🎙 Excerpt from the press statement by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (May 11, 2025)

💬 Vladimir Putin: Russia has proposed ceasefire initiatives on several occasions, but they, these initiatives, have been repeatedly sabotaged by Ukraine.

For example, the Kiev regime defiantly violated about 130 times the 30-day – I want to make it a point – 30-day moratorium, from March 18 to April 17, on strikes against energy facilities, which was declared in accordance with our agreement with US President Donald Trump.

The Easter truce initiated by Russia was not observed either: the ceasefire regime was violated by Ukrainian forces almost 5,000 times.

Nevertheless, for the celebration of Victory Day – and we consider this to be a sacred holiday for us as well, just imagine that we lost 27 million people – we declared a ceasefire for the third time on this holiday, which is sacred to us.

Incidentally we conveyed to those of our colleagues in the West who, in my opinion, are sincerely looking for ways to settlement, our position on this issue, on a ceasefire on Victory Day, and that in the future we do not exclude the possibility of extending the terms of this truce – but, of course, after analysing what will happen in these several days, based on the results of how the Kiev regime will react to our proposal.

And what do we see? What are these results?

The Kiev authorities, as you can see for yourself, did not respond at all to our ceasefire proposal.

<...>

As I have already said, the Kiev authorities not only declined our ceasefire proposal, but also, as we all saw, tried to intimidate the leaders of the states who gathered for the celebrations in Moscow.

<...>

I will repeat: we have proposed steps towards a ceasefire on many occasions. We have never refused to engage in dialogue with the Ukrainian side. Let me remind you again: it was not us who interrupted the negotiations in 2022; it was the Ukrainian side.

❗️ In this connection, despite everything, we propose that the authorities in Kiev should resume the negotiations that they interrupted at the end of 2022 and resume direct talks. And, I stress, without any preconditions.

We suggest starting without delay next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held earlier and where they were interrupted. <...>

Tomorrow we are going to have a conversation with the President of Turkiye, Mr Erdogan. I would like to ask him to provide such an opportunity to hold talks in Turkiye. I hope that he will confirm his desire to contribute to the search for peace in Ukraine.

We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their aim is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to achieve a long-term lasting peace for a historical perspective.

We do not rule out that in the course of these negotiations it will become possible to agree on some kind of new truce and a new ceasefire. And a real ceasefire that would be observed not only by Russia but also by the Ukrainian side and would be the first step, I repeat, towards a long-term, sustainable peace, rather than a prelude to continuing armed conflict after the Ukrainian armed forces have been rearmed, re-equipped and frantically digged trenches and new strongholds. Who needs such peace?

Our proposal is, as they say, on the table. The decision is now up to Ukrainian authorities and their supervisors, who are seemingly guided by their personal political ambitions, rather than the interests of their peoples, want to continue the war against Russia at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists.

Let me reiterate myself: Russia is ready for talks without any preliminary conditions. There are combat actions and war going on now, and we propose to resume negotiations that were not interrupted by us.

Well, what's wrong about it?

Those who really want peace cannot but support this.

👉 Full trannoscript

⚡️ Statement by Vladimir Medinsky, Head of the Russian Delegation, following Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul (16 May 2025)

💬 The direct negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation, convened at the initiative of the President of Russia, have just concluded.

Overall, we are satisfied with the outcome and are prepared to maintain contacts.

This is what we agreed on:

1. A large-scale exchange of prisoners of war will take place in the coming days — 1,000 for 1,000.

2. The Ukrainian side has requested direct talks between the heads of state. We have taken note of this request.

3. We have agreed that each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire and spell it out in detail.

Once this vision has been presented, we believe it would be appropriate, as also agreed, to continue our negotiations.

❌ Под начало переговоров в Стамбуле британское руководство выступило с очередной порцией антироссийских выпадов в контексте украинского кризиса. Налицо хрестоматийный пример пропаганды, в котором истинное положение дел беззастенчиво переворачивается с ног на голову.

Старые обвинения Даунинг-стрит в адрес нашей страны в стремлении затянуть конфликт и создать препятствия переговорному процессу сейчас звучат особенно лицемерно. Как известно, именно Лондон приложил немалые усилия сначала для срыва переговорного процесса в 2022 году, а впоследствии для удержания конфликта в горячем состоянии.

❗️ Британцы – авторы всех эскалационных манёвров Запада, начиная с поставок киевской военщине наступательных вооружений и вплоть до применения западных дальнобойных ракетных вооружений по мирным гражданам в глубине территории России. <...>

Откровенное недоумение вызвало поспешное заявление премьер-министра Британии о том, что позиция России на переговорах в Стамбуле неприемлема и, мол, готовится ответ. Это кому она неприемлема? Мы не с Лондоном ведём переговоры.

Наконец, абсолютно бесполезны очередные попытки Лондона запугать нашу страну угрозами новых неправомерных ограничений в случае «ослушания».

Предыдущий санкционный выпад, предпринятый британцами в святой для России праздник 9 мая, вызвал у нас только сомнения в приверженности руководства Альбиона памяти о подвиге союзников в борьбе с фашизмом. Теперь же подобные ультиматумы, сделанные на фоне переговорного процесса, очевидно, преследуют цель усложнения или подрыва урегулирования. Вот только, похоже, на Даунинг-стрит не осознают саморазоблачающего характера своих действий.

☝️ Лондону самое время определиться, намерен ли он продолжать быть партией войны.

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❌ As negotiations commenced in Istanbul, the UK leadership launched yet another barrage of anti-Russian allegations regarding the crisis in Ukraine. This is a textbook example of propaganda, wherein the true state of affairs is shamelessly turned on its head.

Downing Street's tired accusations against Russia — alleging an intention to prolong the conflict and obstruct the peace process — today sound particularly hypocritical. It is well known that London went to great lengths to first undermine the negotiation process in 2022 and later to keep the conflict aflame.

❗️ Britain has been a chief architect of the West's escalatory tactics, ranging from supplying Ukraine's military with offensive weapons to using Western long-range missiles against civilians deep inside Russian territory. <...>

Equally perplexing is the British Prime Minister's rushed statement that Russia's position at the Istanbul talks is "unacceptable" and that a response is being prepared. Unacceptable to whom, exactly? Last time we checked, it was not Britain we were negotiating with.

Finally, London's latest attempts to intimidate our country by threatening new unlawful restrictions should Russia fail to "comply" are worthless.

The most recent sanctions, disgracefully announced on 9 May — the most sacred date for Russia — have only served to further erode trust in the UK government’s commitment to the shared legacy of the Allies' fight against Nazism. Similar ultimatums issued in the midst of negotiations appear to be designed to hinder or sabotage the settlement. However, it seems that Downing Street does not realise how self-revealing its actions are.

☝️ It is high time for London to decide whether it wants to remain a party of war.

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⚡️ President Vladimir Putin's statement to the press following his phone conversation with President Donald Trump

💬 Vladimir Putin: The conversation [with the President of the United States] <...> lasted for over two hours. I would emphasise that it was both very substantive and quite frank. Overall, I found it very useful in this regard.

First and foremost, I thanked the President of the United States for supporting the resumption of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on a possible peace agreement. These talks were suspended by the Ukrainian side back in 2022, as you know.

The US President set out his position on the cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire. For our part, I emphasized that Russia supports a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. We must simply identify the most effective path toward peace.

We have agreed with the US President that Russia will propose a memorandum on a potential future peace agreement and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on this. It would include defining such positions as the principles of the settlement, the timeframe for concluding a potential peace agreement, and a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time, should appropriate agreements be reached.

Notably, contacts between participants of the Istanbul talks have resumed. This gives us reason to believe that, broadly speaking, we are moving in the right direction.

Let me stress once again that I rated the conversation very highly and found it very constructive. The issue is, of course, that both the Russian and the Ukrainian sides should demonstrate maximum desire for peace and find compromises that would satisfy all parties.

☝️ At the same time, I would like to underscore that Russia's position remains clear. Our primary goal is to eliminate the root causes of this crisis.

🤦 Анонсировав 20 мая очередные неправомерные ограничительные меры, британские власти явно преследовали цель перещеголять новоявленных «стратегических партнёров» из Евросоюза с их наспех свёрстанным 17-м пакетом.

Новый британский «стоп-лист» представляет собой не оригинальную, понадёрганную от самых разных стран и отраслей комбинацию людей, организаций и морских судов. В попытке «догнать и перегнать» Европу правительство его Величества не остановилось даже перед тем, чтобы поразить в правах собственного подданного – как водится, без суда и следствия.

Рвение правительства Кира Стармера на затоптанной санкционной ниве едва ли будет по достоинству оценено всё более разочаровывающимся в нем британским электоратом, соседями по континенту (где англичан после «брекзита» воспринимают как просителей и обращаются соответственно) и, тем более, старшими заокеанскими союзниками.

Помимо прочего, предпринятый Лондоном агрессивный выпад на фоне развивающегося в т.ч. на высшем уровне российско-американского диалога, ориентированного на поиск взаимоприемлемых подходов к долгосрочному урегулированию украинского кризиса, лишний раз подчёркивает узколобость политики Британии, застрявшей в устаревших шаблонах.

Нечего говорить, что на курс России эти разномастные «санкции», равно как и прочие попытки говорить с нами языком ультиматумов и угроз, повлиять не могут. Что касается «давления на российскую военную машину», о которой невпопад рассуждает мининдел страны Дэвид Лэмми, остаётся пожелать британскому официозу периодически вспоминать о собственном «автопарке», счищать с него ржавчину и подкачивать сдувающиеся шины.

☝️ В свою очередь, заверяем, что Вооружённые силы России всегда будут готовы отстаивать законные интересы нашей страны от происков Лондона и его злобноватых единомышленников.

🤦 In announcing on 20 May yet another round of illegitimate restrictive measures, the UK authorities clearly sought to outperform their newfound "strategic partners" in the European Union and their hastily cobbled-together 17th sanctions package.

The new UK "blacklist" is anything but original – a patchwork of individuals, entities and vessels pulled haphazardly from a variety of countries and sectors. In a rush to "outsanction" Europe, His Majesty’s Government went so far as to curtail the rights of one of its own subjects – as usual, without a court ruling.

The zeal shown by Keir Starmer's cabinet in ploughing the overcropped sanctions field is unlikely to be appreciated either by the increasingly disillusioned British electorate, or by continental neighbours, who after Brexit tend to regard the UK as a supplicant and treat it accordingly. Even less so will it likely impress senior allies across the Atlantic.

Moreover, London's aggressive gesturing at a time when dialogue between Russia and the United States, including at the highest level, is unfolding with the aim of identifying mutually acceptable approaches to a long-term resolution of the Ukraine crisis, serves only to underscore the narrow-mindedness of UK policy, mired, as it is, in outdated ideological clichés.

Needless to say, this motley collection of "sanctions" as well as other attempts to speak to Russia in the language of ultimatums and threats will have no impact on our course. As for Foreign Secretary David Lammy's unfortunate statement on the need to "restrict" Russia’s "war machine", one could only advise the UK establishment to occasionally inspect its own relevant "gadgetry", scraping off the rust and pumping up the deflated tyres.

☝️ As for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, they will remain prepared to uphold the legitimate interests of our country in the face of London’s schemes and those of its malicious associates.

🎙 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Government members, via videoconference (May 22, 2025)

💬 Critically important issue for ensuring safety and protecting people’s lives and health is the demining of territories where combat operations occurred, including the elimination of unexploded ordnance, mines, and weapon caches left behind by militants.

I reiterate: this concerns the Kursk Region, the Bryansk Region, and the Belgorod Region, which have also suffered and continue to endure shelling. Moreover, the adversary typically targets objectives devoid of military significance: civilian infrastructure and people’s homes.

#KievRegimeCrimes: The most recent events only confirm what I just said: drone attacks as well as sabotage and reconnaissance actions target civilian transport, including ambulances and agricultural machinery. Most of the casualties are women and children.

❗️ A decision has been made to create a buffer security zone along the Russian border. Our Armed Forces are working on this now.

They are also effectively suppressing enemy firing points. At the same time, I would like to point out once again that, given the situation in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, we need to begin restoring and rebuilding everything that has been destroyed there right away.

Read in full

🗓 On 24 May, Russia and many other countries mark the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture — a solemn tribute to the origins of an alphabet that has not only shaped nations, but also given voice to the profound and enduring literary traditions of the Slavic world.

The date coincides with the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, two Byzantine brothers who devised the first Slavic alphabet in 863. Their pioneering efforts enabled entire peoples to access sacred texts in their own tongue and played a pivotal role in the Christianisation of Eastern Europe.

Today the Slavic linguistic family stretches across Eurasia, spanning over 400 million speakers. At its core stands Russian. It ranks among the world's ten most spoken languages and holds global significance as one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

But beyond its geopolitical stature, Russian is a literary colossus. It is the language of Pushkin, founder of modern Russian literature; of Tolstoy, whose moral epics reshaped the novel; and of Dostoevsky, whose psychological depth remains timeless. It carries the precision of Chekhov, the stark realism of Sholokhov, the philosophical weight of Platonov and the surreal brilliance of Bulgakov.

This day is a celebration of shared heritage and a reminder that language is more than words: it is memory, identity and the enduring vessel of human thought.

📰 Интервью Посла России в Великобритании Андрея Келина информагентству РИА Новости (25 мая 2025 года)

Основные тезисы:

• Если бы [британские власти] всё же научились, как это было раньше, говорить уважительно и слышать то, что им говорят, я думаю, что и наши двусторонние отношения были бы лучше, да и ситуация с безопасностью Европы изменилась бы к лучшему.

• Британия контролирует Зеленского в составе известного трио, которое включает в себя также президента Франции и канцлера ФРГ. Контроль осуществляется путём поддержки всех «хотелок» Зеленского. <...> Тем самым укрепляют воинственное настроение Зеленского, создавая у него ощущение безнаказанности за то, что он делает.

• Борис Джонсон, Лиз Трасс, Риши Сунак и Кир Стармер проявляют примерно одинаковую воинственность и безответственность в оценке международной ситуации и последствий своих действий. <...> Преемственность антироссийского курса и бессмысленной и безоглядной поддержки Украины сохраняется.

• Британские СМИ, даже самые уважаемые, сосредоточены на поисках российской угрозы. Бесконечные разговоры об этом ведутся каждый день.

• Механизм схемы регистрации иностранного влияния предусматривает предъявление особо суровых требований ко всем, кто захочет взаимодействовать с Россией. <...> Британские власти будут требовать письменно декларировать наличие связей с нашей страной. А в обстановке царящей здесь русофобии это равносильно своего рода «чёрной метке».

• Лондон пытается стреножить российский флот на Чёрном море, хотя соотношение сил в этом регионе значительно в нашу пользу.

• Фактор усталости британского общества от украинской темы есть. <...> Всё больше речь идёт о том, что британцы устали от украинских беженцев и не хотят их содержать.

• Будем настаивать, чтобы британское правительство раскрыло факты о произошедшем в Солсбери. Это было очевидной провокацией, с которой началось стремительное ухудшение отношений между нашими странами.

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❗️ Kemi Badenoch has finally called a spade a spade.

Ukraine is indeed fighting a proxy-war against Russia on behalf of Western interests. The illegitimate Kiev regime, created, financed and armed by the West, has been at it since 2014.

Remember, Kemi Badenoch hails from the same Conservative party, whose former leader and Prime-Minister Boris Johnson, when peace was at hand, went to Kiev and told the Ukrainians to "just fight".

The result has been an unmitigated disaster for Ukraine and its people, as well as an unprecedented security crisis in Europe.

☝️ The objective of Russia's Special Military Operation is to put an end to the proxy-war and restore peace.

⚡️ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement on the second round of the resumed direct talks between Russia and Ukraine

💬 As is well known, the conditions have been created for direct negotiations to resume between Russia and Ukraine with the support of the United States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The first round of negotiations took place on 16 May in Istanbul. In accordance with the agreements reached there, the parties have exchanged 1,000 prisoners of war each. It was also agreed that Moscow and Kiev would prepare documents setting out their respective positions on achieving a sustainable settlement.

As agreed, the Russian side has promptly drafted a memorandum outlining our views on all essential aspects to reliably overcome the root causes of the crisis.

Our delegation, helmed by Vladimir Medinsky, stands ready to present this memorandum to Ukraine's delegation and to provide the necessary clarifications during the second round of resumed direct talks in Istanbul next Monday, 2 June.

I would like to once again express my gratitude to our Turkish partners for providing a hospitable venue for the talks, as confirmed yesterday by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his visit to Moscow.

☝️ We hope that all parties that are genuinely interested in the success of the peace process rather than just claim to be in favour of the initiative will support the new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul.

🗓 29 May has been designated as Eurasian Economic Union Day - marking the foundation in 2014 of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), an international organisation for regional economic integration. The Union aims to support the economic development of its member states, improve living standards for their citizens and promote sustainable growth.

The EAEU comprises five countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Together, they account for a combined GDP of approximately £2 trillion and a population of around 186 million people.

Over its ten-year history, the EAEU's member states have created a common internal market and implemented unified customs, tariff and non-tariff regulations.

They have developed mutually beneficial and equitable partnerships in energy, industry, agriculture and digital transformation.

🤝 The Union's success is reflected in the continuous expansion of its international ties, including free-trade agreements with Vietnam, Serbia and Iran, as well as a non-preferential agreement with China. Moldova, Cuba, Uzbekistan and Iran hold observer status.

❌ Озвученные 29 мая британским минобороны «амбициозные» планы в сфере ИКТ показали, что в Лондоне готовы поднимать ставки в борьбе с мифической «российской угрозой».

Бряцая собственным кибероружием, британский официоз заявляет о массовом наборе «хакеров» в ряды своих вооружённых сил и учреждении специализированной командной структуры для координации не только оборонительных, но и наступательных операций в сфере ИКТ. По сути, речь идёт о милитаризации информационного пространства с нескрываемым прицелом на осуществление наступательных замыслов против России.

Тем самым британцы косвенно признают свою роль в уже направленной на нашу страну цифровой агрессии. В создании, обучении и спонсировании группировок вроде прославляемой здешними СМИ «ІТ-армии Украины», которая задействуется против России в рамках прокси-войны Лондона и его партнёров. Подобные преступные объединения могут использоваться Западом и в отношении других «неугодных» государств.

Долгосрочные последствия этого провокационного курса, судя по всему, не беспокоят местные власти. И это напрасно.

❗️ Проводимая Лондоном подготовка наступательного киберпотенциала к применению против России чревата разжиганием крупномасштабного противостояния в пространстве ИКТ с трудно предсказуемыми, в т.ч. для самой Британии, итогами.

📰 Interview with Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova for 'Zapiski Sledovatelya' Journal No. 2/2025, published by Russia's Investigative Committee (May 30, 2025)

✍️ The Legal Front of Memory

Key talking points:

• Combating manifestations of racism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism and neo-Nazism, and countering attempts to rewrite history and distort the outcomes of #WWII are among Russia’s priorities on the human rights track.

• Today we see increasingly frequent attempts to rewrite the history and results of WWII, to erase the memory of heroic anti-fascist fighters, to destroy monuments built in their honour, and to ban the wearing of military decorations that are strongly associated with Victory.

• History is being falsified in an openly hostile manner, which includes glorifying Nazi collaborators and disrespecting the memory of Soviet soldiers and civilians who died in the fight against fascism, questioning the Red Army’s liberation mission in Eastern Europe <...> The decisions of the Yalta and Potsdam conferences and the Nuremberg Tribunal verdicts are also being questioned.

• This tendency to rewrite history and glorify Nazi henchmen has become part of the Kiev regime’s state ideology and policy. The neo-Nazi elites are trying to cement Ukraine’s independence by denying its Soviet past, praising the Waffen-SS Galicia Division <...>

• In line with efforts to combat the glorification of Nazism and the distortion of history, every year since 2005, Russia has submitted a resolution on combatting glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to the UN General Assembly. On December 17, 2024, during the plenary session of the 79th #UNGA in New York, 119 countries voted in support of this document.

• Russia and a group of like-minded countries submitted a draft resolution on the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II to the ongoing 79th UN General Assembly, which was adopted on March 4. <...> Our partners’ unified stance on this matter constitutes a substantive contribution to countering the rewriting of history.

• It is a matter of principle for us that the international community recognise the crimes perpetrated by the Nazis in the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War as the genocide of the Soviet people.

• The actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Nazi-affiliated armed groups reveal signs of genocidal intent. They wanted to eliminate Russians and Russian speakers in #Donbass <...>, adepts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and people in this region in general as an ethnic, religious and national entity.

• Ukraine initiated proceedings in the UN International Court of Justice in February 2022, right after the start of the special military operation, as per the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. However, it turned to the Kiev regime’s disadvantage.

• The International Court of Justice issued its preliminary objections under this case on February 2, 2024. In this document, it rejected all the claims made by Ukraine alleging that Russia violated the Convention. The court went on to rule that further proceedings will focus on whether Ukraine itself committed acts of genocide in Donbass. Therefore, the Kiev regime filed the lawsuit only to become a defendant in this case.

• On November 18, 2024, Russia submitted its main pleading document, the Counter Memorandum, as part of these proceedings. In fact, this is the first time since the Nuremberg Trials that Russia de facto assumed the role of the prosecution in an international tribunal. But there are even more parallels with the Nuremberg Trials — just as during these trials, we are dealing with a Nazi regime which was targeting civilians with mass atrocities on racial, ethnic and national grounds.

Read the interview in full

Embassy comment on confrontational UK initiatives in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

❌ The far-reaching ICT-related plans announced by the British Ministry of Defence on 29 May clearly indicate London's intent to further raise the stakes in its campaign against the mythical "Russian threat".

Rattling its cyber sabre, the British establishment has called for the mass recruitment of "hackers" into the ranks of its armed forces, along with the establishment of a specialised command structure for coordinating not only defensive but also offensive operations in the ICT domain. In essence, this is an open admission of the militarisation of the information space with the evident focus on carrying out offensive operations against Russia.

In doing so, the British side has indirectly acknowledged its role in the digital aggression already being waged against our country – via the creation, training, and sponsorship of groups such as the so-called "IT Army of Ukraine", openly praised in local media and deployed against Russia as part of London's proxy war alongside its partners. Such criminal associations may also be used by the West against other "uncooperative" states.

The long-term costs of this provocative course do not seem to bother the UK authorities. Yet this is a mistake.

❗️ The offensive cyber potential being prepared by London for use against Russia is fraught with the risk of triggering a large-scale confrontation in the ICT domain which may lead to unpredictable consequences, including for the United Kingdom itself.