The President is invested with extensive rights to implement the state's foreign policy. It is the head of state who largely determines Russia's position in international affairs. The President represents the Russian Federation in international relations, conducts negotiations and signs ratification documents. In practice, the President's constitutional authority in the realm of foreign policy is exercised in the form of various ongoing activities. First and foremost this involves negotiations with the heads of other countries during their visits to Russia and the President's visits abroad. An accepted practice has become ”comparing notes“ on various international policy issues with foreign partners over the telephone. Another active means of international communication is the exchange of messages. All these activities are the result of painstaking work, through which Russia's foreign policy positions are drawn up.
The President shall appoint and recall diplomatic representatives of the Russian Federation to foreign states and international organizations. These appointments are preceded by consultations with the respective committees or commissions of the chambers of the Federal Assembly. The President signs international treaties. International treaties of the Russian Federation are an integral part of Russia's legal system.
According to existing practice, the President formulates the basic foreign policy guidelines in his annual addresses to the Federal Assembly and in other public appearances. These texts are available on the President's official web site.