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World oil prices

Brent crude price on London ICE exceeds $68 per barrel for the first time since April 4

WTI futures rose by 2.36% to $64.71 per barrel

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Brent oil futures with delivery in June 2025 September exceeded $68 per barrel on the London-based ICE for the first time since April 4, according to market data.

As of 07:22 p.m. Moscow time, the price of Brent rose by 2.97% to $68.02 per barrel.

By 07:39 p.m. Moscow time, Brent futures slightly slowed growth and was at $67.99 (+2.92%). Meanwhile WTI futures with the settlement in June 2025 rose by 2.36% to $64.71 per barrel.

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Bitcoin price hits fresh all-time high as it exceeds $109,600 — Binance platform data

Since November 2024, when its rapid growth started, the cryptocurrency beat record 38 times

Ukraine’s military makes daily attempts to cross Russian state border — Putin

The Russian president said this at a meeting with the heads of municipalities in the Kursk Region

Rubio says US may tighten sanctions against Russia, increase aid to Kiev at some point

Commenting on the US Congress' potential consideration of a bill to tighten sanctions against the Russian Federation, the Secretary of State noted that the American administration "cannot control the Congress"

US conducts another test launch of Minuteman III ICBM

According to the report, the ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation's nuclear deterrent

Push to isolate nations could lead to new world war — Medvedev

The politician said that the international legal order was most stable at the stages "when it was built with active participation of all states," including Russia

IN BRIEF: What is known about household gas explosion in Russia’s Stavropol

According to reports, all of the city’s emergency services are working at the scene

Zelensky opposes peace as talks could mean verdict to him — Russian lawmaker

"War until the last Ukrainian standing is a harsh phrase but this is what reflects Zelensky’s current approach," Leonid Slutsky pointed out

US designs new missile shield with space-based interceptors — Trump

In his words, the United States will employ "technology that's even far advanced" than Israel’s Iron Dome

Trump believes Russia winning in conflict with Ukraine — news agency

According to the report, the US leader "repeated a number of the Kremlin’s talking points," thus letting the European leaders know that he was inclined to acknowledge Russia’s military superiority in the conflict with Ukraine

Civilians who left Kursk Region will surely return home, Putin says

The Russian leader pointed out that he had addressed the issue at meetings both in Moscow and during his trip to the Kursk Region

Intensity of Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Kursk Region remains high — acting governor

Alexander Khinshtein said that the most tragic thing is that Ukrainian strikes kill Russian people

Putin travels to Kursk Region on his first visit since bordering region was liberated

The region was liberated on April 26

IN BRIEF: What is known about new British sanctions against Russia

The restrictions affect 82 individuals and legal entities

Sending troops to Ukraine would not be appropriate, Romanian president-elect says

Nicusor Dan also criticized US President Donald Trump’s approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict and his willingness to make compromises with Russian leader Vladimir Putin

New world order to sprout from current global standoff — Medvedev

Medvedev noted that, despite all violent wars of the past, "people, by their nature, certainly always aspired for peace, and countries, regardless of their differences, learned to reach agreements with each other

IN BRIEF: What is known about 17th package of EU sanctions on Russia

The European Union blacklisted six companies from China, two firms from the UAE, as well as the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant

Medvedev says West sees that Global South rejects rule-based order

According to the politician, the West is pushing for strict adherence to the rule-based order, regardless of what other countries think

Kremlin discloses what else Putin-Trump talks covered, such as threats from Kiev, WWII

As Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov pointed out, the US leader acknowledged that the Russians made the most sacrifices during World War II

Lavrov to discuss bilateral, regional and integration topics in Yerevan

The Russian foreign minister is scheduled to meet with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Vahagn Khachaturyan

Russia’s Pacific Fleet regularly gets new warships, submarines — Navy commander

Admiral Alexander Moiseyev said that this year, the fleet’s military units have demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and combat readiness during various training events

Belgium ready to send troops to Ukraine as soon as there is truce — top defense official

Theo Francken said that Russian forces must withdraw from Ukrainian territory immediately following a ceasefire

France bars Telegram co-founder Durov from traveling to US — Politico

The Paris prosecutor's office rendered its decision on May 12 "on the grounds that such a trip abroad did not appear imperative or justified," the newspaper wrote

Russia’s Medvedev sees ‘long way to go’ before memorandum with Ukraine can be signed

"The most difficult task now is to fill this memorandum with the necessary content," the official noted

Brussels beginning to regret naming Kallas EU foreign policy chief — SVR

"Kaja Kallas is a visible manifestation of the European Union’s crisis," the statement reads

Russia not to accept 'truce-and-see' approach on Ukraine, says Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister said that in Istanbul in 2022 Russia and Ukraine "initialed the settlement principles proposed by the Ukrainian delegation"

EU member states decide to lift economic sanctions on Syria — Kallas

"We want to help the Syrian people rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria," the EU top diplomat stated

Russia to prepare separate list of conditions for ceasefire — Kremlin spokesman

"An agreement on that was reached in Istanbul," Dmitry Peskov added

Operations of airports in Central Russia’s Yaroslavl and Kostroma temporarily restricted

Also, temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures, imposed in Kaluga’s Grabtsevo Airport earlier tonight, remain in force

European security system proves ineffective, Lavrov says

"The Euro-Atlantic institutions have discredited themselves," the Russian foreign minister noted

Ukraine’s military makes attempts to move towards Russia’s state border — Putin

One of the participants in the meeting told about his work in the Kursk area and gave data that the Ukrainian military had been recently spotted near the settlement of Shostka in the Sumy Region

Space national project approved overall at strategic session in Russian government

The document includes two groundbreaking technological projects: ‘Space Atom’ and ‘Space Science’

Russian side proposed POW swap at Istanbul talks, diplomat clarifies

Maria Zakharova pointed to the fact that several other significant agreements were reached at the Istanbul talks

Russian troops strike Ukrainian military airfield, army training camp over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 210 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy tanks in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russia welcomes Vatican’s desire to help with Ukrainian conflict settlement — Kremlin

Pope Leo XIV stated earlier that the Holy See was ready to facilitate efforts to resolve the crisis and urged the parties to engage in direct dialogue

New US missile shield to intercept nuclear weapons — Pentagon chief

"We will protect the homeland from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they're conventional or nuclear," Pete Hegseth said

Press review: US shuns EU sanctions on Russia as Zelensky suggests three talks venues

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, May 21st

Trump administration plans to strip 200,000 Ukrainians of refugee status — WP

Besides Ukrainians, the decision may affect 500,000 Haitians

Zelensky confirms settlement memorandum may be signed

According to Zelensky, the US president indicated that the document would include broader plans for a settlement beyond just a ceasefire

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military airfield, UAV assembly workshop over past day

The Ukrainian military lost more than 1,290 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

EU blacklists Stan machine-tool manufacturer, Unmanned Systems drone producer

Stan is a Russian machine-tool manufacturer that produces modern numerical control machines for high-tech industries, including aerospace and defense

China voices strong protest over 17th package of EU sanctions — MFA

As Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Mao Ning specified, Beijing has always been opposed to unilateral sanctions that are not based on international law and have not received the approval of the UN Security Council

Expert says Russia sanctions here to stay, regardless of Ukraine peace

According to Russian International Affairs Council Director General Ivan Timofeyev, excessive optimism about the lifting or easing of Western sanctions is counterproductive

World in unusual situation when US against war and Europe all for it — top US diplomat

According to Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump is focused on stopping hostilities in different parts of the world and supports settling major armed conflicts as soon as possible

Putin supports idea of special economic zone throughout Kursk region

The Russian leader still noted that "the government has doubts about this" due to concerns that businesses from other regions of the country will re-register in safe areas of the Kursk region to enjoy benefits

Project Rassvet by Bureau 1440 to be Russia’s response to Starlink — Roscosmos

The Russia’s space corporation will create low orbiting broadband communications

Procedure of USSR dissolution in 1991 was violated — presidential adviser

Anton Kobyakov emphasized that a proper legal assessment of the USSR's dissolution is essential to fully understand current geopolitical developments

Astana expects reaction from Kiev regarding attacks on Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin said there has been no response so far

Negotiations on Ukraine to be difficult, EU should not interfere — Hungary’s top diplomat

Peter Szijjarto stressed that the Hungarian government supported peaceful efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine

Ukrainian lawmaker admits Russian strike on military training site

Alexey Goncharenko added that Ukraine’s top brass no longer spares the lives of servicemen, by holding military training next to the frontline and issuing late orders to retreat

Iranian lawmakers vote to ratify strategic partnership treaty with Russia

As many as 191 legislators, or 90%, voted for the move

Medvedev jokes about Macron's 'suspicious napkin' on train ride video

The Elysee Palace later clarified that the item was merely a handkerchief, not any illicit substance

Ukrainian neo-Nazi militants 'would come second even in contest of idiots' — Putin

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the enemy lost over 76,500 troops in fighting in the Kursk area

Durov says ready to testify about foreign meddling in Romanian presidential election

He also accused France of interfering in the voting

Russia will view ‘coalition of the willing’ in Ukraine as reoccurring threat — Medvedev

The politician mentioned that mandates to maintain peace and security are traditionally associated with the UN Security Council

Police confirm murder of ex-Yanukovich advisor Portnov near Madrid

The incident took place in Madrid’s wealthy suburb Pozuelo de Alarcon near the entrance to a local school

Ukrainian militants’ idiocy and role of clergy: What Putin said in Kursk Region

The Russian president approved the idea of allocating funds for the reconstruction of homes that became uninhabitable during evacuation

Poland has no intention to send troops to Ukraine — PM

According to the Donald Tusk, Warsaw is not being pressured on this issue by its Western partners

Kiev deploys maneuverable groups of mercenaries to Seversk area in Donetsk region — expert

Russian forces have noticed small groups of foreign soldiers at the engagement line north and east of Seversk moving in pickup trucks with mounted Western-made anti-aircraft machine guns and mortars

Leader of Romanian nationalists urges to hear Durov before election results validated

According to the final election results, published by Romania’s election authority on Tuesday, Dan got 6,168,642 votes in the runoff, while Simion got 5,339,053

West’s actions pose direct threat to maritime security — Russian diplomat

Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya recalled Estonia and NATO aircraft’s recent attempt to detain the Gabon-flagged Jaguar ship in the neutral waters

Ukrainians destroying WWII memorials shows Russia is fighting against neo-Nazis — Putin

A participant in the meeting recounted how Ukrainian militants attack war memorials and intensify strikes with drones whenever they track volunteers nearby

Putin visits construction site of Kursk-2 Nuclear Power Plant in Kursk Region

The head of state also held a meeting with Alexander Khinshtein, acting Kursk Region governor, the Kremlin said

Global community must provide clear assessment of NATO provocations in Baltic Sea

According Maria Zakharova, certain NATO countries are attempting to reconfigure the existing navigation order in the waters of the Black Sea based on international law "and not on their distorted ideas about geography"

Russian air defenses take down 127 Ukrainian drones over various regions overnight

Air defenses intercepted and destroyed 41 fixed-wing Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Bryansk Region

Trump says not concerned about reports of Russian military buildup near Finland, Norway

"Those two countries are going to be very safe", US president said

EU seeks escalation of Ukrainian conflict to rearm Kiev regime — Russia’s top diplomat

Sergey Lavrov noted that Putin and Trump gave a very positive assessment to their conversation, they agreed that it is necessary to work on preparing specific steps for a long-term, sustainable settlement

Russian artillery, UAVs thwart Ukrainian troop rotation near Redkodub in Donetsk region

"According to preliminary data, the Ukrainian armed formations lost up to 30 personnel dead and wounded and also two pickup trucks and three motor vehicles," military expert Andrey Marochko said

Trump delays additional sanctions to maintain leverage on Russia, Ukraine — Rubio

In his words, Russia’s proposals on peaceful settlement of the conflict will show Moscow’s determination for ending the conflict

Russia considers Donbass, Novorossiya issue settled — Medvedev

The politician reiterated that globally, there are normally two models of recognizing the new subject entities of international law. In the first case, a declaration of independence of a certain territory is sufficient, while in the second case, the recognition of an independent state by other countries is also needed

Russia does not assess threat to parity with US from Golden Dome project — Kremlin

"For now, the details of this project are not available," Dmitry Peskov noted

IN BRIEF: What is known about murder of Ukrainian ex-presidential aide

The politician was listed on the Ukrainian Mirotvorets extremist website database

Family in Donetsk hid injured Russian soldier from Ukrainian troops for several months

The fighter came from the neighboring settlement of Razdolnoye

Iranian lawmaker hopes Russia to provide fighter jets, other advanced weapons

"The Iran-Russia partnership is crucial geopolitically, security-wise, economically, and diplomatically," Hamid Rasai emphasized

Ex-Yanukovich adviser might have been killed ahead of presidential election — activist

According to ex-member of the Ukrainian parliament Vladimir Oleinik, Andrey Portnov was among the top 10 lawyers in Ukraine

Golden Dome missile shield project to take about three years — Trump

Russia and China believe that the Golden Dome project spells complete refusal to recognize the link between strategic offensive and defensive weapons

Putin calls to boost mine clearance work in Kursk Region

On May 20, Putin visited the Kursk region on his first trip since the bordering Russian region was liberated on April 26

Russia takes note of US move to cancel sanctions against Syria — Russia’s UN envoy

"Over many years, Russia has consistently pointed out that these unilateral illegal economic measures seriously hindered the country's reconstruction and aggravate the humanitarian situation of civilians," Vasily Nebenzya stated

Russia interested in Armenia’s active participation in Moscow-led bloc’s work — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister said this during a press conference following talks with top Armenian diplomat Ararat Mirzoyan

Russian forces encircle Ukraine troops in Donetsk area’s Konstantinovka

Russian Forces are making serious advances to the southwest of Konstantinovka

US against including 'further support' for Kiev in G7 Finance Ministers’ statement — media

According to sources, the United States is also opposed to describing Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine as "illegal"

Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Region was sheer waste of elite units — expert

Andrey Marochko emphasized that the fallen soldiers and foreign mercenaries, most of whom were provided with "the best" training and equipment, had been trained in Western countries under NATO instruction

Some 20,000 naturalized Russian citizens who dodged draft sent to special op — official

According to Alexander Bastrykin, the Russian Investigative Committee tracked down 80,000 Russian citizens who wouldn’t show up at military enlistment offices

In response to Zelensky’s call for sanctions, Trump says it’s for him to decide

US president also spoke highly of his latest phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders

Press review: Russia eyes Ukraine peace talks as right-wing forces rise in EU elections

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, May 20th

EU imposes restrictions against ten companies from China, UAE, Belarus, Israel

In total, the 17th package of anti-Russia sanctions included 17 individuals and 58 legal entities

Israel prepares to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities — CNN

It was unclear to the sources whether the Israeli authorities have already made the final decision to attack

Pope Leo XIV confirms readiness to host negotiations on Ukraine

The Pontiff held a phone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

IN BRIEF: Key statements by Bank of Russia’s Chief at Alfa-Summit

Elvira Nabiullina touched upon the demand for the digital ruble in cross-border payments and the capabilities of artificial intelligence in macroeconomic analysis

USAID told Zelensky to unleash war with Russia over Donbass, former Ukrainian PM says

According to Nikolay Azarov, using the rhetoric on Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the EU was also among these compulsory instructions for Zelensky, although it was indicated that no such thing would happen

Europe forced to take on all support for Kiev following Putin-Trump call — newspaper

According to the report, the European leaders were taken aback by Washington’s unwillingness to impose new sanctions against Moscow

Work on memorandum with Ukraine is proceeding dynamically — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that much of this work "should not be open to the public for obvious reasons"

Zelensky's office ignores heavy manpower losses — MP

Dmitry Razumkov noted that the situation is similar across the entire front, in many units

New US administration focuses on diplomatic means to resolve conflicts — Medvedev

Medvedev mused on the idea of whether international law was necessary for regulating relations between various peoples

Existence of Pacific fleet is vital for Russia’s defense in Far East — Navy commander

"At present, the Pacific Fleet is a powerful and balanced group of forces", - admiral Alexander Moiseyev said

Most mercenaries in Ukrainian army come from Georgia, UK, US

Russian Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin said that after hearing the cases, courts found 97 mercenaries from 26 countries guilty

China insists US abandon Golden Dome missile defense program — Foreign Ministry

Mao Ning said that the Golden Dome project possessed a "marked offensive character" and destabilized the international security framework

Chisinau Court of Appeal leaves head of Gagauzia under house arrest

According to the ruling, this decision cannot be challenged

INTERVIEW: Russian state arms exporter discusses joint projects with 20 countries

Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev said the discussions centered around "over 100 projects of technological cooperation on products for all types of troops with the potential worth over $30 billion"

Trump says wants to discuss weapons in space with Putin later

In February, the US government, including President Joe Biden, leveled unsubstantiated accusations against Russia

Russian defense minister hears report on latest UAV models, tactics

Additionally, Andrey Belousov visited the command centers of the Battlegroup Center, where he received reports from brigade commanders regarding enemy activities and operational assessments