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Russia’s withdrawal from WTO unreasonable, says minister

Russia is now able to protect the interests of domestic enterprises, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov stressed

MOSCOW, June 10. /TASS/. It is unreasonable for Russia to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO) now, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said addressing the State Duma’s deputies on Wednesday.

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"It took us very long, almost 16 years, to enter the organization. All expected maximum benefits and results. It is very challenging to calculate the result in terms of value. <…> Unfortunately, amid the current situation in the world, hardly anybody takes notice of the WTO and [countries] assume preferential measures. We also protect our industry using all means possible to be applied within the framework of civilized rules considering the WTO. I do not think that it is reasonable to withdraw today as we have already adjusted to those conditions," he said when answering a question from one of the deputies.

Russia is able to protect the interests of domestic enterprises now, the minister added. "Around 30 applications have been filed by Russia in WTO courts, which are being considered. Consideration is long, but at least such an opportunity exists, we did not have it previously," he noted.

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 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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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

Everything depends on its content and the approach of the team of US President-elect Donald Trump are important, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said

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

Russia recognizes Ukrainian businessman Akhmetov as extremist

According to the Justice Ministry, the Ukrainian businessman belongs to the group which "is based on ideological and property interests clearly aimed against Russia"

Banks find opportunity to work under sanctions — Central Bank chief

It does not mean there will be no such risks in the future but it is very important in this regard for the financial stable to remain stable, Elvira Nabiullina 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

Russia has no concerns about who attends Trump's inauguration — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, this issue lies "on the periphery" for Moscow, and Russia views it "detachedly"

Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Ship with Syrian-Egyptian crew sends distress call in Kerch Strait

According to international law, the ship can be seized if wages are not paid

Putin agrees 'Russian world' now faces war

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Social facilities, homes damaged by Ukrainian missile attack on Rylsk — acting governor

"The buildings of the House of Culture, physical fitness center, teachers’ training college, school, firefighting depot and private households were damaged," Alexander Khinshtein said

Acting Kursk region governor revises death toll in Rylsk attack down to five

The number of those injured in the missile attack was revised up to 12 from 10

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

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

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

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

US grants 3-month exemption from sanctions on Gazprombank for Hungary — Orban

Hungary will now be in a relatively safe position for several months, the prime minister said

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

Kherson Region governor says Ukraine tries to make people leave Kherson City

According to Vladimir Saldo, Ukrainian authorities are stopping the provision of humanitarian aid to people

Bank of Russia keeping close eye on prevention of excessive cooling of economy

The regulator said earlier following its board meeting that the cooling of credit activity has already encompassed all segments of the credit market

US Congress passes stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown

As many as 85 senators backed the bill, while 11 voted against it

Russian forces create bridgehead near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy in Kharkov Region — expert

Ukrainian forces have been shifting significant reserves to this settlement, including fresh recruits with little to no training, to retain Kupyansk

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

The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

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

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

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Regional authorities confirm deaths of five people in Magdeburg Christmas market attack

A BMW driver ploughed his car into an outdoor Christmas market in downtown Magdeburg on Friday night

Putin declares 2025 year of defender of Fatherland

The Russian president made the announcement at a meeting of the State Council

Scholz says he intends to continue to speak directly with Putin in future

The German Chancellor claimed he intended to "make clear" to the Russian leader the need for his contribution to ending the conflict and withdrawing troops

Heat supply cut off in almost 90 houses in Rylsk in wake of Ukrainian attack — official

According to Alexander Khinshtein, repair teams are working at the site

Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Russia’s capture of two DPR settlements paves way for liberation of Kurakhovo — official

Vladimir Rogov also noted that the liberation of Zelenovka and Novy Komar hastens the process of liberating major logistics hubs

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"

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

Kiev’s Western patrons complicit in recent attack on senior Russian general — UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya recalled that Igor Kirillov had repeatedly presented evidence of the military activity of US laboratories in Ukraine

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

Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region town kills 6, injures 10 — official

The interim governor called the shelling of Rylsk a huge tragedy and expressed condolences to the loved ones of the victims

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

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

In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

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

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

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

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

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All emergency response services are working at the site of the strike

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

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

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

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Russia calls Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights unacceptable — MFA

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

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

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

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Ukrainian unit of machine-gunners disguised as Russian soldiers shoots civilians — captive

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Russian diplomats doing their best to release Gaza hostages — ambassador

Anatoly Viktorov expressed his wholehearted support to the family of Yelena Trufanova whose son Alexander is still being held hostage in the Palestinian enclave

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

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Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

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Ship with sailors from Syria, Egypt sends distress signal in Kerch Strait

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

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As many as 70% of soldiers desert from reinforcements sent to Kurakhovo — politician

The situation is similar at several other sections of the frontline in the DPR

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

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Orban does not intend to react to Zelensky's provocations, will remain calm

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Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Russia forgives Somalia's Soviet-era debt

"One hundred percent of the stated amount is consolidated in accordance with this agreement," the document reads