Embassy of Russia to Malta

Embassy of Russia to Malta Press Release

🇷🇺🇰🇿 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗸𝗵𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 (𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮, 𝟮𝟴–𝟮𝟵 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲)

President Vladimir Putin concluded a two-day working visit to Astana, which combined bilateral Russia–Kazakhstan talks with participation in the Eurasian Economic Forum and the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

The visit confirmed the continued strengthening of the Russia–Kazakhstan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Alliance, as well as the growing role of Eurasian integration amid profound changes in the global economy and international relations.

🔹 Main Bilateral Outcomes

Russia and Kazakhstan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across all major areas.

Economic cooperation remains one of the key pillars of the partnership. Bilateral trade reached almost USD 29 billion in 2025, with both sides expressing confidence that the USD 30 billion milestone will soon be surpassed. Nearly all bilateral settlements are now conducted in national currencies, strengthening resilience against external economic pressures.

Particular attention was devoted to major strategic projects:

▪ Agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan with financing through a Russian state export credit;

▪ Continued joint operation and development of the Baikonur Cosmodrome and the new Baiterek launch complex;

▪ Expansion of cooperation in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies;

▪ Further development of investment cooperation, including approximately 70 joint investment projects currently under implementation.

🔹 Humanitarian and Educational Cooperation

Humanitarian ties were highlighted as one of the central pillars of bilateral relations.

Today, around 60,000 Kazakh students study at Russian universities, while branches of eight leading Russian higher education institutions operate in Kazakhstan.

President Putin expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan’s continued support for the Russian language and welcomed the active work of the International Organisation for the Russian Language, established at Kazakhstan’s initiative.

🔹 Eurasian Integration

A central theme of the visit was the future development of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Addressing the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, President Putin noted that the EAEU continues to demonstrate positive economic dynamics:

▪ Industrial production increased by 1.6%;
▪ Agricultural output grew by 4.6%;
▪ Construction expanded by 4.2%;
▪ Intra-EAEU trade reached USD 95 billion in 2025.

President Putin stressed that the EAEU remains open to mutually beneficial cooperation and highlighted recently concluded trade agreements with Indonesia, the UAE and Mongolia, as well as expanding discussions on trade liberalisation with India.

🔹 Key Political Messages

▪ Russia and Kazakhstan maintain closely aligned positions on major international issues and coordinate actively within the , , , , and ;

▪ Moscow reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening Eurasian integration and allied ties with all EAEU member states;

▪ President Putin emphasized the strategic importance of preserving the close, good-neighbourly and historically deep ties between the peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan;

🔹 Strategic Significance

The Astana meetings demonstrated that Russia–Kazakhstan relations continue to expand well beyond traditional trade and energy cooperation. The agenda increasingly encompasses high technology, artificial intelligence, education, space exploration, nuclear energy, finance, transport connectivity and long-term Eurasian integration.

The visit also reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s central role within Eurasian cooperation mechanisms and underscored Moscow’s intention to continue building a common economic and technological space across the Eurasian continent.

On the Terrorist Attack by the Kiev Regime in Starobelsk

In connection with the tragic events in Starobelsk (Lugansk region), we believe it is important to draw attention to certain facts and circumstances surrounding these events which, in our view, appear to have been either ignored or deliberately left outside much of the Western media coverage.

On the night of 21–22 May 2026, at approximately 1:00 a.m., a strike involving multiple drones launched in several waves hit the dormitory of the Starobelsk Pedagogical College, where 86 students aged 14–18 had been sleeping at the time of the attack.

Many were teenagers studying humanitarian disciplines and training to become future primary school teachers. 21 children lost their lives and 65 were injured. The tragedy became a devastating loss for the parents and families of the victims and caused a profound shock throughout Russian society.

In its official statement of 22 May, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the incident as a terrorist act, called for an appropriate international response and stated that a criminal investigation had been launched. The Ministry stressed that all circumstances surrounding the tragedy would be established and those responsible identified and held accountable under the law.

Russia subsequently requested and convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on 22 May 2026, calling for an objective assessment of the events and an appropriate international response. During the meeting, Russia’s Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia categorically rejected any suggestion that the events could be treated as an “incident” or accidental occurrence, stating that this was a deliberate nighttime strike on a civilian educational facility where children had been sleeping and studying.

Of course, given the scale of the tragedy, Russia could not confine itself to diplomatic measures alone. Subsequent strikes became a legitimate retaliatory response directed against Kiev’s facilities linked to military infrastructure. These are precisely the strikes many Western politicians and media now focus on, while largely disregarding the broader context of the events.

Moreover, in an effort to ensure greater transparency and allow journalists to assess the situation directly, the Russian side organized a visit for foreign media representatives to Starobelsk so that they could see the aftermath and speak with witnesses and local residents. More than 50 foreign journalists from 19 countries participated in the visit and were able to see the consequences of the attack firsthand. At the same time, some media organizations chose not to avail themselves of this opportunity, including BBC, CNN and representatives of Japanese media outlets.

Everyone living in Malta has the right to know the full story and draw their own conclusions. We invite you to look at the attached documentary photos and videos of these tragic events and see for yourselves what much of the Western media has chosen not to show or discuss.

We believe that humanitarian principles and international norms should not be applied selectively depending on political considerations. The tendency of certain Western political circles and media outlets to remain silent on inconvenient facts or give them limited attention only raises further questions. Double standards and selective approaches inevitably undermine confidence in the impartiality and credibility of the international system itself.

https://t.me/RusEmbMalta/2549

⚡️ Russian Foreign Ministry statement on strikes by the Kiev regime’s militants against Russia’s civilian population (May 25, 2026)

The gruesome UAV attack carried out by the Ukrainian armed forces on the night of May 22 against the academic building and dormitory of a college of Lugansk State Pedagogical University in Starobelsk, LPR, has become yet another glaring testimony to the N**i and terrorist nature of the Kiev regime, which deliberately strikes civilians and does not stop short of the cold-blooded murder of children.

Zelensky’s junta and its Western sponsors, which supply the Ukrainian military with the means to commit crimes against our people, have demonstrated to the entire world their blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.

This is a direct violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols regulating the protection of civilians during conflicts, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, and a number of other important international instruments.

This has exhausted Russia’s patience.

Under the circumstances, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are beginning to deliver consistent, systematic strikes against Ukrainian defence industry enterprises in Kiev, including specific sites used for the design, production, programming and preparation for use of UAVs employed by the Kiev regime with the assistance of NATO specialists responsible for supplying components, providing intelligence data and target designation.

Strikes will also be carried out against decision-making centres and command posts.

❗️ Given that the above-mentioned facilities are dispersed across Kiev:

👉 we warn foreign nationals, including staff of diplomatic missions and representative offices of international organisations, of the need to leave the city as soon as possible,
👉 urge residents of the Ukrainian capital not to approach the military and administrative infrastructure facilities of the Zelensky regime.

https://vk.cc/cYaONY

🇷🇺🇨🇳 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝟮𝟬–𝟮𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲)

The official visit of President Vladimir Putin to Beijing concluded with one of the most substantial Russia–China packages of agreements in recent years, covering economics, transport, energy, science, education and global governance.

Around 40 intergovernmental, interagency and corporate documents were signed.

Main meetings & events
🔹 Talks with President Xi Jinping
🔹 Meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang
🔹 Official launch of the Russia–China Years of Education
🔹 Joint press statements
🔹 Adoption of major bilateral political documents

Major political outcomes
🔹 Joint Statement on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Strategic Interaction
🔹 Joint Declaration on multipolarity and a new model of international relations
🔹 Confirmation of close coordination within the UN, BRICS, SCO, G20 and other international platforms
🔹 Reaffirmation of support for a multipolar world order and opposition to unilateral dominance

Key statements by President Putin
– Russia–China relations have reached an unprecedented level
– Bilateral trade reached nearly $240 billion in 2025
– Almost all bilateral settlements are now conducted in rubles and yuan
– Visa-free arrangements between the two countries will continue
– Moscow and Beijing are entering a new stage of strategic cooperation

Key sectors covered by the agreements

🚆 Transport & Logistics
– Expansion of the Zabaikalsk–Manzhouli railway connection
– Development of Eurasian transport routes
– Expansion of Northern Sea Route infrastructure

⚡ Energy & Nuclear Cooperation
– Oil, gas and LNG supplies
– Rosatom projects in China
– Cooperation in nuclear science and fusion research

🎓 Education, Science & Technology
– Launch of Russia–China Years of Education
– Joint research institutes and university partnerships
– Talent development and scientific exchanges

🏙 Urban Development & Digital Technologies
– Smart city technologies
– AI applications in construction
– Green and energy-efficient infrastructure

🌐 Trade & Innovation
– Sustainable industrial trade
– Customs cooperation
– Intellectual property protection
– Digital technologies and AI

📊 Additional indicators
🔹 Railway freight volumes: 187 million tons (+6.3%)
🔹 270 weekly flights during summer season 2026
🔹 More than 2 million Russians visited China in 2025
🔹 More than 1 million Chinese citizens visited Russia

Strategic significance

The visit underscored that Moscow and Beijing are increasingly moving beyond political declarations toward laying the foundations of a comprehensive long-term partnership across infrastructure, technology, finance, education, and people-to-people ties. The emphasis appears to be shifting from isolated projects to the creation of an integrated architecture of strategic cooperation - one intended not merely to expand bilateral relations, but to shape a broader framework for long-term regional and global engagement.

Embassy of Russia to Malta Press Release

𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗿𝗼𝘃’𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 (𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟯–𝟭𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗵𝗶)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov concluded a substantive three-day visit to New Delhi centered on the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, strategic bilateral negotiations, and high-level consultations with India’s leadership.

The visit became an important element of Russia’s diplomatic engagement in Asia this spring, reaffirming the depth of Russia-India strategic cooperation and the growing significance of BRICS as a major platform ahead of the 18th Summit in September.

CHRONOLOGY

◆ May 13 – Talks with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S.Jaishankar
Foreign Minister Lavrov and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation: trade, hydrocarbons, fertilizers, transport corridors, investment, financial settlements, advanced technologies, peaceful nuclear energy, defense-industrial cooperation, and space.
A major focus was placed on strengthening practical mechanisms independent from external pressure, including the International North-South Transport Corridor and Northern Sea Route.

◆May 13 – Extended meeting with Pime Minister Narendra Modi
Discussions focused on implementing previous Putin–Modi summit decisions, deepening the specially privileged strategic partnership, and expanding cooperation in energy security, logistics, technology, and long-term economic development.

◆ May 14–15 – BRICS Foreign Ministers Council under India’s chairmanship
Foreign Minister Lavrov participated in ministerial sessions devoted to reform of global governance, strengthening multipolarity, restructuring financial institutions, opposing unilateral sanctions, and preparing the agenda for the September 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

◆ On the sidelines – Bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Brazil, Cuba, and Malaysia
Regional security, sanctions, Middle East diplomacy, strategic coordination, and expansion of bilateral partnerships were discussed.

LAVROV’S CORE THESIS

◆ BRICS serves as a central pillar of the emerging polycentric world order;
◆ Reform of IMF quotas, Bretton Woods institutions, and UN governance is necessary to restore balance in global representation;
◆ Greater participation of the Global Majority should define the future architecture of international decision-making;
◆ Opposition to unilateral sanctions and coercive economic measures remains a principled position;
◆ Sovereign financial systems and national-currency settlements are becoming essential instruments of strategic independence;
◆ Expanded Russia-India cooperation in energy, nuclear development, defense, logistics, and space constitutes a key long-term priority.

STRATEGIC MESSAGE
Foreign Minister Lavrov positioned BRICS not merely as a diplomatic forum, but as an increasingly influential instrument for reforming global governance architecture in favor of broader sovereignty, balanced representation, and a more equitable international order.

The New Delhi visit confirmed the continued importance of Russia-India relations as a key component of strategic cooperation in Eurasia and underscored BRICS’ expanding role in shaping future approaches to global governance, economic coordination, and multilateral diplomacy. Both politically and practically, the visit highlighted Russia’s emphasis on strengthening long-term partnerships across the Global South and East while advancing a broader agenda of multipolar international development.

Full speeches and official materials:

Foreign Minister Lavrov’s BRICS press conference remarks & Q&A: https://goo.su/7d64407
Foreign Minister Lavrov’s BRICS plenary remarks: https://goo.su/ihygm78

✉️ Президент России Владимир Путин направил приветствие участникам и организаторам Х Российско-Китайского ЭКСПО (17 мая 2026 года)

✍️ Уважаемые друзья!

Сердечно приветствую вас по случаю открытия в Харбине юбилейного, десятого Российско-Китайского ЭКСПО.

За прошедшие годы ЭКСПО превратилось в действительно масштабное выставочное мероприятие, которое не только обеспечивает наглядную демонстрацию достижений российско-китайского сотрудничества, но и даёт хорошую возможность для прямого, содержательного диалога между представителями наших деловых кругов, государственных ведомств и региональных властей.

Насыщенная и разнообразная программа нынешней выставки в полной мере отражает высокую динамику отношений всеобъемлющего партнёрства и стратегического взаимодействия между Москвой и Пекином.

Информативные экспозиции посвящены ключевым областям двусторонней кооперации: энергетике и высоким технологиям, транспорту и логистике, промышленному и аграрному секторам, торгово-экономическим и культурным обменам.

Ведущими российскими и китайскими компаниями запланированы презентации ряда крупных совместных проектов. Состоятся тематические дискуссии по самым различным направлениям: от производства продовольственных товаров до цифровой трансформации. И конечно, особое внимание традиционно уделено связям по линии регионов двух наших стран.

Уверен, что подобная совместная работа будет конструктивной и плодотворной, поможет наметить новые, перспективные формы взаимовыгодного сотрудничества на благо наших стран и народов.

Хотел бы искренне поблагодарить всех, кто внёс свой вклад в подготовку ЭКСПО, а всем участникам выставки пожелать успехов и всего самого доброго.

Владимир Путин

#РоссияКитай

Press Release

𝗢𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗮𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀

As part of the events marking the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, President of Russia Vladimir Putin delivered an address at the Victory Day Parade on Red Square on May 9.

Key messages from the President’s address:

• Victory Day is Russia’s sacred and most important holiday, uniting the nation through devotion to the Motherland and the preservation of historical truth.

• The Soviet people made the decisive contribution to the defeat of N**ism, saved their country and the world, and liberated Europe from N**i domination.

• The memory of the millions who perished at the front, under occupation, in captivity, during sieges, and through immense sacrifices on the home front remains central to Russia’s historical consciousness.

• The courage, unity, and spiritual strength of the Soviet people shattered N**i plans of conquest and genocide.

• The victorious generation continues to inspire those who today defend Russia’s sovereignty.

Read the full address here:

Key statements to the media:

On Ukraine:
• Russia proposed a POW exchange on May 5 and remains ready to proceed.
• Moscow extended the ceasefire in support of humanitarian efforts.
• A meeting with Zelensky remains possible, but only after concrete groundwork for a long-term peace agreement.

On Armenia:
• Russia respects Armenia’s sovereign decisions while noting the strategic benefits of existing regional partnerships.

On the Middle East:
• President Vladimir Putin warned against escalation around Iran and stressed the need for diplomacy and compromise.

On Europe:
• Russia remains hopeful for the eventual restoration of constructive relations with European states.

Read the full media remarks here.