🇷🇺🇹🇷 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Türkiye Hakan Fidan (June 11, 2024).

💬 Vladimir Putin: I am aware that you were in Nizhny Novgorod and met with foreign ministers from the #BRICS countries who came to Russia in the run-up to the BRICS summit. We welcome Turkiye’s interest in BRICS.

Of course, we will support this interest and the push to be closer to the countries of this association and to address common problems, especially so since the situation calls for, I believe, a more thorough and close interaction, particularly for the countries of the region which we live in, in order to act effectively across all areas both in terms of ensuring security and in terms of economic cooperation and in order to adjust our actions in the international arena. Everything that I just mentioned is one way or another among our priorities which we work on painstakingly.

🤝 We note with satisfaction progress in our relations with the Republic of Türkiye. All of that is happening, of course, under the leadership and with the direct support of our friend, the President of the Republic of Türkiye.

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We are grateful to our Turkish friends for their commitment to contribute to the settlement of crisis situations, including the Ukraine crisis. I would also like to thank you, in your former capacity, for supporting the negotiating process and for providing the Istanbul venue for negotiations with Ukraine to resolve the crisis.

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☝️ Türkiye and Russia played a significant role in settling the Syria crisis, and I think continuing the Astana format will be the right thing to do, to fight terrorism, and to do everything we can to return the situation back to normal in this most important area.

Overall, the situation is unfolding in a positive manner. Please convey my best regards to President Erdogan. I hope that soon, in July, I think July 3–4, he will arrive in Astana, as far as I know, as part of an international event, and we will have an opportunity to sit down and discuss all current issues.

#RussiaTürkiye

📹 Video address by Russia's President Vladimir Putin to participants in the opening ceremony of #BRICSSportsGames

💬 Vladimir Putin: I am delighted to welcome participants and guests of the #BRICS Sports Games in Russia.

For two weeks, the competitions will bring together over 3,000 athletes from almost 100 states. I am confident that this large-scale sports festival will demonstrate the triumph of universal values of sport, equal opportunities and an honest and uncompromising struggle.

The hospitable, distinctive and unique Kazan and Moscow are hosting the BRICS Sports Games. These cities boast a rich history, a multi-ethnic culture and traditions. At the same time, these modern cities are gearing for the future.

All this aligns with the spirit and nature of BRICS, an association of sovereign countries which are developing dynamically, yet retain their identity. They jointly address large-scale objectives and provide an example of truly partner-like and equitable relations, based on trust, strong friendship and respect for each other’s interests.

☝️ I would like to note that the Sports Games, held under the auspices of our organisation, are an important part of multilateral political, economic and humanitarian interaction. The role of BRICS in global affairs continues to increase rapidly. I am therefore confident that the Games, as a competition free from political interference and pressure that truly unites athletes from around the world, will become more popular and attractive. All the more so as they will be held in an open format for the first time this year.

The Games will become yet another symbol of expanding inter-cultural dialogue, making a weighty contribution to strengthening friendship among nations and facilitating interstate interaction in the interests of people and universal development.

I wish successful starts and brilliant victories to athletes and their mentors, and bright and unforgettable impressions to spectators and fans.

I hereby declare the 2024 BRICS Sport Games open!

🎙 Briefing by MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (June 7, 2024)

🔹 FM Sergey Lavrov’s schedule
🔹 St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region’s international and interregional ties
🔹 Ukrainian crisis
🔹 Foreign Minister of Cuba Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla’s visit to Russia
🔹 Situation in Moldova
🔹 Korean Peninsula
🔹 A Western “journalistic” investigation into the activities of the Fund to Support and Protect the Rights of Compatriots
🔹 Plundering Crimea’s cultural heritage by the West during the Crimean War of 1853-1856

📰 Read
📺 Watch

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#Ukraine

On May 31, Washington, following a number of European countries, gave the Kiev regime a green light to use the supplied weapons for strikes at the Russian areas bordering on the Kharkov Region. Declaring this decision, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the strikes will reach deeper inside Russia and the West will keep on adjusting its strategy.

Fire (not the West’s stance) adjustment has been carried out by Washington for all these years, not only starting from 2022. The involvement of Western countries in destroying Ukrainian statehood and in direct hostilities against peaceful civilian population in Donbass is not a secret.

#KoreanPeninsula

The negative trends in the subregion are caused by the actions of the US. They consistently engage in military manoeuvres with their allies. These actions are attempts at intimidation under the guise of addressing the “North Korean threat.”

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Washington forges a tripartite military alliance with Seoul and Tokyo, not only to target the DPRK but also to strategically constrain Moscow and Beijing.

📹 Видеообращение Президента Российской Федерации В.В.Путина к участникам церемонии открытия Спортивных игр стран БРИКС

💬 В.В.Путин: Рад приветствовать в России участников и гостей Спортивных игр стран #БРИКС.

Соревнования на две недели объединят более трёх тысяч атлетов из почти ста государств мира. И уверен, этот масштабный спортивный праздник зримо продемонстрирует торжество универсальных ценностей спорта, равных возможностей и честной, бескомпромиссной борьбы.

Игры БРИКС принимают гостеприимные, самобытные Казань и Москва – города, богатые своей историей, многонациональной культурой, традициями и одновременно современные, устремлённые в будущее.

Всё это в полной мере отражает дух и характер самого БРИКС – объединения суверенных стран, которые динамично развиваются, сохраняя свою самобытность, вместе решают масштабные задачи, показывают пример подлинно партнёрских и равноправных отношений, основанных на доверии, крепкой дружбе и уважении интересов друг друга.

☝️ Отмечу, что Спортивные игры под эгидой нашей организации – важная часть всестороннего политического, экономического и гуманитарного взаимодействия. Роль БРИКС в мировых делах стремительно растёт. И потому уверен, что так же будет расти и популярность, привлекательность Игр как состязаний, свободных от политического вмешательства и давления, по-настоящему объединяющих атлетов всего мира. Тем более что впервые в этом году они проходят в открытом формате.

А значит, Игры станут ещё одним символом расширяющегося межкультурного диалога, весомым вкладом в укрепление дружбы народов и плодотворного взаимодействия государств в интересах людей и всеобщего развития.

Желаю спортсменам, их наставникам удачных стартов, ярких побед, а зрителям, болельщикам – ярких и незабываемых впечатлений.

Объявляю Спортивные игры стран БРИКС 2024 года открытыми!