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Comment by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mikhail Zakharova, in connection with the latest unfriendly actions of the Moldovan authorities

Главный редактор — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 18:16:10 +0000

On October 23, the Moldovan authorities notified an employee of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau about the declaration of persona non grata. The reason was unreasonably chosen to be the fall of an unmanned aerial vehicle on the territory of the country on the same day, there was no evidence of its “Russian” origin.

This decision of the Moldovan authorities is part of the destructive anti-Russian course of official Chisinau, aimed at the complete destruction of centuries-old Russian-Moldovan relations and the severance of ties between the peoples of the two countries.

In recent years, there have been a number of expulsions of Russian diplomats from Moldova under far-fetched pretexts or without them. Their real goal is to make the work of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau extremely difficult. First of all, Moldovan citizens suffer from this, as they are limited in their ability to receive consular services and other assistance as a result of the reduction in the number of staff at Russian foreign institutions.

These hostile actions of the Moldovan leadership will not remain without an adequate and harsh response from the Russian side.

Russian Foreign Ministry

Сообщение Comment by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mikhail Zakharova, in connection with the latest unfriendly actions of the Moldovan authorities появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

Innovation from investment to impact

Главный редактор — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:52:32 +0000

Hunger is not inevitable. The world already possesses many of capacity, tools, technologies and
knowledge needed to ensure food security for all. Yet in 2025, 645 million people still faced hunger,
while about one in three people worldwide could not afford a healthy diet.
At a time when scientific advances and new technologies are reshaping entire economies and societies,
innovations that can help people around the world better produce and access nutritious foods, improve
livelihoods and build resilience remain out of reach. The challenge is not a shortage of innovation, but a
shortage of adoption at scale: turning proven solutions into locally adapted, affordable and investable
options that farmers and agrifood enterprises can use, sustain and scale.
This idea is at the heart of this year’s World Food Day theme: “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.” The
transformation of agrifood systems is a comprehensive approach, under the overall guidance of the Four
Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one
behind.
Digital advisory services can give farmers access to weather forecasts, market prices and tailored
guidance, helping them make better decisions on planting, farm management and marketing. Animal
disease surveillance and early-warning systems can detect emerging threats earlier, giving veterinary
services and livestock keepers more time to act before outbreaks spread.
Soil moisture and nutrient sensors and precision irrigation can help farmers use resources and inputs
more efficiently. Satellite and geospatial tools are enabling countries to monitor forests and changes in
land use. Better market data and early-warning systems can also help governments anticipate pressures
on food prices, supplies and trade, and respond sooner.
For generations, farmers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities have conserved and developed
crop varieties, harvested and managed scarce water, cared for soils, and managed landscapes and
biodiversity. Agricultural systems built around such knowledge and practices are now recognized and
supported through FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme. Such
knowledge remains an important source of innovation today, including when combined with modern
science and technology to help producers adapt to changing climatic and environmental challenges.
Yet too many proven innovations remain unavailable, unaffordable or insufficiently adapted to local
farming conditions. For millions of small-scale producers, particularly women and young people, limited
access to finance, technologies, infrastructure, information, markets and connectivity continues to
constrain adoption and scale.

Closing this gap requires stronger links between science, innovation and delivery, working with
institutions, governments, the private sector, producer organizations and communities. FAO is also
innovating through institutional design, including shared digital platforms, public extension systems,
cooperatives and other delivery models that can lower access costs and expand coverage.
Co-creating solutions with users helps ensure that innovations respond to local needs, are technically
and economically viable, and are more likely to be adopted, sustained and scaled.
Agricultural research is widely considered one of the highest-return investments in rural development.
Greater investment must be matched by the infrastructure, institutions, skills and partnerships needed
to take successful innovations to scale. Adopting innovative practices will be critical to reducing the
environmental footprint of agrifood systems, which account for around one-third of global greenhouse
gas emissions and more than an estimated 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals. It is also critical to
helping farmers and other producers adapt to climate extremes.
Innovations must be adapted to local realities and needs, supported by appropriate policies and backed
by investment over time. Governments can create enabling conditions and invest in research,
infrastructure and extension services; businesses can turn ideas into affordable products and services;
and producers and communities can provide the knowledge needed to make them work in practice and
impact.
This agenda matters just as much to major industrialized economies. Better data and analytical tools can
help anticipate supply disruptions and emerging risks in increasingly complex food markets. Innovation
can strengthen supply chains, support competitiveness and help protect consumers when shocks in one
part of the world affect prices and availability elsewhere. But innovation delivers impact only when it
can be translated into investable and bankable projects. That requires linking science and technology
with sound project design, viable business models, risk-sharing instruments and public and private
finance, so that promising solutions can move from pilots to commercial scale and generate measurable
economic, social and environmental returns.
Every harvest grows from what came before. Every breakthrough builds on knowledge, old and new.
When innovation reaches and serves the people and communities who need it, tomorrow’s harvest can
truly take root to nourish the future.

By QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Сообщение Innovation from investment to impact появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

Ivanov to the Central Election Commission: the vote of Russians abroad in the 2026 State Duma elections is a record turnout and a failure of provocations

Главный редактор — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 21:28:21 +0000

Statement by the State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, E.S.Ivanov, on the voting process of citizens located outside the territory of the Russian Federation, September 20, 2026, the Central Election Commission of Russia

Dear Pavel Viktorovich,

Organizing elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the ninth convocation among Russian citizens residing abroad has become an important task for Russian diplomatic missions and consular offices.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted, these elections will confirm the stability of the state, the maturity of its political system, its ability to withstand any external threats, blackmail and aggression, and will become an expression of the common will of millions of people, their desire to ensure Russia’s sovereignty and security.

For us, this campaign, which is being conducted again in the context of a special military operation, has become a serious test.

The hybrid war waged by the “collective West” against our country has seriously worsened the possibilities of the Ministry and its foreign institutions to reach voters. The closure of three dozen consulates in unfriendly countries, a significant reduction in the number of employees of our diplomatic missions due to mass expulsions, and other problems are what we have to face in this area. The German authorities acted especially mockingly, demanding that our Consulate General in Bonn be closed no later than September 18, that is, right on the eve of the elections. Thus showing that they are afraid of truly democratic procedures and ignore the problems of hundreds of thousands of Russians living in Germany.

Nevertheless, despite all the obstacles, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made every effort to ensure that our citizens who are abroad can fully exercise their right to vote. A total of 326 polling stations have been set up in 152 countries around the world at Russian embassies and consulates General. This is even slightly more than in the presidential elections of 2024 (then it was 288). They were headed by 105 ambassadors, 57 Consuls General and 21 envoy advisers. We have sent more than 200 people from the central office to help foreign election commissions, which shows the importance that the Ministry attaches to this issue.

In coordination with the Central Election Commission of Russia, 121 field early voting was conducted in places where Russians live compactly, and more than 25 thousand people took part in them. These include employees of companies engaged in large-scale construction abroad, and military personnel on Russian bases. In seven countries (Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Yemen, China, Kuwait, Libya), all voters voted early due to the peculiarities of the local industrial and religious calendar.

These measures have borne fruit. As established by law, all polling stations established abroad opened today at 8:00 a.m. local time, the last three – in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua – most recently, at 5 p.m. Moscow time. Voting has already ended in 38 countries, and votes are being counted. As of 7 p.m., taking into account early and three–day voting (Cyprus, Thailand, South Ossetia), the total number of voters was more than 212 thousand people, which is already more than it was in the previous Duma elections (in 2021 – 192 thousand people). According to our forecasts, the final number of those who voted abroad will significantly exceed these figures this time.

Such mobilization proves that, despite all attempts to prevent us from engaging in hybrid warfare and the severely toxic information background of the Western media, our citizens consider it necessary to demonstrate their belonging to the country and are not shy about it, they are not ashamed to be Russians even in the capitals of deeply hostile states, they are politically active, they understand the importance of their own participation in elections in the current situation. They trust the Russian electoral system.

During the elections abroad, we have recorded various provocations and attempts to disrupt voting by extremist individuals, the so-called “exit polls” and a few rallies. We have noted failures in our computer networks due to external influences. Nevertheless, all these attempts by our detractors to spoil the elections abroad have not achieved their goal. I would like to emphasize the failure of the advertised action by supporters of the non-systemic opposition, who planned to paralyze the work of the polling stations by gathering en masse at noon. Only a small number of people responded to their appeals, and they did not create any serious problems for the work of election commissions in any country.

In all countries, voting takes place calmly, in compliance with all the norms of the law. Representatives of Russian and foreign media are present at many polling stations. The compliance of the procedure with the norms of legislation is monitored by observers, in particular, more than 120 observers came to 48 foreign polling stations: from the Public Chamber of Russia, the IPA CIS, and the CSTO PA. This is not the final figure, information is being received from those polling stations where voting is taking place, in total, the CEC has registered about two hundred observers to monitor abroad. So far, none of them has raised any complaints against the precinct commissions, and we hope that there will be no questions for them after the vote.

We still have to complete the voting process, taking into account the time difference, the last polling stations abroad will close at 5 a.m. Moscow time, but now we can say with confidence that our opponents have not succeeded in disrupting the elections among Russian citizens abroad, discouraging them from exercising their constitutional right to choose the path of development of our country. I would like to thank all our colleagues, all the staff of the Central Election Commission of Russia and personally E.A.Pamfilova for their traditionally constructive cooperation and congratulate you on a common victory – a well-conducted election.

RUSSIAN Ministry OF Foreign Affairs

Сообщение Ivanov to the Central Election Commission: the vote of Russians abroad in the 2026 State Duma elections is a record turnout and a failure of provocations появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

Lavrov’s opening speech at the Russia-ASEAN meeting in Manila: the 35th anniversary of the dialogue and the outcome of the Kazan summit

Главный редактор — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:41:26 +0000

Dear Mr. Co-Chairman,

Dear colleagues,

First of all, before starting my speech, I would like to express my deep condolences to the people. Thailand, the families and loved ones of those killed in the recent terrible fire in Bangkok. We wish all the injured a speedy recovery.

Dear colleagues,

I am glad to meet you again.

First of all, I would like to thank the Philippine Presidency of ASEAN for the warm welcome and excellent organization of our meeting, which is taking place under the auspices of the 35th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations.

We are also grateful to Myanmar, as the coordinator of the Russia-ASEAN dialogue, for its efforts to promote strategic partnership in this format. Next year, the coordinating functions will be transferred to Vietnam, and we have no doubt that the progressive development of Russia’s relations with ASEAN will continue.

During a wonderful reception last night and before the meeting this morning, many colleagues and friends from ASEAN recalled the Russia-ASEAN summit, which took place in Kazan just over a month ago, and said that they highly appreciated this summit, which clearly demonstrated the mutual desire of Russia and ASEAN for further rapprochement and strengthening multifaceted cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit.

The leaders of our countries have reached important agreements in the field of politics and security, combating new threats and challenges, and developing trade, economic, investment, cultural, educational, and humanitarian ties. We see good prospects in ensuring food and energy security, digital transformation, and the platform economy. The four fundamental documents adopted at the Kazan summit set clear guidelines for joint work in all these areas.

Russia firmly believes that ASEAN is our reliable partner and like-minded partner. For our part, we consistently support the central role of ASEAN in all regional affairs, making every possible contribution to strengthening the system of interstate relations built around the Association, based on the principles of international law, openness, equality and, I would like to emphasize, taking into account the interests of all participants. The common understanding of international processes confirmed in Kazan, the commitment expressed by the leaders to the formation of a more just and sustainable multipolar world order, the strengthening of a balanced security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region and, of course, the expansion of comprehensive cooperation on our vast Eurasian continent will be a serious help in our common efforts.

I hope that today’s meeting will serve to strengthen our cooperation in all the mentioned areas, give impetus to the work on the implementation of the agreements of the Kazan Summit and the realization of the large-scale potential of cooperation between Russia and ASEAN.

Thank you for your attention.

Russian Foreign Ministry

Сообщение Lavrov’s opening speech at the Russia-ASEAN meeting in Manila: the 35th anniversary of the dialogue and the outcome of the Kazan summit появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

Victory Parade on Red Square: 81 Years On – The Feat Lives, the Memory Is Sacred

Главный редактор — Sat, 09 May 2026 08:33:51 +0000

On May 9, 2026, a military parade took place on Red Square in Moscow in honor of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. The President of Russia – Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – Vladimir Putin attended the parade, joining foreign delegation leaders on the podium.

The parade began with the carrying out of the Russian State Flag and the Victory Banner onto Red Square. The parade was received by Minister of Defense Andrei Belousov, and commanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Hero of Russia Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev.

Фото: скриншот видео http://www.kremlin.ru/

The infantry column included servicemen from higher military educational institutions of all branches and individual combat arms of the Russian Armed Forces, participants of the special military operation, as well as a ceremonial contingent of the Korean People’s Army.

During the aerial portion, the famous “Kubinsky Brilliant” – a diamond formation of Su-30 and MiG-29 aircraft from the aerobatic teams “Russian Knights” and “Swifts” – flew over Red Square. The parade formation was closed by Su-25 attack aircraft, painting the sky with the colors of the Russian State Flag. Musical accompaniment was provided by the combined orchestra of the Moscow Garrison.

Фото: скриншот видео http://www.kremlin.ru/

Address by the President of Russia

Addressing veterans, servicemen, and guests, Vladimir Putin congratulated the country on “our sacred, bright, and most important holiday.” He emphasized that May 9 is celebrated with feelings of pride and love for the Motherland, with an understanding of our common duty to defend the country’s interests and future, and with sincere filial gratitude to the great generation of victors.

“Preserving the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War, its true history, and its real heroes is a matter of honor for us,” the head of state stated.

Putin recalled that it was the Soviet people who made the decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism, saved their country and the world, put an end to “total, merciless evil.” He noted that the Nazis planned to seize the country, destroy its culture, and commit genocide against the entire multi-ethnic Soviet people, but they encountered “the Russian character and strength of spirit.”

Фото: скриншот видео http://www.kremlin.ru/

The President called for a minute of silence to honor those who fell in battle, those tortured in occupation and captivity, those who died of hunger in besieged Leningrad and other cities. After the minute of silence, he declared that the feat of the victorious generation inspires the soldiers carrying out the tasks of the special military operation today.

“They confront an aggressive force that is armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. Despite this, our heroes are moving forward,” Putin said.

The head of state stressed the unity of front and rear: “The destiny of the country is shaped by people – fighters and factory workers, rural workers, gunsmiths and war correspondents, doctors and teachers, cultural figures and clergy, volunteers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists – all citizens of Russia!”

“I am firmly convinced that our cause is just! We are together! Victory has always been and always will be with us!” Vladimir Putin concluded his speech.

The parade ended with a threefold “Hurrah!” in honor of Victory Day.

Фото: скриншот видео http://www.kremlin.ru/

Material used from the official Kremlin website:
http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79708

Сообщение Victory Parade on Red Square: 81 Years On – The Feat Lives, the Memory Is Sacred появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs: Russia Unites 44 Countries in Defense of Anti-Drug Conventions

Главный редактор — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:03:55 +0000

Vienna, March 13, 2026. — From March 9 to 13, the 69th regular session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the key intergovernmental body of the UN system responsible for drug control issues, was held in Vienna. The Russian governmental interagency delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Dmitry Lubinsky, took part in the session.

Consolidation of Like-Minded Countries

During the session, the Russian Federation consistently promoted its principled approaches to solving the world drug problem, emphasizing the central role of the CND in shaping global drug policy and the importance of strict compliance by states with the three main UN drug conventions.

A key event of the plenary session was a joint statement by 44 like-minded countries, prepared on Russia’s initiative and delivered by the head of the Russian delegation. The participants reaffirmed their determination to strengthen the existing international legal drug control regime, preventing its liberalization, and reiterated their common goal of building a drug-free society to ensure public health and safety.

Focus on Regional Cooperation

On the sidelines of the 69th session, Russia organized a thematic event dedicated to regional anti-drug cooperation within the CSTO, CIS, and SCO frameworks. National efforts to enhance such interaction were highlighted, and the priority of work in this area was reaffirmed.

Representatives from Russian agencies — including the Government Secretariat, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and Rosfinmonitoring — shared with session participants advanced practices in coordinating law enforcement activities to combat drug crime, countering the laundering of drug proceeds, and ensuring the availability of controlled substances for medical purposes.

Session Outcomes

Following the session, five CND resolutions were adopted, with the active participation of the Russian delegation in their negotiation. Russia co-sponsored a resolution submitted by Kyrgyzstan dedicated to improving early warning systems for identifying new dangerous psychoactive substances.

Russia’s participation in the 69th CND session confirmed the country’s consistent course towards strengthening international anti-drug cooperation and defending the fundamental principles of the UN system in this area.

Material taken from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Сообщение 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs: Russia Unites 44 Countries in Defense of Anti-Drug Conventions появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

Russia Presents Best Practices of CSTO, SCO, and CIS in Combating Drug Crime at the 69th CND Session

Главный редактор — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:15:30 +0000

On March 9, 2026, on the sidelines of the opening 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), a Russian thematic event titled “Regional Efforts in Combating Drug Crime: Best Practices of the CSTO, SCO, and CIS” was held, organized in cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The event took place during the year of Russia’s chairmanship in the CSTO under the motto “Collective Security in a Multipolar World: One Goal – Shared Responsibility.” Russia places special emphasis on the comprehensive development of regional cooperation in the fight against drug crime.

During the practice-oriented interactive session, the results of cooperation between the relevant structures of the member states over the past years were presented, including the outcomes of the preventive operations “Channel” (conducted annually since 2003 with the participation of competent authorities of CSTO member states) and “Web” (within the SCO format). A video address was delivered by V.A. Semerikov, Deputy Secretary General of the CSTO.

The CSTO, SCO, and CIS member states reaffirmed their commitment to the drug control system based on the three relevant UN conventions, share the common aspiration to build a drug-free world, and expressed readiness for mutual support and the development of anti-drug cooperation mechanisms.

These priorities formed the basis for documents adopted in 2025, including:

The CSTO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2026-2030;
The Agreement on the Establishment of the SCO Anti-Drug Center in Dushanbe;
The Treaty on the Procedure for Organizing and Conducting International Controlled Deliveries by Competent Authorities of the CIS Member States;
The Roadmap for the Development of Cooperation between the CIS, CSTO, and SCO for 2026-2028.

Regional approaches to solving the drug problem were reflected in the anti-drug statement by the leaders of the CSTO member states, which has been circulated as a meeting room document of the current CND session.

Material used from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Сообщение Russia Presents Best Practices of CSTO, SCO, and CIS in Combating Drug Crime at the 69th CND Session появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

“Impressive Pace of Development”: Putin and Sobyanin Discuss Annual Results and Moscow’s Future

Главный редактор — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:34:12 +0000

A working meeting took place at the Kremlin between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. The meeting summarized the socio-economic development results of the capital for 2025 and outlined key objectives for the future. The dialogue between the two leaders demonstrated that Moscow is not only confidently overcoming contemporary challenges but is also setting new, ambitious development standards for the entire country.

Growth Dynamics and Technological Leap

Sergey Sobyanin reported on the maintenance of positive dynamics across most indicators. Moscow’s gross regional product is expected to grow by more than 2% for the year. Particular attention was paid to the development of high-tech industry, whose share in the total volume has already reached 38%, with prospects of reaching 50%. The President noted the capital’s leading positions in radio electronics and pharmaceuticals.

The foundation for this growth has been massive investment. Over six years, its volume has increased by 63%, providing a powerful infrastructural leap. The Mayor of Moscow announced plans to double the city’s industrial floor space by 2032, focusing on modern productions such as a new large-panel housing construction plant where a residential building made of ready-made apartment blocks is assembled in 100 days.

Megaprojects and Quality of Life

The meeting was also dedicated to giant programs transforming the city’s appearance and life. Under the renovation program, 250,000 people have already been relocated, and construction volumes have reached record levels. Concurrently, comprehensive development of the transport system is being implemented.

Vladimir Putin and Sergey Sobyanin discussed the completion of the full renewal of rolling stock on the Moscow Central Diameters, called a “world record” in terms of pace. Large-scale construction of metro lines (Troitskaya, Rublyovo-Arkhangelskaya, Biryulevskaya) and road infrastructure continues. An important result of this work has been a twofold reduction in vehicle emissions in recent years.

Healthcare, Sports, and the Creative Economy

The head of state expressed particular satisfaction with data on the growth of Muscovites’ life expectancy to 80 years—the best indicator in the country. This result was made possible by the development of mass sports, where the number of event participants and sports facilities has grown manifold, and the modernization of healthcare.

Sergey Sobyanin reported on the digital transformation of hospitals, an increase in the share of high-tech surgeries, and a large-scale program for building modern clinics, including a new oncology hospital. Furthermore, Moscow’s AI-based diagnostic services are already being used free of charge by patients in 74 regions of Russia.

The role of creative industries, whose contribution to Moscow’s economy has reached 11%, was separately noted. The President thanked the mayor for the prompt execution of the instruction to reconstruct the legendary Gorky Film Studio.

Sister City: Aid to Donbass

Vladimir Putin highly appreciated the work of the Moscow team in providing fraternal aid to the new regions. Moscow is actively helping to restore Donetsk and Luhansk: building bridges and youth centers, reconstructing hospitals, schools, and creating new parks. “People must feel that Russia is nearby and that they are part of Russia,” the President emphasized.

Concluding the meeting, Vladimir Putin congratulated Sergey Sobyanin and all Muscovites on the outstanding results, calling the capital’s pace of development impressive, and wished them further success.

In preparing this material, information from the official website of the President of Russia was used.

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The era of treaties is over: Russia has announced the termination of all START commitments after the United States refuses to engage in dialogue.

Главный редактор — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:53:34 +0000

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for giving me the floor. I would like to express appreciation to H.E. Mr. Thomas DiNanno for the detailed statement on the US Policy with regards to the New START Treaty as well as on the issue of arms control in general.

On behalf of the Russian Federation, as the second State Party to the New START Treaty, we would also like to share views on the situation related to its expiration.

Briefly summarizing the results of the New START Treaty implementation, we note that, despite a number of issues, at a certain historical stage this agreement played a significant positive role. The Treaty contributed to efforts to eliminate incentives for a strategic arms race and allowed for significant reductions in strategic offensive arms in the Parties’ arsenals. Thanks to the New START Treaty, predictability was ensured in the nuclear missile sphere on a long-term basis.

Even in recent years, specifically after Russia’s forced suspension of the New START Treaty due to the previous US administration’s violation of the basic principles and understandings upon which the Treaty was founded, the positive significance of this agreement did not disappear. This was due to the fact that in 2023 Russia and the US declared their intention to continue adhering to the central quantitative limits under the New START Treaty.

The termination of this Treaty marks the disappearance, as of 5 February 2026, of the last international agreement on direct limitations on nuclear and missile capabilities. Guided by the understanding that a complete abandonment of the New START legacy would be a mistake from many points of view, our country took an additional constructive step. On 22 September 2025 the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin put forward an initiative for the States Parties to the New START Treaty to undertake voluntary self-limitations to continue observing the quantitative limits laid down in the Treaty after the end of its life cycle, for at least one more year and with the possibility of subsequent extension of this period.

We note that in the period up to 5 February this year no consent followed from the American side to support the Russian proposal. This is regrettable. Nevertheless, we view such a development of events as a reality that requires consideration when determining further Russian policy in the sphere of strategic offensive arms. Under the current circumstances, we proceed from the fact that the States Parties to the New START Treaty are no longer bound by any legal or political obligations in the context thereof.

At the same time, the statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry published on 4 February this year officially emphasized our country’s intention to act responsibly and in a balanced manner. We intend to shape our course in the field of strategic offensive arms based on a thorough analysis of US military policy and the general situation in the strategic sphere.

The said statement also stressed that, going forward, our country remains open to seeking political and diplomatic ways for the comprehensive stabilization of the strategic situation based on equal and mutually beneficial solutions through dialogue – of course, provided that appropriate conditions for such interaction are formed.

Mr. President,

Let me also make a few comments in response to the statement of Mr. DiNanno with regards to the reasons for and legitimacy of the suspension by the Russian Federation of the operation of the New START Treaty.

The operation of the New START Treaty was suspended by the Russian Federation in February 2023 against the backdrop of the unsatisfactory state of affairs with the implementation of certain aspects of the Treaty, as well as due to absolutely unacceptable steps by the Biden administration contrary to the fundamental principles and understandings for this agreement recorded in its preamble. We have repeatedly listed and commented in detail on all those US actions which, in aggregate, were qualified by us as a material breach, incompatible with the further full-fledged implementation of the Treaty.

In 2022 the Biden administration and the US-led NATO openly set out to inflict a «strategic defeat» on Russia in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, which was largely provoked by the alliance’s expansion towards Russia’s borders. This created a fundamentally different security environment for us, one that was radically different from the one in which the Treaty was drafted and concluded. At the same time, the preamble to the New START Treaty postulates the Parties’ commitment to the principle of indivisible security and to building relations based on mutual trust and cooperation.

A clear example of such extremely provocative actions are the strikes launched by the puppet regime in Kiev against Russian strategic facilities declared under the New START Treaty, which were made with the clear military-technical and intelligence assistance of Western countries.

In addition, Washington’s accelerated development of missile defense capabilities should be highlighted, which is contrary to the principle of inseparable link between strategic offensive and strategic defensive weapons enshrined in the New START Treaty. These actions contradicted the Treaty’s objectives in terms of maintaining the balance of power, put significant pressure on its viability, and created grounds for compensatory measures on the part of Russia outside the scope of the New START Treaty in order to maintain strategic balance.

It is also worth recalling Russia’s unresolved claim regarding the illegitimate unilateral withdrawal by the US of a significant number of START weapons from the Treaty’s scope under the pretext of their conversion.

And this is far from a complete list of negative factors that forced our country to suspend the New START Treaty, which was done in full compliance with international law.

Mr. President,

Also a few words with regards to the Russian novel weaponry systems, mentioned in the statement by Mr. DiNanno. There was no automatic inclusion of weapons systems such as Russia’s «Burevestnik» and «Poseidon» complexes in the scope of the New START Treaty. This would have required a full-scale renegotiation of the Treaty. However, its operation was suspended in February 2023 and has now been terminated altogether.

In general, the emergence of these systems must be viewed through the prism of the relationship between strategic offensive weapons and strategic defensive weapons, enshrined in the New START Treaty, which was deliberately ignored by the American side throughout the entire life circle of the Treaty. As it is well known, Washington’s efforts to build a global and deeply destabilizing US missile defense system continued throughout the entire term of the New START Treaty and they currently are part of the «Golden Dome» project, which poses an even more obvious threat to strategic stability.

In these circumstances it is clear that the emergence of new Russian weapons systems outside the scope of the New START Treaty was a compensatory measure aimed at neutralizing the US’s actions in the field of missile defense that were contrary to the Treaty and, accordingly, at maintaining strategic balance.

Speculation that the «Oreshnik» complex should have been taken into account in the context of the New START Treaty is completely unfounded. As previously stated publicly and clearly by our country’s military and political leadership, this complex belongs to the class of medium-range systems. Thus, this weapon is one of those that clearly do not fall within the scope of the New START Treaty.

Mr. President,

Finally, allow me to react to the calls of the American Side to launch negotiations and begin «a new chapter» in the field of arms control.

To begin with, we kindly ask the American delegation to confirm that it has brought to Geneva an official invitation to begin such negotiations with the participation of the Russian Federation without any preconditions.

In this regard, let me remind you that, as the Russian leadership has repeatedly emphasized, this issue can only be considered in the context of creating the right conditions that would allow us to engage in a truly equal, comprehensive and fruitful dialogue with the US on arms control issues. We need a foundation for the basic normalization of Russian-American relations and progress in resolving fundamental contradictions in the field of security.

If eventually we talk seriously about possible multilateral dialogue on nuclear arms control (and even more so on multilateral nuclear arms reduction), it will be of fundamental importance for Russia to involve in this process also the United Kingdom and France, i.e. military allies of the United States in NATO, which has declared itself a «nuclear alliance».

I thank you for your attention.

The material was prepared using official information from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Сообщение The era of treaties is over: Russia has announced the termination of all START commitments after the United States refuses to engage in dialogue. появились сначала на embassylife.ru.

St. Petersburg to Become a Hub for Dialogue on Sovereign Democracy: CIS Election Commission Leaders to Discuss Digital Age Challenges and Standards for Fair Elections

Главный редактор — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 20:53:26 +0000

From February 18–20, 2026, the headquarters of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly will host a major international conference titled “Building Trust in the Institutions of Elections and Referendums: The Role of International Observation.” A key event within its framework will be a meeting of the Advisory Council of Heads of Election Management Bodies of CIS Countries, chaired by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nurlan Abdirov.

The event marks the 20th anniversary of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of IPA CIS (IIMDD IPA CIS). As the organizers note, the establishment of this institute broke the monopoly on assessing the democratic nature of elections in sovereign states, allowing for the development of alternative approaches to international observation.

The conference will be attended by heads of Central Election Commissions (CECs) from CIS countries and other states, parliamentarians, and leading experts in electoral law. The forum’s agenda is focused on current challenges and new formats of cooperation.

Key Discussion Topics:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Its Application in the Electoral Process: Discussion of opportunities and threats, including protection against fakes and the risks of digital interference in the electoral process.
Law, Rights, and ‘Rules’ in International Observation: A critical analysis of who sets the global standards for “fair elections” today. This theme suggests a discussion on the balance between international norms and national sovereignty.
International Observation and the Protection of Sovereignty: The search for models of interaction that respect the right of peoples and states to independently determine their political systems.
Cooperation Beyond Unipolar Templates: Particular attention will be paid to how states from the CIS, Africa, and Latin America are developing partnerships in the field of independent monitoring of election integrity, creating alternative platforms for experience exchange.

A Youth Day, which will open the conference on February 18, will emphasize the importance of engaging the new generation in issues of electoral democracy. On the sidelines of the event, a historical exhibition “Elections of the Victors”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the first post-war elections, will be presented, along with modern equipment used in elections in CIS countries.

This conference is positioned as a significant platform for strengthening dialogue and developing common approaches to ensuring the legitimacy of electoral processes in the modern multipolar world.

In preparing this material, information from the official website of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) was used.

Сообщение St. Petersburg to Become a Hub for Dialogue on Sovereign Democracy: CIS Election Commission Leaders to Discuss Digital Age Challenges and Standards for Fair Elections появились сначала на embassylife.ru.