In Moscow on Thursday, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko talked about strengthening the Union State of Russia and Belarus. But not only.
The presidents discussed Ukraine. As you know, Minsk is a platform for negotiations on Donbass, where the settlement would go properly if President Zelensky decided certain issues with whom he follows, and not with whom he is comfortable. Putin also responded to the Ukrainian leader's offer to meet.
Vladimir Putin, via videoconference, participates in the Leaders Summit on Climate.
A global theme that concerns everyone, because we all live on the same land and breathe the same air.
Climate change, threatening hunger and epidemics, was discussed today by the heads of nearly four dozen states and governments. The summit organised by the United States, the event is being held on April 22–23.
President of put forth Russia’s position regarding the development of broad international cooperation aimed at mitigating the negative consequences of global climate change.
Sergei Shoigu arrived in Crimea, where the main stage of the mixed exercise of the troops of the Southern Military District and the Airborne Troops, which is being conducted as part of a surprise check of combat readiness, will take place today.
Upon arrival in Crimea, Defenсe Minister flew around the areas where troops and military equipment were deployed, checked the readiness of the naval and ground groupings.
Shoigu also heard a report by the Commander of the Southern Military District, General of the Army Alexander Dvornikov, on the forthcoming actions of the troops during the exercise.
In practical actions of troops at the Opuk training ground, units of the combined arms army, air force and air defenсe formations, warships and ships, military units of the coastal forces of the Black Sea Fleet, part of the forces of the Caspian Flotilla of the Southern Military District, as well as airborne units will take part.
On the eve, troops (forces) involved in the exercise were transferred to the concentration areas. The grouping of ships of the Black Sea Fleet and part of the forces of the Caspian Flotilla entered the area of the event. The personnel and military equipment of the Airborne Troops division were loaded onto the planes of the military transport aviation, they departed to the designated area. The loading of the Marine Corps units on large landing ships and landing boats was carried out. The forces and assets of coastal troops, air defence and anti-ship missile systems are deployed in designated areas.
The Opuk training ground is located at a distance of 60 km from Feodosia and 40 km from Kerch. Its dimensions: along the front - 30 km, in depth - 15 km. The capabilities of the training ground allow you to practice the tasks of landing troops and overcoming the anti-amphibious defence of a mock enemy, to carry out amphibious assault landing - up to two battalions of marines at the same time, to fire at coastal targets from naval artillery complexes, and also to use operational-tactical and army aviation.
In the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly 2021, Vladimir Putin called unacceptable attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of states on the example of an attempt to assassinate Alexander Lukashenko and a coup d'etat in Ukraine.
He also explained the principles of Russia's behavior in the international arena and assured in this regard that the organizers of any provocations against Russia will regret it as they have not regretted anything for a long time.
The ceremony took place at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, members of the Government, the heads of the Constitutional and Supreme courts, regional governors, speakers of regional legislatures, the heads of traditional religious denominations and public activists.
The Russian peacekeeping contingent servicemen located in Nagorno-Karabakh started the training of the solemn passing dedicated to the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
About 400 Russian servicemen are involved in the training at the Stepanakert airfield. The personnell of the 15 separate motorized rifle brigade (peacekeeping) of the Central Military District, which form the basis of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh, are involved in the rehearsals of the solemn march. In addition, the personnel of the Humanitarian Response Center, the military police, the special medical unit, the command group of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, as well as the CSS units are involved in the rehearsals.
For the 76th anniversary of the Victory on May 9, 2021 the solemn passing of the troops is planned amounting 10 parade crews 45 people each.
Currently, the training of the parade crews of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh is carried out on a regular basis at a specially designated time, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of the tasks of the peacekeeping contingent for its intended purpose.
Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the Cabinet and the Kremlin administration, focusing on preparations for the annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly scheduled for Wednesday.
The President considers the social sphere and the development of infrastructure projects to be the main directions.
Putin said back in the first half of March that preparations for the Presidential Address to the Russian Parlament had already started. Since then, he held a separate session with the Cabinet leadership, focusing on the results of the implementation of his last year’s messages. At other recent meetings, Putin repeatedly noted that the topics discussed and comments of participants in the discussion were important for him in terms of work on the 2021 state-of-the-nation address.
Russia will give a tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of ten Russian diplomats from the United States, Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.
As well as, in response to the sanctions against Russian officials imposed by the US administration on March 2 of this year, the following incumbent and former US high-ranking officials and figures complicit in pursuing the anti-Russia policy, are denied entry to the Russian Federation: Merrick Brian Garland, United States Attorney General; Michael D. Carvajal, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons; Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, United States Secretary of Homeland Security; Susan Elizabeth Rice, Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, former US Permanent Representative to the United Nations and National Security Advisor; Christopher Asher Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Avril Danica Haines, Director of US National Intelligence.
In addition, entry is denied to John Robert Bolton, former National Security Advisor to the United States President, former US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Robert James Woolsey Jr., former director of the US Central Intelligence Agency.
The minister also promised Poland a mirror response to the expulsion of three Russian diplomats.Perhaps everything was 'avenged' with the exception of sanctions against the Russian national debt. But here, too, Lavrov threatened with the 'hidden' sanctions against American business.
In conclusion, the top diplomat promised to restrict and terminate the activities on Russian territory of American funds and NGO's that interfere in the internal political life of the Russian Federation.
Vladimir Putin is holding a joint meeting of the Presidium of the State Council and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) in Novo-Ogarevo via video link.
The mechanisms of the National Social Initiative (NSI) are discussed. The issues that concern millions of people in Russia are in the center of attention at a large meeting with the President. How to enroll a child in school, quickly get to the doctor and get help with finding a job?
According to Vladimir Putin, today's ideas will be taken into account when preparing a Address to the Federal Assembly on April 21.
The president named the improvement of the quality of life of Russians as the main ultimate goal.
During Russian Geographical Society meeting on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin announced that he has received his second COVID-19 vaccine dose.
President hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic will recede soon, in particular due to the vaccination drive.
Putin received the first vaccine dose on March 23. Details of the jab were not revealed. The president and his representatives explained that all three Russian vaccines were effective and safe.
The head of state said after the first jab he felt fine and only felt a little discomfort in his left shoulder for a couple of days.
Putin urged everyone to get vaccinated, for the sake of his own and loved ones health.
Accompanied by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Vladimir Putin visited the Coordination Centre of the Russian Federation Government.
The meeting rooms are named after the Russian peninsulas "Crimea" and "Kamchatka", etc. And the workplaces are named after the Russian rivers. Government offices these days should look like this - a modern office with fast digital access to all the data that the authorities have at their disposal.
The Government Coordination Center was conceived as a unit capable of increasing the efficiency of government agencies by optimizing the work of officials. The emergence of such a structure in the government is called an example of the digital transformation of the state apparatus. Its heart will be a situational center created to help coordinate the actions of individual authorities.
One of the tasks that the focal point will be engaged in is monitoring the implementation of national projects. But there are other directions as well. The President was satisfied with the work of the new structure.
The Coordination Centre’s activities rely on modern digital technologies, including a special project management system, a risk management system for the socioeconomic advancement in Russia, a multimodal system for collecting feedback from the citizens, a data analysis system and other systems. Big data is coming in real time, including from the government information systems of various levels and other sources.
On Tuesday, telephone conversation initiated by the United States took place between Vladimir Putin and Joseph Biden.
The current state of Russia-US relations and certain pressing items on the international agenda were discussed in detail. Joseph Biden confirmed the previously transmitted invitation to the President of Russia to take part in the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate, which will be held on April 22–23.
Both presidents expressed their willingness to continue the dialogue on the critical areas of ensuring global security, which would meet the interests not only of Russia and the United States, but the entire international community. In addition, Joseph Biden expressed interest in normalising the state of affairs on the bilateral track and establishing stable and predictable interaction on pressing matters such as ensuring strategic stability and arms control, Iran’s nuclear programme, the situation in Afghanistan, and global climate change.
In this context, the US President suggested considering the possibility of holding a personal summit meeting in the foreseeable future.
When exchanging views on the internal Ukrainian crisis, Vladimir Putin outlined approaches to a political settlement based on the Minsk Package of Measures.
It was agreed to instruct the relevant departments to work through the issues raised during the telephone conversation.
During a press conference in Cairo on Monday, Sergey Lavrov commented on the recent visit of Vladimir Zelensky to Turkey, which media and experts associate with the sale of combat drones to Kiev.
On the 60th anniversary of the first manned flight into space, Vladimir Putin visited the memorial and educational complex at Yury Gagarin's landing site in the Engels District, Saratov Region.
The main theme zone of the park - the landing site of Yury Gagarin - is a composition consisting of a stele and a monument to the first cosmonaut. It is surrounded by a walking path featuring pavers engraved with quotes from the pilot's communications with Earth.
Nearby is Cosmonauts Square with the marble Wall of Glory, which contains information about the planets of the solar system and the stages of development of the Soviet and Russian space programmes, including data about scientists, designers and other participants in the Vostok-1 mission.
The park’s trees and bushes include a cedar alley in memory of the call sign “Kedr” (Cedar) assigned to Yury Gagarin when preparing for his orbital flight.
Vladimir Putin examined the park's display, laid flowers at the monument to Yury Gagarin, and signed the distinguished visitors’ book.
Later, President held a meeting, via videoconference, on the long-term priorities of space exploration in the Russian Federation.
In the new, 21st century, Russia must maintain its status as a leading nuclear and space power because the space industry is directly linked with defence.
Video address by Sergey Lavrov on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight into space.
On April 12, 1961, a citizen of Russia, Yuri Gagarin, for the first time in human history, orbited the Earth in a manned spacecraft.
The significance of this breakthrough into near-earth space cannot be overestimated. The launch of the Vostok spacecraft ushered in a new era in the centuries-long chronicle of civilisation.
Maria Zakharova responds to the attacks by the United States and other Western countries on human rights abuses in Russia by providing real-life examples of inhuman conditions in US prisons for both United States and foreign citizens.
Literally every day, politicians, ministries and departments at different levels, and the US administration show their concern about human rights around the world. A noble cause, but first you need to take care of your own problems, and they do need your attention.
Zakharova cite one example that clearly illustrates how defenceless inmates in US prisons are against the sadists working there.
Where is the State Department? Where is the presidential administration? Briefings are held daily. Why isn’t a word ever said about the inhuman conditions in American prisons for US citizens and foreign nationals?
Naturally, the diplomat reminds of Russian prisoners, whose conditions of detention in US prisons do not differ from those indicated above.
Washington, always concerned with human rights around the world, but not at home, has ignored Russian calls for the release of all unjustly convicted or detained Russian citizens and for permission to return home on humanitarian grounds.
Maria Zakharova delivers remarks on Vladimir Zelenskiy's bellicose statements when visiting Dombas at the Russian Foreign Ministry's weekly briefing on Friday.
The Russian diplomat claims that hypothetical membership in the NATO would, contrary to Kiev’s expectations, not bring peace to Ukraine but would result in a large-scale escalation in its southeast and may lead to irreversible consequences for Ukrainian statehood.
Moscow are calling on the Kiev authorities yet again to act responsibly and start implementing their obligations under the Minsk Package of Measures. This package is the programme approved by the international community which should bring peace to Ukraine as a whole and to its Donbass region. No illusions, fantasies or provocations are needed. If Kiev declares its wish and desire to establish peaceful life, this should be done. The plan is on the table for a long time now.
The meeting, however, as usual took place behind closed doors, but before the start, the President said that it was devoted to issues related to the exchange of information, problems with the dissemination of information, including contacts with our foreign partners in this area.
Of course, information is an extremely important part of modern reality. In this regard, issues of safety, environment and response to epidemics were discussed.
Two weeks before the annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, which traditionally sets out strategic guidelines for Russia's socio-economic development, Vladimir Putin holds the Cabinet meeting.
The President proposed to discuss the practical results of the implementation of the President's Address to the Federal Assembly over the past two years and to analyze how the instructions given on the basis of these Messages are being carried out.
Putin is referring to the initiated reform of control and supervision activities and the initiative to cleanse Russian legislation of outdated norms and requirements in many areas.
The President believes that if the initiative enjoys the support of the population and yields tangible results, then it is necessary to think about its expansion.
Putin (apparently not unreasonably) calls on ministers to admit the failures in the implementation of some projects in order to timely correct their implementation (or the executor?)
Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan held a bilateral meeting in the Moscow Kremlin.
The presidents discussed the situation in Karabakh, in particular, issues related to Armenian prisoners of war and Russian peacekeepers.
In terms of economic cooperation, Pashinyan suggested that the Russian leader build a new nuclear power plant in Armenia.
Putin promised the Armenian prime minister to solve the problem with the coronavirus vaccine, the first batch of which will be sent to the republic tomorrow.
Sergey Lavrov summed up the results of talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during their joint press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Sergey Lavrov commented on the birth of a new revolutionary ideology in the United States, demanding the spread of American values in the world, despite the resistance of Russia and China, during an interview with Dimitri Simes and Vyacheslav Nikonov. The Minister believes that US political correctness brought to the point of absurdity will not end well.
Vladimir Putin chaired the tenth meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations, which was not held for more than a year due to the pandemic.
The Constitutional changes, approved by an absolute majority of citizens, have enshrined the basic principles of the state national policy.
The Russian language and the public solidarity receives special attention in the draft for the socioeconomic, spiritual and cultural consolidation of society.
Interethnic and religious intolerance provokes conflicts rooted in economic and political problems.
Putin highlighted the role of social models of behavior in fostering national identity in the younger generation.
The forced restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic showed an example of the consolidation of society in the face of a common threat.
Vladimir Putin delivers remarks on global cybersecurity at a meeting with the Security Council on Friday.
At the same time, new technological solutions engender new risks. Everyone can see that the global digital space is often becoming a venue for tough information confrontation, dishonest competition and cyberattacks. All this is fundamentally changing the situation in the world. The digital environment is being used by international terrorists and organised crime. There are many potential threats to common, global security and to individual countries, in part, to their sovereignty and national interests.
Russia believe it is necessary to conclude universal international legal agreements designed to prevent conflicts and build a mutually beneficial partnership in the global cyberspace, to use it as much as possible for the sustainable development of each nation, and to create favourable conditions for scientific research and the rapid implementation of the most advanced technological solutions for staving off potential risks.
Vladimir Putin congratulated the National Guard on a double holiday. The department turned five years and 210 years ago, law enforcement troops were created. President thanked them for their professionalism and dedicated service to the Motherland.
The Russian military added a new page to the history of the fleet, aviation and the development of the Arctic. Immediately three submarines surfaced together in high latitudes, breaking through the thickness of the ice, through which one submarine also fired. A pair of heavy interceptors with Dagger hypersonic missiles - flew over the North Pole, refueling in the air. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Nikolai Yevmenov, reported on the course of the comprehensive Arctic expedition to the President Vladimir Putin.
The Umka-2021 comprehensive Arctic expedition has been held by the Chief Command of the Navy and has been ongoing since March 20, this month. A package of operational and training, and research and practical undertakings of different designations is being carried out under an integrated plan in the polar regions for the first time.
In all, the plan provides for 43 basic objectives. The expedition venue is Franz Josef Land archipelago, notably Alexandra Land and the adjacent ice-covered waters.
The average temperature there now is −25 to −30 degrees Celsius; the ice thickness is up to 1.5 metres, with winds up to 32 metres per second.
Over 600 military and civilian personnel are involved in the expedition, as well as about 200 pieces of military and special equipment and weapons.
At this point, 35 objectives have been fulfilled under the plan and eight are still being carried out in line with the plan.
The following tasks have been fulfilled for the first time in the history of the Navy: three atomic missile carriers arrived on schedule within a region with a radius of 300 metres after breaking through 1.5 metre thick ice under an integrated plan; two MiG-31s flew into the polar region including midair refueling, during which they passed over the geographical North Pole in two directions; and we practiced torpedo firing from a nuclear-powered submarine under the ice. After the training torpedo stopped beneath the ice, it was located with technical equipment and retrieved to the surface.
Also, an Arctic motorised rifle brigade unit conducted a tactical exercise in unfamiliar terrain in adverse weather conditions while it was detached from the main base.
As a result, the weapons, the military and special equipment proved out their technical specifications in the high latitudes and low temperatures.
Oleg Akkuratov, who was blind from birth, became a laureate of the Presidential Prize. A pianist with outstanding musical ability appealed to the Vladimir Putin to make it a little easier for other talented children with disabilities.
Akkuratov is the author and performer of the 2014 Paralympic Anthem.
Vladimir Putin has said that he will expand the number of locations for his visits as the effect of his COVID-19 vaccine emerge, responding to an invitation from the winner of President's Prize in Literature and Art Maria Vedenyapina.
On Tuesday evening, Putin received the first coronavirus vaccine shot. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the leader has no side effects and is feeling well.
On Cultural Worker’s Day, Vladimir Putin congratulated the winners of the Presidential Prize for Young Culture Professionals and the Presidential Prize for Writing and Art for Children and Young People.
Mikhail Mishustin participates in the celebrations in Athens on the occasion of the Greek Independence Day.
200 years ago, Russia helped the Greeks free themselves from the Ottoman yoke. Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations today. The Russian Prime Minister laid flowers at the monument to the Unknown Soldier. And then he watched the military parade.
Earlier, Mishustin held talks with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Seoul and Moscow will make every effort to quickly organize the visit of President Vladimir Putin to South Korea, Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday at a joint press conference following talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong in Seoul.
The ministers stressed the importance of the joint production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in terms of combating coronavirus infection.
Moscow and Seoul remain committed to the earliest possible resumption of the negotiation process between South Korea and the DPRK in the interests of a lasting settlement of the entire range of problems in this region.
Sergey Lavrov summed up the results of a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, during a joint press conference in picturesque Guilin.
The positions of Moscow and Beijing on key issues of our time coincide, according to the Minister, they advocate building interstate relations on the principles of mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests, justice, non-interference in internal affairs.
Russia and China reject zero-sum geopolitical games, unilateral illegitimate sanctions that are increasingly being used by their Western counterparts.
Sergey Lavrov became the first Russian official to visit China after a forced pause caused by the coronavirus, and naturally, the host country did everything to make this meeting special. The meeting with Wang Yi takes place not in Beijing, but in Guilin - this is one of the most picturesque places in the country.
However, at the negotiating table everything is as serious as possible. Today and tomorrow, the focus is on issues of bilateral relations and the global agenda.
So, fellow ministers told each other about their countries' relations with the United States. With Moscow and Beijing, they are far from ideal - in both cases, contrary to their wishes.
Vladimir Putin held a video meeting on increasing vaccine production and the course of vaccination against COVID-19 in Russia.
The President thanked the representatives of pharmaceutical companies, who present at the meeting, manufacturers of vaccines for the truly dedicated work of those.
Putin stressed the significant role of the implementation of a wide range of preventive and proactive measures in normalizing the epidemiological situation, including mass vaccination.
The success of Russian scientists and specialists is also confirmed by the growing geography of the use of Sputnik V, despite the deliberate discrediting of the Russian vaccine.
Government agencies in Mexico and Argentina analyzed the use of the Russian vaccine on their territory and concluded that there were no side effects.
Well, and finally the long-awaited news for many - tomorrow, February 23, Vladimir Putin to take Russian Coronavirus Vaccine.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Putin will take one of three Russian-made coronavirus vaccines, without specifying. He added that Putin’s vaccination will not be a public event.
Before his visit to the PRC, Sergey Lavrov gives interviews to the Chinese Media.
On March 23, in Guilin, he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. The meeting is timed to organize contacts at the highest level and prepare events timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russia and China.
The reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia restored historical justice, Vladimir Putin said at a festive event held at Luzhniki as part of the Days of Crimea in Moscow on Thursday. This is a holiday for the entire largest country in the world.
The President recalled the history of the peninsula, which shows that ultimately the restoration of Crimea's status as an integral part of the Russian state has always been inevitable.
Russia is always ready to help its neighbors [the countries of the former USSR] Putin concluded, but will not tolerate geopolitical damage, and this is obviously addressed primarily to Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin spent the weekend in the snowy taiga with Sergei Shoigu.
Shoigu told Putin about the surroundings, the area was well known to him. They walked up the hillsides, looking at the scenery, and also looked at the animals in the distance through binoculars.
Putin entered Shoigu's workshop for woodwork. On the tables and workbenches lay wooden blanks, saw cuts and blocks, carpentry tools. Untreated roots and branches of an unusual shape were folded separately. The Minister showed how he composes a composition from this, drawing attention to the already finished ones - one of such works Shoigu called "The Snow Leopard", he compared another with a dragon.
Putin and Shoigu also talked while eating outdoors at a wooden table in the shade of spruce branches, sitting on benches covered with skins. On the tablecloth were placed plates with cucumbers, tomatoes, sauerkraut and sausage, and the guests drank from metal mugs.
On a trip on a tracked all-terrain vehicle, Putin and Shoigu rode out in traditional local sheepskin coats and high fur boots. Making their way through snowdrifts, streams and narrow passages between trees, travelers made stops - in particular, at an abandoned wooden structure.
