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Seoul thanks Moscow for assistance, vows to facilitate North Korea’s denuclearization

Over the past year, several successful meetings have been held to restore ties between Seoul and Pyongyang, the South Korean prime minister noted

BOAO/China/, March 28. /TASS/. South Korea’s authorities are thankful to Russia, China and Japan for their assistance in the process of the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear disarmament and will take active steps for progress in this direction, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon said on Thursday.

"Countries across the world should intensify their work to achieve denuclearization and maintain sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula. I thank China, Russia and Japan for their support and I also count on their more constructive role," Lee Nak-yeon told an opening ceremony of the key part of the Boao Forum for Asia in south China’s Hainan Province. "In our turn, we will constantly make efforts in this direction."

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Lavrov urges to take potential of six-party talks on North Korea into account

According to the prime minister, imperialism and the Cold War have divided the Korean Peninsula and there is the need to overcome negative consequences of this split these days. Over the past year, several successful meetings have been held to restore ties between Seoul and Pyongyang.

"We see a positive tendency towards peace but unfortunately, the situation has reached a deadlock," he stressed, speaking about the failed Hanoi summit between North Korea and the United States. "However, I’m convinced that our peninsula is heading towards peace."

The second summit between the United States and North Korea was held in Hanoi on February 27-28. Ahead of the meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated that Pyongyang and Washington were overcoming mistrust and problems together, while US President Donald Trump vowed to fulfill North Korea’s huge economic potential. However, the sides refused to sign a joint document, agreeing to continue dialogue. The schedule of events was significantly changed.

Middle East conflict

Gaza peace deal closer than ever, Palestinian radicals say

The document pointed out that during the talks in Cairo, representatives of the radical groups "discussed with the mediators the development of indirect negotiations [with the Israeli side] on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage exchange agreement"

Russian public may one day decide to bury Lenin proper, Putin speculates

The Russian president still noted that "today, especially in today’s Russia, we must not do anything that could divide the country"

Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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Putin declares 2025 year of defender of Fatherland

The Russian president made the announcement at a meeting of the State Council

Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Ukraine to cede territory regardless of US aid — news agency

According to the news agency, Kiev expects a "bitter settlement," which implies giving up territorial claims and NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees

Putin grants Russian citizenship to Italian opera icon Giancarlo del Monaco

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Putin calls issue of Vladimir Lenin’s burial extremely sensitive

"These are certainly not the questions to be addressed during a Q&A session or press conference," the head of state said, commenting on several remarks by a reporter

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Russia’s capture of two DPR settlements paves way for liberation of Kurakhovo — official

Vladimir Rogov also noted that the liberation of Zelenovka and Novy Komar hastens the process of liberating major logistics hubs

Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

According to Maxim Grigoryev, videos of interviews with witnesses and preliminary forensic examination of the bodies indicate that most of the victims are elderly women

German president intends to dissolve Bundestag on December 27

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Regional authorities confirm deaths of five people in Magdeburg Christmas market attack

A BMW driver ploughed his car into an outdoor Christmas market in downtown Magdeburg on Friday night

Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Bank of Russia keeping close eye on prevention of excessive cooling of economy

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US grants 3-month exemption from sanctions on Gazprombank for Hungary — Orban

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Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

Ukraine will soon run out of willing fighters, Putin says

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Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

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Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

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Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

Russia has no concerns about who attends Trump's inauguration — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, this issue lies "on the periphery" for Moscow, and Russia views it "detachedly"

Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region town kills 6, injures 10 — official

The interim governor called the shelling of Rylsk a huge tragedy and expressed condolences to the loved ones of the victims

Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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Kherson Region governor says Ukraine tries to make people leave Kherson City

According to Vladimir Saldo, Ukrainian authorities are stopping the provision of humanitarian aid to people

Slovak PM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin, Serbian president says

"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

Banks find opportunity to work under sanctions — Central Bank chief

It does not mean there will be no such risks in the future but it is very important in this regard for the financial stable to remain stable, Elvira Nabiullina said

German chancellor exasperated by idea of spending frozen Russian assets to help Kiev

According to the Financial Times, the idea was promoted by the US and UK but resisted by Germany, France and Italy

What is known about Russia’s retaliatory strike on Ukraine after attack on Rostov Region

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Acting Kursk region governor revises death toll in Rylsk attack down to five

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Ukraine files charges in absentia against Russian army deputy general staff chief

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Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

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Kiev’s Western patrons complicit in recent attack on senior Russian general — UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya recalled that Igor Kirillov had repeatedly presented evidence of the military activity of US laboratories in Ukraine

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Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

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Anatoly Viktorov expressed his wholehearted support to the family of Yelena Trufanova whose son Alexander is still being held hostage in the Palestinian enclave

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Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

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The German Chancellor claimed he intended to "make clear" to the Russian leader the need for his contribution to ending the conflict and withdrawing troops

Putin meets with Federation Council Speaker Matviyenko in Kremlin

The upper chamber of the parliament wrapped up its autumn session

Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

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Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

Heat supply cut off in almost 90 houses in Rylsk in wake of Ukrainian attack — official

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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Expert predicts Russia, new Syrian authorities to establish strong ties

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West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

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Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

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Social facilities, homes damaged by Ukrainian missile attack on Rylsk — acting governor

"The buildings of the House of Culture, physical fitness center, teachers’ training college, school, firefighting depot and private households were damaged," Alexander Khinshtein said

Scholz could travel to Moscow to boost his party’s approval rating — report

Germany is scheduled to hold a parliamentary election on February 23, 2025

First-ever baby conceived using technology that matures eggs outside body born in Peru

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Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

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Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

German police confirm death of four people in Magdeburg Christmas market attack

According to the law enforcement agencies, a total of 205 people suffered injuries, with 41 being in critical condition

As many as 70% of soldiers desert from reinforcements sent to Kurakhovo — politician

The situation is similar at several other sections of the frontline in the DPR

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Russia recognizes Ukrainian businessman Akhmetov as extremist

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Key rate, inflation and criticism of Central Bank: statements by regulator’s chief

The Bank of Russia has taken a pause in raising the key rate, though a long period of tough monetary policy will be required to bring inflation back to the target

Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Russia forgives Somalia's Soviet-era debt

"One hundred percent of the stated amount is consolidated in accordance with this agreement," the document reads

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

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Nine-months pregnant woman injured in Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk

According to the latest data, a total of nine people sought medical assistance after the attack

US Congress passes stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown

As many as 85 senators backed the bill, while 11 voted against it

Ship with sailors from Syria, Egypt sends distress signal in Kerch Strait

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Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

Several HIMARS rockets downed over Kursk Region as Ukraine continues attacks

Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein added that he was currently in Moscow for a State Council meeting but planned to travel to Rylsk as soon as possible

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

The sources also told the Financial Times that Donald Trump intends to continue the military aid to Ukraine despite the statements he made during his presidential campaign

Ukrainian unit of machine-gunners disguised as Russian soldiers shoots civilians — captive

According to Bogdan Nikitchenko, the command sends "anyone available" to the Kursk Region

UK unwilling to send military instructors to Ukraine for fear of Russian attacks — media

According to a source, "Russians would target any kind of Western assistance inside Ukraine"

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

During a "Direct Line" Q&A session combined with his annual press conference on Thursday, Putin clarified that he had not yet met with Assad after his arrival in Moscow but plans to speak with him