🎙️ Kommentar fra Russlands ambassadør i Norge Nikolay Korchunov til nyhetsbyrået TASS, 1 april 2025

❓Norges statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre deltok på toppmøtet i «koalisjonen av villige» som ble holdt i Paris den 27. mars. Hva er Norges potensielle rolle i dette formatet og i prosjektet for å ruste opp Europa?

💬 Nikolay Korchunov: Norge er fortsatt tilhenger av det vestlige liberale «krigspartiets» konfrontasjonslinje, som tar sikte på å påføre Russland et «strategisk nederlag», uavhengig av de menneskelige tapene på ukrainsk side. Oslo hilser velkommen forsøkene fra London og Paris på å overta rollen som hovedkoordinator for støtten til Ukraina fra Washington, som tydeligvis har mistet troen på Zelenskij. 

Møtet i Paris bekreftet Norges vilje til å øke støtten til Ukraina betydelig, med fokus på den militære opprustningen av de ukrainske væpnede styrkene. I begynnelsen av mars i år økte norske myndigheter på forhånd volumet av bevilgninger til dette formålet i 2025 til ca. 8 milliarder dollar.

Men én ting er å betale for fortsettelsen av «stedfortrederkrigen til siste ukrainer», noe helt annet er å sende egne soldater inn i kampsonen. Norske myndigheter, som fortsatt har noen rester av sunn fornuft i behold, har ennå ikke bestemt seg for å ta dette skrittet, med henvisning til at det er «for tidlig» på grunn av usikkerheten rundt parametrene for et eventuelt våpenhvileregime, en fredsavtale og selve formatet på en tilstedeværelse «på bakken». Samtidig lovet Jonas Gahr Støre at Oslo definitivt ville finne en måte å «bidra til sikkerheten» i Ukraina på etter at fredsavtalen er inngått, og nevnte i denne sammenheng den såkalte maritime kapabilitetskoalisjonen for Ukraina som Norge leder sammen med Storbritannia. 

Når det gjelder EUs planer om å ruste opp og faktisk militarisere «Europa», støtter Oslo dem også fullt ut. For det første er norske våpenprodusenter - NAMMO Raufoss og Kongsberg Gruppen - invitert til å delta i EUs mekanismer for finansiering av forsvarskjøp og vil kunne tjene gode penger på det. For det andre, og kanskje viktigst av alt, skjer den kraftige økningen i forsvarsutgiftene, styrkingen av de væpnede styrkene og oppbyggingen av kapasiteten til det militærindustrielle komplekset i de europeiske NATO-landene etter et presserende krav, faktisk et ultimatum, fra USA om en «mer rettferdig byrdefordeling» i alliansen. Washingtons krav blir tatt svært alvorlig her. EUs rolle i denne sammenhengen er redusert til å mobilisere de økonomiske midlene, først og fremst i form av lån, som er nødvendige for å tilfredsstille amerikanerne.

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🇷🇺🇧🇾 On April 2, the peoples of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus celebrate their Day of Unity.

✍️ #OTD in 1996, they signed a treaty on the formation of the Community of Russia and Belarus, which served as the first step towards the creation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

The Treaty on the Union of Russia and Belarus came into force a year later, and on December 8, 1999, the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State was signed.

🤝 Today, the Union State implements programmes in industry, energy and IT, to name a few. Trade between Russia and Belarus grows at record high rates every year, given the considerable degree of mutual complementarity of their economies.

💬 President Vladimir Putin:

We have been working together to build the Union State for almost 25 years. Along this path, we have managed to achieve a great deal. Thanks to the successful implementation of 28 sectoral Union programmes, Russian and Belarusian legislation was harmonised, the legal and organisational foundations for a common economic space formed, and conditions created for the implementation of a unified macroeconomic and monetary policy, and for joint work to minimise damage from illegal Western restrictions.

☝️ The Unity Day of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus confirms the cohesion of the two fraternal peoples and their striving to continue strengthening their interaction based on the centuries-old traditions of friendship and close cultural and spiritual ties.

🎊 We congratulate our Belarusian friends on a holiday that is a symbol of unbreakable ties of brotherly friendship between our countries and peoples!

📄 Joint Statement by #BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (Brasília, March 28, 2025)

READ IN FULL

BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) met on March 28, 2025, in Brasília, Brazil, to exchange views on the current situation in the region. They:

• Reiterated their serious concern over continued conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which threaten regional stability and have a negative impact on international peace and security;

• Reasserted the primary role of the UNSC in maintaining international peace and security, in regular interaction with the General Assembly;

• Stressed that peace and stability in the MENA region require developmental cooperation and integration;

• Agreed to strongly condemn terrorism and confront extremism, in all its forms and manifestations;

• Expressed their commitment to the promotion of the principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and the adoption of measures to jointly address hate speech, racism, gender discrimination and extremism;

• Expressed grave concern at the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, marked by the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip, following the Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, and as a result of the Israeli military offensive that led to more than 50'000 deaths among Palestinians, mostly women and children;

• Recalled that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

• Reaffirmed that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means and depends on the fulfillment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination;

• Reiterated their unwavering commitment to the two-state solution, based on international law;

• Condemned the provocative statement regarding plans for the imposition of Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied West Bank and the intensification of settlement activity in the West Bank, as well as with demolitions of Palestinian residences and structures, including in East Jerusalem;

• Reasserted their firm support for Lebanon’s stability, security, sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity;

• Welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon and called on all parties to strictly adhere to its terms and to fully implement UNSC Resolution 1701;

• Reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria and called for a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned UN-facilitated political process, based on the principles of Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015);

• Reasserted their support for Yemen’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as for a peaceful, comprehensive, and inclusive political settlement to the Yemeni crisis;

• Reiterated their strong commitment to Iraq’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as expressed their continuous support and engagement to promote stability and economic development in Iraq;

• Noted the latest developments regarding nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the recent imposition of new unilateral sanctions against Iran, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement remains the only viable and practical option in this regard;

• Rejected recent threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran and called for the de-escalation of the situation, which has the potential to undermine international peace and security;

• Expressed grave concern over the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Sudan and reiterated their call for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the conflict.

April 2 marks International Fact-Checking Day!

🇷🇺 Russia leads the global factchecking vanguard.

We advocate for the establishment of an international information space free from disinformation.

✅ Among the foremost global factchecking platforms is the Dialog about Fakes Forum, organised by Dialog Regions, an autonomous non-profit organization, with the support of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The latest Forum, held in November 2024, brought together over 1,000 experts from 65 countries. It announced the creation of a new international alliance of fact-checkers – the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN).

The GFCN’s primary objective lies in countering threats posed by the dissemination of unreliable information on the international stage.

👉 To this end, the Code of Responsible Fact-Checking was established.

This framework ensures objectivity in assessing data veracity, uniting under its banner professionals who genuinely uphold shared values, champion access to impartial information, and commit to collaborative truth-seeking. Participants in the GFCN voluntarily pledge to adhere to its principles.

This initiative constitutes an effective, constructive, and truth-driven alternative to Western biased organisations and associations, advancing perspectives of the Global Majority.


***

🌐 The Russian Foreign Ministry has long and actively countered disinformation and promoted truth on the international stage and within the global information domain. For years, we have systematically refuted and deconstructed the most egregious instances of disinformation and fakes, including through our longstanding Anti-fake initiative.

Russia consistently champions a fair and depoliticised approach to fact-checking, free from political censorship or partisanship.

We regularly raise information security issues across international platforms, including within the #UN, #SCO, and #BRICS, proposing initiatives to counter fakes.

We extend our congratulations to all principled fact-checkers on their professional holiday 🎉

🎙 Statement by First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (New York, April 3, 2025)

💬 Dmitry Polyanskiy: The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank remains unacceptably critical.

Following the breakdown of agreements between Hamas and Israel, Palestinian civilians have been living in conditions of full ground air and maritime blockade for over a month now. Not only has West Jerusalem blocked the delivery of humanitarian supplies but also imposed restrictions on the work of UN humanitarian organizations, which entailed existential problems for two million people.

Here is a simple example – all bakeries in the enclave have closed due to a shortage of flour and fuel. We are puzzled – How the lack of bread in Gaza can help Israel to free the hostages who are not receiving bread either?

Alongside the humanitarian catastrophe, we see civilian infrastructure being destroyed and humanitarian workers dying. Since October 2023, at least 408 humanitarians have been killed in Gaza, which makes this conflict the most lethal on record by that measure.

⚠️ We can hardly hope that the situation will change for the better, since Israeli strikes against Gaza continue almost unabated. <...>

Upon the completion of phase 1 of the agreement with Hamas, Israel put forward new demands regarding the further implementation of the deal, then resumed its military operation and is gradually expanding its control over the Gaza Strip.

On April 1, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the creation of a second “Philadelphi Corridor” – the Morag axis, which will cut off Rafah from Khan Younis. In the same vein, we should consider the statements by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz about the expansion of the area of operation in the enclave and the creation of additional “security zones”.

❗️ The territory wherein the Gazans have to huddle is steadily shrinking.

People are compelled to choose whether to leave their homes in Gaza or remain there without water, electricity and sufficient food hoping that the Israeli operation will cease one day and they will not fall victim to another airstrike. Of course, under such conditions, there can be no discussion of either “voluntary emigration” or evacuation.

We reaffirm our position of principle that territorial or demographic changes are unacceptable in Gaza, which is (and has always been) an integral part of the Palestinian State. <...>

We are convinced of the need to establish an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, to release all forcibly detained persons and provide safe and unhindered humanitarian access. At the same time, it is important that the agreements reached be sustainable.

As practice shows, without guarantees and oversight on the part of the international community, any truce can collapse in no time. In this regard, it is the UN Security Council that must play a key role in the negotiation process and in ensuring the compliance with its outcomes by all parties.

We call on international mediators to prioritize the return to a peaceful settlement.

👉 In this context, we would like to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It must coexist with Israel in peace and security, in accordance with the internationally recognized legal decisions.

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◾️ On April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded — the Washington Treaty was signed by 12 nations from Europe and North America.

Since its inception, this so-called “defensive alliance” has continually expanded. Over time, NATO has absorbed 20 new member-states through ten rounds of enlargement (a euphemism for expansion), with seven of these occurring following the dissolution of the Soviet Union: in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2024.

The alliance’s military interventions worldwide have always been a major source of instability and chaos in global affairs, undermining security worldwide, directly leading to mass civilian casualties and devastating consequences — as witnessed by the aggression against Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, the crisis and situation around Ukraine, and elsewhere.

❗️Back in 2007, during the Munich Security Conference, Russia's President Vladimir Putin explicitly highlighted NATO’s destabilizing role in following the Cold War:

I think it is obvious that NATO expansion does not have any relation with the modernisation of the Alliance itself or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it represents a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust. And we have the right to ask: against whom is this expansion intended?

Both the Soviet Union and Russia, at various times, sought rapprochement with NATO, even expressing frank interest in joining the alliance to create a an indivisible security system in Europe.

The fact of the matter is that the Soviet-lead Warsaw Pact, often used as a scarecrow by Western propaganda, was established only in 1955 — 6 years after NATO’s creation. Unlike NATO it never had any intentions of aggressive nature, while e.g. UK with its infamous Operation Unthinkable called for a massive assault on 1 July 1945 (not even 2 months after the Victory over Nazis) by British, American and... German (i.e. Nazi) forces against the Red Army.

Not only Russia and USSR never devised aggressive plans against NATO members, but NATO itself have acted in a threatening, aggressive and expansionist manner from the get-go.

Prior to this, Moscow aimed to normalize relations and even considered joining the North Atlantic alliance. In March 1954, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov proposed that the Soviet Union is willing explore the possibility of NATO membership to reduce tensions and prevent conflicts. However, Western powers rejected this proposal.

Following the dissolution of USSR, Russian leadership made further attempts to engage with the alliance. In June 1994, Russia became the first country to join NATO’s “Partnership for Peace” programme, aimed at developing bilateral cooperation between the alliance and partner-states.

💬 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the following in a recent interview:

The leadership focused on creating proper conditions for deepening partnership with the West. As it turned out later - in fact, it became clear fairly quickly, but almost all our politicians and citizens found it out later - our role in that “partnership” was that of the “little brother.” We were assigned this role. This, of course, was a huge mistake.

Many Western analysts now acknowledge in their memoirs that there was no sense in expanding NATO and keeping Russia “on the sidelines.”

In 1997, the then Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov proposed establishing contacts between Russia & NATO, leading to the signing of the Russia-NATO Founding Act and the creation of the Russia-NATO Council. Positive development, but nevertheless, NATO’s expansion continued.

President Vladimir Putin even mentioned that he had proposed the idea of Russia joining NATO, which was arrogantly rejected.

Today, the North Atlantic bloc remains a tool for forcefully advancing the interests of the so-called “golden billion”, i.e. the 'collective West'. The catastrophic & utterly destructive consequences of the alliance’s geopolitical maneuvering and capacity-building are evident to any rational observer.

#See4Yourself #Think4Yourself

“Not an Inch Eastward” they said... – what the West promised and what the West did in a nutshell.

To put things in perspective, here's NATO’s expansion over the years. This “defensive” alliance has undergone ten waves of enlargement (or if speaking plainly – ten waves of constant expansion), seven of which occurred after the dissolution of the USSR.

Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has incorporated the following countries, building up their aggressive military potential, sowing anti-Russian sentiment and foisting its confrontational mindset on new and old members alike:

📍 1999: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland;
📍 2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia;
📍 2009: Albania, Croatia;
📍 2017: Montenegro;
📍 2020: North Macedonia;
📍 2023: Finland;
📍 2024: Sweden.

As of now, the alliance comprises 32 members. On NATO’s so-called Eastern flank, for decades there has been an active buildup of military capabilities.

As a result, the militarization of Europe is unleashed and out of control, with the security architecture and balance that kept the region relatively safe is being dismantled.

⚡️ Joint statement following consultations between the ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) (Moscow, April 3, 2025)

📃 At the invitation of the Government of the Russian Federation, the first consultations of the ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) were held in Moscow on April 3, 2025.

• The participating delegations were led, respectively, by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad of the Republic of the Niger Bakary Yaou Sangare. The meeting was co-chaired by Sergey Lavrov and Abdoulaye Diop, who represented the head of the state that currently holds the CSS presidency.

• In accordance with the vision shared by President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traoré, Interim President of the Republic of Mali and CSS President Assimi Goïta, and President of the Republic of the Niger Abdourahamane Tchiani, and while taking into account the readiness of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to support the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), the purpose of these high-level political consultations was to strengthen the bond of good relations, friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the CSS and the Russian Federation, and institutionalising this bond.

• In the field of security and defence, Russia and the CSS agreed to establish a pragmatic and solidary strategic partnership.

• The Parties also expressed their resolve to step up efforts to combat terrorism and instability in all manifestations across the CSS territory. In view of this, the Russian Side reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Joint CSS Military Force’s efforts to defend the territorial integrity of the CSS countries.

• In addition, the Parties strongly condemned acts of aggression by states supporting terrorism, in particular, Ukraine’s criminal conspiracy with armed terrorist groups operating in the Sahel.

• Taking this opportunity, the Russian Side praised the CSS’s leading role and considerable efforts to build a sustainable model of regional security and recognised its positive contribution to the security of the Sahara-Sahel region. The CSS welcomed Russia’s significant input in strengthening international peace and security.

• When it comes to diplomatic efforts, the Parties welcomed their coordination and mutual support at international platforms in regard to major political and geostrategic issues based on respect for the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnectedness.

• The Parties welcomed their convergence of views on issues of mutual interest, in particular the de-politicisation of human rights issues, non-interference in internal affairs and equal treatment of states at international organisations.

• The Parties also reached a consensus on the key role of economic cooperation on a mutually beneficial and partnership basis. In this regard, the Parties agreed to intensify contacts between economic operators and create favourable conditions for doing business.

• The Ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and the CSS states agreed to hold consultations on a regular basis. Meetings will be held annually on a rotational basis. The second meeting will be held on the territory of the CSS at a time to be determined by mutual agreement through diplomatic channels.

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