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Finnish Navy prepared to repel possible threats during Putin-Trump summit

The Navy has put on alert three ships tasked with observation of airspace and repulsion of aerial threats

HELSINKI, July 13. /TASS/. Finland’s Navy has taken steps to repel the possible threats from the air during the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, who are expected to meet in Helsinki on Monday, July 16, Seura magazine said on Friday.

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Finnish authorities to beef up security for Putin-Trump summit

The Navy has put on alert three ships tasked with observation of airspace and repulsion of aerial threats. They have been fitted out with missiles and their crews have received confidential instructions on hypothetical emergency situations.

The commanding staff of Finland’s Defense Forces, the press service of the naval forces and the Helsinki police have declined to comment on the information. Officials at the Defense Forces said the operational tasks of the troops were confidential.

The magazine said along with it the Forces would take part in ensuring security at the summit alongside the police but there was no information on their functions.

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Kremlin comments on Putin-Trump summit

From 1,000 to 2,000 police officers will be guarding law and order in the capital on the day of the summit. They will come to Helsinki from all the regional police departments of the country, up north to Lapland.

The Kremlin press service said earlier Presidents Putin and Trump would hold the meeting on July 16.

Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters the two presidents would take up a range of rater knotty issues. For instance, they would have an expansive discussion of the situation around Syria.

Military operation in Ukraine

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

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

Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service head added that the act of terrorism was intricately planned and it took an international network of conspirators to carry it out

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

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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

"Today, 20-30 reconnaissance planes fly in the airspace of the Baltic states and Poland weekly," Pavel Muraveiko added

Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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According to Major General Yury Popov, nine violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019

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

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"

Over 330 bodies recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

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

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Niger would like Russia to train its troops — interior minister says

Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

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

"Washington’s plan is sickeningly simple, as it means dragging everyone under the pretext of ‘peace intentions’ to an empty gathering, while bolstering Zelensky’s terrorist potential," Maria Zakharova said

IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Radicals, intel services behind terror attacks in various countries, says Putin

The tactics employed by these criminals are becoming increasingly complex and barbaric, the Russian leader pointed out

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Mongolia to enter into free trade agreement with EAEU by year-end

Counsellor Delgertsetseg Unubilegt noted that Mongolia and Russia have "a rich history of solidarity and cooperation," though the countries "are under great influence of political and social factors"

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

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Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Stockmann company to buy Russian business of Hugo Boss — Industry Ministry

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

Apty Alaudinov added that if the Ukrainian army received long-range weapons, it might try to attack Russia's civilian infrastructure due to its powerlessness on the front

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The Russian war correspondent died of wounds suffered from a strike by a Ukrainian FPV drone on April 19

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Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

Belarusian KGB reports thwarting attempted drone strikes on Minsk from Lithuania

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Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

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"The ministry's detailed commentary on this outright piece of disinformation will follow in a short while," the Consular Department said

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The source denied news media reports on the subject, which appeared earlier

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"A larger part of what is being manufactured is not sent to the frontline but goes to warehouses," Boris Pistorius said

Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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

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

Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

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US draft on nukes in space seeks to go beyond legal framework Russia adheres to — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that Russia reaffirms its "strict commitment" to the international legal obligations under space law

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," the Venezuelan president stressed

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability

Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Agreements on security with Iran, Myanmar, Ethiopia to come into force in 2024 — MFA

"A whole number of similar agreements with Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American countries are being worked out," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin added

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A day earlier, Abu Ubaidah, a spokesman for the Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam military wing, threatened that hostages held in the Gaza Strip could repeat the fate of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who was kidnapped 36 years ago

Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Israel destroys no more than 20% of Hamas's fighting capacity — top political official

Khalil al-Hayya said that Hamas would like to see "a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions"

Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

Ukraine "is carrying a heavy burden" for the benefit of the EU, and therefore EU member states must "provide Ukraine with means to defend themselves," European Commission president said

US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

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Court in Cyprus rules to extradite Russian national Petrov to US

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Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Bolivian leader decries fresh US military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

According to Luis Arce, instead of pursuing "the policy of diplomacy and dialogue," the United States opts for "continued war and militarism"

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

US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 25th

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

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Anti-Russian measures prove world cannot exist in unipolar diktat, envoy says

According to Anatoly Antonov, "the further it goes, the more America corners itself into a zugzwang"

US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

China vows decisive response to US move to deploy intermediate missiles in Asia-Pacific

The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

US waging hybrid war against Serbs to snuff them out for good — Republika Srpska head

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Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 22nd

Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Russia continues to "make an important contribution to strengthening of African countries’ potential, including UN Security Council and General Assembly"

Release of new tranche for war to Ukraine by US escalation factor — Lukashenko

"The fact that ATACMS long-range missiles were financed is very dangerous," the Belarusian president noted

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

According to CAR Defense Minister Claude Rameaux Bireau, all necessary documents are ready but there are certain logistical difficulties

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

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

Vyacheslav Volodin pointed to a law recently passed by Sweden’s parliament enabling minors to transition without surgery that a national survey showed was disapproved by 59% of citizens