Russia s President Vladimir Putin yesterday held a video conference meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council at the Moscow Kremlin.
Speaking at the meeting, Putin, in particular, noted that Russia’s relations with immediate neighbors is a priority topic in its foreign policy, says the Kremlin’s official website.
“…Building relationships with our closest neighbors, the independent states formed in the post-Soviet area, is a priority topic in the foreign policy,” Vladimir Putin noted in his opening speech.
Putin further added that he had previously discussed with the acting Minister of Finance Anton Siluyanov that “this issue will be given even more attention in Russia’s new political cycle.”
In the closed part of the meeting, the acting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reported on this issue, according to the Kremlin’s official website.
Recall, Sergei Shoigu, who had previously served as Minister of Defense, was appointed the Security Council Secretary, replacing Nikolai Patrushev, who was reportedly relieved of that post in connection with transfer to another job.
The newly appointed Security Council Secretary also attended the meeting.
Shoigu had headed the Ministry of Defense since 2012, going in to the role with no military experience, and oversaw Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin has remained loyal to Shoigu, although Russia’s military leadership during the war has been criticized by some Russian commentators.
