Press release on Foreign Ministry Collegium meeting

On July 3, 2025, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chaired a meeting of the Foreign Ministry Collegium on promoting Russia’s approach to the ICT agenda. The event was attended by the heads of the Ministry’s departments and representatives of the Presidential Executive Office, the Security Council of Russia and concerned government agencies.

The meeting participants pointed out that the rapid proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in all spheres created new risks and challenges to personal safety and the security of society and the state. In light of the cross-border nature of modern ICTs, an adequate response to these threats calls for consolidating the efforts of the international community to develop the “rules of the game” in the digital environment which will apply to all states.

Speakers noted that artificial intelligence (AI) was becoming the main factor of digital transformation and an increasingly significant subject of international discussions on the principles of the technological paradigm, which is developing in the world. Russia has consistently proposed addressing the issue of AI under the UN auspices with the involvement of all states and with due regard for their security and socioeconomic development interests.

The participants in the meeting also discussed the results and future steps for promoting Russia’s ICT initiatives at the UN. They emphasised the breakthrough importance of the Convention against Cybercrime adopted at the UN General Assembly in December 2024, and the establishment in May 2024 of the Global Intergovernmental Points of Contact Directory to facilitate secure and direct communication between UN member states on ICT incidents. Work is ongoing to coordinate multilateral agreements on international information security within the UN General Assembly and relevant global establishments, primarily the International Telecommunication Union. The participants have reaffirmed the goal of supporting the export of domestic digital products and IT solutions.

The Collegium’s resolution outlines practical moves for promoting Russia’s stance on ICT on the foreign policy stage. It has also been decided to hold a special meeting on the Foreign Ministry’s objectives in the sphere of AI in 2025.