The Russian Foreign Ministry said on September 3 that the Middle East crisis can only be resolved through negotiations and that establishing lasting peace and security in the region is crucial, following a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and Israeli Ambassador to Moscow Oded Joseph. ^[1] Vietnam and Russia agreed to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership by expanding cooperation into new areas that align with each country's development requirements. ^[2] In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding calling for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. ^[3] In the same statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the sides held a detailed discussion of the current situation in the Middle East, focusing on the Persian Gulf, and also explored other pressing international and regional issues of mutual interest. ^[4] On the night of July 8, the United States resumed large-scale strikes on Iran. ^[5] At a recent political consultation in Moscow, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko noted positive results in bilateral relations, including active growth in economic and trade cooperation. ^[6] In 2025, Vietnam welcomed approximately 690,000 Russian visitors, with 2026 forecasts predicting a milestone of over one million visitors. ^[7] The two sides agreed to effectively utilize the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union to increase trade volume, expand investment, and facilitate market penetration for goods and products. ^[8]