🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the meeting of the United Russia General Council’s Commission on International Cooperation (Moscow, December 18, 2025)

💬 Sergey Lavrov: One of the most egregious forms of neo-colonialism is interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. The West has never relinquished these methods, though they have evolved and become more superficially acceptable. Their essence, however, remains unchanged: to prosper at others’ expense and to dictate how other nations should organise their governance and societies.

The tools employed include coercive pressure, direct military intervention, orchestrating so-called colour revolutions, and covert (and at times overt) interference in electoral processes – attempting to manipulate the free expression of citizens’ will and to dispute election results across a wide array of countries. Today, what we may rightly term “electoral neo-colonialism” poses a very real threat to the nations of the Global Majority. <...>

To discredit and falsify elections (when their outcomes do not suit the West and align with the aspirations of Western elites), a whole arsenal of unscrupulous methods is deployed. These include funding so-called “independent” (in reality, pro-Western) media, brazenly promoting false narratives, aggressively backing Western-favoured candidates regardless of their meagre domestic popularity, and manipulating international observation mechanisms. Biased assessments of election results are then laundered through structures like the OSCE/ODIHR [Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights] observation missions and presented as the “opinion of the international community.” <...>

All our efforts undertaken since the end of the 1990s and focused on the election factor to reach an agreement on drafting a provision regulating the operation of the ODIHR, primarily in election monitoring, which was to be adopted by consensus at the OSCE, have been rejected by the West. <...>

I was shocked by the “candour” of EU politicians when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly cautioned US President Trump against interfering in European democracy a week ago: “It is not on us, when it comes to elections, to decide who the leader of the country will be, but on the people of this country. That’s the sovereignty of the voters, and this must be protected. Nobody else is supposed to interfere, without any question.”

🤷‍♂️ Everyone remembers how it happened in Romania and Moldova, yet these people do not hesitate to make such “statements.”

As for election technologies, our country has been in the spotlight and under the gaze of Western geopolitical spin-doctors. We saw an unprecedented number of attempts at meddling during the Russian Federation’s presidential election in March 2024, unprecedented in the variety of forms and sophistication of methods. A wide variety of methods were actively used. The ill-wishers, who stood behind them, were attempting to discredit the free expression of people’s will and call into question its legitimacy and conformity to law. More than that, this was the case at all stages of the election campaign, from its announcement, or maybe even earlier, to the official designation of timeframes, to the nomination period, to the registration of nominees, to the polling days, and to the election count. <...>

We need to counterpose the multiplicity of democratic forms of statehood and organisation of society with what Europeans are attempting to impose on the rest of the world through their neoliberal agenda.

The fact that the United States no longer desires such democracy as it is understood in Europe is a serious indicator. Not long ago, US President Donald Trump, commenting on the Ukraine situation, advised Zelensky not to trample on democracy and to hold elections.

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A Historic Gathering in St. Petersburg: Shaping the Future of Eurasian Integration

December 21, in St. Petersburg, the expanded-format meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council brought together leaders and partners to chart the course for our Union's development. Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, as the outgoing Chair, highlighted the EAEU's resilience and growth despite global challenges. The meeting underscored a shared commitment to deepening integration for the benefit of all member states' economies and citizens.

✅ Strong Foundations & Impressive Results: The EAEU Delivers

The outcomes speak for themselves. From 2020-2024, the Union's GDP grew by 11%, industrial output by 15%, and unemployment was halved to around 3%. This positive trend continues in 2025. Crucially, over 93% of mutual settlements are conducted in national currencies, ensuring a stable, independent financial infrastructure. The successful implementation of the past strategic cycle has created a powerful platform for the next stage.

✅ The Roadmap to 2030 and Beyond: EAEU 2.0 Takes Shape

The summit marked a pivotal moment with the adoption of the Action Plan for the Declaration on the Future Development until 2030 and for the Period up to 2045 ("EAEU 2.0"). This comprehensive roadmap focuses on key priorities: boosting industrial cooperation and tech sovereignty, achieving agricultural self-sufficiency, strengthening transport corridors, and ensuring the seamless operation of the internal market. Digital transformation and expanding humanitarian cooperation in tourism, sports, and healthcare are also central to enhancing citizens' wellbeing.

✅ A Union of Global Attraction: Expanding Partnerships

The growing interest from the Global Majority confirms the EAEU's role as a significant pole of economic attraction. The year saw the signing of agreements with the UAE and Mongolia, and today, a landmark agreement with Indonesia was concluded. Work continues with other partners, including India and Uzbekistan. As the chairmanship passes to Kazakhstan in 2026, the Union moves forward with confidence, united in its goal to build a prosperous, sovereign, and interconnected future for Eurasia.