2024

💬 Today, the very foundations of the international legal order - strategic stability and the UN-centric system of international politics - are put to the test. We won’t be able to resolve the mounting conflicts unless we understand their root causes and restore faith in our ability to join forces for the common good and justice for all.

Let’s face it: not all countries represented in this chamber recognise the key principle of the UN Charter which is the sovereign equality of all states. Speaking through its presidents, the US has long declared its exceptionalism. This applies to Washington’s attitude towards its allies, whom it demands to be unquestioningly obedient even to the detriment of their national interests.

👉 Rule, America! This is the thrust of the notorious “rules-based order” which presents a direct threat to multilateralism and international peace.

The most important components of international law - the UN Charter and the resolutions of our Council - are interpreted by the collective West in a perverse and selective manner, depending on the instructions coming from the White House.

Key talking points:

• Washington’s hegemonistic policy has been the same for decades. Absolutely all schemes of Euro-Atlantic security were based on America’s domination, including the subjugation of Europe and the “containment” of Russia. The main role in this was assigned to NATO, which has ultimately tramped down the European Union that had been created to serve Europeans. The alliance has unceremoniously privatised OSCE bodies in brazen violation of the Helsinki Final Act.

• The unrestrained enlargement of NATO, which went on for years contrary to Moscow’s warnings, has also provoked the Ukraine crisis that began with the state coup organised by Washington in February 2014 to seize full control of Ukraine and use the neo-Nazi regime they brought to power to prepare an attack on Russia.

• NATO’s military infrastructure is moving into the Pacific with the obvious aim of undermining the ASEAN-centric architecture, which has for many decades been built on the principles of equality, mutual interests and consensus.

• Where are the free market attributes that the US and its allies have been telling everyone to follow for so many years? Market economy, fair competition, inviolability of private property, presumption of innocence, freedom of movement of people, goods, capital and services - all of these have been scrapped.

• The pivotal element of the reform of the UN should be the reshuffle of the UN Security Council, <...> which clearly has too many representatives of the collective West. A badly needed step is to reach the broadest accord possible on the concrete parameters of the reform, which should increase the representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

• The personnel policy of the UN Secretariat should be changed as well to eliminate the domination of Western citizens and subjects in the administrative UN bodies. The UN Secretary-General and his staff must faithfully and with no exceptions comply with the principles of impartiality and neutrality.

• #BRICS and the #SCO are playing an increasing role in the development of a just multilateral world based on the principles of the UN Charter. Their member states represent different regions and civilisations whose interaction is based on equality, mutual respect, consensus and mutually accepted compromises, which is the golden standard of multilateral cooperation involving great powers.

❗️ The UN will be able to overcome current disagreements and to reach consensus on most issues if everyone, without exception, honours its letter and spirit. “The end of history” has failed to materialise. Let us work together in the interests of launching the history of genuine multilateralism that reflects the entire wealth of cultural and civilisational diversity of the world’s nations.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following his visit to the United States within the framework of Russia’s UN Security Council Presidency

📍 New York, July 17, 2024

💬 I came to New York for two key events – open debates – that were held yesterday and today within the framework of Russia’s UN Security Council Presidency. Not only members of the Security Council but all other delegations could attend them. You saw how many of them did so.

The first issue we proposed for discussion yesterday concerned the conceptual framework of international relations, multilateralism and multipolarity. We pointed out the gradual erosion of system that was created after the Second World War on the basis of the central role of the UN.

I hope that you listened to my statement and to the statements made by other participants. We did not expect to come to agreement on the majority of issues, considering the current tensions on the international stage and the state of relations between the collective West and the Global Majority.

☝️ Although we had no big illusions, I believe that it was a useful discussion. At the very least, the overwhelming majority of participants agreed that we have problems. Many of them expressed opinions that coincide with our vision of the objective development of a multipolar world order, which I presented in my statement.

Another conclusion is that this discussion will most certainly be continued. There is an apparent interest for this, and it is growing. We will actively keep it up, and we will organise additional discussions on this issue not only at the UN but also at other multilateral platforms, including at the Group of Twenty, at associations such as #BRICS and the #SCO, as well as in the framework of our contacts with the regional organisations of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The restoration of trust is the top priority now, as the representative of Guyana pointed out yesterday. So far, there was no hint of dialogue. Another important statement he made was that trust could only be rebuilt if all parties without exception comply with the agreements reached. This is not the case so far. Examples of that were provided yesterday in my statement and in the statements of other participants.

Overwhelming evidence of that was also provided during today’s open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The overwhelming majority of the UN resolutions on Palestine have not been implemented. The second debate I have mentioned is not over yet. Many speakers have called for taking resolute steps. We hold a similar view. The first steps must include the termination of hostilities, a permanent ceasefire, the settlement of critical humanitarian problems and, of course, the termination of Israel’s actions to create illegal settlements. We hope that if or when this is done, this will create conditions for resuming negotiations on the implementation of UN decisions on the establishment of the Palestinian state that would live in peace and security with Israel.

<...>

🤝 I have held a series of bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Arab countries, with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, and with Head of the Federal Department (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis.

📄 Read in full

🇷🇺🇵🇸 President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas held a meeting on the sidelines of the XVI BRICS Summit in Kazan (October 24, 2024)

💬 President Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends,

During your visit to Moscow in August, we engaged in extensive discussions, exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, reviewed crucial aspects of Russian-Palestinian cooperation, and also concurred that you would attend the #BRICS Summit in Kazan to continue our dialogue.

Regrettably, since our previous meeting, the situation in the region has not improved; on the contrary, it is deteriorating. The tragic events in the Gaza Strip have already led to more than 40,000 deaths and provoked tensions in Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East. Tensions are also escalating in the West Bank. We all bear witness to this.

Russia's principled position is consistent and absolutely impartial: we firmly advocate for an early cessation of bloodshed and the provision of humanitarian access to all those in need. We urge all parties to exercise restraint.

A lasting peace in the region can only be achieved through a political and diplomatic settlement based on recognised international legal grounds and platform, which provide for the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian State that would coexist in peace and security with Israel.

Russia has traditionally devoted special attention to the Middle East settlement issue. Among other efforts, we have been addressing this issue during our BRICS chairmanship. As you observed at the meeting and during bilateral contacts, BRICS countries have similar approaches. This was affirmed both by the extraordinary BRICS summit on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the discussion that took place here in Kazan.

Of course, Russia cannot overlook the needs of the people. As you are aware, we have transferred over 800 tonnes of supplies, including food and medicine, to the Palestinians. Naturally, we will do everything within our power to steer the situation towards the resolution of all the problems in this area.