Since 2007, Nikonov has headed the Russkiy Mir Foundation established by Putin to promote Russian language and culture internationally.

As a biographer of his own grandfather, Nikonov cannot be regarded as an objective source, and he personally recognized this fact in an interview.

In the same interview, Nikonov stated to be proud that Molotov was a wise and coolly ruthless man, giving him the right to be listed together with Timur (in the words of Winston Churchill).

[7] During the 2014 Winter Olympics, The Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones engaged Nikonov in a mock interview about Russia–United States relations.

[9] On 24 March 2022, the United States Treasury sanctioned Nikonov in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.