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Russia’s budget deficit preliminarily totals $3.9 bln in January-November — ministry

According to preliminary data, federal budget expenditures increased by 23.7% in the reporting period

MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russia’s federal budget deficit amounted to 389 bln rubles ($3.9 bln) in January-November 2024, according to preliminary figures, the Finance Ministry reported.

"According to preliminary estimate, federal budget revenues amounted to 32.65 trillion rubles in January-November 2024, which is 25.8% higher than revenues in the same period in 2023," the report said. According to preliminary data, federal budget expenditures increased by 23.7% in the reporting period to 33.04 trillion rubles.

Overall, the volume of federal budget expenditures is formed depending on the amount of primary structural deficit amounting to 3.1 trillion rubles ($31 bln), according to the report.

"Such a construction ensures a stable level of borrowings and state debt within the transition period of 2024," the ministry said.

Mechel agrees on postponement of payments on part of principal to 2027-2030

Gazprombank and VTB are Mechel’s main creditors

Slovakia to veto assistance to Ukraine due to Zelensky’s decision to block gas — senior MP

Tibor Gaspar added that Ukraine should treat Slovakia "as a trusted partner and assistance should be mutual"

Zelensky sets unrealistic goals for the West in hopes of disrupting talks — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk noted that Zelensky did not represent any force because he "has made the state of Ukraine fully dependent on the collective West"

Trump signs executive order withdrawing US from Paris Climate Agreement again

US president did this in the presence of his supporters at the Capital One sports and concert complex in Washington

Germans more pessimistic about country than any time in past decade — poll

Only 18% of those polled said that they think that Germany is on the right path

Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense situation along entire frontline

Ukrainian commanders of various ranks have been describing the frontline situation as very complex lately

Bank of Russia lowers dollar rate to 101.96 rubles for January 21

The official euro rate was increased to 105.05 rubles

Putin holds Security Council meeting first time on day of US president's inauguration

The Russian president congratulated Donald Trump on taking office and said that Moscow welcomed the new US administration's attitude to restoring direct contacts with Russia and to preventing a third world war

Sanctions against Georgia result of not opening 'second front' against Russia — politician

Kakha Kaladze stressed that his country is not afraid of sanctions and blackmail and will not be bullied into doing something that goes against its interests

US support of Israel’s Gaza operation deals blow to its clout in Middle East — report

The outgoing US President Joe Biden’s administration "failed to safeguard even Palestinians’ most basic rights," the Foreign Affairs magazine said

Trump promises to reduce inflation, boost energy resources production

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FACTBOX: Ukraine, Trump, Middle East on agenda as Putin sits down with Security Council

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the meeting with a report

Prince Vandal drone to have complete import substitution

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New fire breaks out at Voronezh oil depot after Ukrainian drone crashed

According to governor Alexander Gusev, air defense forces destroyed several UAVs

Russia open to communication with US over Ukraine conflict — Putin

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Hamas reiterates release of second group of hostages on January 25

It did not say however how many of them will be freed

Exit of Baltic states from BRELL energy systems not affecting Belarusian consumers

The decision to withdraw "is purely political in nature," the press service noted

Panama Canal to remain under Panama’s control — president

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Trump can declare national emergency in the US — television

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NATO’s Rutte tries to make everything Russian 'bogeyman' for EU, Slovak official says

Tibor Gaspar pointed out that the Russian-Slovak relations focus on, first and foremost, "economic cooperation, development of ties in cultural and sports areas based on the principle of equals"

Trump says he intends to meet with Putin

US president did not give any specific dates

Potential US military intervention in Panama under Trump to lead to occupation — newspaper

Donald Trump said earlier that Washington needed to retain control over the Panama Canal

Turkey’s ties with US won’t improve under Trump, but dialogue will become easier — expert

According to political scientist and economist Aydin Sezer, the issue of Syria and the Syrian Kurds will remain a serious problem

Trump sworn in as 47th US president

The inauguration ceremony was held inside the Capitol Rotunda, for the first time in the past 40 years

Moscow waits for apologies from those accusing it of submarine cable sabotage — MFA

Maria Zakharova drew attention to an article saying that "ruptures of undersea cables were likely the result of maritime accidents"

Restrictions on operation of Russia’s Ulyanovsk, Kazan airports lifted

The temporary restrictions were introduced to ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, the Federal Air Transport noted

EC recognizes Russian gas continues coming to EU market

The European Commission will unveil in the near time a new strategy aimed at completely removing Russian energy resources from the EU, EC spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said

Zelensky’s intention to terminate transit of oil from Russia will hit Europe

On January 1, transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine was completely stopped due to Kiev's refusal to extend a previous agreement

Russian budget deficit provisionally totaled $34.5 bln in 2024 — Finance Ministry

Expenses stood at 40.192 trillion rubles

Trump calls Alexander Ovechkin 'great player'

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EU crazy if it thinks its troops can march on Red Square — Hungarian PM

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Early voting for presidential elections begins in Belarus

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Russia congratulates Trump on assuming office — Putin

Donald Trump's inauguration will take place at noon local time

Trump praising Ovechkin not signal to Russia — Peskov

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Russian forces seek to trap Ukrainian troops near Novoyegorovka in ‘killzone’ — expert

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Nigeria’s joining BRICS highlights movement away from monocentric world — trade envoy

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Russian forces in final stage of liberating Lugansk region, expert says

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Lavrov, Armenian Foreign Minister to discuss EAEU cooperation, bilateral relations

Special attention will be paid to the situation in the South Caucasus, with an emphasis on achieving normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Trump's desire to improve ties with Russia, solve issues with China is important — expert

Chairwoman of The Schiller Institute Helga Zepp-LaRouche noted that US president said that he would work to avoid World War Three

Lavrov says it is no use trying to guess Trump's policies, Russia is ready for dialogue

According to the top Russian diplomat, "it is necessary to have serious proposals from those of our colleagues who once froze relations with Russia"

Russian forces liberate Zeleny Gai settlement near Kupyansk — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, the Ukrainian soldiers remaining in Zeleny Gai abandoned their positions and fled in the direction of Borovskaya Andreevka

Kiev blocks Russian aircraft from aiding in US fire response — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova also noted a similar pattern during the Aventa-M ventilator shipment from Russia at the height of the pandemic

Ukrainian army destroys Belitskaya mine in DPR while retreating — DPR head

Denis Pushilin added that the Ukrainian military is causing damage to hinder Russian authorities from restoring enterprises

Trump may tighten sanctions on Russia due to complexity of talks on Ukraine — expert

"The fact is that as soon as the Trump administration comes to the conclusion that the negotiations will be very difficult and that Russia has its own position," Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics Dmitry Suslov said

Trump signs off on first decrees as president, as he appoints members of administration

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US Senate confirms Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

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Saudi Arabia is still assessing invitation to join BRICS — Bloomberg

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Three fighters of Buran detachment held off attack by 22 Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region

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Rejecting talks with Russia may be disastrous for Ukraine — media portal

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Trump directs aides to arrange phone call with Putin

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Lavrov says US thinking about reinstating military presence in Afghanistan

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Russian cross-country skier disqualified after winning marathon race in Switzerland

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Russia tears up deals that allowed Japan to set up centers for assisting Russian reforms

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Ukrainian forces attempt to evacuate from Velikaya Novosyolka — security services

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Ukrainian nation possible only as part of Russia — opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk emphasized that, from the outset, the goals of the special military operation had been the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine

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Ukrainian commander-in-chief admits Kiev unable to intercept Oreshnik hypersonic missile

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Press review: Iranian leader’s Moscow visit alarms Tehran's foes as Trump plans China trip

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, January 20th

Trump vows to begin largest deportation operation in US history 'very soon'

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Vegetable products exports to China from Altai Region up 34% in 2024

Regional products were exported to 45 countries

China’s Vice President Han Zheng meets with Elon Musk

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Trump may postpone meeting with UK Prime Minister — newspaper

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Russian diplomat hails ceasefire in Gaza as step toward lasting settlement

Vasily Nebenzya recalled that all UN Security Council’s attempts to pass resolutions were blocked by the United States

Ukraine targets civilians amid fears of shift in US policy — Russian senator

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US unable to resolve Ukraine conflict in short term, Chinese expert says

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Iran to withdraw from NPT if UN Security Council anti-Iran sanctions restored — MFA

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Chechnya head reports destruction of Ukrainian manpower, equipment in Kharkov direction

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that aerial reconnaissance had identified the location of the mortar and the concentration of enemy personnel

Generative AI can bring BRICS+ countries up to $600 bln by 2030

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Russia to develop anti-drone shrapnel ammunition

ertain positive results have been achieved but the moment when the ammunition may be authorized for official use is still far ahead

There is significant chance Trump's efforts on Ukraine will bear fruit — expert

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Erdogan going to discuss Russian gas supplies to Slovakia with Putin

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Trump will order to review trade relations with China, Canada and Mexico — WSJ

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Local authorities unaware of Trump’s plans to relocate Gaza Strip residents to Indonesia

The media noted that Indonesia "has been vocal about its Palestinian support"

Over 14,000 people leave border areas of Belgorod Region since start of special operation

Zhanna Kireyeva noted that efforts were made on a daily basis to monitor legacy and social media for reports of potential human rights violations

US President Donald Trump signs his first executive orders at the White House

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Lavrov points to mass speculations in world media ahead of Trump's inauguration

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Trump’s team prepares sanctions against Zelensky’s entourage — Ukrainian reporter

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Kiev announces decline in gas stocks after Russian attack on storage facility

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Biden acts to protect Trump foes with last-minute pardons

Those pardoned include former US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, former US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Anthony Fauci

Russia to assist Nigeria in BRICS in agriculture, oil and gas sectors — trade envoy

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The Russian foreign minister noted that many members of US President-elect Donald Trump's team had repeatedly commented on the situation in the Middle East and the Ukrainian crisis

Hungarian PM says EU 'needs to sober up,' face its problems

While the European Union struggles to compete with the United States and Asian countries, its leadership is seeking more authority and power in its hands, Viktor Orban said

FACTBOX: Attempted UAV attack on enterprises in Kazan

All UAVs were neutralized due to a set of defense measures

News report says control of Ukrainian troops fell into chaos in Krasnoarmeisk area

Earlier, Ukrainian journalist and former Defense Ministry adviser Yury Butusov said the military leadership had lost the ability to control the situation near Krasnoarmeisk and the village of Velykaya Novosyolka

Trump will ensure step-by-step normalization of US-Russia relations — expert

US president "knows the strength and power of the country and Russia’s influence in the world," Bill Boerum said

Trump's main task will be to develop stable relations with Russia and China — expert

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Trump prioritizes settlement in Ukraine — Lavrov

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TikTok back to US, Washington to own 50% — Trump

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Trump vows new duties on foreign goods

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass region over past day — top brass

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Hamas counts on Russia’s support for Israeli compliance with Gaza ceasefire — spokesman

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