# entry

guid: https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/trump-sends-netanyahu-weapons-while
title: Trump Sends Netanyahu Weapons While Talking Tough To Zelensky
author: ;Caitlin Johnstone
link: https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/trump-sends-netanyahu-weapons-while
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content:
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<p><em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d393JofFT40" rel>Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley)</a></em><span>:</span></p>


<p>Israeli media are now reporting that Benjamin Netanyahu is considering “a brief resumption” of the onslaught in Gaza in order to pressure Hamas to make concessions and change the terms of the ceasefire agreement which was signed on the 19th of January.</p>
<p><span>The Times of Israel</span> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-said-mulling-brief-resumption-of-war-to-pressure-hamas-on-gaza-ceasefire-terms/" rel>reports</a><span>:</span></p>
<blockquote readability="29">
<p>“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a brief resumption of fighting against Hamas to pressure the terror group into making further concessions, according to an Israeli television report aired Saturday as he held high-level deliberations on the stalled negotiations to advance to the second stage of the hostage-ceasefire agreement in Gaza.</p>
<p>“Hamas has rejected Israel’s proposal to extend the first, 42-day stage of the deal, which formally expires Saturday night, insisting that the deal proceed with phase two, which Israel has largely refused to negotiate for the past month. Thirty-three Israeli hostages were released, eight of them dead, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Five Thai nationals held hostage in the Gaza Strip were freed separately.</p>
<p>“With the ceasefire expected to lapse at midnight, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz will meet Sunday, along with other security officials, to discuss preparations for a potential resumption of fighting in Gaza and a review of all potential war fronts, Channel 12 news reported.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p><span>This framing that Hamas has “rejected” Israel’s proposed extension of phase one is just the current propaganda line from the US-Israeli PR machine. In reality the</span> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5klgv5zv0o" rel>terms of the ceasefire deal</a> <span>say that Israel and Hamas were supposed to move on to phase two of the agreement this weekend, but Israel</span> <a href="https://news.antiwar.com/2025/02/24/israeli-official-gaza-ceasefire-deal-on-brink-of-collapse-due-to-netanyahus-hardened-stance/" rel>has been refusing</a> <span>to negotiate the second stage of the agreement this entire time because it would entail a withdrawal of Israeli troops and a commitment to a lasting peace. This idea that the first phase of the ceasefire should be “extended” instead of continuing on to the second phase is a brand new proposition the US and Israel just started</span> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y64sbK2NEtM" rel>pushing a few days ago</a><span>.</span></p>
<p>It is therefore Israel who is rejecting the ceasefire as written and trying to write up new terms for the deal; Hamas is just insisting on the terms of the ceasefire it agreed to.</p>
<p><span>But today we’re being hammered with this message that Hamas is rejecting peace. A</span> <a href="https://x.com/BarakRavid/status/1895962753007046741" rel>tweet</a> <span>by Axios’</span> <a href="https://www.mintpressnews.com/revealed-israel-unit-8200-spies-american-media/288457/" rel>Israeli intelligence operative</a> <span>Barak Ravid reads as follows:</span></p>
<blockquote readability="6">
<p>“Israeli Prime Minister’s office says Israel agreed to a U.S. proposal for extending the Gaza ceasefire in return for release of hostages but claims Hamas refuses.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>So that’s the official message we’re being fed by the consent-manufacturing machine, as the Trump administration sends even more weapons to Israel. The White House has just used its “emergency powers” to bypass congressional oversight for a</span> <a href="https://news.antiwar.com/2025/03/01/trump-approves-3-billion-weapons-transfer-to-israel/" rel>$3 billion weapons transfer</a> <span>to the Netanyahu regime, right after posturing as a stern tough guy who cares about making peace in his controversial dustup with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.</span></p>

<p><span>As readers have no doubt already heard, the entire western political-media class has been in an uproar since Trump and Vice President JD Vance made international headlines by publicly</span> <a href="https://consortiumnews.com/2025/03/01/trump-vance-school-zelensky-on-reality-of-his-war/" rel>raking Zelensky over the coals</a> <span>for his role in obstructing peace with Russia, even accusing him of “gambling with World War Three.”</span></p>
<p><span>Democrats are rending their garments over the public humiliation of Saint Zelensky and crying about the</span> <a href="https://x.com/caitoz/status/1895581829337637329" rel>“bullying” behavior</a> <span>of Trump and Vance, while Republicans are applauding the whole ordeal as a sign that Trump is a strong and heroic peacemaker who doesn’t take any guff from Washington’s warmongering proxies. But the most immediate and glaring point about Zelensky’s public castigation is that this same administration doesn’t appear to be taking that same energy to Benjamin Netanyahu as he prepares to resume a genocide.</span></p>
<p><span>And of course it doesn’t. Trump has</span> <a href="https://x.com/mtracey/status/1837886438903357920" rel>publicly admitted</a> <span>to being bought and owned by the</span> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Israelis_by_net_worth" rel>world’s wealthiest Israeli</a><span>,</span> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/miriam-adelson-gives-100-million-to-trump-campaign-making-good-on-reported-pledge/" rel>megadonor</a> <span>Miriam Adelson, while JD Vance</span> <a href="https://www.mintpressnews.com/peter-thiel-gaza-ai-war-white-house/288372/" rel>is the protégé</a> <span>of virulent Zionist billionaire Peter Thiel. What we witnessed on Friday was Trump speaking to Zelensky in public the way Adelson probably speaks to Trump in private. We can certainly never expect to see him speaking that way to Netanyahu.</span></p>
<p><span>It is good that things are moving toward peace in Ukraine, but this war was never intended to be permanent. It was only ever intended to be a temporary quagmire to bleed and divert Russia as much as possible while advancing strategic objectives elsewhere, which we recently saw manifest in the empire’s successful</span> <a href="https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/another-nation-absorbed-into-the" rel>regime change operation in Syria</a><span>. Zelensky, like every other US imperial asset, was only ever intended to be used and then discarded. The gears of the imperial war machine roll onward.</span></p>
<p>____________</p>

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<p>Bitcoin donations: 1Ac7PCQXoQoLA9Sh8fhAgiU3PHA2EX5Zm2</p>
<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_and_Benjamin_Netanyahu_at_White_House_2025_%281%29.jpg" rel>Featured image via Wikimedia Commons/The White House</a> <span>(Public Domain).</span></p>

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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-iran-on-the-deep-dive
title: Talking Iran on the "Deep Dive"
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-iran-on-the-deep-dive
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<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/z7qEoNCZltY" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 17 January 2025, I talked with Lt. Col. Danny Davis (ret.) on his podcast — the “Deep Dive.” We focused much attention on Iran, to include relations between Iran and Russia, and the possibility of an Israeli or US-Israeli attack on Iran. We also talked about the war in Ukraine and Israel’s troubles in Gaza.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/where-will-trump-take-the-us
title: Where Will Trump Take the US?
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/where-will-trump-take-the-us
hash: ��O�3%�[⾙�s� �
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/VIT8NLC80Bc" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 17 January 2025, I appeared on “The Duran” with Glenn Diesen and Alexander Mercouris, where we talked about what President Trump is likely to do on the foreign policy front.</p>

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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/gloom-and-doom-with-the-judge
title: Gloom &amp; Doom with the Judge
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/gloom-and-doom-with-the-judge
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<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/g3lMq9Txxqo" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 23 January 2025, I spoke with Judge Napolitano on his podcast, “Judging Freedom.”</p>
<p>As usual, we covered the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, paying special attention to what President Trump is likely to do. As usual, it was a gloomy but hopefully insightful conversation for viewers.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/israel-and-the-threat-to-free-speech
title: Israel &amp; the Threat to Free Speech
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/israel-and-the-threat-to-free-speech
hash: =痬Q؏ ���{���
content:
<p>On 24 January 2025, I was on Glenn Greenwald’s evening show — “System Update.”</p>
<p>We talked at length about the situation in the Middle East and what the coming of the Trump administration is likely to mean for Israel and the broader region. Very importantly, we talked at the end of the show about the threat the Israel lobby presents to free speech in the US, as it works overtime to shut down any criticism of Israel and the US-Israeli relationship.</p>
<p><a href="https://rumble.com/v6d3kep-system-update-show-396.html" rel>https://rumble.com/v6d3kep-system-update-show-396.html</a></p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/russia-vs-ukraine-and-the-west-who
title: Russia vs. Ukraine &amp; the West: Who Has a Firmer Grip on Reality?
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/russia-vs-ukraine-and-the-west-who
hash: >R��� ę�#�{���
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<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/7D6bHKLuU6g" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 29 January 2025, Lt. Col (ret.) Danny Davis and I talked on his podcast “Deep Dive” about how the Russians think about the war in Ukraine compared to how the Ukrainians and the West think about that conflict. We were especially interested in how the thinking on each side influences the chances of getting a meaningful peace agreement. Unsurprisingly, we both believe that the Russians have a much firmer grip on reality, which does not bode well for achieving a peaceful resolution of the war.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/donald-trump-wants-another-nakba
title: Donald Trump Wants Another Nakba
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/donald-trump-wants-another-nakba
hash: � R���EX��?��s
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/Fhnd3-IWlSY" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 30 January 2025, I spoke with Steve Clemons on his Al Jazeera show: “The Bottom Line.” We talked about the Israeli genocide in Gaza, the stunning concessions Israel made to Hamas in the recent ceasefire agreement, and President Trump’s morally reprehensible commitment to help Israel drive all the Palestinians out of Gaza.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-the-world-with-piers-morgan
title: Talking the World with Piers Morgan
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-the-world-with-piers-morgan
hash: ps��&J��� �(�h
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/PqReoPJfFwA" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 27 January 2025, I did a long interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.”</p>
<p>We zeroed in on Gaza and Ukraine and talked about where those conflicts are today and what is likely to happen in each one now that Donald Trump has replaced Joe Biden in the White House. Neither one of us could tell an optimistic story.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trumps-troubles-ahead-with-israel
title: Trump&amp;#039;s Troubles Ahead with Israel and Ukraine
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trumps-troubles-ahead-with-israel
hash: Q�o�/#O"��^�uM�
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/VfJ_-sZ7ybI" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 30 January 2025, I talked to Judge Napolitano on “Judging Freedom” about the difficulties President Trump faces in trying to create a stable Middle East and shut down the Ukraine War.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-israel-with-the-judge
title: Talking Israel with the Judge
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-israel-with-the-judge
hash: ���b�< ��*J� �
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/K4gqGvhWJb4" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 4 February 2025, I was on Judge Napolitano’s show talking about Trump’s policies toward Israel and Ukraine. This was just before Trump announced his plan to have the U.S. military conduct another Nakba and then turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” So we did not discuss this ludicrous and profoundly immoral plan the president dreamed up. That will have to wait until my next appearance.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trying-to-make-sense-of-trumps-foreign
title: Trying to Make Sense of Trump&amp;#039;s Foreign Policy
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trying-to-make-sense-of-trumps-foreign
hash: �Ccy���Cu�1ECjy
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/-yfNdkeStoo" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><span>On 12 February 2025 I was interviewed by Freddy Gray on the “Americano” podcast, which is run by</span> <em>The Spectator</em><span>, a prominent British magazine.</span></p>
<p>Freddy and I talked about Trump’s foreign policy at a general level and then zeroed in on Gaza and Ukraine. We tried to make sense of what Trump is doing, recognizing full well that he has only been president for a little over three weeks.</p>
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<div data-sanitized-class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/-yfNdkeStoo?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trump-and-hegseth-shock-on-ukraine
title: Trump &amp; Hegseth Shock on Ukraine
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trump-and-hegseth-shock-on-ukraine
hash: VL?"*S/'� ��`��U
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/sgc-JRj-nqk" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 12 February 2025, I was interviewed on the PBS NewsHour about the remarkable comments President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made earlier in the day about US policy toward Ukraine and Europe more generally. It is clear that the Trump administration is bent on radically altering US policy on Ukraine and fundamentally changing US relations with Europe.</p>
<p>Here is a link for the set-up piece followed by my interview.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/hegseth-tells-nato-ukraine-membership-unlikely-as-trump-says-putin-will-discuss-ending-war" rel>https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/hegseth-tells-nato-ukraine-membership-unlikely-as-trump-says-putin-will-discuss-ending-war</a></p>
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<div data-sanitized-class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/sgc-JRj-nqk?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/the-israel-lobbys-awesome-power
title: The Israel Lobby&amp;#039;s Awesome Power
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/the-israel-lobbys-awesome-power
hash: f��,�~�>AJ��T�
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/g8G9I1ZdEGU" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 13 February 2025, I talked to the Judge on “Judging Freedom” about the incredible influence that the Israel lobby wields in shaping US Middle East policy in ways that suit Israel’s interests, not America’s. We also talked about President Trump’s morally reprehensible plan to cause another Nakba and turn Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East. And of course we talked about the radical moves the Trump administration is making to settle the Ukraine war and reduce the US footprint in Europe.</p>
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<div data-sanitized-class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/g8G9I1ZdEGU?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/the-tectonic-plates-are-moving-in
title: The Tectonic Plates Are Moving in Europe
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/the-tectonic-plates-are-moving-in
hash: �z0� uʏ�4 �!Ӑ
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/m5-L5pyXLZQ" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 14 February 2025, I was on “The Duran” with Glenn Diesen and Alexander Mercouris. We discussed the Trump administration’s hostile dealings with Ukraine and Europe, which are directly related to the administration’s efforts to work with Russia to end the Ukraine war. Momentous events in the world of international politics are taking place before our eyes.</p>
<div data-attrs='{"videoId":"m5-L5pyXLZQ","startTime":null,"endTime":null}' data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM" data-sanitized-id="youtube2-m5-L5pyXLZQ" data-sanitized-class="youtube-wrap">
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/germany-and-genocide
title: Germany and Genocide
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/germany-and-genocide
hash: ���Z���֭�Ӗ�
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:best,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fmearsheimer.substack.com%2Ftwitter%2Fsubscribe-card.jpg%3Fv%3D-607160551%26version%3D9" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in response to Vice President Vance’s Munich speech on February 14 and his meeting with the head of the AfD that same day:</p>
<p>“A commitment to ‘never again’ is not reconcilable with support for the AfD.”</p>
<p>But, apparently that commitment is reconcilable with German support of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, to include going to great lengths to suppress protests of that genocide inside Germany.</p>
<p>And what does this say about Germany’s commitment to free speech?</p>

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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-ukraine-on-the-deep-dive-259
title: Talking Ukraine on "The Deep Dive"
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-ukraine-on-the-deep-dive-259
hash: Ǚ3e�� ����!!`
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/q7jhtoM-rcw" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 12 February 2025, I was on “The Deep Dive” talking with Lt. Col. (ret.) Danny Davis about Ukraine. Of course, this was the day Trump announced that he had spoken with Putin and Secretary Of Defense Hegseth gave his historic speech in Brussels. Danny and I, however, were not aware of what was coming that day when we were talking.</p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-about-a-ukraine-deal-on-cnn
title: Talking about a Ukraine Deal on CNN
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-about-a-ukraine-deal-on-cnn
hash:  �l��U��s��]�
content:
<p>On 19 February 2025, I was on CNN International talking about the fundamental differences between Europe and the United States regarding how best to end the Ukraine war, and also talking about the likely Ukrainian response to the deal between Russia and the US that now appears to be emerging.</p>
<p><a href="https://video.snapstream.net/Play/aTFPXuWkeNiiRG4aihZMKP?accessToken=cnyhersn3kpab" rel>https://https://video.snapstream.net/Play/aTFPXuWkeNiiRG4aihZMKP?accessToken=cnyhersn3kpab/Play/aTFPXuWkeNiiRG4aihZMKP?accessToken=cnyhersn3kpab</a></p>
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<figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e7335c-5ade-4a76-bf52-9a20af74268a_640x360.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" rel data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img">
<div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e7335c-5ade-4a76-bf52-9a20af74268a_640x360.jpeg" width="640" height="360" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/14e7335c-5ade-4a76-bf52-9a20af74268a_640x360.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":360,"width":640,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":45199,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":"https://mearsheimer.substack.com/i/157520350?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F14e7335c-5ade-4a76-bf52-9a20af74268a_640x360.jpeg","isProcessing":false}' alt fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand">
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/turning-the-tide-in-ukraine-but-not
title: Turning the Tide in Ukraine, but Not in the Middle East
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/turning-the-tide-in-ukraine-but-not
hash: Nd��V]�D�h�m�>
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/e4_6ax8RYrw" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 20 February 2025, I talked with Judge Napolitano on “Judging Freedom” about the remarkable changes taking place in US policy toward Europe, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as the lack of change in US policy toward Israel.</p>
<div data-attrs='{"videoId":"e4_6ax8RYrw","startTime":null,"endTime":null}' data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM" data-sanitized-id="youtube2-e4_6ax8RYrw" data-sanitized-class="youtube-wrap">
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-ukraine-with-former-ukrainian
title: Talking Ukraine with Former Ukrainian Journalist of the Year: Diana Panchenko
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/talking-ukraine-with-former-ukrainian
hash: C���w��g����6BL
content:
<p>On 24 February 2025, I was on Diana Panchenko’s podcast with Glenn Diesen and Pavel Shchelin. We discussed the origins of the Ukraine war, what is happening now, and where it is headed. The translation of the show’s title is “War &amp; Peace: Reloaded.”</p>
<p>Below is the English version:</p>
<p><a href="https://disk.yandex.ru/i/diX8X0WiQhjqlA" rel>https://disk.yandex.ru/i/diX8X0WiQhjqlA</a></p>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trump-understands-what-needs-to-be
title: Trump Understands What Needs to Be Done to End the Ukraine War
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/trump-understands-what-needs-to-be
hash: �|��^s��)f�[�n�
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/EkE5h6PB3pQ" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 27 February 2025, I was on Judge Napolitano’s show — “Judging Freedom” — where he and I concentrated on examining what Trump is doing with regard to settling the Ukraine War.</p>
<div data-attrs='{"videoId":"EkE5h6PB3pQ","startTime":null,"endTime":null}' data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM" data-sanitized-id="youtube2-EkE5h6PB3pQ" data-sanitized-class="youtube-wrap">
<div data-sanitized-class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/EkE5h6PB3pQ?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
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guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/the-shootout-at-the-white-house
title: The Shootout at The White House
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/the-shootout-at-the-white-house
hash: ���t�����m��}T��
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/44_6wejNGu4" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 28 February 2025, I went on the “Deep Dive” with LTC (ret.) Danny Davis almost immediately after the war of words took place at the White House between Ukrainian President Zelensky and President Trump + Vice President Vance. Danny and I offered our reflections on what happened and what would be the likely consequences.</p>
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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-post-talks-presser-and-comments
title: Lavrov&amp;#039;s Post-talks Presser &amp; Comments to Rossiya 1 TV &amp; US Readout
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-post-talks-presser-and-comments
hash: V��P|Nå��}&�
content:
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<p><span>Lavrov held a short 16-minute</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998294/" rel>presser</a> <span>after the talks that included his remarks. Lavrov referred to a</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/interviews/76153" rel>short interview</a> <span>Putin gave to Pavel Zarubin of Rossiya 1 TV that the Kremlin never supplied a readout of until now. That will follow the presser, Afterwards he was asked a</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998325/" rel>series of quick questions</a> <span>by Rossiya 1 TV, although there’s no mention of the seemingly always present Pavel Zarubin. Here goes":</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We would like to express our gratitude to the leadership of Saudi Arabia for the opportunity to hold a meeting between Russian and American representatives. We expressed this gratitude personally to Crown Prince of the Kingdom Mohammed bin Salman when we had an audience with Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov.</p>
<p>We talked for about an hour about our bilateral relations and how important it is to ensure in the world, if not complete agreement (it is impossible), then at least the readiness of the great powers in any situation to maintain a normal, professional dialogue, try to hear each other, learn lessons from what is happening and prevent any conflicts and crises.</p>
<p><span>This position of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was, in fact, reproduced during our talks with the American side. At the beginning of our conversation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised the fundamental importance for each country to be guided by its own national interests in international relations. We fully agreed with this. As well as the fact that these national interests will not always coincide.</span> <em><strong>But when they do not coincide, it is very important to regulate these discrepancies, not to let them take their course, and especially not to provoke confrontation of a military or other kind.</strong></em></p>
<p>When national interests coincide, we must do everything possible to unite and implement mutually beneficial projects in the geopolitical sphere and economic affairs in these areas of effort.</p>
<p><span>The conversation was very useful.</span> <em><strong>We not only listened but also heard each other</strong></em><span>. I have reason to believe that the American side has begun to better understand our position, which we have once again set out in detail and using specific examples on the basis of repeated speeches by President of Russia Vladimir Putin.</span></p>
<p><span>As for the agreements reached.</span> <em><strong>The first and probably the most urgent, and even more so not the most difficult, is to ensure the speedy appointment of Russian ambassadors to the United States and the United States to Russia.</strong></em> <span>And also to remove the obstacles that for many years, primarily by the Biden administration over the past four years, were built on the direction of our diplomatic missions, seriously complicating their work: the endless expulsions of our diplomats, to which we had to respond,</span> <em><strong>the continuing problems of seizing our real estate, and much more.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Not the least problem is bank transfers, which they are trying to restrict for us. Of course, we reciprocate. We agreed that our deputies will agree on a meeting in the very near future and consider the need to remove these artificial "barriers" in the work of Russian embassies and other foreign missions in the United States and the United States in Russia.</span> <em><strong>Moreover, they will try not to concentrate on any specific manifestation of these "obstacles", but will try to take a systematic approach in order to put an end to these inconveniences once and for all, which really impede the development of normal everyday relations.</strong></em></p>
<p>The second agreement. We agreed that a "process on the Ukrainian settlement" will be formed in the near future. The American side will report who will represent Washington in this work. As soon as we know the name and position of the relevant representative, as President Vladimir Putin said to US President Donald Trump, we will immediately designate our participant in this process.</p>
<p>Third, in broad conceptual terms, in the course of the processes related to the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, we should simultaneously create conditions for our cooperation to resume in full and expand to a variety of areas.</p>
<p>There is a great interest (which we share) in resuming consultations on geopolitical issues, including various conflicts in different parts of the world, where both the United States and Russia have interests.</p>
<p><span>Great interest was expressed in removing artificial barriers to the development of mutually beneficial economic cooperation.</span> <em><strong>The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Konstantin Dmitriev was present at the discussion of the economic aspects of our meeting today. He presented some problems that could be quickly resolved to the benefit of both Russia and the United States</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>There are now different assessments, mostly positive ones. The US side is already doing so. On which track have you managed to bring the positions with the United States the closest – on the Russian-American or Ukrainian track? Have you managed to lay the foundation for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States? What are the next steps? Will you have meetings in the near future? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that concessions would be required from everyone on the Ukrainian track. Are there any understandings?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>As for the issues on which mutual understanding has been reached,</span> <em><strong>this does not necessarily mean a rapprochement of positions.</strong></em> <span>I have already spoken about this. We have practically agreed that we need to resolve once and for all the problem of the functioning of our diplomatic missions. A mutual desire to find concrete solutions to our dialogue on international affairs and economic ties was indicated.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>As for the Ukrainian issue, I mentioned the agreement that the Americans will appoint their representative.</strong></em> <span>We will reciprocate. After that, relevant consultations will begin. They will be regular.</span></p>
<p>We met at the decision of the presidents of Russia and the United States, who agreed to work on the preparation of the next summit. To this end, the foreign ministers and national security advisers were instructed to meet and see what needs to be worked out before the presidents can begin to agree on a specific date and date for the summit.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Immediately after the meeting, a lot of information appeared, citing some sources close to the diplomatic process, regarding the "three-stage plan" that Russia allegedly agreed with the United States on Ukraine. Is this true?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>As for the "three-point plan." I have not seen this information or reports.</strong></em> <span>Today, when I was skimming through the news, I found a link to a statement by Polish Foreign Minister R. Sikorski, who said somewhere "on the sidelines of Munich" that he had met with US representative Kevin Kellogg. He informed him about a certain settlement plan. It did not say whether it was three points or four. But R. Sikorski, commenting on the plan, said that he could not disclose the details. "The plan is atypical, but it can be very interesting."</span></p>
<p><span>Today I asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz what this means.</span> <em><strong>They replied that it was a fake</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Prior to this meeting, the United States sent a questionnaire to the European Union asking what Europe can offer in terms of providing security guarantees to Ukraine. There is a question about the introduction of a contingent into Ukraine. What is Moscow's attitude to this?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>As for the "floating" information that the Americans asked the European Union a number of questions in order to better understand what the EU is going to do and how the Americans can be useful or involved. I have already mentioned this.</span></p>
<p>But he also said that the Americans are interested in the potential deployment of some armed peacekeeping forces after the conflict is settled or an agreement is reached, as mentioned in this paper, from the point of view of which countries are ready to provide them. It is clear that the question is addressed to the members of the European Union.</p>
<p>We explained to our interlocutors today that we have well noted that US President Donald Trump was the first among Western leaders to clearly say in several of his speeches that Ukraine's involvement in NATO is one of the main reasons for what is happening, that this is one of the biggest mistakes made by Joe Biden and his administration, and that if Donald Trump had been president, he would not have allowed this.</p>
<p><span>In this regard, we explained to our colleagues that President of Russia Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that NATO expansion and the absorption of Ukraine by the North Atlantic Alliance are a direct threat to the interests of the Russian Federation and our sovereignty.</span> <em><strong>Therefore, the appearance of armed forces from the same NATO countries, but under a false flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags, does not change anything in this regard. This is unacceptable for us.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>On the eve of the talks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Kropotkinskaya pumping station in the Kuban. Oil goes through it, which belongs to US and European companies, among other things. Is this Vladimir Zelensky's attempt to send Donald Trump a "black mark" against the backdrop of contacts with Russia?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>As for what caused the latest attack on Kazakhstan's energy infrastructure. There are many reasons to guess what was the basis of the order that someone gave in Kiev. But this should only strengthen everyone's opinion that this cannot go on like this, that this man and his entire team must be brought to reason, "slapped on the wrist."</span></p>
<p>By the way, today our American colleagues said, they say, maybe introduce a moratorium on attacks on energy facilities. We explained that we have never endangered the energy supply systems of the population, and our targets were only those facilities that directly serve the armed forces of Ukraine.</p>
<p>We recalled that even as part of the talks about the possible resumption of the Black Sea deal, the issue of protecting energy facilities was raised with Turkish mediators. We expressed our readiness to discuss modalities, but then Vladimir Zelensky himself refused to do so.</p>
<p><strong>Question: Are</strong> <span>the statements by a number of EU countries about their desire to be at the negotiating table related to their other statements about historical rights to Ukrainian lands?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>I don't know. But there are such talks. Politicians in Romania have been talking about this quite recently. I will not guess.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Vladimir Zelensky said yesterday that he did not recognise the results of the talks between the United States and Russia. How important do you think Vladimir Zelensky's participation in the talks is for achieving peace? Can he count on participating in this process?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>There is no need to go into details here, because this topic was covered in detail by President of Russia Vladimir Putin in his recent</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/interviews/76153" rel>interview</a> <span>with Pavel Zarubin. I have nothing to add.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question: It</strong> <span>is obvious to many that attempts are being made to seriously "torpedo" the establishment and resumption of relations between Russia and the United States. What should Russia do to prevent these attempts to "torpedo" in order to "protect the process"? Today, after four and a half hours alone with the Americans, do you think that their will to restore relations with Russia is firm?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>In order to prevent the "torpedoing" of the establishment of relations between Russia and the United States,</span> <em><strong>it is necessary to improve them. This is what we did today. Frankly speaking, not without success.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We have not discussed everything that still separates us. But the conceptual approach to further work was determined by the presidents during their telephone</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76259" rel>conversation</a><span>.</span></p>
<p>We felt the full determination and concrete determination of our American colleagues to actively move this movement forward, as instructed by the presidents. And we will also work on this. [My Emphasis]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Zarubin-Putin exchange from 24 January:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Pavel Zarubin:</strong> <span>Mr President, President Trump has made many different statements about a possible meeting with you and the prospects for a Ukrainian settlement. I would like to know your opinion.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Indeed, The President of the United States has made many statements on this matter.</span></p>
<p><span>First of all, I would like to say that Russia has never refused contacts with the United States Administration, and it is not our fault that the previous administration refused these contacts. With the current President of the United States, I have always had business-like,</span> <em><strong>exclusively business-like, but at the same time pragmatic and trust-based I would say</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>I cannot but agree with him that if he had been President, if his victory had not been stolen from him in 2020, then maybe there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine that arose in 2022.</span> <em><strong>Although it is known that Trump, being President in his first iteration, also introduced a significant number of restrictions and sanctions against Russia.</strong></em> <span>I don't think it was a decision that was in the interests of not only Russia, but also the United States itself. By the way, Biden picked up this baton and introduced even more Restrictions. And the result is known–-there are a lot of decisions that are harmful to the economy of the United States.</span></p>
<p>For example, undermining the power of the dollar itself, because the ban on Russia using the dollar–-and we did not abandon the dollar, it was the previous administration that did not give us the opportunity to use the dollar as a unit of account–-in my opinion, this decision causes very serious damage to the United States itself. But now we will not go into this. I can only say that we see statements by the current President about his readiness to work together. We are always open to this.</p>
<p>As for the issue related, say, to the talks, we have always talked about this, and I want to emphasise this again, we are ready for these talks on the Ukrainian issue. But there are also issues that require special Attention.</p>
<p>For example, as you know, the current head of the regime in Kiev, when he was still a fairly legitimate head of state, issued a decree banning negotiations. How can negotiations be resumed now if they are prohibited?</p>
<p>We are now at Moscow University. As you know, I have a basic education as a lawyer, and I graduated from the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg, then Leningrad University. I can tell you that if negotiations begin within the framework of the current regulatory framework, they will be, strictly speaking, illegitimate, which means that the results of these negotiations can also be declared illegitimate.</p>
<p>The current regime in Kiev is happy to receive hundreds of billions from its sponsors, sorry for the simplicity of popular expressions, as we say among the people, it is happy to hamster these hundreds of billions on both cheeks, but it is in no hurry to follow the instructions of its sponsors–-and we know that there are such instructions-–to cancel the adopted decree on the ban on negotiations.</p>
<p><span>But I think that in the end, those who pay the money must still force him to do this, and I think he will have to do it. But until this decree is repealed, it is quite difficult to say that these negotiations can be started and, most importantly, completed properly.</span> <em><strong>Of course, some preliminary outlines can be made, but serious negotiations, of course, in the context of the ban from the Ukrainian side, it is quite difficult to talk about anything serious</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p>On the whole, of course, we can have quite a lot of common ground with the current administration, a search for a solution to the key issues of today. These are issues of strategic stability, these are issues of the economy, by the way. Why? We are one of the largest producers in the world, say, of oil, the United States is now generally in first place, then Saudi Arabia and Russia.</p>
<p><span>But what is characteristic of the Russian and, say, American economies? We are not just one of the largest energy producers, we are also the largest consumers of energy resources. And this means that both our and the American economy and too high prices are bad, because by using energy resources, you need to produce other goods domestically, and too low prices are also very bad, because it undermines the investment opportunities of energy companies. In here, we have a lot to talk about.</span> <em><strong>There are other issues in the energy sector that may be of mutual interest.</strong></em></p>
<p>By the way, in this sense, I doubt that the current President of the United States, Mr Trump, I repeat, we worked with him in the first period of his presidency to make some decisions, even if we hear about the possibility of introducing additional sanctions against Russia, I doubt that he will make decisions that will harm the US economy itself. He is not only an intelligent person, he is a pragmatic person. And I can hardly imagine that decisions will be made that will damage the US economy itself.</p>
<p>Therefore, most likely, it is really better for us to meet, relying on the realities of today, to talk calmly in all those areas that are of interest to both the United States and Russia. We're ready. But, I repeat, this first of all, of course, depends on the decisions and choices of the current US administration. [My Emphasis]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The nod to the importance of energy is probably why the current meeting is being held in Saudi Arabia. Given Zelensky’s current level of anger, perhaps he’ll refuse to rescind his no-negotiation order to impede the talks.</p>
<p>And now, Rossiya 1 TV:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Have you managed to reach a substantive agreement with the American side on any results? Contradictory information comes from the other side.</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>I will tell you now, let's go.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>When will President Vladimir Putin meet with US President Donald Trump?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>When the presidents agree.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Has a group been formed to deal with the negotiations?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>We agreed that groups from both sides will be formed after reporting to our presidents.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Do you think today's talks have been successful?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>I think they are positive.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Did you know Mr Marco Rubio, or was this the first meeting?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>First meeting.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>What impression did the other negotiators make?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>We had good, positive talks. The atmosphere was very positive. Positive people create a positive atmosphere.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>They say you joked a lot?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>These are intimate details. Who is talking about jokes?</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>American representatives say that you were joking during the talks.</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>I am glad that they liked it, since they said so.</strong></em> <span>[My Emphasis]</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Hmmm… That the Americans think Lavrov’s joking isn’t a good sign as that means they failed to take him and his position seriously. I see CNN is spinning the talks as “a partial victory.” In contrast with the Russian readout,</span> <a href="https://www.state.gov/secretary-rubios-meeting-with-russian-foreign-minister-lavrov/" rel>the Empire’s</a> <span>is short and terse:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:</p>
<p><span>Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with</span> <span>Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today as a follow up to President Donald Trump’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12. Secretary Rubio was joined by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Ambassador Steve Witkoff, the team chosen by President Trump to reestablish the bilateral relationship. Foreign Minister Lavrov was joined by Russian Aide to the President Yuri Ushakov.</span></p>
<p>President Trump wants to stop the killing; the United States wants peace and is using its strength in the world to bring countries together. President Trump is the only leader in the world who can get Ukraine and Russia to agree to that.</p>
<p>We agreed to:</p>
</blockquote>
<ul><li>
<p>Establish a consultation mechanism to address irritants to our bilateral relationship with the objective of taking steps necessary to normalize the operation of our respective diplomatic missions.</p>
</li>
</ul><ul><li>
<p>Appoint respective high-level teams to begin working on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides.</p>
</li>
</ul><ul><li>
<p>Lay the groundwork for future cooperation on matters of mutual geopolitical interest and historic economic and investment opportunities which will emerge from a successful end to the conflict in Ukraine.</p>
</li>
</ul><ul><li>
<p>The parties to today’s meetings pledge to remain engaged to make sure the process moves forward in a timely and productive manner.</p>
</li>
</ul><blockquote>
<p>One phone call followed by one meeting is not sufficient to establish enduring peace. We must take action, and today we took an important step forward.</p>
<p>We would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>An</span> <a href="https://www.state.gov/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-national-security-advisor-mike-waltz-and-special-envoy-to-the-middle-east-steve-witkoff-with-jennifer-hansler-of-cnn-and-matthew-lee-of-the-associated-press/" rel>intimate interview</a><span>, not a press conference, was held by the US delegation with two CNN presstitutes. Since it’s in English and doesn’t require translation, I’ll let readers choose to read it or not. The one remarkable point I saw was Rubio’s insistence that the conflict began in 2022 not 2014, and that’s going to be a problem IMO.</span></p>
<p><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><em><span>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a</span> <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> <span>to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</span></em></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/maria-zakharova-historian-from-todays
title: Maria Zakharova--Historian--From Today&amp;#039;s Briefing
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/maria-zakharova-historian-from-todays
hash: ta|��NQ�O�HIl
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<p><span>Yes, on top of everything Maria’s also an historian. And she’s very good. Of course, she has access to one of the best archives on the planet.</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998268/#8" rel>This was part</a> <span>of her delivery today that contains specific information few if any readers will know, although some may know the basic fact of who comprised major parts of WW2’s French Resistance.</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Rubric "Keeping our promises. Or history lessons hurt".</strong></p>
<p>The other day, French Foreign Minister Jean-Nicolas Barrault obsequiously thanked the United States for liberating his country from Nazism and called for achieving "greatness" together.</p>
<p>Traditionally, he forgot to mention the contribution of the USSR to the liberation of France. Quote: "Both Europe and France have never been greater than when they fought together with the United States for freedom. This is the story of Lafayette, this is the story of the liberation of France by American soldiers, this year we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of France. We will support the United States, ensure joint greatness and strive for freedom around the world."</p>
<p><span>We are not going to compete with France for primacy, which has made a greater contribution to the independence of the United States of America. But since the Marquis de Lafayette was mentioned, we cannot refrain from quoting the words addressed to him in the spring of 1779 by the</span> <a href="https://rus-amerika.mid.ru/articles/yu-v-basenko-rossiya-i-voyna-za-nezavisimost-v-ssha-1779-1783-gg.php" rel>Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington</a><span>: "We are not a little pleased to learn from a reliable source that the requests and proposals of Great Britain to the Russian Empress have been rejected with contempt." Washington, noting Catherine II's resolute refusal to conclude any treaty of alliance with Great Britain, stressed that the imperial government motivated its position (attention!) in "expressions bearing the imprint of respect for the rights of mankind."</span></p>
<p>This is briefly about the United States. It would be possible to talk in more detail about the support of A. Lincoln by the forces of Russian squadrons on the west and east coasts during the Civil War in the United States. They played an important role in preventing the intervention of Britain and France on the side of the southern states. But about this some other time, if someone else wants to distort one of the episodes of history.</p>
<p>Today we will focus on France. Most of the words I have uttered are probably not understood by Jean-Nicolas Barrault. I will dwell on all this in more detail and will be simpler in my expressions, because I want him to understand. I will comment on his statement about liberation and greatness.</p>
<p><span>The Allied landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944 was undoubtedly a turning point in the liberation of France from the Nazi operation. But only a half-educated person considers Operation Overlord in isolation from the events on the Soviet-German front, where in the same June began perhaps the largest battle of World War II -</span> <a href="https://mil.ru/winner_may/history/more.htm?id=11960765@cmsArticle" rel>Operation Bagration</a> <span>- to defeat the Army Group Center and liberate Belarus.</span></p>
<p><span>In France, as early as 1940, Russian émigrés created the first</span> <a href="http://rgaspi.info/k-75-letiyu-pobedy/tematicheskie-podborki/4-4/" rel>resistance</a> <span>group, known as the "Museum of</span> <a href="https://severr.livejournal.com/1437910.html" rel>Man</a><span>". It was led by A.N. Levitsky and</span> <a href="http://museeborisvilde.com/pages-f/musee-conference-1.php" rel>B.V. Wilde</a><span>.</span></p>
<p>In 1943, the Central Committee of Soviet Prisoners of War in France was created, which was headed by Senior Lieutenant of the Red Army M.Y. Slobodinsky and a French communist, the son of Russian emigrants B.S. Matlin, known as "Colonel Laroche".</p>
<p><span>Near the French city of Til, the legendary female partisan detachment "Motherland" fought. It was created by two natives of Soviet Belarus - N.I. Lisovets and R.Z. Fridzon. And in the vicinity of the city of Lens, the fighters of</span> <a href="https://encyclopedia.mil.ru/encyclopedia/dictionary/details.htm?id=9204@morfDictionary" rel>V.V. Porik</a> <span>fought against the enemy (</span><a href="https://histrf.ru/read/articles/vasilii-porik-tri-smierti-i-odno-biessmiertiie-russkogho-soldata-frantsii" rel>he</a> <span>was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union). Also in France, the 1st Soviet partisan regiment operated under the command of Major A.A. Ghazaryan.</span></p>
<p>Does the current French Foreign Minister know about this? Yes, of course not. To do this, it was necessary to study, to study the history of at least one's own country, and not to "feed" on narratives - in our "manual".</p>
<p><span>We hope that Monsieur Jean-N. Barrault will not refute the</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1984664/" rel>words</a> <span>of the leader of Free France, Charles de Gaulle, who said in 1944 that "the French know that it was Soviet Russia that played the main role in their liberation." Or are the current authorities in France already canceling Charles de Gaulle?</span></p>
<p>I will remind them why Charles de Gaulle said so. He said this under the impression of what he saw in Stalingrad. Previously, the majority of the French shared his opinion, until they became victims of an anti-scientific approach to history, when you can "dig in" into it and pull out unnecessary pages that have gone out of fashion, replace them with manuals and narratives. It is not for nothing that dozens of streets and squares in France still bear the name of the city that became a symbol of the decisive turning point in World War II.</p>
<p>Perhaps French Foreign Minister Jean-Nicolas Barrault will buy himself a reference book, read something, learn facts about his country and people?</p>
<p>A well-known fact is "in his piggy bank". The liberation of the capital, Paris, was not a priority for the American commander D. Eisenhower in 1944. At first, the Resistance, the core of which was made up of communists and former Soviet prisoners of war, raised an uprising. Not everyone remembers, but I will remind you.</p>
<p>At least six partisan groups, consisting of Soviet prisoners of war and Russian emigrants, participated in the liberation of Paris. A group under the command of Captain Steverov held the Asnières Bridge for a day, not allowing German tanks to enter the city. How ashamed the current so-called French statesmen are to forget about this feat! A group of emigrants under the command of L. Savinkov occupied the building of the USSR embassy and raised a red flag over it.</p>
<p><span>This later gave Charles de Gaulle the right to declare that</span> <a href="https://military.wikireading.ru/42513" rel>Paris had won its own freedom</a> <span>and was liberated by its own people. And only then did the US 4th Infantry Division and the French 2nd Armored Division come to the aid of the rebels. At the same time, the first to enter Paris were the Spaniards - former republicans. They also accepted the surrender from the German commandant. This is such a revenge for Madrid in 1939.</span></p>
<p>At that time, fascism really did not pass through the joint efforts. But today it has returned in the guise of neo-Nazism through the efforts of "free Europe".</p>
<p>Paris, which had won its own freedom, was liberated with the support of the entire struggling France. Unlike the United States and Great Britain, the USSR immediately believed in the future of the "Free French" led by General Charles de Gaulle, establishing close cooperation with him. By his order, the legendary Normandy squadron was established in 1942 (since 1944 the Normandie-Niemen regiment), which became a vivid symbol of the Soviet-French brotherhood in arms.</p>
<p><span>It is also worth recalling the significant contribution of immigrants from Russia and Soviet citizens who were captured in the formation of the French Resistance Movement. I would recommend that the French Minister of Foreign Affairs read the article published on December 21, 2024 in the French magazine Istoir Magazin by Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Meshkov</span> <a href="https://t.me/MID_Russia/50060" rel>"Soviet Citizens and Russian Emigrants in the French Resistance Movement".</a></p>
<p>I understand that the text is difficult for the current level of French diplomacy. But we still need to master it. Since, so to speak, we have decided to speak out on this matter.</p>
<p>It is also impossible to agree with the assertion of Jean-Nec Barrault that "both Europe and France have never been greater than when they fought together with the United States for freedom." The Americans have never viewed Europeans as truly equal allies and partners. There has always been an inverse relationship between the true greatness of France and its rapprochement with the United States. Again, Charles de Gaulle was well aware of this, who saw cooperation with our country as an indispensable condition for the greatness of his country.</p>
<p>And Jean-N. Barrault, if he has anyone to thank for the greatness of France after World War II, then personally Joseph Stalin. It is to him that the Fourth Republic owes its status as the winner in World War II and its membership in the UN Security Council.</p>
<p>The history of France knows leaders who are capable of great deeds in the name of the national interests of their country. And there are different historical assessments of this. Now, of course, there are no illusions. But one thing is clear. No matter how someone from the outside perceives what the current French Foreign Minister says, first of all, it is a disgrace for the French people, because they do not know the history of their own country.</p>
<p>But we are there to help the French. We are always ready to stand guard, including French history.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I hope readers enjoyed learning what was presented. The last link goes to a Russian Telegram note that provides some further information and links to a longer article in French on the topic. Here’s a portion of that note:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>According to the State Archives of the Russian Federation, more than 135,000 Soviet prisoners were sent to France for forced labor, of which about</span> <strong>30,000 joined the ranks of the French Resistance</strong><span>. In total,</span> <strong>more than 180,000 of our compatriots</strong><span>, including representatives of the "White Emigration", took part in the anti-fascist Resistance.</span></p><p><span>Soviet underground detachments especially manifested themselves in Lorraine, in the north of France and near the city of Dijon. [Emphasis original]</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>IMO, those numbers are too large to ignore or forget, but the French government is doing its bests to cancel those historical facts.</p>
<p><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><em><span>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a</span> <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> <span>to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</span></em></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/another-fascinating-russian-government
title: Another Fascinating Russian Government Meeting
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<h3 data-sanitized-class="subtitle">Kursk Citizens Support, Kiev's Strike on Western Oil Assets, Russian Healthcare, and Much More.</h3><div dir="auto" data-sanitized-class="body markup">
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<p>Russian Parliamentary Building</p>
<p><span>On 18 February, Putin held</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76282" rel>a video conference</a> <span>with members of government that covered a wide range of topics, some related to the SMO and others related to Russian domestic affairs. Yes, as usual it’s a long report with several newsworthy segments. The main report is the results of medical examinations of children and adults in 2024, since enhancing the wellbeing of Russians is now the subject of another national project, the national project "Healthcare", which ended in 2024, and the new national project "Long and Active Life", which began on January 1. I rather doubt that any Western Neoliberal ruled nation has any similar concern for the wellbeing of its citizenry. And as you’ll see, the first issue to be discussed also deals with support for Russian citizens:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Dear colleagues, good afternoon!</span></p>
<p>Our main issue today is the results of medical examinations for adults and children in 2024. Tatyana Golikova will tell us about the results of this work, how this process is going now, and what needs to be done in addition.</p>
<p><span>I would like to start with</span> <em><strong>a rather acute topic</strong></em><span>. If you have noticed, I recently met with the Acting Governor of the Kursk Region, Alexander Yevseyevich Khinshtein. He reported on what was done to support people who found themselves in a difficult situation after Ukrainian military formations and mercenaries entered some areas of the Kursk region.</span></p>
<p><span>As the acting governor reported, all citizens who lost their property received the necessary cash payments and compensation.</span> <em><strong>To date, 80 percent of families who lost their homes have received cash payments for the purchase and construction of new housing, and almost 10 thousand families have been allocated funds to rent housing.</strong></em></p>
<p>Nevertheless, Alexander Yevseyevich, after meeting with people, raised the question of how to help people additionally, bearing in mind the difficult situation in which they found themselves. I have asked both the Acting Governor and the Government to prepare and submit relevant proposals.</p>
<p>Anton Germanovich, I know that the regional authorities worked with the Ministry of Finance. What's the deal?</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Siluanov [Minister of Finance]:</strong> <span>Thank you, Mr President.</span></p>
<p><span>First of all, I would like to briefly report that your assignment to provide support to residents of the border regions of the region is being implemented in full. Pensions, allowances, and social benefits are paid. Partial compensation of salaries is paid to employees of organizations that have suspended their activities.</span> <em><strong>Housing certificates are provided, payments are made in the amount of 150 thousand to citizens for the loss of property. Everything that you have commissioned is unquestioningly provided with funding, and, most importantly, the money reaches people.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Now, the question raised by the Acting Governor of the Kursk Region during your meeting is about additional decisions to increase payments for loss of property. Having worked out this issue, it is proposed to establish an additional monthly payment of at least one minimum wage for residents of the border areas of the region.</span> <em><strong>Today, this minimum amount is 22,440 rubles. According to the region, this payment will affect more than 112 thousand citizens. It is proposed to make this payment until the release of the territory of the Kursk region. The Government of the Russian Federation will find the necessary resources in the budget to send to the region.</strong></em></p>
<p>Mr President, we have prepared such proposals. Please consider it.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Is Alexander Yevseyevich in touch with us?</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Khinshtein:</strong> <span>Yes, Mr Putin.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>How much, 22,440 rubles do we have?</span></p>
<p><strong>A. Siluanov:</strong> <span>22,440.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Alexander Yevseyevich, how much is the average salary in the Kursk Region?</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Khinshtein:</strong> <span>Mr President, good evening!</span></p>
<p><em><strong>The average salary in the Kursk region in December last year was 64 thousand. And it seems to me that the amount of 22 thousand does not reflect the real need of people.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>It's clear.</span></p>
<p><span>Anton Germanovich, let's do this. As you suggested, for the period until the territory of the Kursk region is completely liberated from Ukrainian formations,</span> <em><strong>all people who have lost their property, residents of the region, will be paid an average of 65 thousand rubles per month.</strong></em> <span>And I ask you to find such funds from the federal budget and ensure the necessary payments. Ok?</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Siluanov:</strong> <span>I see, Mr President.</span></p>
<p>Let me just ask you if I understand this correctly. The payment, you said, is 65 thousand rubles. Many people today receive wages (from the borderlands), who have actually lost their property, lost their places of residence, homes, and shelter, but have found a job, and some people receive pensions, benefits, and partial payments related to the suspension of organizations ' activities. Do I understand correctly that these 65 thousand rubles will take into account the payments that people already receive today? How should I interpret your assignment?</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>No, no. We will not pay extra up to 65 thousand rubles if a person already receives something, earns it. To all, I want to emphasize, to all residents of the Kursk region who found themselves in this situation, this is more than 112 thousand people, right? Alexander Evseevich, 112, right?</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Khinshtein:</strong> <span>Mr President, this payment of 150,000 rubles is slowly increasing. When did I report to you…</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I ask, how many people?</span></p>
<p><strong>A. Khinshtein:</strong> <span>112,620 people at the moment.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <em><strong>Let's pay all 112,620 people a monthly payment of 65,000 rubles in addition to what they currently receive until the territory is completely liberated from these gangs. This will give an opportunity to those who are going to equip a new home, start some repairs, and purchase some additional property.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>Yes, this measure, this decision is extraordinary. We've never done anything like this before, but people have never been in this situation before.</strong></em> <span>I need some help.</span></p>
<p>I ask the Ministry of Finance to provide the necessary funding, Anton Germanovich.</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Siluanov:</strong> <span>Yes, it will be done.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Agreed.</span></p>
<p>Let's move on to the next question.</p>
<p>The next issue we have is related to the energy supply of the Kaliningrad region. Alexander Valentinovich, please.</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Novak:</strong> <span>Thank you, Mr President.</span></p>
<p>Historically, since about the end of the 60s of the last century, the energy systems of Russia (including Kaliningrad), Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have worked in parallel, in synchronous mode, as a single energy network. In 2021, a corresponding agreement was signed between the countries, already a new agreement, and this created reliable redundancy, stable operation of the energy systems of the Baltic countries in the first place.</p>
<p>In June 2018, the leaders of these countries made a decision, an absolutely politicized decision, to withdraw from the BRELL energy ring and join the European energy system. During this time, a number of technical measures were carried out, and as a result, on February 8 of this year, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia disconnected from parallel and synchronous operation with the Russian energy system. At the same time, such a pompous action was held in the Lithuanian capital with the participation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the heads of the Baltic countries.</p>
<p><span>Accordingly, what do we see today?</span> <em><strong>As a result of this separation from the Russian grid, electricity prices on the Nord Pool wholesale market in the Baltic States have actually doubled compared to what they were before the separation. If earlier it was about 100 euros per megawatt, today the average price for the last 10 days is already 200 euros, and it reached 270 on some days.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>That is, in fact, residents of these three countries – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia - began to pay twice as much as before as a result of separation from the Russian energy system.</span> <em><strong>And we believe that this is not even the limit,</strong></em> <span>because there is a limited capacity with the adjacent power systems of Sweden, Poland, Finland, that is, to where they are reconnected.</span></p>
<p>Moreover, it was reported just a few days ago that the largest Estonian pulp and paper mill stopped its work due to high prices after leaving synchronous operation. As for this decision of the Baltic countries, this is their business, their consumers pay for it.</p>
<p><span>As for the Russian energy system and the Kaliningrad Region, our main task is to ensure reliable energy supply.</span> <em><strong>I can say that our consumers did not feel this separation of the Baltic countries. The power system operates normally, the population, industrial facilities, social services, housing and communal services are reliably provided with electricity supplies, and there are no price consequences.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>All this was made possible thanks to your instructions given back in 2014, when during this period–-from 2014 to 2020--we built additional energy capacities in the Kaliningrad Region, four large power plants with a capacity of 900 megawatts, additional power transmission lines and substations.</span> <em><strong>In fact, the reserve capacity of the Kaliningrad Region's power system was doubled.</strong></em> <span>And this made it possible not only to provide reliable current energy supply to industrial and social facilities, as I have already said, but also to lay the groundwork for the development of the Kaliningrad Region in the future within the framework of socio-economic growth.</span></p>
<p><span>We can say with confidence that thanks to the measures taken in advance, all the necessary conditions have been created for reliable energy supply to consumers and ensuring energy security in the Kaliningrad Region, allowing us to work normally today and, as I have already said,</span> <em><strong>have a reserve for the future.</strong></em> <span>Thank you.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Good. We need to carefully monitor what is happening there. I've just discussed this with Gazprom's management, and they have everything loaded up, and if necessary, they can supply the required amount of LNG. Everything is in working order, everything is working, everything is fine. But I ask you to keep an eye out, too. Thank you.</span></p>
<p>Alexander Valentinovich, please tell us a few words about what happened at the CPC facilities near Novorossiysk and what is the current state of the facilities there?</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Novak:</strong> <span>Mr President,</span> <em><strong>yesterday, in a short period of time, seven drones attacked the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in the Krasnodar Territory. This is a station that provides oil pumping through the Caspian Pipeline by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. This is a company founded by American, European, and Kazakh companies. Last year, 62.5 million tons were pumped through this pipeline, more than 65 percent of which is oil that belongs to American and European companies.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>As a result of the attack, power equipment, a gas turbine unit, and a substation were damaged, and as a result of switching on the backup pumping scheme, bypassing the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, we see a decrease in pumping volumes by about 30-40 percent compared to the level that was before the drone attack.</strong></em> <em><strong>There is a lot of work to be done to restore this facility, since it also used energy equipment from Western countries.</strong></em> <span>This is the Siemens company, a gas turbine unit. Now the final survey of this object is underway. But on the whole, Mr President,</span> <em><strong>we understand that it will take quite a long period to restore this work, and the volume of oil pumping will be reduced.</strong></em></p>
<p>According to experts, the attack by Ukrainian drones is, in fact, a so-called response to the discussions that took place at the Munich Conference, and most likely, this is a response to the United States of America from Ukraine regarding the negotiations that were planned.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <em><strong>It's not a Russian organization, it's an international organization with the shareholders you just mentioned.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Novak:</strong> <span>Yes, absolutely.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <em><strong>As far as I understand, under the production sharing agreements, the oil actually belongs to these foreign shareholders, the oil that was pumped through this CPC pipeline.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Novak:</strong> <span>Mr President, that's absolutely true. This is oil that is produced on the territory of Kazakhstan under a production sharing agreement between Kazakhstan and the members of this consortium. As I have already mentioned, these are mainly foreign shareholders, the American companies Chevron, ExxonMobil, as well as a number of European companies.</span> <em><strong>This company is not under sanctions, and it pumped oil through the territory of Russia using the pipeline infrastructure passing through our territory to Novorossiysk. In fact, this attack was, indeed, in order to stop the pumping of oil, which belongs to foreign shareholders.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I understand that representatives of these companies are involved in assessing the damage that was caused as a result of this attack, and assess the timing and possibilities of restoring the object, right?</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Novak:</strong> <span>Mr President, yes. An assessment is currently underway, and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium is doing just that. An assessment is underway, but this is at least a few months, according to the preliminary estimate that we received.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Well, yes.</span> <em><strong>But if they themselves are interested in restoring the operation of the facility, then let them, despite all the sanctions, organize the delivery of the necessary equipment. They make it for themselves.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>I understand that you are probably in contact with your partners.</span> <em><strong>If you need something from the Russian Government, please provide it.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Novak:</strong> <span>Yes, there is, Mr Putin. Thank you.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p>Vitaly Gennadievich, what is happening with tankers in the Black Sea?</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Savelyev:</strong> <span>Thank you.</span></p>
<p>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues!</p>
<p>The Government Commission continues to work on eliminating the consequences of the emergency caused by the tanker crash in the Kerch Strait. Together with members of the Government Commission, we twice went to the emergency site in the Krasnodar Territory and assessed the situation on the spot.</p>
<p>At the end of January, as you know, we completed pumping fuel oil from the aft part of the Volgoneft-239 tanker, pumping out more than 1,400 tons of fuel oil. We started dismantling the aft part on the spot: Today, 280 tons of steel structures have been cut and removed, which is about 40 percent of the total volume. The cut metal is taken out by machines to a metallurgical plant in the Krasnodar Territory for further remelting. The issue of dismantling the aft part of the Volgoneft-239 tanker is under constant control of the Minister of Transport Roman Vladimirovich Starovoit, and we plan to complete this work by March 31.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Transport is also preparing proposals by the end of February to prevent fuel oil spills from sunken tanker fragments: the bow of the Volgoneft-239 tanker, as well as the aft and bow parts of the Volgoneft-212 tanker.</p>
<p>To date, about 3,500 people are involved in the elimination of emergency consequences on land, of which about 600 people are volunteers, more than 500 pieces of equipment. Today there is a combined diving group at sea – 70 divers and 28 watercraft. Spot discharges of fuel oil to the shore are promptly removed.</p>
<p>In addition, the diving team reviews oil-containing waste in the coastal zone. More than 185 thousand tons of contaminated sand and soil were collected, of which about 53 thousand tons of soil were exported to specialized organizations. About 5 thousand tons of soil have already been disposed of.</p>
<p>Control over the work is carried out by the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Alexander Kozlov.</p>
<p>Together with Rospotrebnadzor, we monitor the quality of atmospheric air, water and soil. With Rosrybolovstvo we monitor the safety of fish. Rosprirodnadzor participates in inspections of the activities of specialized waste management organizations.</p>
<p>Under the leadership of the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, work has been organized to collect proposals on technologies and technical solutions for emergency response both now and in the future. A special interagency working group considered 223 such proposals. We reviewed 36 proposals that are ready for implementation as soon as possible, including 23 proposals for onshore operations implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Regional authorities, and 13 proposals for offshore operations that are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport of Russia.</p>
<p><span>The most widely implemented technology now is polypropylene networks. On the beach territory of the city of Anapa and the Temryuksky district, to minimize beach pollution and sand removal, a protective shaft is equipped and covered with polypropylene nets,</span> <em><strong>the approximate length is about 32 kilometers</strong></em><span>. We also selected about 50 promising proposals that require further development. The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Emergency Situations provide testing of ready-made proposals at the emergency site.</span></p>
<p>At the same time, we are working to restore the coastal strip of the Black Sea coast areas affected by the oil spill. Rospotrebnadzor specialists will conduct a preliminary assessment of the compliance of beaches and recreation areas with sanitary requirements by March 1 this year.</p>
<p><span>At a meeting of the Government Commission last Friday, February 14, the administration of the Krasnodar Territory, the most affected region, was instructed to replace the contaminated sand on the beach. According to Rospotrebnadzor, this is the only way to bring the beaches to a standard state this season. In the Krasnodar Territory, regional authorities are now going to conduct an inspection of about 139 beaches.</span> <em><strong>We will make a decision on the opening and format of the summer tourist season only after confirming that the beaches meet the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor.</strong></em></p>
<p>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,</p>
<p>I will report separately on the progress of your previous instructions.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Transport, together with the relevant ministries and departments, has started revising the regulatory framework governing the transportation of oil and petroleum products by sea and river vessels, as well as their storage and transshipment.</p>
<p>In addition, the Ministry of Transport organized a state inspection of the tanker fleet and an inspection of shipping companies operating the tanker fleet by the classification societies (sea and river registers, Rostransnadzor) and related ministries. Based on the results of the audit, proposals will be prepared to strengthen control over the technical condition of such vessels and the implementation of such transportation.</p>
<p>The inspections will also affect the activities of organizations and legal provisions related to the prevention and elimination of pollution by oil and petroleum products from ships, including as a result of spills. We will be ready to report on the first results of the verification activities separately in May of this year.</p>
<p>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,</p>
<p>The Government Commission has organized systematic work. At weekly meetings on Fridays, the government commission issues specific instructions and monitors the implementation of previously adopted decisions. On-site work is coordinated on a daily basis by the operational headquarters under the leadership of the First Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov.</p>
<p>Thank you for your attention. The report is finished.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Good. Thank you.</span></p>
<p>I ask you to do everything as quickly as possible, of course, efficiently, but as quickly as possible. Of course, we need to work on the recovery process, as we discussed earlier. Well, there will be all this lying around, waiting like a time bomb for holes to appear there. We need to think about how to raise all that is still at the bottom.</p>
<p>You also mentioned the work of Alexander Kozlov.</p>
<p>Alexander Alexandrovich, how are we doing overall in the framework of the federal project "Clean Country"? How many years has this program been implemented?</p>
<p><strong>Alexey Kozlov:</strong> <span>Hello, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Mikhail Vladimirovich, colleagues!</span></p>
<p><em><strong>272 objects of accumulated environmental damage were eliminated thanks to the federal project "Clean Country". These are municipal unauthorized landfills, sludge collectors, tailings dumps, and oil lenses. That is, what was in plain sight and poisoned the lives of a total of almost 30 million people.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>First, 87 dangerous objects were abandoned and were located near settlements where 7 million people live, which is 50 settlements.</strong></em></p>
<p>For example, a fuel oil storage facility in the city of Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk region. The lake of petroleum products remained from the former machine-building plant and was located just 10 meters from a five-story residential building.</p>
<p>The largest landfill in the Sverdlovsk region, the Shirokorechenskiy landfill, which was considered the main landfill in Yekaterinburg, has accumulated more than 6 million cubic meters of household waste since 1960. 63 million cubic meters is the volume of municipal solid waste landfills in the Moscow region, 27 objects occupied an area of 450 hectares and poisoned the lives of 2.5 million residents of the region.</p>
<p>Landfills have been eliminated, and their negative impact has been reduced, as confirmed by the Rosprirodnadzor laboratory.</p>
<p><span>Secondly,</span> <em><strong>185 unauthorized landfills were eliminated. They were located in 143 cities with a total population of more than 20 million people.</strong></em> <span>Cleaning turned out to be really large-scale,</span> <em><strong>because in fact we eliminated landfills in every eighth city of the country.</strong></em> <span>Geography—from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok and from Murmansk to Crimea.</span></p>
<p>The work was carried out in completely different natural and climatic conditions. For example, in Arkhangelsk, four landfills were located on islands, where machinery and equipment were delivered by water. Two landfills in the Central Ecological Zone, the Baikal Natural Territory, and seven landfills in resort areas were removed.: These are Crimea, Sevastopol, Pyatigorsk, Belokurikha and Zelenogorsk. The largest urban landfills in Vladikavkaz and Chelyabinsk were eliminated, each with an area exceeding 70 hectares, which is almost 100 football fields.</p>
<p>To date, there are six landfills left in operation, which were not completed last year. In two cases, in Bryansk and Arkhangelsk, there are objective reasons for the delay: flooding of the ground required project adjustments. New contracts have been signed. Now the readiness is about 50 percent, the work is promised to be completed before the beginning of summer.</p>
<p>In Kaluga, despite the high readiness of the facility, more than 90 percent, the project documentation is already being adjusted for the third time. Until the end of February, we are waiting for the completion of expert examinations and the delivery of the object by April.</p>
<p>The situation is more complicated in three other regions. In Vologda and Rostov Novocherkassk readiness is 70 percent, contracts are terminated, contractors are included in the register of unscrupulous. The regions will start working only in March-April of this year. In Mordovian Krasnoslobodsk, the liquidation will be completed only after additional engineering surveys. For all three landfills, the governors guaranteed to keep the situation under personal control. We work with the regions together, and we help them where necessary.</p>
<p><em><strong>In parallel, starting from 2022, an inventory of accumulated damage objects is being conducted throughout the country. To do this, we needed to change the federal legislation and give Rospotrebnadzor and Rosprirodnadzor the authority to evaluate it. They now assess how each object affects people's health and nature.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>To date, specialists of the departments have already conducted a survey of 1,200 objects: from landfills to abandoned industries. Now they are ranked in order of danger to nature and humans. Our colleagues will complete their project-by-site work by June.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Of course, these lists should become desktop documents for governors.</span> <em><strong>Regional authorities are obliged to keep order in the territories entrusted to them.</strong></em></p>
<p>For financing, you can use so-called colored environmental payments. They come to regional budgets from administrative fines and payments for negative impact, and they can be used to eliminate accumulated damage. Last year, we raised approximately 29 billion rubles.</p>
<p><span>Of course, we will help you at the largest and most dangerous sites based on the results of the selection process.</span> <em><strong>Federal funding is included in the new national project "Ecological Well-being".</strong></em></p>
<p>We are supported by the federal environmental operator, Rosatom State Corporation, in liquidating large and complex facilities. Colleagues work at such giants as the Krasny Bor industrial landfill in the Leningrad Region, the territory of Usoliekhimprom and the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill in the Irkutsk region. We also attract colleagues in new territories where they are currently designing, and we plan to liquidate them later.</p>
<p>In addition, this year, on your instructions, Vladimir Vladimirovich, they will take up the development of the concept and elimination of accumulated damage on the territory of the former Yaroslavl diesel particulate plant, which is located near the Volga River.</p>
<p>Thanks for attention. The report is finished.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Alexander Alexandrovich, when should these six regions, which are lagging behind, complete this work?</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Kozlov:</strong> <span>Mr President, Bryansk and Arkhangelsk will be open until June 1, Kaluga by April, Vologda and Novocherkassk (from the last call we held on Tuesday) – this is September, and Mordovia too. Vologda, Novocherkassk and Krasnoslobodsk are still lagging behind – three objects that need to be completed by September, and the rest will be completed by the summer.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Please keep in touch with the regional authorities to continue this work. It is necessary to achieve the final result without fail. Then, when everything is complete, be sure to report back to me, okay?</span></p>
<p><strong>A. Kozlov:</strong> <span>Of course.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p>Maksut Igorevich, about the delivery of periodicals.</p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Shadaev:</strong> <span>Good afternoon!</span></p>
<p>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues!</p>
<p>Today, Russian Post delivers almost 7,000 periodicals by subscription. The number of publications that are delivered, if we take titles, has increased by 50 percent over the past 5 years. This is due to the fact that commercial subscription agencies have completely left the market, and now only Russian Post delivers newspapers and magazines by subscription. This is due to the overall unprofitability of this type of activity.</p>
<p>At the same time, Mr Putin, the total volume of print media delivered by subscription has decreased by 2 times in 5 years, if we count in copies. In 2019, we delivered almost 500 million newspapers and magazines by subscription, down to just 257 million last year. This is also due to the development of the Internet access infrastructure and the fact that high-speed Internet has come to rural areas.</p>
<p>The most popular federal subscription publications are Komsomolka, Argumenty I Fakty, Moskovsky Komsomolets, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, and in fifth place is the magazine Khozyaistvo for those who are engaged in gardening.</p>
<p>Leading subscription regions: Moscow is in the first place, Krasnodar Krai is in the second, and the Republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan share the third place.</p>
<p><span>A few words about the economy, because it is, frankly, very difficult. Tariffs for the delivery of periodical printed materials are not regulated, but since 2020, realizing the social significance of this information mechanism, they have grown slightly even below inflation.</span> <em><strong>That is, in general, the tariffs remain very affordable, despite the fact that the cost of the publications themselves, Mr Putin, has increased by 1.5–2, and sometimes even 4 times over this period.</strong></em></p>
<p>Additionally, Russian Post provides a 25 percent discount on delivery of so-called socially significant publications on your behalf. This applies to about every third edition, but if you count again in copies of delivered newspapers and magazines, then about 75 percent of newspapers and magazines are delivered with this discount – 25 percent.</p>
<p>At the same time, the basic tariff itself, even without a discount, is not economically justified, as indicated by the Federal Treasury following an audit of the Russian Post and gave an order to increase the tariff to economically justified.</p>
<p><em><strong>You have given instructions, Mr Putin, to maintain a preferential tariff for socially important publications according to the list determined by the Ministry of Digital Resources, according to the criteria set by the Government.</strong></em></p>
<p>We made changes in December last year to the Law "On Postal Communications". We did not have such powers, so now the Government has the authority to set criteria for classifying publications that are delivered at a discount, and the Ministry of Digital Development has the authority to approve the list of publications that will be delivered at a reduced rate. Accordingly, it is planned that in the second half of 2025 we will deliver publications at the new tariff.</p>
<p>We have certain disagreements here. "Russian Post" suggests raising the commercial tariff three times. We think that it is economically justified to raise the tariff for all non-socially significant users twice. This is precisely due to the fact that we have halved the volume of delivered copies, as I said, from 100 million to 250, and we cannot reduce the number of postmen, Mr Putin, because the postman does not care how many newspapers he has in his bag, he is obliged to deliver them within the standard time limit, respectively, at home, one newspaper, two. Therefore, this parameter is not compressible. Our effective mail carrier loading rate has just doubled in five years in terms of delivery. Therefore, it seems to us that the tariff can be raised twice.</p>
<p>We have provided funds in the federal budget for a preferential tariff, which will be at the level of the current preferential tariff plus inflation for federal publications, Mr Putin. At the same time, taking into account the limited capacity of the federal budget, we propose to subsidize the preferential delivery of regional and municipal publications at the expense of regional budgets. Moreover, as I have already said, subscription leaders are budget-supported regions. Well, it should be understood that the lion's share of regional municipal publications is directly produced with the support of regional budgets, this is usually a subsidized type of activity.</p>
<p>According to the law, we must approve the list by September 1. As I said, starting from the second half of the year, we propose to introduce a new subscription tariff policy for socially important publications.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Yes, Maksut Igorevich, in general, the approach is clear and correct. But we are talking about socially significant publications. This suggests that socially significant publications are not of a pronounced regional nature but are socially significant for the whole country. Therefore, for regions with good budget security, this is understandable, but if it concerns regions with weak budget security, then, of course, it will eventually come down to the fact that they will either raise their tariffs to the skies, or the distribution of these socially significant publications will simply stop.</span></p>
<p>I ask you, together with your colleagues from the Government and the Ministry of Finance, to look once again from this point of view, to look at those regions that will simply not be able to do this without federal assistance and will not be able to convey these publications to the reader. Take a look, please.</p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Shadaev:</strong> <span>Yes, Mr President, we will do it.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you.</span></p>
<p>Before we move on to the main issue – the results of medical examinations for children and adults in 2024–-before giving the floor to Tatyana Golikova, I want to return to where we started–-with assistance to citizens who live in the Kursk region and need special support from the state. The acting governor determined that this is how much, Alexander Yevseyevich?</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Khinshtein:</strong> <span>Mr President, there are 112,620 people at the moment.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Yes, 112,620 people. When we agreed that we will provide assistance to people in the amount of the average salary in the region, which is 65 thousand rubles, I mean all citizens of this category: these are pensioners, working people, non-working people, and children--</span><em><strong>each and every one of them gets 65 thousand rubles</strong></em><span>. Please proceed from this so that there is no misunderstanding. Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p>A word to Tatyana Golikova. I ask you to.</p>
<p><strong>Tatyana Golikova [Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation]:</strong> <span>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues, good afternoon!</span></p>
<p>Disease prevention is our priority. This is the basis of the national project "Healthcare", which was completed in 2024, and the new national project "Long and Active Life", which began on January 1.</p>
<p><span>The basis of prevention is medical examinations and preventive examinations as the main tools for early detection of diseases.</span> <em><strong>Every year, the Government decides to improve the quality and accessibility of medical examinations within the framework of the program of state guarantees of free assistance to citizens of the Russian Federation.</strong></em></p>
<p>What additional work has been done in previous years? The duty of the regions to ensure the passage of medical examinations or professional examinations in the shortest possible time, as well as in the evening hours and on Saturdays, plus remote recording is established. Also introduced is the obligation to publish on the websites of regions the list of medical organizations where you can pass a medical examination, the work schedules of such medical organizations.</p>
<p><span>For residents of remote regions of Russia, field work forms are organized.</span> <em><strong>Also, every year, including 2025, we increase the payment rate for medical services provided for preventive examinations and medical examinations.</strong></em></p>
<p>Control over the procedure for passing professional examinations and medical examinations, in accordance with the current legislation, is carried out by regions and territorial mandatory health insurance funds. However, despite the established obligations, not all regions and medical organizations fulfilled their obligations in 2024.</p>
<p>Last year, I sent relevant explanations to all the governors where we saw delays, asking them to take this work under their personal control. Our colleagues have worked on this topic, but, once again, not all regions have achieved the set indicators.</p>
<p>Now, as for the overall results of 2024. According to the regions, more than 82 million adults have passed medical examinations and professional examinations, of which 42.5 million are able-bodied people and 27 million are children. This is almost 75 percent of the population of the Russian Federation.</p>
<p>I would also like to emphasize that in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, 2.5 million people underwent medical examinations and professional examinations – which is 1.6 times more than in 2023.</p>
<p>But not only the fact of medical examination and professional examination is important, the results of further patient management are important if any deviations are detected. I'll give you one example.</p>
<p>In 2024, more than 630 thousand people with cancer were identified, and, most importantly, 60 percent are in the early stages. This means that we were able to provide timely medical assistance. We also record such statistics of early detection during medical examinations and professional examinations for other diseases. It is important that the saved lives of our citizens are behind these figures.</p>
<p>I would also like to note that starting from 2024, the state guarantee program for the first time provided for the opportunity for working citizens to undergo a medical examination at the workplace. This work began to unfold in 2024. At the end of the year, almost a million people underwent medical examinations at the workplace.</p>
<p>And it is very important to note such a new direction, which we are actively developing and which was continued in the new national project "Long and active life"—this is industrial medicine, sometimes it is also called "shop medicine". And here I would like to note the leadership positions of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, which, while supervising the relevant critical enterprises, actively develops relevant technologies, which it distributes not only to enterprises subordinate to the FMBA, but also to other enterprises, replicating the relevant best practices.</p>
<p>Another innovation that was made in 2024 and improved by us in 2025 is the medical examination of veterans participating in a special military operation on an extraordinary basis. We are building this work together with the State Fund "Defenders of the Fatherland". Last year, 33,000 people were treated for medical examinations of demobilized participants and veterans of the special military operation, 80 percent of them were taken for medical observation, 13.5 percent were sent for rehabilitation, and just over 1 percent of them received high-tech medical care.</p>
<p>This year, taking into account the experience of last year, the Government, within the framework of the program of state guarantees of free medical care for citizens for 2025, established a special procedure for conducting medical examinations for participants of a special military operation, including the procedure for bringing participants of a special military operation who live in remote settlements to a medical organization, and also the possibility to the participant of a special military operation, which, as we understand, is extremely important in the case of health restrictions.</p>
<p><em><strong>We also provided for informing the social protection bodies of the population by medical organizations in case a medical worker identifies a need for social services for a participant in a special military operation.</strong></em></p>
<p>Also, in accordance with your instructions, we organized a medical examination of participants and veterans of the Great Patriotic War in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory. But this does not mean that we will start it only this year. I would like to note that last year 147 thousand of our veterans and participants of the Great Patriotic War underwent such medical examinations.</p>
<p><span>Now a few words about children's professional examinations.</span> <em><strong>In 2024, the coverage of medical examinations of children was more than 97 percent.</strong></em> <span>Only among adolescents in 2024, diseases were detected in 200 thousand, 141 thousand adolescents were sent for treatment before the development of serious diseases. And of course, this allows us to prevent further development of the disease and provide timely assistance.</span></p>
<p><span>I would also like to note that since 2024, medical examinations of citizens aged 18-49 have been launched to assess their reproductive potential. I must say that over the past year,</span> <em><strong>7 million</strong></em> <span>of our citizens have undergone such medical examinations and such an assessment of their reproductive potential, including 2.6 million men and 4.1 million women. And also some other categories of other ages.</span></p>
<p><span>More than</span> <em><strong>230 thousand diseases</strong></em> <span>of the reproductive system affecting the ability to have children were identified. Appropriate treatment has been provided, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). 1,200 women who have received IVF have become pregnant, and we would like to wish them and their families a safe birth of the desired child.</span></p>
<p>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,</p>
<p>Special attention is paid to the topic of prevention, this is our agenda. But we also work with feedback, with citizens and note the following appeals of citizens on this topic, including to you on the "Direct Line". These are the duration of medical examinations, complaints about waiting lists in polyclinics, difficulties with making an appointment, and in some cases there are questions about the so-called postscripts.</p>
<p><em><strong>What do we do and intend to do next in this regard? At the end of 2024, you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, signed amendments to the Federal Law "On compulsory health Insurance". Now insurance medical organizations are required to inform insured persons about the possibility of passing a medical examination or professional examination, to help the citizen in passing a medical examination, including making an appointment with a doctor.</strong></em></p>
<p>In order to prevent attribution, in addition to the control measures carried out, citizens were provided with the opportunity to see through their personal account on the Unified Portal of Public Services when and at what time they were provided with appropriate medical care, and if this does not coincide with their data, then inform the relevant insurance medical organization or the territorial compulsory health insurance fund that received it.</p>
<p>Taking into account that currently 109 million personal accounts of our citizens are open on the Unified Portal of Public Services, we believe that citizens should use this opportunity more actively, and then we will be able to respond together in a timely manner to the shortcomings and problems that arise in this work.</p>
<p>We also plan to inform citizens about the results of medical examinations or professional examinations at the final stage through the same offices at the EPSU. Such suggestions are made. We believe that we will organize this work if during the medical examination or professional examination some serious diseases were not identified that require further in-depth examination or appropriate examinations by other narrow specialists.</p>
<p>Currently, the Ministry of Health and the Federal Compulsory Health Insurance Fund, together with the country's regions, are reviewing the relevant regional programs and territorial programs of state guarantees for their compliance with the innovations adopted by the Government of the Russian Federation from January 1, 2025. In this case, I appeal to the regions of the country to take all this into account in their ongoing work.</p>
<p>I would also like to draw your attention to another topic that we are working on and comments on which are also found as part of our feedback to citizens. We are talking about people with limited mobility, who often find it difficult to go to clinics and get to clinics. Therefore, we are now working together with our colleagues on the possibility of their hospitalization, short-term hospitalization in hospitals for two or three days, so that they can pass such a medical examination and, if necessary, receive inpatient care. Moreover, in some regions, inpatient beds are underutilized.</p>
<p><span>But it is also important to mention something else–-transport accessibility, because the availability of medical organizations does not always depend only on health care.</span> <em><strong>It also depends on how to get to the medical organization, which means that you need public transport routes within the region with the appropriate schedule. This is also important for our citizens.</strong></em></p>
<p>In conclusion, I would like to once again address the regions of the country. We are now at the beginning of the implementation of the national project "Long and active life", we will continue preventive examinations and medical examinations, we will involve health centers as much as possible in this work, restarting their work. We believe that the indicators for national goals on life expectancy and healthy life expectancy will be implemented if we work together.</p>
<p>Thanks for attention.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you very much. Very important work, I fully agree. It is only necessary that later, after identifying certain diseases, was the reaction. We have discussed this issue many times. As for oncology, you can see that the response is good, and the healthcare system is responding to it. Great. But we need to work to the maximum, of course, on other detected diseases as well.</span></p>
<p>I would like to listen to Stanislav S. Voskresensky, Governor of the Ivanovo region, who heads the State Council commission on "Long and active life".</p>
<p>Please, Stanislav Sergeevich.</p>
<p><strong>Sergey Voskresensky:</strong> <span>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear participants of the meeting,</span></p>
<p>In the regions, we understand the importance of the normal organization of timely health checks of our citizens. I will focus on several best practices in the regions that increase the convenience for our citizens, as Tatyana Alekseevna mentioned. Then literally three sentences.</p>
<p>First. Indeed, the regions actively use the practice of conducting medical examinations on a specially designated day, either in the evening or on Saturday. Here, the Government has adopted instructions on this issue, and they just need to be implemented.</p>
<p>Further. Along with informing the insurance organizations in a number of regions, agreements have been concluded with major insurance companies to ensure that a person, if for some reason it did not work out or it is inconvenient to make an appointment through a polyclinic or call center, can make an appointment for a medical examination through an insurance company. For example, the largest company Sogaz has signed such agreements with 14 regions.</p>
<p>Further. About on-site medical examinations, this is especially relevant for remote localities, especially in Siberia and the Far East. So–called "Health Trains" are being formed, trains in the literal sense, trains of Russian Railways, trains in the figurative sense--trains of mobile complexes, this is actively used. By the way, we agreed at the State Council commission site that insurance companies will inform residents of such remote localities in advance about the approach of such trains moving by rail, and the possibility of conducting medical examinations.</p>
<p>In addition, a number of regions are actually using the capabilities of so-called shop medicine. What's the point? When therapeutic areas are opened directly at the enterprise, and medical examinations are also carried out there. This is done not only by the FMBA, but also by the Russian regions themselves.</p>
<p>A number of regions use various kinds of incentives to attract citizens for medical examinations. For example, there is such a practice when, for example, a certificate required for obtaining a driver's license is issued free of charge during a medical examination. Such practices also exist, and we believe that it is possible to replicate them.</p>
<p>Now, just three sentences, if you'll excuse me.</p>
<p>First. The portal "Gosuslugi", as already mentioned, would be convenient for people and useful so that you can go through the initial survey on this portal and get a medical checkup itinerary. By the way, such solutions are implemented on a number of regional portals, for example in Moscow and the Moscow region.</p>
<p>Second. The final stage of medical examination was discussed. If a doctor's examination is carried out, tests are collected, it takes some time to get the results of these tests, the final procedure could be done in the form of a telemedicine consultation, so that you do not have to go. Indeed, someone could have done this by notifying the State Services, but someone still needs to talk to a doctor. In order not to go, if it is particularly far, it would be possible to provide for such a possibility.</p>
<p>The third. Many large companies, especially in the energy sector, provide medical examinations for their employees through voluntary health insurance, but this is not visible in the state health system.</p>
<p>It turns out that a person de facto passed a medical examination, took care of his health, but the polyclinic runs after him, asks that he pass a second medical examination. It turns out that if it is successful, then the money is spent twice. The company has already provided medical examinations, and the state is spending them for the second time. Therefore, it would be right to establish an information exchange between the state healthcare system and large companies on the subject of those people who actually passed the medical examination. These are three sentences.</p>
<p><span>In general,</span> <em><strong>we strongly ask you to step up the information campaign,</strong></em> <span>which doctors ask to notify people in the whole country that medical examinations are convenient, necessary and useful. Thanks for attention.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Good. Thank you very much, Stanislav Sergeevich.</span></p>
<p>I would ask Mikhail Kuznetsov to also say a few words on this topic, how it looks from the Popular Front, and then Tatyana Alekseevna to comment on what you think is important, what may already be being done, and how to respond to it.</p>
<p>Please, Mikhail Mikhailovich.</p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kuznetsov:</strong> <span>Mr President, thank you very much.</span></p>
<p>Under the leadership of Leonid Mikhailovich Roshal, the People's Front collects feedback from citizens on the quality of medical care. During the preparation process, we analyzed 2 thousand requests to your "Direct Line" and conducted a survey on 26 thousand patients of state polyclinics.</p>
<p>Several issues that have been identified.</p>
<p>The first is the inability to pass a medical examination at least two days in advance. We understand that it is not always possible to do this in one day, because laboratories open in the morning, but at least in two days. Despite the fact that the Labor legislation provides for one paid day off for medical examination. According to our survey, 14.5 percent of citizens do not come for medical examinations, because it takes several days.</p>
<p>Let me give you one example from your "Direct Line". The woman writes: "A message comes to me that I should undergo a medical examination. I took a week off, went to see a therapist on November 6, passed tests on the 7th, got an ECG on the 11th, got a cardiogram on my hands, said there was no one to decipher it. To the gynecologist recorded on November 25, on ultrasound according to indications on December 16". That's the story. Of course, this is quite difficult, and it is clear that there are difficulties: there are difficulties with the shortage of doctors, with different buildings, but it is still important to improve the quality of this work.</p>
<p>We suggest considering the possibility of improving the convenience of passing medical examinations, including using Saturdays. Tatyana Alekseevna has already said that such a fundamental decision has been made. It is clear that this will be done only by appointment, but if, indeed, a sufficient number of people have signed up for Saturday afternoon, it may be possible to provide such an opportunity for people.</p>
<p>The second problem is complaints about the formal nature of medical examinations. It just so happens that these are the most numerous requests to your "Direct Line", there are about 700 requests, and while we were conducting a survey, another 1800 people complained to us. The vector of criticism is that people say that it is not possible to conduct an extended blood test, especially cancer markers. Tatyana Alekseevna said that a lot is revealed, but people talk about it. In some cases, it is impossible to carry out medical examinations, such as ECG and fluorography.</p>
<p>Currently, 13.6 percent of citizens do not pass medical examinations and routine examinations, as, in their opinion, they do not include the necessary research. In other words, we can work on the depth of medical examinations here, and this will also encourage some of our people to come and pass it. We propose to provide for the possibility of adjustment taking into account the characteristics of human health. Yes, often a person knows that he has diabetes, he says: "Can I do this and that as part of a medical examination?" But formally, something doesn't work.</p>
<p>The third problem is insufficient feedback from medical institutions and doctors on the results of medical examinations. Tatyana Alekseevna suggested an option on Public Services. Indeed, it is often necessary to go to the therapist in addition, so that you are told that you are healthy. It's a day off again, it's time to take time off from work again. There are a number of regions, like Moscow, that simply send this data to the medical office, if everything is fine with you – you went in, read it. If this is implemented in Public Services, it will be great, and it will remove some of the complaints that we hear from people.</p>
<p><em><strong>The fourth problem is the lack of involvement of employers. In our country, 25 percent of citizens say that they do not get a day off from their employers, they are simply denied medical examinations. And 35 percent say they didn't even ask because they don't believe they'll get it.</strong></em> <span>That is, about half of our citizens either take a vacation or agree on something else, but</span> <em><strong>they do not receive this legal day off for medical examination.</strong></em> <span>We suggest that we also think about incentive measures for employers, and probably also about the discipline of compliance with the Labor Code, because, in general, this is a very important common task. And here the doctors themselves, absolutely for sure, cannot bring people to the clinic, they can work with the quality of medical examinations.</span></p>
<p>And finally, the last, fifth problem, Tatyana Alekseevna also stopped there, is the postscript in the volume of medical examinations. Planned indicators that are communicated to healthcare institutions cannot be met by the efforts of the Ministry of Health alone. I won't mention the figures, because they are expert in nature and vary from region to region, but the fact that there is a problem is confirmed by everyone: the healthcare vertical, doctors, and patients. Not only do we push doctors to violate the law by overestimating the indicators, because they formally put a person who did not come, and funds are transferred from the compulsory health insurance, but we also really cause amazement among citizens who learn about the passage of an imaginary medical examination. Now you can order this service on Public Services, sorry for the tautology, and it will tell you what medical services you received.</p>
<p>I will allow myself to give another short example from your "Direct Line" that a woman writes to us. "The hospital itself makes an appointment, as if we are undergoing a medical examination, but we have not actually been to the clinic and do not know about it. In the State Services comes that we have an appointment with a doctor, make a cancellation for an appointment, they write it down retroactively. Many complain, and the WHO is still there." That is, we still have this problem.</p>
<p>We suggest setting realistic indicators for regions, removing post-entries, and taking into account the positive dynamics here. And also here is what Tatyana Alekseevna said, it is very important if you do not order this option in Public Services, but you will receive a message that you have passed a medical examination, and there will also be a check mark: "I didn't pass it." And then we will try to fight it digitally.</p>
<p>Mr Putin, we are ready to conduct a second survey in six months or several months, and if the situation does not change, then we can probably apply to the supervisory authorities. But not before, so that doctors do not suffer, they are definitely not to blame for the fact that they are brought to the indicators that they cannot fulfill. Thank you so much for your attention. I finished my report.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you.</span></p>
<p>Tatiana Alekseevna, please.</p>
<p><strong>Tatyana Golikova:</strong> <span>Thank you, Mr President.</span></p>
<p>Thank you, dear colleagues.</p>
<p>Once again, I would like to draw your attention to the implementation by the regions and all participants in this process of the changes in the Program of state guarantees of free medical care for citizens that we accept.</p>
<p>I mentioned in my speech that last year I had to send corresponding letters to the heads of regions in order for them to monitor the situation with the implementation of the measures taken at the Government level.</p>
<p>I don't want to name the regions, but unfortunately, in some regions this was not accepted. Only after my letter, the relevant work was carried out. In this case, I am talking about working in the evening and on weekends, on Saturdays, and about the availability of information that colleagues post on relevant information resources. We carry out this work and control.</p>
<p>In addition, I would like to emphasize once again what Stanislav Sergeyevich said about medical examinations and professional examinations at industrial enterprises. We have tried to bring the possibilities of passing medical examinations as close as possible to industrial enterprises and the possibility of placing appropriate offices at the industrial enterprises themselves with the appropriate payment.</p>
<p>As I have already said, we started to expand this work in 2024 and we hope that 2025 will make its most serious contribution to this direction from the point of view of the working-age population.</p>
<p>We support the topic that is related to the possibility of passing medical examinations in a mobile way. As you probably all know, dear colleagues, Mr Putin, your instructions were given regarding the possibility of organizing a corresponding train called Saint Panteleimon at Russian Railways, and our colleagues have done this work. Now we are completing a topic that is related to the mechanism of payment for medical care during such mobile medical examinations.</p>
<p>As for the transfer of data to state systems, if citizens are insured under voluntary health insurance, I would like to draw your attention to the following. We don't spend any extra money here. If there are such cases, please tell us about them. Why? Because citizens are insured, and we have data that a citizen is insured.</p>
<p>Accordingly, an insurance company will never pay for an additional medical examination if such a medical examination has already been paid for. And after the amendments to the legislation, which I mentioned in my speech, this will also be taken under special control.</p>
<p>Mikhail Mikhailovich gave examples of failure or desire, on the contrary, to pass separate examinations by individual citizens and their unwillingness to come to a medical examination, if such examinations are not provided.</p>
<p>I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have our own standard for conducting preventive examinations and medical examinations, and in case of deviations or in case of any suspicions about the need for in-depth medical examinations, such referrals are issued by medical organizations. Here we give priority first of all, of course, to the doctor, because the doctor determines what additional examinations need to be performed.</p>
<p>As for not the first identified chronic diseases, for example, such as diabetes, it is surprising that such a topic was raised. We will deal with all these data, because patients suffering from diabetes are registered, since they are provided with both preferential drug provision and medical devices. Therefore, they are registered in all regions.</p>
<p>Indeed, there is a theme of separate days of referral to narrow specialists, when it is necessary. I believe that the opportunities that Public services provide us can be effectively used, and we will definitely work on this topic with our colleagues. The Ministry of Health is already working on this topic as part of our new project "Long and active Life", as we are implementing a project to create a digital platform in the healthcare sector on your behalf.</p>
<p>As for incentive measures for employers. I do not know, but I am cautious about this, Mr Putin, because we have provided the greatest possible opportunities for employers to organize this work on medical examinations and preventive examinations, including paying the appropriate tariff and so on. And in this sense, I would like to say that employers themselves should also be interested in ensuring that their employees are healthy, and then they will have fewer problems in terms of sick leave, first of all.</p>
<p>By postscript. And I have stopped, and Mikhail Mikhailovich said about it – - my colleagues and I will work on this topic together. As for specific cases, we are working on specific cases, including those that you received on the "Direct Line". Our colleagues transmit this information to us in stages, and we work on it individually. And here we are systematically united in terms of organizing accounting through the portal of Public services.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p>We, colleagues, all understand that this work–-the work on medical examinations and the subsequent reaction to the results of this medical examination--is a very large-scale work. It is large, multi-faceted, and requires a lot of effort on the part of the federal authorities, regional authorities, and the business community. And, of course, there are some issues that we should pay special attention to. That is why I, Tatyana Alekseevna, would very much like you to look at what was said both by representatives of the regions, in this case by Voskresensky, and by Mikhail Mikhailovich. You just need to analyze whether something is actually working, and it is impossible or even impractical to correct it. You just need to consistently implement the measures that are already being implemented, but you need to pay attention to something. I have a request for you: Please estimate all this that we have discussed today and submit your vision to me in the near future. Ok? So that in the future we can be sure that this work is carried out at a qualitatively high level, because in general, the results are good and the return is good.</p>
<p>As for the duration and quality of life. Much also depends on how we set up this work to achieve these parameters, including in terms of life expectancy.</p>
<p>In conclusion, I would like to ask the Acting Governor of the Kursk Region, together with the Government, not only to inform the people of our decision and funds, respectively, and then report to me about it, but also to think that by the time the enemy is expelled from certain areas of the Kursk region, it will be necessary to prepare a program for the restoration of the affected areas.</p>
<p><em><strong>It is necessary to provide support from the Government in the implementation of issues related to the complex for the restoration of social facilities, roads, and other infrastructure, including transport, industrial, and agricultural enterprises, to provide support to affected businesses, and so on.</strong></em></p>
<p>This program, at least the main parameters of this program, should be prepared in the near future, so that we understand what we will have to do in certain areas after the necessary conditions are created from the point of view of ensuring security.</p>
<p>Thank you all very much. Good luck. [My Emphasis]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yet again we are provided with more evidence that the Russian government has a much higher level of both concern and care for its citizens than most governments. The amount of environmental clean-up is astounding yet also tells us how badly polluted Russia was, which has contributed to the priority of medical provisions, not just facilities and research institutions but campaigns to motivate the public to complete a thorough medical examination. I must confess to still being confused about the Russian healthcare system, particularly its insurance aspects. Yet clearly Russia has some innovations like clinics at large industrial concerns and paid day off for medical appointments.</p>
<p>The utter idiocy of the Baltic states and celebration of that idiocy by the EU Dictatorship when they shut their connection to the Russian grid is simply amazing. That action has caused more than the pulp mill to shut down or greatly curtail operations because power costs doubled at minimum, and this is within a group of nations facing economic depression and demographic decay. The dementia that’s Russophobia within Europe was on full display over that last week, and for a rather large proportion ending the conflict in Ukraine won’t provide any sort of cure.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>*</p>
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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/at-st-petersburg-putin-talks-to-media
title: At St. Petersburg Putin Talks to Media and Praises His Late Mentor
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<p>Laying flowers at the monument to Anatoly Sobchak. His widow, Lyudmila Narusova, stands behind in the long fur coat.</p>
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<p>Cornered by media at Radar MMS research and production enterprise, which specialises in the development of homing systems for high-precision weapons, radar systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles for military and civilian purposes. Putin awarded the staff the Order of Alexander Nevsky for its contributions to Russia’s national defense.</p>
<p><span>While visiting a vital national security industrial facility and paying homage to his first political mentor in St. Petersburg today, Putin was caught by Russian media while in public and</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76288" rel>asked about the talks</a> <span>in Saudi Arabia. Putin also gave a speech at a concert honoring his mentor Anatoly Sobchack who certainly made an impression on a younger Vladamir Putin. First the media then his speech:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Interfax News Agency. Everyone is interested in the outcome of the talks in Riyadh. I'm sure you've already been informed. How do you rate them? Are there any positive results, so to speak, from these negotiations?</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Yes, I was informed. First. Second, I rate them highly, and the result is there.</span></p>
<p><span>The first thing I would like to say is that we have agreed to resume the normal work of our diplomatic departments. Constant expulsions of diplomats from both Washington and Moscow do not lead to anything good.</span> <em><strong>If things go on like this, we will have only one cleaning lady working in these buildings, whose work should also be appreciated, but this is not what diplomatic missions are created for</strong></em><span>. This is the first one.</span></p>
<p>Second. In my opinion, we have taken the first step to resume work in various areas of mutual interest. This includes the Middle East in the broadest sense of the word, including our presence so far in Syria, the Palestinian-Israeli settlement, and so on. There are a lot of issues in which both the United States and the Russian Federation are involved despite the fact that, of course, we pay primary attention to the situation related to the Ukrainian direction.</p>
<p>But we also have other issues: the economy and our joint work in the global energy markets. So, in general... yes, space, of course, because, despite all the problems of the previous three years, we continue to work in space, and both American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts work on the ISS. The work continues, and the prospects are good. All this was discussed and discussed at the meeting in Riyadh. The rating is positive.</p>
<p>And in general, as I was told, they were very friendly. As our participants told me, they were completely different people from the American side, who were open to the negotiation process without any bias, without any condemnation of what was done in the past-–in any case, there was nothing like this in bilateral contacts—determined to work together, open to joint work.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>But just the Europeans are agitated, everyone is almost in a panic, that they do not participate in the negotiations in any way, and the same mood among Ukrainian leaders. Everyone wants to have the right to vote. What to do with them all?</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>What is the right to vote? As I said just now,</span> <em><strong>the goal and subject of our talks was to restore Russian-American relations.</strong></em> <span>Does anyone want to mediate between Russia and the United States? These are probably redundant requirements.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>And the most important thing here, in resolving all the very acute issues, including the Ukrainian settlement, is that without increasing the level of trust between Russia and the United States, it is impossible to resolve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis. The purpose of this meeting was precisely to increase trust between Russia and the United States.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>As for the other participants, first of all, Russia has never renounced contacts with Europeans. Russia has never abandoned the negotiation process with Ukraine, never.</span> <em><strong>It is our, so to say, partners in these negotiations who refused.</strong></em> <span>The Europeans stopped contacts with Russia, and the Ukrainian side forbade itself to conduct negotiations, withdrew from the negotiation process in Istanbul, directly and publicly announcing this. Well, we don't impose anything on anyone. We are ready, I have already said it a hundred times: if they want to, please let them conduct these negotiations, and we will be ready to return to the negotiating table.</span></p>
<p><span>As for Euro-Atlantic relations, we do not interfere here. We do not speculate on all the issues that arise between the United States and its allies.</span> <em><strong>But if we talk about these allies, they are to blame for what is happening now.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Trump has been accused at one time of having a special relationship with Russia and that Russia interfered in the election when he won his last term as president. They created a team, dragged him through the courts, even created a special commission in Congress. Nothing was confirmed–-</span><em><strong>and it couldn't be confirmed, because it never happened</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>And what have we just seen in the course of this election campaign?</span> <em><strong>All European leaders, without exception, actually directly interfered in the US election process. It came down to direct insults of one of the candidates.</strong></em> <span>We, for our part–-of course, it was clear to whom we sympathized–-but we did not allow ourselves to interfere, and certainly did not allow any harsh statements or offensive attacks against any of the candidates. We just didn't do it. And the Europeans did.</span></p>
<p>In general, to be honest, I am surprised at the restraint of the newly elected President of the United States Trump in relation to his allies, who behaved in a similar, frankly, boorish way. After all, he still behaves quite intelligently in relation to them.</p>
<p>But they don't shut themselves out. After all, if we are talking about the Ukrainian settlement, the United States is working with its European allies. Mr. Kellogg, as far as I know, is currently in Kiev, right? Before that, he met with Europeans. Now the President of France is going to Washington, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Nothing is closed there, the Americans are discussing all this with them.</p>
<p>But we have, for example, such a question as the extension of START-3. Everyone has probably forgotten, but I will remind you that exactly one year later, in February 2026, the Treaty on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms ends. Do they want to sit here at the negotiating table and mediate between Russia and the United States? Probably not. But why get hysterical here? Hysteria is inappropriate.</p>
<p>As for the negotiation process, President Trump told me during a telephone conversation, and I can confirm that, of course, the United States assumes that the negotiation process will take place with the participation of both Russia and Ukraine. No one excludes Ukraine from this process.</p>
<p><em><strong>Therefore, there is no reason for such a reaction to the Russian-American meeting.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>There seems to be more [US Secretary of State] Rubio promised to keep European allies informed.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Yes, we know, we see. But we, for our part, will inform our BRICS friends without any doubts. We know their interest in resolving Russian-Ukrainian relations, in resolving this crisis, and in ending hostilities. We treat their proposals with respect, as I have repeatedly said, and</span> <em><strong>we will inform them about the results of the Russian-American talks in the very near future.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>And when do you meet with Putin... excuse me, [when] do you meet with Trump?</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I meet with him [Putin] every day, I look in the mirror. (Laughter.)</span></p>
<p>You know, it has to be prepared. I'd love to meet Donald, we haven't seen each other in a very long time. We don't have any close relations with him, but still, in previous years, during the four years of work when he was President, we met and discussed our interstate relations very evenly. I will be happy to meet him again today. I think he did, too, as was evident from the nature of our phone conversation.</p>
<p><em><strong>But we are in such a situation that it is not enough to meet, just to have tea, coffee, sit down, talk about the future. We need to ensure that our teams prepare issues that are extremely important for both the United States and Russia, including, not only, but also on the Ukrainian track, in order to reach solutions that are acceptable to both sides. And this, of course, is not an easy task.</strong></em></p>
<p>I've already talked about this. When Mr. Trump was a candidate for President of the United States, he talked about the terms, rather short terms of resolving, say, the Ukrainian crisis. But after he began to receive information from the security services and so on, as the President-elect, he changed his position, he said: yes, it will take six months.</p>
<p><span>Now we won't talk about the timing, but it's natural, by the way, absolutely natural, there is nothing special here. He just started getting information, objective information, and this information changed his approach. So it takes some time.</span> <em><strong>How long it will take, I am not ready to answer right now, but we have a desire to hold such a meeting, and I would like to hold this meeting. But, I repeat once again, it is necessary to prepare it so that there is a result.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We have many areas of cooperation, as I have already said.</span> <em><strong>This includes strategic stability, the Middle East in the broadest sense of the word, and economic cooperation, primarily in the energy sector.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>You know, I still remember our</span> <a href="https://translated.turbopages.org/proxy_u/ru-en.en.ebc8bf73-67b65b7f-c4539019-74722d776562/kremlin.ru/events/president/news/63190" rel>three-person conversation on</a> <span>the phone: I, your humble servant, participated, US President Trump and the King of Saudi Arabia. The three of us talked on the phone, discussing issues of the global energy market. These issues and discussions in this format are still in demand today.</span></p>
<p>By the way, I would like to sincerely thank the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the King of Saudi Arabia, and the Crown Prince for not only graciously providing a platform in Riyadh for high-level meetings between Russia and the United States but also creating a very friendly environment.</p>
<p>I think that in the next couple of days–-impossible today, since I am on a trip to St. Petersburg--I will definitely call the Crown Prince and personally thank him for this assistance.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Let me clarify the dynamics of SVR. Despite the negotiations, the special military operation continues. What news is coming from the front lines now?</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>You know them, the war correspondents, your colleagues, people who are extremely well-informed, courageous, frankly speaking, heroically carry out their mission, fulfill their duty–-both civil and professional-–and objectively inform the public of Russia, and the whole world, about what is happening on the line of contact.</span></p>
<p>The most recent information that was reported to me just an hour ago: Last night, soldiers of the 810th brigade crossed the border of the Russian Federation and Ukraine and entered the territory of the enemy. And our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>The drone attack on an oil station in the Krasnodar Territory–-can this be Zelensky's response to the positive relations that are now gradually developing between Russia and America, to the process?</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I do not know this, and it is difficult for me to give estimates of what happened, but it happened, it happened, and, of course, it is necessary to explain it somehow. There are many questions that arise here and it is very difficult to answer them right now.</span></p>
<p>But first, I may say an unexpected thing, but nevertheless, after all, attacks of this kind are impossible without space intelligence, and Ukraine receives high-precision space intelligence data on objects of destruction, in relation to objects of destruction, only from its Western allies. And who exactly gave this data, provided satellite images on the objects of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, I don't know now, but I can tell you with full justification that the Ukrainian armed forces are not able to do this on their own. They do not have the appropriate space satellite groupings. This is the first one.</p>
<p><span>The second is that there were no Russian air defense systems at this facility, and there are still no Russian air defense systems. And it is clear why: because we proceeded from the fact that it cannot be an object of attack-–</span><em><strong>this is, strictly speaking, not a Russian object</strong></em><span>, but an object of international energy infrastructure. The shareholders of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium are American companies (Chevron, I think), European companies (including Eni), and Russian companies such as Lukoil.</span></p>
<p>We even get five kopecks for this transit, figuratively speaking. This doesn't make any economic sense for us. We simply provide a service to our Kazakhstani friends and those partners who work in Kazakhstan. And the oil that is produced, we can generally say, because it is produced under the PSA, the production sharing agreement, is actually the property of the companies that produce it, in this case, American companies, European companies. This, of course, is not a critical volume, but still a noticeable volume on world markets.</p>
<p><span>And, of course, the defeat of such an object–-six drones were used in the attack—affects, will affect the global energy markets, primarily because, unfortunately, it is impossible to quickly restore this object.</span> <em><strong>And it is impossible to restore it quickly due to the fact that mostly Western equipment is present there, and Western equipment has suffered</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>By the way,</span> <em><strong>I have just been told that the Europeans have extended sanctions against Russia, including specifically the impossibility of supplying us with Western equipment in the field of oil and gas production.</strong></em> <span>What does it mean? This means that two days ago the Ukrainian armed forces launched a strike, and two days later the Europeans announced that it was impossible to repair this station, because the main equipment there is of European production, including the German company Siemens. If this equipment arrived tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, then even then it would take one and a half to two months.</span> <em><strong>Now what does that mean? That it will not be delivered at all.</strong></em></p>
<p>Of course, if you look at it purely formally, it looks like some kind of coordinated action. But I don't want to believe it. I think it's random. It's just that the Europeans go their own way and don't pay attention to what's happening. But technically, if you look at what's going on, it looks like some kind of coordination.</p>
<p>Why do they need it? Unclear. Because this leads to consistently high energy prices on world markets, which consumers of energy resources, such as European companies, are certainly not interested in.</p>
<p>By the way, the current Administration has also repeatedly announced that it is striving to stabilize or even lower energy prices. But actions of this kind, of course, are directly opposite to achieving the goals that the American Administration sets for itself.</p>
<p>I know that yesterday the consortium members held a meeting on all these problems that have arisen, and they decide for themselves what to do next. I repeat, this is not so much our problem as the problem of foreign investors and foreign CPC participants. [My Emphasis]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Well, there you have it. The meeting was only about Russian-US relations and not specifically about anyone or anything else; so, the hysterical meltdown by Europeans was unwarranted yet gave away their feelings about the entire process—they want the war to continue so more Ukrainians and Russians can die.</p>
<p><span>Now we move to</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76290" rel>the speech</a> <span>Putin gave prior to a memorial concert performed to honor the Late Mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak where Putin will tell us about the relationship he had with the man who IMO was his mentor:</span></p>
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<p>The word next to Sobchak’s image is Remembering.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Dear friends,</span></p>
<p>We have gathered today to honor the memory of Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak.</p>
<p>He became the first mayor of St. Petersburg at the peak of his all-Union and truly national fame. This is exactly how bright and unusual he was for his university colleagues and, of course, for us, for his students, among whom I was also.</p>
<p><span>As a professor, teacher, and high-class lawyer, he won the election and literally broke into politics. Having become a People's Deputy of the USSR, he immediately declared himself a brilliant speaker and educator throughout the country.</span> <em><strong>A strong supporter of such values as the power and culture of law, justice and human dignity.</strong></em> <span>As a legislator who proposed not just draft legal norms, but ideas and approaches that were expected in society and demanded by time.</span></p>
<p>Sobchak, during his parliamentary career, gained a huge reputation as a responsible politician on a national, then-union scale. It is no exaggeration to say that he was among those who laid the very foundations of modern Russia. And as mayor, he thought just as big, deep and meaningful. I can say this for sure, because I witnessed how he thought, how he talked, what he talked about. He was able to infect others with his ideas and projects.</p>
<p><em><strong>You know, I spent a lot of time with him,</strong></em> <span>including during the election events of the Union, on a large scale. It was a very difficult time. Many of those present here in the hall, of course, remember this.</span> <em><strong>You know, I traveled with him then to the regions</strong></em> <span>of Russia during various election events of a national nature and significance. Sometimes I thought: why are we coming here? We can't expect anything good here. And when we entered the hall, I thought to myself: "I'm right." Because as soon as he appeared in the hall, the hall was buzzing, to be honest. And he came out to applause. It was amazing. He was A very talented orator, a talented person.</span></p>
<p><span>And why did this happen? I think so: in addition to the fact that he was talented,</span> <em><strong>he knew how to infect with himself, with his ideas.</strong></em> <em><strong>He spoke from the heart, spoke as he thought. And this is always met with trust from the audience. He himself firmly believed in what he said and proposed, in what he defended.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>The Sobchak era is undoubtedly a time of very great upheavals for the country and for himself. Anatoly Alexandrovich took the collapse of the Soviet Union with pain, very hard.</span> <em><strong>I can share with you such things that I know only he knew.</strong></em> <span>But today, on his memorial day I will tell you. I remember I was in Smolny, at work, he came from Moscow. He sat down, threw some papers, looked somewhere in the distance, and then said: "Why are they doing this?"</span></p>
<p><span>I will not comment further now, but I repeat, many of those present here in the hall understand what was being discussed then.</span> <em><strong>Yes, our left-wing political spectrum, to put it mildly, did not like him, because he was a great critic of the Communist Party and everything that was connected with it. But, I will say more about this, he was a statist. He never advocated the destruction of our former common Fatherland. Never</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>And his phrase, in my opinion, has already become famous.</span> <em><strong>With regard to the power elites of some republics of the former Soviet Union, he said so, and publicly: if you want to leave the Soviet Union, leave with what you came to Russia with. And it sounds prophetic today. This lesson of Sobchak could warn all of us against many tragedies and losses.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>You know,</span> <em><strong>when else will I have the opportunity to tell you.</strong></em> <span>Maybe as I said, this is well known. He was constantly in conflict with representatives of the Communist Party, and our views here did not always coincide and do not coincide now. But that is not important;</span> <em><strong>what is important is how he treated history, some of the foundations of our statehood.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>I remember that I was also in the office, Bella Alekseevna Kurkova came, put a piece of granite on his desk, said: "Look, revolution, we in Moscow have demolished a monument to Dzerzhinsky." Anatoly Alexandrovich took this piece, looked at it and said:</span> <em><strong>A revolution is good, but monuments should not be broken.</strong></em> <span>I am honest, believe me, I was surprised, I am absolutely sure, just surprised, because I knew his mood–-if not anti-communist, then such, you know, with criticism of this political spectrum.</span> <em><strong>And suddenly–-such things, such words. It was unexpected for me.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak was certainly a statesman by nature, education, and legal beliefs. As I have already said,</span> <em><strong>he put the importance of sovereignty and unity of the country on a par with the values of democracy and human rights and never deviated from these views</strong></em><span>. He was a straightforward, honest and decent person.</span></p>
<p>He had to solve a variety of issues, including many urgent, current, economic, daily, literally in manual mode, dealing with the life support of St. Petersburg. He paid a lot of attention to this. He had to deal with a wave of problems - both left over from the old time and new ones, when many had to be created from scratch.</p>
<p>I have heard the opinion that the intelligent Professor Sobchak was not up to it. I do not agree with this point of view, because I worked next to him and saw how he coped with extremely complex, current, it would seem, technical tasks.</p>
<p>Of course, he was not a specialist in the municipal economy. Here are my current and former colleagues who, together with Anatoly Alexandrovich, worked, one was engaged in economics, the other was engaged in property and finance. Of course, the first person does not fit into every paragraph of the decisions made, and it is not necessary, but he, when necessary, immersed himself in problems and solved them with his usual glitter. Although it was impossible to solve everything, it was just that the conditions were completely different. And today it is difficult, but not to compare with the situation in which both the city and the whole country found themselves at the time when he headed a five-million metropolis.</p>
<p>He defended the principles of a professional approach to solving any problems, fought and won, showed will, courage and determination. If it was necessary for the city and people, he argued with the highest officials, gave his arguments and convinced them of the correctness of his position, achieved the implementation of large projects, the necessary funding, and support for the federal center, as they say now.</p>
<p>He perceived the post of mayor not just as an administrative position, but looked more broadly, looked to the future. The city developed and was reborn as open and modern, as a real cultural and historical capital of Russia.</p>
<p>Sobchak was the initiator of returning the city to its historical name and did everything possible to return not just the name, but also the glory of St. Petersburg. Only under Sobchak could all this become a reality.</p>
<p>Anatoly Alexandrovich was very fond of his city of ours, and as mayor he was organic, consonant with St. Petersburg, and invested his talent, intelligence, and exuberant energy in its development.</p>
<p>Yes, he has also experienced some difficult times here. He survived both betrayal and slander. But he never responded in kind to anyone, never stooped to it. Always kept the height of nobility and dignity. This is how we will remember him.</p>
<p>Thank you. [My Emphasis]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I suggest watching the 11-minute video even if you understand zero Russian. And for those whose Russian is rusty, Putin’s delivery is very easy to follow. Of course, the audience and concert hall also provide additions. And having just read the speech, it’s possible to match the text to the audio and Putin’s body language. In the text above, I’ve provided emphasis for those traits Putin ascribes to Sobchak that we now also see in Putin. I recall Sobchak and the extremely turbulent 1990s in Russia for I was following events there as closely as I could at the time—a chore that’s much easier today. 19 February 2000 is the day he passed, his death aroused great controversy. He was one of the authors of Russia’s current constitution. He’d be 87 today.</p>
<p><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><em><span>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a</span> <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> <span>to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</span></em></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/jetsetter-lavrov-addresses-government
title: Jetsetter Lavrov Addresses Government Hour Before Going to G-20
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/jetsetter-lavrov-addresses-government
hash: �䲥M �X�G��nC�
content:
<h3 data-sanitized-class="subtitle">Long Report</h3><div dir="auto" data-sanitized-class="body markup">
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<p><span>Government Hour is an annual report delivered to the Duma about Russia’s foreign policy activities for their information so they can more easily communicate with their constituents when asked questions about those policies.</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998634/" rel>The report</a> <span>isn’t short at almost 80-minutes as it includes a Q&amp;A session with the Deputies. So, let’s get busy:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Dear Vyacheslav Viktorovich,</p>
<p>Dear Colleagues,</p>
<p><span>I am glad to have another opportunity to address the</span> <a href="http://duma.gov.ru/" rel>State Duma</a> <span>deputies as part of the Government Hour.</span></p>
<p>I would like to emphasise that we value the professional, friendly relations established between diplomats and legislators, which allow us to fruitfully exchange views on the issues that the Foreign Ministry deals with. It is a great benefit for us that you regularly communicate with your voters and discover what foreign policy topics concern them.</p>
<p><span>The main task of our diplomatic service has been and remains, as enshrined in all versions of the</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/detail-material-page/1860586/" rel>Foreign Policy Concept</a> <span>(including the latest one of March 31, 2023),</span> <em><strong>to promote the creation of safe and favourable external conditions to ensure the progressive development of our country, its economic and technological sovereignty, and the improvement of the well-being and quality of life of Russians.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1994990/" rel>began</a> <span>discussing all pressing issues with the State Duma deputies on February 6 of this year, and I was invited to a joint meeting of the three committees. In an informal manner, we compared notes in detail on certain aspects of foreign policy and the international situation. Today, we will continue with the full State Duma as part of the Government Hour.</span></p>
<p>I would also like to note that we have prepared and submitted to the State Duma a voluminous collection of our answers to numerous questions from various factions and committees, in addition to those that will be heard here.</p>
<p><span>I will not talk at length about how we are acting in the international arena. President Vladimir Putin has set us tasks. He repeatedly and in detail set them out at the recent</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/75909" rel>big news conference on the results of the year,</a> <span>including in numerous of his interviews.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>The key movement at the current stage remains the movement towards a multipolar world order.</strong></em> <span>This is a historic process associated with objective trends in the emergence of new centres of power on the world map from among the countries of the World Majority. Many of them are achieving impressive success in various fields, primarily in the economic and social spheres. They are pursuing a nationally oriented foreign policy and are taking on more and more responsibility for the state of affairs in their regions.</span></p>
<p><span>Our partners in the Global South and East represent distinctive civilisations, cultures and religions, and are members of a variety of integration associations.</span> <em><strong>All of them are united by the desire for progressive peaceful development without external dictates and pressure.</strong></em> <em><strong>Like us, they stand for the democratisation of international life and respect for the natural right of peoples to determine their own destiny.</strong></em> <span>A community of such states is being formed on the world stage, which is manifested in the strengthening of cooperation mechanisms such as</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/" rel>BRICS</a> <span>and</span> <a href="https://rus.sectsco.org/" rel>the SCO.</a> <span>Of course, this is a positive trend.</span></p>
<p><span>At the same time, we note that the countries of the "collective West",</span> <em><strong>although they have begun to agree with multipolar realities in words, in fact still strive to secure a privileged position for themselves and preserve the remnants of their former dominance.</strong></em> <span>The West is not yet ready to consider and apply the principles</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/about-us/un-charter/full-text" rel>of the UN Charter</a> <span>in their entirety and interconnection. They interpret this basic document of international law purely selectively, pulling out the "element" they need at the moment in history and ignoring the rest. For example, in the case of Ukraine, they emphasize respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. At the same time, they push into the background such cornerstone principles of the UN Charter as the right of peoples to self-determination and the need to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.</span> <em><strong>By the way, it was these fundamental provisions that the colonialists trampled upon. And the neo-Nazi Kiev regime has never complied with the connivance of its external patrons.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We have no doubt who holds the future in international affairs.</span> <em><strong>There is an objectively formed rift, where on one side is the progressive world majority, and on the other is the "collective West", which, as you can now see every day, cannot close its ranks and abandon these selfish habits that guided it over the past five centuries, when it ruled the whole world.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We are convinced that there can be no reasonable alternative to our foreign policy course, which was approved by President Vladimir Putin. It is based on national interests. Russia has always been and remains open to equal and respectful cooperation with all those who are ready to work with us on the basis of an honest balance of interests, be it in security, politics, the economy, culture or people-to-people contacts. We will always be ready to talk</span> <em><strong>with mutual respect</strong></em> <span>with any country.</span></p>
<p><span>Among our regional priorities is strengthening the "belt of good-neighbourliness" through consistent integration with the countries of the near abroad, our neighbours, and maintaining stability in Greater Eurasia. We are addressing this task both on a bilateral basis with the relevant states and within the framework of such structures as the</span> <a href="https://odkb-csto.org/" rel>CSTO</a><span>,</span> <a href="https://e-cis.info/" rel>the CIS</a><span>, the</span> <a href="https://eec.eaeunion.org/" rel>EAEU</a><span>, the</span> <a href="https://rus.sectsco.org/" rel>SCO</a> <span>and other multilateral structures. Another important format that covers our relations with partners in Central Asia is the 5+1. This includes the forum of the Caspian Sea littoral states. And the Caspian Five, which includes Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, is in the same row.</span></p>
<p><em><strong><span>On June 14, 2024, President Vladimir Putin,</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1957107/" rel>speaking</a> <span>at the Foreign Ministry, put forward a strategic initiative to create a Eurasian security architecture to replace the bankrupt Euro-Atlantic model. The Eurasian architecture will be open to all states of the entire continent, including its European part.</span></strong></em></p>
<p><span>We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of a common continent. The largest, most populous and, probably, the most promising in terms of economic development. In Africa, there is the African Union, which unites all African countries, in Latin America there is the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, but in Eurasia there is no such organisation. There is the OSCE, which is built on the basis of the Euro-Atlantic concept, and there are numerous sub-regional organisations (which I have already listed). ASEAN, the GCC, and there are many associations,</span> <em><strong>but there is no single forum. Therefore, we will promote the concept that President of Russia Vladimir Putin has mentioned.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We have already begun this work. We have signed agreements with our neighbours and are developing ties with their associations. In this regard, I would like to mention the</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/international_contracts/international_contracts/2_contract/62699/" rel>Interstate Treaty on Security Guarantees between Russia and Belarus</a> <span>and the</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/international_contracts/international_contracts/2_contract/62546/" rel>Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the DPRK</a><span>. Our cooperation in the military-political multilateral associations, such as the CSTO, the SCO and all constructively-minded Eurasian states, is in the same vein. We will always be happy to see them.</span></p>
<p><span>Recently, we signed</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/supplement/6258" rel>a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with Iran</a><span>. Together with our Belarusian friends, who have been convening a conference on Eurasian security in Minsk for two years in a row, we have prepared a draft "</span><a href="https://mid.ru/ru/maps/by/1984612/" rel>Eurasian Charter, Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century</a><span>", which should lay the normative foundation for a new geopolitical reality on our continent. And at the next, third Minsk Conference on European Security, this document will be presented.</span></p>
<p>As for the country areas, I mentioned Belarus–-this is our priority in the context of building the Union State and strengthening coordination in the international arena.</p>
<p><em><strong>The relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with China continue to deepen and develop, which, according to our leaders, are at an unprecedentedly high level and surpass in their content any alliances that were classic in previous years.</strong></em> <span>This year, we expect further development of joint diplomacy, including at the highest level: Chinese President Xi Jinping will timed his next visit to Moscow to coincide with the celebrations of Victory in the Great Patriotic War on May 9, and President Vladimir Putin will visit China in connection with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory over Japanese militarism in late August and early September 2025.</span></p>
<p><span>Relations of a special and privileged strategic partnership with India are progressively developing. As part of the exchange of annual high-level visits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/supplement/6168" rel>visited</a> <span>Moscow in 2024. Talks took place, which resulted in a new package of decisions. We are working to implement them.</span></p>
<p><span>An intensive political dialogue is maintained with all members of the</span> <a href="https://odkb-csto.org/" rel>CSTO</a><span>,</span> <a href="https://eec.eaeunion.org/" rel>the EAEU</a><span>, the</span> <a href="https://e-cis.info/" rel>CIS</a><span>, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It is impossible to list them all.</span></p>
<p><span>We have many permanent partners on all continents.</span> <em><strong>Relations with a number of states have reached the level of strategic partnership.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Russian-African cooperation has been significantly strengthened: in November 2024, the first-ever ministerial conference of the</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1980737/" rel>Russia-Africa Partnership Forum</a> <span>was successfully held. It was held at the decision of the</span> <a href="https://summitafrica.ru/" rel>Second Russia-Africa Summit</a> <span>in St Petersburg in 2023 and was very productive. Together with our African friends, we continue to work on the practical implementation of the agreements reached at both summits and the ministerial conference. We are working to unlock the vast potential of our cooperation with Africa, which for quite a long time after the collapse of the Soviet Union was not only significantly suspended, but reduced. We had other priorities, but now we are returning to appreciating our African friends,</span> <em><strong>just as they assess our contribution to liberation from colonial oppression. Our prospects are very, very good. We must use them actively and without delay.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>I would like to dwell separately on our efforts at the UN. In 2024, we launched a strategically important anti-neocolonial project designed for the future. Within its framework,</span> <a href="https://er.ru/" rel>the United Russia</a> <span>party initiated the creation of the International Movement of Supporters of the Struggle against Modern Practices of Neocolonialism –</span> <a href="https://serbia.mid.ru/ru/press-centre/news/o_deyatelnosti_dvizheniya_za_svobodu_natsiy_/" rel>For the Freedom of Nations!</a> <span>In turn, the Foreign Ministry ensured the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution "Eradication of Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations" in December 2024. The next step should be the adoption of a UN decision declaring December 14, 1960 (this is</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/declarations/colonial.shtml" rel>the date of the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Peoples</a><span>)</span> <em><strong>the International Day of Struggle against Colonialism.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We use the UN platform to promote collective approaches to ensuring biological and international information security. An important success was the negotiation of the first international treaty in history, the</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/documents/treaty/A-RES-79-243" rel>Convention against Cybercrime</a><span>, at Russia's initiative. It has been agreed and will be signed in June 2025 in Vietnam.</span></p>
<p>I would like to highlight our work within the framework of BRICS, which has become a centre for coordinating the interests of the leading countries of the world majority, one of the pillars of the multipolar world order.</p>
<p><span>We</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/" rel>chaired</a> <span>BRICS in 2024, and I believe that the goals set in our programme have been achieved. The Kazan summit of the association was attended by delegations from 35 states and six multilateral organisations, including the UN.</span></p>
<p>During the Russian watch, a decision was agreed on the admission of Indonesia, a major Muslim country and one of the leaders of the Group of 77 Non-Aligned Movement, to a full member of BRICS. The decision to establish a category of partner countries of the association was important. There are already a dozen of them. And these are only those that have confirmed their desire to become a BRICS partner. Agreements have been reached to promote cooperation in all areas. In particular, which is fundamentally important for the current stage of the formation of multipolarity, in the financial and economic sphere.</p>
<p><span>The</span> <a href="https://rus.sectsco.org/" rel>SCO</a> <span>works on similar principles. We consider it as a solid, material basis for the emerging architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.</span></p>
<p><span>As for other multipolar platforms, I would like to mention the G20. Foreign ministers' meetings in this format will be held tomorrow and the day after tomorrow in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the G20, together with like-minded BRICS and other countries in the Global South and East, we are able to stop the West's attempts to "Ukrainise" the agenda and impose unequal discriminatory decisions in the economy, finance, trade and climate.</span> <em><strong>It is necessary to continue to use this platform to encourage our Western colleagues to work together productively, rather than to impose their unilateral approaches and recipes.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We pay serious attention to cultural, humanitarian and public diplomacy. Last year, our country successfully hosted the</span> <a href="https://wyffest.com/" rel>World Youth Festival</a><span>. The first international multi-sport tournament,</span> <a href="https://dspkazan.com/projects/gamesoffuture2024/" rel>the Games of the Future,</a> <span>and the</span> <a href="https://bricskazan2024.games/ru" rel>BRICS Sports Games</a> <span>were held. In September of this year, we plan to hold the first</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/76203" rel>Intervision</a> <span>International Song Contest in the Moscow Region, in which many countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America have confirmed their participation. We hope that these will be major world-class cultural events.</span></p>
<p>Our constant focus is on protecting and promoting the positions of the Russian language abroad. We intend to make the most of the potential of the International Russian Language Organisation, which is being created at the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, under the auspices of the CIS, but this is specifically noted in its charter, which is open to all countries of the world. We hope that all the procedures necessary for the full launch of this structure will be completed by the end of the year.</p>
<p><em><strong>Among the most important priorities is the protection of traditional spiritual and moral values common to all world religions and civilisations.</strong></em> <span>We are closely cooperating with the</span> <a href="https://mir2023.site/" rel>International Russophile Movement</a><span>, which brings together representatives of public circles, politicians, cultural figures and businessmen from more than 100 countries located in the East, West and South. We pay special attention to cooperation with the</span> <a href="http://www.patriarchia.ru/" rel>Russian Orthodox Church</a> <span>and cooperation with Islamic, Buddhist and Jewish associations of adherents of Russia's traditional religions.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>We defend the legitimate rights of our citizens abroad by providing assistance and support. We emphasise on an ongoing basis that we do not abandon our own people in any situation.</strong></em> <span>We are working with organisations of our compatriots that preserve cultural, linguistic and spiritual ties with their historical homeland. It is extremely difficult for many of them to survive in the face of the unbridled Russophobia that has unfolded in the West. Last year, on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin,</span> <em><strong><span>an important</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/acts/bank/51035" rel>project</a> <span>was launched to attract to Russia all people who profess traditional values and are persecuted by the authorities of the countries in which they are currently located. Our ministry, embassies and consulates are actively involved in the implementation of this initiative.</span></strong></em></p>
<p><span>We are trying to make targeted use of diplomatic tools to assist Russian business in the interests of developing mechanisms for financial settlements, transport and logistics chains</span> <em><strong>with foreign partners that are not controlled by illegitimate external pressure.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>This year is marked by the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the 80th anniversary of the UN. As before, we will pay constant attention to uniting international efforts to counter any manifestations of neo-Nazism, Russophobia and other forms of racial and religious intolerance. We are concerned about the unbridled growth of such manifestations in the territories controlled by the Kiev regime, in the Baltic States and a number of other EU countries,</span> <em><strong>and in Canada, where a multi-million diaspora of Nazi collaborators has settled.</strong></em> <span>It is encouraging that our irreconcilable position against the revival of Nazism is shared by the overwhelming majority of the international community, which was clearly demonstrated by the adoption of a resolution on combating the glorification of Nazism at the UN General Assembly in December 2024. The Commonwealth has declared 2025 the</span> <a href="https://www.culture.ru/events/5305687/2025-god-god-80-letiya-pobedy-v-velikoi-otechestvennoi-voine-god-mira-i-edinstva-v-borbe-s-nacizmom" rel>Year of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight against Nazism</a><span>.</span> <em><strong>We are seeking that the crimes of the Nazi invaders and their accomplices be recognised as genocide of the peoples of the Soviet Union. We will count on close cooperation with the Federal Assembly in these matters, as in all others.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>The topic of Victory over Nazism is inextricably linked with the task of achieving the goals of the</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67843" rel>special military operation.</a> <em><strong>Together with our colleagues in parliament, we show the world community that there is no alternative to eradicating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>President Vladimir Putin emphasised this very important point in his telephone</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76259" rel>conversation</a> <span>with US President Donald Trump on February 12.</span> <em><strong><span>We paid special attention to this topic yesterday during a</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998279/" rel>meeting</a> <span>with US Secretary of State Miguel Rubio, US National Security Adviser Mark Waltz and US Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Stephen Witkoff.</span></strong></em> <span>I would like to emphasise that we are talking about eliminating threats to Russia's security, which have been created for many years by dragging Ukraine into NATO, and the need to put the toughest possible stop to the Kiev regime's actions to exterminate everything related to Russia, Russian culture and the Russian world – the Russian language, culture, the media, and the canonical Orthodox Church.</span></p>
<p><span>The tasks set for the Ministry by President Vladimir Putin are ambitious. We will continue to do everything necessary to ensure that the organisational structure of our foreign service adapts more actively and quickly to modern requirements. We are transferring human resources to the most in-demand, "hot" foreign policy areas, primarily to African countries and other countries of the world majority. We have created a new</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1994570/" rel>unit</a><span>–-the Second African Department. We are expanding our diplomatic presence in the CIS countries, Asia and Latin America.</span> <em><strong>Three new embassies have already been opened in Africa, and seven more are planned to open in the next two years.</strong></em> <span>This work has been put on a systematic basis and will continue consistently.</span></p>
<p><span>I would like to emphasise that the foreign policy</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/activity/coordinating_and_advisory_body/head_of_subjects_council/materialy-o-vypolnenii-rekomendacij-zasedanij-sgs/xxxvi-zasedanie-sgs/1767070/" rel>approved</a> <span>by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is long-term and strategic. It is not subject to the domestic political situation and does not depend on the whims of our ill-wishers. As we can see, it enjoys the support of our leading political forces represented in the</span> <a href="http://duma.gov.ru/" rel>State Duma</a><span>, for which we are sincerely grateful to you. Through you, we feel the support of our citizens. We feel this well and appreciate it. This gives us strength and energy.</span></p>
<p>I would like to thank you for your cooperation and for your comradely assistance. I would like to reaffirm our readiness to work in the same vein in the future.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>There is quite a lot of news coming from US President Donald Trump's team. There are some extremely curious ones. By introducing bans on migration, Donald Trump is suddenly inviting the white population of South Africa to the United States and promising the most favourable conditions. By the way, we can also recall the preferences of the US authorities for Cuban migrants for decades. Washington sees this as a way to stir up discontent inside Cuba.</span></p>
<p>Isn't the time coming for Russia to use migration regulation more flexibly to pursue our national interests? What is the position of the Russian Foreign Ministry and your opinion?</p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>In October 2024, President Vladimir Putin adopted a list of instructions on optimising procedures related to labour migration from neighboring countries.</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1992316/" rel>The Foreign Ministry</a> <span>is one of the co-executors. The leading role is played by the lead agencies, primarily</span> <a href="https://xn--b1aew.xn--p1ai/" rel>the Interior Ministry</a> <span>and its</span> <a href="https://xn--b1aew.xn--p1ai/mvd/structure1/Glavnie_upravlenija/guvm" rel>migration department.</a></p>
<p><em><strong>We proceed from the premise that any "toughening" of our approaches to labour migrants from Central Asian countries, primarily the South Caucasus and other former republics, will not contribute to our long-term interests.</strong></em> <span>Of course, it is necessary to keep order. Many violations have been recorded in a number of geographical areas where migrants come from. We believe that it is necessary to tighten control over their behaviour, but not to erect barriers, let alone introduce a visa regime.</span></p>
<p><span>Yes, in comparison with the previous procedure, additional measures are now being taken.</span> <em><strong>They are aimed at tightening control, and not at creating obstacles to labor migration.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We held several special meetings with the ambassadors of the</span> <a href="https://eec.eaeunion.org/" rel>EAEU</a> <span>member states, answered their questions in detail, and explained the logic that guides us.</span> <em><strong>Indeed, the fundamental documents on the creation of the EAEU state that citizens of all member states of the Union have equal rights. They can come without any invitations, without confirming where they will work, etc.</strong></em> <span>The arrival of migrants must be monitored. The relevant authorities must understand where these people who have come to work are, who provides them with work and, accordingly, is responsible for their compliance with the laws of the Russian Federation. I am convinced that all this can be done without creating any artificial obstacles in relations with our closest allies.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>The meetings that we held with the ambassadors of the EAEU countries showed that they understand this situation. Indeed, everyone has laws, but they evolve in accordance with the requirements of life.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Russian embassies are called upon to have complete information about the processes in the host country. These include the economy, politics, culture and migration.</span> <a href="https://en.topwar.ru/193041-kozyrev-u-rossii-net-nacionalnyh-interesov.html" rel>The Kozyrev policy</a> <span>[see article at link] has led to cuts in the United States and even the closure of embassies in a number of countries. What are the prospects for normalising the work of Russia's foreign missions in the United States, given your visit to Riyadh? Are there any plans to expand the number of our diplomatic staff in Asia, Africa and Latin America?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>I have already mentioned that we are opening additional embassies. A</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1994570/" rel>second</a> <span>African department has been created.</span></p>
<p>By 2026, it is planned to open embassies in the Gambia, Liberia, the Comoros, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo and South Sudan – seven embassies. This is quite a serious figure. They meet us halfway, but we are also looking for "internal reserves" so as not to ask too much for help from the budget.</p>
<p><span>With our colleagues from the</span> <a href="https://economy.gov.ru/" rel>Ministry of Economic Development</a> <span>and the</span> <a href="http://www.minpromtorg.gov.ru/" rel>Ministry of Industry and Trade,</a> <em><strong>we are also discussing an increase in the number of trade missions in Africa. Now there are only five of them, but more are needed.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>The Transnistrian-Moldovan region, the recent crisis in Transnistria, and the turbulent situation in Gagauzia. The recent elections in Moldova showed that the incumbent president was elected in the second round mainly thanks to the votes of the diaspora abroad. How do you assess the development of bilateral relations, taking into account all the recent events?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>This is a topical question. First of all, we are interested in the fate of the Pridnestrovians.</span> <em><strong>More than 200,000 of them are also Russian citizens. Chisinau's policy of creating artificial obstacles to the basic life of this region is rejected. We will fight it tough.</strong></em></p>
<p>Maria Sandu is a Romanian citizen. As you said, the latest election story was amazing. 234 polling stations were opened abroad, but in Russia, where Moldova has the largest labour and diaspora in general, there were only two polling stations that could not physically support the voting of more than 10,000 people.</p>
<p><span>This is a mockery of common sense and the very concept of "democracy".</span> <em><strong>The US Vice President spoke about this at a conference in Munich. He gave an example of gross manipulation of election procedures in Romania. This practice is widely used. The current Moldovan leadership adopts the relevant experience from its Romanian "brothers/sisters"</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>First of all, we are concerned about the supply of electricity to Transnistria. This is the responsibility of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander</span> <a href="http://government.ru/gov/persons/187/events/" rel>Novak</a> <span>and the</span> <a href="https://minenergo.gov.ru/" rel>Ministry of Energy</a><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>Chisinau and the European Union put up tough obstacles. They did not want Transnistria to be provided with electricity according to a scheme that would involve the direct participation of the Russian Federation. As a result, they promoted their own option, which still consists in the supply of Russian gas, but in such a way that Russia's role was downplayed, or even completely crossed out. These are unscrupulous methods.</span> <em><strong>We are not surprised that the EU acts in this way. We are in favour of countries being guided by their national interests, and not by the instructions of the bureaucracy, which, by the way, no one has chosen.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>The public foreign policy statements by members of Donald Trump's team at the Munich Conference demonstrate a significant transformation in the American view of the future mechanism for ensuring security and strategic stability around the world. It can be stated that significant tensions have arisen in the transatlantic partnership between the United States and Europe. Do you agree that a return to the issue of multilateral Eurasian arms control, the conditional New START-4 treaty, as well as guarantees of equal and indivisible security in Europe and the world at possible future talks with the Americans will help to relegate the Ukrainian issue to the background and reduce European influence on their course?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>This is a topical question. Answering the previous one, I referred to the US Vice President's speech at the Munich Conference. This is a "team" that thinks differently, primarily in terms of American interests, of course, as they understand them.</span></p>
<p>Yesterday, this line was reaffirmed at our talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Opening the discussion, he stressed that Donald Trump's "team" proceeds from the premise that all international relations in all their aspects should be based on the recognition of the fact that each state has national interests, and it is from this position that the dialogue should be conducted. National interests will never coincide completely. For the most part, they diverge in separate areas that are important for each country. But where they coincide, everything must be done to derive maximum mutual benefit from this. And where they diverge, as the US Secretary of State said, responsible powers, including Russia and the United States, must not allow these differences to escalate into confrontation, especially one that is detrimental to many other countries in the world.</p>
<p><em><strong>This principled approach reflects the demarcation between Donald Trump's "team" and the Brussels bureaucracy. They are now in a "dismantled" state, because the course is clearly taken to develop relations with individual states that share the philosophy of defending national interests. I believe that this is a useful trend.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>As for the talks on security and strategic stability, we hope that the conditions for this will be created. So far, as yesterday's talks showed,</span> <em><strong>movement towards the normalization of relations in all areas is beginning.</strong></em> <em><strong>There is, at least, a declared readiness to start this movement.</strong></em> <span>And not only to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, but to create conditions for restoring and building up partnership in the trade, economic and geopolitical spheres between the Russian Federation and the United States.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>In the meantime, we need to clean up the legacy of the Biden administration, which did everything to destroy even the first signs of the foundation of a long-term partnership between our countries.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>We cannot ignore yesterday's talks in Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump previously stated the need to reach an agreement with the Russian Federation on the Ukrainian settlement as soon as possible and threatened otherwise to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russian exports to the United States. We have already heard about the initial assessment of the talks.</span></p>
<p>What are your expectations from the new Trump administration's possible policy in the field of international security, including in the context of the problems with NATO expansion and the situation in Eastern Europe?</p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>I believe that words are important, sometimes radically changing the situation.</span> <em><strong>We will evaluate statements of intent and compare them with concrete actions.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>As for US President Donald Trump's statements. You mentioned NATO expansion. He is the first and, I think, the only Western leader to publicly and loudly say that one of the root causes of the Ukrainian situation was the previous administration's "impudent" policy of drawing Ukraine into NATO. None of the Western leaders has ever said this, but Donald Trump has raised this idea several times.</span> <em><strong>This is already a signal that he understands our position.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>In a telephone</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76259" rel>conversation</a> <span>with him, President of Russia Vladimir Putin once again emphasised that what is important for us is not a truce, which will make it possible to rearm Ukraine once again and set it against our country again, but a long-term sustainable peace based on the elimination of the root causes of the conflict: the NATO aspect and the extermination of everything Russian in violation of Ukraine's obligations under the</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/about-us/un-charter/full-text" rel>UN Charter</a> <span>and numerous conventions.</span></p>
<p>Yesterday, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and I spoke with US Secretary of State Miguel Rubio and US National Security Advisor Mark Waltz.</p>
<p><em><strong>I proceed from the premise that they are interested in removing artificial obstacles to potentially very promising and mutually beneficial projects, primarily in the economy. They are also committed to resuming dialogue on foreign policy affairs, on the international situation and on conflicts.</strong></em> <span>We only welcome this. We used this practice in the past, although it was not without problems, but they will always be there. The main thing is to meet, listen and hear.</span> <em><strong>And make your own decisions that will be realistic in relation to the partner’s concerns.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We have begun to move away from the brink of the abyss, where our relations have been led by the Biden administration.</span> <em><strong>But these are only the first steps.</strong></em> <span>The atmosphere is positive, and</span> <em><strong>the intentions are correct. We will see how the situation develops further and what steps will be taken.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>In your opinion, what are the most significant actions and events in connection with the anniversary of the Great Victory and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II that the Russian Foreign Ministry and</span> <a href="https://rs.gov.ru/" rel>Rossotrudnichestvo</a> <span>are planning to hold abroad this year?</span></p>
<p>I would also like to inform you that together with our colleagues from the Russian Foreign Ministry, we have begun preparations for the international expedition "Memory Is Stronger Than Time". It is dedicated to the defeat of the Kwantung Army and the 80th anniversary of the Victory Parade in September 1945 in Harbin, China. On the sidelines of the perpetuation of the common history of the two peoples, as part of the expedition, it is planned to install a memorial plaque (commemorative high relief) dedicated to the Victory Parade in September 1945 in Harbin.</p>
<p>We ask you to support this initiative and provide political and diplomatic assistance on the part of the department in its implementation.</p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>We are paying special attention to the 80th anniversary of Victory not only because it is a sacred date for us, the sacred Victory of our fathers and grandfathers, the feat of our mothers and grandmothers.</span> <em><strong>It is also one of the most pressing issues of modern international politics, when they are trying to revive Nazism and neo-Nazism.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We will use our opportunities in close cooperation with the</span> <a href="https://er.ru/" rel>United Russia</a> <span>party, which initiated this international movement with other factions. In about 120 foreign countries, councils of Russian compatriots are active, planning a whole series of events, including film screenings, discussions, and meetings of political scientists. They plan to organize their events within the framework</span> <a href="https://www.moypolk.ru/" rel>of the Immortal Regiment</a><span>, St.</span> <a href="https://xn--80aaedalbcxwck1afjwvx0h8g.xn--p1ai/" rel>George's Ribbon</a><span>,</span> <a href="https://xn--80ahdnteo0a0g7a.xn--p1ai/" rel>Candles of Memory</a><span>, and the</span> <a href="https://xn----7sbbowxtmp3k.xn--p1ai/" rel>Garden of Memory</a><span>.</span> <a href="https://rs.gov.ru/" rel>Rossotrudnichestvo</a> <span>and schools at embassies are preparing to hold</span> <a href="https://xn--80achcepozjj4ac6j.xn--p1ai/" rel>the Dictation of Victory</a><span>. There is reason to believe that there will be many people.</span></p>
<p><span>All embassies and consulates deal with issues of careful attitude to memorials and burials abroad. Every year, special clean-up days are held on Victory Day, and money is allocated.</span> <em><strong>It is important that the Government takes care of such monuments.</strong></em></p>
<p>About 80 monuments and burials of Soviet soldiers have been registered in China, for which the Chinese side, as stipulated in the relevant agreement, carries out proper care, timely repairs, etc.</p>
<p><span>In August-September 2025, the</span> <a href="https://bbratstvo.com/" rel>Combat Brotherhood All-Russian Public Organisation of Veterans</a> <span>is planning an expedition entitled "</span><a href="https://bbratstvo.com/polozhenie-o-proekte-patrioticheskiy-konkurs-pamyat-silnee-vremeni" rel>Memory Is Stronger Than Time</a><span>", dedicated, as you said, to the 80th anniversary of the defeat of the Kwantung Army. As far as I understand, there are plans to install a memorial plaque in Harbin. But this requires coordination with our Chinese colleagues. We are ready to support it.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Russia is the leading Arctic power. Our country has the longest coastline and the largest unexplored reserves of natural resources. The Northern Sea Route, a route of global importance, passes through the waters of the Russian Arctic seas.</span></p>
<p><span>The demarche of the Arctic states during</span> <a href="https://arctic-council.org/ru/about/previous-chairmanships/russian-chairmanship-2/" rel>Russia's chairmanship of</a> <span>the</span> <a href="https://arctic-council.org/ru/about/previous-chairmanships/russian-chairmanship-2/" rel>Arctic Council</a> <span>should not go unnoticed. Statements by other countries about territorial claims in the region, the coalition in defense and security issues encourage us to take a more active position.</span></p>
<p><span>What does the Russian Foreign Ministry plan to take in response to expand cooperation in the Arctic with friendly countries, including with key observers of the Arctic Council–-China and India (which was recently</span> <a href="http://duma.gov.ru/news/60840/" rel>visited</a> <span>by our delegation of the State Duma headed by Vyacheslav Volodin)?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>In fact, you have answered your own question.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>We need to work and not get into the pose of the "offended". This will lead to nothing. We do not want to harm anyone, but we will not give up "ours" either.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We are the largest Arctic power. We have the longest coastline, the most developed infrastructure, which makes up the</span> <a href="https://icebreakers.tass.ru/" rel>Northern Sea Route</a><span>, which some countries that are members of</span> <a href="https://arctic-council.org/ru/about/previous-chairmanships/russian-chairmanship-2/" rel>the Arctic Council</a> <span>look at with envy. This fact gives us a strong basis for promoting our position.</span></p>
<p>President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the Government of Russia pay great attention to the further development of the Arctic zone and are doing everything possible to ensure that people live there comfortably and do not need anything. This is a strategic resource of our country.</p>
<p>As for the Arctic Council. Nobody kicked us out of there. This cannot be done. When we were chairs, the other seven countries coordinated their positions. Moreover, there was no need to coordinate during the Biden administration: everyone "obeyed." Yes, the ministerial level was not involved, but technical and expert groups were assembled, as they are now gathering and working as part of eight states.</p>
<p><em><strong>I believe that the most important thing is to do our job: to promote our plans and implement them.</strong></em> <span>And let the rest watch us single-handedly develop our territory, waters, not only territorial, but also on the shelf, where we have a good position in the</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/clcs_home.htm" rel>UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf</a> <span>in terms of approving our applications.</span></p>
<p><span>The positions are strong. This is helped by the existence of treaties regulating our territorial relations. We have such agreements with almost all our neighbors.</span> <em><strong>Therefore, we need to do our job.</strong></em> <em><strong>Our partners in the Arctic Council will have no choice but to resume normal cooperation.</strong></em></p>
<p>In the meantime, China and India are interested in promoting the development of the Northern Sea Route. They recognize our leading role in the Arctic. We will definitely continue cooperation with these countries.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Following the results of 2024, the architecture of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in terms of preventing emergencies, unfortunately, in my opinion, has cracked slightly. Our regions, which currently border Kazakhstan, experienced severe floods in 2024. This was due, among other things, to the shortcomings of this interaction at the country and government levels.</span> <em><strong>The governors of these regions are not even involved in the relevant commission.</strong></em> <span>To what extent can the format of our interaction be adjusted by including governors in this work?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>This commission is not accountable to the Russian Foreign Ministry. But the Russian-Kazakh Commission on the Joint Use and Protection of Transboundary Water Bodies exists. Moreover, it met at a regular meeting on November 7, 2024 in Volgograd. As a result of the meeting, a Joint Working Group on Cooperation in Flood Transmission was formed (on the topic of your question). Attention is paid to this problem, as well as to all other issues related to our common border with Kazakhstan.</span></p>
<p><span>As for the composition of the commission, we are ready.</span> <em><strong>The more agencies include representatives (as they used to say) from the field, the more effectively they will work and be more specifically immersed in the topics they are dealing with.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>You spoke in detail about the multipolar world, about the World Majority. What priorities do you see in cooperation within the BRICS association, in terms of the economy as the basis of everything: the payment system, financial institutions, prospects, a common currency?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>At the BRICS summit</span><a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/" rel>, at the</a> <span>suggestion of President of Brazil Lula da Silva, the topic of currency problems that arise in connection with the abuse of the dollar as a reserve currency by the then US administration was discussed.</span></p>
<p>US President Donald Trump recently spoke on this topic, saying that it was a gross mistake of the previous administration. It has shaken the dollar's position and is forcing more and more countries (even those that use the dollar) to prepare alternative payment options for themselves, just in case. National currencies and the creation of appropriate platforms are all being discussed in the BRICS.</p>
<p><span>At the initiative of President of Brazil Lula da Silva, the decisions of the previous summit included the need to develop a proposal for alternative payment platforms through the ministries of finance and central banks.</span> <em><strong>Such proposals have been made. They involve the creation of a "cross-border payment initiative", a reinsurance company and the BRICS Clear settlement and depository infrastructure.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>The Russian side takes an active part in these initiatives. They will increase the resilience of</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/" rel>BRICS</a> <span>to various external shocks. There are many people who want to "slow down" the development of a potentially powerful association. But if they act within the framework of fair competition, this will be the right thing to do. If there are sanctions, tariffs, "weaning" from banking systems controlled by the West, then this will no longer be a competitive struggle, but a violation of all WTO rules.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>So the situation is "fluid". The trend is towards providing reliable payment systems and doing business for all occasions.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>How do you assess the strategic partnership between Russia and China in the context of global political dynamics? What joint initiatives with China do you consider the most important for strengthening our bilateral relations?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>An hour is not enough for me to answer this question.</strong></em> <span>As I said in my opening remarks, our relations are at an unprecedentedly high and advanced level.</span> <em><strong>In terms of their essence and content, they are far superior to the concept of "union"</strong></em> <span>as it existed during the Cold War and after.</span></p>
<p>These are relations of a completely new type-–equal and mutually beneficial. They are determined by a trust-based, regular and friendly dialogue at the highest level, during which the basic conditions for the further development of partnership are determined, primarily in the economic, trade, investment, transport and logistics spheres.</p>
<p>There is no area of the life of any state in which we do not have mechanisms for coordinating our steps. Suffice it to say that the heads of government meet every year. On the eve of the annual meeting of prime ministers, five meetings of special commissions are held, each of which is headed by two deputy prime ministers. This shows the scope of the agenda of our interaction with China.</p>
<p>Cross-border cooperation. There are also special commissions. We have a lot in common in the humanitarian, cultural and educational spheres. The number of both Chinese who come to study with us and Russians who go to China to study is growing.</p>
<p>A joint film will be released in a few days (and this is not an isolated case). It is called Red Silk. This is the result of an agreement during one of the previous meetings between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping to establish systematic joint cooperation in the field of cinema.</p>
<p>We have many interesting plans. Humanitarian issues, concert activities, cultural exchanges–-all this enriches and puts our relations on a solid "foundation" of the daily life of ordinary people. We can talk for a long time about foreign policy cooperation, but it is almost exemplary.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Russia, and formerly the USSR, has been cooperating with the Syrian Arab Republic for more than 80 years. What are the prospects for further relations between the Russian Federation and Syria in the light of the recent telephone conversation between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Transitional Period Abdullah al-Sharaa?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>The telephone</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76258" rel>conversation</a> <span>between President Vladimir Putin and the head of the current administration in Damascus Abdullah al-Shara' was preceded by a visit by an interdepartmental delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998066/" rel>The trip</a> <span>took place a few days before the telephone conversation.</span> <em><strong>Its results are very positive.</strong></em> <span>They were received by Mr Al-Shara' with the participation of the Foreign Minister and a number of heads of other departments.</span> <em><strong>Publicly, the current Syrian leaders reaffirm the need to respect the historical and strategic nature of our relations.</strong></em> <span>One of the central topics for them now is to prevent a repetition of the Libyan scenario, when as a result of NATO aggression the country lost its statehood, was split and has not been able to bring itself together since then. It has been 15 years now.</span></p>
<p>There are such threats in Syria as well. The people who came to power understand this. There are also factors such as intra-clan struggle, including in the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham movement. It is not homogeneous – it includes different factions.</p>
<p><em><strong>There are also problems related to the illegal presence of the United States in Syria and the policy pursued by the Biden administration to stimulate the creation of a Kurdish quasi-state. We firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>In the next few days and next week, we will have regular high-level contacts with our Syrian colleagues.</span> <em><strong>We will tell you later.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question: The</strong> <span>3+3 Platform implies cooperation between Russia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia in order to ensure peace and stability in the South Caucasus. At our last meeting, you stressed the prospects of this format. Changes in Georgia's foreign policy, which are taking place thanks to the position of the current Georgian authorities, political parties such as Solidarity for Peace and the Communist Party of Georgia, give reason to hope that in the future the 3+3 format will be fully operational with the participation of Georgia.</span> <em><strong>At the parliamentary level, we have established good contacts with all the member states of the platform.</strong></em></p>
<p>What do you think about the idea of creating an inter-parliamentary commission within the framework of the 3+3 format to create additional mechanisms for cooperation in parliamentary diplomacy?</p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>I fully agree with you in terms of the prospects for the development of the 3+3.</strong></em></p>
<p>The initiative was jointly put forward by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey and supported by President Vladimir Putin. Since then, three meetings have been held in the 3+3 format, including two at the ministerial level, the last one in October 2024 in Turkey. From the very beginning, everyone agreed that we have a 3+3 format. We understand the doubts and nuances of Georgia's positions, but the "chair" for Georgian representatives will always be in the meeting room of this format.</p>
<p><span>And this was confirmed at the last</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1976680/" rel>ministerial meeting</a> <span>in Turkey. During the talks, it was decided to make a more structured organization out of this consultative platform. As a result of that meeting, through colleagues from this format, we confirmed to the Georgian side that the doors are open and "the chair is standing."</span></p>
<p><span>We hope that the current authorities in Georgia will support the need to rely on national interests.</span> <em><strong>There is no doubt that the 3+3 format acts in the interests of all participants.</strong></em> <span>I would like to note that the creation of this initiative aroused envy, no doubt, among the previous US administration, which tried to promote the 3+1 format instead of 3+3 (the three Transcaucasian parties and "Biden's people" who would lead them).</span></p>
<p>As for the parliamentary dimension, if you come up with such an initiative, we will reinforce this conversation through the Foreign Ministry. This would be useful.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>In 2026, there will be another period of extension of the</span> <a href="https://docs.cntd.ru/document/8311276" rel>Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan on the Settlement of Issues of Dual Citizenship</a><span>, which was signed in order to return Russians to Russia. Between 300,000 and 400,000 have returned, but today half a percent live in Tajikistan. According to the Treaty, new Russian citizens receive certain preferences (social security, education, etc.), as do Russians who left for Tajikistan. I mentioned above how many there are. However, given the</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67843" rel>special military operation</a><span>, the main question is the provision of the Treaty on Military Service and Mobilisation, which makes it possible to avoid service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which is unfair, in our opinion. What is the future of the Treaty and how relevant is its extension in modern conditions?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <a href="https://docs.cntd.ru/document/8311276" rel>The treaty</a> <span>was signed back in 1996, after the end of the bloody internal conflict in Tajikistan. It has played and continues to play a role in providing a reliable basis for an alliance with Tajikistan.</span></p>
<p>As for exemption from military service. As far as I understand, this has been done on the basis of reciprocity. No matter how few Russian citizens there are in Tajikistan, they enjoy the same rights as Tajik citizens in the Russian Federation. I cannot express a clear position. But the treaty is in force, it is useful and equal, and it meets not only the interests of Tajik citizens working in Russia, but also the interests of Russians living in Tajikistan. Every citizen is dear to us.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>Let's move from the West to the East. To the Far East. The regions and municipalities of the Far Eastern Federal District are actively cooperating with the municipalities and regions of Southeast Asian countries. All issues (with the possible exception of some financial ones) are promptly resolved by the Foreign Ministry, and they thank you for this. What do you think about the prospects for the development of the entire range of areas, including inter-parliamentary and inter-party cooperation, in the context of the</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67843" rel>special military operation</a> <span>and in the context of strategic cooperation between the DPRK and the Russian Federation?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>You started with Southeast Asia, and the DPRK is Northeast Asia. But the whole of Asia is dear to us.</span></p>
<p><span>We have an extensive system of relations with</span> <a href="https://asean.org/" rel>ASEAN</a> <span>countries. Meetings are held annually at the level of foreign ministers. This association holds events with its partners at the level of foreign ministers, defence ministries and the Regional Security Architecture Forum. The ASEAN region does not have a continent-wide coverage. We see prospects for moving towards the goal I mentioned earlier, in combining the efforts of existing sub-regional organisations, including ASEAN.</span></p>
<p>The situation in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula is no less important. This is close to our borders. Russia has a common border with the DPRK. We are not indifferent to everything that is being done on the Korean Peninsula. We are in favour of eliminating any risks.</p>
<p><span>The</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/international_contracts/international_contracts/2_contract/62546/" rel>Strategic Comprehensive Partnership Treaty</a> <span>was signed with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea during President Vladimir Putin's historic</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/trips/74342" rel>visit</a> <span>in the summer of 2024. If you read carefully, it essentially covers all areas: the economy, the humanitarian sphere, education, culture, military cooperation, and military-technical cooperation. It contains an important article that states that in the event of an attack or aggression against one of the parties to this Treaty by third countries, the other party will provide all necessary assistance, which involves the use of military methods.</span> <em><strong>In this part, the Treaty reproduces verbatim the agreement between the People's Republic of China and the DPRK concluded ten years ago.</strong></em> <span>When ratifying it, the State Duma noted that this provision on mutual military assistance is carried out in accordance with the laws and constitutions of each member state.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>At the last government hour, I asked about the creation of BRICS Tourism on the basis of</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/en/about/?ysclid=m7d5p1iyr8482676576" rel>BRICS</a><span>. Last year, as part of the BRICS year, such events as the</span> <a href="https://kazan2024.rt.com/?ysclid=m7d5u3qfpr399370255" rel>Games of the Future</a><span>,</span> <a href="https://festival2024.ru/" rel>the World Youth Festival</a> <span>were held, and this year</span> <a href="https://intervision-contest.ru/" rel>Intervision</a> <span>is planned. What do you think about holding these events annually? In this case, BRICS Tourism could act as the main organisation in the field of generating tourist flows of these events.</span></p>
<p>Today, we see a fairly stable demand in the BRICS countries for such a type of tourism as medical tourism. Our medical institutions are ready to meet this demand both in terms of price and quality. What do you think about the expediency of introducing a "medical visa" in Russia? This would significantly increase the inbound flow of foreign tourists to the Russian Federation and would affect the image of Russia abroad. It would also help to increase competitiveness in this regard with the leaders of medical tourism, such as Israel, Germany and South Korea.</p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>We are all for tourism as a new dimension in BRICS activities.</span></p>
<p>The more people-to-people contacts, the stronger the foundation of relations. You mentioned a number of cultural events that have indeed attracted a huge number of participants far beyond the BRICS countries as such. If our relevant organisations, primarily those involved in the development of tourism, offer "added value" to what our country can offer now, then it would be reasonable to talk about formalising this area within the framework of the BRICS agenda.</p>
<p>Now the number of tourists from the BRICS countries and other countries who visit Russia is growing steadily and rapidly. We need to see what this structure will do. If it simply records and engages in advertising, travel agencies are already performing similar functions. We need to understand the specific function. It sounds nice. We would support it.</p>
<p><span>Regarding medical visas. We do not see any expediency yet. There are already e-visas that are issued in a simplified form to citizens of the BRICS countries and several dozen other countries. I would like to ask my colleagues from</span> <a href="https://www.kdmid.ru/" rel>the Consular Department</a> <span>to see what this can add to us.</span></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>At the end of 2024 and the beginning of this year, the Islamic Republic of Iran completed the procedure for ratifying</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/mnogostoronnie-struktury-i-forumy/vzaimodeystvie_v_regione_kaspiyskogo_morya/1574917/" rel>the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Caspian Countries</a><span>. How has the Islamic Republic of Iran's ratification of the</span> <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/supplement/5328" rel>Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea</a> <span>progressed?</span></p>
<p>What are the prospects and is it possible to resolve this issue positively in the foreseeable future, including taking into account the results of the work of high-level experts in the working group on this matter?</p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>This is an important question.</span> <a href="http://council.gov.ru/events/news/108090/" rel>The Convention</a> <span>reflects the most important and serious tasks of ensuring security in the Caspian Sea and fixes the special responsibility of the Caspian states for everything that is happening here, excludes the military presence of third countries in the Caspian Sea and the Caspian region.</span></p>
<p><span>Four out of five countries have already ratified it. Iran has not yet done so. When we were finalizing the Convention, the issues of dividing the Caspian Sea, territorial waters and adjacent zones between the member states were linked. The principles of dividing the sea are reflected in the Convention, but the details are very serious, because it depends on the shape of the coastline of each country.</span> <em><strong>Iran has such a problem that if it is simply "divided equally," it will be at a loss.</strong></em></p>
<p>The Iranian side is now in the process of ratifying the Convention and deciding how to build direct baselines that determine the parameters of the national zone of each state.</p>
<p>We have proposed a series of solutions at the expert level. Our Iranian colleagues are considering them. In the near future, I will have a meeting with Iranian representatives. We raise these issues at such meetings every time. In the course of his contacts with the previous president, the late Raisi, President Vladimir Putin made some proposals that would help reach a mutually acceptable agreement.</p>
<p><span>In 2023, the Russian</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1982718/" rel>Interdepartmental Commission on Caspian Cooperation</a> <span>was established under my chairmanship. During the meetings, we develop initiatives that should help our Iranian friends complete the ratification process. [My Emphasis]</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>I must take issue with the galling omission of the Palestine issue, particularly in the discussion of human rights by Lavrov. That he was asked about Syria and what was revealed IMO is very positive. Good questions were asked about the Riyadh talks. There’re numerous opinions expressing all manner of negatives about what transpired there. That Lavrov emphasized they were merely the first step taken upon a path that will require many steps to complete ought to cause those opinions to be rethought. The premises Lavrov expressed are solid as well as counting on deeds instead of words during the trust rebuilding process. Lavrov’s mentioning the ongoing spread of Nazism within Europe and Canada was good but IMO an effort to advertise who allowed Nazism to remain alive at the end of the Great Patriotic War is required. The depth of the destructive nature of the West’s invasion of Russia after the USSR’s fall is well illustrated by the actions of Andrei Kozyrev that are described in the article I linked, actions IMO few readers will be aware of or remember. And my closing comment is about the draft of the “Statement by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on a Joint Vision of the Eurasian Charter for Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century” that’s linked but is in Russian and gives one an excellent illustration of what’s envisioned by the suggested Eurasian Security Structure. I’ll be posting is as a resource document without commentary.</p>
<p>I hope to catch up with today’s events: Lavrov at the G-20 and Putin’s annual participation in the Conference of judges of courts of general jurisdiction, military and arbitration courts. Yes, the above read was long as it always is. It’s fortunate for us it’s capped at an hour.</p>
<p><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><em><span>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a</span> <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> <span>to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</span></em></p>
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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/draft-statement-by-the-russian-federation
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link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/draft-statement-by-the-russian-federation
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title:
Draft: Statement by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on a Joint Vision of the Eurasian Charter for Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century

content:
<h3 data-sanitized-class="subtitle">Another Primary Document</h3><div dir="auto" data-sanitized-class="body markup">
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<p><span>As promised in the Government Hour article, here the translation of</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/maps/by/1984612/" rel>the draft treaty</a> <span>for a new Eurasian Security Structure:</span></p>
<p>Brest, November 22, 2024</p>
<p><strong><span>SHARED VISION</span><br><span>of the Eurasian Charter for Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century</span></strong></p>
<p><em>We, the representatives of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, proceed from the recognition of the following key realities of our time:</em></p>
<ol><li>
<p><strong>DIVERSITY AS THE BASIS OF PEACE</strong> <span>– Peace has always been characterized by a diversity of life, civilizations, cultures, traditions, features of historical development, value systems, and with the formation of the state as the main element of international relations, a variety of forms of state political structure and models of internal socio-economic, cultural and humanitarian development.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Respect</strong> <span>for the full spectrum of diversity has traditionally served healthy competition and the overall progress of humanity, while the neglect of this key phenomenon of public life by states has led to interstate wars and conflicts and various crises.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>DIVERSITY IN TODAY'S WORLD</strong> <span>– The essence and importance of diversity are becoming clearer and the need to respect this phenomenon is especially needed in today's world in light of the rapid development of digital technologies, which greatly expand the knowledge of all people on the planet.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>PARADIGM CHANGE</strong> <span>– In the modern world, objective and irreversible profound transformations are taking place in international relations, caused by accelerated tectonic changes in various fields, which have a huge impact on all participants in international life.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>MULTIPOLARITY ON THE HORIZON</strong> <span>– The world is inexorably moving towards a state of multipolarity, which is a consequence of its inherent diversity. This represents an opportunity for building a just and inclusive democratic world order and peaceful coexistence in the interests of security and common prosperity of all states on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation and genuine multilateralism in the long term.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>SLOWING DOWN FACTORS</strong> <span>– At the same time, the evolutionary movement of the whole world towards multipolarity and a polycentric model that meets the interests of the World Majority slows down if the fact of the diversity of civilizations, cultures, traditions, features of historical development, value systems, forms of state structure and models of internal development is ignored, and the norms and principles of international law are violated.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>PECULIARITY OF EURASIA</strong> <span>– Eurasia is the geographical center and material foundation of the emerging multipolar world, ancient civilizations are located here, around which states, integration associations, regional organizations and centers of power have been formed.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>THE IMPORTANCE OF EURASIA</strong> <span>– The Eurasian continent, due to its geographical location, size, population and resource potential, has historically played and continues to play an important role in international relations, acting as a locomotive of global development as a whole. It is in Eurasia that the main contribution to the progressive growth of the world economy is ensured, and independent development centers are being strengthened.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>FUTURE OF EURASIA</strong> <span>– Effective interaction between all subjects of the Eurasian space, harmonization of relations between the centers of development in Eurasia, are indispensable conditions for the consolidation of the continent in the interests of all states located on it, which in the end will also serve the goal of building a just world order on a multipolar basis.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>COMMON GLOBAL INTEREST</strong> <span>– In the context of the important role of Eurasia, the achievement of the goals of peace, security, stability and prosperity in this space meets the interests not only of the states of the continent, but also of all countries of the world.</span></p>
</li>
</ol><p><em>In this regard, we commit to:</em></p>
<ol start="11"><li>
<p><strong>RELY ON INTERNATIONAL LAW</strong> <span>– Be guided in their actions by the norms of international law, based on the UN Charter in its entirety and interrelated, and other international legally binding documents.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>RESPECT DIVERSITY</strong> <span>– Recognize and respect the diversity and equality of civilizations, cultures, traditions, historical features and systems of universal values, the diversity of forms of state political structure and models of internal socio-economic development of the countries of the world, oppose exceptionalism and double standards in international politics.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>CREATE A MULTIPOLAR WORLD</strong> <span>– Contribute to the speedy construction of a multipolar world and a just global order.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES</strong> <span>– Implement initiatives that contribute to the recognition by all countries of the world of the diversity of development paths, the establishment of a dialogue among civilizations, a dialogue on global security, the formation of a new type of international relations in the interests of creating a cohesive community of states, the development of regional economic processes and partnerships in Eurasia, the implementation of mutually beneficial pan-Eurasian projects, including for the purpose of forming a Greater Eurasian Partnership and strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>STRENGTHEN SECURITY</strong> <span>- To form a new continent-wide architecture of cooperation in the field of security, based on the principles of indivisibility of security, justice, legitimacy, sustainability and joint contribution of the participants.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>RESTORE THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS</strong> <span>- To promote the restoration and strengthening of the central coordinating role of the United Nations in world affairs and the effective use of the mechanisms of the UN system to overcome common global challenges and threats, to strengthen the voice of the countries of the World Majority in the Organization.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>STRENGTHEN EURASIA</strong> <span>- Work to consolidate the Eurasian space to ensure peace, stability and common prosperity on the continent in the interests of all its states.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>TO COOPERATE IN THE AREAS</strong> <span>- To contribute to the processes of strengthening practical cooperation on the Eurasian continent in the fields of security, economy, culture and other spheres on the basis of openness, broad inclusion, equality and mutual benefit.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>USE EURASIAN MECHANISMS</strong> <span>- To implement this task, use multilateral cooperation mechanisms operating on the Eurasian continent, including the EAEU, CSTO, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, CICA, LAS, GCC, Union State. To promote cross-platform interaction between them, the implementation of joint initiatives.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>PREVENT INTERFERENCE</strong> <span>- Counteract attempts by external forces to interfere in the affairs of the Eurasian states and pursue a policy aimed at undermining the processes of consolidation and cooperation on the continent, to impose their own development models, ideological attitudes and alien spiritual and moral values.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>ESTABLISH EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS</strong> <span>- Interact and interface with regional economic processes taking place on other continents.</span></p>
</li>
</ol><p><em>We, the representatives of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, invite all Eurasian states to join the dialogue on a set of issues affecting the principles of interaction in the multipolar era and related to the continental architecture of security, cooperation and development, with a view to developing, taking into account the provisions of this document, the "Eurasian Charter for Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century".</em></p>
</div>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrov-at-g-20-in-johannesburg
title: Lavrov at G-20 in Johannesburg
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<h3 data-sanitized-class="subtitle">Includes Russia's Greater Eurasian Partnership Initiative document</h3><div dir="auto" data-sanitized-class="body markup">
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<p><span>Sergey Lavrov at least got to spend a night in one place as the G-20 Foreign Ministers Meeting is a several-days affair. Lavrov went from Moscow to Riyadh back to Moscow then on to Johannesburg and is always primed and ready wherever he lands. Today’s report consists of Lavrov’s</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998882/" rel>opening remarks</a> <span>on the 20th to the G20 Ministerial Council meeting on the global geopolitical situation followed by</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1999040/" rel>his comments</a> <span>today, the 21st, on G20 Objectives in 2025. It appears Rubio has declined to attend as there was no media speculation about the two meeting again on the sidelines. As you’ll read, Russia’s position remains the same as it was during the Biden administration since nothing has changed regarding Outlaw US Empire behavior in the global economic sphere since Team Trump took office.</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Dear Colleagues,</p>
<p><span>We welcome the successful start of the presidency of our South African friends. We understand the choice of geopolitics, which is not quite relevant for the G20:</span> <em><strong>the economy is increasingly becoming a hostage and a victim of political ambitions.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>The West's attempts to restrain the objective process of strengthening new powerful growth centers in the hope of maintaining its dominance contradict multipolar realities, lead to destabilization of the geopolitical situation, divert huge resources from solving the problems of sustainable development and overcoming socio-economic imbalances and inequality.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>A whole arsenal of hybrid warfare methods is being used against competitors: illegitimate sanctions, protectionism, theft of sovereign assets, destruction of critical infrastructure, machinations of markets and pricing mechanisms, and abuse of the function of reserve currencies.</span> <em><strong>Attempts are being made to justify violations of international law, including interference in the internal affairs of states, by some kind of "rules-based order."</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>The Western minority is conducting a dialogue with the Global South in the old way, from the position of "white supremacy."</strong></em> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/borba_s_kolonializmom_i_neokolonializmom/" rel>Colonialism</a> <span>has not yet been eradicated,</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/un/" rel>contrary to UN</a> <span>resolutions: there are 17 non-self-governing territories in the world.</span> <em><strong>Neocolonial practices are flourishing in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres. The former metropolises would like to continue to pump out natural resources wherever possible, restraining the industrial and technological development of the countries to which these resources belong.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Hotbeds of tension are multiplying. The settlement of long-standing crises is being deliberately slowed down. The unresolved Palestinian issue has already unleashed a new spiral of violence not only in Gaza, but also in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Over the past year and a half, 47,000 Palestinian civilians have fallen victim to the escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is a record number of civilian casualties since World War II.</span> <em><strong>We would like to emphasise that the final resolution of the confrontation is possible only on the basis of a two-state formula and the creation of an independent Palestine coexisting in peace and security with Israel.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Another knot of confrontation is being cultivated in the</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/atr/" rel>Asia-Pacific region</a><span>. The key goal of the "Indo-Pacific strategies" that erode universal ASEAN-centric formats is to promote</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/" rel>NATO's</a> <span>interests in this part of the world and "contain" independent players.</span> <em><strong><span>In Europe, the thoughtless expansion of the alliance has already resulted in the Ukrainian crisis. The end of the conflict is hindered by uncontrolled financial support and the pumping of weapons into the openly racist Kiev regime by its patrons. Nevertheless, it is gradually becoming clear that a solution can only be found by addressing the root causes of the crisis in</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/maps/ua/" rel>Ukraine</a><span>, including the fulfilment of obligations to respect human rights, including the rights to language and religion, and compliance with the principle of indivisible security in Europe.</span></strong></em> <span>A detailed discussion on this topic took place at Russian-US</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998279/" rel>talks</a> <span>in Riyadh on February 18.</span></p>
<p><span>The threat of international</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/international_safety/crime/dokumenty_po_protivodeystviyu_terrorizmu_drugim_vyzovam_i_ugrozam/" rel>terrorism</a><span>, which has acquired a new dimension as a result of NATO's military adventures in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and Syria, remains acute. Terrorist groups around the world are "fueled" by the supply of Western weapons flowing out of Ukraine.</span> <em><strong>In the spirit of "double standards", the West divides militants into "us" and "them". In Europe, such a short-sighted policy has already led to terrorist attacks against the Nord Stream pipelines. Radical nationalist and sometimes openly neo-fascist movements are supported as another tool for confrontation with Russia.</strong></em> <span>In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II, we call on our G20 partners to stand on the side of truth and right, acting as a "united front" in the fight against the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and racism.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>The dominance of conflicts and hot spots on the international agenda and their impact on global stability prove that it is impossible to ensure the security of some countries at the expense of others. It can only be indivisible and equal for all. In a multipolar environment, there is no place for hegemony and hostile bloc politics. It is time for the West to accept a new balance of power and start building relations with the states of the world majority on the basis of mutual respect.</strong></em> <span>We also discussed this with our American colleagues in Riyadh and agreed on the main thing: international relations should be built on the basis of the recognition that each country has its own national interests.</span></p>
<p><em><strong><span>Geopolitical contradictions can only be resolved through constructive cooperation based on the principles</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/about-us/un-charter/full-text" rel>of the UN Charter</a> <span>in their entirety and interconnection.</span></strong></em> <span>This implies the democratisation of global governance in favour of justice for the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Strengthening the role of such multilateral formats as</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/about/" rel>BRICS</a><span>, the</span> <a href="https://rus.sectsco.org/" rel>SCO</a><span>, the</span> <a href="https://eec.eaeunion.org/" rel>EAEU</a><span>, the African Union, the Arab League and CELAC contributes to solving this problem. We welcome the efforts to normalise relations between the GCC countries and Iran. In the same vein, President Vladimir Putin's initiative to form the</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/activity/coordinating_and_advisory_body/head_of_subjects_council/materialy-o-vypolnenii-rekomendacij-zasedanij-sgs/xxxvi-zasedanie-sgs/1767070/" rel>Greater Eurasian Partnership</a> <span>is taking place.</span></p>
<p><span>The G20 is in demand as a platform for an equal dialogue between the leading economic powers, as a visible embodiment of the concept of multipolarity. It is symbolic that the first African G20 watch is taking place at a time of a significant anniversary for the continent: 65 years ago, at the initiative of the USSR, the</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/un/organs/general_assembly/" rel>UN General Assembly</a> <span>adopted</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/declarations/colonial.shtml" rel>the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples</a><span>. We hope that under Pretoria's leadership, it will be possible to take another step towards overcoming the rudiments of neocolonialism,</span> <em><strong>including reforming the Middle East and the WTO, as well as expanding the representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America–-and only them–-in the UN Security Council.</strong></em> <span>Such agreements will contribute to ensuring sustainable peace and development. [My Emphasis]</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Aside from noting certain important points that were discussed with the Outlaw US Empire in Riyadh little has changed since Lavrov’s last appraisal of the international situation at the previous G-20 in Rio, which I reported upon and can be found in the Gym’s archive. IMO, such coarse reminders will continue until the situation changes. And this brings up a question I haven’t seen posed to Lavrov: Were the Outlaw US Empire’s representatives at Riyadh reminded that there’s only one system of international law and it springs from the UN Charter; in other words, did they admit the UN Charter has primacy and the West’s “rules based order” is out-of-order and has no bearing on international relations? If they didn’t, then attaining any real agreements will be very difficult. As we know and Lavrov noted, the West has very little to contribute to global development since they’re too busy spending their scant resources on war to the great neglect of their own citizenry. Lavrov mentioned the Greater Eurasian Partnership which appears to be awaiting “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia [to update]</span> <s>is updating</s> <span>the concept of the GEP in an interdepartmental format, which will be supplemented with practical tools: an action plan at the level of economic authorities and sectoral applied projects.” I don’t believe I’ve provided the 2023 update to the GEP proposal, which is where the above is cited. I’ll append that document to the end of this report. And now for today’s meeting:</span></p>
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<blockquote>
<p>Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the G20 Ministerial Council Meeting on G20 Objectives in 2025: Discussion of the Planned Results of the South African Presidency and Review of the Forum's Activities, Johannesburg, February 21, 2025</p>
<p>Mr President,</p>
<p><span>In the context of the fragmentation of the global economy, the G20 dialogue on global issues is more in demand than ever. We note</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/maps/za/" rel>South Africa's</a> <span>thorough preparations for the forum and the relevance of the selected thematic priorities.</span> <em><strong>We are particularly impressed by the emphasis on the search for a "common denominator" in the interests of combining steps to promote sustainable growth and development.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>So far, we are far from the desired results, and the general background for working together in the face of escalating geopolitical confrontation remains unfavorable.</strong></em> <span>The statistics are well known: we are desperately behind the timetable for achieving the</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/un/" rel>UN</a> <span>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) until 2030. Only 17% of SDG indicators are within reach.</span> <em><strong>On many parameters, including poverty alleviation, food security, and access to energy, additional intensive efforts are urgently neede</strong></em><span>d.</span></p>
<p><span>Historical experience shows that it is impossible to cope with common challenges and threats alone. That is why in 2008 the G20 was created at the level of leaders. Then, in extraordinary circumstances, it was necessary to urgently "extinguish the fire" of the global financial crisis. For some time, it was possible to stabilize the markets.</span> <em><strong>However, now we are witnessing a whole cascade of intertwined crises. Behind them are armed conflicts unleashed and encouraged by the West, trade, technological and hybrid wars, the destruction of the international trading system and the transformation of the dollar into an instrument of manipulation and a weapon.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>The weakening of one link in the global chain dooms all of humanity to severe trials.</span> <em><strong>A striking example is the West's anti-Russian sanctions, multiplied by the terrorist attacks on Nord Stream, which have hit the competitive potential of the initiators of the illegal restrictions, primarily the EU. Along with the economic miscalculations of the West, all this has reduced the growth rate on the planet, provoked inflation, market disruptions, and undermined the development opportunities of the Global South.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Nevertheless, the modern world is radically transforming and becoming truly multipolar. The five hundred years of Western domination are irrevocably coming to an end.</span> <em><strong>We must find the strength to accept this objective reality. The international community does not want to be held hostage to the unilateral decisions of former sovereigns.</strong></em> <span>This is especially evident today, when we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the war against Nazism and the 65th anniversary of the adoption</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/declarations/colonial.shtml" rel>of the UN Declaration on Decolonisation</a> <span>as a starting point for the independence of Africa, Asia and the Global South as a whole.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/about/" rel>Back</a> <span>in 2022, the BRICS confidently surpassed the G7 in terms of GDP. Today, the ratio of their shares in the global economy is 37% to 29%. At the same time, developing countries are growing twice as fast as Western countries–-over 4% compared to less than 2%, and are becoming a generator of breakthrough ideas and progress, including in the field of artificial intelligence. During</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/about/" rel>Russia's presidency of</a> <span>the BRICS at the summit in Kazan in 2024, a number of promising decisions were made to launch non-discriminatory mechanisms to stimulate investment and trade that do not depend on anyone's whim, including taking into account the special needs of Africa.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>Neoliberal circles in the West consider the objective process of the formation of multipolarity as a challenge, not an opportunity. They are making an absurd bet on confrontation and inflicting a "strategic defeat" on competitors. The practices of neocolonialism are being used: pumping out natural resources from developing countries on the cheap, imposing pseudo-environmental taxes on their products, attempts to block cooperation between Africa, Asia and Latin America with China and Russia, and restraining the industrialization of the Global South.</strong></em> <span>One example: if the extraction of rare earth metals can bring developing countries a meager $11 billion per year, then the production of batteries based on them in the West already turns into revenues of $400 billion.</span></p>
<p><span>The peculiarities of the functioning of the global financial system are also well known.</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1982450/" rel>Last year,</a> <span>at the November summit of the G20 in Rio de Janeiro, the amount of military spending in the world was named—$2.4 trillion.</span> <em><strong>Assistance to Ukraine, allocated at the expense of stealing sovereign assets and reducing international development assistance, has reached off the charts.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>In these conditions, thanks primarily to the efforts of the BRICS countries and their like-minded countries, the G20 still retains the status of a useful platform for aligning the interests of states with different strategies and levels of development. In 2024, the leaders of our states clearly stated that the Global South should receive genuine levers of influence on the activities of multilateral institutions, in particular the IMF and the World Bank, corresponding to its weight, and ensure that its needs are taken into account in the WTO.</span> <em><strong>Now we have to implement the agreements, and Russia will contribute to this in every possible way.</strong></em></p>
<p>It is important to ensure that developing countries will be able to independently dispose of their natural resources, receive a fair price for them, and have equal and direct access to markets, supply chains, technologies and investments, along with everyone else. We share South Africa's plans to review the G20's activities over the past years. We hope that the results will reaffirm our commitment to depoliticised cooperation based on the inviolability of the principle of consensus in order to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth set back in 2009. This would be a worthy outcome of the first ever G20 summit on African soil. [My Emphasis]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Clearly there’s lots of work to accomplish. Training and technology transfer will allow those developing nations having extractive assets to add value to them prior to their export as Lavrov described with rare earths and batteries; but that is only one of many such examples. As noted in my previous comment, getting the West to submit to the discipline of the UN Charter and ceasing their neocolonial exploitation is a must, which also means the Neoliberal Parasites within the West living off those rents need to have their behaviors curtailed via law and its very stringent application. If the West doesn’t cease its immoral behavior, then it will need to suffer the application of force so compliance is obtained. Along with BRICS the G-20 must continue its work to develop an alternative global commerce system particularly commodity markets that don’t denominate in dollars. The loaded unmentioned item is debt resolution that’s an absolute must for many nations since dollar-denominated loans are strangling them because the dollar is appreciating on currency markets. Many nations require relief this year, not sometime in the further future. I see Lavrov has conducted a presser at the end of today’s meeting. That will be the subject of my next report. I end by appending the GEP document:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/activity/coordinating_and_advisory_body/head_of_subjects_council/materialy-o-vypolnenii-rekomendacij-zasedanij-sgs/xxxvi-zasedanie-sgs/1767070/" rel>Russia's Greater Eurasian Partnership initiative</a></p>
<p>The Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP) is a concrete, practical initiative of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, put forward in his Address to the Federal Assembly in 2015 in order to form a broad integration contour on the Eurasian continent. The envisaged collective efforts with interested partners are based on the desire to promote the construction of a fair polycentric world order, which implies the development of equal, multi-speed and mutually beneficial economic cooperation across the entire range of topical issues. Progress in this direction will be carried out on a voluntary basis, will be open and will contribute to the closest possible alignment of all relevant structures, mechanisms and tools in this area.</p>
<p>General approaches to the principles of the GEP operation are set out in key strategic planning documents affecting the international activities of the Russian Federation.</p>
<p>First of all, these include the 2021 National Security Strategy and the 2023 Foreign Policy Concept. It is understood that the GEP, the core of which may be the EAEU, the SCO, and ASEAN, also uses the capabilities of such complementary formats as the Chinese infrastructure initiative BRI and can create the necessary prerequisites for turning Eurasia into a "single continental space of peace, stability, mutual trust, development and prosperity."</p>
<p>Within the framework of the work through the GEP, special importance will be given to the proper consideration of the specifics of the organization of production processes, technological structures and market conditions. The key tasks are considered to strengthen regulatory and physical connectivity, simplify trade operations and investment, and eliminate unjustified barriers that impede the effective establishment of supply chains and economic relations.</p>
<p>In terms of the sectoral structure, the GEP could include the following components:</p>
<p>- Network of international trade and investment agreements;</p>
<p>- Common transport space;</p>
<p>- A single network of economic corridors and development zones;</p>
<p>- Digital measurement;</p>
<p>- Energy space;</p>
<p>- Financial measurement;</p>
<p>The EAEU will be one of the key players in the GEP field. Particular emphasis will be placed on the conclusion of multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements. Such work is already being actively carried out through the EAEU. There is an FTA with Serbia and Vietnam, the prospects for signing similar documents with Egypt, Indonesia, the UAE, India, Iran are being considered (as of today, a temporary FTA agreement is in force with Iran).</p>
<p>The task of forming the Greater Eurasian Partnership is reflected in the Strategic Directions for the Development of Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025, approved at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) on December 11, 2020.</p>
<p>In 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the SCO and ASEAN secretariats. The ASEAN and SCO countries supported the possibility of establishing mutually beneficial cooperation between the EAEU, ASEAN and the SCO at the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi in May 2016. On the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN summit in Singapore on November 14, 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and ASEAN. The EAEU-ASEAN cooperation programme has been extended until 2025 During the SCO Heads of State Council meeting on 10 November 2020, it was decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the EEC. The relevant memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Dushanbe on 16-17 September 2021.</p>
<p>An intensive dialogue has been established with China since 2015. As part of the implementation of this agreement, in May 2018, a non-preferential Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation was signed between the EAEU and its member states, on the one hand, and the PRC, on the other hand, which entered into force on October 25, 2019.</p>
<p>In continuation of these efforts, in February 2023, a Plan (Roadmap) for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU and China was adopted. The document is aimed at intensifying trade and economic cooperation in a practical plane and consists of three sections: digitalization of transport corridors; establishment of dialogues on foreign trade policy; conducting a joint scientific study to study the effects of various scenarios for deepening trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU and China.</p>
<p>The transport sector invariably appears as a priority of the GEP. The transport system is the backbone of any economy for increasing foreign trade flows. Russia, which occupies 1/7 of the world's land area and is located along the entire Eurasian continent, is able to offer a wide range of competitive air, road, rail and sea routes by all modes of transport. Systematic work is underway to develop transport infrastructure in the East-West and North-South directions. The importance of developing these projects was especially emphasized by almost all the heads of the SEEC member states at the last meeting on May 25, 2023. The Northern Sea Route has good prospects for commercial exploitation.</p>
<p>There is close cooperation with all constructive-minded international partners on the issue of supporting the GEP initiative. In addition to China, such dynamic and attractive economies as Vietnam, India, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, etc., also declare a positive perception of the GEP in one form or another.</p>
<p>Within the framework of such significant international platforms as SPIEF and EEF, thematic sessions and round. tables are regularly held on various aspects of the construction of Greater Eurasia and the GEP.</p>
<p>Currently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia is updating the concept of the GEP in an interdepartmental format, which will be supplemented with practical tools: an action plan at the level of economic authorities and sectoral applied projects.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><em><span>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a</span> <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> <span>to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</span></em></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-post-g-20-presser
title: Lavrov&amp;#039;s Post-G-20 Presser
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-post-g-20-presser
hash: y-�����L�\ v�
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container">
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<p><span>Behind the microphones staring out at the gathered media yet again, Lavrov provides</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1999163/" rel>his recap remarks</a> <span>on the conference and fields questions during the 27-minute session:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We have concluded the G20 ministerial meeting held in Johannesburg.</p>
<p>I would like to thank our South African friends through the media for the excellent organisation of the discussion, both in terms of its content and in resolving numerous protocol and organisational issues.</p>
<p><em><strong>The main topic of the exchange of views between the foreign ministers was the importance of "strengthening the voice" of developing countries in global decision-making. A major conversation took place. There is some progress in this area.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Since last year, the African Union has become a full member of the G20.</span> <em><strong>We are interested in obtaining the same status for the Arab League and CELAC.</strong></em> <span>We welcome this attitude. We believe that at some stage the</span> <a href="https://portal.eaeunion.org/" rel>EAEU</a> <span>may well claim a similar status. Because all these associations are showing positive dynamics in terms of their contribution to the development of international economic ties.</span></p>
<p><span>We presented our vision of international problems and ways to solve them at a time when multipolar realities are already beginning to be recognized by many. The fact that multipolarity is coming is obvious to us and to the</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/about/" rel>BRICS</a> <span>countries. Statistics show exactly this.</span></p>
<p><span>The BRICS countries have surpassed the G7 countries in terms of total gross domestic product. The BRICS account for 37% of global GDP and the G7 countries for 29%.</span> <em><strong>This raises the question of the need to reform global economic institutions even more acutely so that they reflect the real weight of the countries of the Global South, the world majority in the world economy, and to build non-discriminatory economic ties. We have actively discussed this.</strong></em> <span>Russia is ready to contribute in every possible way to further progress in this area. There are still many problems.</span></p>
<p><span>Most of the participants in the Johannesburg meeting stated that it is extremely unlikely that the Sustainable Development Goals approved by the UN until</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/ru/sustainable-development-goals/" rel>2030</a> <span>will be achieved. Only 17% of these Goals have a chance that they will be implemented.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>At the same time, inequality is growing in the world, and other problems of developing countries are growing. We welcome the steps that can be taken through additional technology transfer, additional concessional financing for developing countries, and increased food aid. These steps are overdue, but they will not be enough to radically change the situation.</strong></em></p>
<p>The global economy is characterised by a disproportionate increase in defence and military spending. According to Western experts, it amounted to $2.4 trillion a year. An outrageous example is the Zelensky regime, which absorbs (at least) hundreds of billions of dollars in military aid, which could be spent on vital development assistance programmes around the world, primarily in Africa.</p>
<p><em><strong>The IMF and the World Bank are setting records for replenishing the Zelensky regime through their policies, allocating loans and credits that are many times higher than the funds allocated to African and other developing countries. We noted that global stability is being undermined. This has an extremely negative impact on the global economy.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>We called for respect for the universally recognised norms of international law on the part of our Western colleagues. We emphasised the importance of restoring the role of the UN as a place for coordinating the actions of states and developing a fair balance of interests.</strong></em> <span>We also noted the stabilising role for international economic relations of multilateral structures working on the basis of consensus among the participants. Among them are</span> <a href="https://rus.sectsco.org/" rel>the SCO</a><span>,</span> <a href="https://portal.eaeunion.org/" rel>the EAEU</a><span>, the African Union, the Arab League and CELAC, which I have mentioned. All this creates additional opportunities for resolving emerging problems at the regional level.</span></p>
<p><span>At the global level, the role played by BRICS is certainly attracting everyone's attention. We informed our colleagues in detail about the results of last year's</span> <a href="https://brics-russia2024.ru/summit/" rel>BRICS summit</a> <span>in Kazan,</span> <em><strong>where a number of promising ideas were formulated in terms of the mandate of the G20: an agreement on the launch of BRICS payment and settlement mechanisms, an investment platform and a grain exchange.</strong></em></p>
<p>If we are talking about structures that play a certain role in international economic relations, then the G20 as a whole retains the role of a platform for dialogue between old and new centres of power. We spoke in favour of maintaining the economic profile of this association, as it was supposed and agreed at the very beginning of its creation in 2008, without politicising the G20 agenda, as our Western colleagues have been trying to do in recent years, seeking to "Ukrainise" the agenda. Attempts have always been unsuccessful. They take a lot of energy and nerves from the participants, especially the Sherpas.</p>
<p><span>We drew the attention of our colleagues to a significant date, especially since it is celebrated in the year of Africa's presidency of the G20 – the 65th anniversary of</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/declarations/colonial.shtml" rel>the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples</a><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>The leading role in the adoption of this historic document was played by our country (then the Soviet Union). Despite the successes achieved by the countries of the Global South, freed from the burden of exploitation, the problem has not been completely resolved. There are 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories in the world.</span> <em><strong>Colonial dependence has largely given way to neocolonial dependence. Former metropolises and Western transnational corporations have monopolized markets and supply chains, using their advantages to pump out natural resources and raw materials from the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Then they add value at their enterprises, extracting maximum profit from the entire process.</strong></em></p>
<p>This is not normal in the 21st century. We support our partners from the countries of the world majority, who are advocating for liberation from neo-colonial practices more and more persistently.</p>
<p><span>South Africa, which chaired the G20 this year, completes the series of BRICS presidencies that began in 2022, when Indonesia was at the helm of the G20. In 2023, India; in 2024, Brazil. This consistent option for BRICS to chair the G20 has yielded a positive result, which has made it possible to strengthen the position of the Global South in our forum.</span> <em><strong><span>All this contributes to the establishment of a more just multipolar world order based on the sovereign equality of states, as required by the</span> <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/about-us/un-charter/full-text" rel>UN Charter</a><span>, and on all other principles of the Charter in their entirety and interconnection.</span></strong></em></p>
<p>On the whole, we are satisfied with the results of the meeting. Disagreements have not disappeared, but the conversation continues. This is always useful. I believe that in Johannesburg we managed to set a positive vector for further cooperation in the G20 and to increase attention to acute problems, primarily of the African continent, as well as other countries of the Global South.</p>
<p>This is a good and useful contribution to the preparations for the G20 summit in Johannesburg in November 2025.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>You said that the G20 is primarily an economic association. Still, the representatives of South Africa, opening the year of their presidency, among other economic challenges, set themselves the goal of reaching a consensus on the Ukrainian crisis in the G20. How do you see this success? Is such a consensus possible, given the composition of the participants?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>I am not aware that the South Africans set themselves such a goal. I closely followed how they came into their own rights, how our Sherpas worked.</span> <em><strong>They did not have such a task.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Yesterday I was</span> <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998985/" rel>received</a> <span>by President of South Africa S. Ramaphosa. Today we had a long conversation with South African Foreign Minister R. Lamola. They reaffirmed that they fully support the need not to deviate from the originally agreed mandate of the G20–-trade, financial, economic, logistical and transport issues.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>I did not. And my colleagues who worked on the preparation of the ministerial meeting did not see such a trend.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question: As</strong> <span>you know,</span> <em><strong>the United States ignored the ministerial meeting in Johannesburg at a high level.</strong></em> <span>At the same time, previous summits and meetings were openly "torpedoed" by the West in an attempt to impose the Ukrainian agenda. How can such a destructive influence of the EU be neutralised? Does the G20 have a future?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>You said that previous meetings were "torpedoed" by the West with attempts to Ukrainise them. I would say that this is not entirely correct.</span> <em><strong>Previous attempts by the West to Ukrainise the G20 agenda were "torpedoed" by the other members of this association.</strong></em></p>
<p>If you look at the final documents, after all the G20 members agreed to include a short text on geopolitical problems as a compromise, you will not find anything in them that could be rejected by the Russian side. They talk about the existence of a large number of problems, including the 2024 summit that highlighted the Palestinian problem and what is happening in the Gaza Strip and in the Middle East as a whole.</p>
<p>But in order to coordinate these small texts, our experts spent a lot of time. And this does not have any impact on the problems of Palestine, Ukraine, Africa, where conflicts flare up again. Because there is an appropriate format for all political crises.</p>
<p><em><strong>On the other hand, on the positive side, I would like to note that these "inserts" in the declarations of the G20 leaders did not in any way affect the essence of economic discussions that meet the interests of forming a multipolar world of agreements formulated in these documents.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>The aggressive global minority is becoming even smaller every day, but no less aggressive. The statements by Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron and Kallas are becoming more rhetorical. What do you think they are counting on? What are they likely to expect?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>I am surprised by this. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy</span> <em><strong>Kaja Kallas spoke at the G20 with the same set of accusations and proclaimed certain "plans" that will not allow Russia to take its rightful place in the world.</strong></em> <span>There is a tragicomic element in this.</span></p>
<p>She said that the "television picture" of the Russian Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State, as well as the national security advisers of Moscow and Washington, have created the impression for the whole world that Russia is the "winner." This mentality has not disappeared. From ancient times, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when it was necessary to build new relations in the European part of Eurasia – "either/or" – either you are with us or against us.</p>
<p>When the first coup d'état took place in Ukraine in 2004, which, we believed, was not a manifestation of the West's systemic policy, these problems persisted and worsened. Under pressure from the United States, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine did not recognise Viktor Yanukovych's victory in the second round and appointed a third round of voting that was not provided for in the Constitution, which was infinitely manipulated. In the end, Viktor Yushchenko won.</p>
<p><span>Before the third round, Belgian Foreign Minister Claude de Gucht publicly stated that he called on Ukrainian voters to make the "right" choice: either they are with Russia or with Europe.</span> <em><strong>This confrontational mood has not gone away. Behind it lies the desire not to allow anyone to escape the "eye" and influence of Western countries. They are still trying to do this in all parts of the world, including in the post-Soviet space.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>Speaking about the people who are now trying to assess Western countries and prevent their split, I cannot fail to mention NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.</span> <em><strong>He speaks as if he is the president of a major and powerful power, and not an official who is obliged to reflect the consensus of all its members.</strong></em> <span>He is rushing around the world, around the capitals of the North Atlantic Alliance member states,</span> <em><strong><span>demanding that a peaceful settlement be prevented that would allow Russia to derive at least some benefits from the</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/69390" rel>special military operation</a><span>.</span></strong></em></p>
<p><span>According to our information,</span> <em><strong>he is "instructing" Vladimir Zelensky, pointing out to him the need to stand his ground, not to show weakness before the start of talks, and emphasises that it is unacceptable for Kiev to hint at the possibility of softening its positions and making "territorial concessions."</strong></em> <span>This is a bacchanalia.</span> <em><strong>This person (in this case, Mark Rutte) is abusing and grossly violating his functional duties.</strong></em></p>
<p>Not all NATO members take such a "frenzied" position. Not everyone wants to continue spending money on arming Ukraine, to subordinate all the work of both NATO and the European Union to Vladimir Zelensky's wishes. So the truth will prevail.</p>
<p><span>Now there are more sensible voices not only from a number of European countries, but also from Washington. We spoke in detail about the</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998279/" rel>results of our talks</a><span>. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has touched on this topic several times.</span> <em><strong>The main thing is not that we are inferior to someone or someone is inferior to us. This "either-or" should not exist. There should be an understanding that politics and diplomacy are primarily dialogue, the desire to listen to the interlocutor and find in his statements what coincides with your interests</strong></em><span>. Then there is a consensus on certain issues, which does not mean that disagreements will be completely removed. This will never happen.</span> <em><strong>The main thing is to achieve results where interests coincide and translate them into practical actions, including in the economy. And where they diverge, we must not allow this divergence to degenerate into confrontation, let alone a heated one.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>How did your G20 colleagues from friendly countries react to the resumption of the Russian-US dialogue? How can this affect the formation of multipolarity, which the world-majority countries are striving for?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>Everyone welcomed our</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998279/" rel>meeting</a><span>.</span> <em><strong>They understand that this is not the end of the era of confrontation between Russia and the West. But the fact that the beginning of the conversation in itself is a return to normalcy is recognised and welcomed by absolutely everyone.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>The way the "tragicomic characters" who head the Brussels bureaucracy and NATO reacted to the</span> <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1998294/" rel>meeting</a> <span>in Riyadh is very indicative.</span> <em><strong>The very fact that representatives of the two great powers sat down and talked, each stating their position, is perceived as a betrayal of the interests of the West. These are unhealthy people</strong></em><span>.</span></p>
<p>By and large, all our interlocutors from the countries of the world majority feel this way. Perhaps not everyone tells us about this directly. But it feels like so.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>The draft resolution of the UN General Assembly, which was prepared by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, the Baltic countries and a number of other European states by February 24, demands that Moscow "immediately" and "unconditionally" withdraw its troops from Ukraine. At the same time, for the first time since the beginning of the special military operation, the United States did not co-sponsor such a draft resolution on Ukraine. Do you think this indicates a shift in relations between Russia and the United States and the beginning of a thaw?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>This testifies to pragmatism as the essence of the Trump administration's policy.</strong></em> <span>At meetings with the leaders of a number of countries (most certainly at meetings with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and probably in contacts with other representatives of the world majority),</span> <em><strong>he emphasises that his main slogan is common sense.</strong></em></p>
<p>This is the only change in the list of co-sponsors of this aimless dead-end resolution that you mentioned.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>What issues is the Russian Foreign Ministry working on in preparation for a possible meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump? When can it take place?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <span>You will find out when it will take place.</span></p>
<p>What issues are we working on? Confidentiality is an integral part of the preparation of any diplomatic process. So I am sure that we will inform you in a timely manner. But first of all, the Kremlin press service will inform you.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> <span>US Treasury Secretary Stephen Bessent said that it is possible to discuss the issue of easing sanctions against Russia as part of the talks on the Ukrainian crisis. What is Moscow's position on Western sanctions? Is it possible to achieve a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis without a comprehensive solution to the issue of sanctions that would take into account Russia's interests?</span></p>
<p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>We are not touching on this topic. We proceed from the premise that this is a gross violation of all the principles that the West itself has laid down in the global economy: fair competition, the inviolability of property, the presumption of innocence and free market mechanisms. All this has collapsed. We must also add the direct theft of Russian assets. This is shameful. Not only did they steal it, but they also use interest to finance the war against our country with the hands of Ukrainians.</strong></em></p>
<p>Recently, there have been reports that a number of Western companies are ready to return and resume their business in Russia. I believe that our economic bloc reacted correctly. The approximate meaning of this reaction is that over the years of this hybrid war, including illegal sanctions, we have done a lot to give a powerful impetus to the development of our own industries, in which until recently we were seriously dependent on the United States, the European Union, Japan, etc.</p>
<p><span>Approximately the same logic should be followed when we talk about the return of Western companies to Russia (they should not be discouraged from this).</span> <em><strong>But it is necessary to let them only into those industries that will not create risks for our economy in case suddenly someone gets up there "on the wrong foot" again.</strong></em></p>
<p>The same is true of the sanctions. In many ways, they forced us, but through this they taught and inspired us to undertake serious reforms, to deeply restructure our economy in the interests of full-fledged, sovereign and independent development that does not depend on the whims of those who still consider themselves to be in charge on the world stage, including the world economy.</p>
<p><span>I will finish where I started.</span> <em><strong>Multipolarity is gaining the upper hand. The growth rates of new powerful centres of power–-economic, political and financial–-show that this multipolarity is unstoppable. In this sense, the importance of the G20 is preserved so that its Western participants understand the irreversibility of this process and begin to integrate into it.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We are not saying that multipolarity excludes the West. They are also part of our planet, the world economy and international life. And</span> <em><strong>the G20 is a good place for explanatory work, for "education" of our Western colleagues</strong></em><span>. [My Emphasis]</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Clearly, the Outlaw US Empire isn’t yet ready to conduct normal business. IMO, Trump is addicted to too many Queen songs and is nowhere near ready to be seen as a mere peer, and that will present difficulties for his foreign policy. And as we’ve seen, Marco Rubio is very similar, which is why Trump chose him. The big question: Will Trump’s “common sense” overcome his clear exceptionalism? The question of how Russia will approach the sanctions issue during the negotiations was finally answered very firmly. Their removal will be a sign that Western behavior is changing. Meanwhile, all the alternatives will continue to be constructed and put into use. Unfortunately as you read, the Q&amp;A was dominated by the aggressive war being waged on Russia by the Outlaw US Empire and most of its NATO vassals and very little concerned G-20 business. IMO, the G-20 becomes stronger with the African Union’s inclusion, which I hope will be followed by adding the ASEAN.</p>
<p>I feel it necessary to single out this one paragraph where Lavrov provided a lesson in the basic substance and aims of diplomacy:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>The main thing is not that we are inferior to someone or someone is inferior to us. This "either-or" should not exist. There should be an understanding that politics and diplomacy are primarily dialogue, the desire to listen to the interlocutor and find in his statements what coincides with your interests</strong></em><span>. Then there is a consensus on certain issues, which does not mean that disagreements will be completely removed. This will never happen.</span> <em><strong>The main thing is to achieve results where interests coincide and translate them into practical actions, including in the economy. And where they diverge, we must not allow this divergence to degenerate into confrontation, let alone a heated one.</strong></em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The West and others need to mature and learn this very important foundational premise to the conduct of human relations. And not just governments but individuals also need to adopt that lesson. The twin conflict inducing behaviors—Megalomania and Pleonexia—need to be more openly discussed and denounced while the above is proclaimed to be the proper path to follow.</p>
<p><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><em><span>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a</span> <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> <span>to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</span></em></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/plenary-session-of-the-future-technologies
title: Plenary Session of the Future Technologies Forum at Moscow&amp;#039;s World Trade Centre
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/plenary-session-of-the-future-technologies
hash: �@ k�A�b��v�e �
content:
<h3 data-sanitized-class="subtitle">Putin as Promoter yet again.</h3><div dir="auto" data-sanitized-class="body markup">
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<p><span>It seems like</span> <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76304" rel>this event</a> <span>just happened, but that just reflects how fast time goes by for me nowadays. The topic of discussion is new materials and chemistry. This year, the national Technology Leadership Project of the same name is being launched. Its goal is to create infrastructure and conditions for the production of chemical and biotechnological products, new composite materials, rare and rare earth metals. After the session. Putin and select others toured the exhibits to see some examples of what was discussed. Then we are told he held further discussions with more scientists, which I hope we get the transcript of as I’m sure it will also be fascinating. But first, the Plenary Session:</span></p>
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<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you, thank you.</span></p>
<p>Dear colleagues and friends,</p>
<p>Ladies and gentlemen,</p>
<p>I am glad to welcome the participants of the Third International Forum of Future Technologies. According to the established tradition, here, on this platform, the cutting-edge frontiers of scientific research are outlined, ideas are discussed that are still being crystallized, weighed in laboratories and research centers, but very soon, I have no doubt, they will be transformative and transform the world.</p>
<p>The topic of the current forum is chemistry and application of new materials. These are really extensive, as they often say today, cross-cutting areas, they largely determine the movement of humanity forward, the implementation of the most ambitious plans of engineers and designers.</p>
<p>Now rapid changes are taking place in these areas, which, in turn, create the ground, "spur" the next, even more revolutionary discoveries–-in healthcare, industry, microelectronics, in the creation of unmanned systems, in all areas without exception.</p>
<p><em><strong>It is quite obvious that in order to be among the leaders in key areas of scientific and technological development, and this is the task we set for ourselves, we need to achieve, among other things, superiority in the field of chemistry and in the creation of new materials.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>This means that we need to offer competitive price and quality, and most importantly–-</span><em><strong>innovative solutions and products, have our own, unique technological keys that will allow us to produce and export to global markets not primary raw materials, but products of the highest standards.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>I would like to emphasize that in our history we have experience in solving problems of the same scale and significance. In the 60-70s of the XX century, largely due to the efforts of Leonid Kostandov–-this name is not known to many people today, few people remember, but among specialists they will probably immediately respond to this surname and name. He was the Minister of Chemical Industry of the USSR. That's when hundreds, hundreds of advanced factories were launched, specialized research institutes and design bureaus were created.</span> <em><strong>In terms of total production, the Soviet chemical industry ranked first in Europe and second in the world.</strong></em></p>
<p>However, this legacy has largely been squandered and wasted. I say this with great regret. It's a shame, to be honest; it's a shame in front of those people who put their whole lives into creating the chemical industry of the Soviet Union, worked for future generations, lived in offices, and moved their offices "on wheels". They lived in railway wagons, moving all over the vast territory of the Soviet Union–-from one republic to another. They were malnourished, did not get enough sleep, and created the chemical industry of the USSR.</p>
<p><em><strong>Unfortunately, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the most important enterprises were stopped, and sometimes even simply destroyed, their equipment was taken out and cut up for scrap. Together with the degradation of our own chemical industry, we have also fallen into a strong external dependence, lost a significant part of industrial and technological sovereignty, so we understand from our negative experience what systemic problems vulnerability in the field of chemistry leads to.</strong></em></p>
<p>We had to literally rebuild many technological and production chains, build new enterprises in order to independently produce deep-processing products. So, in the Tyumen Region, new capacities were built on the basis of the Tobolsk Petrochemical Plant, and in 2019 the modern ZapSibNeftekhim petrochemical plant was launched. Construction of the Amur Gas Chemical Complex and other enterprises is underway, which will significantly increase the production of polymers–-a key product of oil and gas chemistry—in the coming years.</p>
<p><span>I will also add that</span> <em><strong>after cleaning and recultivating the territory</strong></em> <span>in the city of Usolye-Sibirsky in the Irkutsk region, we plan to create a modern federal center for low- and medium-tonnage chemistry here.</span> <em><strong>For people who are not directly connected and are far from the specifics of the industry, I will say that we are talking about the production of special chemical products in small but necessary volumes–-resins, solvents, and so on–-without which it is simply impossible to develop microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, and many other critical areas.</strong></em></p>
<p>Catalysts are also a cross-cutting direction. This is the basis of the basics of chemistry--substances that determine the rate of reaction. It is important to ensure not only development, but also subsequent testing, pilot production, and then widespread industrial use and scaling of domestic solutions.</p>
<p><span>To support such projects, a special scientific and technological cluster is already being formed on the basis of the famous Boreskov Institute of Catalysis in Novosibirsk. This is a major step in</span> <em><strong>the development of the entire Siberian scientific agglomeration as one of the key centers for creating future technologies in the field of chemistry.</strong></em></p>
<p>Dear colleagues!</p>
<p>To meet the dynamics of progress and global competition, we need to multiply the potential of the domestic chemical industry and related industries, build a full cycle from the search and development of new deposits, including rare and rare earth metals, mining and deep processing of minerals, to the production of high-tech products with high added value.</p>
<p><span>There is a lot to work here. We basically have everything we need. You just need to do it purposefully, create business conditions, and invest in infrastructure. Lithium is still not extracted. But what about without it? This is obvious to experts. And we can do it.</span> <em><strong>And we could have done it 10-15 years ago.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>We need to solve these problems at a fundamentally new technological level, applying achievements in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics, and other tools aimed at increasing labor productivity, including in science.</span> <em><strong>Our significant advantage should also be the available energy of one of the world's largest networks of nuclear, hydro and thermal power plants, which allows us to build production facilities in many regions of our country.</strong></em> <em><strong>Of course, this should be done in compliance with the most stringent environmental regulations, using modern environmentally friendly solutions.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>The areas I am talking about are complex and of paramount importance. Therefore, in the field of new materials and chemistry, a new national project of technological leadership was launched this year.</span> <em><strong>It is planned to allocate almost 170 billion rubles from the federal budget alone for its implementation from 2025 to 2030. At the same time, the amount of investment by companies in the real sector of the economy may amount to about one trillion rubles.</strong></em> <span>I think that this is quite, absolutely realistic thing. I sometimes meet with managers and owners of companies who have very ambitious and good plans. And I like this attitude–-people's eyes are burning. Great, we will continue to support and set up mechanisms to support private investment, including in the research and development sector.</span></p>
<p><span>I have repeatedly said that external problems and sanctions, despite all the challenges and difficulties, have played an important stimulating role for us. Russian companies are now increasingly turning to our scientists and receiving much assistance from them.</span> <em><strong>Moreover, domestic solutions are often more effective than their foreign counterparts.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>In order to provide a modern legal framework for cooperation between researchers and qualified customers,</span> <em><strong>the law "On Technological Policy" was adopted and comes into force this summer.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>I have already said and set the following task:</span> <em><strong>together with business, we need to increase funding for science to two percent of GDP</strong></em><span>. It is extremely important to direct all additional resources to support promising, breakthrough areas of scientific and technological development. For example, in the field of chemistry and new materials, it would be shortsighted and wrong to be content with simply replacing technological processes that have already been mastered somewhere else, abroad. What is important, of course, you need to keep everything in mind, use all the achievements, but you need to develop your own platforms.</span> <em><strong>My colleagues promised me that now they will show us how we are going and where we are going at a specialized exhibition.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>As we</span> <a href="https://translated.turbopages.org/proxy_u/ru-en.en.d06957e3-67b9046c-056b8cbb-74722d776562/kremlin.ru/events/president/news/75762" rel>agreed</a> <span>last December at the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects, we need to develop plans in key areas that will ensure the country's superiority, including in the field of chemistry and modern materials science. It is important to identify global, leading scientific organizations that will take responsibility for conducting basic research, companies that will implement future technologies, and build training in the field of chemistry for the tasks of technological leadership, and at all levels of education–-from schools to universities.</span></p>
<p><em><strong>Unfortunately, the number of chemistry teachers in our schools is decreasing. The number of students who choose chemistry as the main basic discipline is decreasing. The percentage of chemistry teachers over the age of 65 is increasing. In higher education institutions, we need to look at what is happening in the most careful way.</strong></em></p>
<p>I ask the Russian Academy of Sciences, representatives of business, professional, scientific, and educational communities to be involved as much as possible in forming such plans.</p>
<p><span>It is important that we continue to work together as real partners and understand our responsibility for the results. They depend on the implementation of all national projects of technological leadership, without exception, our plans for the Far East, Siberia, and the Arctic–-for the development of all regions of the Russian Federation, and, of course,</span> <em><strong>solving problems of safety and improving the quality of life of people.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>There is nothing to say about security, I have already spoken out publicly and talked about it. Here the whole world is talking about "Hazel". And what materials! The temperature on the warheads corresponds to the temperature on the surface of the sun. We understand that since the 80s, we have been developing systems for a gliding flying unit. We called it "Avangard". There are comparable temperatures, slightly less than on the surface of the sun. At the end of the 80s, they also thought about making such systems.</span> <em><strong>They couldn't, because there were no materials.</strong></em> <span>That was the problem. It flies and melts like a popsicle, and the control signal goes through. These are the results of working on new materials.</span></p>
<p>Just as our joint agreements on MS-21–300 were closed to us quite unreasonably at the time. Thanks to the specialists of Rosatom, we made materials for both the wing and fuselage. Yes, the project moved a little to the right, but we did everything with our own hands, with our own head, and everything went well. We need to work together just as actively and creatively in all other areas.</p>
<p><em><strong>I ask the Government to think about how we can regulate the interaction between our enterprises and those of our competitors in order to provide national producers with certain advantages.</strong></em> <span>Yes, within the framework of the WTO, but nevertheless we have had some difficulties, and we can regulate the return of those who want to return to our market accordingly.</span> <em><strong>Creating and maintaining advantages for your own manufacturers. It is necessary to do this subtly, carefully, but it must be done without fail.</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://translated.turbopages.org/proxy_u/ru-en.en.d06957e3-67b9046c-056b8cbb-74722d776562/kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/331/events" rel>Denis Valentinovich [Manturov]</a><span>, is sitting nodding his head. We talked about this with him. I've already talked about this: just like in the field of agriculture, when agricultural producers begged us: "Just don't let anyone enter our market, we'll do everything ourselves." Well, except for bananas, of course. But they also started growing bananas. A little expensive, but not necessary.</span> <em><strong>And in the field of industrial production, we absolutely need to think through everything and take it very carefully, so as not to lose the potential created by our detractors who imposed sanctions against us.</strong></em></p>
<p>I have already mentioned this, with a few more examples: in order to develop the machine and aircraft industry, the rocket and space program, we will need composite materials and alloys with unique characteristics. New plant protection products—from a different field—to address food security challenges. Long-lasting, long-term, secure energy transmission and storage systems—for drones, for new modes of transport. Stronger and more energy-efficient materials for the construction industry to adapt to climate change. New compounds, biomaterials and prototypes of human organs and tissues-for the introduction of advanced treatment methods in healthcare.</p>
<p>I repeat, I mentioned only certain directions. At the same time, the lack of results even for one of them, that's what I want to emphasize, as they say, as a thread will pull down all other projects. Here I gave an example of the MS-21-300, we did not have materials for the wing and for the fuselage. Well, the whole project has stopped, and in other areas everything has also slowed down. We just saw it all with our own eyes. This is the experience of our work over the past two or three years.</p>
<p><em><strong>In all key technological areas, we need to build comprehensive coordination, unconditional interconnection of all our steps and activities. I propose to provide a supranational mechanism for managing technological development and ask the Government to propose appropriate structural solutions.</strong></em></p>
<p>Dear colleagues!</p>
<p>All our plans to create solutions for the future in chemistry and materials science are based on the huge potential of our scientific and engineering schools. Their traditions were laid down in the Russian Empire, I was talking about the Soviet Union, but the traditions were laid down in the XIX, at the beginning of the XX century, developed, as I have just said, and in Soviet times.</p>
<p>I think that Mikhail Kovalchuk, who met me just now, and I exchanged a few words with him, and other participants of the plenary session will definitely talk about how the achievements in the field of chemistry and materials science obtained in the framework of space, nuclear projects, as well as in the course of research in the field of energy for future thermonuclear fusion are being multiplied at the present stage which were headed by Evgeny Pavlovich Velikhov.</p>
<p><em><strong>I consider it necessary to dedicate a new competition of the Russian Science Foundation for leading scientists to the memory of this outstanding thinker and son of the Fatherland. The grant amount for five years will range from 250 million rubles to half a billion rubles. The largest domestic companies will co-finance these grants and act as a direct customer of breakthrough technologies.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>As for the areas of support, they will change annually.</span> <em><strong>This year, I propose to announce such a competition for the creation of unique materials and products made from them for autonomous energy sources, power and power plants, as well as for devices and information processing systems necessary for the development of artificial intelligence, among other things.</strong></em></p>
<p>It is quite obvious that this technology is already determining the development of all areas, making a real revolution, including in chemistry and materials science. Due to the introduction of artificial intelligence and computer modeling in our country, it is quite realistic to reduce the development and implementation of new materials to 5-10 years, and in the future to 2-3 years.</p>
<p><span>To do this, researchers and engineers must have the necessary array of data about existing materials and their components.</span> <em><strong>I propose to build mechanisms for regulatory regulation of their turnover, including collection, storage, processing, transfer and use.</strong></em></p>
<p>I will add that huge amounts of data, advanced knowledge about new elements and materials will be obtained in the course of research on domestic installations of the megasayence class. They allow us to study matter–-experts know--literally at the atomic level.</p>
<p><span>I would like to emphasize that some complexes that are located in our country – such as NIKA in Dubna or PIK in the Leningrad Region, are unique and have no analogues. In the near future, we plan to carry out the technological launch of another powerful installation–-SKIF. It will significantly expand the functionality and range of capabilities of the Russian research infrastructure.</span> <em><strong>We certainly invite foreign scientists to work together.</strong></em> <span>When I visited the Leningrad Region a few years ago, specialists from Europe were already working there, and from those countries where the use of nuclear energy was curtailed, and, accordingly, research in these areas was gradually curtailed, and they were happy to work with us. We hope that this practice will continue. Our doors are open, we are always happy to welcome our friends and colleagues.</span></p>
<p>I would like to emphasize that we are well aware that equal and open international exchange in the scientific field is one of the main factors for strengthening the multipolar world. We will continue to help unite the efforts of researchers and engineers from Eastern and Southern countries to solve large-scale experimental, theoretical and, of course, practical problems.</p>
<p><em><strong>Thus, the BRICS association is already a de facto platform for global socio-economic and technological development. At the same time, we are not going to erect barriers to partnership with Western scientists. We hope that Western politicians will also understand the harmfulness of restricting cooperation in the field of science and education.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>It is important that global development is fair and balanced, so it is necessary to achieve further industrial and technological progress, while reducing the negative impact on the environment, preserving the fragile ecosystem of the planet, its flora and fauna.</strong></em> <span>Of course, we will proceed from the need to apply such technologies. It is no coincidence that the focus is now on cutting–edge solutions in the field of genetics, bio-and nature-like technologies, as well as the creation of materials that reproduce the processes of living systems.</span></p>
<p><span>In general, we are talking about the formation of a fundamentally new phenomenon, a new reality—bioeconomics. This is a crucial topic, a key one in terms of the quality of global growth.</span> <em><strong>I propose to dedicate the next Forum of Future Technologies to bioeconomics.</strong></em> <span>If, of course, colleagues find it possible and interesting. We invite representatives of science, education, and business from all over the world to participate in it. We are open for cooperation.</span></p>
<p>Dear friends!</p>
<p>I am sincerely glad that a frank, in-depth discussion of scientists, engineers, and business representatives is unfolding in our country. This is evidence of Russia's openness and, of course, our special attention to scientific and technological development.</p>
<p><span>Perhaps no expert will undertake to predict new solutions that will be discovered or invented even in the near future.</span> <em><strong>But what we can definitely do is ensure that we effectively support key technological areas, especially those that are important and useful for citizens, for society, and for economic growth. This is exactly the way we intend to work</strong></em><span>. I am sure that this is the key to your discussions at today's events.</span></p>
<p>Thank you for your attention.</p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Good afternoon!</span></p>
<p>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues! Thank you so much for such an introduction.</p>
<p>Mr President, I would first like to thank you for taking the time to participate in our Forum in a schedule that everyone understands. The very fact of your participation shows how science and technology are treated in our country, and in general in this entire field. And today's Forum, of course, has a completely different level. Thank you so much.</p>
<p>Before I give the floor to the first speaker, I would like to say just a few words.</p>
<p>You know, everything in life is material. When Vladimir Vladimirovich announced the start of a special military operation, in fact, if you put everything else aside, there was only one important fact–-it was a reminder to the world that it is material, and we are an essential part of this material world.</p>
<p><span>You know, any human thought comes to society, to a person only through the creation of material. If an artist has an image of a painting in his head, he needs an easel, paints and canvas to represent it. A composer needs a musical instrument, sheet music, and so on.</span> <em><strong>That is, through the creation of material, any human thought becomes accessible to society.</strong></em></p>
<p>In fact, when we are asked about the priorities of science and technology development, there are always two of them: the first is matter and the second is the energy that is needed to make this matter.</p>
<p>Once we had a conversation with Vladimir Vladimirovich, and he told me: "There is a third priority." You said, "Intellect, soul." Here is the intellect and thought of a person. And it seems to me that in our country there is more than enough of all this: intelligence, energy, and therefore matter. If we did not know how to create matter, materials with given properties, we would never have implemented the atomic space project. This is a demonstration of our capabilities.</p>
<p>I would like to say one thing before the speech of Vladislav V. Antipov, a representative of the Kurchatov Institute. What happened? We are talking about nature-like technologies, as you mentioned in your report. After all, you see, we think and move, we talk about natural likeness, and the very development of life actually led to the creation of these technologies.</p>
<p><span>Today's technological world is very simple: we cut, we go from top to bottom. We cut off the excess: the tree was cut down, the branches were cut off, the log was cut off – timber, then parquet, and so on. They made an ingot, put it on the machine, and cut off all the excess.</span> <em><strong>With the current method of production, up to 80 percent of energy and matter goes to the landfill, in fact, to pollute the environment.</strong></em> <span>And nature is very economical, it grows a huge tree from grain–-eucalyptus or baobab, from a cage–-a living creature.</span></p>
<p><span>So additive technologies are a clear example of how the technological logic of development itself led us to create a reproduction of the nature-like principle. We crystallize fine powder or fuse it using a laser or electron beam, creating unique items. And in this sense,</span> <em><strong>this is a key challenge of our time–-the creation of additive technologies that are nature-like.</strong></em></p>
<p>And the second thing. When I was a student or starting a research project, 90 percent of the articles were about semiconductors, and today 90 percent are about living life. Therefore, the creation of biosimilar, biocompatible materials is the second key direction.</p>
<p>Vladislav Valeryevich, please tell us about the current state, achievements and prospects of the world's largest materials science center based on the Kurchatov Institute.</p>
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<p>Vladislav Antipov, Assistant to the President of the National Research Center</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Antipov:</strong> <span>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,</span></p>
<p>Dear colleagues,</p>
<p><span>At all times, the implementation of the most daring ideas of designers became possible due to the creation of materials with the required characteristics. Striking examples are Soviet nuclear and space projects, which created a huge amount of materials. So far, no one in the world has been able to repeat the flight of the</span> <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/444102-buran-launch-30-years/?ysclid=m7fjatmwkl730510002" rel>Buran orbiter,</a> <span>for which a unique thermal protection system was developed, which consisted of tiles based on quartz fibers. It is noteworthy that 90 percent of this tile consisted of air, since it is a good heat insulator. These achievements made it possible to ensure the operability of tiles up to temperatures of 1250 degrees Celsius.</span></p>
<p>Today, the Russian Federation is a leader in the field of uranium enrichment by the centrifuge method, but few people imagine that in a gas centrifuge, the rotor rotates at a speed of 1500 revolutions per second. And it should work for 30 years without stopping. This was made possible by the development of a special aluminum alloy. It is a light alloy, but it has the strength of steel.</p>
<p>Today, the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation defines priorities for the next decade. This includes the development of nature-like technologies, space exploration, Arctic exploration, and the creation of clean energy. And of course, such tasks should be solved by developing new materials and new technologies. As Mikhail Valentinovich noted, the Kurchatov Institute is currently engaged in these developments as a leader in materials science in Russia.</p>
<p>Of course, today humanity is entering the era of biomaterials. What seemed fantastic yesterday is now being applied in medicine. The Kurchatov Institute has developed biosimilar materials, and for regenerative medicine, unique products are made from these materials–-an artificial trachea, a heart frame, and much, much more.</p>
<p>Of course, today it is extremely important to develop materials for the engine industry. Only a few countries in the world have a full cycle of creating gas turbine engines, and the most loaded element of the engine is the turbine blade. The corresponding scientific and technical groundwork has been created, which today allows us to produce single-crystal blades. These are blades that actually consist of a single crystal, and due to the internal cooling system, due to special heat-protective coatings, such a blade operates at a gas temperature in front of the turbine up to 1950 Kelvins. Such blades are used in our modern Russian PD-14 engine for the MC-21 aircraft.</p>
<p>I would also like to note that the nacelle of this engine is 60 percent carbon fiber. These materials were developed by young scientists of the Kurchatov Institute, and the development was awarded a prize by the Government of the Russian Federation.</p>
<p>Additive technologies of the PD-14 engine were used. These technologies produce swirlers of the front-end device of the combustion chamber.</p>
<p>It should be noted that the XXI century has become a century of rapid development of additive technologies, since they allow you to create products with a bionic design due to layer-by-layer extensions. This cannot be achieved with traditional technologies. The Kurchatov Institute has created a closed cycle of additive manufacturing, which has already made it possible to produce serial parts for various industries.: this includes transport engineering, fuel and energy complex, and medicine.</p>
<p>The effectiveness of using additive technologies can be demonstrated on one simple detail-a heat exchanger for the RD-191 rocket engine. It was manufactured using traditional technologies for six months–-these are long-term soldering technologies. It weighed 70 kilograms and was equipped with 23 components. Additive technologies have made it possible to implement a technology in which this heat exchanger can actually be created in one cycle. It weighs 19 kilograms, and the time is actually reduced by 20 times. This is the efficiency of additive technologies.</p>
<p>Today, more than 10 thousand additive manufacturing parts are produced annually at the pilot production facility of the Kurchatov Institute. I must say that the Kurchatov Institute is responsible for the scientific component: source materials, synthesis technologies are developed, and technology transfer is carried out.</p>
<p>Further implementation and industrial development of these technologies, of course, should be carried out with the participation of the state corporation "Rosatom", which has a powerful potential in this regard.</p>
<p>Thus, the Kurchatov Institute will form all the necessary scientific and technical reserves, and the state corporation Rosatom will already ensure their accelerated introduction into production.</p>
<p>Turning to the strategic task of developing the Arctic, I must say that materials with special properties cannot be dispensed with here, since such materials must work in Arctic conditions. And we understand that these are low temperatures, high humidity, and a lot of other things.</p>
<p>At the Kurchatov Institute, cold-resistant steels have been created, which today make it possible to make icebreaker hulls. These icebreakers break through ice more than four meters thick. Sealing materials, paint and varnish materials, and functional materials that do not lose their elasticity and work at temperatures up to minus 60 degrees Celsius have been developed.</p>
<p>In general, the created scientific and technical reserve allows Russia today to be the only power that has a nuclear icebreaker fleet. This groundwork opens up opportunities for the future in terms of creating Arctic underwater gas carriers.</p>
<p><span>In conclusion, I would like to say, as Mr Putin already pointed out in his speech,</span> <em><strong>that a cross-industry unified digital database of material properties is extremely necessary in the Russian Federation.</strong></em> <span>Of course, this will significantly reduce the time required for creating materials, since it will be possible to model both the structure and properties of the material at the early stages of development. This will certainly make it possible to unify materials for various industries, as well as to develop approaches that will allow organizing the admission of new-generation materials for complex technical systems.</span></p>
<p>Thanks for attention.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I want to thank Kurchatnik for what is being done. You mentioned only a part of the work that is being carried out in Kurchatnik, but there are many more of them. All of a sudden, Kurchatnik has taken up genetics, and as far as I know, it is working effectively in this area.</span></p>
<p>A colleague just said—I think many people just missed this information: he said about the possibility of creating underwater gas carriers. You know, when Mikhail Valentinovich [Kovalchuk] mentioned this to me a couple of years ago, I said: well, don't talk about it, we'll carry gas on submarines, or what? Nothing like that! Gazprom and NOVATEK believe that this is quite possible and will be profitable. It will be efficient and safe. Still, liquefied gas, imagine, such huge tanks with liquefied gas, they are, in general, quite dangerous. God forbid that there would be an explosion. But under water—no, under water everything is different. And it turns out to be cost-effective. Surprisingly. But this is the future, of course, and quite feasible.</p>
<p>So the speed of decision-making and the speed of manufacturing the necessary equipment also increase dramatically with the use of modern technologies, including additive technologies and the use of artificial intelligence. Impressive, of course.</p>
<p>And the Arctic–-we are the undisputed leaders there. Many countries now want to cooperate with us on the production of a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet, but this, of course, is impossible without modern materials.</p>
<p>Engine building. Here, of course, we have a lot to work on. Much more needs to be done. In some areas, our foreign colleagues, of course, sorry for the bad manners, beat us, but nothing, but the challenge is very good.</p>
<p>I don't want to say anything unnecessary, but I probably won't be wrong if I correct you. You said that the temperature in a modern MS-21 engine reaches over 1,700 degrees. This is the PD-14 engine just for the MC-21 aircraft, and for the wide-body aircraft it is already the PD-35 engine, and the temperature there is already over 1900 degrees. And everything works out.</p>
<p>I would like to thank you and those who work on the production itself, we know who does it, and wish you success. All the main stages of work have already been completed, but you need to help your colleagues and support them.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Antipov:</strong> <span>Thank you, Mr President.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Mr President, I will exercise my right as host. What I wanted to draw your attention to.</span></p>
<p>First, I wanted to say, when it came to additive technologies, the role of Rosatom, Alexey Evgenyevich [Likhachev] is sitting next to [in the hall,] and the Academy [of Sciences], Gennady Yakovlevich [Krasnikov] is here. I will immediately respond to what you have said. The three of us, on behalf of the [Presidential] Administration, are actively working on the projects of the Velikhov competition, choosing the right topics.</p>
<p>But here's what I wanted to say. In general, additive technologies in our country originated at the institute in Shatura, which, in my opinion, was called the Institute of Laser and Information Technology Problems, something like that. Its director was Academician Panchenko, it was created on the initiative of Anatoly Petrovich Alexandrov. So, for the first time in the world, stereolithographs were created there, and, as you know, plastic copies were made on them. For example, when the remains of the Romanov family were identified, these parts were created for the first time.</p>
<p><span>And in this sense, there is a unique base left. We discussed together with Gennady Yakovlevich and Alexey Yevgenyevich, if you would support us, Rosatom produces machines for these additive technologies, develops them--and quite successfully.</span> <em><strong>If it were possible, since there are huge capacities in Shatura, to create an interdepartmental center for additive technologies, in which we would combine the efforts of the Kurchatov Institute, Rosatom and the Academy of Sciences, we would leave the traditions and all the potential that remains there. I think it's very possible.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I also think so, but we need to ask Alexey [Likhachev], because I know that there is a certain competition between the Kurchatov Institute and Rosatom: whether you want to get to them, or he wants to get to you. To be honest, I support any actions related to joining forces. (To A. Likhachev.) So I ask you, too, Alexey, to work.</span></p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Can we put an end to it then? You gave me an assignment.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Please.</span></p>
<p><strong>M. Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Alexey Yevgenyevich and Gennady Yakovlevich Podolsky signed an agreement three days ago and established the Strategic Development Council of Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute on your direct instructions. So we don't have any contradictions. I'm public… I think Alexey Yevgenyevich can confirm this. Only unity.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>What was created? A tip?</span></p>
<p><strong>M. Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Council for Strategic Development.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Advice and love. (Laughter.)</span></p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>I would like to give the floor to Alexander Igorevich Chernov, head of the research group at the Russian Quantum Center. Before he talks about graphene, I will say one thing very briefly.</span></p>
<p>We have a huge number of elements in the periodic table, but there are only four elements that are very strongly distinguished--these are oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon. They stand out for a number of reasons.</p>
<p>First. If we take biological substance, there is no biological substance where these four elements are not present. Inorganic, metals are simpler, we are more complex, but we must have hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>And we need more money.</span></p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Money is already the next stage. You must first have these elements.</span></p>
<p><span>But now what's important? These elements are unique, because, look, hydrogen and oxygen are, on the one hand, water, an inexplicable thing in general, and on the other hand,</span> <a href="https://www.ijarset.com/upload/2019/october/29-botir-53.pdf#:~:text=By%20electrolysis%2C%20water%20is%20converted,harmful%20emissions%20into%20the%20atmosphere" rel>rattlesnake gas.</a></p>
<p>Farther. Oxygen is an oxidizing agent. All combustion is due to it, and our aging is also an oxidation process. Oxygen plays a major role in free radicals.</p>
<p>Now nitrogen is an energy-rich material. These are fertilizers and explosives, any explosives. And if it is still compressed, for example, on diamond anvils, then the energy reserve in general approaches the atomic one. This is nitrogen.</p>
<p>And carbon is a unique material. On the one hand, it is diamond, the hardest material, and on the other hand, it is graphite, a high-temperature case. And on the third hand, it is fullerene, the most complex thing, and graphene. This is such a mesh, a single-layer atom, for which our compatriots received the Nobel Prize.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>One layer thick. But we went further and put something else on this layer. You're going to tell us about it now, aren't you?</span></p>
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<p>Head of the scientific group of the Russian Quantum Center, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Alexander Chernov</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Chernov:</strong> <span>Yes, that's right.</span></p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Alexander Igorevich, please.</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Chernov:</strong> <span>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues,</span></p>
<p>Imagine that your smartphone can analyze your breath and instantly detect the first signs of illness. Or that you have a sensor on your clothes that will tell you about environmental pollution when you are on a walk. This sounds a bit fantastic, but in fact these technologies are already developing, and the key to them is two-dimensional materials.</p>
<p>Our laboratory at the Russian Quantum Center MIPT is developing devices based on two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, which has already been presented. It is a single-atom-thick carbon crystal. Indeed, Andrey Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010 for their innovative experiments with this material.</p>
<p><span>The question arises: what new things have happened since then? Today, we work not only with graphene, but also use other, a large number of other two-dimensional materials that are also one or several atoms thick.</span> <em><strong>We can stack them together, rotate them at different angles, and create new materials, literally like a construction kit. These new materials have new properties, and most importantly, they can be adapted to specific tasks.</strong></em></p>
<p>In our laboratory, we are engaged in fundamental research, that is, we study the physics of processes, some new effects, and this work has already borne fruit. Today, at the exhibition, you should be shown materials and sensors made from these materials at the Gazprombank stand and told about their possible applications. For example, they can be used for night vision devices. The main advantage of using two-dimensional materials is 15 times more sensitivity, which means that in the dark you can detect an object at a much longer distance.</p>
<p>In addition, technologies based on two-dimensional materials can also be used in medical technologies. Biosensors based on two-dimensional materials are being developed to detect biomarkers of diseases both in the blood and in respiration.</p>
<p>Due to their small size and flexibility, they can be integrated into wearable electronics or clothing and continuously monitor, for example, a person's breathing. Highly sensitive graphene-based sensors already exist, and they detect diseases such as lung cancer and tuberculosis in the early stages, and analyze human breathing.</p>
<p>Our example shows that studying new materials and the effects that occur in them allows you to create something fundamentally new, that is, not to repeat the old technologies, not to somehow modernize them, but to get devices that significantly exceed the characteristics of existing analogues.</p>
<p>It seems to me that it is fundamentally important to support the fundamental science that gives the world these discoveries, which only then allow us to create devices–-and, as they say, they allow us, thanks to their unique characteristics, to overtake on the turn, achieve leading positions and, as a result, achieve domestic high-tech products.</p>
<p><span>I would like to point out two points. First of all,</span> <em><strong>we would like industrial partners to come with a request for such materials with certain characteristics.</strong></em> <span>In other words, they would tell us, for example, what parameters they need and what materials they are interested in. It seems to me that in this case, devices that can be implemented will turn out faster. I know that some work is already underway in this direction.</span></p>
<p>I would still like to highlight how I see it, how this problem could be solved. It could be solved by creating some kind of digital platform, I would even say a marketplace, where research teams and industrial customers would meet and try to find a common language. I know that such work is already underway, and I would like to hope that they will continue to be supported.</p>
<p>The second point that I would like to reflect is that the transition from one unique device to mass production, of course, requires debugging some technological processes. This usually happens in the" clean zone " of the university or in the center of collective use. At MIPT, we have access to a" clean zone", where we can build a device, then test it, for example, publish an article, and students and postgraduates will be very happy, because they can easily defend their diploma and dissertation.</p>
<p>However, if you want to move from one device that has unique properties, which was created in the laboratory and which was made by some very talented young researcher, for example, to ten with the same parameters, this requires setting up this technological process.</p>
<p><span>Why do I say that? Because, for example, our colleagues at the Russian Quantum Center and MIPT are successfully following this path.</span> <em><strong>But on a national scale, it seems to me that this task could be solved if certain platforms were created, platforms where these technological processes could be worked out, for example, in collaboration between universities or collaborations between a university and an industrial partner.</strong></em> <span>Such centers would allow for technology transfer and make it easier to achieve your May decrees in the field of technology leadership.</span></p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I will not go into the field of sensors now – this is an extremely important area with a wide range of applications. Thank God, we are developing this area, including with your help.</span></p>
<p><span>As for creating digital platforms where we can interact and exchange information, see requests for industrial partners and the opportunities of our research schools and manufacturers, this is very important. If this is not enough, then this, of course, should be done.</span> <em><strong>I am now addressing my colleagues from the Government and the Academy of Sciences: we need to join forces. This is not difficult and should be done accurately. Please pay attention to this.</strong></em></p>
<p>About environmental pollution. You said that [you can] have a sensor that tells us what the environment is like when we walk, and so on. You know, this is very important, especially if everything is going well. But sometimes we have… The simplest device is the nose. When people go out near landfills, no sensors are needed here: the smell comes from these landfills, so everything is clear.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the scope of what you do is, of course, very large. When you just said that it is possible to diagnose at an early stage simply by analyzing a person's breathing, for example, some lung cancer or something else–-of course, this is a revolution, this is just a revolution. We will do everything we can to help you.</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Chernov:</strong> <span>Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Mr President, at least sensors are needed for what doesn't smell, what can't be detected by the nose.</span></p>
<p>You know, I would like to say just one word about this, to remind you. When they talk about the platform–-this is a very important thing, but we have an academic model of science, not a university one. I want to remind you that the Institute of Physics and Technology was originally conceived very simply when it was created: each faculty, each part had a basic organization in the form of a large scientific center. This was the strength of the school of physics and Technology.</p>
<p><span>It seems to me that today, when dealing with platforms, which is extremely important and modern, both digital and artificial intelligence, we must not forget, restore and support this system. Because the easiest way to implement the results of fundamental sciences is to contact a real institute that creates what is used in industry.</span> <em><strong>This is our extremely important and sought-after Soviet experience, which is why Phystech is so valued all over the world.</strong></em> <span>It seems to me that we need to support this in every possible way, and this will be the right thing to do.</span></p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p>I will give the next floor to Nadezhda Vasilyevna Potekhina, Head of the Materials Science Laboratory at Rosatom's Scientific Research Institute NPO Luch.</p>
<p>I want to say that we are talking about materials, and all nuclear technologies, no matter what we are talking about now, they rest on the creation of materials. We created materials, so we implemented an atomic project, and our further success in nuclear technology is related to materials.</p>
<p>You are welcome.</p>
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<p>Nadezhda Potekhina, Ph.D., Head of the Laboratory of Materials Science and Materials Properties Research Institute at the Research Institute of NPO Luch</p>
<p><strong>Natalia Potekhina:</strong> <span>Thank you, Mikhail Valentinovich, for giving me the floor.</span></p>
<p>It has already been noted that modern materials science is really designed to embody the most daring and even fantastic ideas of scientists and engineers. The nuclear industry, whose 80th anniversary we are celebrating this year, has always been the cradle of record-breaking materials, and this cradle has been in the hands of major materials scientists from the very beginning. Now this knowledge is carefully preserved by the Kurchatov Institute and Rosatom enterprises.</p>
<p>Thanks to the accumulated experience, the tasks that are being solved at Rosatom enterprises are not limited to creating the latest materials for the nuclear industry. The range of tasks is extremely wide. And I would like each of you to answer a very simple question: how long have you been looking at the starry sky? And not just watched, but thought about how high the level of technology should be to ensure a long flight to the Moon or to Mars, and preferably both there and there and, of course, to return home? How hardy should functional materials be that work in very serious conditions, both in terms of temperature and mechanical loads, and still have to ensure the operability of fairly serious installations?</p>
<p>Our team deals with just such materials. These are refractory metals and their alloys. These materials can be compared with extreme athletes, they are reliable in special operating conditions: these are temperatures above 1300 degrees Celsius, severe mechanical loads and radiation exposure. Our materials are the heart of the latest types of unique high-temperature nuclear power propulsion systems.</p>
<p>We consider it an achievement to develop technologies and equipment for creating single-crystal blanks of complex shapes. This ensured the reliability of their properties at previously unattainable temperatures and loads. It is the complex of mechanical properties and radiation resistance that distinguish our materials favorably.</p>
<p>I must say that we, of course, do not stop there. We see the success of our Chinese colleagues in the field of refractory alloys. These works certainly encourage us, because scientists are also athletes in some ways, and it is important for us to maintain our leadership.</p>
<p>I must say that even now the development of our work has made it possible to create a material for use in promising propulsion systems for high-speed flights in the air. This was previously unattainable for refractory metals, and we are actively working to increase the resource of such materials.</p>
<p>Of course, the scientific significance of our work does not consist only in creating a certain alloy composition, because the shape of the product can also be complex. And here we, like our colleagues, apply modern additive technologies and digital methods. It may be that unfortunately–-and in our opinion, it seems that fortunately—it is impossible to use existing printers for refractory alloys. That is why we have designed special additive installations that allow us to work with such materials in a high-quality way.</p>
<p>Of course, the developments I just mentioned have a small production volume, but the prospects for using refractory alloys do not shrink only to a very narrow, special area in space–-of course not.</p>
<p>We hope that future generations of young professionals will already be working on the development of miniaturized power plants. It is possible that these works will be carried out in close cooperation with the Russian Science Foundation, with colleagues from the Kurchatov Institute and from specialized universities.</p>
<p>Even now, most of these ambitious projects are in the hands of young professionals, young engineers. Today I am happy to represent such a team.</p>
<p>What can a young team with such still, in general, young souls dream of? Of course, it's about making sure that what they put their knowledge, time, nerves, and sometimes even health into works. So that our refractory alloys will conquer space, fulfill their purpose there and find their application in everyday, earthly life. And this is impossible without the development of the Russian raw material base of refractory [alloys], without active attention and reverent attitude to production and industry.</p>
<p><span>We, in turn, are confident that unique Russian developments with our</span> <a href="https://gsalloy.com/in-depth-explanation-of-high-performance-refractory-alloys/" rel>refractory alloys</a> <span>will definitely find a worthy response in the global scientific community.</span></p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I understand correctly that you need these rare-earth metals, right?</span></p>
<p><strong>N. Potekhina:</strong> <span>Yes, that's right.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>What do you suggest? What'll we do?</span></p>
<p><strong>Natalia Potekhina:</strong> <span>To develop our deposits and remember them.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Have you studied these deposits? At least you were interested in where, what, and how you can get it? Except for Yakutia. In Yakutia, everyone probably knows what to eat. And besides Yakutia?</span></p>
<p><strong>Natalia Potekhina:</strong> <span>I will tell you a secret. I'm a geologist, I'm from the Faculty of Geology of Lomonosov Moscow State University, so yes, we studied it, of course. We very much hope that the Tyrnyauz molybdenum-tungsten deposit will "perk up" after all. Our department once worked very hard there.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>All right, all right. That's what I mean, too.</span></p>
<p>But what about the flights to Mars? Is it possible to fly there in a live cage and come back? Just be honest.</p>
<p><strong>N. Potekhina:</strong> <span>We need to find out what's in there.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Where? On Mars? This is how vehicles fly to Mars, they have flown more than once. Can a cell fly there alive and come back alive?</span></p>
<p><strong>Natalia Potekhina:</strong> <em><strong>We hope that she will, but how long she will last there is another question.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Here's what to do with scientists? (To M. Kovalchuk.) It's hard for you, Mikhail Valentinovich.</span></p>
<p>It's just that some colleagues tell me that this is impossible. Korolev once thought about this, saying that you need to fly in a water shell, then the cage flies back and forth. But this is impossible due to the fact that the device turns out to be so huge that it can neither be launched nor transported there, even with the help of the nuclear engines we are developing for space. A large device is obtained. And there are no other materials that would protect biological material, a living cell. No?</p>
<p><strong>Natalia Potekhina:</strong> <span>These are probably our plans for the future.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Good. We need to allocate funding, so I understand? (Laughter.)</span></p>
<p>Thank you very much. Of course, everything that concerns your line of work, refractory alloys are extremely important things, we are well aware of this, and our colleagues in the Government understand this. We will do our best to help and support you.</p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>You know, space engines, I must say, we have always been ahead of the rest of the planet in this respect. We have all the satellites, stations in space flew with nuclear installations on board. And today, together with Rosatom and the Academy, we are developing engines,</span> <em><strong>electrodeless plasma rocket engines.</strong></em> <span>They are a completely different type, and in this sense they should provide the functions of a tug that will fly to the Moon or Mars.</span></p>
<p>We once said that we fly into space today, like Munchausen on the core. Our RD engine gave a few hundred seconds of acceleration, and we flew along a ballistic trajectory. They counted incorrectly-–they missed, they didn't get to the moon.</p>
<p><span>And we need another engine that can barrage, that is, we can accelerate, slow down, dock to the asteroid. We have prototypes of these engines, they are moving, and we have been doing this for many decades.</span> <em><strong>Now, I think, together with the Academy and Rosatom, we have a chance to do this and put energy on the Moon.</strong></em> <span>In this sense, then we will have something to dock on, and power engineering on the Moon to deploy. There are special options for stations of a completely new principle. This is a very important thing, and the materials that were discussed.</span></p>
<p>I'm going back because you said so. I would like to report once again, Alexey Yevgenyevich [Likhachev], on the implementation of the assignment, so that no one in the audience has any doubts that all the issues have been resolved. I just want to remind you that a decade and a half ago, when Rosatom was being reformed, Vladimir Vladimirovich suggested that Sergey Kiriyenko and I conduct a reorganization. We were one in Sredmash at one time.</p>
<p>Since a commercial modern high-tech company was being formed, it was decided to separate science from there in the form of the Kurchatov Institute with a number of institutes and create the first national laboratory "Kurchatov Institute". And then, which was very important and difficult after that period of reorganization, today we have united again as a new, extremely effective modern form. This is the key to success. As before, the atomic space project was, because there was a parent organization, a scientific supervisor, and it was a close contact. Today we have practically restored this system, and you have actively supported it. I think this is the key to our success today.</p>
<p>Our last speaker is Valentin Pavlovich Ananikov, Head of the laboratory of the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences.</p>
<p>I'll ask you to tell us about chemistry. Vladimir Vladimirovich started with chemistry, and you will finish it now.</p>
<p>You are welcome.</p>
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<p>Valentin Ananikov, Head of the Laboratory of the N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Chemical Sciences</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Ananikov:</strong> <span>Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear colleagues and guests,</span></p>
<p>Now an important influence on the development of chemistry is provided by the application of artificial intelligence and digital modeling. There is a lot of hype around artificial intelligence, perhaps even a lot of inflated expectations. Who hasn't heard of artificial intelligence? Everyone has already heard it many times, but it is very important not to miss the crucial turning point that is brewing in this area right now.</p>
<p><span>Now for artificial intelligence comes the so-called "era for". Artificial intelligence ceases to be an end in itself, it becomes a tool for developing practical tasks: artificial intelligence for the chemical industry, artificial intelligence for medicine, artificial intelligence for solving environmental issues.</span> <em><strong>We are coming close to a new technological stage, when the use of digital algorithms is an accelerator for innovative development.</strong></em></p>
<p>I must say that this stage, a new stage of scientific research in our country, has come to a prepared stage. The Russian Science Foundation created on your initiative actively contributed to the growth of scientific competencies. I am very pleased to see from your report that the Foundation's programs are constantly developing. The Foundation's support from the Young Scientists Support Foundation was very important for building human resources.</p>
<p><em><strong>Addressing students and schoolchildren who will probably also watch this program, I want to tell them that you can safely go to science. For you, the state has adequate support for the science track from the foundation and other programs.</strong></em></p>
<p>There are a lot of questions about education, especially in the context of such a highly intellectual sphere. A very good example that I would like to mention is the development of fundamental artificial intelligence algorithms at Innopolis University and their practical implementation in the laboratories of the Kazan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. What is very important – this is supported by the school program "FizMatHim" with the support of the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan. This could be a very interesting pilot project for cadres in this field.</p>
<p>As for the chemical industry, of course, this is the most important area for humanity. I would like to see the contribution of the chemical industry to the economy of our country increase from year to year, including paying attention to new areas that are emerging now, which will form the basis of chemical technologies in the near future.</p>
<p><span>If we talk about projects in the field of digital chemistry, such a project "Digital Chemistry" is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science, there are large grants. It is being implemented at the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences and is aimed at implementing digital algorithms in chemistry and creating new chemical technologies.</span> <em><strong>The world's most active heterogeneous catalyst for cross-coupling reactions has been developed. These reactions are in demand in the synthesis of drugs, in the production of materials for energy and new intelligent materials. This record has been held for two years.</strong></em></p>
<p>For the first time, a neural network has been developed that determines the chemical formula of a substance based on a photo. This is in demand in quality control systems of the chemical industry.</p>
<p>When I was a schoolboy, I remember that I was very fond of looking at powders under a microscope, trying to see their chemical structure.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>What kind of powders?</span></p>
<p><strong>V. Ananikov:</strong> <span>Salt, soda, copper sulfate. I tried to see the chemical structure in them, which, of course, is impossible.</span></p>
<p><span>In general, in our time, this impossibility is becoming possible with the help of neural networks.</span> <em><strong>If I could go back to the past and choose my life path again, I would choose scientific research again. It is today that so many interesting things are being discovered in this area.</strong></em></p>
<p>As for artificial intelligence, our country has quite strong positions. Our colleagues from Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute are actively developing these areas. At the level of language models, Sber supports the development of artificial intelligence, including for chemical applications.</p>
<p>This concerns some of our achievements and positive aspects.</p>
<p><span>Now there's a problem I'd like to talk about. The key problem, a stumbling block for many chemical projects, is the scaling of chemical synthesis. Our research projects are very effective in producing unique materials with very useful practical properties, but in the amount of grams.</span> <em><strong>We need to learn how to move quickly from grams to tons.</strong></em></p>
<p>It is scaling technologies that are a stumbling block for many projects. We don't have a lot of focused research on developing scaling technologies, especially on creating universal scaling technologies that can then be applied to a large number of chemical processes. This is clearly visible for low-tonnage and micro-tonnage chemistry. This is an area where substances are synthesized in quantities ranging from several tons to thousands of tons, but they need a lot of them. The range of these substances is very large, there are several hundred of them, their number will be constantly replenished, and here you need to learn how to scale chemical synthesis very quickly. Neural networks and artificial intelligence applications can play a crucial role here.</p>
<p><span>Artificial intelligence is a unifying technology. With the help of artificial intelligence, you can simulate the material, the catalyst for its synthesis. What is very important, you can create a digital copy of the reactor, where this chemical synthesis can be carried out. For micro-tonnage chemistry, this reactor is small and can be fully printed in a 3D printer chamber. This is a revolutionary opportunity. Traditional assembly of reactors from many components–-they need to be ordered, distribute these orders, and then put everything together. Here, the digital copy immediately turns into a chemical reactor.</span> <em><strong>This is a very important role of artificial intelligence, it can accelerate the implementation of scientific research results in practice, and we now have all the opportunities for this.</strong></em></p>
<p>For my part, I would like to draw your attention to this and perhaps create a program to specifically support the introduction of digital tools for solving problems in chemistry and scaling chemical reactions.</p>
<p><span>In conclusion, I would like to say a few words. Probably, some ideas and some projects that stem from artificial intelligence seem fantastic, but what was fantastic yesterday is a reality today. It is clear that now we need to catch up, catch up and replace various technologies, at least in chemistry.</span> <em><strong>But the best way to catch up is to play ahead.</strong></em> <em><strong>If we put all the most valuable things that artificial intelligence provides into practice in a timely and pragmatic manner, this will accelerate our technological development, help us make a technological breakthrough, and strengthen the connection between science and industry.</strong></em></p>
<p>Thanks for attention.</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Valentin Pavlovich, please tell me what is needed to create a digital tools program? To replicate the technologies you mentioned, what should be done? Who exactly and what exactly should do to create it? Because the question is very important, extremely important. Low-tonnage, micro-tonnage chemistry is just what we need now.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Ananikov:</strong> <span>We need to develop a neural network that will simulate a chemical reactor based on a chemical reaction. Such developments have already begun, and there are some successful examples. We need to collect sufficient data on chemical reactions, catalysts, and reactor design. Then the neural network allows you to combine: this is an end-to-end technology, this is its advantage, it processes this data and offers a model of the reactor for a chemical reaction, which must be scaled. And, interestingly, it offers very original forms of reactors, not the ones that come to mind to a person. These shapes are quite complex, but they can be printed on a 3D printer. This is a unique and unifying technology: we move from the reaction to the reactor.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Who should participate in this creation process? Who do you need?</span></p>
<p><strong>V. Ananikov:</strong> <span>Chemists, chemical technologists and programmers.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>This is probably done with the help and coordination of the Academy of Sciences. We don't have a microphone?</span></p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>There is.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Please give the microphone to the President of the Academy of Sciences.</span></p>
<p><strong>G. Krasnikov:</strong> <span>Mr President, these are cutting-edge areas that are very much in demand, and of course, we are working on such projects today, both on state assignments and together with the Russian Science Foundation, in order to create entire digital databases on chemistry and catalysts and then train neural networks to do this. And then, as soon as you do the minimum, then you need Rosatom to reach high capacity.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I want to understand how we can start this process and how we can help our colleagues. Because by helping them, we are helping ourselves. What should I do? What do you need from the Government? Money–-I understand. Then tell me how much?" And who will be a participant in this process? That's real, specifically.</span></p>
<p><strong>G. Krasnikov:</strong> <span>Of course, we need resources to speed it up. Valery Nikolaevich [Falkov] and I are still working to direct more resources to this area.</span></p>
<p><strong>Alexander Alikhanov:</strong> <span>Mr President, may I ask your permission?</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Yes.</span></p>
<p><strong>A. Alikhanov:</strong> <span>We were discussing it with Valery Nikolaevich as part of the national project when we were listening to Mr. Ananikov, and we agreed that we could include such an event as part of the national project. Just as a separate task to set for yourself.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>As part of the national technology leadership project?</span></p>
<p><strong>A. Alikhanov:</strong> <span>Yes. We'll take this as a task.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Good. Be sure to inform me later, I ask you, what is happening in real life, what you are doing.</span></p>
<p>Yes, please.</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Likhachev:</strong> <span>Mr President,</span> <em><strong>I would like to report that there is such a prototype and it will be shown to you at the exhibition today.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Very good. Thank you very much. So let's move on.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Ananikov:</strong> <span>Thank you.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Thank you. You said that if you could start all over again, you would again choose the path of scientific research, which is great, you can only envy.</span></p>
<p>thank you very much.</p>
<p><strong>Mikhail Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>Mr President, thank you very much.</span></p>
<p>Thank you all. Finishing up.</p>
<p>You know, I'd like to conclude with a line about this. It is often said that the age of physics has passed, the age of biology has come. This is a mistake. The fact is that we have recently…</p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>Academician Tamm made a mistake, didn't he? That's what he said.</span></p>
<p><strong>M. Kovalchuk:</strong> <span>It was a long time ago, it seemed so then, but now it is not so at all. I'll explain why.</span></p>
<p><span>You recently held the Presidential</span> <a href="https://translated.turbopages.org/proxy_u/ru-en.en.d06957e3-67b9046c-056b8cbb-74722d776562/kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76222" rel>Council on Science and Education</a> <span>and so on, and the importance of natural science and physics and mathematics education was discussed there. I mean, you know, I don't want to do anything else. Physics and mathematics are a universal language in science.</span></p>
<p>I had a friend, a well-known theorist, an academic, who was already dead, and he always said that any field of human knowledge is zoological. Why? Because it is descriptive. Here you have caught a butterfly, measured something, even looked through a microscope – it is descriptive. Any field of knowledge becomes a science if and only if it comes to physical research methods and mathematical apparatus for description.</p>
<p><span>At first, the first stage of development of physical materials science was metal science. This occurs in several cases. The first is a request. In the 1930s, new metals were needed for airplanes, submarines, and automobiles, and this was a civilizational demand. Science went there, and physical materials science emerged, ferrous metallurgy merged with physics and mathematics. Further, while it was moving, we got today's world-engineering, aircraft, aviation, rocket. At this time, semiconductors were discovered, and physics and mathematics changed the object, they came to semiconductors. There was a huge scientific breakthrough in fact. But at this time, in these years (while semiconductor materials science was developing, the second stage), we began to live actively, this was not even under Tamm. The third stage in the development of physical materials science is bioorganic materials.</span> <em><strong>And today we live in the era of bioorganic materials science. But if we want to be successful, we must train highly educated people in natural sciences.</strong></em></p>
<p><span>When I finish, I want to say that Sergey Semenovich [Sobyanin] and I launched Kurchatov classes many years ago, and there were 39 schools in Moscow. Today, in several dozen regions of the Russian Federation, there are academic schools created by the Academy of Sciences, and Kurchatov classes. We are now combining brands.</span> <em><strong>The bottom line is that we train people with an emphasis on the natural science base, because if a person does not know chemistry, physics, mathematics, he is useless in any field</strong></em><span>. And if he knows these three things, then he will…</span></p>
<p><span>I think that our project of Kurchatov classes, which was developed in Moscow and is now being replicated in the Crimea, Sevastopol, and the Far East, is very successful together with</span> <em><strong>academic gymnasiums</strong></em><span>. I think that this is a very important thing for strengthening the role of science education, which means creating unique materials and preserving our country's leadership in all areas.</span></p>
<p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> <span>I would like to end our discussion with what was just said by the colleague on my left.</span> <em><strong>To be successful, you need to play ahead of the curve</strong></em><span>. Good luck! [My Emphasis]</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Wow! If you’re into science or just want to know where technology is going, this was a treat. I’m going to print it and send it to a twevle-year-old I know who’s a science nerd but doesn’t know what he wants to do. The amount of learning one needs to do to become proficient by grade twelve is quite large if one is to have any sort of skill-based future. To solve the teacher shortage, professionals will need to rotate from lab/industry to classroom; there really is no other way. I note the use of a competition again to generate advancement, and the prize was rather large. I recall the award-winning young scientist who was engaged in making radiation resistant polymers and how her work integrates with this presentation. I hope readers will share their impressions in the comments.</p>
<p><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><span>*</span><br><em><span>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a</span> <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> <span>to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</span></em></p>

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