🎙 Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the General Debate of the session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (New York, 8 April 2025)

Key talking points

💬 This year is marked by a number of important anniversaries directly related to the activities of the UNDC. This year we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which, according to various estimates, claimed lives of between 50 and 80 million people worldwide, including over 27 million citizens of the Soviet Union.

• The defeat of Nazism laid the foundation for a new architecture of international relations, with the UN at its core. To this day, the UN remains the unique universal platform for elaborating collective solutions in response to global challenges, primarily in the area of international security and stability.

• Unfortunately, after 80 years the lessons of the Second World War axe being forgotten. Today we are witnessing a rapid degradation in the field of international security. The deeply self-serving and destructive course aimed at total geopolitical dominance and overwhelming military-strategic superiority adopted by the group of Western States over a certain historical period has manifested itself in the blatant violation of the principle of equal and undiminished security, as well as in a refusal to seek mutually acceptable solutions based on genuine multilateralism and mutual consideration of concerns.

• In the current circumstances, the consolidated efforts of the international community to de-escalate, reduce tensions and rectify the situation with a view to long- term and reliable stabilization seem to be the obvious priority.

• Against the background of current international instability, preserving the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and ensuring its sustainability and effectiveness remain among our main priorities. Over the 55 years of its existence, the NPT has become a nearly universal international legal instrument that has proven its relevance to the entire international community.

• The establishment and operation of the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ) in various regions of the world, as envisaged under Article VII of the NPT, contributes to strengthening the non-proliferation regime. We welcome efforts to expand the geographic scope of NWFZs. Russia has consistently advocated for the establishment of the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDFZ).

• We would like to welcome the launching of a discussion in the framework of the UNDC on new technologies in the context of international security and are ready to contribute to the substantive discussion on this pressing issue. <...> Among promising topics we consider the issue of ensuring non-discriminatory access to new technologies and international co-operation in this field. Relevant proposals were made by delegations during the UNDC session in 2024 and met no objections.

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🇷🇺 Программа «Узнай Россию»: диалог культур

АНО «Евразия» продолжает реализацию долгосрочной международной программы «Узнай Россию», целью которой является развитие культурных и гуманитарных связей с молодёжью из разных стран мира.

❗️К участию приглашаются молодые люди в возрасте от 18 до 35 лет. Чтобы стать участником, необходимо:

1️⃣ Ознакомиться с условиями конкурсного отбора
2️⃣ Изучить критерии оценки заявок
3️⃣ Подать заявку через онлайн-форму
4️⃣ Пройти короткое онлайн-собеседование
5️⃣ Дождаться ответа от организаторов в течение 3 рабочих дней (по e-mail или телефону, указанным в анкете)

Программа длится 5 дней и включает образовательные лекции, экскурсии по знаковым местам Москвы, творческие мастер-классы, встречи с молодёжными лидерами и живое общение. Заезд участников формируется на ближайшие доступные даты в зависимости от времени подачи заявки.

ℹ️ Все подробности и регистрация — по ссылке:
🔗 https://evrazia.su/programms/programma-uznay-rossiyu

🎙Read excerpts from the statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE M.Buyakevich «On increasing military involvement of certain NATO and EU member States in yet more confrontation in and around Ukraine» (meeting of the OSCE PC, 10.04.2025)

💬 Creating the “necessary” emotional backdrop on international platforms is critically important for the Kiev regime ahead of the “Ramstein” format meeting on military support for Zelensky’s formations. In this vein are the false accusations against Russia of striking the civilian sector of Krivoy Rog on April 4

🗓 In reality, on April 4, a target in Krivoy Rog was hit, where a meeting was taking place between representatives of the Ukrainian armed formations, unit commanders, and Western instructors. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the losses amounted to up to 85 military personnel and foreign officers, as well as 20 units of automotive equipment. The Kiev regime is deliberately concealing information about these military losses, instead attempting to present the result of the unsuccessful operation of its own air defense system, deployed in residential areas in violation of international humanitarian law, as a result of a Russian “strike”

⚡️Last week, 114 civilians were affected by shelling from Zelensky’s armed formations across various regions of Russia: 106 people were injured, including one child, and eight others were killed. The Finnish OSCE Chairmanship remains silent about all the victims of Ukrainian armed formations' crimes, demonstrating double standards and unprincipled political bias

❗️The Kiev regime is deliberately undermining de-escalation initiatives. A notable example is the situation with the 30-day moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure, announced after Russian-American bilateral contacts on March 18, 2025. While the Russian Armed Forces have strictly adhered to this moratorium, the Ukrainian armed formations have, to date, carried out over 60 strikes on various energy facilities, with the majority occurring in the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions

☝️Britain and several European NATO member states are striving to obstruct Russian-American dialogue and efforts to de-escalate the Ukrainian conflict. It is evident that they are betting on prolonging their “proxy war,” continuing military support for the Kiev regime, and advancing uncompromising, unrealistic, and deliberately unfeasible demands

🇬🇧 The true role of Britain in the Ukrainian conflict was recently addressed by former Ukraine armed formations' Commander-in-Chief V. Zaluzhny, who confirmed London’s special role and the involvement of NATO officers in planning military operations and meeting Ukrainian armed formations' needs within the framework of the so-called “coordination center” located in Wiesbaden, Germany

🇷🇺 Russia’s position on resolving the current security crisis throughout the OSCE area remains consistent and unchanged. What is needed is a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable resolution of the Ukrainian conflict based on addressing its root causes, including the elimination of all threats created by NATO countries from Ukraine's territory

В МИД открылась фотовыставка ТАСС #ИхПодвигБессмертен, приуроченная к 80-летию Победы в Великой Отечественной войне.

Выставка рассказывает о последних месяцах войны: от ожесточённых боёв под Веной — до триумфа 9 Мая.

📸 Архивные фото, военные сводки, плакаты #ОкнаТАСС передают атмосферу решающей весны 1945 года.

Из выступления Министра иностранных дел России Сергея Лаврова:

Когда мы говорим о Великой Победе, мы вспоминаем ратные подвиги советских воинов, спасших мир от ужасов «коричневой чумы». Свой вклад в общее дело разгрома врага внёс и «информационный фронт». Корреспонденты ТАСС, ежедневно рискуя жизнью, мужественно вели летопись всех 1418 дней войны.

📹 Посмотреть на торжественное открытие своими глазами можно в трансляции мероприятия или в нашем сводном ролике 👆

🚀 On April 12, 1961, at 9.07 am Moscow Time, the Vostok spacecraft with Yury Gagarin aboard made its historic lift-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This first manned space mission in the history of humankind heralded the beginning of the Space Age.

Yury #Gagarin was only 27 years old then. He had experienced various hardships earlier in life, spending his childhood years in his home town in Nazi-occupied territory during the Great Patriotic War. After the war, he joined the Saratov air club, for many years he trained hard to become a professional pilot. Gagarin eventually joined the first Soviet cosmonaut squad.

On that memorable April morning, he was preparing to take off into the unknown where no human being had ever been before. A photographer took images of the cosmonaut’s face before the flight. Gagarin showed absolutely no fear, flashing his famous smile and concentrating on his responsible assignment.

🧑‍🚀 Yury Gagarin spent 108 minutes in outer space, orbited the Earth and successfully landed near the village of Smelovka in the Saratov Region.

While in orbit, he maintained radio contact with Earth, conducted observations through a porthole, controlled the operation of the spacecraft’s systems and made a few experiments.

📰 The media widely announced Yury Gagarin’s mission 55 minutes after the Vostok rocket lifted off. It became the most quoted news story worldwide. Instantly, a Soviet pilot & cosmonaut became the most famous person on Earth.

Two days later, the residents of the Soviet capital took to the streets, carrying flowers and posters that welcomed Gagarin who had arrived in Moscow. In late April, the first man in space went on a global tour to share his impressions with people all over the world.

🌐 In the next two years following this history-making event, Yury Gagarin visited over 30 countries where he was given a hero’s welcome. His tour was unofficially named the Peace Mission. Despite his immense popularity, Gagarin remained his own usual self and continued to engage in what he liked most – aviation and cosmonautics – for the rest of his life.

“Having orbited Earth in a spaceship, I saw for the first time how beautiful our planet is.

People, let us preserve and increase this beauty and not destroy it!”

— Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin

🚀 The world changed forever in those moments when Vostok-1 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Yuri #Gagarin became the first person in history to enter Earth’s orbit and circle our planet. This collective feat of the entire Soviet Union, its scientists, and cosmonauts marked the beginning of the space era in human history.

🌏 Before the launch of the spacecraft, Yuri Gagarin addressed the people of the entire planet with these inspiring words:

“Dear friends, both familiar and unknown, compatriots, people of all countries and continents!

In just a few minutes, a mighty spacecraft will carry me into the vast expanses of the universe. What can I say to you in these final moments before the launch?

My entire life now seems to me like one beautiful moment. Everything I have lived through and accomplished was done for the sake of this moment.

Am I happy to be embarking on this spaceflight? Of course, I am! After all, throughout history, it has been the highest happiness for people to participate in new discoveries.

Now, only a few minutes remain until the launch. I want to say goodbye to you, my dear friends, as people always say to each other when setting off on a long journey. How I wish I could embrace you all — both those I know and those I don’t, those far away and those close by!

Until we meet again!”

#CosmonauticsDay #Gagarin #FirstInSpace

🛰 On April 12, 1961, the world witnessed an event of cosmic significance (or rather the Cosmos witnessed an all-planetary event): Soviet cosmonaut Yury Gagarin performed the first ever manned mission aboard the Vostok-1 spacecraft. His trailblazing flight lasted 108 minutes and ushered in the Space Age, with the human race embarking on space exploration.

Vostok-1 was a spherical re-entry capsule measuring 4.3 metres in length, 2.43 metres in diameter, and with a launch mass of 4,725 kilogrammes. It was equipped with life-support systems, automated controls and communications equipment. Designed for a single crew member, the spacecraft could support a mission of up to ten days.

The launch vehicle was developed on the basis of the two-stage R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile, with the addition of a third stage. It measured 38.2 metres in length, had a maximum diameter of 10.3 metres and a launch mass of approximately 287 tonnes. The rocket was capable of delivering payloads of up to 4.5 tonnes into orbit.

👨‍🚀 The flight was operated entirely in automatic mode, but Gagarin was capable to control it manually, if necessary. For safety, he wore a spacesuit throughout the mission. The suit carried a four-hour oxygen supply to keep the cosmonaut alive in the event of depressurisation. It would also protected Gagarin, if his seat ejected at an altitude of 10 kilometres.

The launch took place from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 9:07 am Moscow time. Vostok-1 made a single orbit of the Earth and landed near the village of Smelovka in the Saratov Region at 10:53 am. At an altitude of around 7 kilometres, Gagarin ejected from the capsule and parachuted to the ground.

Vostok-1 was the first spacecraft in the Vostok series, and even after the main programme ended, modified versions of the spacecraft continued to be used and later became the foundation for a number of Soviet and Russian satellites.

12 апреля 2025 г. в честь Дня космонавтики российские соотечественники возложили цветы к памятнику первому космонавту Ю.А.Гагарину (г.Берген).

12. april 2025 i forbindelse med Den internasjonale romfartsdagen nedla russiske landsfolk blomster til minnesmerket for den første kosmonauten Jury Gagarin (Bergen).

On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin ushered humanity into space era

♥️ His big great heart, genuine smile and sincerity left a mark on millions of souls.

A true hero of the people. Not even time itself can break or lessen this connection.

#Gagarin1961 #ForeverFirst #DreamBig

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to the media questions during his remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (Antalya, April 12, 2025)

Key points:

• More and more countries want to determine their life themselves, to have fair treatment, to have fair competition in economy, trade, in other areas, just in line with the principles of globalization, which were promoted by our Western friends, especially by the United States, for so many decades.

• What we observe is fragmentation of the world economy. This is the time of uncertainty, I would say. Nobody knows how the situation with world trade and investment is going to end.

• The United States recognize that other countries also have their national interests, and those interests would never coincide fully, maybe even half of these interests would not be similar. But when the interests, especially the interests of big countries, coincide, it is essential for them to find ways to materialize them into mutually beneficial economic, logistical, and other projects, while when these interests contradict each other, it is the responsibility and duty of countries, especially if we speak about big powers, not to allow these differences to degenerate into confrontation, especially the hot confrontation.

• I will repeat again what I said then, and I repeated this publicly also, when we speak about eliminating root causes of any conflict, including Ukrainian conflict. This is the only way to resolve the problem and to establish long-lasting peace - remove root causes.

• If Ukrainian nazi regime, I cannot describe it otherwise, enjoys the cover from the European Union, which as I just mentioned, never dropped a word about the situation with human rights in Ukraine, then this is not our problem. We listen to those people who voted at the referendum to join Russia to restore all their rights which belong to them by international law and by history, by justice.

• The European Union is not happy. And instead of doing something about this situation for the sake of their citizens Brussels people threatened to stop importing any grain from Russia. They're very specific leaders. They say that Kaja Kallas, Annalena Baerbock, they were saying yes, when criticized by the people who saying, “We live worse than before”. Yes, we understand, but our electorate should suffer for the sake of Ukraine, while at the same time thousands and thousands of Ukrainians living there in European luxury, buying very expensive vehicles. But this is what the European elite calls European values, which they defend in the person of Zelensky regime.

• I gave to our colleagues from Türkiye, to Minister Hakan Fidan, what we give to Americans, to UN, to OSCE, the list of facts, listing the attacks by Ukraine during the last three weeks against Russian energy infrastructure.

• We understand that Zelensky hates all Russians, so he gives orders. Either he gives orders, and they are not taken, or he is lying, that he is giving these orders. It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy.

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🎙 From FM Sergey Lavrov’s answers to the media questions during his remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (April 12, 2025)

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💬 We are not about territories. We are about the people who live on these lands, whose ancestors lived there for centuries, who founded cities like Odessa, Catherine the Great, who built factories, who built houses, ports, and these people, by twist of history, during the Soviet days, became not part of Russia, but part of Ukraine, because this was considered a consolidating factor to neutralize the ultra-radicals living in the Western part of Ukraine when it joined the Soviet Union after the war.

The people who live there, they are being deprived of all human rights. I quoted the UN Charter, which in Article 1 says everybody must respect the human rights of every individual, irrespective of race, gender, language, or religion.

Human rights and language rights of anybody who is ethnic Russian and lives on the territory which used to be Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, they were deprived of their basic rights. The Russian language has been prohibited at all stages of education, in the areas of culture, media.

Russian books have been thrown out of the libraries. The Nazis in Germany were burning them, but Ukrainians are much more smart. They utilize them and get money for this, you know, but everybody is happy. And recently, the canonic Ukrainian Orthodox Church was prohibited by law. They literally exterminate anything Russian.

When in September 2021, long before the operation which we had to launch, Zelensky was asked in an interview what he thought, and at that time the Minsk Agreement was still valid, though later Germans, the French, and the Ukrainian president before Zelensky admitted that they never intended to implement them, they needed more time to arm Ukraine, speaking of the ceasefire for 30 days, logic is the same.

In November 2021, Zelensky was asked what he thought about the people on the other side of the line of contact in Donbass. And he said, trying to sound clever, "You know, there are people and there are species”. Another time he gave his advice “to those who live in Ukraine but feel associated with the Russian culture, for the sake of your kids, for the sake of your grandchildren, get out to Russia”.

Just a couple of weeks ago, in another interview, when he was asked what is driving him, he said, "Hatred to Russia." The interviewer wanted to clarify, “To President Putin?”, he said, "No, to all Russians."

This is said by the person who during his artistic days was defending the right of Ukrainians to speak Russian, and he said, "Get lost, don't even think about touching the Russian language, it's our history." So, this is where we are.

Hatred is not the best guide. By the way, maybe somebody knows, Israel never prohibited Arab language, no? I don't think so.

❗️ I think Ukraine is the only country on Earth which is multinational, and the language of one huge ethnic group is prohibited.

If you read and listen to what the West is saying, EU, NATO, especially EU. Human rights is on top of everything. When they discuss Venezuela, Russia, Serbia, Türkiye, they never forget about human rights. Check what they're saying on the situation in Ukraine. They say Zelensky and his team defend European values. If your value is exterminating the language of those who founded the country, if your value is to glorify Nazis and their collaborators who were convicted by the Nuremberg Tribunal, to whom you put monuments, whose birthdays you celebrate as national holiday, while ruining, toppling the monuments to those who saved Europe from Nazism, toppling the monument in Odessa, which I mentioned already, to Catherine the Great, who founded that city.

Soon after this monument to Catherine the Great, the Empress, was toppled, UNESCO granted the Odessa central region where the monument was located the status of World Heritage. It's such a shame to the lady who happens to be French and happens, I think, by default to become director-general of this respected organization.