Foreign relations of Russia

World powers shouldn’t forget the lessons of the past in order to avoid repeating old mistakes in the future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

"In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply attacked EU and NATO member Bulgaria for supporting Western sanctions against Russia but now, his tone has noticeably softened," Deutsche Welle said on Friday.

What has changed? Find out in the article "Why Putin is courting Bulgaria" here.

Russia on Thursday said it had added Montenegro to the list of countries from which it was banning food imports in retaliation to Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

It was meant to be a news conference about solving the Syria crisis and combating Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), but an unguarded remark into the microphone from Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov grabbed all the attention. 

Moscow has refused to issue an entrance visa to German Brig Gen Gert Gawellek, German weekly Der Spiegel has said.

Gawellek was to assume duties on Tuesday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, however, in what is called a "surprising" move, gave no reason for its decision.

Persons traveling with Kosovo passports can enter the Russian Federation only in special cases and in order to participate in sporting events.

This has been announced by the Russian embassy in Belgrade.

Russia vetoed on Wednesday the United Nations (UN) resolution on establishing an international tribunal for prosecuting the people guilty of shooting down the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17).

Eleven members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) voted in favour of the proposal, which would have been enough for the resolution to be adopted, but Russia used its right of veto.

Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on July 29 that sought to set up a special tribunal to try those responsible for shooting down flight MH17 over Ukraine.

RS President Milorad Dodik has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and FM Sergei Lavrov for Russia's veto on a British draft on Srebrenica.

The proposed resolution was blocked in the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Russian veto on British resolution on Srebrenica

The British draft resolution on Srebrenica has not been adopted by the United Nations Security Council, because Russia vetoed it.

Earlier in the day, Russia suggested that the document should not be put up for a vote at all.