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Russian upper house speaker: Ukraine’s protest over trip to Crimea "sign of feebleness"

Russia’s Federation Council speaker Matviyenko recalled Crimea and Sevastopol were full-fledged territories of Russia and expressed the hope that the common sense would prevail

The speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko Russian Federation Council press service/TASS

The speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko

© Russian Federation Council press service/TASS

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Ukraine refers note of protest to Russia over upper house speaker’s visit to Crimea

MINSK, June 7. /TASS/. The speaker of Russia’s Federation Council (upper house of parliament), Valentina Matviyenko, believes that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s protest over her recent working trip to Crimea was a sign of feebleness.

"Such statements are a product of either feebleness or reluctance to recognize the objective reality," Matviyenko told the media, adding that it would make no sense to comment or reply to such statements in any way.

She recalled that Crimea and Sevastopol, a federal city, were full-fledged territories of Russia.

"This is a historically accomplished fact," she said. Matviyenko expressed the hope that the common sense would prevail, even though this might take some time.

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Ukraine crisis Foreign policy Valentina Matviyenko

Terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall

Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian Prosecutor General

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Production and sales of Moskvich 8 model scheduled for late 2024 — Moskvich plant

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Investigation into Crocus terrorist attack underway, traces lead to Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

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EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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Krasnodar court orders suspect in slaying of mobilization official held until September 10

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G7 countries to prevent Iran from producing, purchasing weapons

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German Foreign Ministry confirms summoning of Russian ambassador

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France-Russia relations hit rock bottom — ex-envoy to Paris

Alexander Orlov noted that recently French President Emmanuel Macron "has made a number of questionable moves that have increased the divide" between both countries

Ukrainian military reportedly uses HIMARS rocket launcher to attack Gorlovka

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Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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

Russian artillery thwarts Ukrainian army’s rotation near Kupyansk — underground resistance

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Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

Maria Zakharova also pointed to the fact that Ukraine's special services do not give up attempts to "massacre their former compatriots"

French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

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"

Russia says its forces repel four Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Russia ready to replace Ukrainian grain supplies — Putin

According to the Russian leader, Moscow has pledged to promote the implementation of the grain initiative, which was originally designed to ensure global food security and reduce the threat of hunger

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

The two other State Duma members mentioned in the verdict alongside Karpov are Viktor Kazakov and Georgy Karlov

Protesters give Georgian government one hour to revoke foreign agents bill

Earlier on Wednesday, Georgia’s parliament passed the foreign agents bill in the first reading

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

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Russian-Turkish monitoring center in Karabakh ceases to operate — Ankara official

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

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Ukraine attacks ZNPP training center again, drone neutralized

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German MFA summons Russian ambassador after detention of espionage suspects — newspaper

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Russia-China military-technical cooperation not directed against other states — diplomat

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Press TV reports all of Iran's hypersonic missiles hit intended targets in Israel

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

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Russian MFA says Russia won’t invade Ukraine, blames US for ‘aggressive plans’

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Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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

Yury Popov said that aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorism coalition, led by the United States, continue to set dangerous precedents in skies above Syria

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Argentina applies for status of NATO’s global partner

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Iran completed operation, to respond with greater force if needed — envoy to Russia

On the evening of April 13, Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel in response to what it called "repeated crimes" from Tel Aviv, including the attack on the consular office of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus ascribed to Israel

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

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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

G7 foreign ministers set to call on all sides to exercise restraint in Middle East

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israel will "most likely" respond to the recent Iranian attack

Energy prices help US economy to develop better than Europe — IMF

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Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 18th

Russian Railways to triple tourist passenger flow to 3 mln people by 2030

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Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

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Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

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Majority of France opposes confrontation with Russia — expert

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Iran to review nuclear doctrine in case of Israeli aggression — IRGC

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

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Court arrests man accused of blowing up car of former SBU officer in Moscow

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Chechen leader announces decision to add 3,000 ex-Wagner fighters to Akhmat commandos

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

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

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Tokyo potentially joining US nuclear missions fraught with danger — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova also highlighted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s recent US visit, adding that "it was yet again accompanied by anti-Russian outbursts"

Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

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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"