🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov answers questions from the NTV Itogi Nedeli aka the Outcomes of the Week programme (December 24, 2023)

❓ Here is a philosophical question: Yesterday, you spoke about justice, a just solution to the crisis, a just multipolar world order, etc. Now the Global South is closely watching us. What kind of justice can we offer them? How do we make it clear to them?

💬 I think that any normal person, including politicians, immediately understands what injustice is when they see it. It is clear to them when issues are resolved fairly, based on a balance of interests and the key principle of the UN Charter, which emphasises the need to respect the sovereign equality of all states, big and small.

since the creation of the UN, the West, especially the US, has failed to comply with this key principle of sovereign equality. <...>

In this context, justice means equal rights for all states and entities established in different regions. This includes the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the African Union, #CELAC, as well as numerous subregional institutions in Africa and Latin America. In Eurasia, we have the #EAEU, the #SCO and #ASEAN. These organisations have established close contacts, including through the Belt and Road project. <...>

❓ Why didn't you mention BRICS?

💬 I didn't mention BRICS because it is self-evident. I listed the organisations that are emerging at the regional level. #BRICS is not an organisation but an association. I don't think there is any interest in turning it into a formal organisation with a secretariat, at least not at this stage <...>

BRICS is a symbol. It represents the shared desire of a majority of countries in the world to develop their initiatives together, taking into account each other's interests on an equal basis. It serves as a future umbrella for all subregional and regional processes. <...> This is the future.

☝️ In the West, there are no organisations that have fair rules in terms of equality and genuine consensus.

Read in full

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at an extended meeting with the participation of the Foreign Ministers from the Global South and the Global East (June 11, 2024, Nizhny Novgorod)

💬 Welcome to Russia and Nizhny Novgorod, a beautiful city, the beauty of which and the feelings of the residents of which you had the chance to enjoy yesterday.

Today’s meeting reflects the efforts of #BRICS members to develop ties with the stakeholder countries from the Global South and the Global East, the countries of the Global Majority,

in order to identify solutions to the most pressing global issues faced by all members of the international community without exception.

We are witnessing a profound transformation of international relations triggered by the formation of a fairer and polycentric system of international order, which would reflect the entire gamut of cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern-day world and ensure the right of every nation to determine its own future and its own path of development.

The stronger voice of the Global Majority, i.e. the countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, which are not part of the collective West, is a major trend now.

Only by uniting our ranks can we truly effectively promote a vision of a just future shared by all of us. In this context, it is important to strengthen the role of the country-to-country groups that advocate balanced and equitable approaches to international development.

We are talking about the formats which reflect the principles of equitable cooperation in practice rather than in words. These include, along with BRICS, #SCO, #AfricanUnion, #EAEU, #CIS, #ASEAN, #LAS, #CELAC, #GCC, #IORA and many other organisations. The chairs of many of these organisations are here with us.

We believe it is important to establish contacts between all such integration entities which operate at regional levels, on the one hand, and our global association BRICS, on the other hand. This will promote gradual and mutually respectful harmonisation of approaches to the issues facing all associations.

The strengthening the international legal framework and collective decision-making on global issues is now at the forefront. Only in this case will those decisions be effective and legitimate.

This principle is laid down in the UN Charter. Unfortunately, the collective West’s decisions, especially in the economy, finance, trade and more, increasingly fail to comply with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

Our countries have largely overlapping approaches to reforming the system of multilateral institutions, including the UN and the UN Security Council, as well as addressing the post-pandemic recovery of the global economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals approved by the UN General Assembly.

🤝 We look forward to discussing all these issues today.

🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview to Newsweek magazine (October 7, 2024)

❓Question: As the Ukraine conflict continues, how different is Russia's position than in 2022 and how are the costs of conflict being weighed against the progress made toward strategic objectives?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our position is widely known and remains unchanged. Russia is open to a politico-diplomatic settlement that should remove the root causes of the crisis.

It should aim to end the conflict rather than achieve a ceasefire. The West should stop supplying weapons, and Kiev should end the hostilities.

👉 Ukraine should return to its neutral, non-bloc and non-nuclear status, protect the Russian language, and respect the rights and freedoms of its citizens.

<...>

On 14 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin listed prerequisites for the settlement as follows: complete AFU withdrawal from the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson Oblasts; recognition of territorial realities as enshrined in the Russian Constitution; neutral, non-bloc, non-nuclear status for Ukraine; its demilitarization and denazification; securing the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens; and removal of all sanctions against Russia.

Kiev responded to this statement by an armed incursion into the Kursk Oblast on 6 August. Its patrons – the US and other NATO countries – seek to inflict a «strategic defeat» on Russia. Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to continue our special military operation until the threats posed by Ukraine are removed. <...>

❓Question: How likely do you think it is that a military or diplomatic solution can be achieved, or do you see a greater risk of the conflict spiraling into something even larger with Ukrainian forces receiving more advanced NATO weaponry and entering Russian territory?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: Making guesses is not my job. What I want to say is that we have been trying to extinguish this crisis for more than a decade, yet each time we put to paper agreements that suite everyone, Kiev and its masters would backpedal. <...>

At present, as far as we can see, restoring peace is not part of our adversary's plan. Zelensky has not revoked his decree banning negotiations with Moscow. Washington and its NATO allies provide political, military and financial support to Kiev so that the war would go on. They are discussing authorizing the AFU to use Western long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. "Playing with fire" in this way may lead to dangerous consequences. As stated by President Putin, we will take adequate decisions based on our understanding of the threats posed by the West. It is up to you to make conclusions.

❓Question: What concrete plans does Russia have in line with its strategic partnerships with China and other powers to achieve changes in the current world order and how do you expect these ambitions to play out in areas of intense competition and conflict, including the Middle East?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: What we have in mind is that the world order needs be adjusted to the current realities. Today the world is living through the "multipolar moment". Shifting towards the multi-polar world order is a natural part of power rebalancing, which reflects objective changes in the world economy, finance and geopolitics. The West waited longer than the others, yet it has also started to realize that this process is irreversible.

<...>

Multipolarity manifests itself in the increasing role of regional associations, such as the #EAEU, #SCO, #ASEAN, #AfricanUnion, #CELAC and others. #BRICS has become a model of multilateral diplomacy. The #UN should remain a forum for aligning the interests of all the countries.

Read in full

🌐 On February 20−21, Johannesburg will host the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as part of South Africa’s chairship of this leading economic forum. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will head the Russian delegation.

South Africa’s G20 chairship is a landmark event for Pretoria and the entire African continent, as it will host G20 events for the first time.

The event will take place under the motto Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability. The South African Side will continue the efforts of other Global Majority states (Indonesia, India and Brazil), which chaired the G20 from 2022 to 2024 to establish the G20 as a key platform for truly equitable dialogue between developing and industrialised countries.

☝️ Significant progress has already been achieved during the G20 chairship of #BRICS partners, which adapted the forum’s agenda to meet the current demands of the multipolar world order and promoted the democratisation of international economic governance institutions in the interests of non-Western centres of strength.

Countries with emerging markets increasingly advocate for independent and balanced perspectives on energy and food security, as well as issues of protectionism, unilateral economic pressure and other methods of unfair competition. In 2023, the African Union became a full-fledged participant in the forum.

Important anniversaries, including the 80th Anniversary of Victory in World War II and the establishment of the UN, as well as the 65th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, adopted at the initiative of the Soviet Union, which launched the process of asserting independent statehood in Africa, are providing a powerful political impetus for the G20’s work this year.

The participants of the Ministerial will discuss the impact of the current geopolitical situation on the global economy. On February 20, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa will welcome the participants at the first session and outline high-priority topics for discussion related to contemporary global challenges and threats.

Additionally, the Sides will exchange fundamental assessments regarding Pretoria’s proposed priorities for the G20 negotiating efforts to promote dynamic economic growth, reduce inequality, create high-quality jobs, ensure food security and provide fair access to advanced technologies and funding.

👉 In his remarks, Sergey Lavrov will provide a comprehensive analysis of the current international situation, focusing on the root causes and driving forces behind key events. He will emphasise the need to reject the confrontational stance taken by neoliberal elites and propose concrete measures to overcome destructive trends. The Russian Side will reaffirm its commitment to maintaining the central role of the UN in global affairs, stressing the need for strict adherence to the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnectedness.

🇷🇺 In the context of South Africa’s G20 chairship priorities, Russia will highlight the need for practical steps to:

• accelerate the redistribution of IMF voting quotas in favour of developing countries;
• restore the full functionality of the WTO;
• promote an open global economy, ensuring it is not weaponised.

The Russian Minister will also underscore that trade wars, unilateral restrictions and other manifestations of discriminatory approaches are unacceptable.

The Russian Side will emphasise the importance of developing new types of democratic associations and integration initiatives that operate in accordance with the principles of interstate equality and mutually beneficial cooperation, increasing their presence in global politics. These include #BRICS, #EAEU, #SCO, #ASEAN and #CELAC.

❗️ Members of the Russian delegation will discuss, in great detail, the current stage of implementing the flagship Russian initiative to forge the Greater Eurasian Partnership.

Sergey Lavrov is also set to hold a series of bilateral meetings with his colleagues on the sidelines of the G20 Ministerial.

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following the G20 Ministerial Council meeting (Johannesburg, February 21, 2025)

Read in full

💬 The main focus of the deliberations among the Foreign Ministers was the crucial goal of amplifying the voices of developing nations in global decision-making. The discussions were substantial, and we observed tangible progress in this regard.

Since last year, the African Union has attained full membership within the G20. The League of Arab States (#LAS) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (#CELAC) are interested in securing equivalent status. Such ambitions are commendable. We are confident that, in due course, the #EAEU may also rightfully aspire to similar standing <…>

We articulated our perspective on international challenges and their resolution during a period when multipolar realities are increasingly acknowledged. The advent of multipolarity is self-evident to us and to the #BRICS nations. Statistical evidence underscores this trend.

📈 The combined gross domestic product of BRICS states has surpassed that of the G7 countries. BRICS accounts for 37 percent of global GDP, compared to the G7’s 29 percent. This disparity heightens the urgency of reforming global economic institutions to reflect the genuine weight of the Global South and the World Majority within the world economy, alongside fostering non-discriminatory economic ties. These matters were actively deliberated. Russia stands ready to vigorously facilitate further progress in this domain, though numerous challenges persist <…>

We urged our Western counterparts to respect universally recognised rules of international law. Emphasis was placed on revitalising the United Nations’ role as a platform for coordinating state actions and forging a fair balance of interests.

The role played by BRICS certainly attracts everyone’s attention at the global level <…>

Speaking about entities that play a certain role in international economic relations, the G20 in general retains the role of a dialogue platform between the old and new centres of power. We spoke in favour of preserving the economic profile of this association <…>

South Africa, which has led the G20 this year, completes the succession of BRICS presidencies that began in 2022, when Indonesia was at the head of the G20. In 2023 it was India, and in 2024 it was Brazil. This successive version of BRICS being at the helm of the G20 has had the positive outcome of strengthening the position of the Global South in our forum.

❗️ All this contributes to the establishment of a fairer multipolar world order based on the sovereign equality of states, as required by the UN Charter, and on all other principles of the Charter in their totality and interrelation.

From answers to media questions:

• The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, spoke at the G20 with the same array of accusations, proclaiming certain “plans” that would prevent Russia from taking its rightful place in the world. There is some tragicomic element to this.

• The reaction of the “tragicomic figures” heading the Brussels bureaucracy and NATO to the meeting in Riyadh is highly illustrative. The mere fact that representatives of two great powers sat down, engaged in discussion, and articulated their respective positions is perceived by them as a betrayal of Western interests. These individuals are not in good health.

• Multipolarity is gaining ascendancy. The growth trajectories of new, formidable centres of power – economic, political, and financial – demonstrate that this multipolarity is irreversible. In this context, the G20 retains its relevance as a forum where Western participants may come to recognise the inevitability of this process and begin adapting to it.