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Conflict in Syria

Top Russian, Lebanese diplomats discuss return of Syrian refugees

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil had a phone call on January 15

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US could take care of Syrian refugees in Rukban camp, says Russia’s top diplomat

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil discussed in a phone call on Tuesday ways to boost joint efforts towards the return of Syrian refugees to their homes, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a report.

In particular, the ministers pointed to a potentially adverse effect of acute regional conflicts, first of all the crisis in Syria, on stability and security in Lebanon. They "discussed possibilities for bolstering joint efforts to help in the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland," the ministry said.

The diplomats also looked into a number of key issues in the development of Russian-Lebanese relations. They emphasized a common bid to deepen and expand them, the ministry said. "The Russian side confirmed its commitment to sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and stability of the friendly Lebanon," the Foreign Ministry said.

Moscow proceeds from the need to settle the pressing issues on the Lebanese national agenda within the framework of the constitution, a constructive dialogue between the leading political forces of the country and inadmissibility of interference into its domestic affairs from outside, Lavrov stressed.

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Foreign policy Syrian conflict

Military operation in Ukraine

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Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

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Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

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Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

"The US continues to benefit from the Ukrainian crisis, regardless of which administration is in power," Andrey Sushentsov said

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West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

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Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

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Putin's speech shows West that Russia won’t waver, is ready for any scenario — expert

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Time of Maduro’s visit to Russia being coordinated via diplomatic channels — embassy

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US, NATO decision on strikes continues policy of escalation — Putin

"Experts are well aware - and the Russian side has repeatedly underscored this - that it is impossible to use these weapons without direct participation of military specialists from the countries that produce these weapons," the president said

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Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

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Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

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Top Russian diplomat to meet with Belarusian counterpart in Brest

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Russia uses aerial bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions near DPR’s Konstantinovka — source

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NATO deployment to Ukraine would mark its entry into the war, Russian diplomat warns

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Pentagon sees possibility of sending more antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

US warships fire more missiles at Houthi sites in Yemen — source

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Oreshnik test aims to persuade West to avoid escalation in Ukraine — media

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IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia

Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, November 21st

Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a British-made howitzer and four US-made artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day

IAEA Board of Governors adopts resolution criticizing Iran

The resolution calls on Iran to improve its cooperation with the agency

ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant for alleged crimes in Gaza Strip

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IAEA once again fails to hold Kiev responsible for threats to Zaporozhye NPP — diplomat

Russian envoy to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov pointed out that from September 23 to November 12, the Russian servicemen suppressed 556 drones near the plant and Energodar

Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Western nations should take Putin's statement seriously, warns Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban recalled that Russia has "one of the most powerful armies in the world, which boasts the most advanced, most powerful weapons"

Eliminating best enemy units: Defense Minister visits special op area

Andrey Belousov stressed that Russian troops have accelerated their advance in the special military operation zone and have effectively disrupted Kiev's 2025 military campaign

Russian envoy calls for thorough IAEA checks of Ukraine amid declared nuclear ambitions

Vladimir Zelensky has made "a series of reckless statements about the possibility of developing nuclear weapons" lately, Mikhail Ulyanov said

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Nuclear escalation of Ukraine conflict unlikely, says ex-French envoy

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

At the same time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi once again criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine

US forces strike Houthi sites with seaborne missiles — TV

According to Al Arabiya, US warships fired at least four missiles at Houthi-operated facilities in the Al-Matina area around 90 km south of the province’s administrative center

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Tehran to launch new centrifuges in response to IAEA anti-Iran resolution — statement

The measure is taken in response to the anti-Iran resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors on Thursday

North Korean leader warns of growing risk of nuclear war — KCNA

Kim Jong Un added that negotiations with the US only confirmed the North Korean view that Washington’s hostile policy remains unchanged