🎙 Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's response to a question from RBC (RosBusinessConsulting) on the US deployment of a launcher for intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in Norway (September 7, 2026)

❓ Question: How does Moscow assess the US deployment of a launcher for intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in Norway, including in the context of the stalled strategic stability dialogue? Is any response planned? If so, what kind?

💬 Maria Zakharova: We regard the appearance in Europe of US systems capable of launching intermediate- and shorter-range missiles as yet another step in the endless series of acutely destabilising actions by NATO countries.

In pursuing plans to deploy Western ground-launched intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in the region, NATO not only makes no secret of its intention but openly flaunts its ambition to acquire a substantial capability to strike deep into Russia’s territory.

At the same time, NATO is seeking to bring vast maritime areas of the region within its sights, establishing dominant control over sea routes of critical military, commercial and transport importance.

In this context, we note that the US missile systems equipped with Mk 41 launching systems, which are being brought into Europe and have now been deployed in Norway, are capable of launching a wide range of missiles against both land and maritime targets.

☝️ We also take into account that these systems can be used to launch long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, while their deployment in Norway puts a substantial part of Russia’s European territory, including Moscow, within range.

Thus, these missile systems could be used in aggressive actions by NATO countries against our country to accomplish strategic-level objectives.

Those in Washington and Oslo who made the decision to deploy these systems in Norway should therefore not be surprised that, as part of Russia’s response measures, the deployment sites of the US systems, their command and control facilities, as well as the infrastructure supporting them, are becoming a particular focus for Russia’s strategic deterrence forces. This includes planning for the combat employment of the relevant strike assets in the event of an armed conflict.

***

As for the dialogue with the US on strategic stability, we would like to recall that it did not simply “stall”. It was unilaterally suspended by the Joe Biden administration.

The current US authorities, meanwhile, are unrealistically discussing the launch of some kind of “multilateral” negotiations with China’s mandatory participation, even though Beijing has repeatedly and unequivocally stated that it has compelling reasons not to become involved in such work at this stage.

❗️ For our part, we have repeatedly explained in detail that the conditions for a substantive and productive strategic dialogue with the US are not in place.

Steps such as the deployment in Europe of US ground-launched intermediate- and shorter-range missiles that threaten Russia will, to put it mildly, eliminate any basis for a constructive strategic dialogue with the US.

🎙 Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question regarding the new EU human rights report (September 7, 2026)

❓ Question: In August, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy released its annual report on human rights and democracy around the world for 2025. What is your assessment of this document?

💬 Maria Zakharova: Yes, we have seen it. And frankly, it is a perfect compilation of all the EU’s favourite clichés and slogans: the usual self-promotion of their supposed role as a “global champion of human rights,” a laundry list of politicised accusations against third countries, alongside intrusive and patronising lecturing.

What’s more, the level of criticism isn’t calibrated to the facts on the ground but is determined solely by how pliant each state is towards Brussels.

A case in point: the section on Ukraine, which is utterly toothless and, in places, almost fawning – this for a country mired in corruption, lawlessness, and neo-Nazi ideology.

It is telling that Brussels no longer even bothers to hide its use of the human rights agenda as a cover for blatant interference in the internal affairs of states that pursue independent policies. They openly admit to funnelling significant funds into “civil society,” media, journalists, and activists in targeted countries with the explicit aim of shaping domestic politics and steering foreign policy choices.

One passage in particular stands out: how the EU frames its own policy towards Russia. In the country-specific section, they unabashedly call it a “wartime approach” – as if that somehow justifies their glaring lies about our country, their double standards, and their willingness to sweep under the rug the EU’s own violations of our citizens’ rights.

❗️ In essence, Brussels is openly declaring that it intends to weaponise human rights as leverage against Russia.

Throughout the report, Brussels once again presumes to speak from a self-appointed moral high ground, casting itself as a “force for good in the world.” These statements look particularly cynical against the backdrop of the EU’s own steadily deteriorating human rights record.

Intolerance is on the rise across the bloc, with racism and hate speech becoming increasingly frequent. European institutions either turn a blind eye to Russophobia, including its most grotesque manifestations – or, worse, actively condone it. The shameful reality of mass statelessness in the Baltics, alongside the systematic denial of education in their native language to local Russian-speaking populations, is a glaring case in point.

For all their outward talk of democracy and the rule of law, inside the EU they are clamping down on dissent through censorship, bans on inconvenient media outlets, and the silencing of political actors who dare to criticise current Brussels policies.

All of this is dressed up as “safeguarding democracy” when, in fact, what they are doing is engineering a more pliable socio-political environment, tightening their grip on the information space and on the will of their own citizens.

For a more accurate picture of the real human rights situation in Europe, including in Ukraine, I would refer you to the joint report published in June by the Russian and Belarusian Foreign Ministries, entitled “Human Rights Situation in Certain Countries.” It is available in English, so that anyone interested, including international audiences, can judge for themselves which document shows genuine concern for human rights.

☝️ And I think we can safely say that the comparison will not reflect well on the opus signed by Kaja Kallas.

📆 September 8 marks a Day of Military Glory of Russia – the anniversary of the Battle of #Borodino.

On September 7, 1812, near the village of Borodino, some 120 kilometres west of Moscow, the Russian army under Mikhail Kutuzov faced Napoleon’s invading Grande Armée.

⚔️ The Battle of Borodino became the largest and bloodiest single-day battle of the Patriotic War of 1812, with well over 200,000 troops engaged on both sides.

The fighting began early in the morning and raged throughout the day. Napoleon repeatedly committed fresh forces in an attempt to break the Russian army, but the French failed to crush Russian resistance.

Despite losses, Russian regiments continued to fight with extraordinary determination, contesting every key position. By the end of the day, Napoleon had failed to achieve his principal objective – the destruction of the Russian army.

The losses of the European invaders were even heavier, and although, the battlefield was for the moment theirs, Russian forces retreated in full order, having preserved the army and manpower.

Borodino became an enduring symbol of courage, resilience and devotion to the Fatherland, while the soldiers and commanders who fought there entered Russian history forever.

✍️ As the great Russian writer Mikhail Lermontov wrote in his 1837 poem Borodino:

“That all of Russia remembers – no less,
About the day of Borodino…

You are not to see such struggles!..
Banners whirled round, like shadows,
Against the smoke the shots would blaze,
Sounds of steel, screams of gunfire,
Warriors’ hands starting to tire,
And cannonball’s flight would mire,
The bloody mound that there now lays”.

🎥 © Russian Military Historical Society

🎙 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to a question from Andrew Napolitano during an interview with Channel One’s The Great Game programme (Moscow, September 8, 2026)

❓ Question: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently visited Moscow and met with President of Russia Vladimir Putin. What can you tell us about the outcome of this visit?

💬 Sergey Lavrov: Much of the opening part of these talks was broadcast on television: President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s remarks, followed by statements from Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, who took part in the conversation, later gave a detailed comment.

In our diplomatic tradition, we generally limit ourselves to what we have decided to make public.

I do not want to emulate those who are now beginning to speculate about “what Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner brought to Moscow and what they subsequently took to Kiev”. A member of Ukraine's parliament has already said that what they brought back was far worse than what Ukraine had previously rejected.

❗️ There is a great deal of speculation.

As for further diplomatic steps, the American Side has said nothing.

The French, however, have already announced that they were there and that the Americans supposedly said that, following the elections to Russia's State Duma, direct talks involving the US would definitely resume. I leave all of this on the conscience of the Élysée Palace, especially given that it has repeatedly gained notoriety for less-than-ethical conduct when it comes to disclosing the substance of telephone and other conversations.

The substance of what was discussed is based – and I can say this with confidence – on the position President Donald Trump outlined on Ukraine immediately after returning to the Oval Office.

☝️ First, he said that any attempts to draw Ukraine into NATO should simply be forgotten. He recalled that this had been clear long before President Vladimir Putin, that the matter was closed and there was no reason to try to reopen it.

👉 The second element of the US position is recognition of the realities on the ground. I would particularly stress that this is not about territories.

When we speak of realities, we are talking about people who, immediately after the February 2014 coup, were branded “subhuman”, “specimen” and terrorists. When they rejected the results of the illegal coup, the army, combat aircraft and artillery were deployed against them – something categorically prohibited under international humanitarian law. They were simply not treated as human beings.

Shortly after being elected president in 2014, Poroshenko said that their children – the children of “real Ukrainians” – would go to clean schools and kindergartens, while the children of those living in Donbass would rot in basements. So how do the Europeans intend to return these people to the rule of that regime when they call for restoring the 1991 borders? Simply to hand the territory over to Nazis? Or do they want to punish these people for wanting to preserve their freedom, their culture and their belonging to the Russian world?

I have spoken about this many times.

I would like to stress that the realities on the ground, which President Donald Trump and his team recognise – as far as we can judge, they continue to recognise them, just as they did in Alaska – are realities connected with people, with the views they expressed in referendums: in Crimea, in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and, of course, in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

The fact that the Americans proceed from these realities in all their contacts with us, above all in their contacts with President Vladimir Putin, naturally elicits a positive response from us and strengthens our readiness to continue talking with them.

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🎙 Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's response to a media question regarding the IAEA Director General’s report “Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine” (September 8, 2026)

❓ Question: Ahead of the IAEA Board of Governors session, which opened on September 7, the Agency published another report by the Director General entitled “Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine”. How would you comment on it?

💬 Maria Zakharova: We regard this document as politically biased and failing to reflect the actual situation surrounding the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant (#ZNPP).

This conclusion can be drawn from the very fact that the report ignores that Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is Russian territory.

The document speaks of a “serious deterioration of the situation” at the ZNPP, while IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi continues, with persistence that would be better applied elsewhere, to avoid directly acknowledging the Kiev regime’s responsibility for its reckless attacks on ZNPP infrastructure, the killing of plant personnel, psychological pressure on their families and loved ones, attempts to disrupt the plant’s power supply and other crimes.

The report also fails to mention the disruption, through the fault of the Zelensky regime, of Rafael Grossi’s planned August 20-21 visit to the ZNPP and the nuclear workers’ city of Energodar, which was intended to coincide with another rotation of IAEA Secretariat experts at the plant. The rotation itself also could not be carried out in August.

❗️ We expect the Agency’s Secretariat and leadership to take a more responsible approach to drafting such reports in the future.

🇷🇺 🇲🇻
On September 9, 2026 in Male H.E. Mr. Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of Russia in Maldives and Sri Lanka, met with H.E. Ms. Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives.
H.E. Ambassador conveyed to Hon. Minister the text of the congratulatory message of H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Maldives.
The parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction within international platforms including the UN.

#Announcement

🗓 On September 11-13, President of Russia Vladimir Putin will pay a working visit to India to attend the XVIII BRICS Summit. The event will take place in New Delhi as #BRICS marks its 20th anniversary.

On September 11, Vladimir Putin will address the Plenary Session of the annual BRICS Business Forum, which traditionally precedes the Summit and serves as an important platform for dialogue among business representatives from BRICS countries.

On the same day, Russia's President will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and join him for a visit to the Innoprom exhibition, organised by the two countries’ Ministries of Industry and Trade.

The main Summit programme will begin on September 12 with a meeting of BRICS Leaders to discuss initiatives put forward by the Indian Chairship and prospects for further strengthening the BRICS strategic partnership in politics and security, economics and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties. The Leaders will also exchange views on current international and regional issues.

On September 13, an expanded BRICS meeting will bring together the Heads of delegations from BRICS member and partner countries, as well as invited countries and Heads of international organisations.

✍️ The key agreements reached are expected to be reflected in the Summit’s final document.

During the events in New Delhi, Vladimir Putin will also hold a number of other bilateral meetings.

#RussiaIndia #DruzhbaDosti #BRICS2026

🛬 On September 11, President of Russia Vladimir Putin arrived in India for a three-day visit, during which he will attend the BRICS Summit and hold a number of bilateral meetings, including with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

👉 More on Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi

#RussiaIndia #DruzhbaDosti

📹 © RT

🏰 On September 11, 1812, the Russian settlement of Fort Ross was established on the northwestern coast of the continental United States.

It was the first European settlement and a fortress on the coast of Northern California located 80 km north of San Francisco. It marked the southernmost point in North America reached by Russian pioneers.

In the 18th century, Russian industrialists, hunters and farmers began exploring Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Settlements began to spring up all along America’s northwestern coast. These places would later become known as Russian America.

🧭 The harsh climate of Alaska made farming difficult, and food shortages began to be felt. To address this problem, Alexander Baranov (1790-1818), the first chief administrator of the Russian settlements in America, sent several exploratory expeditions led by his closest aide and associate Ivan Kuskov (1765–1823) to California.

Ivan Kuskov spotted a plateau 30 km north of Rumyantsev Bay (present-day Bodega Bay), which was separated from the surrounding area by deep ravines and surrounded by valuable timber forests and grazing land. Kuskov purchased the plot from the Native Americans for three blankets, three pairs of trousers, two axes, three hoes, and several strings of beads. He named the nearby river the Slavyanka (the Russian River).

🇷🇺 From March to September 1812, construction work was carried out on the newly acquired land, and a fortress and a settlement were built. On August 30 (September 11), the flag of the Russian-American Company – the Russian tricolour bearing the imperial double-headed eagle - was raised at Fort Ross.

In a short time, orchards and vegetable gardens were planted, and farmers began raising livestock and poultry. Our ancestors hunted sea otters and sea lions that inhabited the coastal waters. Fort Ross thus became the main source of food supplies for the Russian settlements in Alaska.

Maritime industries also developed. The fortress had a shipyard and a boatbuilding workshop. California’s windmills and shipyards appeared first at Fort Ross.

The population was ethnically diverse: Russians lived side by side with Native Americans and Aleuts. The settlers not only got along with the local population, but also provided them with basic education and professional skills, and many Native Americans at Fort Ross became carpenters, blacksmiths, and shipbuilders.

☦️ The fortress was also home to California’s first Orthodox church building, namely, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, which remains an important historical, cultural, and religious centre for San Francisco’s Russian-speaking community.

By 1841, the food supply problem in Alaska had been resolved by other means, and Fort Ross was deemed operating at a loss. The colony’s lands were sold to the “Emperor of California,” American businessman and landowner John Sutter. The last Russian settlers returned home in 1847, and in 1867 the United States purchased Alaska.

🕰 Today, a museum dedicated to the history of the Russian colony and the daily life and traditions of its settlers is open on the site of the former fortress. It also displays a replica of the flag presented by Emperor Paul I to the Russian-American Company. Located on the picturesque Pacific coast, Fort Ross attracts visitors from around the world.

These historic sites also inspired the plot of the famous opera “Juno and Avos” by Alexey Rybnikov, inspiring future generations to create artistic works, including the well-known portrait of Concepción (Conchita) Argüello by Russian artist Anatoly Sokolov, which was donated by the artist’s family to the State Historical Museum in Moscow in September 2001.

This year, the Fort Ross Historical Park hosted a Russian cultural heritage festival for the first time in six years. The programme included performances of folk songs, Russian food tasting, and demonstrations of traditional crafts, as well as a traditional Russian round dance to the music played on ancient instruments.

#HistoryOfRussia

🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin addressed a meeting of the BRICS Business Forum (New Delhi, September 11, 2026)

💬 Vladimir Putin: Friends, Prime Minister Modi, colleagues – heads of state, our friends in the audience, and members of our countries’ business community.

As per tradition, this event takes place before the BRICS Summit. Its high-profile attendance underscores growing interest in strengthening contacts throughout the territory of our association.

It is clear that strong economic partnerships and reliable business ties largely shape the basis of international relations, reinforcing their stability and helping us overcome the crisis elements the modern world is facing.

The world has entered a period of deep structural shifts caused by the fact that the old leaders – relatively speaking old – who were at the forefront of economic growth in the latter half of the past century, are being replaced with new growth drivers. <...>

Over the past five years, as it has already been said today – I think it was our Indonesian colleague who said it, the #BRICS countries accounted for over 40 percent of global GDP, while the contribution of the Group of Seven, the so-called leading economies, although I don’t understand why they are called “leading,” was just 29 percent.

As for global economic growth over the same period, our association accounted for nearly half of it, while the G7 contributed just 18 percent. 

What drives these trends? The answer is quite simple: the BRICS countries, which are home to roughly half the world's population, have vast and dynamic domestic markets. Our cities are growing and developing rapidly, urbanisation is advancing quickly, and our national companies are increasingly making their mark as global players. <...>

We have long been told that competition is an inviolable principle; yet, regrettably, Western competitors today are resorting to every conceivable means to reclaim their erstwhile dominance. They go so far as to employ instruments of direct physical force, including the destruction of industrial and logistical infrastructure, pipelines, and similar facilities.

Efforts are underway to block international transport corridors, to seize sea‑going vessels, while illegal restrictions are imposed, accompanied by threats of so‑called secondary sanctions, on those who refuse to act in the interests of others and instead seek to defend their own national interests.

I know my colleagues could cite hundreds of such examples of this, but consider this: over 30 000 sanctions have been imposed on Russia – nearly twice as many as against all other countries in the world combined. <...>

We must also acknowledge another fact: the countries that initiated this sanctions pressure, and which are now grappling with serious problems such as budget deficits, mounting public debt and industrial decline, have been unable to do the same. 👉 It turns out that they are the ones facing complex and severe consequences. This is are not mere speculation; these are facts drawn from their own statistics. <...>

Russia is open to interesting and promising initiatives in industry, trade and tourism. We are ready to contribute to the world’s energy and food security together with our partners, and to jointly shape reliable global routes, such as the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and the North-South International Corridor.

Through the combined efforts of the bodies of power, businesses and expert community, BRICS is creating a new stable platform of global growth. It is notable that its key elements, the operating rules for companies and organisations are not imposed from the outside by the so-called golden billion. Likewise, we do not impose anything on others.

Our rules are based on innovative business approaches, breakthrough technological solutions, highlighting the national interests of our states and nations.

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#BRICS2026