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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Normandy Four foreign ministers to discuss deployment of peacekeepers in Donbas

A meeting of the Normandy Four foreign ministers is due to take place in Berlin on Monday, April 13

© AP Photo/Jane Hahn

Read also

Moscow sees no sense in discussing Kiev's peacekeeping initiative without Luhansk, Donetsk
Ukraine will officially request UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas
Kiev’s request of peacekeeping mission contradicts Minsk deal — Russian UN envoy
Ukraine wants peacekeeping contingent in Donbas to be formed as EU mission — Poroshenko
No UN peacekeeping force in Ukraine without Russia's consent — Czech Foreign Ministry

KIEV, April 10. /TASS/. Foreign ministers of the Normandy Four countries (Germany, France, Russia, Ukraine) who are to meet in Berlin on Monday will discuss Kiev’s initiative to deploye a peacekeeping mission to Donbas, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yevgeny Perebeinos said on Friday.

"We plan to discuss this subject and present our arguments in favour of it," he said.

Apart from that, according to Perebeinos, the sides will discuss the activity of the Contact Group on settlement in eastern Ukraine. "Among topics will be the formation of working subgroups [within the Contact Group]. We hope it will give an impetus to development," the spokesman said, adding that the sides would also discuss the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

A meeting of the Normandy Four foreign ministers is due to take place in Berlin on Monday, April 13.

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Eastern Ukraine

EU ministers to discuss use of Russian assets for Ukraine on April 22 — EU official

Earlier, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Union intends to invest the first 2.5-3 billion euros of profits raised from seized Russian assets in military assistance for Ukraine

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

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Syrian ministry says Israeli jets struck air defense facilities in country’s south

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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Nord Stream AG's refusal to pay compensation destroys Western insurance system — diplomat

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West frightens voters by 'Russian threat' to win elections — Lavrov

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Hezbollah warns Israel it will fight back if attacks on Lebanon continue

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Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

Russian instructors help train over 10,000 Central African troops — CAR president

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The Russian embassy has called attempts to probe into the alleged involvement of Russian special services in the development of rumored plans for attacks on military facilities in Germany "absurd and ridiculous"

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"

Lavrov describes Georgia’s bill on foreign agents as 'mildest of all'

The top Russian diplomat stressed that the Georgian bill on foreign agents suggested only the need to declare funds, if the organization in question received more than 20% of its funding from abroad

CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

William Burns said "there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement"

Zelensky's formula should be put aside for Ukraine talks, Lavrov says

"One should clearly support the need to seek solutions that take into account the balance of security interests and ensure the indivisibility of security," the top Russian diplomat underlined

At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

According to the Al Hadath television, a military bus was ambushed by members of the Islamic State terrorist group

Situation in Iran’s Isfahan stabilizes after drone attack — media

According to the news agency, all reports about fires or explosions have nothing to do with reality

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

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

"In any case, whatever the modality of providing this aid, de facto it is about provoking Ukraine into further hostilities down to the last Ukrainian, putting guarantted money in the pockets of the US," Dmitry Peskov said

Water in Kurgan above dam, breaking records

More than 100 employees of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies are fencing the shores and filling the least reliable dam segments

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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

"I think that the decision has been taken by the member-states - all 27 have agreed that we use the windfall profits following our proposal," Ursula von der Leyen said

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"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

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Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

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The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

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Israeli sources also said that they did not understand why the Pentagon had leaked information about Israel's involvement in the attack to the media

Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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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 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

Argentina’s NATO partnership bid to let US tighten its grip — expert

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Russia always prefers talks to fighting, wars, says Lavrov

The first Russian-Ukrainian negotiations after the launch of Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine took place in Belarus in early March 2022 but the talks yielded no tangible results

Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Vehicles, equipment participating in Victory Day parade depart for Moscow — ministry

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UN Security Council vote exposes practically full isolation of US — Russia’s UN mission

Vasily Nebenzya described the US veto as a "fruitless attempt to stop the inexorable course of history"

West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

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US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Chinese analyst sees US veto on Palestine as reflection of arrogance, double standards

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Kremlin condemns 'illegal' seizure of villa from Russian businessman

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time

Russia will not 'shake up' relations with Argentina due to its partnership with NATO — MFA

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Russia and Argentina maintain a good dialogue at various levels

Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

Vladimir Zelensky asked his country’s supporters to provide "everything that helps to hold the frontline," including shells, military vehicles and drones

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

No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the situation on the ground had changed significantly

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One crew member of jet crashed in Stavropol Region killed, search for another continues

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, an Aerospace Forces’ Tu-22M3 bomber crashed after completing a combat mission while returning to the airfield

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

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Hungary to not intervene in Ukrainian conflict on any side, PM says

Viktor Orban believes the first phase of the conflict, which included proposals on sending troops to Ukraine, is over

Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kiev required US-made Patriot systems and Italian-French Samp-T theatre antimissile systems

Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

The agency said it and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine informed their Polish counterparts about the alleged assassination attempt

Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

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

The Russian foreign minister also described Armenia and Russia as more than formal allies

Putin sees increasing life expectancy as key policy goal for Russia

The Russian leader stressed that "it’s crucial to continue paying great attention to the prevention and treatment of diseases, particularly through the most advanced and cutting-edge methods"

Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

The exact location of the damaged pipeline or the causes of the incident is not reported

Moscow-based embassies of NATO countries helped anti-government groups, Lavrov says

The top Russian diplomat also spoke about the detention in Germany of two people suspected of spying for Russia

Nuclear sites in Iran’s Isfahan province are safe — Tasnim agency

Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

Lavrov views situation in Middle East as 'very bad'

According to the top Russian diplomat, the unresolved Palestinian problem fuels the issues that the Middle East is facing

Security guarantees on Ukraine did not apply to Crimea, Donbass — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that "Ukrainian negotiators came and said that, for example, on the issue of maneuvers with the participation of third countries, let's replace the wording 'if all guarantor countries agree' with 'unless the majority agrees'"

Russia, Iran maintain contacts on nuclear security - deputy foreign minister

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"

Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat referred to a swindling trick used by a thimblerigger who puts a small round object, such as a ball or pea, under one of three thimbles or cups and asks the player to guess under which the object is, while unfairly manipulating this object

Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019