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Assad, Russian defense minister discuss situation in Idlib — SANA

Shoigu visited Damascus on March 19, bringing a message from Putin for Syrian leader

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) Vadim Savitsky/Russian defense ministry's press service/TASS

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left)

© Vadim Savitsky/Russian defense ministry's press service/TASS

MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. /TASS/. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu discussed in Damascus on Tuesday the situation in Idlib province and east of the Euphrates River, SANA news agency said.

It said "the sides saw eye to eye as to a need for joint work to search for suitable solutions to bring security and stability back into these two regions of Syria".

The Syrian leader said at talks that "military-political coordination with Russia at a high level has become one of the key factors that ensured the staunchness of the Syrian people and success in fight against the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (both outlawed in Russia)".

"Some countries are fighting terrorists only in word, but in deed they align themselves with them, and continue covering them in some regions," Assad said. "This policy encourages an expansion of terrorism and results in a growing number of victims among the civilians," Assad said.

Earlier, the Defense Ministry said Shoigu visited Damascus on March 19 under instructions from President Vladimir Putin, bringing a message from the Russian president for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

It said that at talks with Assad, the Russian Defense Minister had discussed fight against terrorism in Syria, security for the Middle East and the post-conflict settlement. They also discussed the return of refugees and temporarily displaced persons to their homes in Syria, as well as humanitarian supplies.

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The conference will take place from April 23 to 25 in St. Petersburg

Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Syrian ministry says Israeli jets struck air defense facilities in country’s south

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Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

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Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

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The agreement allows "Venezuelan prosecutors to participate in training sessions free of charge and paves the way for Venezuelan students to receive higher education in our university," Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov said

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Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

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Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

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The changes were attributed to reconstruction works on the Russian side of the checkpoint Ivangorod

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

US veto for Palestinian membership proves Washington’s anti-Palestinian stance — Hamas

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

Vladimir Zelensky asked his country’s supporters to provide "everything that helps to hold the frontline," including shells, military vehicles and drones

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

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Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

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Sounds in Isfahan due to air defense work to repel attacks by suspicious objects — general

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Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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Kremlin condemns 'illegal' seizure of villa from Russian businessman

Dmitry Peskov underscored that Moscow has already made its position clear on this matter

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost roughly 590 troops over the past day, the ministry reported

Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

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Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

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According to the official, the investigation established that Mikhail Maurov planned to travel to Ukraine to join the ranks of a right-wing Ukrainian organization called the Freedom of Russia Legion

Iran tells US about April 13 attack on Israel, it does not want escalation — top diplomat

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that prior to the attack, Tehran said that it would not target US military infrastructure in the Middle East "except in a situation where the United States wants to take military measures in support of Israel"

Nord Stream AG's refusal to pay compensation destroys Western insurance system — diplomat

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US deputy envoy Robert Wood also noted that "Hamas - a terrorist organization - is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza, an integral part of the state envisioned in this resolution"

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Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

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Effort to grant full UN membership to Palestine will continue — Russian mission

"The UN history has precedents when states were not admitted on their first try. The number of attempts is not limited," Nadezhda Sokolova said

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Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

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A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the reports of the strike

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Hezbollah warns Israel it will fight back if attacks on Lebanon continue

The Lebanese Shiite organization "would not accept that the Israelis transgress the rules of engagement that are currently set in the south" of Lebanon

Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

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US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document

Palestinian envoy says Israel plans to destroy Palestine

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Moscow International Film Festival to open in Russian capital

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West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

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Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

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Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

"In any case, whatever the modality of providing this aid, de facto it is about provoking Ukraine into further hostilities down to the last Ukrainian, putting guarantted money in the pockets of the US," Dmitry Peskov said

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Algeria pledges to return to Palestinian membership issue — envoy

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Number of applications in RuStore surpasses 37,000

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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EU plans to invest first profits from Russian assets in military aid to Kiev

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

Israeli Air Force attacks airfield in southern Syria during strike on Iran

According to local sources, a radar station located at a military site along a highway connecting the towns of Qarfa and Izraa was disabled in the attack

Russia will not 'shake up' relations with Argentina due to its partnership with NATO — MFA

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Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Palestinian president says US veto immoral, runs counter to global community’s will

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Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time

Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

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Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

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Hungary to not intervene in Ukrainian conflict on any side, PM says

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US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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Putin points to high risk of new epidemic outbreaks

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Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

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CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

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