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NATO to continue cooperating with EU on hybrid threats, migration

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says a joint statement on NATO-EU relations is foreseen

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

© AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

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EU, NATO push OSCE away from European policy — Russia’s OSCE envoy

BRUSSELS, May 20. /TASS/. NATO will continue cooperation with the European Union (EU), North Atlantic Alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.

"I foresee a joint statement on NATO-EU relations. It will identify key areas for expanding our cooperation. Including fighting hybrid and cyber threats, supporting our partners in defense capacity building, and increasing maritime security," Stoltenberg said before the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on cooperation with the European Union.

"NATO and the EU share 22 member states. And more than 90% of the EU population live in a NATO country," Stoltenberg said adding that "we both work better when we work together.".

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UN secretary general urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to normalize relations

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Russian defense chief checks implementation of orders to develop drones

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

MIFF President Nikita Mikhalkov, a celebrated Russian film director, declared the festival open, praising the bravery of foreign cultural figures who are visiting Russia at this time

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

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

The plane crashed in a field in the Krasnogvardeysky district of southern Russia’s Stavropol Region

Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Ukrainian drones continue to fly over Zaporozhye NPP — press service

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It is reported that several drones had been intercepted by the national air defense forces over Isfahan

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

North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

A power test of a super-large warhead designed for "Hwasal-1 Ra-3" strategic cruise missile was held as well

US agrees to withdraw troops from Niger — Washington Post

The decision was sealed in a meeting between US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Niger’s prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

Funding will be provided from the federal, regional and local budgets, as well as taxes from gambling transferred to the organizer

Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

The first negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after the start of the special military operation took place in early March 2022 in Belarus, but they did not bring tangible results

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed the mobilization law passed by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) in the second and final reading on April 11

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The Foreign Minister pointed to the fact that Switzerland is on board with all Western sanctions

Two people killed in borderline Belgorod Region in Ukrainian drone attack — governor

According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, a private residence in the village of Poroz caught fire when the unmanned aerial vehicles dropped two explosive devices

Russian economy positively influences neighboring countries — Deputy PM

In 2023 the Russian economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, Alexey Overchuk said

Ukraine’s new ethnic minorities law insufficient to protect Magyars — Hungarian president

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North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

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Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost roughly 590 troops over the past day, the ministry reported

Global economy’s condition improving — Russian Deputy PM

The process is largely driven by increasing contribution of developing countries, Alexey Overchuk 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

Russia, Turkey discuss safety of Russian tourists abroad

The Turkish side informed their Russian colleagues about the measures taken to improve the quality control of services in Turkish hotels in terms of food, excursion services, and use of infrastructure

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

Russian Cabinet expands list of perfumery, cosmetic products subjected to import duty

"The effect of the customs duty totaling 35%, renewed in December 203 in respected of imported perfumery, cosmetics and home care products will cover certain new positions of these products from unfriendly countries," the ministry said

Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

Russia urges the International Monetary Fund to resume the effort of improving the global monetary and financial system, Anton Siluanov noted

Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

Water level of Ishim River in Russia’s Tyumen Region surpasses dangerous mark

It has reached 911 centimeters

Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

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

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

According to Faustin-Archange Touadera, since becoming the president, his actions have been guided by the need "to modernize the army and take into account new challenges"

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

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The man set himself on fire

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

According to the media outlet, "the US administration will support the plan for a military operation in Rafah put forward earlier," which provides for dividing the city into numbered sectors that will be mopped up one by one

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

G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

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Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Russia’s top diplomat noted that Josep Borrell may made the statement in a moment of weakness

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Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024

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US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

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About 30 events in 26 countries to be held as part of Russian Film Festival — minister

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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

Russian military closely monitors all Ukrainian 'novelties' — Kremlin on UAVs

Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine had developed a UAV with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers

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

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MTS Bank IPO double oversubscribed — source

It became known on April 12 that MTS Bank was to hold its IPO on the Moscow Exchange, following which Russian mobile operator MTS would keep its majority stake in the bank’s equity

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

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Israeli troops continue raids in West Bank — TV

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli security forces have killed at least five people over the past 24 hours

Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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

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Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

There are no casualties, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said

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

Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

The group contains US finance and justice ministers, representatives of Australia, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan, as well as the European Commission

Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

The conference will take place from April 23 to 25 in St. Petersburg

NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

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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

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

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

Russia's revenues from oil exports remain high despite price ceiling — IMF

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West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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

BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that BRICS nations have already established a special channel for information exchange between their central banks

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

The tragedy occurred near the village of Priyutnoye located on the border of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye Region

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'"

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

Israeli aviation strikes towns in Gaza Strip

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World’s anti-doping agency WADA still waits for Russia’s 2023 financial contribution

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Court arrests another man accused of blowing up car of former SBU officer in Moscow

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West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

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

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US assured Israel that Iranian drones will be intercepted — US journalist Hersh

He also said that the US military contacted Russia and the United Kingdom while evaluating the potential of the Iranian attack

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

Two shelling attacks on the positions of Syrian government army by the Jabhat al-Nusra groups were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone

Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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