What we know about Russia’s plans to develop a new messaging app to compete with WhatsApp and Telegram
June 11, 2025
The Kremlin has articulated its support for the establishment of domestic messaging services within Russia, a sentiment echoed by presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov during a recent dialogue with TASS, the nation’s news agency. Peskov emphasized the necessity for these platforms to not only meet but exceed the quality of existing foreign alternatives in the marketplace.
What is the Russian government looking for with a new messaging service?
The initiative to develop a high-quality domestic messaging service aligns seamlessly with the Kremlin’s broader digitalization agenda. Peskov remarked, “The emergence of a national messenger is great, provided that it will be a competitive messenger that is on par, as they say, with foreign alternatives. Because there are many of them out there, and anyone can use them.” His comments underscore the imperative to deliver an experience that rivals that of established tech giants.
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<span class="mmcaptxt”>The founder of Telegram was arrested by French authorities for offenses related to the messenger app similar to WhatsApp. Here’s how the two apps differ.
Peskov further stressed the importance of cultivating a competitive landscape within this sector, advocating for the emergence of multiple national messengers. “There should also be a competitive environment in this field, because worldwide, messengers thrive only in conditions of very, very tough competition,” he stated, highlighting the role of competition as a catalyst for innovation.
This initiative from the Kremlin is part of a broader strategy. Recently, the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, received proposed amendments aimed at facilitating the creation of a multipurpose digital service in the country. This innovative concept envisions a unified digital ID that would integrate state, financial, and commercial services into a single application. The overarching goal is to simplify citizens’ lives by centralizing their interactions with government entities and among individuals, thereby eliminating the need to manage multiple documents and certificates.
What we know about Russia’s plans to develop a new messaging app to compete with WhatsApp and Telegram
The Kremlin has articulated its support for the establishment of domestic messaging services within Russia, a sentiment echoed by presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov during a recent dialogue with TASS, the nation’s news agency. Peskov emphasized the necessity for these platforms to not only meet but exceed the quality of existing foreign alternatives in the marketplace.
What is the Russian government looking for with a new messaging service?
The initiative to develop a high-quality domestic messaging service aligns seamlessly with the Kremlin’s broader digitalization agenda. Peskov remarked, “The emergence of a national messenger is great, provided that it will be a competitive messenger that is on par, as they say, with foreign alternatives. Because there are many of them out there, and anyone can use them.” His comments underscore the imperative to deliver an experience that rivals that of established tech giants.
<span class="mmimg-txt”>Full screen
<figcaption class="mmcap”>
<span class="mmcaptxt”>The founder of Telegram was arrested by French authorities for offenses related to the messenger app similar to WhatsApp. Here’s how the two apps differ.
Peskov further stressed the importance of cultivating a competitive landscape within this sector, advocating for the emergence of multiple national messengers. “There should also be a competitive environment in this field, because worldwide, messengers thrive only in conditions of very, very tough competition,” he stated, highlighting the role of competition as a catalyst for innovation.
This initiative from the Kremlin is part of a broader strategy. Recently, the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, received proposed amendments aimed at facilitating the creation of a multipurpose digital service in the country. This innovative concept envisions a unified digital ID that would integrate state, financial, and commercial services into a single application. The overarching goal is to simplify citizens’ lives by centralizing their interactions with government entities and among individuals, thereby eliminating the need to manage multiple documents and certificates.