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Russia can play key role in Syria crisis settlement - NATO chief

The NATO Secretary General also stressed that he believes that a foreign military intervention, similar to what happened in Libya, is not the answer to the Syrian crisis

SYDNEY, June 13 (Itar-Tass) — Russia that has an influence on Syria “can play an instrumental role in facilitating a political solution to the crisis” in the country, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen believes. He arrived in Australia on a working visit.

“I strongly regret that the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement on a legally binding resolution on Syria,” Rasmussen pointed out. “I think that failure (of the UN Security Council) sent a very unfortunate - not to say dangerous - signal to the Assad regime.”

The NATO Secretary General also stressed that he believes that a foreign military intervention, similar to what happened in Libya, is not the answer to the Syrian crisis. “There is a clear difference between Libya and Syria,” Rasmussen explained. “We took responsibility for the operation in Libya because there was a clear United Nations mandate to protect the civilian population against attacks, [but] none of these conditions are fulfilled when it comes to Syria.”

The NATO Secretary General did not give a direct answer to the question whether he believed that a civil war has started in Syria. Rasmussen said that he is not an expert in law and does not know whether the term “civil war” is applicable to what is happening in Syria. However, there is no doubt that the situation in Syria is very serious and he knows about the “outrageous” actions of the Syrian regime and forces loyal to this regime.

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

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Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors," the defense minister said

Top brass posts video of Leopard tanks, Bradley combat vehicles seized by Russian troops

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ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

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Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

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Belarusian KGB reports thwarting attempted drone strikes on Minsk from Lithuania

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Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

The resolution gained 13 votes

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

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Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

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US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

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West steps up aerial reconnaissance near Russia-Belarus borders — security official

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Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

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Belarus responds to threats with preventive deterrence measures — defense minister

Viktor Khrenin emphasized that provocations by Western countries could become a catalyst for unleashing a military conflict

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All-Belarusian People's Assembly adopts new military doctrine, security concept

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Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

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US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

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Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

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Russian Foreign Ministry denies report of consular services ban abroad

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Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

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Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

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Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

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Senior Russian MP dubs pervasive gender reassignment in West 'human tragedy'

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Central African Republic expects Russia to supply weapons, munitions — defense minister

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Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

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