Russia is one of the international community's key players.

Russia is the internationally recognized legal successor to the Soviet Union, including its membership in the UN as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council.  Russia plays a crucial role in maintaining global peace and security.

Russia is also a member of the Group of Eight, comprising the world's most industrialized nations, as well as a member of a significant number of other international organizations including the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

Russia plays a key role in organizations which were established after the breakup of the Soviet Union: the CIS, EurAsEC, CSTO, and SCO.

Russia and Belarus jointly form a Union State.

In addition, Russia is one of the world's five officially recognized nuclear powers.  

Russia pursues a multidirectional foreign policy. It maintains diplomatic relations with 178 countries and has over 150 embassies. The country's foreign policy is formulated by the President and is implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.