Embassy of the Russian Federation in London

🎙 Russia's FM Sergey Lavrov comment on the outcomes of the Russia-India summit. 📍 Moscow, July 9 💬 Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s state visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin has come to an end. Yesterday, the leaders spent a lot of time together in an informal atmosphere and discussed almost every item on the agenda. Today, this time with the participation of the delegations, they reviewed in detail the entire range of bilateral issues. We have ambitious plans. A lot has been accomplished, and an excellent foundation has been created. During the ceremony of awarding Narendra Modi with an Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the President of Russia and the Prime Minister of India outlined the key areas of interaction and underscored the commitment to deepen it across all spheres without exception, including the economy and the political dialogue, and humanitarian, cultural, sports, and educational ties, as well as military and military-technical cooperation. Our relations can be described as a “particularly privileged strategic partnership,” a term that is codified in the Russian-Indian documents and accurately describes the ties between our countries which go deep in history. At a time when India was fighting for independence, the Soviet Union was among the first to recognise a new, young state with a deep, long, millennia-long history and civilisation. During today’s talks, in addition to the bilateral goals (that have already been accepted for execution) which were outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, there was an exchange of views on the international situation, primarily in the context of Russia’s BRICS chairmanship. India supported the programme that we are in the process of implementing. Mr Modi said he was pleased to accept President Putin’s invitation to take part in the BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024. The situation and prospects of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation were discussed in detail. The parties reiterated that this format was a top priority for Moscow and New Delhi. The participants discussed cooperation in the G20, where Brazil currently holds chairmanship, and India performed these functions in 2023. They discussed how at the G20 summit in New Delhi the Indian presidency with the support of Russia, China and other Global Majority countries prevented the Ukrainianisation of the G20 agenda, which the United States and its allies insistently sought to achieve. The New Delhi Declaration provides an objective geopolitical overview with account taken of all factors and with the emphasis on the fact that any conflict that in one way or another affects the global economy as well as unilateral sanctions should be considered in a balanced manner, not to the detriment of the basic G20 agenda which focuses on working out arrangements to promote the global economy and the monetary system, and to prevent crises in these critically important areas. 🇺🇳 We discussed interaction in the United Nations. India is one of the most active UN members. Our positions in the UN overlap. <...> Russia has reiterated its position in favour of supporting India’s candidacy for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council in case a decision to this effect is made in principle, which requires a substantial majority, almost a unanimous vote of the UN General Assembly members. This work takes an effort, and the dialogue has been going on for a long while. Our position in favour of the candidacies of India, Brazil and the African group remains unchanged. We believe the West should not be accorded additional seats, either permanent, or non-permanent. It is over-represented in this key body as it is. The visit confirmed the commitment of the Leaders of both countries on comprehensive promotion of the particularly privileged strategic partnership. Specific goals have been outlined, and we will provide updates about the efforts to fulfil them.

🇷🇺🇮🇳 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, on an official visit to Russia, held talks in the Grand Kremlin Palace. 💬 Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, this is your first official visit after your reappointment following parliamentary elections. I would like to congratulate you on this once again. Our countries have long-time friendship and good relations that have evolved over the decades. This year, we are marking the 77th Anniversary of diplomatic relations. Today, our relations have the status of a specially privileged strategic partnership. We are in permanent contact, and we prioritise the development of trade and economic ties. Certainly, their development meets the interests of the people of India and the peoples of the Russian Federation. 📈 Last year, our trade soared by 60 percent and even more, by 66 percent; it increased by an additional 20 percent in the first quarter of 2024. 🌐 We cooperate closely on the international arena, including at international organisations, primarily the #UN and such associations as the #SCO and #BRICS. Yesterday, we had an opportunity to discuss virtually all practical issues in an informal setting. I am grateful to you for devoting attention to the most acute issues and for trying to find some options for resolving the Ukraine crisis, primarily by peaceful methods. Mr Prime Minister, we will be delighted to see you in Kazan this autumn at the upcoming BRICS Summit. At the end of my opening remarks, I would like to wish you new successes in facilitating the development of the Indian state. You and I know each other for a long time, and I know that your entire life is devoted to implementing the idea of strengthening the Indian state and improving the life of the people of India. Read in full #RussiaIndia

🎙 Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in connection with the Kiev regime’s attempts to blame Russia for deliberately attacking Ukraine’s civilian facilities 💬 On July 8, the Russian Armed Forces launched a combined strike involving long-range high-precision weapons systems against Ukrainian military facilities in retaliation for repeated attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to damage our country’s economic enterprises. The facilities include the Artyom and Antonov plants and the Luch Design Bureau in Kiev; the Dnepr and Yuzhmash plants in Dnepropetrovsk, the Heavy-Duty Machine-Building Plant in Kramatorsk; warehouses with Western weaponry and military equipment at the ArcelorMittal Iron and Steel Works in Krivoy Rog, as well as other facilities. All targets were destroyed. As has often been the case with the Ukrainian air defence system, its missiles veered off course and hit residential buildings and social facilities. The same happened this time. Many eyewitnesses and other sources have already confirmed that a Western-made NASAMS surface-to-air missile hit a building of the Okhmatdet Hospital for Children in Kiev. ☝️ Officials on Bankovaya Street immediately started blaming Russia for deliberately killing children. However, no one said that the Artyom Plant is located next to the affected clinic, and that Defence Ministry buildings and military warehouses are also located next door. Certainly, no one said that the Kiev regime is deliberately deploying air defence systems in residential areas, using civilians as a “human shield.” The Kiev junta has been using purely civilian enterprises for military purposes for a long time, either using them to assemble and repair military equipment or to store Western-made weapons and military equipment. Additionally, the Armed Forces of Ukraine use civilians and civilian facilities to shield their positions. Quite often, carriages with military equipment and service personnel are hitched on to passenger trains. Postal delivery vehicles also transport weapons. ❗️ All this rudely violates international humanitarian law that expressly forbids the use of civilian facilities for military purposes. Attempts by the Zelensky regime to use the tragedy with the children’s hospital in Kiev for propaganda purposes confirm its inhuman Nazi essence once again. The Kiev regime is ready to commit any crimes for the sake of retaining power. It cares nothing about the destinies and lives of fellow citizens, including children.

📺 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s address to participants in the Forum of BRICS Sister Cities and Municipalities (July 9, 2024) Read in full 💬 Colleagues, Friends, I am delighted to welcome the organisers and participants of the traditional Forum of BRICS Sister Cities and Municipalities. This year, the forum is being held in the Nizhny Novgorod Region and its capital, Nizhny Novgorod, which are known for their history and hospitality. Today, the region, just like the whole of Russia, is demonstrating its openness to the world and its readiness to develop foreign relations based on the principles of respect, equality and mutual advantage. Russia, which holds #BRICS Chairmanship this year, is working to build up comprehensive strategic partnership within this association. We are paying priority attention to humanitarian cooperation and contacts between people. Interaction between cities and municipalities has a big role to play in these efforts. It has recently been growing in terms of scope and, more importantly, quality. Plans for this year include many relevant events, which will certainly make a substantial contribution to the development of interregional cooperation within BRICS. One such event is the Forum of Sister Cities and Municipalities. Over the past years, it has become an effective platform for developing dialogue between regional and municipal authorities, which has led to the establishment of sister city relations between many of them. The accession of new members to BRICS on January 1, 2024, has considerably increased the potential of this mechanism. It offers new opportunities for exchanging experience on the key aspects of urban life, in particular, urban construction, local self-government and law-making, social protection, security and other essential topics. During this forum, you will discuss vital issues such as enhancing the quality of city life, the economic development of municipalities, modern urban architecture, the digitalisation of urban environment, as well as various aspects of the ecology, education, culture, sport and youth exchanges. The Russian participants have considerable experience they can and will share in all these spheres. A cultural programme is an integral part of this event. I am sure that you will enjoy learning about the region’s history and architecture and the crafts of our country. 🤝 No doubt that your forum will be held in a business-like and friendly atmosphere, which will help you establish useful contacts, discuss promising joint projects, as well as strengthen friendship and trust between our nations. I wish you fruitful discussions and all the best. #BRICS2024

🇷🇺🇮🇳 On July 8, 2024 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi held an informal meeting at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region. 💬 Vladimir Putin: We will hold official talks tomorrow, and today we can discuss the issues on our agenda unofficially, in a quiet and comfortable atmosphere. <...> But first I would like to congratulate you on being re-elected as Prime Minister. I think that there is a good reason for that. It is the result of the many years of your work at the helm of government. You have ideas of your own, you are a very energetic person, you know how to get results to benefit India and its people. And the outcome is obvious: India is the third-largest economy in the world. It is probably the largest country in the world by population, 1.4 billion people. <...> You have devoted your whole life to serving the Indian people, and they are aware of that. #RussiaIndia 🤝 #DruzhbaDosti

🇷🇺🇮🇷📞 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone with President-elect of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. Vladimir Putin congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his victory in the presidential election and wished him success in this important office. Both Sides expressed their satisfaction with the current high level of bilateral neighbourly relations, and reaffirmed their commitment to closely work together to further develop mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas. 🤝 The two Leaders agreed to establish personal contact this year. ✉️ Also, a message of congratulations was sent to Masoud Pezeshkian. #RussiaIran

The new #UK government does not seem to be "appalled" that for more than ten years Ukrainian militants have been heavily shelling residential areas in the Donbass agglomeration, killing 239 innocent children and wounding 869 more. Apparently, nobody will be "held to account" in London for the terrorist attack on 5 July when a cottage in Krasnodar region was repeatedly hit with FPV- drones, wounding all six family members and killing a six-year old girl. We failed to see protestations of "depravity" from the Labour Party when on April 10th Ukrainian militants deliberately dropped grenades from a UAV on a civilian vehicle on Kursk region, killing a father and his two daughters, aged 9 and 12. ❗Instead of cynical virtue-signalling the UK government should urge its generously-funded Kiev clientele to stop the savage attacks against civilians, as well as to cease deploying faulty missile defense systems in cities where their falling debris is likely to cause havoc.

🤝 On July 8, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a meeting between Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and African Countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the "Arab Group for Peace" delegation led by former President of the People's Democratic Republic of #Yemen Ali Nasser Mohammed. The discussions entailed a comprehensive exchange of views on pressing Middle Eastern issues, emphasizing the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the security of maritime navigation in the Red Sea, and the stabilization of the situations in Yemen and Sudan. 🇷🇺 The Russian delegation reiterated its steadfast commitment to political and diplomatic solutions for the region's ongoing crises and conflicts, adhering to the principles and norms of international law, including the provisions of the UN Charter.

Diplomatic Dispatch: A conversation between two ambassadors on NATO, Russia, and future relations with the West, July 8, 2024 Tune in to the dialogue between Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, and former British Ambassador to Russia, Tony Brenton. The conversation will focus on Russia's interaction with NATO, the prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, the security system in Europe, and the potential for restoring dialogue between Russia and the West. ➡️Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OQA1f5U76b0 #Kelin #Brenton #Russia #UK #NATO

🛬 Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi arrives in Moscow on an official visit. Welcome, Excellency! 🇷🇺🇮🇳 #RussiaIndia #DruzhbaDosti 📸 © Valery Sharifulin/POOL/TASS