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Putin vows to run as independent candidate in 2018 race

Russia’s forthcoming election is due on March 18, 2018

© Sergei Bobylev/TASS

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his annual news conference on Thursday he will run in the 2018 presidential election as an independent candidate, but expects to have support of forces sharing his views on the country’s development.

"This will be a self-nomination," Putin said. "I expect to have support of those political forces (parties and public organizations) that share my view on the country’s development and trust me. I certainly expect this very much," he said.

Read also

Russia to kick off presidential campaign trail

"I expect a widespread support of the Russian citizens," the president added.

Putin won the 2012 presidential election as a candidate from the United Russia party.

The Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) will set a date for the presidential election at the December 15 meeting.

The post of the Russian president, elected according to direct suffrage, was introduced based on the results of a referendum on March 17, 1991. Any citizen not younger than 35 and who has been a permanent resident of Russia for at least 10 years, is eligible to hold the office of head of state.

Russia’s forthcoming election is due on March 18, 2018. The Federation Council is to declare the date officially between December 8 and 15, as Upper House Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said earlier.

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Russian presidential election 2018

Military operation in Ukraine

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Russian cutting-edge missile frigate holds artillery firings in Arctic drills

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Russia grateful to DPRK for unconditional support of special operation in Ukraine — MFA

Ivan Zhelokhovtsev said that the agreements that were reached during the DPRK leader's visit to Russia represent "evidence of the mutual desire of the sides to consistently implement and expand the rich heritage" that was passed down from previous generations

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Pipeline gas exports are forecast to edge up by 7% to 108 bln cubic meters

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Vasily Nebenzya said that he has "good personal relations" with the secretary general

Kiev refused to sign Istanbul agreements under pressure from London, Kremlin says

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Ukrainian troops fire at least 60 rounds at borderline Belgorod Region

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Russian aerospace forces hit two terrorists base in Syria’s Homs governorate

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Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

Injury toll in Kiev’s strikes on DPR rises to three civilians over past day

Local Administration Head Ivan Prikhodko said that "a female resident of Gorlovka was injured as a result of yesterday’s shelling of the Stroitel residential compound in the Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka"

Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

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The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"

Refinery in southern Russia partially suspends operations after Ukrainian drone attack

Ten unmanned aerial vehicles flew directly into the plant, causing a big fire

Scholz asks allies to find additional air defense capabilities for Ukraine

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Russia fights West’s sanctions at UN for the sake of developing countries — envoy to UN

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US’ Blinken to visit Israel amid rising tensions between two countries — NYT

Israel’s military upcoming operation in Rafah will also be on agenda, the New York Times reported

Ukraine struggles to use GLSDB efficiently due to Russian jamming capabilities — report

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Since the onset of Kiev’s military operation in Donbass in 2014, ceasefires have been repeatedly declared on major holidays, including religious ones and most of them were broken by Ukrainian forces within hours

Russia delivers 35 precision strikes on Ukrainian military sites over week — top brass

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US intel finds no proof of Russian leadership’s involvement in Navalny’s death — newspaper

"Some European intelligence agencies have been told of the US view," The Wall Street Journal added

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The spokesman also pointed out the claims of US officials about the "necessity of informational infiltration of Korea"

Kremlin spokesman addresses WSJ article about Putin’s non-involvement in Navalny’s death

"I wouldn’t describe it as a high-quality article that deserves attention," Dmitry Peskov went on to say

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US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan added that the his country had doubled artillery production in order to help Kiev

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Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Moscow and Beijing would push ahead with developing cooperation

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According to the emergency response center, the area of the fire measured 2,500 square meters

Moscow to overcome possible EU sanctions against Russian LNG — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that "the attempts to squeeze Russia out of energy markets continue"

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The German chancellor emphasized that Berlin's "offer to lend support in finding a long-term and acceptable solution remains valid"

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The Russian foreign minister said that the sides would exchange opinions on how to develop bilateral relations along the path outlined by Bolivian President Luis Arce and Russian President Vladimir Putin

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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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