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Russia’s offer to extend New START Treaty remains in effect, says envoy

Moscow repeatedly called on Washington not to delay the decision on the treaty’s extension, calling the treaty a golden standard in disarmament

WASHINGTON, December 16. /TASS/. Moscow’s proposal to extend the New START treaty for five years without preconditions remains in effect, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said at a video conference, organized by the Georgetown University in Washington DC.

"In December 2019, Russia offered the US to extend the agreement for five years without preconditions," the diplomat reminded. "This proposal is still in effect."

"However, our partners in Washington turned out not to be ready for unconditional extension of the New START in exchange for that extension being short-term, just one year," Antonov said.

Moscow repeatedly called on Washington not to delay the decision on the treaty’s extension, calling the treaty a golden standard in disarmament. On October 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to extend the New START for at least one year without preconditions.

The Trump administration previously proposed to increase the number of signatories, inviting China, but Beijing rejected this idea. The US President-Elect Joe Biden spoke in favor of prolongation of the current treaty.

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Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

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Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

Meanwhile, Scholz will visit Magdeburg to assess the situation later on Saturday

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

Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

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

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According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

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According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

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

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

Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

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Russian sleeper agents open up about secret trip to 2018 World Cup

The married couple, Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, returned home as a result of an exchange

Biden signs bill to fund US government until March 14, 2025

The US Senate and House of Representatives approved the bill a day before

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

According to Andrey Kelin, the UK’s official reaction to the launch of the Oreshnik missile was rather vague

Syrian armed groups to merge into one under auspices of the country's Defense Ministry

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the militant leader of the main group driving the Syrian armed opposition, met with the leaders of the armed groups and discussed with them the new format of the Syrian army

Brazil unveils BRICS logo for 2025

The emblem is based on the kapok tree growing in the Amazon, painted in the colors of the national flags of the community's states

Kremlin mum on reports about Slovakian prime minister's plans to visit Moscow

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier that the Slovak prime minister intended to hold talks with Putin on December 23 amid Vladimir Zelensky's refusal to extend gas transit through Ukraine

Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

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Russian Defense Minister stressed that Ukraine had almost run out of its own weapons of Soviet manufacture

Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

The sources also told the Financial Times that Donald Trump intends to continue the military aid to Ukraine despite the statements he made during his presidential campaign

Possible arrival of new Russian envoy before Trump’s inauguration depends on US — diplomat

"However, since he is a very prominent and experienced diplomat, I think the host country should have no doubt that he will show a high level of professionalism and his efforts will aim to at least slightly improve bilateral relations," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted

Scholz, German Interior Minister booed during visit to terrorist attack site — newspaper

A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting "Get out!"

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

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TASS has compiled the key facts behind the deadly attack

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"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

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Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

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The upper chamber of the parliament wrapped up its autumn session

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

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Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

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Russia’s Energy Minister adding that the US LNG is "uncompetitive as of today"

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

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Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

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

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Moscow lets US media freely work in Russia, despite opposite situation in US, Putin says

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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

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

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Russia’s first two helicopter carriers to be laid down in Crimea in spring 2020 — sources

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West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

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Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

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Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

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Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

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