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Former IMF chief economist Rogoff says will not be surprised at Russia's S&P downgrade

This shouldn’t be something shocking, that there is a downgrade, given the situation here, former IMF chief economist and Harvard Professor Kenneth Rogoff believes

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Fitch has downgrades Russia’s rating from BBB to BBB-, negative outlook

MOSCOW, January 13. / TASS / Former IMF chief economist and Harvard Professor Kenneth Rogoff said that he will not be surprised at the lowering of the S&P rating for Russia from BBB-to BB+.

“This shouldn’t be something shocking, that there is a downgrade, given the situation here. Not surprising. There are no easy moves, but there’s hope that things will get better,” Rogoff said in an exclusive interview with TASS.

He did not specify when the rating downgrade could take place.

Rogoff also added the economic situation in Russia has to be considered as a whole and “not just the explicit government debt, but also what is implicit through the banking system.”

Financial situation in Ukraine

Ukraine has a lot of financial problems, former IMF chief economist and Harvard professor Kenneth Rogoff said in an exclusive interview with TASS on Tuesday.

“[Ukraine] had a lot of difficulties before the crisis and they have a lot of problems now. They were in multiple IMF programs and were struggling to meet the conditions before and everything is harder now,“ said Rogoff.

In April of 2014, the IMF announced a decision to provide Ukraine with $17 billion in several tranches. So far, the program has allocated $8.2 billion. At the end of 2014, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on the IMF to consider increasing its funding for Ukraine. An IMF mission has been working in the country since early January of this year.

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Ukraine Economy

West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

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

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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

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

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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

"Republika Srpska comes under direct pressure and under constant US sanctions; and we are looking for ways to solve this problem," Milorad Dodik said

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

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

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West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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

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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

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

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

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

Dmitry Peskov added that the issue of fighting against long-range weapons being supplied to Ukraine and potential strikes on the areas where they are concentrated "is rather under the purview of <…> the armed forces"

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

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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

Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

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

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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Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

Nearly 70 Israeli hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas says

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

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West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

The Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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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

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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"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

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

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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

Belarusian KGB reports thwarting attempted drone strikes on Minsk from Lithuania

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

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The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

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

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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

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

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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"

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Simultaneously, the Air Force conducted two more military operation using a huge number of drones to target a US destroyer in the Gulf of Aden

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

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

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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"

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

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"

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"

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

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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"

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

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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

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Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

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Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

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Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov 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

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

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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"

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

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

Some people in 2021 Kabul terror attack were killed by gunfire, not explosion, CNN reports

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

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

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

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

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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"

Court in Cyprus rules to extradite Russian national Petrov to US

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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

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"

Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

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Lukashenko says US rues giving rise to Russia-China alliance

"The world has already changed and not the way they dreamed of across the pond," the Belarusian president emphasized

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 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

IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

According to the investigation, Timur Ivanov and Sergey Borodin "criminally conspired with third parties" in order to receive a bribe "as providing monetized services when conducting contracted and subcontracted work" for the Defense Ministry