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Belarus will not abandon its national currency within integration with Russia — official

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on December 23 that additional support to Belarus would be possible only after all integration roadmaps were put into practice

© Viktor Drachev/TASS

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MINSK, December 29. /TASS/. Belarus will not abandon its national currency or any other currency within integration with Russia, Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Krutoy said on Sunday.

"As for the matter of trust to the national currency and absolutely empty talk that we are going to abandon the Belarusian ruble and use some other currency as part of the integration program, it is absolute nonsense," Krutoy told Belarus 1 TV channel.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on December 23 that additional support to Belarus would be possible only after all integration roadmaps were put into practice. He said that the remaining 31st roadmap on subnational institutions, single currency and single emission center had not yet been agreed.

Later, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station that Minsk and Moscow were not even discussing the issue of establishing subnational institutions.

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Qatar suspends mediation efforts in Gaza talks — diplomat

Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari emphasized that if Hamas and Israel seek to end the conflict, Doha will be among the first to "exert all efforts to end the war and release hostages and Palestinian prisoners

Pentagon confirms lifting of ban on entry into Ukraine for US military contractors

The Department made this decision "after careful risk assessment and in coordination with interagency stakeholders," the official said

Biden, Harris aides blame each other for presidential election loss

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s contender, in the November 5 election

Zelensky to try to rebrand himself as peacemaker after Trump's victory — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk explained that no one asks Zelensky's opinion anymore

Putin calls racist stereotyped ideas of 'civilized West,' 'barbarism' of other peoples

The Russian leader added that a sustainable international order can be based only on the principles of sovereign equality

US citizen shared with Russia locations of Ukrainian army targets since February 11, 2022

The information received from him over two years was repeatedly used to inflict losses on Ukraine’s infrastructure, equipment and personnel, the security services said

Ukraine’s army chief preparing troop retreat from Kursk area — lawmaker

Maryana Bezuglaya also proposed that Syrsky himself stay in the Kursk Region

Mutual interest in place to expand ties between African Union, Eurasian Economic Union

The parties also affirm the mutual disposition towards strengthening the comprehensive Russian-African partnership for purposes of supporting peace, security, stability, and establishment of conditions for sustainable development

Battlegroup West’s artillery destroys Ukrainian MLRS Olkha — Russian Defense Ministry

After analyzing the intelligence received, a decision was made to destroy the enemy's combat vehicle, the report said

Trump's headquarters denies alignment with his adviser — news agency

"Bryan Lanza was a contractor for the campaign. He does not work for President Trump and does not speak for him," Reuters reported, citing an unnamed representative of Trump's transition team

Trump sees possibility of talks with Putin

The president-elect went on to say that he had already talked to approximately 70 world leaders

Gas supply by Gazprom for Europe through Ukraine to Sudzha totals 42.4 mcm

On the previous day, the pumping equaled 42.4 million cubic meters

Bloodshed in Ukraine to end soon, Musk says

The Axios portal reported earlier that Musk took part in a phone call between Trump and Vladimir Zelensky

Stupinets fast attack craft to be handed over to Russian Navy in 2025 — source

The main strike weapon of the Project 12418 fast attack missile boat is the Uran anti-ship missile system fitted with Kh-35 missiles

Trump vows to settle conflict in Ukraine before his inauguration

He also pledged to prevent World War Three

Western plot to strategically defeat Russia failed — Shoigu

It is noted that the countries where color revolutions, supported by the West, took place had experienced "decreased living standards, weakened economic potential, the uncontrolled drain of capital and resources, and, in the worst-case scenario, the country becoming an instrument for implementing the interests of Western elites"

West allocates money to Kiev to detriment of aid to Africa — diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also added that "Russia supports all those who need not imaginary patronage, but real defense"

Putin congratulates staff, veterans with Interior Ministry Personnel Day

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Putin stressed once again that Russia did not see the Western civilization as an enemy

Russia ready to supply Su-57E fifth-generation fighter to foreign partners — UAC

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Russian troops cut off Zaporozhye-Kurakhovo highway — official

Previously, press officer of Ukraine’s 33rd Brigade Nazar Voytenkov said on Ukrainian Liberty (deemed foreign agent and undesirable in Russia) that Ukrainian forces may get surrounded under Kurakhovo on the Kiev-controlled part of the Donetsk People’s Republic

Qatari diplomat denies reports of closure of Hamas political bureau office in Doha

Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari emphasized that the main purpose of locating the Hamas political bureau office in Doha was to maintain "a channel of communication between the parties concerned"

Trump’s leadership key to quick resolution of Ukraine conflict, says Erdogan

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Baku, Yerevan close to final agreement on peace treaty — Aliyev

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Putin's speech at Valdai Forum gives a chance to end Ukrainian conflict — expert

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Pompeo, Haley will not be invited to new administration — Trump

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First responders and representatives from the local administration were dispatched to the site of the incident

US missile defense system in Romania threatens Russia’s security, says diplomat

The US missile defense system Aegis Ashore was deployed at the Deveselu Military Base in May 2016

Trump's ideas on Ukraine to be more favorable to Moscow than Kiev — US expert

"Given the current status quo on the ground, the settlement is likely to favor Russia more than Ukraine," Michael Desch said

Senior Russian lawmaker urges African countries to check US labs on their territory

In addition, according to Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker Irina Yarovaya, African countries need to "maximize the line of defense of life and safety" of their citizens

Russian, Ukrainian ombudspersons meet in Belarus

Russian Human Rights Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova noted that the sides "discussed further humanitarian cooperation in providing assistance to civilians, including efforts to locate those missing"

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Hamas did not receive official notice to leave Qatar — TV

The AFP news agency reported that the Qatari side had refused to mediate between Israel and Hamas

Ukraine needs to adopt 'realistic vision for peace, ’ Crimea is Russian — Trump adviser

Bryan Lanza also criticized the Democratic administration's policy toward Ukraine

Air balloon capable of increasing FPV drones’ range to 40 km to be tested in combat zone

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Elon Musk takes part in Trump-Zelensky phone call — Axios

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Putin announces era of radical, revolutionary changes

As the Russian leader noted, the society gets "to not only comprehend, but be direct participants of the extremely complex processes"

Russia dealing with tragic consequences of Soviet foreign policy of mid-1980s — Putin

He pointed out that in the middle of the 1980s, the Soviet Union had called for ending ideological confrontation, overcoming the legacy of the Cold War, and removing the barriers preventing common integration and universal development

Russian military blocked two Ukrainian groups of 15,000 troops in total — Putin

About 10,000 Ukrainian troops are blocked on the bank of a water reservoir. In another area near Kupyansk, about 5,000 troops are blocked, Russian President said

Russia signs documents on military cooperation with 33 African countries — advisor

Anton Kobyakov also noted that delegations from 54 countries and 45 African ministers are taking part in the first Russia-Africa ministerial conference

А-50 plane that was attacked never flew into Ukraine — Lukashenko

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Russia ratifies comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with North Korea

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Ukraine loses over 300 troops in borderline Kursk area over past day — top brass

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EU foreign policy chief Borrell arrives in Kiev for official visit

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Russia pounds Ukrainian military-industrial sector, army, mercenaries’ sites over week

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Binance chief says Trump’s victory ushers in golden age for cryptocurrencies — newspaper

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Qatar stops mediation efforts in Gaza ceasefire talks — news agency

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Europe interested in Ukraine as subject of confrontation — Iran’s top diplomat

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Russian troops destroy group of foreign mercenaries in Kharkov area

Two militants sustained wounds incompatible with life and one militant was hospitalized in severe condition, Andrey Marochko specified

Medvedev sees West waging real war on Russia in Ukraine

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Russian air defenses destroy two Ukrainian drones over Bryansk Region

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Hezbollah attacks Israeli air base near Tel Aviv

According to the statement, the training camp of an Israeli airborne brigade in the Carmel settlement in the western Galilee came under missile attack

Russia’s Battlegroup East suppressed Ukrainian engineering team actions

The adversary lost four fixed-wing type drones and an ammunition supply point over the day, Battlegroup Spokesperson Oleg Chekhov said

Battlegroup Center inflicts damage on units of five Ukrainian brigades — spokesman

The enemy lost up to 460 troops, Alexander Savchuk said

Relations with Russia to improve for mutual benefit, says Finnish President Stubb

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Russia’s only candidate for post of US ambassadort still under considerations — diplomat

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Russia downs 23 Ukrainian drones over four regions last night

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Hezbollah attacked Israeli military base

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Trump to push Ukraine to talks with Russia — Swiss expert

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Russia not rejecting dollar use — Putin

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Iran successfully used Russian-made radar to track US F-35 jets — designer

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