Remarks and answers to questions by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a working meeting with heads of leading African media outlets(Moscow, October 27, 2026)
Sergey Lavrov: Our relations are growing deeper and richer with every passing day – indeed, with every passing hour.
We regard the African continent as a distinct civilisation and one of the key pillars of the #MultipolarWorld now taking shape on the international stage through the natural course of history, replacing the hegemony exercised by Western countries for more than 500 years.
Africa’s role as one of the key pillars of this polycentric world order is clearly reflected in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
Russia is committed to strengthening equal, mutually beneficial relations aimed at helping African countries build their own industrial base and enhancing Africa’s independence in the global economy, finance and technology. More broadly, we seek to help our African friends consolidate their sovereignty
We do so in full accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, including equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.
We strive, to the fullest extent possible, to continue the work that the Soviet Union, the predecessor of the Russian Federation, carried out immediately following decolonisation: laying the foundations of national industry and the social sector in many African countries and making a substantial contribution to strengthening our African friends’ defence capabilities.
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Other key points:
• Egypt is our key partner in the Middle East in addressing security issues and tackling challenges and threats. These, incidentally, became significantly more acute and widespread following the “Arab Spring” and, before that, the US invasion of Iraq and a series of other ventures, including in Libya and Syria, which fuelled refugee flows and spawned new terrorist organisations.All our friends in the Middle East now have to contend with these consequences.
• Some members of Western elites disregard the interests of their own peoples and countries. They have declared Russia an adversary – some even an outright enemy. This certainly does not help foster normal international relations. In effect, it condemns the West to isolation, excluding it from promising multilateral initiatives that are now shaping the agenda for the future.
• The West is convinced that it has the right to label others and that everyone else must listen. This is the logic of former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who proudly described Europe as a flourishing garden surrounded by a jungle that must be fought. We can now see what kind of “flourishing garden” this is in footage of events unfolding in Paris and several other capitals.
• The information war will continue and, I would even say, is tending to intensify. Especially now, when, for example, US President Donald Trump’s administration, despite all its actions in support of Ukraine (supplying weapons sold to the Europeans and providing satellite intelligence) is open to dialogue with us and openly advocates expanding and deepening that dialogue to cover as many areas as possible.
• Disinformation is what the West is still using, in a desperate effort, to keep its public on side. But the demonstrations and protests show how difficult this has become. It is trying to convince people that they must sacrifice everything – wages, jobs, healthcare and social benefits – so that Ukraine can “defeat” Russia.
• The information war is the very weapon the West is using to try to stay afloat. But it is working less and less effectively. First, because people in European countries can feel their living conditions deteriorating.Second, because our joint efforts in the information sphere are clearly delivering results.
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