Plane Caught Fire at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport

At least 13 people have died in the plane fire at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, six more were hurt.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger plane with 73 passengers and five crew members was bound from Sheremetyevo for Russia’s northwestern city of Murmansk when it requested emergency landing. It caught fire while landing.

President Putin instructed to conduct the most thorough investigation of the incident and provide the necessary assistance to the victims.

Vladimir Putin deeply condoles with all those who have lost relatives and friends as a result of the accident.

Lavrov's Talks with Venezuela's Arreaza in Moscow

On May 5, 2019, in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Jorge Arreaza.

EU Open Day 2019

On May 4, 2019, European Council open their doors to the public. This event is part of the annual celebrations for Europe day in Brussels. Visitors can visit the information stands in the Justus Lipsius building, take a guided tour of the Europa building and engage in the many activities organised.

Putin, Trump Discuss Critical Agenda During Phone Call

On May 3, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the United States of America Donald Trump, at the initiative of the American side.

Lavrov Briefs Press on Phone Conversation with Pompeo

During his press conference in Tashkent, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov answered journalists' questions about his phone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding the situation in Venezuela, and also commented recent statement on President Maduro's attempted to flee to Cuba...

Lavrov's Remarks After Talks with President & FM of Uzbekistan

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks following talks with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov in Tashkent.

Putin Signs Law on Russian Internet (Runet)

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has signed the law on providing a stable operation of the Russian Internet (Runet) in case it is disconnected from the global infrastructure of the World Wide Web.

According to the law, in case there are threats to the stable, safe and integral operation of the Russian Internet on Russian territory, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media will be able to carry out "the centralized operation of the general communications network." The Russian government will approve the order of this management and will determine kinds of threats and measures to eliminate them. In particular, the cabinet of ministers will determine "cases of managing hardware for threat countering and conveying binding orders." The cabinet of ministers will also "determine conditions and cases in which a communications provider has the right not to direct traffic through the hardware for threat countering."

The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media will provide this hardware to communications providers free of charge. The federal service will also determine the specifications for installing these systems and the requirements for their use by communication networks. A provider that installs this hardware is released from the obligation to block banned information if access to it in the communication network of this provider is restricted with the use of these systems under the centralized operation of the general communications network (as the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media will carry out access restriction).

Putin’s Order on Granting Russian Citizenship to Foreigners

President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On Certain Categories of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons Entitled to a Fast-Track Procedure when Applying for Russian Citizenship.

Executive order on certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons entitled to fast-track procedure when applying for Russian citizenship

With a view to protecting human and citizens’ rights and freedoms, and guided by universally recognised principles and norms of international law, in accordance with Article 29 of Federal Law No. 62-FZ of May 31, 2002 On Citizenship in the Russian Federation, the President ordered the granting of the right to a fast-track procedure when applying for Russian citizenship to:

Ukrainian citizens who do not have citizenship in another state, and stateless persons who were born and permanently resided in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, who left the specified territories before March 18, 2014, as well as their children, spouses and parents;

citizens of Ukraine and stateless persons who have a temporary residence permit in the Russian Federation, a regular residence permit in the Russian Federation, a refugee certificate, a certificate of temporary asylum in the Russian Federation or a certificate of participation in the State Programme to facilitate the voluntary resettlement of compatriots living abroad permanently residing in certain districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine as of April 7, 2014 and April 27, 2014, respectively, as well as their children, spouses and parents, to the Russian Federation;

foreign citizens and stateless persons subjected to illegal deportation from the territory of the Crimean ASSR themselves or their direct relatives in the ascending line, as well as to their children and spouses;

citizens of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Iraq, the Republic of Yemen and the Syrian Arab Republic, who were born in the RSFSR and were formerly citizens of the Soviet Union, as well as their children, spouses and parents.

The Executive Order sets forth the procedure for submitting applications for obtaining citizenship in the Russian Federation, contains the list of required documents, and establishes the timeframe for application processing.

Furthermore, the Executive Order stipulates that an application for Russian citizenship filed by a citizen of Ukraine, another foreign citizen or a stateless person, will be rejected if they are involved in the activities of organisations that are reported to be involved in extremist activity or terrorism, or if a body that investigates the financing of terrorism has ruled that the said individual’s accounts or other property be frozen, or if there is a court decision to suspend bank account transactions or other transactions related to their money or other property.

The Executive Order comes into force on the day of its official publication. (May 1, 2019)

Minister Kolokoltsev Reports to Putin on Traffic Safety

Minister of the Interior Vladimir Kolokoltsev reported to President Vladimir Putin on the traffic safety situation during the regular meeting of the Head of State with members of the Government at the Kremlin.

May Day Rally at Moscow's Red Square

Around 100,000 members of Trade Union attended a rally on International Labour Day at Moscow's Red Square.

Lavrov Jokes About Predictions by Unfading Pompeo

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statements on Russia’s alleged interference in the US elections in the 1970s and the possibility of such a scenario unfolding in 2050.

Lavrov Welcomes Cabo Verde's Tavares to Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during talks with Luis Felipe Tavares, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Communities and Defence Minister of the Republic of Cabo Verde, in Moscow.

Lavrov’s Remarks at Gala Meeting of RF Commission for UNESCO

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a gala meeting of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, in Moscow.

Lavrov’s Statement, Q&A After Talks with Bangladesh FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions during a joint press conference following talks with Foreign Minister of Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen in Moscow.

Putin Hosts Cabinet Meeting (Transbaikalia's Fires, WWII Veterans)

President Vladimir Putin of Russia held a regular meeting with Government members.

The meeting participants discussed relief measures for wildfires in the Trans-Baikal Territory and assistance for the fire victims. Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief Yevgeny Zinichev and Deputy Finance Minister Leonid Gornin delivered respective reports.

Labour and Social Protection Minister Maxim Topilin reported on measures of social support for war veterans, disabled war veterans and participants in the Great Patriotic War, residents of besieged Leningrad, home front workers, and former minor Nazi prisoners.

Vladimir Putin VS Volodymyr Zelensky

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President-elect of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky continue the correspondence dialogue, which began with Mr. Putin’s statement about the simplified granting of Russian citizenship to residents of the DPR and the LPR.

Putin Presents Hero of Labor Medals to Five Russians

Ahead of Spring and Labour Day, a ceremony for presenting the Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation gold medals took place in the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall. Five Russians were decorated for special services to the state and the people

Sergey Lavrov Meets AK Abdul Momen

Lukashenko Visits Village Church on Easter Sunday

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko lit a candle in the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the agro-town of Ostroshitsy, Logoisk region, on Easter Sunday.

Night Easter Worship in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, Svetlana Medvedeva and Sergei Sobyanin attended the Night Easter Worship  at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

The solemn prayer in honor of the Bright Resurrection of Christ was made by the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus'

In addition, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrated The Savior Not Made by Hand Icon, created with the funds of the head of state for the main church of the Armed Forces of Russia.

Putin’s Press Conference Following Visit to China

President of Russia Vladimir Putin spoke to journalists following the Roundtable discussions at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Russian History Lesson for US Ambassador Huntsman

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova teaches a history lesson for the US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman in connection with his recent threatening statements.

Putin's Remarks at BRF Leaders’ Roundtable

President Vladimir Putin of Russia took part in the first roundtable discussion at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

President Putin's Bilateral Meetings at BRF 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a series of bilateral meetings on the  sidelines of the Second Belt and Road Forum. In particular with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Putin's Reception in Honour Kim Jong-un

Speeches by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un, at the official reception on behalf of the President of Russia, on April 25, 2019, Russky Island, Vladivostok.

Lukashenko Meets UAE Vice President in Beijing

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko meets with Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on the sidelines of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Lukashenko Meets Vučić on Sidelines of BRF 2019

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko meets with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, on the sidelines of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Beijing Hosts Russian Chinese Talks

Beijing is hosting talks between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.

President Lukashenko's Remarks at BRF 2019

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko takes part in the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Putin Received Honorary doctorate at Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University Rector Qiu Yong presented the certificate to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. PRC President Xi Jinping attended the ceremony.

Tsinghua University, one of the leading Chinese universities, was founded in 1911. The university always places first in the national ranking of educational institutions. University alumni include many renowned individuals, such as PRC presidents Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping.

2019 EU-Japan Summit

The 26th EU-Japan Summit took place on April 25, 2019 in Brussels. It brings together EU and Japanese leaders to discuss trade issues, strategic cooperation, and preparations for the G20 summit.

The EU is represented by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Junker, President of the European Commission. Japan is represented by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

President Putin's Remarks at BRF 2019

President Vladimir Putin of Russia takes part in the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Alexander Lukashenko Meets Wang Qishan in Beijing

President Lukashenko Meets President Xi Ahead of Belt and Road Forum

Putin Answers Media Q After Talks with North Korea's Kim

Following his talks with Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un, Russian President Vladimir Putin answered media questions, Vladivostok.

President Lukashenko Arrives in Beijing

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko arrived in the People's Republic of China on a working visit.

Putin Holds Meeting on Wildfires in Trans Baikal Territory

President of Russia Vladimir Putin held a meeting at the Chita airport on wildfires in Trans-Baikal Territory and overcoming their consequences, on his way to Vladivostok.

Heads of the relevant agencies and municipalities took part in the meeting.

Following the meeting, the President had a brief conversation with Acting Governor of Trans-Baikal Territory Alexander Osipov.

According to preliminary reports, wildfires affected 17 towns, destroying 99 residential buildings, 13 non-residential properties, 113 farms and cattle ranches, as well as agricultural machinery. Damage from wildfires exceeded 280 million rubles, and 650 people were recognised as wildfire victims.

Vladimir Putin Meets with Kim Jong-un

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chairman of the State Council of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un, Russky Island.

Talks began with a conversation of the heads of two states in a “one-to-one” format, then consultations continued with the participation of members of delegations.

The DPRK leader arrived in Vladivostok at the invitation of the President of Russia. This is the first meeting of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un and the first foreign visit of the Chairman of the State Council of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea after his re-election to this post.

President Putin Meets with Council of Legislators

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with members of the Council of Legislators, in the run-up to the Day of Russian Parliamentarism. The meeting took place at the Tavrichesky (Tauride) Palace in St Petersburg.

Putin Launches First LNG Shipment from Cryogas-Vysotsk Plant

During his working trip to St Petersburg, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, launched via videoconference the loading of the first batch of LNG onto the tanker Coral Anthelia at the new Cryogas-Vysotsk LNG plant in Vysotsk, Leningrad Region.