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Military operation in Ukraine

US bans Russian oil, gas imports — Biden

According to US President, the US will make the move unilaterally as its European allies cannot join the ban on Russian energy imports

US President Joe Biden EPA-EFE/Al Drago/POOL

US President Joe Biden

© EPA-EFE/Al Drago/POOL

WASHINGTON, March 8. /TASS/. The United States is banning imports of Russian energy resources, US President Joe Biden said in his speech on Ukraine from the White House on Tuesday.

"Today, I am announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy," the president said. "We are banning all imports of Russian oil and gas energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be accepted in US ports, and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin’s war machine."

According to Biden, the US will make the move unilaterally as its European allies cannot join the ban on Russian energy imports.

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Military operation in Ukraine

IAEA inspectors notified of high voltage power supply line shutdown at ZNPP

The reason for the shutdown remains unknown

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Russian forces capture 10 km of LPR border — military expert

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Ukrainian people don't need support promised by Scholz after talks with Putin — Lavrov

Commenting on the Russian side's assessment of the conversation, the top diplomat emphasized that there is already a corresponding comment from the Kremlin

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He also highlighted the pressure being exerted on members of parliament to unlawfully demand his resignation

German chancellor calls for peace talks with Ukraine in phone call with Putin

Olaf Scholz also highlighted "Germany’s unwavering determination" to support Kiev "for as long as it takes”

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Russian foreign ministet Sergey Lavrov visited the United Arab Emirates and talked with his colleague Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

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Putin states degradation of Russian-German relations due to Berlin’s policy — Kremlin

After 2022, Berlin has been pursuing an openly unfriendly policy against Russia, supporting the anti-Russian sanctions

Chechen leader reports eliminating Ukrainian troops in Sumy Region

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Lebanon receives draft ceasefire agreement with Israel from US — newspaper

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the 13-point document provides, among other things, for the transition of the country’s southern areas after the withdrawal of Israeli troops under the control of the Lebanese army

US does not fulfill LNG contracts for Europe worth tens of billions of dollars — Gazprom

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Release of 23 Russians taken to Ukraine from Kursk Region being discussed — ombudswoman

The documents are currently being considered by the Verkhovna Rada’s commissioner for human rights, Dmitry Lubinets and his office

Politician slams Western elites for behaving like 'collective Hitler' on Ukraine issue

Viktor Medvedchuk added that there was no unified position in the West regarding the situation in Ukraine

FACTBOX: Abkhazian leader leaves capital amid opposition’s demands for polls

TASS compiled main facts about the situation in the country

Abkhazia’s ministries, agencies switched to reinforced mode over riots

The head of state ordered the ministers to switch their corresponding ministries to the reinforced mode of operation, the presidential press office said

Russia's liberation of Stepanovka in DPR spells trouble for Ukrainian troops in Kurakhovo

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Air defenses destroy 34 Ukrainian UAVs over five Russian regions

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Japanese foreign minister to visit Ukraine

No announcements on the issue were made previously

Fire in women’s shelter near Moscow put out

The fire in a safe house for women in the city of Odintsovo near Moscow has been put out

Kennedy Jr. added to Mirotvorets list after Trump’s appointment

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European politicians repeat their position on Ukraine like mantra, says Kremlin

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Russian troops liberate five communities in Donbass region, Kharkov area over week

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Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 15th

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"He [Scholz], like another lame duck in the US - Joe Biden, has nothing to offer," Prof. Thomas Eger of the University of Cologne told the Bild newspaper

France wraps up training of new Ukrainian brigade — minister

The brigade is equipped with French weapons

Opposition in Abkhazia demands early presidential election

A Central Election Commission official has told TASS that if the president agrees to resign today, an early election should be held within three months

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

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

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In order to stabilize the situation, President Aslan Bzhania decided to withdraw from the parliament a bill on the ratification of the agreement with Russia on the implementation of investment projects by Russian legal entities on the territory of the republic

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Opposition members made several attempts to break into the parliament building and managed to enter the square in front of parliament

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday

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As for global gas demand, gas consumption in January-October increased by 80 bln cubic meters year-on-year, the company noted

Putin congratulates Gazprom on completion of work on Nord Stream 2

The gas pipeline is ready for operation, the Russian President said

Trump to zero in on fragmenting BRICS, Ukraine to take back seat — expert

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The value of these confiscated apartments is more than ten million euros, the agency said

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Leaders of APEC economies concerned by protectionist measures — Russia’s chief delegate

In his opinion, decades of economic globalization boosted global wealth

Police detain several protesters near CEC building in Tbilisi

Security forces drove the protesters away, cleared the road and detained several people

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Consideration of the route is at the initial phase, the Russian official said

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The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday

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The phobia is so strong that special precautions need to be taken before her meetings

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According to him, the government is also staying in the country and continues its work

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Russia open to Ukraine talks based on June proposals, Putin tells Scholz

"Russia's proposals are well known and outlined, in particular, in a June speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry," the Russian president said

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Polish foreign minister confirms meeting with European counterparts to discuss Ukraine, US

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Armenia’s statements indicate its reluctance to take part in CSTO events — diplomat

When asked about Yerevan’s possible participation in the upcoming CSTO events, including a summit on late November, Alexander Pankin said that this question should be addressed to the Armenian side

Trump team fears negative impact of allegations against Hegseth — media

According to sources, many in Trump's team are reportedly disappointed

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In a video address on November 14, the Ukrainian president unveiled a ten-point plan covering the issues of security, energy, weaponry, production in Ukraine, and cooperation with allies

Situation at OSCE security forum worsens under Danish chairmanship — Foreign Ministry

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China-Japan relations far more than bilateral — Xi

Xi Jinping also emphasized China's willingness to "work with Japan in accordance with the principles and directions established in the four political documents signed by the two countries"

Russian troops liberate DPR's Leninskoye, Makarovka

Russian army hits Ukrainian energy facilities

Russian Rubicon drones strike Ukrainian trench shelters

"Upon detecting enemy positions and equipment, the data was immediately relayed to the strike force," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Lavrov outlines Moscow’s approach to Ukrainian crisis during visit to UAE — ministry

Lavrov arrived in Abu Dhabi to take part in the Sir Bani Yas international peace and security forum

54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

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Putin tells Scholz agreements on Ukraine should proceed from realities on ground — Kremlin

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One third of Mariupol residents, who fled to Ukraine, already returned

Lack of due support, and accommodation issues, are the reason

Georgia’s ruling party scores 53.93% in elections, wins 89 mandates — CEC results

Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party has won the parliamentary elections with 53.93% of the vote

Russian troops organizing logistics, ammo delivery in Kupyansk outskirts — military expert

"Logistics is being organized to enable our troops to retain their positions they are trying to secure," Andrey Marochko explained

Putin, Roscosmos chief outline vision for Russia’s space program

Yury Borisov provided a brief report about what the National Project consisted of, its main objectives, tasks and expected outcomes

Scholz-Putin talk should be welcomed, as it is right step — Bundestag

The lawmaker emphasized that politicians who are "intoxicated by war" and advocate for an imposed peace or the continuation of the conflict "until Kiev's victory" are only contributing to further loss of life

German government confirms death of ten Germans in Ukraine since February 2022

The request was filed by Bundestag member Andrej Hunko of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance - Reason and Justice party

Russia routs Brunei 11:0 in friendly football match

That is the biggest ever victory for the Russian team

IAEA inspectors notified of high voltage power supply line shutdown at ZNPP

The reason for the shutdown remains unknown

Ukrainian troops surrender as Russian forces advance — captive

Alexander Rapolyuk noted that they had originally been sent to the Kursk Region under the pretext of replacing their comrades, but upon arrival, they found that the servicemen they were meant to replace had already been killed

Zelensky’s new plan for Ukraine is ‘an attempt to imitate’ busy activities — politician

Vitaly Ganchev noted that Zelensky's plans "pose no particular interest anymore to anyone and they the proposals are certainly not taken seriously"

Zelensky announces work on new action plan

In terms of weapons, the plan will focus on production in Ukraine and cooperation with partners

Ukrainian battlegroup deprived of regular supplies in Kurakhovo in Donetsk area — expert

The Ukrainian battlegroup’s supplies have been impaired in the Kurakhovo area after Russian forces placed a road section west of that community under their gunfire control, Andrey Marochko clarified

Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

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China receives first batch of Russian S-400 missile systems — source

Russia’s S-400 Triumf is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and surface targets

Russian missile frigate enters Mediterranean Sea in long-distance deployment

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Foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side near Kupyansk, says military expert

Most of the intercepted talks deal with military issues, using a special talk chart, Andrey Marochko specified

Developments in Kursk Region: Ukrainian fighters suffer losses, face charges in Russia

Ukraine lost more than 100 servicemen, a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two D-30 122-mm howitzers, a mortar and an electronic warfare station over the past day

FACTBOX: Putin, Scholz hold phone talks first time in two years

The talks were initiated by Berlin

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand become BRICS partner countries — Russian MFA

"The BRICS Summit in Kazan demonstrated the desire of the global majority to establish a fair world order, reform global institutions and build equitable economic ties," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said