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Kremlin says Russia systematically prepared to possible sanctions, including tightest ones

Earlier, the Central Bank’s board of directors decided to increase the key rate by 10.5 percentage points to 20% per annum starting February 28

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Preparations to possible sanctions, including the tightest ones, were systemic in Russia for a long period of time, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

"So far we have had no reasons to doubt the efficiency and reliability of the Central Bank, neither do we have any reason to doubt its efficiency now," he said when asked how the Kremlin estimates the actions of the Bank of Russia, including those related to the key rate increase.

Earlier on Monday, the Central Bank’s board of directors decided to increase the key rate by 10.5 percentage points to 20% per annum starting February 28.

"The Russian Federation systemically prepared to possible sanctions, including the tightest sanctions that we are facing now, for quite a long period of time. There are response plans, they have been readied, developed and they are being implemented now," Peskov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

Western countries responded to the actions of the Russian authorities by slapping new sanctions on Moscow as they agreed to cut some of Russian banks off the SWIFT interbank payments system, as well as freeze the assets of the Central Bank of Russia. Large European countries and Canada closed their airspace for Russian aircraft.

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Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that Russia reaffirms its "strict commitment" to the international legal obligations under space law

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Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

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According to the investigation, Timur Ivanov and Sergey Borodin "criminally conspired with third parties" in order to receive a bribe "as providing monetized services when conducting contracted and subcontracted work" for the Defense Ministry

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Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

Apty Alaudinov added that if the Ukrainian army received long-range weapons, it might try to attack Russia's civilian infrastructure due to its powerlessness on the front

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

Joe Biden directed to send ATACMS to Ukraine in February, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said

Russia’s new Supreme Court chief justice doesn’t plan drastic changes

Irina Podnosova said courts have been receiving an increasing number of complaints, attributing it to the rising trust that people have to the judicial system

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According to the report, "the danger of Japan's participation in AUKUS is making the whole international community tense, not to mention the regional countries"

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

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Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

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Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

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"Today, under the two countries’ leaders’ special attention, political contacts, exchanges, cooperation in the economic, culture, science and other areas are developing with renewed momentum," Minister Plenipotentiary of the republic's embassy in Russia Lee Yong Zin said

No response from West to killing of Izvestia war reporter Eremin — diplomat

The Russian war correspondent died of wounds suffered from a strike by a Ukrainian FPV drone on April 19

US will have to take Russia into account and find common ground with it — Putin

Russian President said in an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel journalist Pavel Zarubin

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The Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

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Johannes Hahn made it plain that he does not expect Ukraine to join the EU any time soon, noting that entry before 2028, when the next seven-year budget plan kicks in, is "unrealistic"

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

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