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German defense minister says no plans for creating EU army

According to the German defense ministry’s draft budget, over €37 bln will be allocated to the defense and security spheres

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen John MacDougall, Pool Photo via AP

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen

© John MacDougall, Pool Photo via AP

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Russian lawmaker believes prospects for pan-European Army dim after Brexit

BERLIN, November 23. /TASS/. The possible creation of an EU army is not currently under consideration, German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen said while presenting the ministry’s 2017 draft budget at the Bundestag (German parliament).

"We are not talking about a European army, I want to emphasize that," she said. According to the minister, the EU authorities have been discussing coordination in such spheres as sanitary and logistics services.

At the same time, the German defense minister stated that the EU "should advance the defense and security issues" in order to be able to tackle the challenges coming from the neighboring regions.

According to the German defense ministry’s draft budget, over €37 bln will be allocated to the defense and security spheres which accounts for 1.22% of the country’s GDP. At the same time, the defense ministry plans to double budget allocations to cyber security bringing them up to €400 mln.

Bolivian leader decries fresh US military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

According to Luis Arce, instead of pursuing "the policy of diplomacy and dialogue," the United States opts for "continued war and militarism"

Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Ukrainian troops are holding drills to cross the Dnieper from the right bank to the left bank and capture a large industrial site

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

Post-Soviet security bloc holds arms control consultations in Moscow

The participants in the consultations "stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to prevent further erosion of the relevant international legal framework"

Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Russia continues to "make an important contribution to strengthening of African countries’ potential, including UN Security Council and General Assembly"

US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

Joe Biden directed to send ATACMS to Ukraine in February, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said

German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

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Agreements on security with Iran, Myanmar, Ethiopia to come into force in 2024 — MFA

"A whole number of similar agreements with Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American countries are being worked out," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin added

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Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

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Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

US spends millions of dollars on studying UFOs, 'covers up' information — congressman

Tim Burchett added that "it’s not about little green man or flying saucers, it’s about tens of millions of dollars that our federal government is spending"

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

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Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

Ukraine "is carrying a heavy burden" for the benefit of the EU, and therefore EU member states must "provide Ukraine with means to defend themselves," European Commission president said

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Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

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Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

"Today, under the two countries’ leaders’ special attention, political contacts, exchanges, cooperation in the economic, culture, science and other areas are developing with renewed momentum," Minister Plenipotentiary of the republic's embassy in Russia Lee Yong Zin said

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

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Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

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