Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin held a meeting with heads of international news agencies (St Petersburg, June 4, 2026)
Key points:
• In recent years, especially since the start of the special military operation, people have increasingly been saying: “Russia has pivoted towards Asia. It has changed its policy”. Russia has changed nothing and made no pivots. The Treaty underpinning #RussiaChina cooperation was signed in 2001. We are natural allies and partners.
• Russia and India have a great deal of joint work ahead. We are confident that in the coming years we will reach $100 billion in trade turnover. At present, it stands at around $60 billion – or rather $58 billion. But we have every prerequisite to work more actively and pursue more ambitious goals.
• The US is trying to pressure India on certain issues, including some aspects of cooperation with Russia. But it should be clear to everyone by now: pressuring Prime Minister Modi, who leads a country of 1.5 billion people, is a futile exercise.
• We are certainly ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine by peaceful means, and on the basis we discussed at the meeting with President Trump in Anchorage. At that time, Russia was presented with a number of issues so that we could agree to certain compromises. Russia is prepared to accept the compromises we discussed in Anchorage, 👉 the Ukrainian side must now also agree to them.
• What kind of mediator can the EU or individual EU countries be in the Ukrainian settlement when they are directly assisting the country with which we are in an armed conflict, effectively becoming involved in hostilities? What kind of mediators are they? Mediation requires neutrality.
• If someone in the EU believes it is worthwhile to revive dialogue with Russia – go ahead, by all means. But who would be the negotiator on Europe’s side? I do not know; we are not imposing anything. Naturally, we want to understand who that could be. And I repeat once again: they should be people who can be trusted. This is a working matter that can be discussed quietly and calmly, say, at the level of foreign ministries or intelligence services. Contacts between intelligence services, incidentally, are ongoing.
• The EU could play a positive role – not by supplying weapons, but by trying to persuade the Kiev authorities to accept the compromises we discussed in Anchorage. That is all.
• We can sign agreements with Ukraine only with people who are unquestionably, in the full sense of the word, legitimate for signing documents of this kind. There are many possible options: the speaker of parliament, perhaps Zelensky himself. We need to see what kind of documents these are and what legal consequences they will have.
• Against the backdrop of developments around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, the tragedy of Palestine has been forgotten – but it has not gone away. I want to stress this once again: in Russia's view, there can be only one fundamental way to resolve this issue – the creation of a fully-fledged Palestinian State.
• In 2015, Russia played a positive role in resolving the situation around Iran. At the time, we transported enriched uranium from the country to Russian territory, and this formed the basis of the #JCPOA, meaning that the crisis was resolved. The proposals are on the table; we are ready to do this again, just as we did in 2015. If not, then we will hope that the parties involved in this conflict find another solution.
Read in full
Key points:
• In recent years, especially since the start of the special military operation, people have increasingly been saying: “Russia has pivoted towards Asia. It has changed its policy”. Russia has changed nothing and made no pivots. The Treaty underpinning #RussiaChina cooperation was signed in 2001. We are natural allies and partners.
• Russia and India have a great deal of joint work ahead. We are confident that in the coming years we will reach $100 billion in trade turnover. At present, it stands at around $60 billion – or rather $58 billion. But we have every prerequisite to work more actively and pursue more ambitious goals.
• The US is trying to pressure India on certain issues, including some aspects of cooperation with Russia. But it should be clear to everyone by now: pressuring Prime Minister Modi, who leads a country of 1.5 billion people, is a futile exercise.
• We are certainly ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine by peaceful means, and on the basis we discussed at the meeting with President Trump in Anchorage. At that time, Russia was presented with a number of issues so that we could agree to certain compromises. Russia is prepared to accept the compromises we discussed in Anchorage, 👉 the Ukrainian side must now also agree to them.
• What kind of mediator can the EU or individual EU countries be in the Ukrainian settlement when they are directly assisting the country with which we are in an armed conflict, effectively becoming involved in hostilities? What kind of mediators are they? Mediation requires neutrality.
• If someone in the EU believes it is worthwhile to revive dialogue with Russia – go ahead, by all means. But who would be the negotiator on Europe’s side? I do not know; we are not imposing anything. Naturally, we want to understand who that could be. And I repeat once again: they should be people who can be trusted. This is a working matter that can be discussed quietly and calmly, say, at the level of foreign ministries or intelligence services. Contacts between intelligence services, incidentally, are ongoing.
• The EU could play a positive role – not by supplying weapons, but by trying to persuade the Kiev authorities to accept the compromises we discussed in Anchorage. That is all.
• We can sign agreements with Ukraine only with people who are unquestionably, in the full sense of the word, legitimate for signing documents of this kind. There are many possible options: the speaker of parliament, perhaps Zelensky himself. We need to see what kind of documents these are and what legal consequences they will have.
• Against the backdrop of developments around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, the tragedy of Palestine has been forgotten – but it has not gone away. I want to stress this once again: in Russia's view, there can be only one fundamental way to resolve this issue – the creation of a fully-fledged Palestinian State.
• In 2015, Russia played a positive role in resolving the situation around Iran. At the time, we transported enriched uranium from the country to Russian territory, and this formed the basis of the #JCPOA, meaning that the crisis was resolved. The proposals are on the table; we are ready to do this again, just as we did in 2015. If not, then we will hope that the parties involved in this conflict find another solution.
Read in full
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⚡️ Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's statement on the attack on the Natra and Tsirkon vessels in the Sea of Azov (June 5, 2026)
💬 According to information received from the competent Russian authorities, in the early hours of June 5, the Natra and Tsirkon vessels, sailing from Turkiye to the port of Rostov-on-Don under the flags of Belize and Palau respectively, were attacked in the Sea of Azov.
There are dead and wounded on both vessels, including citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The injured sailors received assistance from a passing Russian vessel and a border unit of Russia’s Federal Security Service.
We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wish the injured a speedy recovery.
The circumstances of the incident are being established. According to available information, the vessels were attacked by Ukrainian drones, which once again confirms the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime, which is increasingly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
We are in close contact with the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Moscow and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
The Russian side will provide all necessary assistance to our partners in obtaining information on the circumstances of the incident and ensuring consular access to Azerbaijani citizens.
💬 According to information received from the competent Russian authorities, in the early hours of June 5, the Natra and Tsirkon vessels, sailing from Turkiye to the port of Rostov-on-Don under the flags of Belize and Palau respectively, were attacked in the Sea of Azov.
There are dead and wounded on both vessels, including citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The injured sailors received assistance from a passing Russian vessel and a border unit of Russia’s Federal Security Service.
We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wish the injured a speedy recovery.
The circumstances of the incident are being established. According to available information, the vessels were attacked by Ukrainian drones, which once again confirms the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime, which is increasingly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
We are in close contact with the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Moscow and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
The Russian side will provide all necessary assistance to our partners in obtaining information on the circumstances of the incident and ensuring consular access to Azerbaijani citizens.
Forwarded from МИД России 🇷🇺
🗓 6 июня в России отмечается #ДеньРусскогоЯзыка.
✍️ #ВЭтотДень в 1799 году, 227 лет назад, родился величайший поэт, прозаик, драматург, историк, публицист, создатель современного русского литературного языка Александр Сергеевич Пушкин.
***
6 июня 2011 года Президент Российской Федерации подписал Указ о ежегодном проведении Дня русского языка в целях «сохранения, поддержки и развития русского языка как общенационального достояния народов Российской Федерации, средства международного общения и неотъемлемой части культурного и духовного наследия мировой цивилизации».
***
История русского языка насчитывает больше тысячи лет, в течение которых он объединял племена и народы, в том числе перед лицом иноземных захватчиков, формировал картину мира и ценности людей, проживавших и по сей день живущих на русской земле.
Важнейшим этапом стало появление письменности в IX веке. Братья Кирилл и Мефодий создали славянскую письменную традицию, а первыми азбуками стали глаголица и кириллица. Тогда же начал формироваться старославянский язык, который использовался прежде всего для церковных книг и оказал огромное влияние на развитие русской письменной культуры.
На протяжении веков русский язык постоянно менялся и пополнялся новыми словами. Однако именно #Пушкин окончательно преобразил его в живой, стройный, гибкий, художественный язык, на котором мы говорим по сей день. Величайший поэт, мыслитель, драматург, он не просто реформировал родную речь, но и заложил фундамент великой русской литературы.
Современный облик русского языка сформировался после реформы 1917–1918 годов, когда были упразднены некоторые старые буквы и упрощены правила правописания.
❤️ Наш «великий и могучий», как и любой динамично развивающийся язык, постоянно обогащается и прирастает словами и фразеологизмами, адаптируясь к реалиям сегодняшнего дня.
🇷🇺 Сегодня русский язык — один из ведущих мировых инструментов коммуникаций, в том числе:
• один из шести официальных языков ООН;
• рабочий язык международной дипломатии, науки и культуры;
• девятое место в мире по числу говорящих на языке (более 250 млн человек);
• второе место по количеству веб-сайтов.
#ВеликийИМогучий #ПушкинНашеВсё
✍️ #ВЭтотДень в 1799 году, 227 лет назад, родился величайший поэт, прозаик, драматург, историк, публицист, создатель современного русского литературного языка Александр Сергеевич Пушкин.
***
6 июня 2011 года Президент Российской Федерации подписал Указ о ежегодном проведении Дня русского языка в целях «сохранения, поддержки и развития русского языка как общенационального достояния народов Российской Федерации, средства международного общения и неотъемлемой части культурного и духовного наследия мировой цивилизации».
***
История русского языка насчитывает больше тысячи лет, в течение которых он объединял племена и народы, в том числе перед лицом иноземных захватчиков, формировал картину мира и ценности людей, проживавших и по сей день живущих на русской земле.
Важнейшим этапом стало появление письменности в IX веке. Братья Кирилл и Мефодий создали славянскую письменную традицию, а первыми азбуками стали глаголица и кириллица. Тогда же начал формироваться старославянский язык, который использовался прежде всего для церковных книг и оказал огромное влияние на развитие русской письменной культуры.
На протяжении веков русский язык постоянно менялся и пополнялся новыми словами. Однако именно #Пушкин окончательно преобразил его в живой, стройный, гибкий, художественный язык, на котором мы говорим по сей день. Величайший поэт, мыслитель, драматург, он не просто реформировал родную речь, но и заложил фундамент великой русской литературы.
Современный облик русского языка сформировался после реформы 1917–1918 годов, когда были упразднены некоторые старые буквы и упрощены правила правописания.
❤️ Наш «великий и могучий», как и любой динамично развивающийся язык, постоянно обогащается и прирастает словами и фразеологизмами, адаптируясь к реалиям сегодняшнего дня.
🇷🇺 Сегодня русский язык — один из ведущих мировых инструментов коммуникаций, в том числе:
• один из шести официальных языков ООН;
• рабочий язык международной дипломатии, науки и культуры;
• девятое место в мире по числу говорящих на языке (более 250 млн человек);
• второе место по количеству веб-сайтов.
#ВеликийИМогучий #ПушкинНашеВсё
Forwarded from МИД России 🇷🇺
Media is too big
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🎥 Видеообращение Министра иностранных дел Российской Федерации С.В.Лаврова по случаю Дня русского языка (Москва, 6 июня 2026 года)
💬 Дорогие друзья,
Поздравляю вас с Днём русского языка – праздником, который отмечается во всём мире в день рождения А.С.Пушкина, нашего великого поэта, творца современного литературного русского языка.
Русский язык – бесконечно образный и выразительный – основа культурного и духовно-исторического кода нашей страны, страны-цивилизации.
При этом язык А.С.Пушкина и Ф.М.Достоевского выступает и важнейшим средством международного общения. «Великий и могучий» – один из наиболее распространённых языков в мире, в том числе в цифровом пространстве, один из официальных языков ООН, ряда других многосторонних структур. Владение им – ключ к сокровищнице мирового искусства, передовым научным достижениям, самым широким экономическим возможностям.
Особо хотел бы отметить объединительную роль русского языка в деле упрочения мира и добрососедства на евразийском пространстве, формирования в Евразии новой архитектуры безопасности и взаимовыгодного сотрудничества. Россия, Белоруссия, Киргизия, Таджикистан и Узбекистан поддержали инициативу Президента Казахстана К.-Ж. К.Токаева о создании Международной организации по русскому языку.
В марте 2026 года в Москве состоялась первая Министерская конференция МОРЯ, ознаменовавшая начало её работы. Важно, что присоединиться к деятельности Организации по русскому языку могут все страны, которые разделяют её цели.
Среди наших безусловных приоритетов – защита и поддержка тех, для кого русский язык является родным. Продолжим решительно противодействовать любым проявлениям языковой дискриминации и русофобии – где бы они ни имели место. Обязательно добьемся полного восстановления прав тех русских и русскоязычных людей, против которых развязан открытый террор со стороны неонацистского киевского режима. Решение этого вопроса – в числе необходимых условий долгосрочного урегулирования украинского конфликта.
И, конечно, продолжим делать всё возможное для содействия нашим соотечественникам за рубежом, а также иностранным партнёрам и друзьям в деле изучения русского языка, получения на нём образования, реализации гуманитарных и просветительских проектов.
Друзья,
2026 год богат на памятные даты, связанные с русским языком. Среди них – 225-летие со дня рождения создателя «Толкового словаря живого великорусского языка» В.И.Даля, 200-летие со дня рождения общественного деятеля и непревзойденного сатирика М.Е.Салтыкова-Щедрина, 90-летие со дня рождения видного филолога, ректора Санкт-Петербургского государственного университета, основателя фонда «Русский мир» Л.А.Вербицкой.
В этом году нашим Министерством и фондом «Русский мир» учреждена премия «За вклад в мировую русистику», которая носит имя В.Г.Костомарова, выдающегося лингвиста, стоявшего у истоков Государственного института русского языка имени А.С.Пушкина. Премия предназначена заслуженным преподавателям русского языка и литературы из системы общего, высшего и дополнительного образования иностранных государств. Кроме того, ей будут отмечены значительные результаты переводческой и исследовательской работы. Рассчитываем, что первая торжественная церемония вручения премии состоится уже в этом году в Москве.
Хотел бы еще раз сердечно поздравить всех, кто любит русский язык – великое русское слово, кто вносит свой вклад в сбережение многогранного наследия Русского мира.
С праздником вас всех и всего наилучшего!
💬 Дорогие друзья,
Поздравляю вас с Днём русского языка – праздником, который отмечается во всём мире в день рождения А.С.Пушкина, нашего великого поэта, творца современного литературного русского языка.
Русский язык – бесконечно образный и выразительный – основа культурного и духовно-исторического кода нашей страны, страны-цивилизации.
При этом язык А.С.Пушкина и Ф.М.Достоевского выступает и важнейшим средством международного общения. «Великий и могучий» – один из наиболее распространённых языков в мире, в том числе в цифровом пространстве, один из официальных языков ООН, ряда других многосторонних структур. Владение им – ключ к сокровищнице мирового искусства, передовым научным достижениям, самым широким экономическим возможностям.
Особо хотел бы отметить объединительную роль русского языка в деле упрочения мира и добрососедства на евразийском пространстве, формирования в Евразии новой архитектуры безопасности и взаимовыгодного сотрудничества. Россия, Белоруссия, Киргизия, Таджикистан и Узбекистан поддержали инициативу Президента Казахстана К.-Ж. К.Токаева о создании Международной организации по русскому языку.
В марте 2026 года в Москве состоялась первая Министерская конференция МОРЯ, ознаменовавшая начало её работы. Важно, что присоединиться к деятельности Организации по русскому языку могут все страны, которые разделяют её цели.
Среди наших безусловных приоритетов – защита и поддержка тех, для кого русский язык является родным. Продолжим решительно противодействовать любым проявлениям языковой дискриминации и русофобии – где бы они ни имели место. Обязательно добьемся полного восстановления прав тех русских и русскоязычных людей, против которых развязан открытый террор со стороны неонацистского киевского режима. Решение этого вопроса – в числе необходимых условий долгосрочного урегулирования украинского конфликта.
И, конечно, продолжим делать всё возможное для содействия нашим соотечественникам за рубежом, а также иностранным партнёрам и друзьям в деле изучения русского языка, получения на нём образования, реализации гуманитарных и просветительских проектов.
Друзья,
2026 год богат на памятные даты, связанные с русским языком. Среди них – 225-летие со дня рождения создателя «Толкового словаря живого великорусского языка» В.И.Даля, 200-летие со дня рождения общественного деятеля и непревзойденного сатирика М.Е.Салтыкова-Щедрина, 90-летие со дня рождения видного филолога, ректора Санкт-Петербургского государственного университета, основателя фонда «Русский мир» Л.А.Вербицкой.
В этом году нашим Министерством и фондом «Русский мир» учреждена премия «За вклад в мировую русистику», которая носит имя В.Г.Костомарова, выдающегося лингвиста, стоявшего у истоков Государственного института русского языка имени А.С.Пушкина. Премия предназначена заслуженным преподавателям русского языка и литературы из системы общего, высшего и дополнительного образования иностранных государств. Кроме того, ей будут отмечены значительные результаты переводческой и исследовательской работы. Рассчитываем, что первая торжественная церемония вручения премии состоится уже в этом году в Москве.
Хотел бы еще раз сердечно поздравить всех, кто любит русский язык – великое русское слово, кто вносит свой вклад в сбережение многогранного наследия Русского мира.
С праздником вас всех и всего наилучшего!
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 June 6 is celebrated in Russia as #RussianLanguageDay.
✍️ #OTD in 1799, 227 years ago, the great poet, prose writer, playwright, historian, publicist, and creator of modern Russian literary language, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, was born.
***
On June 6, 2011, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree establishing the annual celebration of Russian Language Day in order to “preserve, support, and promote the Russian language as a national treasure of the peoples of the Russian Federation, a means of international communication, and an integral part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of world civilization.”
***
The history of the Russian language spans more than a thousand years. Throughout that time, it has united tribes and peoples, including in the face of foreign invasions, while shaping the worldview and values of those who lived — and continue to live — on Russian soil.
A key milestone was the emergence of writing in the 9th century. The brothers Cyril and Methodius created the Slavic literary tradition, and the first alphabets were Glagolitic and Cyrillic. Around the same time, Old Church Slavonic began to take shape. Used primarily for religious texts, it had a profound influence on the development of Russian written culture.
Over the centuries, the Russian language evolved continuously and absorbed new vocabulary. However, it was Pushkin who ultimately transformed it into the living, elegant, flexible, and expressive language spoken today. As a poet, thinker, and playwright, he not only reformed his native tongue but also laid the foundations of great Russian literature.
The modern form of the Russian language emerged after the orthographic reform of 1917–1918, which abolished several archaic letters and simplified spelling rules.
❤️ Our “great and mighty” language, like any dynamic and developing language, continues to grow, constantly enriched by new words and expressions as it adapts to the realities of the modern world.
🇷🇺 Today, Russian remains one of the world's leading languages of communication:
• one of the six official languages of the United Nations;
• a working language of international diplomacy, science, and culture;
• the ninth most spoken language in the world (more than 250 million speakers);
• the second most widely used language on the internet by number of websites.
#GreatAndMighty
✍️ #OTD in 1799, 227 years ago, the great poet, prose writer, playwright, historian, publicist, and creator of modern Russian literary language, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, was born.
***
On June 6, 2011, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree establishing the annual celebration of Russian Language Day in order to “preserve, support, and promote the Russian language as a national treasure of the peoples of the Russian Federation, a means of international communication, and an integral part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of world civilization.”
***
The history of the Russian language spans more than a thousand years. Throughout that time, it has united tribes and peoples, including in the face of foreign invasions, while shaping the worldview and values of those who lived — and continue to live — on Russian soil.
A key milestone was the emergence of writing in the 9th century. The brothers Cyril and Methodius created the Slavic literary tradition, and the first alphabets were Glagolitic and Cyrillic. Around the same time, Old Church Slavonic began to take shape. Used primarily for religious texts, it had a profound influence on the development of Russian written culture.
Over the centuries, the Russian language evolved continuously and absorbed new vocabulary. However, it was Pushkin who ultimately transformed it into the living, elegant, flexible, and expressive language spoken today. As a poet, thinker, and playwright, he not only reformed his native tongue but also laid the foundations of great Russian literature.
The modern form of the Russian language emerged after the orthographic reform of 1917–1918, which abolished several archaic letters and simplified spelling rules.
❤️ Our “great and mighty” language, like any dynamic and developing language, continues to grow, constantly enriched by new words and expressions as it adapts to the realities of the modern world.
🇷🇺 Today, Russian remains one of the world's leading languages of communication:
• one of the six official languages of the United Nations;
• a working language of international diplomacy, science, and culture;
• the ninth most spoken language in the world (more than 250 million speakers);
• the second most widely used language on the internet by number of websites.
#GreatAndMighty
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎥 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s video address on Russian Language Day (Moscow, June 6, 2026)
💬 Friends,
Congratulations on Russian Language Day, a holiday celebrated worldwide on the birthday of Alexander Pushkin, our great poet and creator of the language of modern Russian literature.
The Russian language is endlessly colourful and expressive. It serves as the foundation of the cultural, spiritual and historical code of our country – a civilisation state.
The language of Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a vital means of international communication. The “great and mighty” Russian language is one of the most commonly used languages in the world, including in the digital sphere. It is one of the official UN languages and the language of some other multilateral organisations. Speaking Russian means to have a key to the treasury of world art, advanced scientific achievements, and the most extensive economic opportunities.
I especially want to emphasise the unifying role of the Russian language in the efforts to strengthen peace and neighbourliness in Eurasia, shaping a new security architecture in Eurasia, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan upheld President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish the International Organisation for the Russian Language.
In March 2026 in Moscow, the first ministerial conference of this organisation marked the beginning of its work. It is important to note that all countries sharing its values can join the International Organisation for the Russian Language.
Some of our unquestionable priorities include the protection and support of those people who consider Russian their mother tongue. We will continue to counter any incidents of language discrimination and Russophobia decisively – wherever they take place. We will certainly fight for restoring the rights of those Russian and Russian-speaking people who have been openly terrorised by the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev. Resolving this matter is among the necessary conditions for a long-term settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
And, of course, we will continue to do what it takes to help our compatriots abroad as well as our foreign partners when it comes to learning Russian, studying in Russian, fulfilling cultural and educational projects.
Friends,
The year 2026 has numerous commemorative dates associated with the Russian language. We are marking 225 years since the birth of Vladimir Dal, creator of the Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language, the 200th birthday of public figure and unrivalled satirist Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, and the 90th birthday of prominent linguist and President of St Petersburg State University, founder of the Russian World Foundation Lyudmila Verbitskaya.
This year, the Foreign Ministry and the Russian World Foundation established an award for contribution to global Russian studies, named after Vitaly Kostomarov, outstanding linguist who stood at the origins of Alexander Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language. This award is for merited teachers of the Russian language and literature from the general, higher and extracurricular education in foreign countries. Furthermore, the award will celebrate significant achievements in translation and research. We expect the first awards ceremony to take place this year in Moscow.
I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to everybody who loves the Russian language, the powerful Russian word, and who contributes to preserving the multifaceted heritage of the Russian world.
Happy Russian Language Day and my best wishes.
💬 Friends,
Congratulations on Russian Language Day, a holiday celebrated worldwide on the birthday of Alexander Pushkin, our great poet and creator of the language of modern Russian literature.
The Russian language is endlessly colourful and expressive. It serves as the foundation of the cultural, spiritual and historical code of our country – a civilisation state.
The language of Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a vital means of international communication. The “great and mighty” Russian language is one of the most commonly used languages in the world, including in the digital sphere. It is one of the official UN languages and the language of some other multilateral organisations. Speaking Russian means to have a key to the treasury of world art, advanced scientific achievements, and the most extensive economic opportunities.
I especially want to emphasise the unifying role of the Russian language in the efforts to strengthen peace and neighbourliness in Eurasia, shaping a new security architecture in Eurasia, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan upheld President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish the International Organisation for the Russian Language.
In March 2026 in Moscow, the first ministerial conference of this organisation marked the beginning of its work. It is important to note that all countries sharing its values can join the International Organisation for the Russian Language.
Some of our unquestionable priorities include the protection and support of those people who consider Russian their mother tongue. We will continue to counter any incidents of language discrimination and Russophobia decisively – wherever they take place. We will certainly fight for restoring the rights of those Russian and Russian-speaking people who have been openly terrorised by the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev. Resolving this matter is among the necessary conditions for a long-term settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
And, of course, we will continue to do what it takes to help our compatriots abroad as well as our foreign partners when it comes to learning Russian, studying in Russian, fulfilling cultural and educational projects.
Friends,
The year 2026 has numerous commemorative dates associated with the Russian language. We are marking 225 years since the birth of Vladimir Dal, creator of the Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language, the 200th birthday of public figure and unrivalled satirist Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, and the 90th birthday of prominent linguist and President of St Petersburg State University, founder of the Russian World Foundation Lyudmila Verbitskaya.
This year, the Foreign Ministry and the Russian World Foundation established an award for contribution to global Russian studies, named after Vitaly Kostomarov, outstanding linguist who stood at the origins of Alexander Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language. This award is for merited teachers of the Russian language and literature from the general, higher and extracurricular education in foreign countries. Furthermore, the award will celebrate significant achievements in translation and research. We expect the first awards ceremony to take place this year in Moscow.
I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to everybody who loves the Russian language, the powerful Russian word, and who contributes to preserving the multifaceted heritage of the Russian world.
Happy Russian Language Day and my best wishes.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Statement by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (Saint Petersburg, June 5, 2026)
Key talking points:
• We are witnessing turmoil in the energy markets and tensions being provoked in certain regions, primarily in the Middle East, and how the short-sighted EU bureaucracy policies are being implemented to the accompaniment of aggressive rhetoric and leading to Europe continuing to lose its standing in the global economy, while also undermining regional and global security. In fact, European elites are inciting chaos and are trying to embroil ever more countries into it.
These processes did not arise all by themselves; they are the result of the world undergoing the largest structural transformation in decades. This transformation is not a transition from one phase of a cycle to another. We are witnessing a change in the paradigm of global development.
***
• It has become clear that investment plans and business development steps may face serious risk where the external infrastructure on which they rely could be used against them. Therefore, countries are beginning to develop their own technological solutions, create their own supply routes, and build their own institutions.
Russia is experiencing these transformations firsthand. Although pressure on our country persists, the changing global landscape has also created greater room for manoeuvre. New partnerships are emerging, new financial and technological solutions are being developed, and access to promising markets is expanding. Against this backdrop, Russia views global change not only as a source of challenges but also as a tremendous opportunity. To make the most of these opportunities, we seek to act swiftly and pragmatically.
***
• The world becomes more equitable when economic growth is distributed more broadly and opportunities become available to billions of people who have long remained on the periphery of the global economy. It is very important that these new centres of growth seek to shape their own development paths, increase their share of value creation, and build their own brands, standards, and capabilities.
If you look at the global GDP dynamics of the last five years, you will see that almost half of its annual growth, 49%, is accounted for by #BRICS countries, whereas the contribution of the so-called Group of Seven is estimated at 18%.
***
• Sanctions and, basically, the theft of Russia’s international reserves have had an irreversible effect on the positions of the world currencies, the US dollar and the euro. This is an objective reality that cannot be ignored. Today, every country – let me stress, every country without exception – understands that, like Russia, it could at any moment lose access to assets lawfully held in dollars or euros, as well as to Western financial and payment infrastructure.
We recognise that this ultimately boils down to the issue of unfair competition. The specific pretexts may vary, and they can always be found. In Russia’s case, it was the conflict in Ukraine. In other instances, it may be developments in the Middle East, conflicts in Africa, or even a country’s stance on LGBT-related issues. A justification can always be found. But the underlying problem remains the same: this is unfair competition.
• Importantly, possessing an independent technological base is critical for countries with large populations, vast territories, and distinctive cultures. Such countries cannot act merely as users of foreign-made solutions, because in that case they risk becoming objects of control by external platforms. And how those platforms are used is another matter.
• In essence, major countries – true civilisations – face a historic choice:
👉 either they create their own platform and technological ecosystems,
👉 or they become a digital periphery.
There should be no illusions about this. Foreign services may initially be user friendly, but over time the cost of such dependency will inevitably become apparent.
📄 Full text of the statement
Key talking points:
• We are witnessing turmoil in the energy markets and tensions being provoked in certain regions, primarily in the Middle East, and how the short-sighted EU bureaucracy policies are being implemented to the accompaniment of aggressive rhetoric and leading to Europe continuing to lose its standing in the global economy, while also undermining regional and global security. In fact, European elites are inciting chaos and are trying to embroil ever more countries into it.
These processes did not arise all by themselves; they are the result of the world undergoing the largest structural transformation in decades. This transformation is not a transition from one phase of a cycle to another. We are witnessing a change in the paradigm of global development.
***
• It has become clear that investment plans and business development steps may face serious risk where the external infrastructure on which they rely could be used against them. Therefore, countries are beginning to develop their own technological solutions, create their own supply routes, and build their own institutions.
Russia is experiencing these transformations firsthand. Although pressure on our country persists, the changing global landscape has also created greater room for manoeuvre. New partnerships are emerging, new financial and technological solutions are being developed, and access to promising markets is expanding. Against this backdrop, Russia views global change not only as a source of challenges but also as a tremendous opportunity. To make the most of these opportunities, we seek to act swiftly and pragmatically.
***
• The world becomes more equitable when economic growth is distributed more broadly and opportunities become available to billions of people who have long remained on the periphery of the global economy. It is very important that these new centres of growth seek to shape their own development paths, increase their share of value creation, and build their own brands, standards, and capabilities.
If you look at the global GDP dynamics of the last five years, you will see that almost half of its annual growth, 49%, is accounted for by #BRICS countries, whereas the contribution of the so-called Group of Seven is estimated at 18%.
***
• Sanctions and, basically, the theft of Russia’s international reserves have had an irreversible effect on the positions of the world currencies, the US dollar and the euro. This is an objective reality that cannot be ignored. Today, every country – let me stress, every country without exception – understands that, like Russia, it could at any moment lose access to assets lawfully held in dollars or euros, as well as to Western financial and payment infrastructure.
We recognise that this ultimately boils down to the issue of unfair competition. The specific pretexts may vary, and they can always be found. In Russia’s case, it was the conflict in Ukraine. In other instances, it may be developments in the Middle East, conflicts in Africa, or even a country’s stance on LGBT-related issues. A justification can always be found. But the underlying problem remains the same: this is unfair competition.
• Importantly, possessing an independent technological base is critical for countries with large populations, vast territories, and distinctive cultures. Such countries cannot act merely as users of foreign-made solutions, because in that case they risk becoming objects of control by external platforms. And how those platforms are used is another matter.
• In essence, major countries – true civilisations – face a historic choice:
👉 either they create their own platform and technological ecosystems,
👉 or they become a digital periphery.
There should be no illusions about this. Foreign services may initially be user friendly, but over time the cost of such dependency will inevitably become apparent.
📄 Full text of the statement