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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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Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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It is reported that the defense unit has not been affected

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The inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for May 7

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Latvia digging anti-tank ditches on border with Russia, Belarus — media

Kaspars Lazdins noted that once the ditches were ready, the so-called dragon’s teeth barriers would be set up on the border

Indonesia, Saudi Arabia to convince EU to prevent confiscation of Russian assets — FT

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Ukraine's intelligence recognizes impossibility of victory on battlefield

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Russian Foreign Ministry calls new US sanctions 'another act of trade war'

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The ex-Pentagon adviser Douglas Macgregor also noted the continued Russian advance on the front line