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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Results of Minsk talks on Ukraine victory of 'party of peace' — Russian MP

The chairman of Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev is convinced that the growing feeling of being stuck in a deadlock facilitated reaching the Minsk breakthrough

© Mykola Lazarenko/Ukrainian presidential press service/TASS

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European politicians praise Minsk summit results

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. The results of the summit on Ukraine settlement in Minsk demonstrate a decisive victory of "the party of peace", chairman of Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev said on Thursday.

One of the most promising factors was the fact that the leaders of the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine came to Minsk to attend the meeting. "Leaders of countries do not usually come for nothing. Deadlock in negotiations is usually announced by politicians of lower levels. The leaders go when there is really a chance for success. It [the chance] was there, and [Russian President Vlaidimir] Putin, [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel, [French President Fracois] Hollande and [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko used it. They were making history last night," Kosachev wrote in his blog.

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The lawmaker is convinced that the growing feeling of being stuck in a deadlock facilitated reaching the "Minsk breakthrough." "And it happened. I won’t say that it was inevitable, as there were many arguments against [reaching an agreement] as well. The bigger is the achievement of negotiators. Whether the world was on the brink of a great war and whether these negotiations really were the last chance, like the French president said — that we will never know," Kosachev noted.

Along with that, there is no firm belief in the ultimate success, as the "party of war" has not disappeared, he stressed. The reached agreements contradict the internal state of part of the Ukrainian society striving for "a parade in the Ukrainian Sevastopol," which puts Poroshenko in a difficult position, Kosachev said.

"Any attempt [by Poroshenko] to present the Minsk success at home as ‘temporary solution’, promising a rematch in the future, will be a fatal mistake, as he will lose the trust of European leaders," the senator added. The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics also have some difficulties. They do not trust Kiev as it has already violated the implementation of former Minsk agreements, Kosachev said.

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Eastern Ukraine

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The operation to recover bodies of people killed in Israeli bombardments continues in the city

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

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WADA explains difference between Valieva’s case and Chinese swimmers’ violations

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Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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Russian troops level off frontline near Kremennaya in LPR for further advance

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Current Russian turn eastward possible owing to Baikal-Amur railway — Putin

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Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

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Armenians block highway to Georgia in protest of border delimitation with Baku

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Russian economy to see serious structural changes — presidential aide

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New anti-Russian sanctions to include ban on LNG supplies — Swedish Foreign Minister

Tobias Billstrom deemed adopting the 14th sanctions package "one of the most important things"

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief recognizes Russia’s success in Avdeyevka

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Almaz-Antey adapts air defense launchers for various missiles

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Russian peacekeepers heading for temporary deployment centers in Armenia

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Assad says sure Russia will win conflict in Ukraine, re-unite brotherly peoples

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Duda's Kaliningrad nuke rhetoric political stunt — Russian senator

Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov emphasized that Russia would decide for itself what was required to ensure the safety of its citizens

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

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Lavrov slams West for promoting 'dishonest schemes' for restrictions on nuclear weapons

The top Russian diplomat stressed that "striving to attain decisive military superiority, Washington and its allies are enlarging the network of alliances directed against third countries"

Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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Armenia purchasing only defensive weapons — PM

Yerevan's defense spending is 15-20% of what Azerbaijan spends on it, Nikol Pashinyan said

Russia expects Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in Kazan — Lavrov

On January 1, Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the BRICS group of nations, which currently brings together ten states

Damage to TV tower in Kharkov causes problems with digital TV signal

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported an explosion in Kharkov, which was cofirmed later by Mayor Igor Terekhov

Ukraine 'not in a position to win' against Russia — Spanish reserve colonel

"The Western world cannot accept Ukraine's defeat, because from the point of view of our security, a Russian victory in the war would be a failure," Francisco Rubio pointed out

Azerbaijanian leader says reaching peace with Armenia by November 'quite realistic'

According to Ilham Aliyev, the option of coordinating a basic agreement is also being considered

Lenin Museum in Finland's Tampere to shut down in November

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London grants agrement to Zaluzhny as ambassador to UK — Ukrainian parliamentarian

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

Digital TV signal interruptions are now observed in the city

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

Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

The unique vehicle was built on the basis of the Aurus Senat luxury car

US expert says more ATACMS won't alter battlefield dynamics in Ukraine

"There is no magic weapon, there is no series of weapons that could change this" situation for the Ukrainian armed forces, Scott Ritter said

Russia’s UN envoy, Serbian leader discuss coordination on Kosovo at UN

They "exchanged opinions on a wide range of pressing bilateral and international issues while focusing on the situation in the Balkans," the Russian diplomatic mission to the UN said

Belarusian air defense registers increased number of NATO aviation sorties

"This is dozens of sorties, carried out along the same routes, more or less", said Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Deputy Commander Colonel Lieutenant Eduard Zhmakin