🇷🇺🇲🇾 Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, after which they made statements to the press.

Ibrahim arrived in Russia on May 13 and will remain in the country until May 16. On the morning of May 14, prior to meeting the president, the Malaysian delegation met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and members of the government.

📌 Key statements from the negotiations:

— Russian-Malaysian relations are currently on the rise. At the same time, there are certain prerequisites for more constructive and substantive cooperation. The two countries are "bound by longstanding traditions of friendship and mutual understanding."

— Ibrahim actively contributes personally to strengthening Russian-Malaysian relations.
— Putin highlighted regular contacts between Russia and Malaysia at various levels—parliaments, regions, foreign ministries, other ministries, and security councils.

— Russia sees prospects for joint projects with Malaysia in gas and peaceful nuclear energy. The key area of bilateral cooperation is energy.

— By the end of 2024, trade turnover between Russia and Malaysia exceeded $3.2 billion.

— The negotiations covered the full range of current bilateral issues, as well as pressing topics on the international agenda.

— Russia welcomes Malaysia’s acquisition of BRICS partner state status and will facilitate its seamless and swift integration into the group’s partnership mechanisms.

— The countries coordinate their efforts on other key multilateral platforms, including the UN, and their positions on regional and global issues are "largely aligned or coincide."

— Putin noted that Russia assists Malaysia in training qualified personnel. Around 700 Malaysian citizens are currently studying in Russia.

— Russia and Malaysia are exploring the establishment of direct flights between the two countries. Putin also emphasized growing tourism exchanges.

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📰 Hermitage to Display Restored Masterpieces by Flemish Artists

On May 17, the exhibition “Three Dutch Madonnas: Celebrating the Completion of Restoration” will open. It will showcase three masterpieces from the Flemish painting collection, all freshly restored. These precious examples of Early Netherlandish painting survived the wave of iconoclasm.

The most famous is Jan Provost’s “Madonna in Glory” (1524). Originally an altarpiece for a Bruges cathedral, it was hidden in a wall to escape iconoclasts and forgotten for two centuries, only rediscovered in ruins during the 18th century.

Provost’s “Madonna and Child” previously resided in the Hermitage’s archives. Restorers cut out a fragment from a large altarpiece composition to save the central scene. By removing 18th–19th-century layers, they revived the 16th-century purity: the crown regained its golden brilliance, the angels’ robes their snowy white, and the background its radiant light.

The third work is Jan Gossart (Mabuse)’s “Madonna and Child”. Long dismissed as a later copy, its authenticity was confirmed through dendrochronology. A distinctive feature is the blue pigment frequently used by the artist in his mature period.

A multimedia kiosk in the hall offers insights into the Madonnas’ 500-year history and modern restoration techniques. After the exhibition, the paintings will join the Hermitage’s permanent display of Dutch art.

📆 Open from May 17 to September 7, 2025

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🇷🇺 Putin amused journalists, ministers, and Malaysia’s Prime Minister during a joint press conference. He shared that while walking through the Kremlin, he posed a riddle to his guest about the thrones in the Andreyevsky Hall.

The Russian leader asked Anwar Ibrahim what the third throne was for. The leader of a country where over half the population is Muslim answered almost without hesitation: “For the second wife.”

In reality, the first two thrones were intended for Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna, while the third was for the emperor’s mother, Maria Feodorovna.

Putin emphasized that the traditional values of their countries might differ in some ways, but exchanging perspectives is crucial.

How would you have answered this riddle?

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🇷🇺🇪🇪 Estonia Attempted to Seize an Oil Tanker in the Baltic, but Russian Su-35 Intervened

The Estonian Navy, with NATO aviation support, set up a naval ambush in the Gulf of Finland. They tried to force a Gabon-flagged tanker, en route to a Russian port, into Estonian territorial waters to detain it "legally."

According to sources, they threatened to ram the vessel, twice attempted to deploy a boarding party from a helicopter, and requested air support. However, the crew refused to comply, and a Russian Su-35 put an end to the confrontation. After its arrival, the Estonian fleet retreated.

Tallinn, having failed to achieve its goal, accused Russia of "violating airspace" and lodged a formal protest.

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⚡️ Putin signed a decree on the composition of the Russian delegation for negotiations in Istanbul on May 15.

Head of the delegation: Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Medinsky.

Other members of the delegation:

- M.Yu. Galuzin — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

- I.O. Kostyukov — Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

- A.V. Fomin — Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation

Experts for negotiations with Ukraine:

- A.S. Zorin — First Deputy Head of the Information Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

- E.S. Podobreevskaya — Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for State Policy in the Humanitarian Sphere

- A.A. Polishchuk — Director of the Second Department of CIS Countries of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- V.I. Shevtsov — Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of International Military Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Defence

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🏙 Welcome to Kaliningrad — a city with a rich history and a bright future!

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🇷🇺 Putin held a meeting to prepare for negotiations with Ukraine yesterday evening, announced Peskov.

In attendance, alongside members of the Russian delegation, were Foreign Minister Lavrov, Defense Minister Belousov, National Guard Chief Zolotov, Security Council Secretary Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov, and FSB Director Bortnikov.

📍 The negotiations in Istanbul will take place at the Turkish president’s working office, as they did three years ago. The Dolmabahçe Palace—where a delegation meeting was held in 2022—will host the talks, TASS reported, citing a source.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 Moscow time and will be closed to the press.

Upd (9:59): The Ukrainian delegation will arrive in Istanbul after the meeting between Erdogan and Zelenskyy in Ankara, scheduled for 14:00. Negotiations will only commence following this meeting.

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🚇 90 Years of the Moscow Metro!

May 15, 2025, marks the 90th anniversary of the Moscow Metro—a true symbol of the capital! In 1935, the first line, Sokolnicheskaya, stretched 11 km and connected 13 stations. Since then, the metro has become not just a transport system but an architectural masterpiece and a pride of Russia.

🚄 The first carriages had wooden seats and incandescent lamps. Today, the metro features smart "Moskva" trains, contactless payment, free Wi-Fi, and gadget charging zones. The 54-km Circle Line, built in the 1950s, still amazes with its precision: its radius is almost equal to the distance from the Kremlin to the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD)!

Today, the Moscow Metro is:

✔️ The largest metro system in Europe — over 250 stations (and growing!).

✔️ A passenger traffic record-holder — around 7 million riders daily!

✔️ An underground museum — mosaics, stained glass, and bronze sculptures. For example, Novoslobodskaya Station showcases stained glass artworks based on sketches by Pablo Picasso!

Surprising Metro Facts:

1️⃣ During World War II, stations served as bomb shelters. Remarkably, 217 children were born here! Mayakovskaya Station even housed a library to uplift citizens’ spirits.

2️⃣ Park Pobedy Station is the deepest (84 m). To reach the surface, you must ride a 126-meter escalator—equivalent to a 40-story building!

3️⃣ The metro closes at 1:00AM, but operates all night on New Year’s Eve! It also features libraries, cafés, concerts, and even... weddings held right in the metro!

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Ukraine and Russia: Istanbul Negotiations in Question?

🇺🇦 Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul may be canceled. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he will decide whether the Ukrainian delegation will participate only after a personal meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which could last several hours.

Additionally, he criticized the composition of the Russian delegation, calling it a "sham."

🇷🇺 Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded to Zelensky’s remarks. She stated that Russia is ready for negotiations: "We will see how the side that shouted about a ceasefire reacts."

Addressing criticism of the Russian delegation’s level, Zakharova retorted sharply: "A clown and a loser is talking about people with merits," referring to Zelensky.

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⚡️ The Russian delegation views the negotiations in Istanbul as a continuation of the peace process halted in 2022, stated Medinsky.

Other statements by the head of the Russian delegation in Istanbul:

— The goal of negotiations with Ukraine is to establish terms for a lasting peace by eliminating the root causes of the conflict;

— Putin outlined tasks and defined the negotiation position in Istanbul following a meeting with all commanders of the special military operation;

— The Russian delegation in Istanbul possesses the necessary authority;

— The Russian delegation is committed to a constructive approach, seeking possible resolutions and common ground.

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⚡️ It has been almost 24 hours since the Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul, Zakharova stated.

She is waiting for "the clown to finish his performance, for the hallucinogens to wear off, and for him to allow those he has banned for three years to begin negotiations," emphasized the official spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Ukrainian delegation is expected to arrive in Istanbul late on Thursday evening, according to Ukrainian media citing Zelensky’s advisor.

As reported by a TASS source, Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul will commence on May 16.

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🌉 The Russky Bridge - a majestic giant of Vladivostok, the second tallest in the world and the longest cable-stayed bridge, is depicted on the front of the 2000-ruble banknote.

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🎞 Kazan in The Simpsons Universe

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🇹🇷Delegations are arriving at Dolmabahçe Palace, where Russian-Ukrainian negotiations are set to take place.

First, a tripartite meeting involving representatives from Turkey, the U.S., and Ukraine will be held, according to sources. Negotiations with delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey will begin later.

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⚡️ Negotiations between the delegations of the US, Ukraine, and Turkey have begun.

In the footage: Rubio, Yermak, Sibiga, and Fidan.

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