Ambassador's V.Tkachenko commentary on Diplomats' Day 2025

Commentary of Ambassador of Russia to Kenya H.E. Mr.Vsevolod Tkachenko on Russian Diplomats’ Day

RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS’ DAY: THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE

On February 10th Russia celebrates Diplomats’ Day. Established in 2002, it’s a relatively young holiday. However, the Russian Foreign Service is more than a thousand years old.
Russian diplomatic tradition dates back to 838, then the first Russian diplomatic mission arrived in Constantinople (today Istanbul) to establish direct contact with Byzantine Empire. Since then, such missions were sent regularly and more often both to the nearest and remote lands.
The first prototype of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassadorial Department, was established by Tsar Ivan IV in 1549 and permanent Diplomatic missions abroad were opened in the 17th century.
The major reorganization of the Russian diplomatic service was undertaken by Emperor Peter the Great, when the Collegium of Foreign Affairs was established. Besides being the first Russian Tsar to head a diplomatic mission abroad, he has performed a number of reforms which shaped the image of Russian diplomacy existing until nowadays. The exchange of permanent diplomatic missions with foreign states became a common practice. It was in the era of Peter the Great that Russia turned into a powerful empire, taking active part in European affairs, building up ties, making allies, treaties, acquiring obligations.
The legacy of Peter the Great was enriched in late 18th century by Catherine II, who skillfully used diplomacy as a tool serving the interest of country’s development. Russian diplomatic efforts in the 19th century were focused on protecting its sovereignty, stabilizing political situation in Europe and enhancing relations with neighboring countries, including in Asia and Middle East.
After the Civil war and Revolution, despite difficult internal situation, Russia was developing ties with new allies, supporting national liberation movements across the world, actively took part in creating the system of international security embodied in the League of Nations. During the World War II Soviet top diplomats participated in the creation of the anti-Hitler coalition. Three conferences (in Moscow, Teheran and Yalta) of the countries of the Coalition shaped the future world order and international law structure incorporated in the United Nations Organization, which for almost 80 years has been preventing the world from plummeting into another global conflict and nuclear war.
Today Russian diplomatic efforts are aimed at framing a legitimate, fair multipolar world, which would serve for the benefit of all nations. We trust in diplomacy. That is why our country is actively promoting cooperation within such organizations as BRICS and SOC, deepening its ties with African states.
Developing Russian-African relations, no matter how turbulent the international conditions were, has been Russia’s priority for many decades.
The first political contacts between Russia and African countries began in the late 18th century. At that time, the Russian Empire established diplomatic relations with northern African countries. Russia’s first mission to Sub-Saharan Africa was officially sent in 1889 to the then Abyssinia, now Ethiopia.
Having no colonial background, Russia has always advocated for Africa’s independence. It was the USSR, who initiated the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the UN General Assembly in 1960, accelerating the process of the decolonization of Africa. Russia has been supporting Africa both on political track and practically, rendering enormous military, economic and humanitarian assistance to African peoples, thus strengthening their national sovereignty and providing for their further social and economic development.
In the 1960-70s, the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations with almost all the newly independent states of Africa, including Kenya on December 14, 1963.
We are happy to witness positive dynamics of our bilateral relations, based on longstanding friendship, mutual respect and supported by regular political dialogue, economic and humanitarian cooperation. Kenya is in top 10 trade partners of Russia in Africa, we constantly work on the development of the legal framework of our relations to create better conditions for our businesses. However, there is still a lot to be done by diplomats of both countries to fully unlock the potential of Russia-Kenya relations.