РУССКИЙ
21:58 11.04.2025 •
Photo: MFA
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following a meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council
Almaty, April 11, 2025
“Good afternoon.
We have just completed our work within the framework of meetings of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council. We began yesterday with an informal conversation about current international and regional issues.
Today, we held two meetings, on in a restricted format, which was attended by the foreign ministers and their deputies, and the other in an expanded format, where several initiatives were presented and documents were signed in your presence.
I would like to emphasise the special contribution our Kazakhstani friends have made to arranging these meetings. They have created the necessary conditions for our effective work.
We would like to congratulate our Tajikistani comrades on the successful start of their CIS Chairmanship. We share the priorities Dushanbe has chosen for 2025 to build up cooperation in all spheres and ensure continuity in our operations. These priorities include traditional foreign policy, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as issues of special concern for Tajikistan, namely, the environment, climate and the promotion of contacts with external partners. We will provide all-round assistance to ensure the success of Tajikistan’s Chairmanship.
We discussed the results of cooperation between our foreign ministries and the coordination of our activities on international venues in accordance with our Plan of Consultations in 2024. We have concluded with satisfaction that this Plan has been fulfilled.
These meetings were useful. They helped us learn more about each other’s positions and coordinate our actions at the UN, the OSCE and other multilateral platforms.
I would like to point out that all of us laid special emphasis on the events dedicated to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We will be delighted to see our friends from the CIS states at the May 9 events held in Moscow to commemorate a date that is of superior importance to our fraternal peoples and humanity as a whole. President Vladimir Putin has invited all CIS leaders to attend the Victory Day Parade and other events in Moscow. We hope to see them in Red Square on that day.
It has been decided today, in connection with the anniversary of the Great Victory, to introduce a new title in the CIS, City of Labour Glory, 1941-1945. The decision has been approved. The title will be awarded to cities the list of which we are coordinating now. We will soon make it public.
We discussed the latest international and regional developments, and I offered my colleagues an update regarding the Ukraine crisis. I reaffirmed Russia’s continuing commitment to achieving a reliable, solid and lasting settlement. Addressing the root causes of the conflict constitutes the only path forward, and everyone knows this. This conflict has been many years in the making. In fact, it all started when NATO stepped up its eastward expansionist efforts going up to our border, while also encouraging an openly Nazi regime in Kiev. This regime came to power following a bloody anti-constitutional coup, and started, among other things, adopting laws to cancel everything Russian and anything pertaining to the Russian world, be it Russian language, culture, or Russian-language media outlets, or the canonical Orthodoxy as represented by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and many other things.
I also offered my colleagues an insight into Russia’s contacts with the United States at various levels, including in terms of Washington’s efforts to facilitate a settlement for the Ukraine crisis. President of the United States Donald Trump keeps saying that this is what he is interested in. We can see that the United States is willing to go to the bottom of this issue, which sets it apart from Europe, including the UK, which has opted for ignoring the root causes of the current situation altogether.
President of the United States Donald Trump said many times during his public appearances that attempts to draw Ukraine into NATO were misguided. This mistake was a key factor behind the ongoing developments, and Moscow has been warning against going down this path all along. In addition, there is an understanding in the United States that there will be no going back to the 1991 borders, even if this objective is still on Vladimir Zelensky’s wish list. Why? Everything else aside, there are people living in these territories, but Vladimir Zelensky views them as species rather than humans. He has called them this way many times even before the special military operation started. And he suggested that people who identify with the Russian culture pack up and move to Russia. These were his words, and he said this before the special military operation. In one of his recent interviews, Vladimir Zelensky said that the feeling of hatred towards Russians was his main driving force. And when asked whether he hated Vladimir Putin as a person, he responded by saying that no, he hated all Russians. He hates them all. Putting this man in charge of these people once again would be unthinkable. We will never do that. There is a similar understanding within Donald Trump’s administration. In their public statements they have said many times that Vladimir Zelensky would have to come to terms with the territorial issue.
This meeting paved the way for the adoption of a package of decisions on cultural and humanitarian affairs, law enforcement, as well as security matters. We approved several draft international treaties, including the draft programme of cooperation among CIS countries on strengthening security along the CIS external border in 2026-2030. In addition to this, we focused on documents setting forth the main tracks for creating a common framework for monitoring developments in terms of radiation, chemical and biological security, as well as the basic principles governing our joint military-to-military communications systems within the CIS. We also discussed the initiative by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish a Volunteer Forum. It will now operate as a permanent platform within the CIS. We fully supported this initiative. This movement has been gaining traction for several years now and we want it to reach an international dimension within the CIS.
We will be releasing some of the documents as decisions approved by the foreign ministers at the meeting. The rest of the papers were drafts to be signed by the heads of government when they hold their meetings in June and September, as well as at the summit, which is scheduled to take place on October 10 in Dushanbe at the level of heads of state.”
Question: How do you see the role of the CIS in a multipolar world?
Sergey Lavrov: We have been laying out our approach in sufficient detail. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has put forward an initiative to build a Eurasian security architecture that would encompass the entire Eurasian continent, all the countries located on it, and all the supranational organisations.
The CIS is one of them. It has established working ties at the level of Secretariats with the SCO, the EAEU, the CSTO, ASEAN and the GCC. There is also an integration group in South Asia. The idea is that these sprouts of integration processes (in some cases fully grown entities) should establish contacts with each other, find coinciding interests, and join forces, while avoiding duplication and waste of resources.
The CIS, as a group that focuses on both economic and security issues, can and will definitely be an active partner in the efforts to establish material ties. This is what President Vladimir Putin means when he promotes the Greater Eurasian Partnership. This initiative will provide a solid foundation for creating an Eurasian security architecture. The CIS will be part of this process, given the prominent security-related dimensions on its agenda.
There is no doubt that the Eurasian continent will be the source and, perhaps, the leader of a number of processes to strengthen multipolarity.
Question: Head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas recently admitted that the anti-Russia sanctions are detrimental to the Central Asian economies. At the same time, she asked the Central Asian countries to be patient and understanding of the European Union. After this news conference, you will have a meeting with the foreign ministers of Central Asian states. What would you suggest they should respond to Kallas’s request for patience?
Sergey Lavrov: I would suggest they patiently endure Kallas’s tenure. It will be much easier than being patient to the detriment of their own people. I do not understand these politicians. But the funniest thing is that Kallas failed to mention that, first of all, Estonia and other members of the European Union have to suffer more significant damage and losses as a consequence of their sanctions policy than any countries in Central Asia or our other neighbours in the CIS.
Another lady, Annalena Baerbock, who is now completing her tenure as German foreign minister, has become known for many things, including her exceptional illiteracy, but even more so for the lack of any responsibility to her voters. Baerbock, as well as Chancellor Olaf Scholz, admitted they were knowingly worsening the Germans’ living standards, but the voters must be patient and endure these hardships for the sake of “defeating” Russia. Ursula von der Leyen made a similar statement in relation to the entire European Union.
This suggests how little they think about their voters, instead focusing on making other countries endure adversity just to punish Russia, is a clear indication of how low the European Union has fallen and how much it has degraded as an idea that was initiated for the sake of socioeconomic prosperity of European countries’ populations.
Question: Can such entities as the CIS or the Russia-Central Asia forum offer new methods to minimise economic damage amid the current trade wars? Did you discuss this issue today?
Sergey Lavrov: Yes, we certainly talked about this group of issues, although in practical terms they are discussed and addressed by the relevant agencies, such as finance ministries, central banks, prime ministers and deputy prime ministers.
There is no need to invent new methods. Over the past three years, the West has been trying to internationalise its sanctions and apply them to each and everyone who are interacting with the Russian Federation in any way, primarily our neighbours, including Central Asian states.
National currencies now account for 85 percent of payments in trade with the CIS countries. We are developing this process with China and, to a lesser degree, India, but the overall figures are growing.
Second, despite the sanctions, we can not only rely on national currencies but also create payment platforms that are free from external influence. One of them is the Financial Messaging System of the Central Bank of Russia, which is convenient and does not depend on SWIFT. There are several other initiatives, including those that are being considered within BRICS.
Brazil has proposed creating alternative payment platforms, and this work is underway. I am confident that even the countries that are not members of this group will be able to gain access to such mechanisms after they are created.
Despite the sanctions, trade within the CIS increased by nearly 4.5 percent last year, and industrial production has grown by the same amount. Overall, this is a serious positive result, compared to the European economy.
We will continue to work in accordance with our national interests. Our partners have stated, including during bilateral talks with Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, that they want to act in accordance with their national interests as well. It is obvious that some private enterprises and banks are concerned about secondary sanctions, which can affect their interests. But it is also clear that the Central Asian countries’ benefits from trade and joint projects with Russia, as well as Russia’s investment in their territories, are certainly bigger and more important for their national interests than what the Western countries are promising in return for compliance with their demand to “encircle” Russia with sanctions.
Question: Russia and the United States swapped prisoners on Thursday morning as talks began in Istanbul. Who initiated the exchange? How important is it as part of the efforts to achieve normalised relations?
Sergey Lavrov: The idea came to both sides simultaneously.
I’m sure that any humanitarian gesture, even when it’s just about two individuals reuniting with their families, is a positive development. Generally speaking, politics should be used to do something useful that makes a difference in people’s lives.
This is the second such exchange in the past few weeks. I think it helps build the much needed trust. However, restoring trust in full will take a long time. It was undermined and destroyed by the Biden Administration. Even now, quite a few Democrats and Republicans in the United States – regardless of differences between them – are unwilling to see President Trump and his team achieve success in normalising relations and resuming the dialogue with us.
Considering this, we will rely firmly on our national interests in our politics. Our contacts with President Trump’s team, in particular the talks in Riyadh with Secretary of State Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, showed that the sides share the principled understanding of the importance of a dialogue in which each side remains committed to its national interests. Such an approach is quite workable.
For example, the People’s Republic of China and the United States are embroiled in a tough tariff confrontation, but not only that. There are also issues related to the status of Taiwan, which the West formally recognises as part of mainland China, but at the same time wags its finger and says the status quo should remain unchanged. What is the status quo about? It is not about unified China. It is, in fact, a state, not even a quasi-state. They see it as Taiwan’s statehood. China and the United States have issues in the South China Sea.
There is a reason for Washington and NATO labelling China the largest challenge that is second only to eliminating the Russian threat. Despite all of that, despite the back and forth between Beijing and Washington, their dialogue has never been paused. It is absolutely unclear why the Biden Administration suddenly decided to do as it did.
I believe we should not get complacent, and instead act realistically and seek to achieve normalised relations based on mutual recognition of and respect for each country’s national interests.
Question: Are there any substantive agreements regarding the resumption of air service between Russia and the United States? Will the resumption of air service entail the lifting of sanctions on Aeroflot?
Sergey Lavrov: No, it will not. The resumption of the air service should follow the lifting of sanctions on Aeroflot. We came up with this proposal more than a month ago even before the talks in Riyadh. The Americans were receptive of it, but have not so far come up with a response.
Our experts reminded them of this proposal during the meeting in Istanbul which concluded yesterday. Frankly, I haven’t had a chance to get in touch with them yet. There may have been some progress, but we still aren’t sure.
We will keep working on it, because it means getting back to normal.
Question: According to the EU, it will invest more than 10 billion euros in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor which connects Europe and Türkiye with the Caucasus, Central Asia and China in circumvention of Russia. The Trans-Caspian Corridor is a direct competitor to Russia’s North-South and West-East corridors. What risks does Russia see now that the work on this transport project has stepped up?
Sergey Lavrov: My Kazakhstani colleague and I discussed this yesterday. Today, this issue was raised at a meeting of foreign ministers from the CIS member states. A few minutes from now, this issue will be discussed with five foreign ministers from the Central Asian countries.
Speaking of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, no one has seen the 10 billion euros promised by those whom the EU wants to bring onboard for implementing this project that will go around Russia and the Russian territory. That’s the first point.
Second, it is more expensive. If the EU suddenly decides to go ahead and invest in this project, it will cost much more than the North-South and East-West international transport corridors. We do not see anything wrong in, as the Chinese proverb says, seeing “a hundred flowers blossom” and considering all projects that help unblock transport links and create highly comfortable and convenient logistics opportunities. No one should impede any of them, though.
The North-South International Transport Corridor is a much more advanced project. It is more efficient in terms of lower costs involved in making it a fully-operational project. It can be used to deliver cargo from the North to the South much more efficiently. In addition to the North-South International Transport Corridor, in its context and in parallel with it, routes from northern Russia to the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and ports of Iran, India, and the United States are being developed. The construction of such interchanges is being discussed in practical terms.
Kazakhstan is using several sections of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. To reiterate, we have nothing against it provided no one throws a wrench into existing North-South and East-West transcontinental projects.
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