🎙 Opening remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting with the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher (Moscow, August 25, 2026)

💬 Sergey Lavrov: We are pleased to welcome you and your colleagues back to Moscow and to discuss our bilateral cooperation and pressing issues on the international agenda.

Since our last meeting five years ago, the world has undergone, to put it very mildly, many changes. Naturally, we see a need to continue a trust-based dialogue with all our partners with a view to finding solutions to the numerous problems that have accumulated on the international agenda.

Despite all the upheavals around the world, we have managed to preserve a trust-based and mutually respectful dialogue with the Vatican, which allows us, I hope, to seek positive and workable solutions.

🤝 I trust that today’s discussion will also be productive. I am ready to address any issues of interest to you in the spirit of seeking mutually acceptable arrangements.