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Four subgroups of Contact Group on Ukraine begin talks in Minsk

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry says the meeting of the Contact Group will begin later in the day

MINSK, August 26. /TASS/. All four subgroups of the Contact Group on the settlement in eastern Ukraine have begun consultations in the Belarusian capital, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"Meetings of four working subgroups on various aspects of the settlement in eastern Ukraine are underway in Minsk," the ministry said on Twitter.

The meeting of the Contact Group will begin in the Belarusian capital later in the day.

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

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Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

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Oreshnik test aims to persuade West to avoid escalation in Ukraine — media

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Russian troops destroy Ukrainian fortification in LPR’s Makeyevka, strengthen positions

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Putin's speech shows West that Russia won’t waver, is ready for any scenario — expert

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Russia hit Ukrainian military-industrial facility in response to use of Western missiles

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Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

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Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

It is pointed out that Simion’s popularity has propelled him to number two in the polls after Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu

Trump nominates Pam Bondi for US attorney general

Former Florida attorney general is smart and tough, and she "will do a terrific job as Attorney General," US president-elect said

US, NATO decision on strikes continues policy of escalation — Putin

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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US decision to allow missile strikes deep into Russia fuels global escalation — Slovak PM

Robert Fico also rejected the belief that this escalation would not impact "those living far away, in Spain, England, or America"

US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

Iran begins installation of three new generations of centrifuges to enrich uranium — TV

The decision was reportedly made in response to the anti-Iran resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Russia interested in security of Baltic undersea infrastructure — embassy in Denmark

"It is important to ensure a thorough investigation and clarify the reasons why underwater cables in the Baltic Sea are now out of order," embassy said

Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

According to the president, the missile is code-named Oreshnik, which can roughly be translated as hazel bush

IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia

US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention