🗓 On September 17, 1939, the Red Army launched a military operation in Poland’s eastern regions, also known as the Red Army’s Polish Campaign. The academic community and media, primarily outside Russia and in the West, have adopted an excessively biased interpretation of these events seeking to equate the Third Reich and the USSR and cast Moscow as an aggressor. This approach is completely at odds with the historical truth and facts.

Nazi troops invaded Poland on September 1, and by mid-September they defeated the core forces of the Polish army. On September 16, 1939, Army Group South joined Army Group North near Włodawa. They encircled the main Polish forces to the east of Warsaw. In the east, the German army reached the line which included Grajewo, Białystok, Brest, Vladimir Volynsky, Lvov and Stry. In the early hours of September 17, Poland started moving its government agencies to Romania, and the next night President Ignacy Mościcki, and Commander-in-Chief Edward Rydz-Śmigły with their staff followed down the same road.

There were two options for the Soviet leaders: let the German troops reach what used to be the Soviet-Polish border, or stop them further away from it. Moscow signed the Non-Aggression Pact with Germany on August 23, 1939, all while understanding that it did nothing but delay the inevitable armed conflict with the Third Reich. Therefore, having a bigger distance between Moscow and other major cities of the Soviet Union, on the one hand, and the Wehrmacht’s advance positions, on the other hand, offered the Red Army more strategic and tactical advantages.

It is also worth noting that the Soviet forces saved people in Eastern Poland, i.e., in Western Belarus and Western Ukraine, from genocide, including Jews, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poles, Russians… The Soviet authorities enabled many Polish nationals and refugees to emigrate.

As for the Republic of Poland, it ended up suffering from its own political short-sightedness and from putting its bets on working with the Nazis while hoping to make its expansionist plans come true. In March 1938, even before benefiting from the 'Munich Conspiracy' to annex part of Czechoslovakia, the Poles threatened Lithuania. In fact, the Soviet Union was the only country to stand up for Lithuania.

The Red Army did not define the outcome of the September 1939 campaign by interfering in these developments. It was the German military supremacy, coupled with the fact that the Polish armed forces were ill-prepared and committed tactical missteps. Overall, statements focusing on a two-fold aggression do not hold up to scrutiny. When the Red Army crossed the border of the Republic of Poland on September 17, it was unable to resist, and the country was doomed.

The Red Army did not go beyond the regions of Western Ukraine, Byelorussia and the Wileńszczyzna – all three were occupied by Poland in 1920 and 1921 following the Polish-Soviet War. The Red Army reached the so-called Curzon Line, a demarcation line designated as Poland’s eastern border by the Entente’s Supreme War Council.

☝️ Neither London, nor Paris viewed the USSR’s interference as an act of aggression. By the same token, they did not voice any formal protests against Moscow, nor declared war against the Soviet Union. It was obvious that the agreements between the USSR and Germany were not meant to last, especially since the armed forces of these two countries have taken positions along the same line of contact.

It is no wonder that in Belarus September 17 is marked as the Day of Unity as it was on this date in 1939 that the people of Belarus reunited, liberated by the Red Army.

🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the Plenary Session of the IV Eurasian Women's Forum (Saint Petersburg, September 18, 2024):

💬 Dear Friends,

I extend my warm greetings to the participants and guests of the fourth Eurasian Women's Forum. Welcome to Russia and to St Petersburg.

Your forum is one of the most highly respected international platforms demonstrating the potential and capabilities of modern women and their truly colossal role in virtually all spheres of life.

I would like to emphasise that your meetings reflect on the most crucial aspects of modern development and promote the ideas of unity for sustainable development and universal security. This is more important now than ever, and this is what millions of people across all continents desire. Humanity is facing extremely complicated issues, which can only be resolved together and based on respect for each other’s interests.

The previous forums paved the way for many concrete initiatives, including stronger interaction within the framework of BRICS, APEC and W20. Incidentally, we have just now discussed these issues with the President of Brazil. I bring you best regards from Brazil.

I am convinced that women’s commitment to the ideas of cooperation and peace has brought success and popularity to your forum. Each time, it brings together greater numbers of participants. This year, female leaders from 126 countries came to St Petersburg. Additionally, multimillion online audiences have joined the discussions focusing on a variety of sensitive topics.

Delegations from all Russian regions which represent our multi-ethnic nation, our rich culture and centuries-old traditions are attending this forum as well. Russian women bring to light the soul of Russia, its beauty, appeal, warmth, graciousness, and magnanimity.

The forum provides an opportunity to show the broad international female community that Russia is an open and hospitable country that appreciates dialogue, trust, and friendship, and that we respect the diversity and uniqueness of other countries and peoples.

The great interest in the Eurasian Women’s Forum is also grounded in the fact that its agenda transcends the typical discussion of women’s role in society. The forum brings together accomplished women who have achieved top results in their professional careers. Your experience in creative, managerial, intellectual, humanitarian, and educational activities undoubtedly matters a lot for billions of people worldwide, which fact made this forum a global platform for developing proposals to address the most pressing issues.

The already high international standing of the Forum continues to rise. Your voice is heard, and governments around the world heed it. Your recommendations are taken into consideration by major international organisations.

To reiterate, this participation and energetic work are crucial if we want to build a multipolar, just, and genuinely free world. Everyone among us shares these ideas and does everything possible to shape a new progressive global space.

This forum is devoted to matters of trust and global cooperation. As always, the female eye has captured the most important matters. Humanity is in need of a robust foundation of trust, openness, mutual understanding, and contacts across various fields in order to be able to address challenging social issues, to ensure economic prosperity and technological development, and to overcome poverty, inequality, and diseases.

Most importantly, to be able to develop equal indivisible security principles that every country needs. For many years now, Russia has been urging the world to unite in order to discuss and to adopt such principles. I am convinced that you are supportive of our initiatives and will promote them in your respective countries.

📄 Read in full

#EWF2024

🎙From the statement of the Acting Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation to the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control Ms. Iulia ZHDANOVA at the 1087th Plenary Session of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation

Topic: "Terrorist incursion by the Kiev regime with the support of a number of Western states in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation"

🔹As it became known from the testimonies of captured Ukrainian servicemen, the Ukrainian servicemen did not receive any warnings from their commanders about the inadmissibility of looting and the need to comply with the norms and principles of IHL. Moreover, the commanders of their units gave clear orders not to spare the civilian population, to shoot anyone who, in their opinion, could pose a danger, to "shoot men in the legs and throw them into the basement."

🔹Many of the Ukrainian militants who took part in the terrorist attack are notorious neo-Nazis. The Western organization Reporters Without Borders has already counted more than 1,000 cases of their use of Nazi symbols.

🔹The West continues to recklessly follow the path of further dangerous escalation of the conflict, fearing a military defeat and political collapse of the puppet Kiev regime. But nothing will help the latter, which is confirmed by numerous testimonies of the successful destruction of NATO military equipment in the Kursk region. As Russian fighters say: "Their weapons are our military awards."

💬The European Commission's State of the Energy Union Report 2024, as well as Mario Draghi's report on European competitiveness, utterly expose the failure of EU energy policy in recent years.

◾️ Electricity prices in Europe are now 2 to 3 times higher than in the US, and natural gas prices are 4 to 5 times higher

◾️ EU has been unable to compensate for decreased imports of Russian pipeline gas, with European LNG terminals operating at only half capacity in 2024

◾️ Europe's industry is in decline, and the economy is stagnating amid high energy prices

◾️ EU is on track to miss its 2030 renewables and emissions targets

❗️By imposing sanctions on Russia's energy exports to Europe and global markets, EU not only undermines its own energy security and competitiveness but also poses serious risks to the sustainable development of the Global South, world economy as a whole.

⚡️ On the UN General Assembly’s resolution on Palestine

On September 18, the 10th emergency special session of the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution in support of the second advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank of the Jordan River, including East Jerusalem).

✅ A total of 124 states (including Russia) voted in favour of the resolution.
❌ 14 voted against (Israel, the United States, Argentina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malawi, Paraguay and several island states).
🤷‍♂️ 43 nations (mostly EU members) abstained.

The document provides detailed conclusions and recommendations of the International Court of Justice on policies and practices in the OPT, and a number of concrete measures to ensure the implementation of that decision. It cites, in particular, the illegal nature of Israeli presence and demands that it cease immediately all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from the OPT, and make reparation for the damage caused to all the natural and legal persons concerned.

The resolution calls on all UN member states and international organisations not to recognise as legal the situation arising from Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT.

The resolution includes the court’s vital opinion that Israel’s policy and practices amount to the annexation of large parts of the OPT and constitute a direct violation of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

We would like to note that the vote on that UN General Assembly resolution took place amid an unprecedented escalation of violence and bloodshed in the zone of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is the fourth UN General Assembly decision aimed at protecting the Palestinian people and its fundamental right to self-determination, including its right to a sovereign and independent state within the 1967 borders, with a capital in East Jerusalem.

☝️ In this connection, we would like to state again, with deep regret, that the US-dominated UN Security Council has not adopted similar vital statements. As you may know, Washington has recently exercised its veto power on five occasions, often unilaterally, to block UN Security Council draft resolutions on a ceasefire and on Palestine’s admission to the UN.

❗️ We view the adoption of this UNGA resolution as a crucial step towards international recognition of the illegality of Israel’s practices. It will also help enhance broad efforts to coordinate practical measures aimed at ensuring compliance with international law, ending the longest occupation in modern history, and implementing the two-state solution.

🎙 Excerpt from Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview for the 'Soviet Breakthrough' semi-documentary series project (September 19, 2024)

📺 Part 1 of the interview

❓ Question: What countries does Russia interact with to develop the Arctic Region? What is the mechanism of this interaction?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: The Arctic Council has been in existence for rather long. Apart from Russia, it includes the United States, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Each country presides over the Arctic Council during two years. Russia’s position papers on developing its northern areas and cooperating with partners in the high latitudes always proceed from the premise that, first, the Arctic Council is the main body ensuring multilateral cooperation and, second, that there is not a single problem in the Arctic that would require any elements of military activity to be transferred thereto.

This approach is shared by all the other Arctic Council members. Their position papers, including the US documents, say that they aspire to a peaceful and prosperous Arctic. We agree with this approach.

In practice, however, our NATO colleagues increasingly often turn their attention to the Arctic Region (this began long before the special military operation), declaring that the North Atlantic alliance also has interests over there for reason of its geographical location. <...>

❗️ The Arctic is not NATO’s territory. But it is no longer enough for them that, contrary to their promises, they have added almost the whole of Europe to NATO membership. Currently, the Alliance is turning its eyes to the entire Asia Pacific Region, declaring bluntly that “thence come the threats to NATO.” <...> Their desire to globalise, gain legitimacy and assert themselves as a global, rather than just North Atlantic, policeman extends to the Arctic Region. We see NATO multiply exercises to prepare for possible crises in the Arctic. But Russia is fully prepared to protect its interests at the military, political and military-technical levels.

<...>

There are many non-Arctic nations willing to work in the Arctic, including China and India, our close strategic partners. We have many projects (including joint projects) with both sides, which create prospects for trilateral cooperation.

These imply efforts to promote economic ties, introduce technologies to Arctic development, produce LNG, use the Northern Sea Route, and upgrade its infrastructure for an added convenience of Asia-Europe communications.

❓ Question: We are on a second wave of Arctic development now. Can the Arctic become a field for diplomatic struggle? How could that struggle be manifested?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: I would not describe this as a ‘struggle.’ In today’s conditions, I would rather talk about negotiations aimed at achieving a balance of interests. On the other hand, life is a struggle. <...>

Most countries interested in expanding the boundaries of their continental shelf have acted legitimately, in strict accordance with the established procedure, which includes a final decision on each application taken on the basis of general approval and scientific rationale.

A few months ago, the United States announced the new outer limits of its continental shelf in areas beyond 200 miles from the coast without applying to the commission.

Clearly, that was another attempt to show it was superior to everyone else, a hegemon – “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,” as [in the proclamation by the pigs] in George Orwell’s story Animal Farm. It was quite telling that not a single country agreed with Washington's claim.

☝️ We will work with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to return to the rules established by the UNCLOS.

Read in full

🎙️ Из выступления заместителя Министра иностранных дел Российской Федерации С.В.Вершинина по представлению поправки к проекту «Пакта во имя будущего»

🎬 Трансляция всего заседания

💬 Выносимый сегодня с нарушением процедуры для принятия текст не поддержал целый ряд делегаций. Строго говоря, нам нечего принимать сегодня и в этом нет вины нынешнего председателя Генассамблеи и его команды: они получили эту проблему в наследство от предшественников и честно пытались сделать все, что возможно. Но у них не хватило времени.

Межправительственных переговоров по Пакту по сути не было. Не было ни одного, ни одного заседания, где делегации собрались за одним столом и вели переговоры по тексту Проекта по разделам и параграфам. Координаторы подготовки текста с самого начала включали в него то, что им диктовали в основном западные страны.

❌ То, что произошло – огромное поражение для ООН, ведь принцип суверенного равенства государств, прописанный в Уставе, был цинично принесен в жертву одной группе стран, интересы которых тщательно оберегались все эти месяцы. А координаторы переговоров единолично решали, что и в каком виде должно войти в тот или иной документ – а что нет. Такого беспредела мы на площадке ООН не припоминаем.

Мы слышали от многих делегаций, не только вскрывших умолчание, но и поддержавших проект Пакта, что их многое в нем не устраивает. А как же принцип «никого не оставить позади», который так любит Генеральный секретарь? По сути никто из членов ООН текстом не доволен. А ведь это документ о будущем.

❗ Оптимальным было бы не пытаться утвердить сегодня сырой и неконсенсусный текст, а принять решение о продолжении переговоров до тех пор, пока документ не приобретет устраивающий всех без исключения характер. Именно прямых переговоров делегаций, а не манёвров координаторов. Это не станет ни для кого поражением, наоборот – это будет наша общая победа.

Если же Вы [г-н Председатель] решите двигаться дальше и будете продавливать неконсенсусный текст, то от имени группы государств – Республики Беларусь, Никарагуа и Российской Федерации, мы хотим внести поправку к проекту «Пакта во имя будущего» и его приложениям. В основе нашей поправки – принцип невмешательства во внутренние дела из пункта 7 статьи 2 Устава ООН.

☝️ Если предложенная нами поправка не пройдет в текст Пакта, то Россия дистанцируется от консенсуса по этому документу и по Глобальному цифровому договору, особенно в том, что касается положений о разоружении, вопроса участия неправительственных организаций в работе ООН и Управления верховного комиссара по правам человека.

В любом случае считаем необходимым подчеркнуть, что Пакт не является документом, автоматически создающим новые мандаты и обязательства для государств-членов. Это – просто декларация, причем очень размытая.

📍 Нью-Йорк, 22 сентября 2024 г.

🎙 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a question from the Kommersant newspaper about the Summit of the Future scheduled to be held in New York

The comment was issued on September 21, 2024

❓ Question: Next week, the UN Headquarters in New York will host the Summit of the Future, which is due to adopt a Pact for the Future, a Global Digital Compact, and a Declaration on Future Generations. What is Russia’s assessment of this event and the documents to be approved?

💬 Maria Zakharova: The Summit of the Future will be held in New York on September 22−23 ahead of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly.

It will focus on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ proposals on strengthening the system of multilateral cooperation and on the UN reform, among other things. The plan for the first day is to adopt the document ennoscriptd the Pact for the Future along with two addenda: the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.

☝️ Russia consistently proceeds from the premise that it is necessary to adapt the UN to modern realities, whose main characteristic is the emergence of a multipolar international order.

At the same time, it is fundamentally important that these changes are directed towards enhancing the UN’s efficacy and prestige. There is a need to restore its central coordinating role, which has been undermined by the collective West’s attempts to force the UN to dance to its tune.

The work on the main part of the draft Pact is progressing slowly. The co-coordinators of the talks largely take their lead from the West and are reluctant to addres the concerns expressed by the Global Majority countries. Consequently, the current version contains many ambiguities.

I am referring to the tendency to erode the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations by equating the rights of member states and non-state actors, being selective about listing the norms of international law, overemphasising the human rights dimension of UN activities, establishing a universal link between climate and security issues, and insisting on speedy advances on the nuclear disarmament track, among other points.

Talks on the draft Global Digital Compact are also challenging. The West is seeking to monopolise internet regulation and place states and non-state actors on the same footing in terms of decision-making on the international technological agenda.

To counter this, Russia and its like-minded partners emphasise the importance of taking specific steps to bridge the digital gap as soon as possible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Only this approach will enable the Global South states to produce the required goods and services rather than relying on ready-made solutions from Western corporations, which are notorious for their predatory practices.

Given all this, it is impossible to predict the outcomes of the talks on the Summit’s final documents.

❗️ As a founding state of the United Nations and a responsible member of the international community, Russia, along with its Global Majority partners, will continue its efforts to defend the multipolar international order.

🎙Из выступления заместителя Министра иностранных дел С.В.Вершинина на «Саммите будущего»

📖Читать полностью
🎦Трансляция всего заседания

❗️Современный мир стоит перед решением беспрецедентных вызовов, требующих коллективных решений, поэтому предложение Генсекретаря ООН созвать «Саммит будущего» нашло широкий отклик среди государств-членов всемирной Организации и было поддержано Россией.

Нельзя забывать, что именно единство государств в борьбе с нацизмом и их желание добросовестно сотрудничать в решении глобальных проблем привели к созданию нашей Организации. Без политической воли невозможно достичь консенсуса, а тем более реализовать цели ООН – восстановить мир, обеспечить неделимую безопасность и достичь целей развития.

☝️Одним словом, залогом эффективности и авторитета ООН является подлинная многосторонность.

Как государство-основатель ООН и ответственный член международного сообщества Россия придает особое значение усилиям по укреплению системы многостороннего сотрудничества. Исходим из того, что в реалиях многополярного мира ООН должна играть центральную координирующую роль в согласовании позиций государств-членов и поиске коллективных ответов на глобальные вызовы.

Руководствуясь именно таким настроем, российская сторона с самого начала принимала активное участие в процессе выработки Пакта будущего. Мы не только руководствовались национальными интересами, но ориентировались на приоритеты Мирового большинства. Наша делегация неизменно была конструктивна и открыта к диалогу в интересах компромисса.

Несмотря на это, в итоговых версиях Пакта и приложений к нему сохранились неконсенсусные элементы, которые не способствуют достижению заявленных целей Саммита и чреваты негативными последствиями для самих основ работы ООН.

Россия не стала блокировать принятие Пакта и присоединилась к озвученному ранее заявлению Группы друзей в защиту Устава ООН. При этом мы дистанцируемся от консенсуса по Пакту и Цифровому договору, особенно по озвученным ниже элементам.

В конкретном плане не можем поддержать формулировки, нацеленные на подрыв межправительственной природы Организации. Неприемлемо и избирательное цитирование общепризнанных принципов международного права. Так, в документе прямо не упомянут принцип невмешательства во внутренние дела суверенных государств, равно как и принцип сотрудничества.

Мы, как и целый ряд государств, ведущих суверенную внешнюю политику, не можем поддержать укрепление роли Управления Верховного комиссара ООН по правам человека, которое известно предвзятостью и потаканием западным интересам.

Выступаем против форсирования процесса ядерного разоружения. На фоне игнорирования принципа равной и неделимой безопасности подобные идеи носят откровенно нереалистичный, если не сказать деструктивный, характер.
Содержит серьезные изъяны и Глобальный цифровой договор. В нем идет речь о попытке уравнивания неправительственных субъектов с государствами при принятии решений по международной технологической повестке, а также создание на этом треке дополнительных обзорных механизмов с неясными мандатами.

Безусловно, принятые на Саммите документы содержат некоторые идеи, отвечающие ожиданиям Мирового большинства. К таковым относятся реформа глобальной финансовой архитектуры, расширение доступа к технологиям и преодоление «цифрового разрыва» в интересах достижения Целей устойчивого развития. Хотели бы поприветствовать Декларацию будущих поколений, которая наглядно демонстрирует, что консенсус в Организации возможен, если к этому есть политическая воля.

👉Итоговые документы Саммита не налагают обязательств по положениям, в отношении которых нет консенсуса. Они не могут автоматически переноситься в другие документы ООН, поскольку требуют дополнительного тщательного рассмотрения и согласования с участием всех государств-членов при неукоснительном уважении их подходов и озабоченностей.

📍Нью-Йорк, 23 сентября 2024 г.