🎙 Head of the Russian delegation at the Russia–Ukraine talks in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky:

📍 May 16, 2025, Türkiye

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Negotiations with the Ukrainian side, organized at the initiative of the Russian President, have just concluded.

❗️ Overall, we are satisfied with the outcome and are ready to continue contacts. Here is what was agreed upon:

1️⃣ First, a large-scale POW exchange – 1,000 for 1,000 – will take place in the coming days.

2️⃣ Second, the Ukrainian side requested direct talks between the heads of state. We have taken note of this request.

3️⃣ Third, we agreed that each side will present its vision for a possible future ceasefire in detailed written form. Once these proposals are submitted, we deem it necessary to proceed with further negotiations, as we agreed.

⚡️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s statement to the media following a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump (May 19, 2025)

💬 Vladimir Putin: Good evening.

Our colleagues asked me to briefly comment on the outcome of my telephone conversation with the President of the United States.

This conversation has effectively taken place and lasted more than two hours. I would like to emphasise that it was both substantive and quite candid. Overall, I believe it was a very productive exchange.

First and foremost, I expressed my gratitude to the President of the United States for the support provided by the United States in facilitating the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at potentially reaching a peace agreement and resuming the talks which, as we know, were thwarted by the Ukrainian side in 2022.

The President of the United States shared his position on the cessation of hostilities and the prospects for a ceasefire. For my part, I noted that Russia also supports a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis as well. What we need now is to identify the most effective ways towards achieving peace.

We agreed with the President of the United States that Russia would propose and is ready to engage with the Ukrainian side on drafting a memorandum regarding a potential future peace agreement. This would include outlining a range of provisions, such as the principles for settlement, the timeframe for a possible peace deal, and other matters, including a potential temporary ceasefire, should the necessary agreements be reached.

Contacts among participants of the Istanbul meeting and talks have resumed, which gives reason to believe that we are on the right track overall.

I would like to reiterate that the conversation was highly constructive, and I assess it positively.

The key issue, of course, is now for the Russian side and the Ukrainian side to show their firm commitment to peace and to forge a compromise that would be acceptable to all parties.

☝️ Notably, Russia’s position is clear. Eliminating the root causes of this crisis is what matters most to us.

Should any clarifications be necessary, Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov and my aide, Mr Yuri Ushakov, will provide further details on today’s telephone talks with President Trump.

🎙 21 мая "на полях" 78-й сессии Всемирной Ассамблеи здравоохранения министерства здравоохранения 🇷🇺России, 🇧🇷Бразилии, 🇨🇳Китая, 🇨🇺Кубы, 🇮🇩Индонезии и 🇿🇦Южной Африки организовали официальное сопутствующее мероприятие по теме "Новые перспективы для мира без туберкулёза".

🤝 В мероприятии участвовали Министр здравоохранения Кубы Хосе Анхель Порталь Миранда, Генеральный директор Всемирной организации здравоохранения Тедрос Адханом, руководство министерств здравоохранения стран БРИКС, представители гражданского общества и профильных международных организаций.

🔬 Участники обсудили достигнутый странами прогресс в борьбе с туберкулёзом на глобальном и национальном уровнях, стратегические инициативы и скоординированные действия, направленные на искоренение туберкулёза – ведущей причины смерти в мире от инфекционных заболеваний. Только в 2023 г. от туберкулёза умерло 1,25 миллиона человек, включая 161,000 ВИЧ-инфицированных. Несмотря на то, что с 2000 г. благодаря глобальным усилиям удалось спасти около 79 миллионов жизней, заболевание по-прежнему непропорционально сильно сказывается на уязвимых группах населения и препятствует устойчивому развитию.

🎯 Участники мероприятия рассмотрели ход выполнения обязательств, принятых на Совещании высокого уровня ГА ООН по туберкулёзу в 2023 г., по итогам которого главы государств и правительств одобрили ряд амбициозных целей. В настоящее время приоритетными задачами являются устойчивое управление мерами по борьбе с заболеванием, активизация исследований и инноваций, наращивание финансирования.

🇷🇺 Россия вносит весомый вклад в борьбу туберкулёзом, добилась значительных успехов в данной сфере и готова продолжать наращивать конструктивное взаимодействие с партнёрами в интересах снижения бремени этого опасного заболевания.

🎙 On May 21, on the sidelines of the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly, the Ministries of Health of 🇷🇺Russia, 🇧🇷Brazil, 🇨🇳China, 🇨🇺Cuba, 🇮🇩Indonesia, and 🇿🇦South Africa organized an official side event on the topic “New Perspectives for a World Free of Tuberculosis”.

🤝 The event was attended by Cuban Minister of Health José Ángel Portal Miranda, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom, senior officials from BRICS health ministries, representatives of civil society, and relevant international organizations.

🔬 Participants discussed the progress made by countries in combating tuberculosis at both global and national levels, as well as strategic initiatives and coordinated actions aimed at eradicating tuberculosis - the leading infectious cause of death worldwide. In 2023 alone, 1.25 million people died from tuberculosis, including 161,000 people living with HIV. Although around 79 million lives have been saved since 2000 through global efforts, the disease continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and hinders sustainable development.

🎯 Participants reviewed the progress in fulfilling the commitments made at the 2023 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis, where heads of state and government endorsed a set of ambitious targets. Current priorities include sustainable disease control efforts, intensified research and innovation, and increased funding.

🇷🇺 Russia is making a significant contribution to the fight against tuberculosis, has achieved notable progress in this area, and is ready to further strengthen constructive cooperation with partners to reduce the burden of this dangerous disease.

⚡ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to media questions (Moscow, May 23, 2025)

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💬 Sergey Lavrov: From May 20 until 8:00 am on May 23, the Ukrainian side launched a record number of combat drones - 788 in total - against civilian targets and civilians in Russia. All attacks were repelled, though, regrettably, there are fatalities and injuries. The Foreign Ministry issued a special statement to this effect, which is being widely circulated among governments and international organisations.

We believe these attacks are a direct result of the support provided to Ukrainian Nazis, primarily by a number of European countries, led by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the EU leadership. We are convinced that they bear a portion of responsibility for these crimes. We will push to bring an end to this policy.

We are witnessing a clear attempt to derail peace talks and disrupt the process that began in Istanbul following an agreement between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump which included a 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner exchange and further work on documents setting out specific conditions and requirements that are necessary to reach an agreement.

We will continue working on that despite provocations.

❓Question: Does Russia remain committed to a peaceful settlement?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: Yes, we remain committed to a peaceful resolution. We remain open to talks. President Putin has confirmed this many times publicly and in his conversations with foreign leaders. <...> We are finalising preparations for the 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner exchange.

We are also working hard on the second part of the agreement, which involves each party preparing a draft document outlining the terms for achieving a durable, lasting, and comprehensive resolution. Once the prisoner exchange is completed, we will be ready to present our draft to the Ukrainian side. The Russian side is in the process of finalising this document.

❓Question: You mentioned that international organisations would be informed about the Foreign Ministry statement. How do you expect them to react?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: <...> We look forward to a response from the UN. So far, statements made by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his official representatives for as long as the special military operation has been underway suggest reluctance - or inability - to carry out their basic duties, especially those relating to upholding the principles of the UN Charter.

❓Question: In the past few weeks, numerous EU leaders and officials visited Kiev, including Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz, and Kaja Kallas, among others. Following their visits, there was a noticeable surge in terrorist attacks carried out by Kiev. Do you believe there’s a link? Should Zelensky’s foreign backers bear a portion of responsibility for killing civilians?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: I believe the connection is undeniable.

Those sustaining the Kiev regime, including the figures you mentioned, don’t conceal their role. <...> There certainly is a degree of European responsibility involved. I think that when the conflict is finally resolved, and its outcomes are assessed, it will be difficult for those backing Kiev to avoid accountability.

❓Question: Do you believe that the Western European leaders you mentioned are deliberately trying to thwart President Trump’s mediation efforts in the Ukraine conflict? Could jealousy be a factor?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: <...> Their actions is that they still hope to use some people from the US establishment to bring President Trump and his administration back into an anti-Russia camp and share responsibility or even shift the blame. But I believe they won’t succeed this time.

💬 High Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation Tatiana Moskalkova:

🕊️ On May 23, following the results of the Istanbul negotiation process, an unprecedented prisoner exchange took place.

🫂 This day was awaited by families, friends, and the entire country – the day our defenders returned home, those who protected the interests of the Motherland, who were essentially held hostage and became victims of the cynical policies of the Ukrainian authorities. The first to arrive were civilian residents of the Kursk region and political prisoners. Each of their stories is worthy of an adventure novel or political thriller.

🇷🇺 Today’s group of returning Russians includes 120 civilians, among them 20 residents of the Kursk Region who had been held in isolation since February. These people are physically and emotionally exhausted. We will support them in every way possible as they return to peaceful life in Russia.

❗ We will not stop until we have done everything possible to bring every Russian citizen home. With pain, we note that 34 individuals are still being held by the Ukrainian side in Sumy.

🙏 I wish all those who have returned from captivity sound health, strength, and a speedy return to a full life. May each of them feel the warmth of their loved ones’ embrace, the support of our country and its people. We stand by your side, and we never abandon our own!

⚡ Foreign Ministry statement on Kiev’s latest drone attack targeting Russian civilians (May 23, 2025)

The Kiev regime is relentless in its terror attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in numerous Russian regions, including Moscow.

According to the Defence Ministry, from May 20 to 8 am on May 23, the number of aerial attacks amounted to multiples of what it used to be with 788 strikes by fixed-wing UAVs and Western-made missiles targeting Russian territory outside the area of the special military operation. Our air defence forces destroyed 776 drones and missiles, though unfortunately, 12 UAVs made it through our defences and hit their targets.

Casualties have been reported. On May 22, an attack on the village of Panteleymonovka, the Donetsk People’s Republic, wounded eight people. On the same day, a drone strike in the Vasilyevsky Municipal District, Zaporozhye Region, killed a woman born in 1990 and injured four children aged 10, 9, 8, and 1.

On the night of May 23, a downed UAV triggered fire in an industrial zone of Yelets, Lipetsk Region, injuring eight people. Additionally, the Ukrainian forces launched two HIMARS missiles on civilian targets in the city of Lgov, Kursk Region, also resulting in casualties, including two children.

Notably, even after the Ukrainian forces had been ousted from the Kursk Region, they keep trying to infiltrate our territory and launch drone, long-range artillery, and missile attacks.

Under these circumstances, the President was compelled to make a decision on establishing a security buffer zone on adjacent territory in order to minimise the ability of the Ukrainian forces to infiltrate and to attack our border regions using various munitions.

The latest barbaric terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime were carried out in an attempt to thwart direct Russia-Ukraine talks facilitated by the US Administration, which are designed to settle the conflict definitively. They also appear intended to derail the implementation of initial agreements reached in Istanbul on May 16, including a massive prisoner exchange.

These attacks are part of the strategy pursued by Ukraine’s party of war, which also includes violations of energy and Easter ceasefires that Russia has strictly observed, as well as the unilateral ceasefire declared by us during the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory celebrations.

Without a doubt, Russia will deliver a matching response to barrages of terrorist attacks carried out by the Kiev regime.

Unlike the Ukrainian side, our targets will be strictly limited to military facilities and defence industry plants.

☝️ To reiterate, our fundamental commitment to a constructive search for a peaceful settlement through dialogue remains unchanged.

🌍 May 25 is African Liberation Day or #AfricaDay.

On this day in 1963, the first conference of 32 independent African states took place in Addis Ababa, marking the birth of the Organisation of African Unity — the predecessor of today's African Union (since 2002).

This was how the first stage in the decolonisation process on the African continent reached its culminating point.

👉 Read our feature article on Africa Day

Long before arrival of Europeans, African societies had well-developed, self-sufficient economic and social systems, as well as their own forms of governance.

Everything changed during the Age of Discovery, when the Portuguese and Spanish were the first to establish trade routes along Africa’s west coast in the 15th century.

⛓ The main tool for generating maximum returns was the slave trade, which began in the 7th and 6th centuries BC and brought about a boom with the discovery of the New World, when colonisers needed free labour.

Apart from the slave trade, the colonisers (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium) ruthlessly exploited natural resources. They exported Africa's gold, ivory and other valuable goods.

According to official UN data, approximately 17 million individuals were forcibly taken from Africa (and reached their destination) throughout the history of the slave trade. At least as many died in transit. Some researchers estimate the total number of lives lost to be close to 50 million people... At the same time, Africa’s economic potential was severely damaged, $777 trillions were extracted by the colonial powers.

With the outbreak of World War II, Africa found itself at the centre of global change, sparking the emergence and strengthening of national liberation movements across the continent.

After years of struggle, Ghana became the first African country to gain independence in 1957, inspiring other nations and national liberation movements.

The Soviet Union was proactive in assisting African states in their struggle for independence and in helping establish these young nations.

📃 It was the Soviet Union that initiated the adoption of the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which proclaimed the need to end colonialism and discrimination in all its forms.

In fact, the USSR helped build 37 African economies by signing bilateral economic and technical cooperation agreements with them. Soviet military advisors and experts worked in Angola, Ethiopia, Egypt, Mozambique and several other African countries at different times.

Today, Africa is the fastest-growing macro-region on the planet. African countries are experiencing explosive economic growth. According to projections, by 2050, Africans will make up around 40% of the world’s population.

💬 Maria Zakharova:

"During the Soviet era, our country made a substantial contribution to liberating African nations from colonial dependence, selflessly and consistently assisting the continent’s young states in strengthening their sovereignty, developing their economies and training local personnel.

Today, our relations are moving along an upward trajectory. Building a truly strategic partnership with Africa is one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities."

(From Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s briefing on May 20, 2025)

☝️ African Liberation Day is an important symbol of solidarity and unity for all African nations. It commemorates the long and arduous path that Africans have travelled in the struggle for their independence and the right to self-determination.

Unfortunately, Western powers not only continue to exploit the African nations by siphoning off their resources and helping their corporations earn hefty profits, but also seek to erase or rewrite their own unsightly record there.

The descendants of colonisers are trying to pretend that they have nothing to do with the suffering many generations of Africans have had to endure, including racism, slave trade and punitive operations.

❗️ But Africa remembers it all.

#AfricaDay

📄 Russia's Foreign Ministry's report on the "Situation in several European countries with the desecration and destruction of monuments dedicated to those who fought against Nazism during World War II"

Full text of the report

Since the end of the World War II, approximately 4'000 monuments to Soviet soldiers have been erected in Europe. A total of more than one million Red Army soldiers are buried in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. In general, the peoples of the USSR and Europe paid a much higher price for the Victory over Nazism, measured in tens of millions of lives.

The Soviet army liberated Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria (the eastern part of the country and Vienna), Romania, Yugoslavia and a number of other European countries from Nazism.

The majority of Soviet monuments were erected specifically in these countries. There are also monuments to the Soviet soldier in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, and France.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many memorials ended up on the territory of states bordering Russia that emerged from the former Soviet republics. In several of these countries, the chosen course toward reviving Nazism and rewriting history has had a serious impact on the memorial legacy of the Great Patriotic War.

❌ Decommunization, the destruction of monuments to our common history and culture, the desecration of the graves of fallen Soviet soldiers, neo-Nazi torch marches, the glorification of Nazis and their collaborators, the physical elimination of ideological opponents — many of these practices, and often all of them at once, have become commonplace in Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as in Poland, the Czech Republic and a number of other European countries.

These very countries are the focus of this report. Under the guise of "decommunization" laws and by dismantling monuments to Soviet soldiers, the governments of these countries are attempting to "reinforce an anti-Russian front".

At the same time, monuments to Nazi criminals are being erected, their protection is being enshrined in law, and rare acts of activists opposing Nazi memorials are harshly prosecuted. The key objective of such steps is the complete erasure of historical memory.

This report has been prepared as part of the Russia's Foreign Ministry's efforts to draw attention to the manifestations of various forms of Nazi glorification, neo-Nazism, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance in foreign countries.

The report focuses on the actions of certain countries, primarily the Baltic states, Poland, and Ukraine, which, using Russia’s special military operation aimed at denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, as well as the protection of the peaceful population of Donbass, as a pretext, have sharply escalated a long-standing practice of destroying Soviet, Russian, and often their own memorial heritage on their territories.

👉 Detailed account of the unlawful actions by authorities of Ukraine, the Baltic states, Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland, Finland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, targeting Russian and Soviet monuments.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement on the second round of the resumed direct Russian-Ukrainian talks (Moscow, May 28, 2025)

💬 As you know, with support from the United States, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, it became possible to pave the way for the resumption of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. The first round was held on May 16 in Istanbul.

Pursuant to the agreements reached, the parties have exchanged 1,000 prisoners of war each. In addition, Moscow and Kiev agreed in Istanbul to prepare documents setting out the parties’ respective stances on achieving a sustainable settlement.

❗️ As agreed, the Russian side promptly drafted a memorandum that sets out our views on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis. Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary clarifications during a second round of resumed direct talks in Istanbul next Monday, June 2.

I would like to once again express my gratitude to our Turkish partners for providing a hospitable venue for the talks, which Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed yesterday during his visit to Moscow.

☝️ We hope that all parties that are genuinely interested in the success of the peace process rather than just claim to be in favour of the initiative will support the new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues (Moscow, May 28, 2025)

Key talking points:

💬 Global South and East countries are becoming increasingly vocal when discussing and addressing the most urgent and key challenges the world is facing today. This reflects a tectonic shift in international politics, which took place over the past years and continues to this day. It primarily consists of an accelerated emergence of a multipolar world order, as well as new centres of development across the Eurasian continent, Africa and Latin America taking on a bigger role in the global distribution of power.

• #BRICS exemplifies constructive multilateral cooperation among major international actors and their partners representing various continents, cultures and religions. It has firmly established itself as one of the pillars of a multipolar world order and a champion of the Global Majority on the international stage.

• Upholding international law and seeking guidance from the principles of equality and neighbourly relations, as well as mutual respect and taking into account each other’s interests guarantees peace and stability.

• The conflict in Ukraine (and more fundamentally, the profound security crisis across Europe) was triggered precisely by NATO’s aggressive eastward expansion over decades that was in direct contravention of the solemn assurances by American and European leaders to both Soviet and Russian leadership regarding the alliance’s non-expansion.

• The alliance [NATO] is now taking steps to operate outside its area of responsibility, seeking to move into the Asia-Pacific region — the Indo-Pacific, as they call it — threatening to undermine the #ASEAN-centric security architecture that has developed there over decades and allowed the countries in the region and their partners in different parts of the world to successfully cooperate. This causes deep concern for the future of ASEAN and the future well-being of its member states.

• We advocate for the creation, under current conditions, of a global security architecture rooted in the objective trends of multipolarity, the emergence of new growth centres, and one that guarantees equal conditions for the peaceful development of all states without exception. <...> The foundation for this already exists – the UN Charter. What is required is for all to adhere to it in good faith.

• A crucial step towards the goal of global security is the formation of an architecture of equal and indivisible security on the Eurasian continent — the most expansive and resource-rich region, the stability of which underpins the resilience of a multipolar world.

• Russia does not seek to impose anything on anyone and is ready to engage in mutually respectful dialogue with everyone. We will keep perfecting the existing security mechanisms and put them to use as part of our engagement with the #CSTO, #CIS, and the #SCO.

• As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia is aware of the responsibility it has for international relations in all their aspects on the international stage, including in terms of promoting peace, strategic stability, conflict settlement and a unifying agenda.

Read in full

📰 Interview with Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova for 'Zapiski Sledovatelya' Journal No. 2/2025, published by Russia's Investigative Committee (May 30, 2025)

✍️ The Legal Front of Memory

Key talking points:

• Combating manifestations of racism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism and neo-Nazism, and countering attempts to rewrite history and distort the outcomes of #WWII are among Russia’s priorities on the human rights track.

• Today we see increasingly frequent attempts to rewrite the history and results of WWII, to erase the memory of heroic anti-fascist fighters, to destroy monuments built in their honour, and to ban the wearing of military decorations that are strongly associated with Victory.

• History is being falsified in an openly hostile manner, which includes glorifying Nazi collaborators and disrespecting the memory of Soviet soldiers and civilians who died in the fight against fascism, questioning the Red Army’s liberation mission in Eastern Europe <...> The decisions of the Yalta and Potsdam conferences and the Nuremberg Tribunal verdicts are also being questioned.

• This tendency to rewrite history and glorify Nazi henchmen has become part of the Kiev regime’s state ideology and policy. The neo-Nazi elites are trying to cement Ukraine’s independence by denying its Soviet past, praising the Waffen-SS Galicia Division <...>

• In line with efforts to combat the glorification of Nazism and the distortion of history, every year since 2005, Russia has submitted a resolution on combatting glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to the UN General Assembly. On December 17, 2024, during the plenary session of the 79th #UNGA in New York, 119 countries voted in support of this document.

• Russia and a group of like-minded countries submitted a draft resolution on the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II to the ongoing 79th UN General Assembly, which was adopted on March 4. <...> Our partners’ unified stance on this matter constitutes a substantive contribution to countering the rewriting of history.

• It is a matter of principle for us that the international community recognise the crimes perpetrated by the Nazis in the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War as the genocide of the Soviet people.

• The actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Nazi-affiliated armed groups reveal signs of genocidal intent. They wanted to eliminate Russians and Russian speakers in #Donbass <...>, adepts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and people in this region in general as an ethnic, religious and national entity.

• Ukraine initiated proceedings in the UN International Court of Justice in February 2022, right after the start of the special military operation, as per the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. However, it turned to the Kiev regime’s disadvantage.

• The International Court of Justice issued its preliminary objections under this case on February 2, 2024. In this document, it rejected all the claims made by Ukraine alleging that Russia violated the Convention. The court went on to rule that further proceedings will focus on whether Ukraine itself committed acts of genocide in Donbass. Therefore, the Kiev regime filed the lawsuit only to become a defendant in this case.

• On November 18, 2024, Russia submitted its main pleading document, the Counter Memorandum, as part of these proceedings. In fact, this is the first time since the Nuremberg Trials that Russia de facto assumed the role of the prosecution in an international tribunal. But there are even more parallels with the Nuremberg Trials — just as during these trials, we are dealing with a Nazi regime which was targeting civilians with mass atrocities on racial, ethnic and national grounds.

Read the interview in full

⚡️ Statement by Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky following the second round of resumed Russia-Ukraine direct talks in Istanbul (June 2, 2025)

Read in full

💬 We handed our two-part memorandum to the Turkish side.

• The first part concerns ways to achieve a durable and sustainable peace.

• The second part outlines the steps towards making a genuine ceasefire possible.

<...> The Ukrainian side took it for further review. They will study it and tell us what they think about it, and we will take it from there.

In addition to that, we resolved several practical matters.

Firstly, we will unilaterally hand over 6'000 frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to the Ukrainian side. <...> Next week, we will return these bodies to the Ukrainian side so they may be laid to rest with dignity. <...>

We have agreed on the largest prisoner swap to date. All gravely wounded and seriously ill soldiers will be exchanged all for all. This is a humanitarian gesture on our part. The same approach — all for all — will be used to exchange young soldiers under the age of 25. The overall exchange quota will be at least 1'000 people from each side, possibly more. These numbers are being finalised.

Furthermore, we agreed to create permanent medical commissions that will compile reports which the parties will use to draw up exchange lists of severely wounded soldiers without having to wait for major political decisions. These exchanges will be conducted regularly as part of routine operations.

❗️ We proposed imposing a short-term ceasefire for two to three days on several stretches of the line of contact. Our military experts will work on it in coordination with the Ukrainians. <...>

The Russian army is advancing, and there are significantly more bodies of the Ukrainian soldiers in the grey zone. For this reason, we propose collecting the bodies of their fallen soldiers and transferring them immediately on-site to the opposing side for proper burial under Christian traditions. We let them know about this proposal. The Ukrainian military promised to review it promptly. <...>

Children are central to us, and I would like to say a few words about them. We’ve been hearing lately <…> that “1.5 million Ukrainian children were abducted by the Russians.” Then it came down to “200'000 Ukrainian children abducted by the Russians.” Now, the official figure is “20'000 children abducted by the Russians.” We’ve constantly asked to provide documentary evidence. Show us who these children are, give us something, such as missing child reports filed by their parents. Who are these children? They weren’t on any lists. What we get are mere numbers with no substance. <...>

We finally obtained a complete list. As you can see, it’s not 1.5 million, and not even 20'000 names. It includes 339 names. We will look into each case. We have reviewed every single inquiry lately. The Commissioner for Children’s Rights office had 101 children reunite with their families. 22 children have come back home from Ukraine and reunited with their families. Our children, too, may end up in the midst of a combat zone and lose contact with their families. <...>

This list of 339 names only underscores the fact that child abduction has, unfortunately, been turned by the Ukrainian authorities into a media show for bleeding-heart Europeans. <...> In reality, we are talking about dozens of children. None of these children have been abducted. Not a single one. These are the children who were rescued by our soldiers — often at the cost of their lives — pulled from combat zones and taken to safety. We are looking for their parents. If the parents are found, the children are returned.

☝️ Every child will reunite with their parents. All families on both sides will come together. We are working on it. It’s a matter of honour.

❓Question: What language were the talks held in?

💬 Vladimir Medinsky: I’ll give you three guesses.

❓Question: Was it Russian?

💬 Vladimir Medinsky: Correct, you got it right straight away.

🎙 Remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at President Vladimir Putin's meeting with members of the Government (June 4, 2025)

💬 Sergey Lavrov: Mr. Medinsky spoke on the main results. I believe that this is important and useful. The process of direct talks, which you previously agreed on in one of the latest telephone conversations with Donald Trump, is underway.

As we know, both rounds yielded tangible results, including the 1'000 for 1'000 POWs swap. Now, as head of our delegation Vladimir Medinsky said, additional agreements on a new swap, which is as large as the previous one, and not just of prisoners of war in equal numbers, but also of the seriously wounded, the sick, as well as the return of the remains of the deceased, have been made.

I believe it is better to always have a channel of communication. It enables us to address urgent humanitarian concerns above all else. At this stage, the coordination of reciprocal humanitarian measures as goodwill gestures and steps toward building trust is especially vital. As I have noted, we are seeing real progress in this area.

In light of what was just mentioned regarding the proposal for a brief two- or three-day pause to allow for the dignified recovery of the bodies of the deceased along sections of the contact line – where wounded individuals may still be present – I consider Kiev’s categorical and harsh rejection of this initiative to be a grave mistake. This comes on top of similar refusals of our proposals for humanitarian pauses during Easter and during the celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory.

Nevertheless, Mr. President, despite all this, and despite the serious criminal provocations that have taken place in recent days, I believe it is important not to fall into the trap of these provocations, which are clearly designed to derail the talks and continue receiving arms deliveries from European nations.

I believe that all means to achieve the just goals of the special military operation, including negotiations, must be put to use. The Foreign Ministry is actively engaged in Vladimir Medinsky’s delegation.

President Putin: I agree. There was a report that there also was some comment made by the Ukrainian side about the composition and level of our delegation.

Sergey Lavrov: Yes, Mr. President, the comment was anonymous, but it was spread in the media. Nobody approached us with specific questions or specific ideas. Journalists asked about this, and we explained what the level of Aide to the President of the Russian Federation means.