The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will head the official Russian delegation to the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations. This leadership role is confirmed by a decree issued by President Vladimir Putin, underscoring Moscow’s continued engagement with UN processes and its participation in high-level diplomacy at the global stage.
As part of the delegation, Lavrov will be accompanied by senior figures who bring extensive experience in international affairs. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin will join to handle key diplomatic channels, while Grigory Karasin, head of the Federation Council’s international committee, will contribute his long-standing expertise in interparliamentary relations. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, will provide continuity in Moscow’s UN diplomacy, presenting Moscow’s positions in New York. Also joining are Leonid Slutsky, who leads the State Duma’s committee on international relations and who also holds the position of head of the Liberal Democratic Party’s delegation to the assembly, ensuring cross-party perspectives are represented in the conversations that unfold during the sessions.
Earlier in August, reports indicate that the United Kingdom government declined to grant entry visas to certain Russian delegates scheduled to attend the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Executive Board session in London, an event that took place from July 23 to 28 at the invitation of the International Maritime Organization. The delegates had been authorized to represent these governing bodies by the United Nations General Assembly and the Food and Agriculture Organization Conference, reflecting a broader pattern of diplomatic friction that can accompany international gatherings. In this context, Moscow emphasizes its commitment to international institutions and the legitimacy of its representation in UN forums, while also navigating the practical realities of travel and participation that often accompany such high-profile events.
The historical relationship between Russia and the United States within the framework of the UN Security Council has seen periods of friction and divergence. Contemporary commentary notes that Russia did not align with certain initiatives associated with the current U.S. presidency of that council, a dynamic that shapes the discourse around security council discussions and the flow of proposals among permanent members. This backdrop informs how Moscow positions itself in multilateral settings, balancing its strategic objectives with the realities of ongoing global governance and the evolving landscape of international diplomacy, where dialogue at the United Nations remains a central arena for articulating Russian policy and responding to global challenges. [citation attribution necessary].