8 Apr, 10:51

Oil and gas revenues of Russian budget down 9.8% in Q1 — ministry

Accumulation of extra oil and gas revenues during periods of favorable price environment and the use of the funds of the National Wealth Fund for covering the shortfall in oil and gas revenues ensure the immunity of the budget system to fluctuations in the flow of oil and gas revenues, the Finance Ministry noted

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/. Russia’s federal budget revenues from the oil and gas sector amounted to 2.64 trillion rubles ($30 bln) in Q1 2025, which is 9.8% lower than in the same period last year. Non-oil and gas revenues of Russia’s federal budget increased by 10.6% in Q1 2025 year-on-year to 6.4 trillion rubles ($75 bln), according to data released on the Finance Ministry’s website.

"Oil and gas revenues amounted to 2.642 trillion rubles, which is lower than in the same period last year (by 9.8% year-on-year) largely as a result of a nonrecurrent receipt of additional payment on mineral extraction tax on oil in February 2024, as well as a decline of the average oil price," the ministry said.

Accumulation of extra oil and gas revenues during periods of favorable price environment and the use of the funds of the National Wealth Fund (NWF) for covering the shortfall in oil and gas revenues in accordance with the fiscal rule’s parameters ensure the immunity of the budget system to fluctuations in the flow of oil and gas revenues, the ministry noted.

"Non-oil and gas revenues of the federal budget amounted to 6.408 trillion rubles (+10.6% year-on-year), having slightly surpassed the planned level, which shapes a stable basis for further outstripping growth of income," the ministry added.

US debates lifting sanctions on Nord Stream 2 — Politico

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff has been the main proponent of lifting sanctions on Nord Stream 2, according to the publication

US debates lifting sanctions on Nord Stream 2 — Politico

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff has been the main proponent of lifting sanctions on Nord Stream 2, according to the publication

Russian Army approaches Grigorovka in Donbass region to almost 1 km — expert

Russian forces also managed to expand the zone of control west of Belogorovka in the neighboring Lugansk People’s Republic

Yesterday, 20:23

Zelensky's resignation not among Russia's demands — Kremlin

According to the Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, doubts "are related to martial law and some articles of the Ukrainian constitution"

Russian forces foil rotation of Ukrainian troops near Kupyansk — military expert

Russian soldiers detected Ukrainian militants’ cluster and delivered a combined strike

Yesterday, 22:47

Vucic thanks Putin for support against color revolution in Serbia

Serbian President said earlier that an attempt to carry out a color revolution had been made in Serbia during the March protests

Yesterday, 14:23

Russia bars entry to 21 UK lawmakers — MFA

The decision came as a "response to London's ongoing confrontational policies, which include efforts to demonize our country, fabricate many anti-Russian narratives"

Yesterday, 20:59

Kremlin spokesman says Zelensky doesn’t control all Ukrainian military formations

Some nationalist battalions don’t listen to him, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Yesterday, 18:15

Russia doesn't need democracy lessons from Europe — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov cited the example of banker Dominique Strauss-Kahn's candidacy being withdrawn for the French presidential election in 2012 on trumped-up charges as an example of this hypocrisy

Yesterday, 09:33

Washington to quit negotiations on Ukraine if Moscow, Kiev reject its plan — Vance

According to JD Vance, the border may not wind up as the exact front lines as they stand now

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Russia, Oman discuss key issues as US may probe Ukrainian war crimes

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 23rd

Threats to Belarus still exist, Oreshnik deployment justified — Russian security official

According to Sergey Shoigu, European countries are building up their military presence near the western borders of the Union State of Russia and Belarus and don’t demonstrate any readiness to deescalate the situation

Yesterday, 13:00

JD Vance calls on Ukraine, Russia to freeze border along current line of contact

In his view, both Russia and Ukraine would need to make certain concessions under such a scenario

Two days ago, 18:07

Zelensky reports explosion at Motor Sich plant

The authorities in Kiev usually do not disclose incidents at military facilities and factories

Yesterday, 10:29

Russia doubles production of armaments, electronic warfare systems last year — Putin

The head of state emphasized that in 2024, almost all defense facilities "successfully completed the assignments under the State Defense Order, efficiently and on time"

Russia may resume nuclear tests in response to such actions by US — security official

Warranty periods for some types of their nuclear munitions are expiring and the development of new types of weapons is underway, this "may push Washington toward resuming nuclear tests," Sergey Shoigu said

Yesterday, 13:44

Russian forces eliminate Ukrainian troops that seized Gornal monastery in Kursk Region

The regiment commander with the call sign Apostol said that a clean-up operation was underway at the monastery

Yesterday, 20:20

India uncovers cross-border linkages in Kashmir terrorist attack — Foreign Ministry

According to India's First Deputy Foreign Minister Vikram Misri, the attack came after a successful election in Jammu and Kashmir and amid the region’s economic development

Yesterday, 11:06

London meeting on Ukraine fails to happen due to disagreements in positions — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the London meeting was supposed to give the US "an opportunity to continue its mediation efforts"

Yesterday, 09:13

Chances to reach deal with US exist — foreign intel chief

Russian-American dialogue has intensified since the US President Donald Trump's administration took office in Washington

Yesterday, 19:00

Zelensky not moving towards peace, but in opposite direction — White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Donald Trump's "patience is running very thin"

Yesterday, 12:10

Russia donates 30,000 tons of wheat to Palestine, to be sent to Gaza — Abbas

The Palestinian President said the grain was expected to "arrive at Israeli ports next month"

Cuba stands against unilateral anti-Russian sanctions — senior diplomat

Cuba calls for "a diplomatic, constructive and realistic solution to the ongoing conflict in Europe, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro said

Glencore's exit from Russneft finalized

Among new shareholders of Russneft is the Emirati OCN International DMCC

US’ first steps toward detente deserve attention — Russian Security Council chief

Commenting on reports that US President Donald Trump may withdraw more than 20,000 US troops from Europe, Sergey Shoigu noted, "So far, this is only a statement of intent

Rubio refutes Politico publication on US plans to lift sanctions on Nord Stream 2

Earlier, Politico wrote citing sources that the US was debating whether to lift sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and potentially other Russian assets in Europe

Yesterday, 17:09

Russia wants negotiations, while Europe wants war — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Europe "has not shown any signs of independence"

Yesterday, 16:51

London meeting on Ukraine ends with 'agreement on further consultations'

Earlier, the UK government said that talks on a peace settlement in Ukraine at the level of foreign ministers, which were to be held in London on Wednesday, had been postponed

Trumps says it is harder to deal with Ukraine than with Russia

US President says US needs to make deal with Vladimir Zelensky

Yesterday, 18:19

Russia has no territorial claims to the Baltic states — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov underlined that Russia has no problems with the Baltic states

Yesterday, 12:44

Gornal now only Kursk Region village with Ukrainian presence — commander

"We are busy completely clearing our territory up to the border," the commander said

Yesterday, 09:31

More than 92 countries, territories confirm participation in SPIEF-2025

Asian, African and Latin American nations showed particular interest in the forum's agenda this year, advisor to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov said

Yesterday, 14:33

US understands Russia's position on Ukraine better after consultations — Rubio

According to the US secretary of state, the next thing is to find out whether the sides are "in the same neighborhood"

Yesterday, 17:20

US public debt to reach 127% of GDP by 2030 — IMF

Should there be no major changes in the state policy, deficit is projected to decline to 5.6% GDP, the report said

Yesterday, 15:17

US pressure causes China, Russia to enhance cooperation in space

Wu Weizhen, the chief designer of China’s Lunar Program, said that Washington has exerted pressure on China’s attempts to engage with European countries

Yesterday, 17:06

Russia to achieve its goals peacefully or militarily — Kremlin spokesman

"The initiative on the battlefield belongs to Russia," Dmitry Peskov noted

Sending peacekeepers to historical Russian lands may lead to WWIII, Shoigu warns

According to Sergey Shoigu, rather, the notion of `peacekeepers’ conceals the pursuit of control over Ukraine and its mineral resources

INTERVIEW: Delegates from 150 countries to attend security conference in Moscow in May

According to Sergey Shoigu, issues of security in post-Soviet space, the development of cooperation with neighboring countries both on the bilateral basis and within multilateral organizations

Yesterday, 13:29

IN BRIEF: What is known about earthquake in Istanbul

No casualties have been reported

Yesterday, 18:29

Putin's meeting with Witkoff may take place on April 25 — Axios

The Gulfstream G650 plane with the US special envoy on board is reportedly heading towards Russia from Paris

Russian FPV drone operators thwart attempted weapons delivery to Ukrainian positions

Apart from that, the battlegroup’s quadcopter dropped munition on Ukrainian positions near the village of Otradnoye

Yesterday, 17:23

Peace in Ukraine possible after Kiev withdraws troops from Donbass, Novorossiya — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov recalled that these regions are enshrined in the Russian Constitution as an integral part of it

Yesterday, 20:25

Ukraine’s GDP growth rates projected at 2% in 2025, 5.2% in 2026 — World Bank

That said, growth rates for next year have been downgraded by 1.8 percentage points compared with the previous forecas

Two days ago, 16:16

FACTBOX: What to know about explosion at Russia’s military unit

According to Governor Alexander Avdeyev, first responders are working at the scene of the explosion in the region’s Kirzhach District

Battlegroup West destroys 42 Ukrainian drone control centers, 3 Starlink stations

In the course of counterbattery activities, ten mortars

Yesterday, 23:47

Trumps says may meet with Putin after visit to Saudi Arabia

The White House announced on Tuesday that Trump will travel to the Middle East from May 13 through 16

Yesterday, 18:25

Russia copes with sanctions, which boomerang back on EU — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Europe needs "cheap security and cheap energy" to keep its high global standing

Russian FPV drone destroys British-made AS-90 howitzer in Kharkov Region

A FPV fiberoptic combat drone operator delivered a precise strike on a 45-ton self-propelled system of the 155mm caliber

Yesterday, 18:27

Almost 200 civilians killed since Kiev incursion into Kursk Reg — Investigative Committee

According to the report, more than 49,000 people have been negatively affected by the fighting

Yesterday, 20:45

Kremlin spokesman says Ukraine should adopt neutrality, accept territorial reality

"And so is the recognition of reality regarding the territories", Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Yesterday, 15:58

US to deploy additional troops to Panama Canal, Hegseth says

The US defense secretary first mentioned plans to expand US military presence in Panama on April 9 following a visit to the Central American country

Yesterday, 14:50

Putin grants Russian citizenship to German anti-fascist Liane Kilinc

According to open sources, Kilinc is the chairwoman of the charity foundation "Peace bridge — Aid to war victims"

Yesterday, 13:53

Russian forces move forward in Gornal after wedging in Ukrainian defenses — officer

According to the regiment commander with the call sign Apostol, Gornal is the last settlement in the Kursk Region that is being held by Ukraine

Shoigu sees West looking to create Asian version of NATO

Sergey Shoigu described the situation in the Asia-Pacific region as complicated and said that it tended to get worse

Yesterday, 14:31

US to pursue other tasks if no progress in Ukraine settlement comes — Rubio

The US secretary of state said that Washington put a lot of time and energy at the highest levels of the US government

Yesterday, 16:32

Russia is not going to attack anyone — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia has not had any problems with Finland or Sweden

Russia reserves right to use nuclear arms in event of Western aggression — Shoigu

According to the official, Russia is "carefully monitoring Europe’s military preparations"

Yesterday, 19:40

White House spokeswoman unaware of any plans for Putin-Trump meeting in Saudi Arabia

On Tuesday, Leavitt said Trump will make a trip to the Middle East from May 13 to 16, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE

Yesterday, 13:27

Senate speaker resolutely rejects idea of sending European troops to Ukraine

According to Valentina Matviyenko, the idea was doomed from the start

Russia ready to debate new strategic stability treaty with — top security official

According to Sergey Shoigu, this conversation is possible only if all the factors affecting security are considered comprehensively

Yesterday, 20:56

Coal production in Russia up 3% in Q1 to 111 mln tons - Rosstat

In March, coal output slipped by 1.4% year-on-year to 37.6 mln tons

Yesterday, 09:27

Russia protests Japan’s plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine — MFA

The ministry condemned Tokyo’s initiative, asserting that it amounts to complicity in the Kiev regime’s crimes and warned that such actions will entail severe retaliatory measures

Yesterday, 15:52

US can no longer serve as guarantor of Europe’s security — Pentagon chief

Pete Hegseth reiterated that the US will ask its NATO allies in Europe to increase their military spending to 5% of their GDP

Yesterday, 22:37

Kiev worries US to cut off military aid due to failure of talks — newspaper

According to the The Wall Street Journal, Ukrainian officials "are worried that Trump might blame Kiev for a breakdown in talks and refuse to provide further military aid"

Yesterday, 12:31

Immigrants, talks with US, Afghanistan: Lavrov runs gamut with reporters

The Russian foreign minister confirmed that another round of Russian-US talks is expected to take place "soon," without specifying the exact date

Two days ago, 02:42

Kiev blocks every effort to take bodies of Ukrainian soldiers from battlefields near Kursk

Russian security officer told TASS that Russian servicemen came under attack as they attempted to take the bodies of Ukrainian troops from areas near Guyevo and Nikolayevo-Daryino to mortuaries

Yesterday, 19:02

Putin, Trump both agree that refusing to engage in dialogue 'absurd' — Peskov

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the administration of former US President Joe Biden lacked the desire to maintain a dialogue

Yesterday, 14:28

Putin grants citizenship to former deputy mayor of French commune Talant

The respective presidential decree has been published

Yesterday, 17:57

Russia able to guarantee security to four new regions' residents — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that "totally transparent referendums were organized in the regions, during which the residents were able to express their position"

19 Chinese planes approach Taiwan — defense ministry

Taiwan’s defense agency has regularly recorded the approach of Chinese warplanes and warships of late

Yesterday, 16:27

Nord Stream pipes still stored in Germany — newspaper

Pipes are reportedly kept in a warehouse located in an industrial park in the Lubmin Community, where the landfall of the gas pipelines is situated

Yesterday, 19:38

Russia, China to sign new investment protection agreement

The new agreement after its signing will replace a similar one that was enforced in 2006

Yesterday, 23:40

INTERVIEW: Europe wants to be ready for war with Russia by 2030 — Shoigu

Russian Security Council Secretary noted that Ukraine's mobilization potential is weakened

Yesterday, 15:20

NATO should be real alliance, not pact between US, 'handful of junior partners' — Rubio

"It has to be a NATO in which your partners are carrying their weight," the US secretary of state added

First Swedish AWACS aircraft arrives in Ukraine, test flight completed — UNIAN

Sweden promised to supply Kiev with two Saab 340 AEW&C (ACS-890) aircraft

Yesterday, 08:34

Global South countries aware of root causes of conflict in Ukraine — Russian MFA

"It’s unlikely that the current EU leadership will gain a clearer perspective anytime soon," Kirill Logvinov stated

Yesterday, 22:54

Entire Kursk Region to be mopped up soon — Russian Security Council chief

According to Sergey Shoigu, the situation in the special military operation zone is now the key factor influencing both international affairs and the situation inside Russia

INTERVIEW: Easter truce violated by Ukraine 4,900 times — senior security official

Sergey Shoigu recalled that the NATO and EU leadership had said that they were ready to confront Russia, regardless of the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine

Yesterday, 23:35

No positive response from Kiev on return of Kursk Region residents — ombudswoman

According to the Tatiana Moskalkova, fifty Kursk Region residents are still remaining in Sumy

Yesterday, 19:41

White House slams Zelensky's attempts at megaphone diplomacy ‘unacceptable’

Leavitt also pointed out that no one has asked Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian territory

Yesterday, 20:55

Russia’s gold production up 6.9% in March - Rosstat

Compared to February 2025, production fell by 11.3%

INTERVIEW: Russia ready for dialogue with US, but will not rely on words — Shoigu

The history relations with the United States shows that we can trust only concrete actions rather than verbal statements, Russian Security Council Secretary said

14 Jun 2023, 09:00

Medvedev sees option of Russia destroying Western communications cables on Atlantic seabed

On September 27, 2022, Nord Stream AG reported unprecedented damage that occurred the day before on three strings of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 offshore gas pipelines

Yesterday, 19:36

US not to slash tariffs against China unilaterally — White House

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of tariffs on products from 185 countries and territories

Nearly 90 Ukrainian drones downed over Russian regions in nighttime

In paticular, 45 UAVs were intercepted over the Republic of Crimea

Battlegroup East eliminates 4 Ukrainian drone control centers

In the course of counterbattery activities, two field artillery systems and four drone control centers were wiped out

Yesterday, 16:08

Africa tired of West’s arrogance, double standards — Russia’s ambassador to UN

Vasily Nebenzya added that Africans do not intend to put up with this state of affairs

Yesterday, 08:45

Xi Jinping to use Hongqi N701 limousine in Moscow — source

Hongqi will supply twenty H9 executive cars and ten H10 business minivans for guests during the Victory Day activities

Yesterday, 17:38

Trump accuses Zelensky of making 'harmful' statements on Crimea

According to the US president, the sides "are very close to a Deal"

Yesterday, 20:38

Russia’s industrial production up 1.1% in Q1 2025 — Rosstat

In March, industrial production went up by 0.8% year-on-year, and by 9.5% month-on-month

Yesterday, 18:00

Kremlin says Russian businesses do not want Western firms to return

Russian business owners still have to pay back loans taken out under certain market conditions, Dmitry Peskov added

Yesterday, 14:18

IN BRIEF: What is known about fire at parking lot of Moscow’s Afimall City shopping center

Emergency services said later that construction materials and gas cylinders, stored at the entrance to the parking lot, had gone on fire

At least 45 Palestinians killed, over 100 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip — TV

According to the sources, more than 100 people were injured and the number of casualties continues to grow after nighttime raids

Yesterday, 13:00

Russia says its Marines routing Ukrainian units in Kursk Region village of Gornal

"The Marines are successfully forcing enemy units from key fortified positions in the area of the settlement," the statement reads

Yesterday, 15:05

Mi-28NM helicopter obliterates temporary base of Ukrainian troops in Kursk border region

"Before taking off, the crew received the coordinates of a temporary base of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Region’s border zone," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Yesterday, 03:41

US waiting for Ukraine’s response to Trump’s final proposal on settlement — Axios

At the same time, sources said that Ukrainian emissaries want 'to discuss a 30-day ceasefire during Wednesday's meetings in London rather than Trump's peace plan framework'

Two days ago, 19:39

No deal yet with US on further military assistance — Zelensky

Speaking about Kiev’s interest in obtaining Patriot air defense systems, he left the door open that these might be included in a new assistance package, but acknowledged that this would depend on further negotiations

Yesterday, 10:47

Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 strikes Istanbul

The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Marmara Sea, in the area of the settlement of Silivri, the center lay at a depth of 6.9 km

Yesterday, 12:30

Russian troops liberate Tarasovka community in Donetsk region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 335 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry added

Yesterday, 20:47

Investigators fail to detain Republika Srpska president in Istocno Sarajevo - news outlet

According to its information, representatives of the Interior Ministry of Republika Srpska (an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina) prevented SIPA from doing so

Yesterday, 20:58

Europe needs to do more to reach settlement in Ukraine — White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Vladimir Zelensky was not moving toward peace in Ukraine, but in the opposite direction