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Foreigners can pay for Russian gas not only via Gazprombank until October 1

At the end of November 2024, the US imposed sanctions against Gazprombank, through which, in particular, foreign payments for Russian gas and oil are made

MOSCOW, June 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended the permission for foreign buyers of Russian gas to pay for supplies in rubles not only via Gazprombank authorized for such transactions but also to other Russian banks, which was to expire on July 1, until October 1. A respective decree enters force from June 25.

The previous such permission was published on March 28, 2025, and it was to expire on July 1, 2025. The procedure of payments for Russian gas by foreign buyers was updated amid the introduction of US sanctions against Gazprombank. Previously, foreigners could only convert currency in other Russian banks, but later they still had to transfer rubles received to the account of the Russian gas supplier in Gazprombank.

In December 2024, foreign companies were allowed to pay for Russian gas not directly through an account at Gazprombank, but by crediting funds to the ruble account of a Russian supplier through third parties or by converting currency in other Russian banks.

At the end of November 2024, the US imposed sanctions against Gazprombank, through which, in particular, foreign payments for Russian gas and oil are made.

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Exports of Russian goods to the EU amounted to 21.7 bln euro, while imports of goods from the EU into Russia totaled 22.2 bln euro

Russia no enemy of Europe — State Duma speaker

Russia has helped Europe grow by supplying affordable energy, making its economy more competitive, Vyacheslav Volodin added

French president, NATO chief discuss Ukraine-related efforts by Coalition of Willing

The previous meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing took place on December 11

Kiev loses about 20 battalions in fighting near Vilcha — expert

Vitaly Kiselev added that, despite heavy losses and massive, combined attacks by the Russian army, the Ukrainian army brigades have "a very large number of soldiers that go AWOL"

Belarusian KGB sniffs out foreign spy ring eavesdropping on pilots — report

The network was assisted by several individuals residing in Belarus

Ukraine lost 1-2 GW of power grid capacity as a result of December 23 explosions

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported earlier that Russian troops struck Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities and energy facilities with Kinzhal missiles on the morning of December 23

Putin warned Bush that NATO membership would split Ukraine — declassified documents

During their meeting in Sochi in April 2008, Bush asked the Russian leader why Russia opposes to Ukraine’s NATO membership

About 417,000 Russians have signed military service contracts — Medvedev

Additionally, more than 36,000 have voluntarily joined units dispatched to the zone of the special military operation, the politician stated

US has mostly resolved security issues with Ukrainians — NATO envoy

"It’s going to come down to, ultimately, the territory, and how that territory is divided up," Matthew Whitaker said

Italian expert says Zelensky's new peace plan step in wrong direction

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FSB thwarts hostage-taking, prisoner escape from penal colony in Kurgan Region

A prisoner concealed a shiv in his punishment cell, where he was placed for violating prison rules

Peace in Europe unattainable without review of West's anti-Russian policy — Medvedev

"It is crucial to recognize that the root cause of the conflict in Ukraine stems from the aggressive ‘Eastern policy’ pursued by Anglo-Saxon nations along with NATO and the European Union," the politician stated

Negotiations on Ukraine should be kept secret, Kremlin believes

Dmitry Peskov refrained from giving further comments

Trump administration recalls heads of nearly 30 foreign diplomatic missions — news agency

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Several points of Zelensky’s so-called plan unworkable, expert says

Alexander Dudchak doubts that Kiev is really ready to carry out an "all-for-all" prisoner swap according to the plan

EU got involved in conflict in Ukraine to rev up economy — Orban

The prime minister believes the decision is wrong

Electricity generation in Russia down 1.5% in first 11 months to 1.079 trillion kWh

In November this year, electricity generation decreased by 2.5% compared with November 2024 to 105 blnkWh

FIS extends int’l neutral-status participation list by five more Russian skiers

The athletes at the issue are free-style skiers Daria Melchakova, Lana Prusakova, Polina Ryabova, Natalia Sherina and alpine skier Yekaterina Tkachenko

US can gain control of Greenland without 'firing a shot' — EP member

Anders Vistisen also noted that Denmark "cannot defend Greenland alone"

Russia developing scenarios for using net guns against drones

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Alrosa CEO predicts lowest global diamond production in next few years

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Almost all DPR supporters return from Ukraine after violence, torture — ombudsman

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IN BRIEF: Fire at enterprise in Tula Region, 172 UAVs, aftermath of overnight attack

In particular, 110 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Bryansk Region

West needs Zelensky's peace plan to pump resources out of Ukraine — expert

The clause on creating special funds to attract $800 billion for Ukraine's reconstruction was introduced "because money can be made on creating these funds," Alexander Dudchak said

Social unity around grand goals is key to Russia's achievements, Putin says

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Russian forces now occupy both banks of Seversky Donets River — military expert

Andrey Marochko said that significant success has been achieved in this area in a very short time

Anglo-Saxon nations tap into Soviet-era tactics to 'decolonize' Russia anew — Medvedev

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Press review: Trump seeks to pressure Moscow as EU desperate to find funds for Ukraine

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Kalashnikov Concern dispatches AK-15K assault rifles in Multicam colors to customer

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Russian-made Snickers bars on sale in London despite sanctions

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Ruble becomes strongest-performing currency in 2025 — Bloomberg

As Bloomberg noted, the ruble’s rise has been influenced by reduced demand for foreign currency in Russia.

Corruption in Biden's team at root of Ukrainian conflict — Dmitriev

"Warmongers are warmongers for one reason: they profit from war," the envoy stated

EU had chance to prevent Russia conflict in 2022 — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban said that Europe could have sent a peace mission to Moscow and Kiev instead of declaring their conflict its own war

Le Parisien newspaper names Russia's Safonov player of the month for PSG

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Medvedev curious about reasons for unexpectedly conciliatory statements from EU

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Dutch B4Ukraine, tracking Russian oil exports registered undesirable — Prosecutor’s office

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US sanctions against former European officials cast doubt on EU sovereignty — Kallas

The chief of the European diplomacy said that Europe will continue to defend its values of freedom of expression

FACTBOX: Two traffic police officers killed in explosion in southern Moscow

The suspect is also dead

Foreign intelligence services monitoring Oreshnik missile deployment in Belarus — KGB

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier stated that a maximum of 10 Russian-made Oreshnik systems would be deployed in the republic

Volume of household funds in Russian banks edges down by 0.04% in November — regulator

There was a small shift from ruble current accounts to term deposits

West 'understands nothing about Russians,' Rostec says in response to Reuters report

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UN experts call on US Congress to intervene to stop aggression against Venezuela

In their view, the blockade of oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela violates "fundamental rules of international law"

Russia to formulate its position following Miami meeting, to soon continue talks — Kremlin

Negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement took place in Miami on December 20 and 21

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Harald Kujat noted that the 800,000-strong Ukrainian army, as required by the Europeans, would constitute a significant increase from the pre-conflict number

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EU goods imports into Russia exceed exports — Eurostat

Exports of Russian goods to the EU amounted to 21.7 bln euro, while imports of goods from the EU into Russia totaled 22.2 bln euro

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According to the report, the enemy's resistance is complicated by harsh weather conditions

Air defenses down 15 drones en route to Moscow since beginning of day

Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said that emergency services are working at the site of the crash

Russian stock market closes with major indices down

The yuan exchange rate rose by 3 kopecks to 11.14 rubles

Dmitriev jokes European Commission chief would be banned from entering US

Kirill Dmitriev commented on a post by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the State Department's intention to take steps to bar leading figures of the global censorship-industrial complex from entering the country

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EU is militarizing Moldova despite its neutrality — Transnistrian Foreign Minister

Vitaly Ignatiev said that the European Peace Fund is providing weapons and military equipment

Europe's biggest nightmare is Ukraine deal on Russia's terms — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that nobody can rewrite history

Putin warned Bush that admitting Ukraine to NATO will lead to Russia-US confrontation

The Russian leader stressed that this would create a threat of NATO moving its military bases and various arms systems to the exact proximity to the Russian border

After WWII CIA, MI6 replaced Abwehr as Bandera's handlers — historian

According to Alexander Cheremin, "it appears that the Anglo-Saxons became the direct successors of the German secret services that had originally established this anti-Soviet foundation"

Trump's Golden Fleet is doomed due to lack of proper US air defense system — expert

"Presently, the US Navy’s onboard air and missile defenses are incapable of reliably intercepting hypersonic threats, including sophisticated missiles like Russia’s Tsirkon and comparable Chinese systems," Alexander Stepanov noted

Plotter of terrorist attack on oil pipeline neutralized in Tyumen Region — FSB

According to the FSB’s Public Relations Center, the suspect, a Russian citizen originally from Vinnitsa in Ukraine, resisted arrest and was subsequently neutralized during the operation

Putin’s state of the nation address to take place 'in due time' — spokesman

Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that the address will be delivered "when the president sees fit, first of all in terms of contents"

Tourism to Moscow booms in 2025, to set new all-time record for visits — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin emphasized that the tourist economy is growing year after year

Palladium prices on NYMEX fall by more than 10%

At the same time, platinum futures with delivery in January 2026 were down 1.73%

Some 20,000 Muscovites voluntarily sign contracts for military service annually — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin said that Moscow is one of the largest centers for the recruitment of military personnel for the special military operation

Gold production in Russia rises 5.6% in November — Rosstat

Over January-November, gold production rose by 5.7% compared with the same period of 2024

US believes sides approaching settlement on Ukraine — NATO envoy

US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker emphasized that there are still matters that need to be resolved in a way that both sides can agree

Hungarian PM gives hot take on biggest threat of war facing Europe

"The military tensions Europe is seeing now stem from the decline of Western Europe and the European Union," Viktor Orban said

Putin sends New Year greetings to Kim Jong Un

The Russian leader stressed that the "past one year was of special significance in the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang"

Medvedev suggests encouraging separatism in West as countermeasure

"Separatism is a gamble that can be played by two," the politician noted

Air defense systems destroy 132 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian Regions in 7 hours — top brass

The drones were destroyed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. GMT

Air defenses destroy 29 more Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions within three-hour period

10 of them were destroyed over the Belgorod Region

Emergence of BRICS payment system quite possible — ambassador to Moscow

The diplomat called this topic one of the most important on the BRICS agenda

BRICS has developed criteria for admitting new members — ambassador to Moscow

A candidate country must have good relations with its neighbors and be opposed to unilateral sanctions, Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos noted

Putin-Trump call can be arranged quickly if needed — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that everything slows down during Christmas time

Italy becomes first NATO country to receive Rheinmetall’s Skynex air defense system

The contract is worth $86 million and includes an option to deliver up to three additional systems

World Aquatics names Russia’s Maltsev as Male Artistic Swimmer of the year

Alexander Maltsev is a four-time world champion and six-time European champion in artistic swimming and a pioneer of men's artistic swimming in Russia

European Union disintegrating before our eyes — Orban

The Hungarian PM noted that "EU decision-makers are constantly forced to backtrack"

Press review: Ukraine mulls elections and Trump plans laser fleet as gold prices soar

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 24th

Kiev deploying most combat-fit UAV units, assault groups to Gulyaipole — defense source

Russia’s Battlegroup East forces continue steadily advancing in Gulyaipole, a source in Russian defense circles said

Gloomy mood in European Commission’s headquarters — Politico

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Cancer-stricken Serbian sues NATO for use of depleted uranium in 1999 attack on Yugoslavia

His lawyer Srdan Aleksic disclosed that the Serbian officer’s grievance is fully identical to the 500 lawsuits, filed by Italian soldiers who were deployed in Kosovo in 1999

Anti-Venezuela actions to be template for US actions against other states — Russian envoy

Vasily Nebenzya pointed out that US policy represents "an unambiguous signal to all countries in the region seeking to pursue a sovereign course and independently determine their economic, political, and cultural systems"

Ukrainian media outlet releases Kiev’s 20-point peace plan

Ukraine presented this plan to the American side at recent talks in the United States

Thief conks jewel courier on head in Paris, steals sapphire priced at 150,000 euro

The injured courier was hospitalized

US to maintain naval blockade of Venezuela for at least two months — Reuters

The White House has ordered American forces in the region to focus almost exclusively "on the quarantine of Venezuelan oil"

Death toll in Mexican Navy plane crash in Texas rises to five

One crew member has not yet been found

Belgium shocked by US sanctions against five EU citizens — foreign minister

Maxime Prevot said that EU digital legislation is not directed against the United States, but serves to ensure that EU citizens have the same security and dignity in the digital space that they enjoy in their public lives in Europe

Putin presents state awards to outstanding Russians in Kremlin

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Deadline for sale of Exxon stake in Sakhalin-1 extended until January 2027 — decree

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Chinese military stepping up its potential makes US more ‘vulnerable’ — Pentagon

According to the Pentagon, China continues to increase its nuclear potential and plans to acquire over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030