🇷🇺🤝🇱🇸 Russia - Lesotho: Partnership Built on Respect and Shared Values

Key takeaways from the article by Ambassador Roman Ambarov, published in the "Public Eye" newspaper on 6 February 2026:

• On 1 February 2026, the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Lesotho marked the 46th anniversary of diplomatic ties, rooted in friendship, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to sovereignty.

• The diplomatic relations between our countries date back to 1980, with agreements concluded in culture, education, science, and economics. These ties continue to guide cooperation today.

• Russia-Lesotho relations have never been shaped by colonialism or external pressure - a key source of mutual understanding and trust.

• Moscow and Maseru often hold similar positions on international issues, standing for genuine sovereignty and independent development paths.

• Russia-Africa Summits and Russia-Africa Partnership Forum have created a solid framework for political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation across the continent.

• Russia-Africa trade exceeded $27 billion in 2024 and continues to grow, with new opportunities for cooperation with Lesotho.

• Food security remains one of the most pressing global challenges. Russia makes a consistent contribution to addressing this issue in Africa through regular supplies of grain, fertilizers, and fuel, including the urgent humanitarian deliveries.

☝️In recent years, 200,000 tons of Russian wheat and more than 100,000 tons of fertilizers have been donated to the African countries in need.

• Over 32,000 African students study in Russia today. Lesotho students are warmly invited, especially in sustainable development fields.

• Russia supports Africa’s modern struggle for sovereignty and works with African partners at the UN to counter all forms of neo-colonialism.

READ IN FULL (in Telegraph)

#RussiaLesotho

🇷🇺🇴🇲📞 On February 8, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi had a telephone conversation.

The Ministers exchanged views on the situation around Iran in the context of the recent round of indirect talks between Iranian and US representatives held in Muscat with Omani mediation.

The Sides expressed a shared view on the need to facilitate the continuation of the negotiating process and to seek mutually acceptable agreements, which would help eliminate the risks of armed confrontation and ensure regional stability.

🤝 Sergey Lavrov highly commended the efforts undertaken by the leadership of the Sultanate of Oman in this regard.

#RussiaOman

#Announcement

🎙 On Wednesday, February 12, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.

🕙 10.00 am MSK
🕖 7.00 am GMT
🕗 8.00 am CET
🕒 3.00 pm CST (Beijing)

For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.

The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.

❗️ Accreditation is open until February 10, 12.00 pm MSK.

📰 On February 9, the Philippine newspaper "Business Mirror" published an article by H.E. Marat I.Pavlov, Ambassador of Russia to the Philippines, "Diplomacy in a changing world: Russia’s vision of cooperation and dialogue", timed to coincide with the professional holiday of the Russian Foreign Policy Service.

✍️ Read in full

Key points:

💬 February 10 marks the Diplomat’s Day in Russia — a professional holiday of the Russian foreign service, whose history dates back to the first embassies to Byzantium in the 9th century.

💬 The year 2025 became a significant milestone for Russian foreign policy. As noted by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his annual review, Russian diplomacy has remained firmly committed to the principles of international law, sovereign equality of states, non-interference in internal affairs, and the development of a fair and balanced system of international relations. 

💬 In 2025, Russian diplomacy focused on strengthening partnerships beyond traditional geopolitical frameworks. Special attention was paid to multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN and other regional formats that reflect the emerging multipolar reality. These platforms are no longer supplementary to global governance — they are becoming its structural pillars.

💬 This year coincides with the Philippines’ chairship in ASEAN which reflects the country’s growing authority in the region and its role as a constructive and respected regional leader. Russia highly values the Philippines’ contribution to strengthening ASEAN unity, regional stability and diplomacy based on dialogue and consensus.

💬 The year 2026 has special symbolic significance for Russian–Philippine ties, as our countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations established during the historic visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1976 to Moscow.

💬 In a turbulent world facing complex challenges, we are determined to address and resolve all conflicts by peaceful and diplomatic means, reaffirming our belief that open dialogue and constructive engagement are essential for sustainable global progress. These principles define Russia’s diplomatic philosophy and will continue to guide our relations with the Philippines, ASEAN, and the international community as a whole.

#DiplomatsDay2026

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings and video message on Diplomats’ Day (February 10, 2026)

💬 Friends,

Today marks Diplomats’ Day, our professional holiday.

I would like to use this occasion to wish a happy holiday to all Russian diplomats who are working at the Central Office and territorial offices, and diplomats fulfilling their duty abroad.

The history of Russian diplomacy spans many centuries and follows every stage of Russia becoming stronger as a state. Times change, but our spiritual and moral values — sincere, dedicated, and selfless devotion to the Fatherland, and firm commitment to the ideals of truth and justice — remain unshakeable.

We are rightfully proud of the achievements of our outstanding predecessors. We honour the courage of the staff of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs who, during the tumultuous years of the Great Patriotic War, took arms to defend the Motherland.

Their immortal feat stands as a benchmark for Foreign Ministry personnel and staff of subordinate institutions participating in the special military operation.

Other ministerial staff members are also involved and are helping the front line soldiers and their families, and supporting those affected by crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis.

Today, as we are witnessing another turning point in history, Russian diplomacy continues to do everything within its power to ensure safe and favourable external conditions for Russia’s steady domestic development and for improving the quality of life of its people.

In many ways, our consistent and balanced foreign policy course sets the trajectory of global transformations, thus facilitating the emergence of a new multipolar world order.

We seek to further develop honest and equitable international cooperation based on mutual understanding, trust, and neighbourliness.

Following President Putin’s initiative, we are working to establish, across the Eurasian region, architecture of equal and indivisible security and extensive practical cooperation. In this context, we attach particular importance to the conclusion and implementation of bilateral agreements, including our treaties on security guarantees with Belarus and on comprehensive strategic partnership with the DPRK and Iran.

We continue to expand relations across multiple areas with the World Majority, among them countries such as China, India, and other like-minded countries, our strategic partners and allies, primarily within the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the #CIS, as well as the #SCO and #BRICS.

Countering neo-colonial practices of all kinds ranging from unilateral coercive measures to military interventions remains firmly in our focus.

In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba. We are convinced that only they can determine their own future.

☝️ The country’s leadership and Russian society hold our work to high standards. We are required to demonstrate discipline and dedication, as well as a passionate and creative approach to our duties.

I trust that you will continue to work honourably for the good of the Fatherland and to contribute your share to addressing large-scale foreign policy goals set by the President.

On this day, we express special gratitude to former ministerial employees, who taught us the fundamentals of diplomacy by their example. Many of them, to the extent of their abilities, remain active in the close-knit diplomatic ranks.

By all means, I would like to separately thank all the relatives and loved ones of our employees. Your unconditional support gives us strength and keeps us focused. It is especially important for those who carry out their diplomatic service far from the Motherland.

Once again, happy Diplomats’ Day to all. I wish you excellent health, well-being, and new accomplishments for the benefit of the Fatherland.

#DiplomatsDay

🇷🇺 February 10 is Diplomatic Workers' Day aka #DiplomatsDay in #Russia!

The date goes back to the earliest documented mention (February 10, 1549) of the Ambassadorial Prikaz —the first state body in our country’s history that oversaw foreign affairs.

Proud longstanding traditions of ensuring Russia's national interests!

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with NTV television channel (Moscow, February 10, 2026)

Key points:

• President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly addressed the unfolding global processes. These are objectively shaped by the entire course of history and contemporary developments – where, after 500 years of Western dominance, sustained through slavery and colonialism at the expense of others, a multipolar order is now emerging to replace that system.

• Countries such as China, India, and Brazil, alongside integration blocs like the #GCC and such Eurasian sub-regional groupings as ASEAN, our post-Soviet structures, such as the #CIS, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the Union State of Russia and Belarus – are increasingly asserting themselves as influential actors on the international stage, not only in economic, trade, and financial spheres but politically as well.

• Europe persists in attempting to dictate its approaches across the Eurasian continent, blatantly obstructing and undermining the natural processes of cooperation between Russia and Central Asian states, as well as our allies in the South Caucasus. Europe is aggressively pushing into the Black Sea region, disregarding the existing Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The same applies to the Arctic.

• Certain analysts suggest that the United States will now leave Europe to its own devices, seek to pacify the Middle East – halting yet another war – and negotiate with Russia to remove the Ukrainian issue from the agenda.

• We find it important to guarantee our national interests. We agree with the administration of Donald Trump that the foreign policy of normal major powers, especially such as the United States and Russia, should be based on national interests.

• If we analyse practical steps taken by US President Donald Trump and his team with regard to Russia during the Trump administration’s second tenue in the White House, then we can see that we are moving in the wrong direction.

• The root causes [of the Ukraine crisis] will not go anywhere unless we consider eliminating them in any peace agreement we may sign. We are ready to do that. We have said many times that President Trump publicly recognised our interest in NATO not expanding any farther. That is a huge step. No other Western leader has ever said that publicly, while he has reiterated it on several occasions.

• The recognition of territories is an issue that arises directly from these root causes, as these territories came under Russian control following attempts to threaten our security and to persecute the people who had lived there for centuries.

• If, contrary to expectations, Europe does implement its threats to prepare for war against us and attacks the Russian Federation, we will not launch, as President Vladimir Putin has put it, another special military operation. Our response will be a full-blown military retaliation involving all available forces and assets in keeping with the doctrinal documents to this effect.

• We will closely follow what the American side will do now that formal restrictions [of strategic offensive arms] are no longer in place. We will treat this situation with full responsibility and we will not be the first to escalate.

• [Epstein files] have nothing to do with the diplomatic work. It has everything to do with exposing the countenance known as the collective West. It’s no longer called the Deep State, but a deep alliance that rules the entire West and is trying to rule the rest of the world. Any right-minded person would agree that this is pure Satanism and is beneath human comprehension.

Read in full

✉️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent greetings to current and former staff of the Foreign Ministry on their professional holiday, Diplomatic Worker’s Day (February 10, 2026).

The message reads, in part:

💬 The history of Russia's Foreign Ministry contains many distinguished chapters. Our diplomats have always served the Fatherland with dignity and integrity, demonstrating genuine patriotism, dedication to duty, civic courage, and a high level of professionalism.

Amid increasing global turbulence and the tense, volatile situation unfolding in a number of regions, the active, constructive, and unifying role of Russian diplomacy is especially needed.

It is essential to make consistent and comprehensive use of all foreign policy instruments and opportunities so as to reliably safeguard Russia’s national security, defend its legitimate interests, and create favourable conditions for the country’s steady and comprehensive development.

Further strengthening friendly relations with our closest allies and neighbours within the CIS, as well as advancing Eurasian integration processes, remain unconditional priorities.

At the same time, deepening cooperation with countries of the Global Majority for the sake of building a just, genuinely democratic, multipolar world order grounded in international law and the principle of equal and indivisible security remains highly relevant.

Of course, equally significant are efforts to protect the rights of compatriots abroad, promote the Russian language, highlight Russia’s scientific and cultural achievements, and foster an objective image of our country in the global information space.

I firmly believe that the staff of the Central Office and foreign missions of the Foreign Ministry will continue their work across all areas with creativity, energy, and initiative.

#DiplomatsDay

🎙 On February 10, 2007, President of Russia Vladimir Putin delivered his historic and in many ways prophetic address at the Munich Security Conference, focusing on the state of international relations and the mounting challenges to global security.

❗️ The issues and themes raised by the President have lost none of their relevance.

Nineteen years ago, Vladimir Putin issued a clear and unambiguous warning to Western countries: the refusal to engage in an equal dialogue with Russia, arrogant disregard for international law, and attempts to entrench a unipolar world by force would inevitably lead to rising tensions and a systemic security crisis. That is exactly what happened.

💬 Key excerpts from Vladimir Putin’s historic address:

• International security issues extend far beyond military-political stability. The comprehensive, indivisible nature of security is reflected in its core principle: security for one is security for all.

• A unipolar world means a world with one master, one sovereign. Ultimately, this is destructive not only for everyone within such a system, but also for the sovereign itself, as it corrodes it from within.

• A unipolar world has nothing to do with democracy. Democracy, as is well known, is the rule of the majority with due regard for the interests and opinions of the minority. Russia is constantly being lectured on democracy – yet those who do the lecturing seem unwilling to learn themselves.

• Unilateral, illegitimate actions have not resolved a single problem. On the contrary, they have generated new human tragedies and new centres of tension. Judge for yourselves: the number of wars, local and regional conflicts has not decreased.

• [In 2007] We have reached a pivotal moment when we must seriously reflect on the entire architecture of global security. This must be based on seeking a reasonable balance between the interests of all participants in international relations.

• It is obvious that NATO expansion has nothing to do with the modernization of the Alliance or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it is a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust.

• We have the legitimate right to ask frankly: against whom is this expansion directed? And what happened to the assurances given by Western partners after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those statements now? No one even remembers them.

• The main global challenge for Russia, the US and Europe alike is terrorism and the fight against it. Does one need Russia to fight against terrorism? Certainly! But we are not in NATO – nor are many other countries. Yet we can work effectively on this issue only by joining our efforts. Therefore, the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure and its advance towards our borders have nothing to do with the democratic choices of individual states. I would ask that these two concepts not be confused.

• Will Russia use military force without UN authorization? We will always act strictly within the framework of international law. Let me remind both myself and my colleagues that, under the UN Charter, peacekeeping operations require authorization from the UN Security Council. At the same time, the UN Charter contains an article on the right to self-defence – and no sanctions are required in that case.

• Russia is a country with a history spanning more than a thousand years, and for virtually all that time it has exercised the privilege of pursuing an independent foreign policy. We do not intend to abandon this tradition today.

🇷🇺🇿🇦📞 On February 10, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa spoke over the phone.

Issues related to the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade, economic and investment spheres were discussed, in line with the Russia-South Africa Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The situation around Ukraine was also addressed. Cyril Ramaphosa expressed support for Russia’s efforts aimed at achieving a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict.

During an exchange of views on current international affairs, the Presidents noted the importance of continuing coordination between Russia and South Africa, including within the frameworks of the #G20 and #BRICS.

#RussiaSouthAfrica