Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks in Cairo that underscored the depth of the strategic relationship between the two countries and their shared positions on a range of regional and international issues, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency.
Presidential spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said that President El-Sisi opened the meeting by asking Lavrov to convey his greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. President El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for the steady development of Egyptian-Russian relations, describing them as a strategic partnership that continues to expand across political, economic, and commercial spheres.
He emphasized the importance of further strengthening cooperation, particularly in major joint projects such as the establishment of the Russian Industrial Zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the construction of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, in addition to other key areas of strategic collaboration.
Lavrov, for his part, conveyed President Putin’s greetings and appreciation to President El-Sisi, reaffirming Russia’s commitment to advancing bilateral relations to broader horizons. He noted Moscow’s interest in building on the understandings reached between the two presidents during President El-Sisi’s visit to Russia in May 2025, which laid the groundwork for expanding cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting also addressed multilateral cooperation, with President El-Sisi welcoming the convening of the second ministerial conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, hosted by Egypt. The president highlighted the significance of the conference as a platform to deepen cooperation between African countries and the Russian Federation, particularly in economic and development fields.
He stressed that such cooperation serves the mutual interests of both sides, contributes to peace and stability across the African continent, and supports the implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Lavrov expressed Russia’s appreciation for Egypt’s role in hosting the forum, adding that Moscow looks forward to holding the third ministerial conference in 2026. He also indicated Russia’s aspiration to convene a Russia–Arab summit in the coming year, reflecting Moscow’s broader engagement with the Arab world.
Regional and international developments featured prominently in the discussions. The two sides exchanged views on the situations in Gaza, Sudan, and Libya, agreeing on the need to halt the war in Gaza, consolidate a ceasefire, and prevent further escalation in the region. They emphasized the importance of preserving state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the resources of affected nations.
In this context, the Russian foreign minister praised Egypt’s role in supporting stability in the Middle East, commending the ongoing political coordination and consultation between Cairo and Moscow. He stressed the importance of intensifying this coordination on issues of shared concern.
The talks also touched on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian crisis and efforts aimed at resolving it. President El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s support for all initiatives seeking to end the conflict through political solutions, affirming Cairo’s readiness to provide any necessary support to international efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement.
The meeting reflected a convergence of views between Egypt and Russia on key global and regional challenges, while reaffirming their intention to deepen strategic cooperation in the period ahead.
