Authors: Map – Jędrzej Błaszczak, information collection and description – Dominika Rosiewicz
In the second half of 2025, Sergei Lavrow's diplomacy was characterized by a advanced strength and clear focus on the Global South state, which aimed to counter Russia's global isolation. This activity, carried out by many abroad visits and telephone calls, focused on building Russia's image as a key player in the "multipolar world".
July 2025 passed under the mark of an offensive in Southeast and east Asia. Minister Lavrow took part in ASEAN ministerial meetings in Malaysia, where he held a number of bilateral talks, including with representatives of China, Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. A key component of this journey was a visit to North Korea and a gathering with Kim Jong Un, as well as talks in China with president Xi Jinping, which confirmed the strategical strengthening of relations with these partners. In the same month, contacts with Brazil, India and Turkey continued. August brought a continuation of dialog with Asian and mediate east countries, mainly from Moscow level.
September 2025 was dominated by multilateral activity during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in fresh York City. Although Lavrov did not make an authoritative state visit to the US, he utilized the UN Forum to hold tens of meetings with abroad ministers of Latin American countries (Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua), Africa (Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, South Sudan, Chad) and Asia (India, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam). On the margins of the session there were besides crucial contacts with European diplomacy, including Slovak Minister Juraj Blanár, Hungarian Péter Szijártó and Swiss Ignazio Cassis.
In October and November 2025, Russian diplomacy focused on the russian area and allies from Asia. Lavrov visited Belarus, attending meetings in Minsk, and held talks with representatives of Kazakhstan, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. An crucial point was besides contacts with the fresh management of the North Korean MFA and re-interviews with Minister Szijártó. In December 2025, the point of gravity moved to the African continent. The end of the year was the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russian-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo. In the capital of Egypt, Lavrow held a marathon of meetings with representatives of more than 15 African states, including Namibia, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania.
Parallel to authoritative visits, throughout the second half of 2025 the channel of communication with the US was maintained through regular telephone conversations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio (listed in July, September, October, November and December) and a direct gathering in fresh York City. This ‘end-door diplomacy’ has served to coordinate global safety and situation in Ukraine despite officially strained relations. The full of Lavrow's activities during this period shows that Russia consistently builds alternate alliance systems to the West, based on the BRICS format and direct relations with neutral countries or its policies.
