Ashrsf AboArafe
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced his country’s readiness to expand direct air traffic between Egyptian and Russian cities, underscoring a new chapter of growing connectivity and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Lavrov made the remarks during a joint press conference with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, held at the Ittihadiya Palace on the sidelines of the Second Russian–African Partnership Ministerial Forum hosted by Egypt.
The Russian minister expressed Moscow’s deep appreciation to Egypt for hosting the forum, noting that the discussions also addressed ways to strengthen relations between Russia and the League of Arab States. He revealed that bilateral trade between Egypt and Russia had grown by 31 percent compared to 2023, affirming Russia’s readiness to exert every effort to further expand trade volumes.
Lavrov highlighted significant progress in joint projects, describing the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant as a new symbol of the solidity and depth of the strategic partnership between Cairo and Moscow. He also stressed that the Suez Canal Economic Zone remains a top Russian priority, pointing to close coordination between the two sides in organizing supply chains and logistics.
In a move reflecting rising people-to-people ties, Lavrov announced preparations to expand the network of direct flights between Russian and Egyptian cities to accommodate increasing tourist flows and to enhance societal and cultural exchange.
On regional and international issues, Lavrov affirmed that Russia and Egypt share fully aligned views on the Palestinian–Israeli conflict, reiterating that the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state remain the only path toward a just and lasting peace. He voiced deep concern over recent developments and called for preserving the ceasefire and activating an effective international role to sustain it.
Regarding Syria, Lavrov said discussions emphasized the necessity of respecting Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity. On Sudan, he referred to recent high-level contacts, including General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan’s visit to Cairo, expressing Russia’s appreciation and stressing the shared vision of Cairo and Moscow on reaching a comprehensive political settlement that preserves Sudan’s unity.
On Libya, Lavrov underlined the importance of launching an inclusive political dialogue leading to a sustainable settlement and shielding the country from external interference.
For his part, Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed that the talks covered the latest developments in the Palestinian cause, reviewing Egypt’s ongoing efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza. He stressed the responsibility of the international community to halt repeated Israeli violations and noted Egypt’s continued work to prepare conditions for early recovery and reconstruction.
Abdelatty also reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the Libyan people, rejection of foreign interference, and the urgency of holding elections through a purely Libyan-led process. On Syria, he reiterated the need for a comprehensive settlement that safeguards unity and territorial integrity, while condemning Israeli violations in Syrian territory.
Regarding Sudan, the Egyptian foreign minister emphasized the importance of preserving the country’s unity and sovereignty, reaffirming Egypt’s firm commitment to supporting Sudan’s national state institutions.
Together, the messages from Cairo reflected a partnership extending beyond diplomacy—one that now takes flight, connecting cities, peoples, and shared regional visions.
