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Ukraine seeks full-fledged membership in EU and NATO, confirms president

BRUSSELS, June 4. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky confirmed on Tuesday that the country remained committed to the former leadership’s policy towards membership of NATO and the European Union.

"Ukraine’s strategic course is aimed at getting full-fledged membership in the European Union and NATO," the president said after talks in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Zelensky thanked him for "political and military support that Ukraine gets from the Alliance and some of its member countries".

"I want to give a new impetus to our participation in the Alliance," he went on to say. "Russian aggression remains a challenge for Ukraine. We hope to restore the Ukraine-NATO dialogue at the level of the heads of state, government and the defense ministries," he added.

However, he admitted that first of all Ukraine needed to carry out reforms to bring the country into compliance with NATO standards.

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Iranian military’s strike on Israel 'terminates taboo' — army chief

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Kiev recognizes Russia's tenfold superiority in artillery shells

Vladimir Zelensky admitted that Ukraine had no chance of winning victory without support from the West

Zelensky irked by US’ request to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure — media

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

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Moscow shooter identified as European boxing champion Nikita Ivanov

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Ukrainian paratroopers surrender in Avdeyevka area — Russian Defense Ministry

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Slovakia to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership bid — PM

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IAEA chief slams attack on ZNPP dome as 'very dangerous precedent'

Rafael Grossi calls for attacks on ZNPP to stop as they raise safety risks

Demarche delivered to UK consul general in Yekaterinburg over propaganda work

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Georgian parliament passes bill on foreign agents in first reading

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Israeli strikes on Iran to do disservice to US ahead of election — former Russian diplomat

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Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone found in Moscow office

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White House effectively rules out option for US forces to intercept Russian missiles

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Joe Biden had made it clear that the United States would not take on a combat role in Ukraine

Hamas not to make any concessions on Israeli troops’ withdrawal from Gaza

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Russian air defenses suppress up to 400 Ukrainian UAVs in DPR over week

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Iran’s possession of enriched uranium doesn’t mean it has nuclear bomb — Grossi

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Majority of Russians feel cool new tech out of reach for many

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China's approach to Ukraine balanced, constructive, Russia welcomes it — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stated that China "maintains quite high diplomatic activity" on the Ukrainian track

Georgian protesters end rally in Tbilisi over foreign agents bill

Rustaveli Avenue has been opened for traffic

CEC chairperson hands over presidential credentials to Putin

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Israeli defense minister holds meeting on preparations for operation in Rafah

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Turkish-mediated Black Sea security pact crumbles as Ukraine backs out — Reuters

According to the draft agreement, seen by the agency, the parties would have extended security guarantees to merchant vessels in the Black Sea, as they committed not to strike or search them as long as they had declared a non-military cargo

France to invite Russia to events marking 80th anniversary of Normandy invasion

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in turn, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet received an official invitation

Russian Armed Forces hit IRIS-T air defense system launcher, Ukrainian ammunition depot

The personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also defeated in 129 districts

Russia supports priorities of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in SCO — Foreign Ministry

Andrey Rudenko emphasized that Russia is providing all necessary assistance in the meaningful preparation of the summit in Astana

Russian Su-34 jets destroy Ukrainian command post with high-explosive aerial bombs

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US House could consider separate bills on aid to Israel, Ukraine this week — report

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Ukrainian armed forces attack Belgorod Region with four drones over past day

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Russian foreign ministry blames Paris for death of French mercenaries in Kharkov

The ministry hopes "that the people of France will ultimately learn the truth about the actual scope of France’s involvement in the conflict"

Russian forces find coordinates of DPR churches at former Ukrainian positions in Avdeyevka

It was possible to establish that the Ukrainian servicemen were tasked with hitting Orthodox sites in the region aide to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic Igor Kimakovsky said

Press review: Israel mulls response to Iran's strike and Ukraine plays shot-caller with US

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, April 16th

Italy’s minister estimates Israeli capability to defend from Iranian attack at one billion

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Iran ready for defensive measures if Israel continues escalation — embassy in Russia

"If Israel and its Western supporters want to further escalate the conflict, we are ready to take additional defensive measures to protect our legitimate interests," Hussein Maliki said

Construction of future manned spacecraft reached its final stage — Roscosmos CEO

The spacecraft’s first flight is planned for 2028, Yury Borisov said

Deflecting Iran attack cost billions, Israel, US can't repeat it — former UN inspector

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