Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, December 18, 2024
- Chief of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov’s assassination
- Media reports about vials with deadly viruses that went missing from an Australian laboratory
- US State Department’s annual report on terrorism
- Ukraine crisis update
- The origins of the Syria crisis
- Developments in Moldova
- UN General Assembly resolution on combating the glorification of Nazism
- Results of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting
- Norway’s military aspirations in Spitsbergen
- Pan-African Parliament delegation’s visit to the Donetsk People's Republic
- Russia’s provision of food aid to Zimbabwe under the UN World Food Programme
- Russia’s provision of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka
- Results of the Best Russian School Abroad international contest
- VYZOV national prize for future technologies
- Start of the SCO chess tournament qualifying games
- Minsk peace initiatives
- Provocations by South Korean authorities
- NATO Secretary General’s statements
- Secretary General of the Council of Europe’s visit to Ukraine
- Threat of international terrorism in the Middle East
- Syria update
- Andranik Migranyan denied entry to Armenia
- Kaja Kallas’ statements
- Expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Golan Heights
- Situation surrounding Tik-Tok platform in the United States
- The need to resume dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia
- India’s defence cooperation with Azerbaijan and Armenia
- Denying some Russian citizens entry to Armenia
- Normalising the situation in Syria
- Russian military bases in Syria
- The future of Syria
- Some statements by the President of Türkiye
- Providing assistance to Russian citizens in Syria
- Visa-free regulations with India and Pakistan
- New Year Tree of Peace and Friendship
In the early hours of December 17, 2024, a terrible tragedy happened in Moscow. It was a terrorist attack which left two members of the Russian military dead. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, was one of them. He was our colleague, our comrade, our friend. His aide also died in the attack.
The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal file under Articles 105, 205 and 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which are titled Manslaughter, Terrorist Attack and Arms Trafficking, respectively. We express our sincere condolences to Mr Kirillov’s family, friends and colleagues. This includes us, of course, since he was our comrade too. He truly excelled in what he did. This is an irreparable loss for all of us.
A combat officer, Mr Kirillov always stayed true and devoted to his duty and oath. He was also an outstanding professional and an incredibly well-educated and knowledgeable person who knew everything there was to know about the work he was doing for the military. Reliability, integrity and responsibility were also among his traits. For many years, he regularly, on a system-wide basis, exposed the Anglo-Saxons and NATO for their criminal activities with facts in hand. He focused on a domain which these forces were eager to manipulate on the international stage. It covered chemical weapons and biological safety.
It was Igor Kirillov who exposed the American biological laboratories in Ukraine that developed biological agents for selectively targeting people belonging to specific ethnic groups, including Slavs. It was he who uncovered facts on the use by the Kiev regime of chemical weapons on the frontline, its efforts to create a dirty bomb, and prepare provocations using biological agents.
But Mr Kirillov’s efforts to expose these Anglo-Saxons with their manipulations started well before that. You may remember how in 2018 Western propaganda tried pinning the blame on Russia for the chemical attack on Douma, a Syrian city. It was Mr Kirillov who pointed to dozens of absurd inconsistencies in this posture, which was a total fake. There were these would-be reporters standing near what was presented as an impact crater from a chemical bomb explosion, but all they had were gauze masks. Do you remember the way he talked about it? The would-be rescue workers from the White Helmets, a fake humanitarian organisation, sprayed water over the purported victims, even if it cannot wash away the toxic agent. Do you remember the witnesses who were surprised to see themselves in what the Anglo-Saxons presented as the horrifying footage when making their case?
And Igor Kirillov made a convincing case and relied on facts when debunking all these allegations. He fearlessly served his country and sought to defend it without trying to hide behind anyone. This is what made him a bur in the throat for all these Russia-haters in the West.
It is quite telling that the Ukrainian Security Service filed criminal charges against Mr Kirillov without any evidence and under a far-fetched pretext, which consisted of saying that soldiers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces had been targeted by chemical weapons. It seems that preparations for the terror attack were taking place at various levels and in several formats to give it a veneer of legality. But what kind of legality are we talking about? It has long since vanished from Ukraine. It has been long since the West stole and destroyed the rule of law there. Everyone understands perfectly well that the suspected killers – and we know that the Kiev regime has once again claimed responsibility for this terror attack – are the Ukrainian Security Service and the devilish Kiev regime. And the Anglo-Saxons are the ones who masterminded all their activities. In fact, the Anglo-Saxons are the main beneficiaries of the Kiev regime’s terrorist activities. And the West applauds those who kill people – people who were trying to stop the world from sinking deeper into the new post-truth reality and transition to a state of quasi reality. Once you destroy the truth, reality also becomes distorted. Daria Dugina and Vladlen Tatarsky died similar deaths, even if the crimes against them had their own details and nuances. Zakhar Prilepin miraculously survived an assassination attempt. There were other lethal victims among journalists and public figures, but the West has remained silent, did not say a word and kept coming up with blurry, inconclusive statements. This is what happened in Mr Kirillov’s case too when the West presented him as what it called a legitimate target. That said, we do know what they are after, since former US President George W. Bush has spilled the beans. What they want is to kill as many Russians as possible, even if this effort has cost the lives to so many Ukrainians too.
We do understand perfectly well the objective of this latest act of terror. And we are aware of its deep-running goals and causes. We have been witnessing an effort by the West to push a narrative in international organisations as well as in the public space about bringing the issue of chemical weapons and its use in Syria back into the spotlight.
We also know that it was no other than Igor Kirillov who stood in the way of these lies for all these years. And we will not allow his efforts to be in vain. Russia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York will not fail to focus on this act of terror during the December 20 Security Council meeting. Russia requested this meeting for discussing Western arms supplies to Ukraine.
We are certain that those who organised and perpetrated Igor Kirillov’s assassination will be found and punished, no matter who and where they are.
As for our message to all the curators of the Kiev regime and Russia-haters of all kinds, it consists of saying that you will never succeed in intimidating us. Our cause is the right cause, and we stand for the truth. What Igor Kirillov said in his statements was the truth.
Media reports about vials with deadly viruses that went missing from an Australian laboratory
It has been reported that hundreds of vials containing dangerous viruses went missing from an Australian laboratory. According to news from Canberra, confirmed by an Australian Health Ministry statement, hundreds of deadly virus vials have disappeared from a public biological laboratory in Queensland. Worse still, they disappeared in 2021, but the fact of their disappearance was only established two years later in August 2023 and reported to the public in December 2024. The media write that the circumstances of the incident are unclear. The Australian health experts, who say that there are no public health risks, do not rule out the possibility that the pathogens were stolen for malicious purposes, including the creation of biological weapons.
We believe that the Queensland incident could have been avoided if the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC) included an effective verification mechanism. Russia has been calling for years for drafting a relevant legally binding protocol to the BWC, but work on that document was blocked by the United States and its allies, including Australia.
US State Department’s annual report on terrorism
On December 12, 2024, the US Department of State published an annual (or more precisely, fake) report on terrorism in 2023. Like the previous reports, there is a conspicuous absence of a standard that would be clear and logical. The only clear element is that the report has been compiled to a political contract and is based on the manipulation of information. Any expert will tell you that it is totally absurd, and the general public has the same view of these State Department reports.
This year’s report cites unsubstantiated allegations about Iran, the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, Cuba and Syria (under Bashar al-Assad) as state sponsors of terrorism. The US administration continues to operate on the pseudo-legal doctrine of state-sponsored terrorism, which they use regularly to justify their illegal interference in the internal affairs of other states and their unilateral enforcement measures taken in violation of the UN Charter. We believe that such labelling and manipulation with such notions amount to declaring “undesirable” states as terrorist organisations. This fallacious presumption is presented as the result of analysis by the US foreign policy department.
In keeping with Washington’s Russophobic policy, Russia, which has a separate section in that pseudo-analytical paper, is criticised, without any ground, for the alleged persecution of political opposition, “independent” media and religious organisations under the pretext of countering the terrorist threat. The compilers of that report shamelessly claim that the Russian authorities systematically infringe on human rights, including the right to the freedom of speech, association and religion, under the pretext of combating activities that threaten the constitutional system. At the same time, the State Department’s report does not say as much as a word about the Kiev regime, which is carrying out terrorist attacks in Russia.
Instead, there are clumsy attempts to reject Moscow’s “unjustified allegations” of the Kiev regime’s involvement in the numerous terrorist attacks against Russian civilians. This is especially monstrous now when the world has seen the videos of the murder of Igor Kirillov in a terrorist attack on December 17, the responsibility for which Ukraine has assumed. The US Department of States takes no notice of the terrorist attacks committed against Russian journalists, public figures or civilian infrastructure.
The US Department of State was not loath to including blatant lies in its report. It claims that there was not a single terrorist attack in the Russian Federation in 1923. It’s fantastic! The State Department does not regard the high-profile assassination attempt on Tsargrad CEO Konstantin Malofeyev, the on-camera assassination of Vladlen Tatarsky, the attempts on the life of Zakhar Prilepin and former Verkhovna Rada Deputies Oleg Tsarev and Ilya Kiva, and attacks on the Crimean Bridge as terrorist assaults. I do not even mention the Ukrainian army’s attacks on civilian infrastructure and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.
Yet another falsehood is that the report ungroundedly characterises Russia as a source of the ideology of “racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism.” Though the US and its Western allies are promoting this dubious concept, there is no internationally coordinated definition of “violent extremism” and attempts to introduce this term are creating conditions for the use of double standards. (For example, terrorists could be divided into “good guys” and “bad guys.”) Russia allegedly spreads misinformation about developments in and around Ukraine and destabilises the political situation in countries belonging to the collective West. But who is destabilising it? It is people and regimes in those countries that are destabilising it. Or does the vote of no confidence in Olaf Scholtz also fits in with Moscow “destabilising” the situation in Germany?
Generally, the report has again accused Russia of all mortal sins despite considerations of objectivity and common sense. But they have deliberately made no mention of Ukraine becoming a terrorist state. They avoid accusing the Zelensky regime, thus confirming the fact that it is being patronised by the United States. The US money and weapons, which are being supplied to Ukraine outside of any control, have contributed to turning that country into a testing range for increasingly barbaric and subtle methods designed to undermine Russia’s security.
At the same time, the report advertises Washington’s supposed efforts to fight international terrorism. We have great doubts about their sincerity. To be sure, the document fails to mention America’s wide use or international terrorist groups to achieve its unseemly political aims in various regions of the world, including in Ukraine.
Cuba is in for a special focus. For some unknown reason, it is again on the US list of states sponsoring terrorism. We will publish a separate comment in this regard. This situation has no logic whatsoever.
The Ukrainian Nazi forces persist in their acts of terror against the Russian civilian population, subjecting them to shelling and drone assaults on a daily basis.
In the early hours of December 11 this year, Ukrainian armed forces launched a missile strike on Taganrog, resulting in damage to a boiler house and the burning of 14 vehicles, though no casualties were reported. Later that morning, the Ukrainian side fired six US-made ATACMS missiles at the city's military airfield. All were intercepted by the Pantsir SAM system, though injuries were sustained from the resulting debris.
In the Belgorod Region on December 14, Banderite forces deliberately targeted a residential house in the village of Maisky with a UAV, where a woman and her small children resided. Regrettably, a tragic incident occurred – her 9-year-old son was killed, and both her 7-month-old daughter and she herself were injured. On December 15, a self-defence fighter was killed by a drone strike in the village of Terebrino. Additionally, a drone attack on a lorry near the village of Borki resulted in injuries to a driver.
On December 16, the Ukrainian Nazis bombarded Gorlovka (DPR) with NATO-calibre cluster shells from barrel artillery and deployed a drone to drop an explosive device on a passenger car. This attack resulted in one fatality, and left four other people wounded.
Our fighters from the Tsentr Group of Forces have reported that following the liberation of the village of Petrovka (DPR) on December 15, they discovered civilians, predominantly elderly individuals, confined in basements by Ukrainian nationalists, having been subjected to abuse and deprivation of food. The victims expressed immense relief at being liberated from the neo-Banderite tormentors. Incidents of the forced removal of local children by the Ukrainian military have been documented.
Media reports indicate that the city authorities of Kurakhovo, a town nearly captured by Russian forces, received instructions from the local military administration to refuse humanitarian aid to civilians who submitted applications in Russian, regardless of their health status, disability, or age. This is an act of barbarism and dehumanisation. Where are the humanitarian organisations? Where are those responsible for monitoring such violations? They seem indifferent, apparently more concerned with issues of harassment and gender identities. These barbaric actions are aimed at the genocide of the population based on language and ethnicity.
Some captured Ukrainian Nazis, speaking fluent Russian, confess to thinking in this language while simultaneously recounting their so-called “heroic deeds” in the occupied territories of the Kursk Region. Artur Plombirus, a militant of the Ukrainian army who surrendered to our forces, described how he was ordered to shoot civilians who did not speak Ukrainian and how he disguised himself in Russian military uniform to approach and eliminate our fighters.
Yesterday, on December 17, the International Public Tribunal for the Crimes of Ukrainian Neo-Nazis presented a report based on collected testimonies from victims and witnesses, entitled The Mass Shooting by the Armed Forces of Ukraine of Civilians in the Town of Selidovo. The report focuses on the massacre of defenceless residents by Ukrainian forces and foreign “legionnaires” during their retreat, commencing from October 22 this year.
Images depicting the aftermath of this inhumane brutality have been broadcast by Russian media. The contents of the report are harrowing – individuals in the guise of Ukrainian soldiers and mercenaries went door-to-door in Selidovo, executing women, men, and the elderly at point-blank range. Such flagrantly brutal war crimes are not subject to any statute of limitations and will be meticulously investigated to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable.
Russia’s law enforcement agencies and the Defence Ministry have obtained irrefutable evidence of the Ukrainian armed forces using self-inflammable white phosphorus in the drone-dropped ammo on multiple occasions in September. This fact clearly shows that Ukraine possesses chemical weapons that have not been disposed off as prescribed by international regulations, and is capable of synthesising highly toxic phosphorus-containing toxic substances listed in Schedule 1 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.
The incendiary munitions filled with white phosphorus that are used by the Ukrainian Nazis are indiscriminate weapons and are prohibited by Protocol III to the Geneva Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects for use in populated areas and their environs.
Everyone involved in these atrocities will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
Russian courts continue to sentence Ukrainian neo-Nazis and mercenaries for their war crimes.
New Zealand mercenary Jordan O’Brien and Georgian mercenary Tornike Tivadze have been sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison. The latter has repeatedly made Russophobic social media posts.
The Ukrainian mortar battery commander, Yulian Pilipey, who issued an order to shell the village of Mirny, Kalmius District, Mariupol, on March 8, 2022, as a result of which a civilian was killed and his wife was wounded was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Their young daughter, who happened to be beyond the burst radius, remained unharmed.
Commander of the Ukrainian forces’ separate special operations centre “West” Andrey Matvishin, who ordered his subordinates to use UAVs to target the Kursk and Bryansk regions, which attack injured at least 12 civilians, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison.
Ukrainian servicemen Vitaly Panchenko and Ivan Dmitrakov were sentenced to 15 and 14 years in prison, respectively. Both participated in the incursion into the Kursk Region and, during their illegal stay within the borders of our country, opened deadly fire on civilians.
For the attempted assassination of a civilian in Mariupol, the Supreme Court of the DPR sentenced Ukrainian platoon commander Viktor Skorik to 13 years in a maximum security prison colony.
The Russian law enforcers will continue to bring Ukrainian Nazis and foreign mercenaries to justice for their war and other crimes.
On December 13, US Secretary of State Blinken announced that an additional military aid package from the Pentagon’s warehouses worth $500 million had been provided to Kiev. This is Washington’s 73rd aid package to Kiev. Each Washington’s “aid” package to Kiev eventually turns into a body bag for Ukrainian citizens. The package includes HIMARS MLRS ammo, ammo to repel drone attacks, 105 mm and 155 mm calibre artillery ordnance, high-speed anti-radar missiles, anti-mine vehicles, and biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear defence equipment, to name a few. Last week, the United States made available to Ukraine two military aid packages worth $725 million and $988 million, which also included HIMARS MLRS ammo, drones, and artillery ordnance ammunition, which Banderites use to perpetrate their crimes.
Western Europe is trying to move in lockstep with Washington. On December 16, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced his government’s decision to allocate $242 million to provide “assistance” to the Ukrainian Navy in order to “contain” Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. A portion of these funds will be used to train Ukrainian sailors at a training centre in Romania.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova discovered, with concern, that the House of Representatives had removed the paragraph on lend-lease for Kiev from the US defence budget for 2025. Even before Donald Trump is inaugurated, Washington is preparing to cut aid to its corrupt Ukrainian proteges.
It is obvious that the Americans will shift the significant financial and military burden of supporting the Zelensky regime to Western Europe, where calls are becoming increasingly insistent for reducing social benefits in favour of increasing the notorious defence spending. Europe and its population have traditionally served as expendable material for Anglo-Saxons or collateral damage in the world wars and conflicts they instigate. Everything these allies hand over to the agonising Kiev regime, while the Russian Armed Forces demonstrate complete combat superiority, will, as usual, be embezzled by those who have usurped power in Ukraine and are ready to sell their country for nothing to their overseas masters.
The outrageous, audacious and almost barbaric mayhem continues in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. It is shocking and horrifying even to the citizens of Ukraine who do not sympathise with anybody at all but their own country. On December 15, a folk musical performance and a cooking show took place in the Lavra’s cathedral, the Refectory Church. Right now, Orthodox Christians are observing the Nativity Fast. There is nothing sacred left for this junta. It is not enough to desecrate places that are sacred to many. Now, it has gone down to clowning and theatrics (and what could one expect from a regime led by a bloodthirsty clown?). All this is cynically presented as restoration of national culture. Who prevented you from restoring it all these years? Was it not restored throughout the years of Ukraine’s independence? Because it is not culture. It is blatant and undisguised nationalism.
Confessions from one of the “priests” of this schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine clearly show the level of this pseudo-culture. He publicly revealed that the cathedrals of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church are only meant “to be public bathrooms” because the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is “the enemy of the state.”
Within Christianity, there are numerous movements that, at various points in history, have separated in quite painful ways. Today, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about the history of Christianity and to avoid repeating the mistakes that were unfortunately made by our ancestors. These are not merely errors; they represent a deliberate attempt to eradicate the very concept of Christianity in Ukraine. Can a Christian, regardless of their denomination, say such a thing?
Try as it might to target Orthodox Christians with its blasphemous mockery, the agonising Zelensky regime will never succeed in undermining their true faith.
I would like to remind you that for a genuine church, a cathedral is a place where people pray to God. It is not a venue for gastronomic programmes or entertainment events – especially during times that require humility.
These facts once again confirm the relevance of the special military operation to denazify and demilitarise Ukraine and to eliminate the threats originating from its territory. All these goals will be achieved by all means.
The origins of the Syria crisis
On December 16, 2024, a detailed statement of the Foreign Ministry addressing developments in the Syrian Arab Republic was published on our website.
We continue to monitor the situation closely following the control established by an alliance of armed groups, operating under the guidance of the so-called Military Operations Command, over most of the country's territory.
We are analysing statements made by representatives of the emerging authorities regarding their intentions to ensure the effective functioning of the administrative machinery, to maintain law and order, to combat criminal activities decisively, and to prevent extrajudicial killings. We consider these objectives to be of utmost importance and will closely observe their implementation, drawing conclusions based on the results.
Many regional countries directly accuse the United States and Israel of contributing to the current situation. Others point to the previous regime's failure to meet the population’s basic needs amid a prolonged civil conflict, exacerbated by a systemic national crisis. To fully understand the roots of this crisis, we must consider how these conditions arose.
The decline in living standards and the widespread degradation of the socioeconomic situation can largely be attributed to Washington’s de facto occupation of Syria's northeastern region, which holds the majority of the nation’s hydrocarbon and agricultural resources. Simultaneously, the US-led Western states continued to impose additional sanctions on Damascus, including through the so-called Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, enacted by the United States on June 17, 2020. At that time, as the world faced a pandemic, countries worked together to provide mutual assistance. In contrast, Syria and its people experienced significant economic and humanitarian distress, as deliberate efforts aimed to suppress the Syrian economy hindered the country's post-conflict reconstruction and the return of refugees.
As a result, the authorities felt compelled to implement unpopular measures, including reducing or eliminating subsidies for essential goods and services. This backdrop led to an increase in public discontent, which was further exacerbated by external influences.
Throughout this time, Russia provided multifaceted assistance to the people of Syria. This includes delivering humanitarian aid, both directly from Russia and in coordination with specialised UN agencies, rebuilding social infrastructure damaged during the conflict, and creating favourable conditions for the return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons. We also actively worked to facilitate a comprehensive political settlement in the Syrian Arab Republic, including through the Astana Format. Notably, the Syrian National Dialogue Congress was convened under this framework, the Syrian Constitutional Committee was established, and substantial efforts were made on de-escalation zones.
Our position regarding Syria remains consistent and unchanged. We support the country's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and we advocate for efforts to initiate a wide-ranging intra-Syrian dialogue aimed at achieving national accord. As always, we believe that the future of Syria should be determined by Syrians themselves, while also respecting the legitimate interests of all ethnic groups and denominations within Syrian society.
We recognise the importance of unifying the approaches of the main international players to create favourable conditions for stabilising the situation in Syria and fostering an all-inclusive political process based on the principles outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We are committed to collaborating constructively with regional partners and other interested countries to achieve this goal.
As the socioeconomic situation in the country keeps deteriorating, the Moldovan authorities resort to more extravagant anti-Russia attacks and daring foreign political steps.
On December 12, the Moldovan Information and Security Service presented a report on external interference in the electoral processes. It claims that an operational command centre was allegedly created in
This story is so pathetically, senselessly and sloppily fabricated that there is nothing to refute here.
Meanwhile, despite
Earlier, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi said that Chisinau has nearly completed the development of a new Individual Partnership Programme with the alliance, which should come into force in 2025. According to him, the document provides for an advanced form of cooperation, similar to the interaction between the bloc and its Asian partners.
It looks like some hotheads in Chisinau, apparently inspired by NATO and EU officials, have begun to fantasise about how to use the energy crisis in the country to resolve the Transnistrian issue by force. They say that
I will repeat it specially for those who continue to spread this nonsense: no one should doubt that
Instead of amplifying Russophobic insinuations to intimidate people with a notion of an external threat, Moldovan authorities should have focused on addressing domestic issues. Experts suggest that the situation is akin to Augean stables. Gas prices in the republic skyrocketed since December 1, leading to exorbitant utility bills, despite government promises to compensate low-income households for these increases. In practice, the assistance provided has been minimal, often referred to as a handout. I will not even cite specific figures; the situation is so absurd and dismal that I genuinely feel for the citizens of
Given this backdrop, the Moldovan leadership’s decision to raise the pensions of
This is the reality in
UN General Assembly resolution on combating the glorification of Nazism
On December 17, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution Combating Glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and Other Practices that Contribute to Fuelling Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. This resolution was put forward by the
In addition to Russia, 39 other countries from different regions of the world became co-authors of the document: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, the DPRK, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Serbia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.
The resolution received support from 119 states, while 53 delegations opposed it. Who opposes the fight against the glorification of Nazism? The collective West and those who lack the will or strength to oppose it. Ten countries abstained from voting. The resolution once again condemned the glorification of the Nazi movement and the attempts to whitewash former members of the SS, including the Waffen-SS units that were deemed criminal by the Nuremberg Trials.
Much concern was expressed about certain countries continuing their war on monuments to fighters against Nazism and fascism and to liberator soldiers. In recent years, this war has acquired the nature of state policy. At the same time, deep outrage was conveyed with regard to marches meant to glorify Nazis and their aiders and abettors, as well as torch processions staged by neo-Nazis and radical nationalists.
The same goes for the opening of memorials and renaming of streets, schools and other facilities in honour of those who fought on the side of the Nazis or collaborated with them. Concern is expressed about attempts to grade those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition during WWII, collaborated with the Nazis and perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity as national heroes.
There is a denunciation of attempts by certain countries to ban symbols associated with the Victory over Nazism. It is stressed in particular that these actions desecrate the memory of uncounted victims of Nazism, place a negative impact on the rising generations, and are absolutely incompatible with the UN member states’ obligations under the UN Charter.
The collective West, specifically the EU countries, where the abovementioned violations take place on a systemic basis, has discontinued its last attempts to cover its refusal to support the resolution with absurd claims about freedom of assembly and expression (as they did before) and opposed the international effort to fight aggressive manifestations of racism and xenophobia. The position of
The results of the vote graphically demonstrate the international community’s growing support for the traditional Russian initiative submitted to the General Assembly each year. This is the basic distinction between the collective West and the Global Majority. It is the watershed in attitudes towards the true values constituting the essence of our civilisation.
The approval of this thematic resolution ahead of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II (the Great Patriotic War in
Results of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting
The first meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council chaired by the union’s new chief diplomat (which sounds as a joke) Kaja Kallas demonstrated the further decline of the EU’s foreign policy. The Brussels bureaucracy is using increasingly more aggressive and confrontational rhetoric, expanding the practice of interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, applying double standards, manipulating information, and promoting fake narratives.
The EU has shown no readiness for a just and peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, and is fuelling military escalation and the intensification of hostilities. According to Kaja Kallas, the EU must provide military support to Ukraine to help the Kiev regime win the war. Towards this end, the EU has decided to use income from the Russian assets that have been “held” (that is, stolen) in the EU’s jurisdiction. They have coordinated financial plans of continued support for Ukraine’s corruption and war crimes, which are undermining Europe’s security and socioeconomic stability. The EU’s officials are not telling, and will hardly ever tell their citizens about the real threats coming from sending weapons to the neo-Nazis in Ukraine, and the Western media, which are acting on political orders from their authorities, will keep silent about this, too.
We have said on numerous occasions that there can be no illusions about the EU’s alleged desire to have fair and equal relations with other countries. It is nothing but a fairy-tale. Any “gifts” from the EU, such as seemingly beneficial financial and economic programmes, loans or visa-free regimes are a Trojan horse and a trap. Every euro the EU gives to developing countries is an instrument for weakening their sovereignty, political blackmailing, corrupting their elites, promoting their debt servitude, and splitting societies. These methods are fraught with long-term threats to the security of states in the crosshairs of the EU, which sees them as a source of its enrichment and as expendables in the geopolitical confrontation the West has launched for the preservation of its domination. It is now pressuring Georgia for using its right to sovereign development. This is the reason why the EU, as well as the United States and Canada, have decided to punish it. It is Georgia today, but the EU’s focus can be shifted to any other country. Ukraine is a bright example of how they do it, first luring in and giving money, and then forcing to play by their rules. When nations see that they have been trapped, they start playing rough.
I would like to say a few words about the 15th package of individual and economic anti-Russia restrictions adopted on December 16. The new European sanctions are illegal and are targeting economic operators and public figures in Russia and other countries. They include punishment for the transportation of crude oil and oil products by sea, tighter export restrictions for industrial enterprises, and the creation of conditions that will force the remaining European countries to leave the Russian market. Brussels is trying to damage Russia with decisions that will essentially further undermine global energy security and the stability of global economic ties.
We will analyse these measures for the damage they can do to Russia’s economic interests. Our response to the EU’s illegal anti-Russia actions won’t be long in coming.
The Foreign Ministry has taken note of the campaign to militarise Spitsbergen, which has been gaining traction in
Of course, apart from rumours, far-fetched allegations and fakes, they have nothing to show for all their vociferous statements about what they present as
In fact, this archipelago enjoys special status under international law, including in military terms. In accordance with Article 9 of the Treaty of February 9, 1920 relating to Spitsbergen (Svalbard),
As for us, we have been upholding in word and in deed our unwavering commitment to constructively working with
Pan-African Parliament delegation’s visit to the Donetsk People's Republic
On December 15 of this year, a delegation from the Pan-African Parliament, led by Vice-President of this significant African Union body, Gayo Ashebir, visited the Donetsk People's Republic as part of their visit to
The delegates toured the Saur-Mogila memorial complex, which is dedicated to the liberation of Donbass by Soviet forces in 1943. It is worth recalling that this complex was destroyed in 2014 during clashes with Ukrainian armed forces and was completely restored in 2022.
Members of the African Parliament, as they themselves stated, came to Russia to express their support for our nation and all Russians, and to reaffirm the importance of further fortifying Russian-African relations in the face of aggressive external pressure and manipulation by the so-called "collective West."
The African delegates exhibited a profound understanding of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, the special military operation, and the role played by Western countries in these events, including the creation of conditions leading to a shortage of Russian fertiliser and grain supplies to the African continent. One of the outcomes of their visit was the opportunity to form an objective perspective on the situation in the Russian region, which they could then relay to their fellow citizens.
A key difference in the approaches of Western nations and
These evaluations by African representatives regarding the situation in
From our standpoint, we consider the visit of the Pan-African Parliament delegation to Russia and their visit to the DPR to be a significant step towards the ongoing progressive development of Russian-African relations, in alignment with the decisions of the Russia-Africa summits (1,2) and the inaugural ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum held in November.
This is the essence of freedom and democracy – individuals have the opportunity to receive first-hand information and draw their own conclusions.
Russia’s provision of food aid to Zimbabwe under the UN World Food Programme
In addition to massive humanitarian supplies to African countries via bilateral channels, Russia also sends help through international organisations, in particular, the UN World Food Programme (WFP). Over the past five years, 15 African countries have received food aid worth US$ 40 million from Russia alone under this programme.
As a follow-up to the first Russia-Africa Summit held on October 23-24, 2019, our country started paying an additional $10 million to the WFP Fund in 2020 as a separate annual contribution to provide humanitarian assistance to African countries.
As part of the efforts to implement the Russian Federation’s contribution to the WFP Fund, 164 tonnes of vegetable oil and 559 tonnes of peas worth $2 million purchased by the Russian Emergencies Ministry were delivered to the Republic of Zimbabwe.
On December 12, an official ceremony to hand over the cargo with the participation of the Russian Ambassador in Harare was held in Masvingo province. As a reminder, in March, a humanitarian delivery of wheat and fertiliser was made to Zimbabwe. In total, the Russian Federation has already made three targeted contributions to WFP for the benefit of Zimbabwe in 2016, 2019, and 2023 for a total of $5 million. These funds were used to purchase and deliver Russian-grown food to Zimbabwe which shows high level of Moscow-Harare relations and Russia’s sincere desire to see Zimbabwe as a prosperous country.
Notably, Zimbabwe is our reliable and time-tested ally in Africa. Bilateral political dialogue is successfully developing, and trade, economic and humanitarian ties are expanding. President Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa have met on numerous occasions, most recently in June 2024 on the sidelines of the 27th St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Russia’s provision of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka
On December 12, in the port of Colombo, with officials from the Government of Sri Lanka, the UN World Food Programme, the Russian Embassy in Colombo, and United Chemical Company “Uralchem” in attendance, a ceremony for transferring 55,000 tonnes of Russian-made potash fertiliser to the Sri Lankan side as humanitarian aid took place.
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation of Sri Lanka, K.D. Lai Kantha, who was present at the event, thanked the Russian Federation for the goodwill gesture and noted that the fertiliser would be a “valuable and timely support” for local farmers in the current agricultural season.
It should be emphasised that the humanitarian aid could have arrived in Sri Lanka much earlier, if it were not for the Latvian authorities, who kept the cargo in the port of Riga for over two years.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly raised this issue with the United Nations, including the UN Secretary-General, requesting them to use their influence on Latvia as part of the UN work to prevent threats to food security. It took two years for Latvia to release the fertiliser that Russia produced and prepared for shipment at its own expense to be sent to Sri Lanka as humanitarian aid. These are the true values promoted by Western society, ultra-liberalism and NATO-centricity of its actions. For two years, the humanitarian cargo was blocked by Latvia to prevent Russia from contributing to food security.
As a reminder, Russia’s initiative to ship a total of 262,000 tonnes of mineral fertiliser that was blocked in the ports of Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, and the Netherlands to developing countries free of charge was announced back in September 2022.
Results of the
On December 16 this year, Moscow hosted a grand awards ceremony for the winners of the fourth international contest, The Best Russian School Abroad, organised by the Ministry of Education of Russia, with the support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Rossotrudnichestvo (the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation). This event is designed to recognise institutions and educational teams that deliver Russian language learning programmes or use the Russian language as a medium of instruction abroad.
This year, 1,500 teachers from 49 countries participated in the contest. Following the finals, conducted in the format of the Great Pedagogical Game, winners were announced in the categories of Best Educational Team and International Teacher.
In both instances, the jury awarded victory to representatives of schools affiliated with Russian embassies abroad: the staff of the secondary school at the Russian Embassy in France and Tatiana Nazarkina, a teacher of Russian language and literature at the secondary school named after Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel-General Nikolai Berzarin, at the Russian Embassy in
We are delighted that embassy schools receive such high recognition. They set a high professional benchmark and serve as a reference point for the entire educational community teaching in Russian abroad. I am particularly pleased because I myself studied and graduated from such an embassy school, although I also have experience of studying in a
Teachers from
VYZOV national prize for future technologies
On December 19, the central exhibition hall, Manezh, will host the award ceremony for the VYZOV (Challenge) national prize in future technologies. This accolade recognises high-tech innovations with the potential to significantly enhance people's lives, with a practical implementation horizon of up to 10 years.
In total, over 100 applications were submitted from 34 countries, including
We welcome such initiatives aimed at propelling scientific advancement for the benefit of all humanity. We remain committed to supporting the VYZOV Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations in its endeavours to broaden the scope of scientific diplomacy and to lay the groundwork for a sustainable and equitable international scientific dialogue, regardless of any artificially imposed barriers and restrictions.
As was announced at the press conference on December 9, this year's laureate is the distinguished scientist Nikos Logothetis. He serves as a Director of the Chinese International Centre for Primate Brain Research and is the Honorary Director of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. He is being recognised for his fundamental contribution to the development of the functional magnetic resonance imaging method and its integration into routine scientific and clinical practice for studying human brain activity.
Start of the SCO chess tournament qualifying games
The first qualifying stage of the SCO Chess Tournament will be held on December 22 with the support of the SCO National Centre for People's Diplomacy. The next one is scheduled for 1-3 March 2025. The winners will be invited to the SCO Games to be held in
The format of the tournament, which combines offline and online segments, promotes chess as
The in-person selection will take place in more than 10 regions of our country, including
In the Russian capital, the event will be held at the myChess Club
The online format is organised on the myChess platform. This is a Russian product that combines a web platform, a mobile application and online resources for chess amateurs and professionals.
Participants from SCO member states (
Those wishing to take part in the competitions at the myChess Club
Question: Several days ago, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Yury Ambrazevich said that
Maria Zakharova: I would like to note
It was also offered for the meetings of the Contact Group and the
Russian-Belarusian cooperation in the context of the Ukrainian crisis is based on strong solidarity and common approaches to understanding and possible ways of settlement. This understanding is based not solely on words, but also on specific deeds.
We appreciate and support peace effort of
Question: Citing the National Assembly members, South Korean media outlets reported that the masterminds behind the attempted coup allegedly planned to provoke a conflict on the Korean Peninsula to justify martial law. What’s your take on these reports?
Maria Zakharova: This is an astounding turn of events. There have been quite a few insinuations regarding the domestic political crisis in South Korea. Discussions have gone beyond issues of democracy and democratic processes, and included allegations that South Korea keeps threatening North Korea.
Now, media outlets in South Korea and elsewhere have presented materials suggesting that the South Korean authorities attempted to ignite a crisis on the Korean Peninsula in order to neutralise political opponents.
The alleged stakes in this scenario included not just security, but also peace in that region all for the sake of retaining power which is what Western-style democracy touted by Washington and imposed by it on everyone else is all about. It is the kind of liberal democracy that devours everything on its way - peace and security - to satisfy its political ambitions and to promote its own agendas.
Citing military sources, South Korean National Assembly members from the leading Democratic Party claimed that a dangerous incident in October involving drones entering North Korean airspace had allegedly been initiated by the former South Korean Defence Minister. This operation was reportedly carried out by military counterintelligence and aimed to trigger a harsh response from Pyongyang, which would then justify imposing martial law.
In other words, this is outright provocation. However, is it something unusual or unprecedented? Far from it. This tactic is widely employed in the region by South Korea, the United States, and Japan to achieve their strategic objectives.
If these reports are accurate, they point to Seoul’s deliberate violation of North Korea’s sovereignty - a claim repeatedly made by Pyongyang, which presented material evidence in the wake of that incident. At the time, the South Korean authorities flat out refused to take responsibility.
What were their curators from Washington saying back then? They said Pyongyang was to blame, spinning the familiar “axis of evil” narrative. Earlier during today’s briefing, I cited the US State Department’s report labelling North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. However, based on the above South Korean reports, it appears the provocation was deliberately designed to frame North Korea and justify martial law in South Korea in order to secure the power of a pro-American faction.
Even more shocking are revelations from an unnamed South Korean Defence Ministry official claiming that the defence minister ordered artillery strikes targeting North Korean air balloon launch sites. Pyongyang sent these balloons in response to South Korean propaganda balloons. Fortunately, sensible people among the South Korean military prevented this reckless escalation. South Korean media also report a theory about plans to deploy elite Special Forces early on under a martial law scenario near the National Assembly, portraying them as a North Korean sabotage group.
This reflects a premeditated international provocation aimed at regional destabilisation. For the South Korean government, the goal was power retention. For their foreign backers in the White House, the aim was to wield influence over the region’s broader situation.
The above events could serve as material for a classic action-thriller-detective story. Of course, the accuracy of these allegations needs to be thoroughly investigated during South Korea’s probe into the president’s attempt to impose martial law.
However, this pattern has been used before as well. It always begins with a supposed North Korean provocation, followed by shifting blame to Pyongyang. In reality, things are the other way round. Destabilisation comes from South Korea, even though its people don’t need it, but the United States does.
If even a small portion of these allegations proves true, it would expose the destructive policies of South Korea’s current leadership in inter-Korean affairs.
Consider the so-called “unification doctrine” released by the recently ousted South Korean president. This doctrine advocates spreading “freedom and democracy values” in North Korea in order to undermine its political system and internal stability and to achieve unification by absorbing its territory. This is how the puzzle gets pieced together.
Remarkably, amid these domestic upheavals, South Korea’s conservative government carries on its confrontational course unfazed. On December 17, it imposed another set of illegitimate unilateral sanctions on 11 individuals and 15 legal entities, including Russian ones, citing alleged “illegal military cooperation” between Russia and North Korea.
What’s the point of doing so? The answer is clear: to mislead South Koreans with false narratives about threats supposedly originating from the northern part of the peninsula, and now from Russia.
We know from history that such reckless ventures never end well. The Ukraine crisis is a case in point. We urge South Korea to refrain from destabilising the status quo on the peninsula, to return to the path of neighbourly relations and constructive dialogue with its neighbours, and to avoid exacerbating the already challenging situation in the region.
Question: How would you comment on NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks regarding the need for the allies “to shift to a wartime mindset” and “turbo-charge our defence production and defence spending” in response to
Maria Zakharova: [I take it] as an acknowledgement of failure. First, the North Atlantic Alliance’s policy, initially proclaimed as anti-Russia and pro-EU, has failed, turning out to be an anti-EU policy. Secondly, it was an attempt to extort the last pennies to continue promoting American interests on the European continent.
Furthermore, it was yet another manifestation of the aggressive philosophy and aggressive mentality of those running NATO and, alas, the European Union today, judging by what we talked about today when analysing the statements by the European diplomacy.
Question: How can you comment on Council of Europe head Alain Berset’s recent visit to
Maria Zakharova: I would assume this vigorous foreign political activity is being maintained to push the
Among other things, they are doing this for propaganda purposes. When Mr Berset was visiting Yagodnoye in the Chernigov Region, they showed him some “evidence” of the atrocities allegedly committed by the Russian military against local residents. They claimed that in the spring of 2022, our fighters allegedly forcibly held the locals in the basement of a school “for weeks.” I wonder if the Secretary-General actually spoke with at least one eyewitness to those events? Not sure. If he did, he would have learned from them that in February and March 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defence delivered hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian aid to communities in the
In
They provided a fabricated setting to show this footage in the West, as well as to give the citizens of
Question: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that, with the crisis unfolding in
Maria Zakharova: I believe Mr Sullivan forgot to mention (or perhaps he thought it was stale news) who has been sponsoring the terrorist groups and committing acts of terrorism in the region. It was primarily the
Unlike the Americans,
The fact that the
There is evidence of connections between the
As
Question: At what stage are the talks between
Maria Zakharova:
We will consider specific actions and assess specific events, certainly within the framework of national and international law.
Question: Russian historian Andranik Migranyan was denied entry to
Maria Zakharova: Of course, we have commented on this and will continue to do so. We consider the ban on Andranik Migranyan’s entry into
For our part, we immediately requested explanations from
In any case, I believe it would be more appropriate to address this question to the official Armenian authorities rather than to us.
Question: Following the EU foreign minister meeting, EU’s top diplomat and former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Russia withdrawing its bases from Syria was a prerequisite for starting a dialogue with the new Syrian authorities, and claimed that many ministers shared this approach. Will the Foreign Ministry comment on what Ms Kallas had to say?
Maria Zakharova: First, judging by what she said during her initial period in office, she is not the top diplomat, but rather the top anti-diplomat. She inherited this “legacy.” Josep Borrell was an anti-diplomat as well.
This shows not just their personal attitude (which is clear enough, though), but also the fact that the EU has devolved into NATO’s economic “department,” dominated from its inception by aggressive rhetoric and dialogues.
Second, Russian military bases in Syria should not be a concern for the European Union. This matter will be addressed exclusively as part of Moscow-Damascus dialogue.
Question: The Israeli government approved a plan totalling approximately $110 million to expand Jewish settlements on the occupied Golan Heights and double the number of people residing there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said these actions were primarily designed to strengthen Israel’s might as a nation, which, according to him, is critically important at this juncture. What’s your take on this plan?
Maria Zakharova: Regrettably, we must note that, judging by recent statements by Israel’s top leadership, Israel has no plans to reduce settlement-building activity in the Arab territories it occupied in 1967, despite the UN Security Council and General Assembly’s unanimous recognition of such actions as illegal. Now that the political situation in Syria has changed, West Jerusalem intends to extend these activities to the Syrian Golan Heights.
During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied western Golan Heights, which had previously been part of Syria’s Quneitra province. In 1981, the Israeli Knesset passed a law unilaterally declaring the annexation of this territory. UN Security Council Resolution 497 of December 17, 1981 deemed this decision “null and void and without legal effect.”
We provided our assessment of the Israeli army’s actions after it had occupied the buffer zone on the Golan Heights. Regarding the new plan adopted by Netanyahu’s government to expand Jewish settlements in the Golan Heights, we would like to reaffirm our position that the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the Golan Heights’ status, must be settled using political and diplomatic methods based on a recognised international legal basis, including UN Security Council Resolution 497 of December 17, 1981.
Question: On December 16, TikTok petitioned the US Supreme Court to temporarily suspend the US government’s bill forcing the sale of this platform. TikTok and its owner, Chinese company ByteDance, urged the US Supreme Court to make a decision to delay the enforcement of the bill until January 6, 2025, arguing that this bill violates the free speech rights of 170 million users in the United States. What do you think about the US government forcing this Chinese company to sell its assets?
Maria Zakharova: I can’t say we’re closely following these developments, but the information is quite engaging. We’ll definitely look into it. I think we will provide you specifically with an answer, or even release an official statement on this matter.
Question: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev recently called on Armenia to begin talks with the Western Azerbaijan community. What’s your take on Baku’s growing demands on Armenia with regard to a peace treaty? What does Moscow think about that?
Maria Zakharova: I think it’s better to ask Yerevan what the Armenian authorities think about that.
We have made our position known. Discussing humanitarian issues is part of the trilateral agreements at the top level. These issues include protecting refugees’ rights, preserving cultural, historical, and religious monuments, ensuring safe and unfettered access to them, locating missing persons, and exchanging prisoners of war and detainees.
We have repeatedly laid stress on the importance of Baku and Yerevan resuming dialogue covering the entire range of humanitarian issues, both officially and through civil society channels. For our part, we are ready to provide assistance, if our capabilities are deemed useful.
Question: A couple of days ago the Indian media wrote that
Maria Zakharova: Pro-government Telegram channels in
In fact, your question has nothing to do with
As for the military-technical cooperation of
There is no reason to give our comment yet.
Question: You have already commented on the ban for Andranik Migranyan to enter
Maria Zakharova: Why are you asking me? Ask the official
This is not a question for us. We are asking it to the Armenian side. Why are you asking us? This is not our decision; it must be made by that side. Why are people from other countries allowed to enter or their visa embargo is lifted in similar cases? There is also another question: is this not about double standards or segregation? This question is not just for you.
Question (retranslated from English): What does Russia say about some groups in Syria that are attacking areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, especially after the end of the temporary ceasefire? Have you discussed this either with the Syrian Democratic Forces or with Türkiye to stop these attacks, since these groups are supported by Türkiye?
Maria Zakharova: In its December 16 statement, the Foreign Ministry noted that the path to sustainably normalise the situation in Syria lies through launching an inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue aimed at achieving national reconciliation and advancing a comprehensive political settlement process in accordance with the fundamental principles laid out in UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
Question (retranslated from English): We have seen the Russian army withdrawing troops from some areas and some of its military bases in Syria. Is this withdrawal temporary or permanent? Will any of your troops stay there, and how will it be?
Maria Zakharova: The placement, deployment, redeployment, and presence of Russian bases and military personnel in Syria fall under the purview of the Defence Ministry.
Question (retranslated from English): How do you want the next stage of Syria to be, and when will it start? How should Kurds’ role to be in new Syria? What’s your comment about the future?
Maria Zakharova: How do we envision Syria’s statehood? We never stop to emphasise that this question must be decided by the Syrians themselves. This is not about “external prescriptions” that are put together in other countries and imposed on Syrians belonging to various ethnic and religious groups. We are talking about a country with an ancient history and a tradition of peaceful coexistence. Syrians themselves must build their future.
We reaffirm our principled position in support of Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. We are for the earliest beginning of an inclusive political process, which must be led by Syrians themselves through a broad-based national dialogue in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We underscore the importance of all ethnic and confessional groups within Syrian society. Considering the circumstances, which many describe as a “political transition,” preserving Syrian state institutions and their ability to perform their functions is a priority.
We call on all the parties involved to act responsibly and to facilitate the swift restoration of security and stability in that country. It is important to ensure the supremacy of the fundamental legal norms, to maintain law and order, to protect the civilian rights, and to promote peace and national reconciliation, while preventing acts of vandalism, violence, and bloodshed.
Question: Please comment on the December 13 statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his speech in Sakarya before his fellow party members. He promised to review the outcomes of World War I and annex some of Syrian territories to Türkiye. In particular, he stressed that “the cities we call Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, and Raqqa will become our provinces like Antep, Hatay, and Urfa.”
Maria Zakharova: We take these words as a hypothetical statement.
We operate on the belief that the Turkish Republic is committed to the principles of Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as to the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which was reaffirmed during the December 7 meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Türkiye, and Iran on the sidelines of the 22nd Doha Forum.
Question: Can you share an update on the situation the Russians currently residing in Syria are in? What measures is the Russian Embassy in Damascus taking to ensure the safety of our citizens and to help them get back home?
Maria Zakharova: Our citizens are being provided with necessary assistance. This work involves significant risks and difficulties, and we approach each case individually.
We remain in contact with those who are forming new authorities in Syria and controlling different territories to address practical issues of ensuring the safety of our citizens who are willing to leave the country.
We possess information about the number of people registered with the consulate. However, I will refrain from commenting on or specifying the number of people who have already left, as this figure changes all the time. Let’s wait some more.
We remain open at all times. However, this process is just beginning, so I will refrain from providing figures as of now. We will certainly share them with you.
All incoming inquiries regarding this issue are being recorded by our Embassy in Damascus and the Ministry’s Crisis Management Centre.
Question (retranslated from English): Russia is going to grant visa-free entry to Indians in 2025. On the other hand, Pakistanis coming on visa are finding it very difficult to enter Russia at Russian airports with most passengers being deported from airports every day. What do you say about it?
Maria Zakharova: Let me start with India. Our country and the Republic of India are working on signing an intergovernmental agreement on visa-free group tourist travel. The draft agreement is under review by the Indian side.
The second part concerns Pakistan directly. With regard to liberalising visa regulations with that country, we are ready to consider simplifying entry procedures for Pakistani citizens into Russia after signing an intergovernmental agreement on readmission. A draft document to this effect is being discussed with our partners.
The two parts of the question are tied together by the fact that changes, which aim to ease visa regulations, are grounded in the corresponding bilateral agreements.
Question: The year 2025 is fast approaching, with Christmas and New Year celebrations lying ahead. What are your wishes and greetings for your Russian and foreign colleagues (the diplomatic corps), journalists, and our compatriots living abroad?
Maria Zakharova: I will address this matter during a briefing that will close 2024. We will meet again before the year runs out.
As the New Year approaches, I would like to point out that our briefing is being held with the now traditional New Year’s tree in the room. It is traditional, because it is the New Year Tree of Peace and Friendship of the Rostov regional public movement Synergy of Talents.
This has truly become a wonderful tradition that we share. The fact that the tree decorations were made by children makes it special.
More than 15,000 children have taken part in this project, including Russian compatriots living in 78 countries around the world. To reiterate, all decorations were made by children by hand.
The symbol of the competition this year is a child embracing the globe, over which the Dove of Peace spreads its wings.
Every year, following the competition, a Festival of New Year Trees is held, after which the best works are sent to the country's only museum of New Year tree decorations, Klin Town Residence, to be displayed at the Fireworks of New Year Toys exhibition which opened in 2023. I strongly encourage those of you who haven’t been to that museum to go there. You won’t regret it.
To mark the anniversary of the New Year Tree of Peace and Friendship, composer Alexander Yakush wrote a song titled “Light It Up,” which was first performed at the Fifth Festival of New Year Trees in Moscow on December 16.
