🎙 FM Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to questions following the G20 Ministerial Meeting

📍 Rio de Janeiro, February 22, 2024

• Some of our Western colleagues’ attempts during the #G20 Ministerial Meetings to divert the discussion from this key issue to the topic of supporting the Kiev regime, focusing on groundless accusations against Russia and Ukrainising the agenda are not supported by developing countries and most of the Global South countries.

🌐 Our remarks also focused on the fact that, apart from the Bretton Woods institutions, the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO, there are also new centres and unions of the Global Majority developing in different regions of the world. In the Eurasian space, these are the #SCO, #ASEAN, and #EAEU.

🇺🇳 Today, six members of the UNSC out of 15 are allies of the US, with nearly all of them doing Washington’s bidding. When we address the problem of expanding the UNSC in practical terms, we will support solely representatives of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said they should not by any means divide the world into isolated blocs which seems like a sound idea, but immediately, without missing a beat, he went on to say that they will, of course, cooperate primarily with democracies. To use his words, there are different “blocs.” The best part, though, is him saying that all countries have a choice, “If you are not at the table in the international system, you’re going to be on the menu.” That’s the kind of approach the top US diplomat has towards those who disagree with them.

• Many of our colleagues from the Global Majority share with us in confidence how the Americans demand that they join their sanctions against Russia and what threats they use. That prompts an interesting conclusion about US diplomacy and what it now amounts to.

🌎 Latin America is one of our major partners. Our trade is growing substantially and investment activities are also gaining momentum.

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⚡️ 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.

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#FamilyPhoto

📸 Heads of delegations, including FM Sergey Lavrov took part in the traditional family photo ceremony ahead of the #SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting.

📍 Astana, May 21

⚡️ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov takes part in the #SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting.

📍 Astana, May 21

🗓 On May 20-21, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the Foreign Ministers Council meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member-countries.

The participants focused on the organisation’s activities in the context of preparations for the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council meeting in Astana on July 3-4. They also discussed draft documents to be presented for the leaders’ consideration.

The participants will reflect their coordinated approaches to the SCO’s further development and current global and regional issues in the Astana Declaration.

The admission of Belarus will be an important step towards strengthening the #SCO. The Ministers endorsed the relevant draft decisions of the Heads of State Council.

They also coordinated proposals of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council on comprehensive improvement of the organisation’s activities in the context of current geopolitical realities.

They adopted draft leadership statements and conceptual documents as a foundation for promoting cooperation in energy, transport, logistics and environmental protection.

During a detailed exchange of views on key regional and international issues, the Ministers discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Middle East as a whole, and, in part, settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

They paid special attention to the SCO’s efforts to facilitate stabilization in Afghanistan, considering the importance of this factor for the security of the SCO space.

🤝 FM Lavrov also had a number of bilateral meetings.

🎙 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 greetings to organisers of and participants of the 5th Kazan International Congress of Eurasian Integration

💬 I would like to warmly greet the organisers of and participants of the 5th Kazan International Congress of Eurasian Integration.

Your platform brings together a wide range of state officials and civil society activists, experts on international affairs, economists and representatives of academic circles; all of them are interested in strengthening multifaceted cooperation across the Eurasian region we share.

In today’s challenging global environment, created by the destructive policies of the collective West, your work to forge a constructive international agenda seems to be in high demand.

Several promising integration formats, including the #UnionState, the #EAEU, the #SCO, as well as the #CIS, chaired by Russia in 2024, function in Eurasia. The initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin on establishing a Greater Eurasian Partnership aims to synchronise collaboration between them.

☝️ You will review a wide range of issues regarding expanded practical cooperation in Eurasia. Certainly, we welcome your interest in such a new multilateral entity as #BRICS, also chaired by Russia this year.

I am confident that the congress will contribute to strengthening friendship and trust between nations, and that it will help draft useful recommendations.

🤝 I wish you successful work and all the best.