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Anti-Russian sanctions

Softening of sanctions on Russian diamonds inevitable — deputy finance minister

Alexey Moiseev pointed to "the manifestation of a kind of a neocolonial policy of these countries, which infringes upon not merely Russia but also all the Western market players"

MOSCOW, June 25. /TASS/. Softening of EU sanctions in respect of Russian diamonds and postponement of the diamond origin tracing system start were inevitable, Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev told reporters.

"This is the next confirmation that what the Western countries propose is not feasible at this stage and secondly, as I said at the St. Petersburg [International Economic] Forum, this is the manifestation of a kind of a neocolonial policy of these countries, which infringes upon not merely Russia but also all the Western market players. I believe therefore this [softening of sanctions] was inevitable," Moiseev said.

"Well, we will have to see, I hope that not," the official added, answering the question whether the diamond origin tracing system efficiently goes live from March 1 of the next year.

Tags

Sanctions vs. Russia

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The share of "toxic" currencies in revenues of top Russian exporters declined to 17% as early as in September 2023

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Decision-making centers in Kiev could be targeted in Oreshnik strikes — Putin

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Israel violates ceasefire agreement multiple times — Lebanese army

According to the statement, the Lebanese military command "is keeping an eye on [Israel’s] violations in coordination with the relevant agencies"

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Groundless attacks on Russian journalists become trend in West — TASS

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Russia’s top diplomat slams NATO for discussions of preemptive strikes on Russia

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Ukrainian army says desertion main reason for loss of Ugledar

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IN BRIEF: How Russia responded to Kiev’s strikes deep into its territory

Here are the key points about the strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities

Hungarian PM sounds alarm over presence of US, French troops in Ukraine

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It is reported that the organization’s premises were decontaminated and sanitized

Kiev troops attempted to kill British mercenary who surrendered to Russians — officer

In his words, they fired conventional 120mm mortar rounds, silent munitions and at least one FPV drone with a fragmentation charge

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Mao Ning also stated that she was not aware of the details of Belousov's visit and reiterated that China's position on the Ukrainian crisis remains consistent

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"If the agreement is violated, we will proceed to an all-out war," Benjamin Netanyahu told

Biden's decision on ATACMS 'not panacea', it will harm Kiev — Defense News columnists

The article reads that the US intelligence community warned of the risks associated with US missile strikes on Russian territory and suggested abandoning the decision

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Kiev 'experimented' with using NATO troops in Kursk hostilities — official

Igor Kimakovsky added that the addition of foreign troops didn't help the armed forces of Ukraine because of effective measures taken by Russian intelligence and Aerospace Defense Forces

Western analysts describe Russia's Oreshnik as longest-range weapon ever used in Europe

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The Russian president pointed to a tense global situation

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The Russian president also spoke about inflation and the ruble exchange rate, noting that the situation is under control

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A representative of US President Joe Biden's administration had earlier stated that the Ukrainian military is facing a critical manpower shortage

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Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 27th

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Harald Vilimsky noted that the joint deployment of European troops will further escalate the security situation in Europe

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Defense Minister notes active expansion of Russia-North Korea military cooperation

"We look forward to close and fruitful cooperation with our Korean comrades," Andrey Belousov said

One in three relocated individuals return to Russia from Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Kiev regime itself brands these figures as "terrible"

Several Oreshnik missiles equivalent to nuclear strike, do not harm environment — Putin

The Russian president still reiterated that such a strike is not nuclear, because it is highly accurate and not equipped with a nuclear explosive device

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Biden unlikely to dare to seriously increase military aid to Kiev — expert

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Georgia suspends consultations on launch of EU accession talks until 2028

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Ukrainians facing critical battlefield situation amid manpower shortages — CNN

Earlier reports indicated that an official in the Biden administration had surmised that Ukrainian forces need more manpower

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No Kwang Chol expressed confidence that the official visit of the Russian Defense Minister to North Korea "marks a key moment in the exchange of valuable and constructive proposals, contributing to strengthening the defense and security capabilities of both countries and fostering friendship, cooperation, and development between their armies"

Qatar holds negotiations to expand areas of mediation between Russia, Ukraine

"We hold negotiations on other kinds of mediation. Recently, we have started working on the issue of the POWs," Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari added

Lavrov clarifies Russia's position on Ukraine crisis to foreign diplomats — MFA

"Participants in the roundtable exchanged views on the conflict and other pressing international topics," the ministry stated

Russia, North Korea remain good neighbors, longtime friends — Russian defense minister

"The most important outcome of the summit was the signing of a new fundamental interstate document - the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and North Korea," Andrey Belousov stressed

Kiev can only produce 'dirty bomb,' Russia to give appropriate response — Putin

"Of course, it’s possible to produce something dirty - the so-called 'dirty bomb' - using waste from nuclear power plants," the Russian leader emphasized

Press review: CSTO discusses Russian weapons as US and Russia continue prisoner talks

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 29th

Ukraine’s military fires 65 munitions at Russia’s borderline Belgorod Region over day

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian army fired 44 munitions and launched four drones on the Graivoronsky district and attacked the Krasnoyaruzhsky district with 14 munitions and 10 drones, damaging two private homes, two cars, an infrastructure site and a social facility, Vyacheslav Gladkov specified

Oreshnik’s massive strike comparable to nuclear weapons — Putin

The Russian leader additionally stressed that "certainly, Oreshnik is not a weapon of mass destruction"

Russian forces wipe out five ATACMS launchers using Iskander missiles

In particular, two MLRS launchers and a transporter-loader vehicle were destroyed near the settlement of Tokari, and three HIMARS launchers were taken out near the settlement of Maly Bobrik, the statement reads

Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, satellite reconnaissance failed to detect the launch and flight of this missile

Unidentified UAVs continue to appear over US Air Force bases in UK — newspaper

On Tuesday, about 60 British military experts were stationed at US airbases across the UK to operate a counter-UAV system to operate a counter-UAV system designed to detect, track and destroy them

Up to 200,000 deserters in Ukrainian army, Verkhovna Rada MP says

Ukrainian troops are leaving their duties, as "bone-tired by the constancy of war, they are psychologically and emotionally scarred," the article reads

Ukrainian group of 22 servicemen surrenders in Kursk Region — law enforcement officials

Photos and videos of the surrender were also posted by military reporter and expert Boris Rozhin on his Telegram channel

Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Ukraine demolishes buildings with soldiers inside as Russian forces advance — DPR leader

Amid the successful advance of Russian forces, Ukrainian troops have been indiscriminately attacking civilian neighborhoods in Gorlovka, which is adjacent to Dzerzhinsk, Denis Pushilin said

West deploying troops to Ukraine to up ante in fight with Russia — senior diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin described such plans as provocative and noted that they "confirm the West’s intention to continue its profound engagement in a direct standoff with Russia"

Iran informs IAEA of plans to install more uranium enrichment units — report

Tehran informed the IAEA that eight recently added cascades of IR-6 machines would enrich uranium to up to 5% purity

Chad severs defense cooperation agreement with France — AFP

On April 18, the Chadian authorities sent a letter to the United States, in which they notified Washington about their intent to sever the military agreement

Romania, Poland, Germany, UK plan to divide Ukraine — Russia's foreign intel

"A total of 100,000 so-called peacekeepers are planned to be sent to Ukraine," the SVR noted

Putin slams election mudslinging against Trump’s family as 'vile'

According to the Russian president, when gangs fight with each other, they "don’t target women and children but leave them alone"

Ukrainian forces follow Russian troops’ example to use fiber optics drones, Putin says

The head of state is confident that there will be a quick response from the Russian side

Putin believes that US President-elect Trump’s life may be in danger

Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts this year: one during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July, and the second one in September, when a radical supporter of aid to Ukraine opened fire near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida

Nuclear arms unable to protect Ukraine, likely to aggravate conflict — Chinese expert

"If Ukraine were to acquire nuclear weapons again, they would not only fail to enhance its security, but would escalate the Russia-Ukraine conflict into a potential nuclear war," Sun Qi said

Situation with ruble rate under control — Putin

The Russian leader stressed that "there are definitely no grounds for panic"

Root causes need to be addressed to settle Ukrainian conflict — Kremlin spokesman

"Everything here is much deeper than a decision to send a peacekeeper mission," Dmitry Peskov said

NATO growing more inclined to freeze Ukraine conflict — Russia’s SVR

"NATO has been unfolding training centers in Ukraine in an effort to train at least 1 million mobilized Ukrainians," the SVR highlighted

Syrian forces begin counteroffensive near Aleppo — TV

According to the report, the government forces have already liberated the town of El Bakoum

Georgian Police pushes protesters from entire Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi

Several people were apprehended

Putin apologizes to Merkel over labrador incident

The president said that he "wanted to create a casual, friendly atmosphere" and did not know that the former German chancellor was afraid of dogs

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

According to the Russian foreign minister, this represents the "confrontational logic" of the West

Russia may block agenda of US Security Council presidency next month — mission to UN

First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said that the US may try to complicate life for the successors to the presidency

Russia not going to leave strikes deep inside country unanswered — Putin

"As I have repeatedly said, we will always respond," the president emphasized

Russian passengers on Antarctica cruise liner with engine failure go on hunger strike

The liner left Cape Town on November 13 for a 20-day cruise, and passengers say they paid between $9,000 and $12,000 for the trip

Russia winning in Ukrainian conflict, Polish national security chief says

"The Russian side unquestionably holds both the initiative and the advantage on the battlefield," Head of the Polish National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera said

Kiev has ‘no chance’ of retaking lost territories — Blackwater founder

Erik Prince noted that it was necessary to end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible

FACTBOX: What to know about attacks of militants on Syria’s government forces

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, the West is directly involved in the use of long-range weapons against Russia, as not a single missile could be launched without its involvement

Russia ready for talks with Ukraine on conditions proposed in June — Putin

The head of state held a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry in June, where he listed the conditions for talks with Ukraine