☕️ 21 May marks International Tea Day.

The UK may be famous for its tea traditions, from 5 o’clock tea to a cup with a splash of milk, but Russia has its own rich and fascinating tea culture — just as warm and distinctive.

At the heart of it all is the unmistakable charm of the samovar (literally "self-boiler") — a large ornate metal vessel used to heat water. The Russian city of Tula has been crafting samovars since the 18th century, turning them into both everyday objects and true cultural icons. The Samovar Museum there even holds a tiny 10 mm model capable of boiling just a few drops of water at a time.

Russian tea parties also inspired some of the country's greatest artists, including Boris Kustodiev and Vasily Perov, whose paintings often captured warm and colourful tea gatherings.

And then there's the famous story of "drinking tea like Gagarin". During his 1961 visit to the UK, the Soviet cosmonaut attended a reception with Queen Elizabeth II and reportedly surprised everyone by taking the lemon slice from his tea and eating it separately. The gesture amused his hosts entirely and became a lasting cultural symbol. Many Russians still have this curious habit though.

🇷🇺🇧🇾 On May 21, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held nuclear forces exercises via videoconference, in line with the joint training plan of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

💬 Vladimir Putin: Today, as part of the exercise, we are holding the first joint training session of the Russian and Belarusian armies on the command and control of strategic and tactical nuclear forces.

As I have already noted – and I would like to emphasise once again – the use of such weapons, nuclear weapons, is an extreme, exceptional measure to ensure the national security of our countries.

☝️ At the same time, given the growing tensions in the world and the emergence of new threats and risks, our nuclear triad must continue to serve as a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, ensure strategic deterrence, and maintain nuclear parity and the balance of power globally.

During the joint training session, we will practise a broad range of tasks, above all the actions of officials in terms of command, control and coordination in the use of nuclear weapons, including those deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

Today, we will also carry out practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.

***

It is important to continue improving the training of strategic and tactical nuclear forces and developing all their components.

❌ At the same time, we have no intention of being drawn into an arms race. Our nuclear triad will remain at the level of necessary sufficiency.

Under the State Armament Programme, we plan to equip the Strategic Missile Forces with new missile systems, both silo-based and mobile.

As you know, the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which has high tactical and technical characteristics and is capable of overcoming all modern and future missile defence systems, has recently been successfully tested.

We will continue commissioning modern nuclear-powered submarine cruisers into the Navy, and new and upgraded strategic bombers into the Aerospace Forces.

Naturally, we will enhance the combat readiness of other services and branches of the armed forces, and practise training and combat tasks taking into account the experience of the special military operation, including during joint drills and manoeuvres this year. Among them, I would highlight the CSTO Interaction 2026 exercise of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces on Russian territory and the CSTO Indestructible Brotherhood 2026 exercise of the peacekeeping forces on the territory of Belarus.

Moreover, next year we plan to hold the Shield of the Union 2027 operational exercise of the Armed Forces of Belarus and Russia.

Such systematic and consistent steps are essential for strengthening the defence capabilities of our countries and reliably protecting the citizens of Russia and Belarus from potential threats from all directions.

Read in full

#EmbassyReplies

❗️The Embassy of the Russian Federation has taken note of the opinion piece published in the Mail & Guardian on 19 May 2026, titled “Africa’s new information war: The leaked files that expose a manufactured solidarity.”

We consider this publication a poorly disguised attempt to cast a shadow over the rapidly developing, mutually beneficial partnership between the Russian Federation and the African continent.

It is regrettable that the author decided to make unsubstantiated claims, based on anonymous “leaked documents” from clearly biased sources, which have become somewhat of a tool in the geopolitical smear campaign against the emerging multipolar world order.

The article tries to construct a fake reality, presenting Russia’s diverse and deep ties with Africa as a monolithic and malign “influence architecture”. The allegations are built on a pre-existing and openly racist UK/EU template, which suggests African nations are passive, easily swayed by “elite capture” and “engineered narratives”.

This narrative denies the African nations of the right to be sovereign actors making independent choices according to their own national interests. This colonialistic view reveals the true mindset of those who stand behind this opinion piece.

☝️The key thesis of a “manufactured solidarity” is a direct insult to the decades-long, principled ties between our peoples. Our solidarity is not and cannot be manufactured; it was forged in the crucible of history, through the USSR’s unequivocal support for African decolonization and liberation movements, and it continues today in our joint fight against modern forms of neo-colonialism and for the true democratization of international relations. The foundation of this partnership is not disinformation, but the tangible outcomes of our cooperation, which proudly stands in stark contrast to the hollow platitudes often emanating from Western capitals.

The narrative of the article blatantly ignores the consistent, positive agenda that Russia promotes.

It deliberately overlooks the historic foundation laid by the USSR, which helped build over 300 industrial and infrastructure facilities in Africa and provided education to more than 80,000 African students, establishing educational, scientific, and medical institutions continent-wide. This profound  legacy laid the foundation for national industries and skilled professionals in many countries.

The author is desperately trying to avoid concrete facts of our modern day cooperation: as of 2025 Russia’s trade turnover with African countries exceeded $27 billion, a 13% increase fuelled not by political interference but by mutually beneficial economic interest. More than 35,000 African students are currently enrolled in Russian universities, receiving a world-class education, with the scholarship quota doubling since 2019.  And last but not least Russia has provided over 200,000 tonnes of humanitarian wheat aid and more than 100,000 tonnes of fertilizers to the continent’s most vulnerable countries.

🤝 These are hard facts of a true partnership.

<...>

While we consistently promote a respectful, mutually beneficial dialogue, we are aware that other powers remain captive to a zero-sum mentality, viewing Africa’s growing cooperation with Russia and the #BRICS nations as a loss of their own illegitimate influence.

These are the same forces that imposed unilateral sanctions, preserved exploitative economic models, and continue to lecture African states on governance from a position of moral superiority they do not possess.

Once again, we would like to reiterate – Russia firmly adheres to the principle of “African solutions to African problems” and seeks to strengthen its partnership with the continent in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. 

READ IN FULL

🇷🇺🇹🇭 On May 21, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow had a telephone conversation.

🤝 The Foreign Ministers discussed the most pressing issues in the development of Russia-Thailand relations, including the protection of the rights and interests of Russian citizens currently in Thailand.

#RussiaThailand

🔴 #LIVE: Briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on topical foreign policy issues

Ruptly

Russia’s MFA website

🎙️ Statement by Ms. Iulia Zhdanova, Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation to the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control, at the 1137th meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation

Vienna, May 20, 2026

Subject: «Special Military Operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine»

• We ask our Western colleagues: how does the mantra they repeat time and again about KIev’s so-called “self-defense” align with the unbridled terrorist attacks carried out by the Zelensky regime against the civilian population?
According to data collected and verified by the Office of R.Miroshnik, Special Envoy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over the past week Ukrainian armed formations fired at least 3,619 rounds of ammunition at civilian targets. This resulted in at least 234 victims among the civilians: 203 people were injured, including 18 minors, and 31 people were killed, including 2 children.

•  It’s the NATO and EU member states who bear full responsibility for the above-mentioned crimes committed by the Kiev regime, as they are the ones supplying it with lethal weapons systems in violation of their military and political obligations under the OSCE and international rules on responsible export controls. The formats for supplying weapons and military equipment to the Zelensky regime are multiplying. The United Kingdom and Latvia remain the main suppliers of the so-called “drone coalition,” which is sending various types of UAVs to the Kiev regime. Germany is showing particular interest in joint serial development and production with Ukraine of UAVs with a range of 100 to 1,500 km — with an emphasis on the latter. From May 5, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defense and Space is accepting applications from organizations intending to become founding members of the “EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance.”

•  Blind indulgence of the Ukrainian leadership and rampant Russophobia are creating risks for their own population — a fact that the West is finding increasingly difficult to keep under wraps. In a recent incident, on the night of May 17, a Kiev drone crossed into Latvian airspace, prompting an alert to be declared in five eastern border regions of the country. Wreckage from the UAV, which had not been detected by radar, was discovered on the evening of May 18 in the village of Samane in the Utena district of eastern Lithuania. On May 19, Estonian Defense Minister H. Pevkur stated that Romanian F-16s had neutralized an aerial threat in the form of a Ukrainian Armed Forces UAV between Lake Värtsjärv and the city of Põltsamaa, demanding an apology from Kiev. 

•  A similar destabilizing effect stems from the transfer of technology to the Kiev regime for the creation of a fleet of unmanned boats at sea. V. Zelensky openly reiterated that the relevant developments were obtained from the UK, Norway, and the Netherlands. Is it any wonder, then, that the equipment models mastered by Kiev are now spreading unchecked? For instance, on May 7, in Greece, in the southern part of Lefkada Island in the Ionian Sea, fishermen discovered a Ukrainian unmanned boat, the “Magura V5,” carrying 300 kg of explosives. The Greek media and the public reacted with outrage to the government’s belated and cautious response, accusing officials of covering up the high-profile incident.

•  These trends can only be reversed by putting an end to the militarization of Ukraine and Europe, which is being justified by the fabrication of fictitious scenarios of a Russian attack. However, NATO and EU member states are choosing the path of escalation and preparing for a major war. They are competing to increase their military capabilities. Germany is preparing to become the “strongest army” on the continent by 2039. Poland has set 2030 as its target for this goal. Militaristic trends are also on the rise in Belgium. Lithuania is establishing fortified areas near the Kaliningrad region.

2️⃣4️⃣ years ago, on May 20, the Russian Federation and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations.

On this day in 2002, the Republic proclaimed its independence and immediately received official recognition as a sovereign state from the Russian Federation.

From the outset Russia welcomed the steps towards independence taken by the people of Timor-Leste at the United Nations, supported UN Security Council peacekeeping operations, and participated in UN humanitarian assistance programmes for the population of the young republic.

☝️ It is fundamentally important that the United Nations played a key role in the country’s attainment of sovereignty. The UN Mission in East Timor became a vivid example of successful cooperation under the auspices of the world Organization, making it possible to resolve the East Timor crisis and lay the foundations of statehood in the territory.

Today, the Russian Federation in Timor-Leste is concurrently represented by the Russian Embassy in Indonesia.

🤝 Over the past 24 years, the friendly relations between Russia and Timor-Leste have steadily developed on the basis of mutual respect and trust. The legal and treaty framework is expanding, cooperation in defense is being carried out, humanitarian and cultural ties are strengthening, and prospects for cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries are being discussed.

Comprehensive bilateral cooperation is successfully maintained at various levels, including the dialogue between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, specialized agencies, and interparliamentary cooperation.

#RussiaASEAN: Following Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2025, cooperation between Russia and the country within the framework of #ASEAN is expanding, with ASEAN serving as a central element of the security and cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific region.

#Victory80: Timor-Leste became one of the 57 co-sponsors of the resolution 'Eightieth Anniversary of the End of the Second World War' joining the efforts of the international community to preserve the historical truth about the course and outcomes of World War II.

🎉 We congratulate the people of Timor-Leste on the Day of Restoration of Independence, as well as on our shared anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We wish them wellbeing and prosperity!

🇷🇺🇹🇱 #RussiaTimorLeste

🎙 Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement to the press following Russia-China talks (Beijing, May 20, 2026)

💬 Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level and continue to develop. At the same time, our relations are self-sustaining, independent of the current global environment, and serve as a model for how relations between countries and peoples should be built today.

As for today’s talks, they took place in a traditionally warm, comradely and constructive atmosphere. All key areas of bilateral cooperation were discussed in detail.

The Joint Statement adopted following the talks outlines the priority areas of Russia-China interaction.

A substantial package of intergovernmental, interagency and corporate documents was also signed – around 40 in total. Many are aimed at further deepening economic cooperation.

I would like to emphasise that Russia and China are important trading partners for each other. In 2025, trade turnover reached almost $240 billion, while its structure expanded, including through goods with high added value.

Coordinated steps to switch settlements between modern enterprises in Russia and China – and between our countries as a whole – to national currencies were of major importance. As a result, practically all Russia-China export-import operations are carried out in rubles and yuan. In effect, we have built a stable system of mutual trade that is protected from external influence and negative trends on global markets.

Russia is modernising key railway lines in the eastern direction, such as the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur mainlines. The infrastructure of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, including its main artery – the Northern Sea Route – is also being consistently expanded.

Following the successful cross Years of Culture, Russia and China are launching new major interstate humanitarian projects – for example, the Russia-China Year of Education. Its programme of the cross years includes hundreds of different events – conferences and seminars, concerts, exhibitions and master classes, academic competitions and contests.

***

💬 President Xi Jinping and I also exchanged views on current international issues.

Following this exchange, a Joint Declaration was adopted, confirming reflecting the convergence of our countries’ principled approaches.

☝️ The key point is that Russia and China are committed to an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, act in close strategic coordination, and play an important stabilising role on the world stage.

We are working together for the sake of peace and universal prosperity. It is in this spirit that Moscow and Beijing jointly stand in defence of international law and the provisions of the UN Charter in their entirety, totality and interconnection, interact effectively within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, #BRICS and other international structures, and make a significant contribution to addressing urgent global and regional issues.

Russia supports the priorities of China’s presidency of #APEC this year. For our part, we will provide all necessary assistance in their practical implementation. I am confident that the Summit of this association in Shenzhen will be productive.

Of course, we will continue to closely coordinate our positions in such multilateral formats as the #G20, the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank and the IMF, as well as the New Development Bank. We intend to facilitate the alignment of integration processes within the #EAEU and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with a view to forming the Greater Eurasian Partnership.

#RussiaChina