🎙 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s reply to a media question regarding extension of the grain deal

❓ Question: Ukraine has resumed talks with partners regarding the grain deal. Reuters reported, with a reference to a top official in the Ukrainian authorities, that Ukraine commenced talks to extend the grain deal. According to the report, the Russian side did not take part in the talks. What can you say about these reports?

💬 Answer: We are well aware of the statements by various sides, including the Kiev regime, on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, whose second term (120 days) expires on March 18. There were no talks conducted in this regard, especially with participation of the Russian representatives.

Our general position regarding the package proposal of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which comprises the Russia-UN Memorandum to normalise national agricultural exports, as well as the aforementioned Black Sea Grain Initiative, is well-known and remains intact.

We proceed from the fact that the agreements entered into in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, need to be fulfilled in conjunction with one another in order to resolve the specified humanitarian tasks to overcome the food crisis and help the countries in need in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

❗️ We have to state that so far only the Ukrainian part has been effectively implemented, Russian agricultural exports continue to be blocked by western unilateral sanctions.

Another round of consultations of a Russian interdepartmental delegation with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan and head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, who supervise the Russia-UN Memorandum and the Black Sea Grain Initiative, respectively, will take place in Geneva on March 13.

🎙 Remarks by Head of the Russian delegation Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov at the 66th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

📍 Vienna, March 13, 2023

💬 The world is going through dramatic transformations in many areas. It is clearer than ever now that the expansion of global drug trafficking is a common threat and fighting it is our joint responsibility.

🤝 We welcome the determination of individual groups of countries and associations such as Central Asia and #ASEAN to create drug-free regions.

We note with satisfaction that in recent years the #SCO has significantly built up its drug-combating capacity and continues to build, in conjunction with the #CSTO, the #CIS and CARICC, a barrier on the northern route that is used for smuggling Afghan drugs to Europe.

⚠️ Unfortunately, not all states are willing to act responsibly when it comes to fighting drug abuse. For several years now, we have been witnessing a small group of Western countries acting as if they are entitled to not follow the corresponding conventions. Today, we are talking not only about legalising supposedly less harmful cannabis, but also about lifting bans on the use of dangerous substances such as methamphetamine and heroin.

Everyone can see the results of this thoughtless policy of permissiveness. It is no coincidence that these countries are faced with an opioid crisis involving an unprecedented number of fatalities.

Does this sound like concern for public health?

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✍️ Interview with the Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Foreign Policy Planning Department Alexey Drobinin published in the journal “National Strategy Issues” of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, No 1, 2023 (13 March, 2023)

🌐 The main trend is that the structure of international relations is changing in the direction of greater multipolarity. The ability of one country or group of countries to dominate another is becoming a thing of the past. It is being replaced with a global configuration based on the balance of power and interests of the globally important decision-making centres.

🇷🇺 Russia is acting as a sovereign global centre. It is carrying out its historically established unique mission of maintaining the global balance of power & ensuring the conditions for humanity’s steady advance based on a unifying and constructive agenda.

🔹 A new balance has not yet been found. For the time being, we are seeing a gradual diffusion of political power, with stronger positions for different non-Western players that are capable of choosing their own path of development and may become independent centres of the emerging multipolarity in the future. Such states or their associations are striving for independence or “strategic autonomy,” if you will.

🔹 It is no secret that the collective West considers this global configuration disadvantageous. The countries on both sides of the Atlantic are afraid of potentially losing the opportunity to be a parasite on the rest of the world.

🔹 The forces that are opposing a modern Anglo-Saxon hegemonic paradigm for the global configuration are gaining strength in conditions of the dual containment of Russia & China. They are creating an infrastructure of interstate ties that are independent of Western policy and immune to its pressure.

🔹 Having mastered these cancel culture elements at the national level, the Americans and their allies tried to apply these very mechanisms to other countries, including Russia.

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🤝 On March 16-17, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary-General Zhang Ming paid a working visit to Moscow.

The Secretary-General was received by Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation. He also held consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.

During the exchange of views, they discussed key aspects of the organisation’s activities, including prospects for improvement in the context of current changes in global politics and the economy.

👆The Parties discussed the growing demand for creativity and the stabilising role of the SCO in today’s complex geopolitical situation and its notable contribution to shaping a multipolar architecture of international relations.

They exchanged views on strengthening the international standing of the #SCO with a focus on the need to deepen the dialogue with international partner organisations and multilateral associations, primarily the United Nations, the #CSTO, the #CIS, the #EAEU and also #ASEAN.

The Parties expressed the importance of enhancing the efficiency of the secretariat’s work with a view to further consolidating the SCO.

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📄 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin’s Article for People’s Daily Newspaper, «Russia and China: A Future-Bound Partnership» 🇷🇺🇨🇳

March 19, 2023

READ IN FULL (original on Kremlin.ru)

💬 I am glad to seize this opportunity to address the friendly Chinese people in one of the largest and most authoritative world media in advance of the state visit of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Russia. This landmark event reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership, which has always been built on mutual trust, respect for each other's sovereignty and interests.

We have high expectations for the upcoming talks. We have no doubt that they will give a new powerful impetus to our bilateral cooperation in its entirety. This is also a great opportunity for me to meet with my good old friend with whom we enjoy the warmest relationship. <...>

🤝 The firm friendship between Russia and China is consistently growing stronger for the benefit and in the interest of our countries and peoples. The progress made in the development of bilateral ties is impressive.

The Russia-China relations have reached the highest level in their history and are gaining even more strength; they surpass Cold War-time military-political alliances in their quality, with no one to constantly order and no one to constantly obey, without limitations or taboos.

We have reached an unprecedented level of trust in our political dialogue, our strategic cooperation has become truly comprehensive in nature and is standing on the brink of a new era. President Xi Jinping and I have met about 40 times and have always found time and opportunity to talk in a variety of official formats as well as at no‑tie events. <...>

Unlike some countries claiming hegemony and bringing discord to the global harmony, Russia and China are literally and figuratively building bridges. Last year our border regions were connected by two new bridge crossings over the Amur river, which has been a ”river of friendship“ since time immemorial. Amidst the ”waves and winds“ that sweep the planet, we closely cooperate in international affairs and effectively coordinate our foreign policy positions, counter common threats, and respond to current challenges, standing shoulder to shoulder as a ”rock amid a fast flowing stream.“

We actively promote democratic multilateral structures such as the #SCO and #BRICS, which become more and more authoritative and influential and attract new partners and friends. The work aimed at coordinating the development of the Eurasian Economic Union with the One Belt, One Road Initiative also goes in this vein.

❗️ Our countries, together with like-minded actors, have consistently advocated the shaping of a more just multipolar world order based on international law rather than certain ”rules“ serving the needs of the ”golden billion.“ Russia and China have consistently worked to create an equitable, open and inclusive regional and global security system that is not directed against third countries. In this regard, we note the constructive role of China's Global Security Initiative, which is in line with the Russian approaches in this area.

We can feel the geopolitical landscape in the outside world change dramatically. Sticking more stubbornly than ever to its obsolete dogmata and vanishing dominance, the ”Collective West“ is gambling on the fates of entire states and peoples. The US's policy of simultaneously deterring Russia and China, as well as all those who do not bend to the American dictation, is getting ever more fierce and aggressive.

The international security and cooperation architecture is being dismantled. Russia has been labelled an ”immediate threat“ and China a ”strategic competitor.“ <...>

🇷🇺🇨🇳 I am convinced that our friendship and partnership based on the strategic choice of the peoples of the two countries will further grow and gain strength for the well-being and prosperity of Russia and China.

This visit of the President of the PRC to Russia will undoubtedly contribute to that.

#RussiaChina

🌾 The second 120-day validity period of the Black Sea Initiative on exporting Ukrainian food expired on March 18. With the lack of progress in implementing the Russia-UN Memorandum on normalising Russian agricultural exports, Moscow decided to shorten the next renewal period to 60 days until May 18.

This position was officially communicated to the Turkish and Ukrainian sides of the Black Sea Initiative, as well as the UN officials. No formal objections followed.

Further decisions on extending the initiative will depend on progress in complying with the following terms and conditions in the context of implementing the Russia-UN Memorandum:

• reconnecting Russian Agricultural Bank (RusAg) to SWIFT;
• resuming supplies of agricultural machinery, its parts and maintenance;
• lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance, plus lifting the ban on access to ports;
• resuming the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline operation;
• unblocking foreign assets and accounts of the Russian companies involved in the production and transport of food and fertilisers.

👉 Pending progress in complying with the above requirements, which are not new and should have been complied with as part of the Russia-UN Memorandum, our participation in the Black Sea Initiative will be suspended.

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Happy Nyepi day to our Indonesian🇮🇩 colleagues and friends!

We wish our ASEAN friends joyful and blessed Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr ahead!