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Trump considers Exxon Mobil CEO Tillerson for secretary of state — media reports

According to MSNBC, an announcement about Tillerson’s appointement could be made within a week

NEW YORK, December 11. /TASS/. Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson is a world-class player who does massive deals in Russia, US President-Elect Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News channel.

When asked why a business executive made sense as a chief diplomat, Trump said that Tillerson’s case was "much more than a business executive, he's a world-class player." Trump added that "he knows many of the players, and he knows them well. He does massive deals in Russia - for the company, not for himself."

The interview was recorded before a number of TV channels, including NBC, said that the president-elect was expected to choose Tillerson as secretary of state.

According to MSNBC, an announcement about Tillerson’s appointement could be made within a week.

Tillerson, 64, has been Exxon’s CEO since 2006. Wall Street Journal said earlier that Tillerson "could leverage existing relationships with numerous world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, with whom he has had dealings for more than a decade." "As Exxon’s chief executive, he has spoken against sanctions on Russia," Wall Street Journal pointed out.

Judging by Trump’s statements, the president-elect has also been considering several influential politicians for secretary of state including 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, former NATO's top commander in Europe retired Admiral James Stavridis, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker and former CIA director retired General David Petraeus. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was also one of the candidates but on Friday Donald Trump's transition team announced that he was out of the running for a position in the new presidential administration.

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Slovak president expects PM to brief him on outcome of talks with Putin — agency

According to Peter Pellegrini, the talks between Robert Fico and Vladimir Putin during the conflict in Ukraine "have extremely huge importance in terms of foreign policy"

Russian forces take control of Severny neighborhood in Chasov Yar — Donbass region head

According to Denis Pushilin, Russian forces have been advancing almost along the entire line of engagement in the region

Berlin’s any aggressive action will not remain unanswered — Russian ambassador

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Putin, Slovak PM discuss bilateral relations, energy — Kremlin

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Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

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It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

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Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

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Ukraine may cease to exist by 2034 — Russian security official

Dmitry Medvedev noted that Ukraine will never join NATO

Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

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Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 45,200 — health ministry

More than 107,600 people received wounds

Tehran, Moscow could sign partnership agreement in January 2025 — Iranian MFA

"This will be done at a bilateral meeting in the coming future," Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said

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Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

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Both freight trains loaded with coal collided at the Bushulei-Zhireken railway section

Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

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Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Group of foreign mercenaries taken out in Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

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Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

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Trump’s election victory changed Western approach to Ukrainian conflict, adviser says

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Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Crew, passenger of An-2 plane crashed in Kamchatka satisfactory — medics

All three of them are in satisfactory condition, but it is too early to talk about their discharge, the regional hospital staff said

Topic of Russian gas transit expected to be discussed by Putin, Slovak PM

"We’d better wait for the meeting to end to learn what they discussed," he Dmitry Peskov said

Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

According to the SVR, Maia Sandu recently convened a meeting on energy security issues with senior government officials

Ukrainian troops attempt counterattacks on Vasilyevka direction in Zaporozhye Region

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Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

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Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Russia declassifies intel about France’s plans to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine

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Oil supplies to Hungary via Druzhba pipeline resume — top Hungarian diplomat

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Outbound tourist flow from Russia rises by 17% in 2024 — association

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Germany does not keep substantive contacts with Russia on Nord Stream case — envoy

"How much longer it will last remains to be seen," Sergey Nechaev noted

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Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

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Top Turkish diplomat calls for listing anti-Syrian sanctions

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Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

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Russian missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to become world’s strongest warship after upgrade

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

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Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger take armies to maximum alert — declaration

"The College of national leaders closely follows the deceiving maneuvers, initiated by the French junta, who declares the shutdown of its military bases only to replace them with another, less visible mechanism, which pursues the same neo-colonial goal," says the statement

Houthis say attacked US aircraft carrier in Red Sea, shot down US fighter jet

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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Press review: South Korean president impeached as Ukraine turns to foreign mercenaries

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No real impulses for organization of Putin-Trump meeting so far — Kremlin spokesman

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Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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Syria’s new government wants to build strategic relations with Turkey

Ahmed al-Sharaa also said he will not "tolerate uncontrolled arms trafficking" across the country

Russia considers launching direct flights with Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan — Minister

Roman Starovoyt noted that Russia is holding negotiations with many airlines from friendly countries

Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

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Latest nuclear-powered sub Arkhangelsk to join Russian Navy by yearend

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Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

The Ratnik is a system of advanced protective and communication equipment, weapons and ammunition

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

Ukraine launches over 18 strikes on Russia’s Belgorod Region in past day

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the Borisovsky district was attacked by a UAV, with the roof of a private house being damaged

Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

Currently, the Oryol Region is yet again under a massive enemy UAV attack

Ten dead dolphins found in Russia’s Krasnodar region following oil spill

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Taiwan to set up drone testing facility for global market

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Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Hungary wants to preserve relations with Russia as part of economic neutrality — Orban

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Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

Jet fire reported at drill hole in Russia’s Orenburg Region

According to the statement, there are no casualties

Ukrainian army launches long-range missiles at Donetsk

Air defenses are in operation, and at least six aerial targets have been shot down

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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Syrian development help prevent regional war — Syria’s new leader

Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

Key rate, inflation and criticism of Central Bank: statements by regulator’s chief

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