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Work on filling 2nd string of Nord Stream 2 will be completed in December — Putin

The Russian president added that Russia is ready to start gas supplies the next day after receiving the appropriate permission from the German regulator

© Peter Kovalev/TASS

SOCHI, October 21. /TASS/. Technical work on filling the second string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline with gas will be completed in mid or late December this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, speaking at a meeting of the Valdai International Club.

He added that Russia is ready to start gas supplies the following day after receiving the appropriate permission from the German regulator.

"The first pipe of Nord Stream 2 is filled with gas. If tomorrow the German regulator gives permission for the supply, the day after tomorrow the delivery will start, 17.5 billion cubic meters. By the end of this year - in the middle, at the end of December - technical work on filling the second gas pipe of Nord Stream 2 will be completed. In total, this is 55 billion cubic meters," Putin said.

"Considering that the gas shortage on the European market, according to our calculations, will amount to 70 billion cubic meters, 55 billion cubic meters is a good volume. As soon as the second pipe is filled and as soon as the permission of the German regulator is received, the next day we will start deliveries," Putin said.

The head of state recalled that the volume of carbon dioxide emissions during transportation through Nord Stream 2 is 5.6 times less than when delivering gas through the gas transportation system of Ukraine.

Putin also noted that although the carbon component of Russian gas is three times less than that of American liquefied natural gas, environmentalists do not demand the closure of all LNG terminals. The same situation applies to the Ukrainian gas transportation system.

Russian stock market indices mixed on Friday — market data

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Russia's Oreshnik missile poses significant threat to West, Turkish expert warns

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Commissioning of Oreshnik and new developments: Putin’s meeting with defense specialists

Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace ten times in past day

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Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

Russia got the support of 129 countries in a November 20 vote in New York at the 40th plenary session of the UN General Assembly

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

US decision to allow missile strikes deep into Russia fuels global escalation — Slovak PM

Robert Fico also rejected the belief that this escalation would not impact "those living far away, in Spain, England, or America"

Defense ministers of five European nations to meet in Berlin on November 25

The French interior ministry said earlier that an emergency meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council will be held on November 26 following Russia using its new missile against a Ukrainian defense sector facility

Enemy losses, mercenary intrigue, humanitarian aid: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost 150 troops, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece and two mortars

Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

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Signal to West and 'red card': experts weigh in on Putin’s missile launch statements

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Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

Russia’s Oreshnik has no analogues worldwide — Putin

"We know what kind of developments are being carried out there, but this will happen tomorrow or in a year or two, but we have such a system already today," the president said

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

The head of state also approved citizenship applications from foreign nationals and stateless persons residing in the country

US administration chooses to escalate Ukraine conflict — Kremlin

Earlier, Putin stressed that the Ukrainian army is unable to fire the latest Western-made long-range missiles on its own without support from NATO satellite feeds and the involvement of the bloc’s military

Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

West builds up military presence near Russia’s Arctic borders — presidential aide

According to Nikolay Patrushev, the "imposed sanctions restrictions are aimed at thwarting the implementation of Russia’s Arctic projects"

Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Western nations should take Putin's statement seriously, warns Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban recalled that Russia has "one of the most powerful armies in the world, which boasts the most advanced, most powerful weapons"

Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

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Oreshnik can reach targets across entire Europe — missile troops commander

"Based on the tasks and the range of this weapon, it can hit targets across entire Europe, which sets it apart from other high-precision long-range weapons," Sergey Karakayev said

Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

At the same time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi once again criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine

Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

North Korean leader warns of growing risk of nuclear war — KCNA

Kim Jong Un added that negotiations with the US only confirmed the North Korean view that Washington’s hostile policy remains unchanged

US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Turkey’s desire to be gas hub important for energy security — Russian official

Russia will continue developing pipe gas supplies and will "continue supplying competitive energy resources to partners and the whole world," Pavel Sorokin noted

Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

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Bank of Russia lifts official dollar rate to 102.58 rubles for November 23-25

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Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

Russia uses aerial bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions near DPR’s Konstantinovka — source

According to the report, at least 15 Ukrainian servicemen were killed as a result of the attack

Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

According to the president, the missile is code-named Oreshnik, which can roughly be translated as hazel bush

US, European officials suggest returning nukes to Ukraine — NYT

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

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"Our friends are living in the Arab world," the politician noted

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Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

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Internet shutdown possible in Belarus if events of August 2020 recur, Lukashenko says

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Russia’s steel production plunged in October — WSA

China produced 81.9 mln metric tons in October, up 2.9% on an annualized basis

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Russia inflicts damage on gas production facilities used for Ukraine’s defense industry

Energy facilities backing Ukrainian defense industry extensively attacked

Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

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Tehran to launch new centrifuges in response to IAEA anti-Iran resolution — statement

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German politician slams Ukraine’s ‘irresponsible’ strike on Russia with UK-made missiles

"A diplomatic search for balance and mutual understanding should be the goal, instead of further escalation," Alice Weidel said

WIPO members adopt Riyadh Design Law Treaty

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West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

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Russian military to warn Ukrainian civilians of future Oreshnik attacks — Kremlin

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Kremlin confident Putin's statement got through to US administration

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Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

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Ukrainian defense line in Donbass may soon collapse — expert

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US expects Russia-North Korea cooperation to be formidable challenge in coming years

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Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

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Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

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Daily death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon nears 60 — health ministry

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Russia hammers Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, energy sites over week

Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

US, West have no capabilities to intercept new Russian hypersonic missile — expert

"There is more in the Russian arsenal than many believe," said Karin Kneissl, the former Foreign Minister of Austria

Bundeswehr prepares plan for Operation Germany in case of war with Russia — newspaper

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China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Lin Jian highlighted Washington's use of double standards in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the United Nations