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Fight against Islamic state

Russia FM: Kurds may be engaged on the ground for closing Syria’s border with Turkey

The Russian diplomat suggested that "Kurds’ efforts - respectively on Syria’s border and Iraq’s border - could be joined with efforts of Turkey’s government alongside US special reactions teams"

© EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC

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Closing Syrian-Turkish border is crucial but hardly achievable goal - analysts

BELGRADE, December 3. /TASS/. Kurds and US army special reaction teams may be engaged on the ground to close Syria’s border with Turkey, but only with the consent of Damascus, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic, the current Chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

"As for concrete ways aimed at closing Turkey’s border with Syria and Iraq as well, we should proceed from concrete possibilities on the ground," Lavrov said. "Kurds’ militias, allies of the US-led coalition, could be engaged both from the Syrian and Iraqi sides. The US has a special reaction team in Iraq. Washington has said that it might be also used in Syria. I am convinced that it should be done only with Damascus’s consent but there exist special reaction teams on the ground."

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The Russian foreign minister suggested that "Kurds’ efforts - respectively on Syria’s border and Iraq’s border - could be joined with efforts of Turkey’s government alongside US special reactions teams, with possible participation of other coalition members, on the Turkish side of the border with Syria and Iraq."

"Given terrorists will hamper creation of these barriers on the way to replenishing the ISIL (former name of the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia), I am sure Russia’s air group in Syria jointly with the US-led coalition forces can and will be ready to provide support in the air so that the terrorists would not interfere when the border will be closed both ways - for illegal supplies of crude oil and reverse flows of weapons and militants," he said.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov Syria United States Iraq Islamic State

Russian diplomat thanks Tajik authorities for help in probe into Crocus terrorist attack

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Vasily Prozorov noted that the perpetrators could have been eliminated once they crossed the border

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"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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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"

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

According to the journalist, the decision to conduct the operation was made by US President Joe Biden personally, following nine months of discussions with White House national security advisers

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"Poland’s authorities make no secret of their striving to lean closer on the US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and are actively using these ambitions in their hostile Russian policy," Maria Zakharova stressed

Armenia’s decision on CSTO membership its sovereign choice — secretary general

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NATO Secretary General did not immediately understand the reporter’s question, forcing the reporter to explain that they were referring to the idea of deploying nuclear weapons in Poland

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

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Nikolay Patrushev added that Moscow is happy that its position is received well by most countries, whose delegates are attending a meeting in St. Petersburg

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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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

US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

The US Congress House of Representatives earlier passed bills on military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

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"

Baku cannot turn blind eye to France, India, Greece arming Armenia — President Aliyev

"If we see a serious threat to us, we will have to take serious measures," the Azerbaijani President warned

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

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

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

Continued threats to Pyongyang to put US, allies in danger, Kim Jong Un’s sister warns

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Top Russian security official praises Republika Srpska’s principled position on Ukraine

"In this context, we particularly appreciate the principled position against joining the sanctions regime, your firm and consistent line on the Ukrainian crisis is particularly valuable for us," Nikolay Patrushev pointed out

Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

According to Yevgenia Gutsul, Gagauzia has never experienced such pressure from Chisinau

Drone crashes in industrial zone in Russian city of Lipetsk

There were no casualties, egional Governor Igor Artamonov said

Energy facilities catch fire in Russia’s Smolensk Region following drone attacks

Governor Vasily Anokhin added that rescuers from the Russian Emergencies Ministry were dealing with the aftermath of the Ukrainian drone attacks

EU may sanction 10 firms for allegedly shipping weapons tech to Russia — Bloomberg

According to the agency, the companies being assessed for potential sanctions are based outside Russia but have links to Russian and Belarussian individuals and firms

Mexicans, Colombians recruited in US jails to be deployed in Ukraine — SVR

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service said that in case the inmates agree to this "mission," "they are promised full amnesty, reckoning they would never come back"

Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

According to the law enforcement, the search for the fourth crew member is ongoing

Destroyed TV tower in Kharkov carried Ukrainian air defense coordination device — official

Digital TV signal interruptions are now observed in the city

US authorities prepare military aid for Ukraine worth $1 bln — Reuters

The aid package includes vehicles, Stinger man-portable air defense system munitions, HIMARS rockets, 155-mm artillery shells, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles and other weapons that could be "used at the battlefield immediately"

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

Military expert Andrey Marochko speculated that the Ukrainian army had to resort to this tactic because the TV tower in Kharkov was damaged

Russian troops destroy four boats with Ukrainian assault force on Dnieper River

Russia’s Dnepr Battlegroup inflicted casualties on the 141st, 65th and 128th brigades of Ukrainian armed formations, delivered strikes on temporary deployment sites, military hardware and artillery positions of the Ukrainian army on the right bank of the Dnieper River, Vladimir Saldo said

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

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

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

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted casualties on personnel and equipment of two Ukrainian army brigades and improved its tactical position over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

US Senate approves aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

As many as 79 senators backed the initiative and 18 voted against

All those linked to Crocus terrorist attack must be punished — Putin

"Russia’s intelligence services and law enforcement agencies are investigating and scrutinizing every detail of this despicable act [the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack], identifying all parties involved, including instigators, sponsors, and orchestrators," the Russian president stressed

Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

Russia seeks to break down barriers for its food exports — MFA

Sergey Vershinin recalled that Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea initiative for the export of grain and food due to the fact that it could not be implemented in the original volume

Most agents at Security Service of Ukraine set on war with Russia — former officer

Vasily Prozorov said that "it is extremely difficult to count on any better judgement on their part"

Press review: GOP tussles over Ukraine bill and Putin, Aliyev talk partnership

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