✍️ Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Brazilian O Globo newspaper (April 28, 2025)
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❓Question Expanding trade among BRICS countries is one of the objectives for Brazil’s chairmanship in this group in 2025. What kind of opportunities does Russia see in terms of increasing the share of trade transactions in national currencies?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: We are witnessing an accelerating trend in the fragmentation of the global economy. Against this backdrop, it is quite natural for the countries of the Global South and East to reduce the share of Western currencies in their mutual settlements. No one wants to suffer from sanctions. <...>.
We have been working within #BRICS to ensure that there are no disruptions when carrying out payments and have been quite effective in our efforts. To give you an example, the ruble and currencies of our friendly countries accounted for 90% of Russia’s settlements with BRICS countries in 2024. <...>
❓ Question: Reinforcing global governance and promoting multilateralism is another major topic for BRICS. What do you think BRICS countries can do to this effect?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: BRICS has become much stronger compared to when this group took shape back in 2006. Today, it stands as a focal point with a mission to coordinate the interests of the Global Majority’s leading countries. BRICS fully adheres to the principles of equality, mutual respect and balance of interest.
Russia views this group as one of the pillars of a multipolar world and an important mechanism for international cooperation. <...> BRICS countries are not seeking to take someone else’s place. Their aim consists of creating a favourable environment for building capacity.
❓ Question: Brazil calls for expanding the UN Security Council. What is Russia’s current stance on this issue? Would it vote for making Brazil a permanent member?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Russia believes in a balanced reform of the Security Council as one of the main UN bodies. <...> Shaping of a multipolar world should include broader representation of the countries of the Global South and East, that is, Asian, African and Latin American countries, at the UNSC.
🇧🇷 Brazil is the right candidate for a permanent seat on the UNSC.
We are against giving more seats to Western countries and their allies.
Key points:
• We got the impression that our American counterparts now have a better understanding of Russia’s stance on the situation around Ukraine. We hope that this will help them during their dialogue with Kiev and individual European countries.
• The fact that the current administration in the United States is trying to understand the root causes of the crisis is quite encouraging and contrasts with the Joe Biden administration which pumped the Kiev regime full of lethal weapons and was proactive in its efforts to draw Ukraine into NATO.
• Zelensky’s regime has shown that is lacks the political will for peace and the ability to stop the war, which is being fuelled by the Russophobic circles of certain EU countries, primarily France and Germany, as well as Britain.
• Instead of facilitating a settlement, the European Union has been seeking to undermine agreements by arguing that there has been little, if any, effort to invite it to contribute to these talks.
• Russia appreciates the striving of our partners to help create conditions for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Over 20 countries and a number of regional associations in Latin America, Asia and Africa have put forth such initiatives.
• We have made no secret regarding our position on the settlement. Russia proceeds from the premise that Kiev’s non-accession to NATO, as well as reaffirming its neutral and non-aligned status. <...> The second pillar consists of overcoming the legacy of the neo-Nazi regime which took power in Kiev after the February 2014 putsch. <...> The international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, the DPR, the LPR, the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as part of Russia is another imperative.
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❓Question Expanding trade among BRICS countries is one of the objectives for Brazil’s chairmanship in this group in 2025. What kind of opportunities does Russia see in terms of increasing the share of trade transactions in national currencies?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: We are witnessing an accelerating trend in the fragmentation of the global economy. Against this backdrop, it is quite natural for the countries of the Global South and East to reduce the share of Western currencies in their mutual settlements. No one wants to suffer from sanctions. <...>.
We have been working within #BRICS to ensure that there are no disruptions when carrying out payments and have been quite effective in our efforts. To give you an example, the ruble and currencies of our friendly countries accounted for 90% of Russia’s settlements with BRICS countries in 2024. <...>
❓ Question: Reinforcing global governance and promoting multilateralism is another major topic for BRICS. What do you think BRICS countries can do to this effect?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: BRICS has become much stronger compared to when this group took shape back in 2006. Today, it stands as a focal point with a mission to coordinate the interests of the Global Majority’s leading countries. BRICS fully adheres to the principles of equality, mutual respect and balance of interest.
Russia views this group as one of the pillars of a multipolar world and an important mechanism for international cooperation. <...> BRICS countries are not seeking to take someone else’s place. Their aim consists of creating a favourable environment for building capacity.
❓ Question: Brazil calls for expanding the UN Security Council. What is Russia’s current stance on this issue? Would it vote for making Brazil a permanent member?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Russia believes in a balanced reform of the Security Council as one of the main UN bodies. <...> Shaping of a multipolar world should include broader representation of the countries of the Global South and East, that is, Asian, African and Latin American countries, at the UNSC.
🇧🇷 Brazil is the right candidate for a permanent seat on the UNSC.
We are against giving more seats to Western countries and their allies.
Key points:
• We got the impression that our American counterparts now have a better understanding of Russia’s stance on the situation around Ukraine. We hope that this will help them during their dialogue with Kiev and individual European countries.
• The fact that the current administration in the United States is trying to understand the root causes of the crisis is quite encouraging and contrasts with the Joe Biden administration which pumped the Kiev regime full of lethal weapons and was proactive in its efforts to draw Ukraine into NATO.
• Zelensky’s regime has shown that is lacks the political will for peace and the ability to stop the war, which is being fuelled by the Russophobic circles of certain EU countries, primarily France and Germany, as well as Britain.
• Instead of facilitating a settlement, the European Union has been seeking to undermine agreements by arguing that there has been little, if any, effort to invite it to contribute to these talks.
• Russia appreciates the striving of our partners to help create conditions for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Over 20 countries and a number of regional associations in Latin America, Asia and Africa have put forth such initiatives.
• We have made no secret regarding our position on the settlement. Russia proceeds from the premise that Kiev’s non-accession to NATO, as well as reaffirming its neutral and non-aligned status. <...> The second pillar consists of overcoming the legacy of the neo-Nazi regime which took power in Kiev after the February 2014 putsch. <...> The international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, the DPR, the LPR, the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as part of Russia is another imperative.
#KievRegimeCrimes
📑 The quarterly report on the crimes committed by the Kiev regime in January — March 2025 has been compiled by Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-Large on the crimes committed by the Kiev regime, Rodion Miroshnik, and has been presented on April 28, 2025, during the Ambassador's briefing.
During the first three months of 2025, the armed formations of the Kiev regime systematically shelled objects of civilian infrastructure on the territory of the Russian Federation, deliberately targeting civilians.
During this period, at least 22,221 munitions were fired at civilian targets. In total, since February 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have fired at least 251,865 munitions of various calibres and modifications at Russian civilian sites.
❗️ A sharp increase in the number of Ukrainian shelling attacks was recorded in the last weeks of March. This is how Kiev reacted to the start of the negotiating process between Moscow and Washington. The number of attacks during this period reached 300 per 24 hours, or more than 2,000 per week, which is approximately 25% higher than the weekly figures for January and February.
The increase in the number of civilian victims documented in the second half of March is directly linked to Kiev’s attempts to oppose the search for a peaceful settlement and to the thwarting of the agreement on a 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy facilities. The Ukrainian side deliberately carried out a number of targeted attacks on crowded places resulting in numerous civilian victims.
▪️ Civilian sites in the Belgorod Region, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Kherson, Kursk and Zaporozhye regions, as well as the Lugansk People’s Republic, were most frequently shelled during the above-mentioned period.
• From January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025, there were at least 1,489 verified civilian victims resulting from the Ukrainian forces’ attacks:
🔻 1,197 people, including 63 minors, wounded;
🔻 292 civilians, including five children, killed.
• At least 21,002 civilian victims caused by the Ukrainian formations’ attacks since the beginning of the conflict:
🔻 14,287 people, including 880 minors, wounded;
🔻 6,715 people, including 218 children, killed.
During this period, victims of numerous murders committed by Ukrainian militants in the Kursk Region’s villages of Russkoe Porechnoye, Makhnovka, and Cherkasskoe Porechnoye were found. The bodies of civilians were discovered in the town of Chasov Yar, DPR, who had been killed by the Ukrainian military while attempting to evacuate from the war zone. Moreover, fresh burials of civilians with signs of violent death have been found in the village of Dvurechnaya, Kharkov Region, which was liberated from Ukrainian neo-Nazis.
During the first three months of 2025, the Ukrainian Armed Forces intensively used various types of UAVs to attack objects of civilian infrastructure, and to kill and maim civilians. <...> 409 civilians were hurt in Ukrainian drone attacks. Twenty-three people, including three children, were killed, and 386 people, including 24 minors, were wounded. <...> The Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out barrages of targeted strikes on medical personnel, rescue and emergency workers.
Since the beginning of the year, the AFU militants have intensified a targeted manhunt for media teams covering the special military operation and the Kiev regime’s criminal acts against civilians on the frontline territories. A premeditated attack on a group of journalists in the Kremennaya District, LPR, is a compelling example. A US-made HIMARS MLRS was used to kill three Russian journalists on the spot. All in all, over the past three months, 13 Russian media workers fell victim to criminal actions of the Ukrainian armed forces. Six of them died.
📖 Full report (pdf)
📑 The quarterly report on the crimes committed by the Kiev regime in January — March 2025 has been compiled by Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-Large on the crimes committed by the Kiev regime, Rodion Miroshnik, and has been presented on April 28, 2025, during the Ambassador's briefing.
During the first three months of 2025, the armed formations of the Kiev regime systematically shelled objects of civilian infrastructure on the territory of the Russian Federation, deliberately targeting civilians.
During this period, at least 22,221 munitions were fired at civilian targets. In total, since February 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have fired at least 251,865 munitions of various calibres and modifications at Russian civilian sites.
❗️ A sharp increase in the number of Ukrainian shelling attacks was recorded in the last weeks of March. This is how Kiev reacted to the start of the negotiating process between Moscow and Washington. The number of attacks during this period reached 300 per 24 hours, or more than 2,000 per week, which is approximately 25% higher than the weekly figures for January and February.
The increase in the number of civilian victims documented in the second half of March is directly linked to Kiev’s attempts to oppose the search for a peaceful settlement and to the thwarting of the agreement on a 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy facilities. The Ukrainian side deliberately carried out a number of targeted attacks on crowded places resulting in numerous civilian victims.
▪️ Civilian sites in the Belgorod Region, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Kherson, Kursk and Zaporozhye regions, as well as the Lugansk People’s Republic, were most frequently shelled during the above-mentioned period.
• From January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025, there were at least 1,489 verified civilian victims resulting from the Ukrainian forces’ attacks:
🔻 1,197 people, including 63 minors, wounded;
🔻 292 civilians, including five children, killed.
• At least 21,002 civilian victims caused by the Ukrainian formations’ attacks since the beginning of the conflict:
🔻 14,287 people, including 880 minors, wounded;
🔻 6,715 people, including 218 children, killed.
During this period, victims of numerous murders committed by Ukrainian militants in the Kursk Region’s villages of Russkoe Porechnoye, Makhnovka, and Cherkasskoe Porechnoye were found. The bodies of civilians were discovered in the town of Chasov Yar, DPR, who had been killed by the Ukrainian military while attempting to evacuate from the war zone. Moreover, fresh burials of civilians with signs of violent death have been found in the village of Dvurechnaya, Kharkov Region, which was liberated from Ukrainian neo-Nazis.
During the first three months of 2025, the Ukrainian Armed Forces intensively used various types of UAVs to attack objects of civilian infrastructure, and to kill and maim civilians. <...> 409 civilians were hurt in Ukrainian drone attacks. Twenty-three people, including three children, were killed, and 386 people, including 24 minors, were wounded. <...> The Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out barrages of targeted strikes on medical personnel, rescue and emergency workers.
Since the beginning of the year, the AFU militants have intensified a targeted manhunt for media teams covering the special military operation and the Kiev regime’s criminal acts against civilians on the frontline territories. A premeditated attack on a group of journalists in the Kremennaya District, LPR, is a compelling example. A US-made HIMARS MLRS was used to kill three Russian journalists on the spot. All in all, over the past three months, 13 Russian media workers fell victim to criminal actions of the Ukrainian armed forces. Six of them died.
📖 Full report (pdf)
🇷🇺🇺🇸📞 On April 27, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation.
The Parties continued their productive exchange of views on key aspects of the Russian-American political dialogue, which recently has significantly intensified.
The main focus was the Ukraine crisis. Building on the discussions between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on April 25, the Minister and the Secretary of State highlighted the importance of reinforcing the emerging conditions necessary to launch negotiations aimed at establishing a reliable framework for long-term, sustainable peace.
Other international issues were also addressed.
Both Sides agreed to maintain contact at all levels.
#RussiaUSA
The Parties continued their productive exchange of views on key aspects of the Russian-American political dialogue, which recently has significantly intensified.
The main focus was the Ukraine crisis. Building on the discussions between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on April 25, the Minister and the Secretary of State highlighted the importance of reinforcing the emerging conditions necessary to launch negotiations aimed at establishing a reliable framework for long-term, sustainable peace.
Other international issues were also addressed.
Both Sides agreed to maintain contact at all levels.
#RussiaUSA
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⚡️ Russia’s EMERCOM two Beriev Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft and an Ilyushin Il-76 have landed in the city of Bandar Abbas to provide assistance in dealing with aftermath of the Shahid Rajaee Port explosion.
Russian rescuers held a coordination meeting with Iranian counterparts to assess the situation and discuss the next steps in firefighting efforts.
Be-200ChS planes can collect up 12 tonnes of water into its tanks in 12 seconds at speeds of up to 190 km/h with 40 tonnes of water dropped on fires in a single pass. Il-76 are capable of dropping more than 40 tonnes of water on the fire in a single pass.
#RussiaHelps
Russian rescuers held a coordination meeting with Iranian counterparts to assess the situation and discuss the next steps in firefighting efforts.
Be-200ChS planes can collect up 12 tonnes of water into its tanks in 12 seconds at speeds of up to 190 km/h with 40 tonnes of water dropped on fires in a single pass. Il-76 are capable of dropping more than 40 tonnes of water on the fire in a single pass.
#RussiaHelps
🇷🇺🇧🇷 On April 27, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the BRICS Ministerial in Rio de Janeiro.
During their conversation, the Ministers discussed the schedule of bilateral contacts, including specific aspects of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s forthcoming participation in the celebrations marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The Ministers engaged in a substantive exchange of views on key aspects of cooperation between the two countries in various fields. They emphasised their intention to further strengthen the entire range of Russian-Brazilian relations.
The Parties paid special attention to the interaction between Moscow and Brasilia within the #BRICS framework, where Brazil is holding the chairship this year, as well as in other international platforms, particularly the United Nations and the #G20.
In addition, the Ministers addressed a number of international issues, including the settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
#RussiaBrazil
During their conversation, the Ministers discussed the schedule of bilateral contacts, including specific aspects of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s forthcoming participation in the celebrations marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The Ministers engaged in a substantive exchange of views on key aspects of cooperation between the two countries in various fields. They emphasised their intention to further strengthen the entire range of Russian-Brazilian relations.
The Parties paid special attention to the interaction between Moscow and Brasilia within the #BRICS framework, where Brazil is holding the chairship this year, as well as in other international platforms, particularly the United Nations and the #G20.
In addition, the Ministers addressed a number of international issues, including the settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
#RussiaBrazil
🗓On April 28-29, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend a Brazil-chaired meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers in Rio de Janeiro.
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The Meeting will involve an in-depth exchange of views on a broad range of current international issues, as well as on cooperation at multilateral venues. The Ministers will also discuss further #BRICS cooperation and preparations for the XVII BRICS Summit scheduled for 6-7 July.
An expanded ministerial session will be held with representatives of BRICS partner states. The decision to establish this category was approved by the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.
🤝 Russia prioritises the strengthening of BRICS strategic partnership. With the ongoing transformation of the international situation, BRICS serves as a true voice of the Global Majority countries, demonstrating a commitment to a fair reform of the global governance system based on equitable and mutually respectful dialogue, a collective approach to problem-solving and a sensible balance of interests.
Our interaction is rooted in the aspiration to form a multipolar, more democratic and representative world order model grounded in international law and respect for states’ sovereign choice of their own development path.
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The Meeting will involve an in-depth exchange of views on a broad range of current international issues, as well as on cooperation at multilateral venues. The Ministers will also discuss further #BRICS cooperation and preparations for the XVII BRICS Summit scheduled for 6-7 July.
An expanded ministerial session will be held with representatives of BRICS partner states. The decision to establish this category was approved by the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.
🤝 Russia prioritises the strengthening of BRICS strategic partnership. With the ongoing transformation of the international situation, BRICS serves as a true voice of the Global Majority countries, demonstrating a commitment to a fair reform of the global governance system based on equitable and mutually respectful dialogue, a collective approach to problem-solving and a sensible balance of interests.
Our interaction is rooted in the aspiration to form a multipolar, more democratic and representative world order model grounded in international law and respect for states’ sovereign choice of their own development path.
⚡️ By the decision of the President of the Russian Federation and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and for humanitarian reasons, the Russian side is declaring a ceasefire from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 11 (00:00 on May 8 — 00:00 on May 11) during the days marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
❗️ All military actions will be halted during this period.
Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should demonstrate similar restraint.
In the event of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Russian Armed Forces will respond in an adequate and effective manner.
The Russian side once again reaffirms its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at addressing the root causes of the Ukraine crisis and engaging constructively with international partners.
❗️ All military actions will be halted during this period.
Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should demonstrate similar restraint.
In the event of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Russian Armed Forces will respond in an adequate and effective manner.
The Russian side once again reaffirms its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at addressing the root causes of the Ukraine crisis and engaging constructively with international partners.
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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the #BRICS Ministerial
📍 Rio de Janeiro, April 28
#RussiaChina
📍 Rio de Janeiro, April 28
#RussiaChina
🔴 #LIVE: Informal UNSC Arria formula meeting on the topic "Neo-Nazism and Radical Nationalism: A Study of the Root Causes of the Crisis in Ukraine"
🔴 X (Twitter) account of the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN
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#FamilyPhoto
📸 FM Sergey Lavrov takes part in family photo ceremony together with heads of delegations of the BRICS nations ahead the BRICS Ministerial
📸 FM Sergey Lavrov takes part in family photo ceremony together with heads of delegations of the BRICS nations ahead the BRICS Ministerial
🇷🇺🇮🇳 On April 28, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko met with India’s Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar.
The Officials discussed current bilateral issues and the schedule of upcoming political contacts, as well as the general situation in the South Asian region, including the escalation of tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following the terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Kashmir.
Russia’s readiness to counter the global terrorist threat together with India was reaffirmed.
#RussiaIndia
The Officials discussed current bilateral issues and the schedule of upcoming political contacts, as well as the general situation in the South Asian region, including the escalation of tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following the terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Kashmir.
Russia’s readiness to counter the global terrorist threat together with India was reaffirmed.
#RussiaIndia
🇷🇺🇵🇰 On April 28, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko received Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Muhammad Khalid Jamali at his request.
During the meeting, the Parties discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation, as well as the escalation of tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi following the terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22.
The Russian side called on both parties to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue aimed at peacefully resolving their discrepancies.
#RussiaPakistan
During the meeting, the Parties discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation, as well as the escalation of tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi following the terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22.
The Russian side called on both parties to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue aimed at peacefully resolving their discrepancies.
#RussiaPakistan
🇷🇺🇪🇹 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Dr. Gedion Timothewos held a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Ministerial
📍 Rio de Janeiro, April 28
#RussiaEthiopia
📍 Rio de Janeiro, April 28
#RussiaEthiopia