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Foreign leaders’ participation in SPIEF

The 22nd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held on May 24-26

© Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS

MOSCOW, May 23. /TASS/. On May 24-26, 2018, the 22nd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held. French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera and other high-ranking guests are expected to attend the event.

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Over its entire history (since 1998), 35 leaders of foreign states from 30 countries have taken part in the SPIEF.

The first foreign head of state who attended the forum in 1998 was Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (he later visited the SPIEF in 2007 and 2008). Among the G20 leaders who took part in the forum were French President Nicolas Sarkozy (2010), Chinese Presidents Hu Jintao (2011) and Xi Jinping (2015), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2013), Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (2016) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2017).

Frequent guests of the SPIEF were Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (2005, 2007-2009) and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (2007, 2008, 2011 and 2016). Finland’s presidents also visited the forum four times - Tarja Halonen three times (2006, 2009 and 2011) and Sauli Niinisto once (2012).

The highest number of foreign guests - 12 - were present at the SPIEF in 2008, when the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held in the framework of the forum. Besides the CIS leaders, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski came to St. Petersburg.

Last year, the SPIEF was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Moldovan President Igor Dodon, South Ossetian President Anatony Bibilov, Abkhazian President Raul Khajimba and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern. Among other guests were UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Managing Director (MD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde and Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Mohammed Barkindo.

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Sum of fines imposed on Google in three years exceeds $241 mln

Meanwhile, the number of blocked Russian YouTube channels keeps growing, the agency said

Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

Chad asks France to withdraw its troops by January 31, 2025

According to a source close to the Chadian authorities, the previous plan to withdraw the troops by March did not suit the African side

Russian cosmonauts install X-ray spectrometer on Zvezda module’s exterior

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European Union spends 130 bln euro to support Ukraine — von der Leyen

According to her, the EU accounts for 47% of weapons sent to Ukraine with around 40% being provided by the United States

West pushing Kiev to continue conflict — France’s Le Pen

Marine Le Pen told the newspaper that she believes US President-elect Donald Trump can get Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky to hold talks and a diplomatic solution will be found

Orban ready to discuss Christmas ceasefire with Zelensky

The prime minister was asked about this during his speech to the Patriots for Europe faction of Members of the European Parliament, which took place before the EU leaders' meeting

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

"But he will be taken care of by those people whose interests he is serving now," the Russian leader said

Ukraine will soon run out of willing fighters, Putin says

The head of state pointed out that ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had said at some point that Ukraine "needs to keep fighting until the last Ukrainian"

Iraq returns over 1,900 servicemen who fled Syria during opposition’s advance

The Iraqi authorities urged Syria’s current government to ensure the security of the returning military, guarantee their amnesty and reunification with families

IAEA team travels to Ukraine to assess condition of electrical substations

The inspectors will assess seven electrical substations on which the country’s NPPs allegedly "depend to safely generate electricity," according to the post

Ukraine deprives European countries of access to Russian gas — Putin

The Russian leader noted that Ukraine could exist only with support from the West, particularly from Europe

Press review: EU imposes new anti-Russian sanctions and Russia braces for NATO conflict

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Putin begins his Q&A session combined with major press conference

According to Alexandra Suvorova, the number of appeals exceeded 2.2 million by the start of the program

Putin to sum up results of outgoing Year of the Family

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Russian public may one day decide to bury Lenin proper, Putin speculates

The Russian president still noted that "today, especially in today’s Russia, we must not do anything that could divide the country"

Putin points to growing strength of Russian Armed Forces

The president noted that the 155th Marine Brigade of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, the 810th Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, and the 76th and 106th airborne divisions were engaged in fighting in the Kursk Region, along with motorized riflemen and mechanized infantry units from the Northern Military District

Venezuela’s Maduro reveals ultra-right plot to trigger civil war in South American nation

Plots and attempts to destabilize the situation in Venezuela had been "foiled by military and police units, as well as judicial and law enforcement forces," Nicolas Maduro stated

Lavrov explains Russia’s position on Ukrainian settlement to Swiss counterpart

"The Russian side stressed the inadmissibility of NATO’s eastwards expansion, which was among the key reasons of the current situation, which made the special military operation unavoidable," the statement reads

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

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Putin says he wells up with pride when Russians succeed, same as with his own family

The president noted that Russia was not just about vast territories but also about its people, history, culture and traditions

Russia’s Federation Council to discuss 80 bills before going on recess

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Russian air defenses destroy 36 Ukrainian drones over different regions

It is reported that on-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 16 Ukrainian UAVs over the Krasnodar Region

Putin shrugs off potential deployment of US THAAD missile defense systems in Ukraine

According to the Russian president, there are a lot of "our men" in Ukraine who want to liberate their country from neo-Nazism and Russia is maintaining ties with them

Putin to take wait-and-see approach with Russian bases in Syria

"The vast majority of the countries of the region tell us that they would like our military bases to stay up in Syria," the Russian president stated

US keeps silent its money turns Zelensky regime into terrorist cell — Russian MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, the State Department "did not hesitate to include blatant falsehoods in its report"

Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

"Let them choose a target, say, in Kiev, and amass their air and missile defense systems there, while we will launch an Oreshnik missile at the target," the Russian leader said

Russia to combat high inflation — Putin

The President emphasized that Russia took first place in Europe in purchasing power parity, leaving the United Kingdom well behind

Spain expands deliveries of lethal weapons to Ukraine — Russian ambassador

Yury Klimenko welcomed both the embargo imposed by Spain already after October 7, 2023 on arms shipments to the Middle East conflict zone, and the words of the Spanish prime minister to the international community with a call to follow the example of his country

Russian gas importers to receive deferral on payments via Gazprombank until April 1, 2025

Since April 2022, under the presidential decree, buyers from unfriendly countries paid for supplies using special type K accounts in Gazprombank

Israel Defense Forces reports killing two field commanders in West Bank

Tarek Doush was eliminated in a strike by an IDF aircraft, and Dossam Awfi, a significant military operative in the Tulkarm terrorist network, was also eliminated together with two additional terrorists

Press review: Israel and Hamas near a truce while Zelensky drafts a new negotiation plan

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 19th

Putin’s proposal for talks meant for Trump, not Zelensky — analyst

"Putin is ready for dialogue, Trump is ready for dialogue, but the dialogue will be hard and tough," Vladimir Zharikhin, deputy director at the Institute of CIS Countries, said

Putin says he is always ready to talk to or meet with Trump

The Russian leader noted that he did not know when he would meet with the US president-elect

Russia’s UN envoy criticizes US for double standards on AI technologies

If US continues with approaches of the past - imposing rules on others while simultaneously freeing themselves from these rules - it will repeat its historical mistakes, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said

Ukrainian army floundering, while Russian forces continue to advance — Putin

"The enemy is unable to gain a foothold in the positions where it has retreated," the Russian president noted

Outgoing US administration to continue aid to Kiev until Trump’s inauguration

US administration currently has $5.6 to help Ukraine under the PDA mechanism, and another $1.13 - under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder said

Terror attack on Israeli consulate thwarted in New York

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the detained suspect was a supporter of terrorist organizations

Putin says critics who insult him tell on themselves

According to the Russian president, people do it "because of their impotence"

What is known about apprehension of perpetrator of terror attack on Russian general

The suspect admitted to being recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services

Putin describes Oreshnik missile as cutting-edge Russian weapon

While Western anti-missile systems have seen "substantial" upgrades, no one will ever be able to shoot down Oreshnik missiles, the Russian leader boasted

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

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

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The An-2 airplane with two crew members and one passenger was transporting 800 kg of commercial cargo on the Milkovo - Ossora route

Missing plane’s beacon signal detected in Kamchatka

The plane is yet to be found, Kamchatka emergencies minister Sergey Lebedev said

Russian forces setting up fire pocket for Ukrainian troops in Kharkov area — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that if the Ukrainian command "does not react to these risks in time," up to a battalion of Ukrainian soldiers will be pushed against the Lozovaya River, cut off from any routes of retreat

Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

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During Maduro’s inauguration, Russia to be represented at due level — diplomat

The invitation was sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin

US has 2,000 troops in Syria, up from previously reported 900 — Pentagon

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Yemeni Houthis say they struck military target in Tel Aviv with drone

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria added that the unmanned aerial vehicle "has successfully reached its target"

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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European nations discussing deployment of up to 100,000 troops to Ukraine — agency

The sources also point out that "the debate so far revealed confusion over whether a future European mission would undertake a traditional peacekeeping role, such as monitoring a ceasefire line, or provide a robust deterrent against" Russia

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NATO secretary general claimed that Western states should focus on arms shipments to Ukraine

Scholz, Trump agree conflict in Ukraine goes on for too long

"The sides paid special attention to the issues of security policy in Europe," German Government Spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said

Russian army’s combat readiness now highest worldwide — Putin

"We are increasing production of everything necessary for our army and navy," the Russian leader said

Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported about explosions in the capital, and local authorities informed about the work of air defenses

Syria’s new leader assures new authorities have no ties to Al Qaeda

"Now I am acting in Syria’s supreme interests," Ahmed al-Sharaa said, adding that he never took part in hostilities in Iraq

Armenia agrees not to deploy third countries’ forces on border with Azerbaijan — PM

"Once the border delimitation process is over, there will be no need for the presence of third countries’ forces at any sector along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border," Nikol Pashinyan said

Putin says he gained much from former French President Jacques Chirac

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EU determined to keep Russian assets frozen until compensation paid to Kiev — resolution

The decisions of the European Council are legally binding for the EU institutions and all its member states, and can only be revised by a unanimous resolution of another summit

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Ukrainian units in Kurakhovo ordered to hold ground until Trump’s inauguration — official

According to Vladimir Rogov, Russian assault teams in the city continue to advance westward

Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

According to Maxim Grigoryev, videos of interviews with witnesses and preliminary forensic examination of the bodies indicate that most of the victims are elderly women

Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

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

Zelensky admits the impossibility of reclaiming Donbass, Crimea

Vladimir Zelensky responded negatively when asked whether Kiev could temporarily abandon its claims to Crimea or Donbass

Special military op evolves, Russia liberates territory by kilometers — Putin

The Russian leader characterized what is happening on the line of engagement as "a classic of the development of combat operations"

No military logic behind Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region — Putin

Many experts have noted that Ukraine’s "operation" in the Kursk Region is ambiguous in its nature

Russia to press for return of its diplomatic property under new US government — diplomat

"We remain focused on the issue, so the new administration should be prepared that that we will constantly ‘pester’ them in that regard," Sergey Ryabkov said

Putin reflects on his talks with former German Chancellor Kohl

The Russian president praised Helmut Kohl as a "pivotal political figure of our time"

Putin says Russia should have launched special op earlier

The Russian leader recalled that the 2014 events in Crimea had been spontaneous

Putin's message on Moscow’s course in Syria neutral, Russians’ safety is priority — expert

According to Boris Dolgov, external actors should not be discounted either, since "Israel may well expand its zone of occupation, which may cause some kind of response"

Russia getting stronger, will make decisions regardless of opinions of others — Putin

According to the Russian president, the state of the economy and the strengthening of defense capabilities allow Russia to depend little on anyone

Medvedev suggests that Elon Musk launch campaign to amend US Constitution

Article II of the US Constitution stipulates that: "No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President"

Russia achieves key objective in Syria — Putin

According to head of state, the groups that fought against Syrian government forces have gone through major internal changes

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 520 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy howitzers in its area of responsibility over the past day

Witnesses confirm involvement of detained suspect in Russian general’s assassination

"The sufficiency of information about the crime and Kurbonov’s involvement is confirmed by testimony from the affected persons and eyewitnesses, crime scene examination, study of material evidence and documents, and other evidence as a whole," according to case files

Hungary takes US sanctions against Gazprombank as political revenge — Szijjarto

The Hungarian foreign minister stressed that the American sanctions against Gazprombank affected those countries where governments are in power that pursue independent policies

Putin calls issue of Vladimir Lenin’s burial extremely sensitive

"These are certainly not the questions to be addressed during a Q&A session or press conference," the head of state said, commenting on several remarks by a reporter

Armenian premier sees no reason to preserve OSCE Minsk Group

Nikol Pashinyan told the country’s parliament in June that the OSCE Minsk Group, comprising Russia, the United States and France, de-facto stopped its work after February 2022

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

The president noted that Russia had become much stronger over the past two or three years as it became a truly sovereign country

Russia ready to work with UK, but only if interest mutual, says Putin

As the head of state stressed, if that did not happen, Russia would be fine "without our former allies in the anti-Hitler coalition"

Russian troops break through Ukrainian defenses near Oskol Reservoir in Kharkov Region

The new positions will enable Russian troops to advance further in that frontline area and deliver more effective strikes on the enemy, Andrey Marochko specified

High-ranking US diplomat to visit Damascus soon — Axios

According to the portal, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf will pay a visit to Damascus

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

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

German Armed Forces to upgrade its Taurus missiles — report

According to the report, the agreement aims to keep the systems functional so that they can potentially be used in modern conflicts

Total number of messages to Putin’s Direct Line surpasses 2.5 mln

Meanwhile, the number of messages to the president using social media beat last year’s record

Diplomat calls UN rights commissioner out for hypocrisy over Kirillov killing

The Russian diplomat recalled that a few months ago, when terrorist methods were used in Lebanon to detonate pagers and other electronic devices, the high commissioner himself and OHCHR experts promptly issued condemnations, calling for a thorough investigation of the incident

Nuclear doctrine, special op, Oreshnik missile: what Putin said at Direct Line Q&A session

According to the head of state, the situation in the special military operation zone is "changing significantly"

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

According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

Abkhazian lawmaker accused of fatal shooting in the country’s parliament

"Lawmaker Adgur Kharazia, who fled the scene, is suspected of the shooting," acting Interior Minister Robert Kiut said

Ukrainian forces try leaving positions southwest of DPR’s Krasnoarmeysk — security service

It is reported that Ukrainian positions in the settlement are under intense artillery fire by the Russian Armed Forces

Strikes on Yemen by Israel, US serve as aggression against all Arabs — Hezbollah

Hezbollah views Israel's actions as a continuation of the war against Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, backed by the Yemeni Houthi rebel Ansar Allah movement, the statement reads

Russian, Uzbek security agents work to identify accomplices in general’s killing in Moscow

"The special services of the Republic of Uzbekistan are doing all they can to provide assistance," the agency said

Zelensky describes Hungarian PM’s ceasefire proposal as political PR stunt

Vladimir Zekensky claimed that "the Hungarian prime minister has no mandate to hold talks"

Russia interested in attracting high-skilled professionals — Putin

For doing this a special program has been developed in Russia, though, "probably, not everything works efficiently so far," the Russian president said

Russia to retaliate to Kiev’s attack by Western missiles on Rostov Region — top brass

The attack was carried out by six US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles and four Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles

Russian troops advance towards Neskuchnoye in Donbass region

Vladimir Rogov told TASS on December 17 that Russian troops had approached the outskirts of Storozhevoye from the side of the liberated settlements of Makarovka and Blagodatnoye and engaged in battles for that community

Armenian Airlines to resume flights to Moscow, other Russian cities on December 20

The airline suspended all flights for aircraft maintenance purposes on October 14

Russian nuclear defense chief's aide Ilya Polikarpov killed in Moscow explosion

Ilya Polikarpov had been involved in humanitarian activities with TASS and the Russian Heritage Foundation

Zelensky’s rudeness towards Orban shows lack of culture in Kiev regime — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that the Kiev regime refused to support Viktor Orban’s efforts, while Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the contrary, did support them