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Anti-Russian sanctions

China opposed to sanctions, other intimidation measures in international relations

Political dialogue is the only way to defuse the Ukrainian crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says

© AP Photo/Andy Wong

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BEIJING, July 30. /TASS/. China does not support the practice of imposing sanctions in international relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told TASS on Thursday, commenting on several European countries joining the extension of the EU sanctions against Crimea.

"China has always opposed the use of sanctions and similar measures of intimidation in international affairs," he noted. "We believe that political dialogue is the only way to defuse the Ukrainian crisis," the diplomat said.

According to the statement of European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini posted on the website of the Council of the European Union on July 28, seven European countries — Montenegro, Albania, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Ukraine and Georgia — have confirmed to the Council of the European Union their decision to extend the sanctions regime against Crimea and the city of Sevastopol until June 23, 2016.

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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

Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

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Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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Israel assesses effectiveness, consequences of strike on Iran — media

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French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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"This military whirlpool can drag Europe to the bottom. Brussels is playing with fire and angering God," the Hungarian prime minister said

Israeli Air Force attacks airfield in southern Syria during strike on Iran

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Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

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

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West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

"They would have been scared had anyone come down on them with similar ferocity," the Russian foreign minister added

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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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

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

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

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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

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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

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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

Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost more than 3,550 troops, four tanks and five armored combat vehicles in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past week, the ministry reported

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document

Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

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

Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

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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

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"

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

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

No foreign state attacks Iran — TV

Earlier, the media reported, citing a US official, that Israel had launched a missile strike on a site in Iranian territory

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

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

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

Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

Military commanders of Ukrainian army brigades "lack both personnel and the required amount of equipment" while Russian troops enjoy a considerable superiority, especially in artillery, Sergey Krivonos noted

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

Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

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

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

Kremlin condemns 'illegal' seizure of villa from Russian businessman

Dmitry Peskov underscored that Moscow has already made its position clear on this matter

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 18th

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

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

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

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

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

According to the minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in the event that Israel uses force against Tehran's interests, "the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to use its right to give an immediate and decisive response that will make them regret"