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Russian Finance Minister suggests returning to BRICS cross-border payments system idea

Anton Siluanov believes that it will be useful for everyone

MOSCOW, December 2. /TASS/. There is a need to return to the idea of creating a cross-border payments system in BRICS based on digital financial assets, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said at the VTB Russia Calling! Investment Forum.

"A colleague from China asked a question about payments. Indeed, Russia suggested including the issue of a cross-border payments system to the agenda, when it was our presidency in BRICS. It seems to me it would be interesting and useful for everyone," Siluanov said.

"We have financial institutions created within the BRICS framework and we have understanding how this system can be built up exactly on the basis of digital financial assets. Therefore, it seems to me such opportunity of making payments outside the politics, outside the infrastructure that may not process payments, will benefit everyone," the minister added.

Ukraine, Portugal sign statement on joint production of surface drones

Portuguese prime minister Luis Montenegro is on his first visit to Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky said

Ukrainian soldiers desert due to lack of food, water, clothing — expert

Vitaly Kiselev pointed out that Ukrainian barrier detachments operating within the zone of the special military operation are unable to stem the tide of desertion

Rubio says US continues to share intelligence information with Ukraine

Marco Rubio commented on the prospects for resolving the Ukrainian crisis

PMs of Belgium, Italy emerge victorious at EU summit on Russian assets — media

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Russia to eliminate threats to Kaliningrad Region should they emerge, says Putin

The Kaliningrad Region is separated from mainland Russia by the borders of European Union countries

Europe will have to reopen dialogue with Russia — Macron

The French president believes that "Europeans and Ukrainians, will have to find the right framework to re-engage in this discussion in a proper manner"

Arms supplies to Ukraine did not stop after Trump’s decision to cease financing

Speaking at NSATU's Wiesbaden headquarters, Major General Maik Keller said that NATO had dispatched nearly 220,000 tons of military aid to Ukraine in 2025

Ukraine itself to blame for failure of mobilization — intelligence chief

Budanov emphasized that "it was all done from here," meaning within Ukraine, "sometimes deliberately, due to the personal ambitions of certain people, sometimes thoughtlessly"

IN BRIEF: Putin's statements on Ukraine at 'Results of the Year' conference

The president said that Russian troops in the special operation zone are advancing in all directions, fully seizing the strategic initiative

Russia to practice tact in protecting compatriots abroad — Putin

The head of state noted that new mechanisms should be introduced to support citizens abroad

UN says famine phase overcome in Gaza Strip

According to the latest IPC report, at least 1.6 million people, or 77% of the population, including over 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, are still facing high levels of acute food insecurity in the enclave

EU summit undertook to finance military action against Russia — diplomats

"The leaders of the EU Member States have reaffirmed their course towards comprehensive support for the Kiev regime and further escalation of the Ukrainian conflict," the Russian Permanent Mission to the European Union said in a statement

Ukrainian forces fail to retake parts of Krasnoarmeysk, suffer losses — Putin

According to the Russian president, the enemy is achieving no success

Russian army continues to advance west of Seversk, Putin says

The Russian leader recalled how the report on the liberation of Seversk was presented

Putin thanks special services for their work to defend country during special op

The Russian leader also wished the leadership and personnel of special services a happy New Year 2026

Investments in Russian economy remain record high — Central Bank

According to Elvira Nabiullina, the investing activity declined in construction, transport and certain mining industries over the last year

EU diplomats do not rule out retaliation against Ukrainian elites by angry mob — SVR

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said that the Mindich-Zelensky case is undermining Ukraine

Russian troops to move westward after liberating Kupyansk-Uzlovoi — Putin

As the president stressed, the Russian troops have been assigned a very important task to eliminate the enemy group on the left bank of the Oskol River

Only Trump can decide on US refusal to negotiate on Ukraine — Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that "both sides have to give and both sides have to get"

Russia ready to organize voting for Ukrainians in case of legitimate elections in Ukraine

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EU €90 bln loan cannot save Ukraine from defeat — Hungarian PM

Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic earlier declined to participate in providing the loan to Kiev using funds raised through joint EU borrowing

US blacklists seven individuals allegedly linked to Venezuelan president’s inner circle

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Bern takes part in EU’s risky plans, though it realizes danger of stealing Russian assets

Russian Ambassador to Switzerland Sergey Garmonin stressed that Swiss elites "understand perfectly well that a theft of Russian assets will be illegal and destroy the confederation’s reputation of a 'safe haven' for foreign investors"

Volvo files application to register three trademarks in Russia

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Syria to step up counterterrorism effort in areas where Islamic State is active — ministry

The Syrian Foreign Ministry called upon the United States and other members of the international coalition "to support Syria’s counterterrorism efforts"

International coalition delivers missile strike on IS targets from base in Syria — TV

The missile strikes targeted militant hideouts in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate

Peace in Ukraine close like never before — US envoy to NATO

Matthew Whitaker added that the US administration will not give up its efforts to resolve the conflict

Lavrov gives war-minded European hawks a piece of his mind

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The Hungarian prime minister recalled that the European Union’s summit on December 18 and 19 in Brussels decided to grant a military loan to Ukraine in 2026-2027 at the expense of a common European loan worth 90 billion euro

Putin’s Direct Line demonstrated that 2025 was successful for Russia — Focus

According to Focus, Russia, despite a tough sanctions regime, successfully exports its products and secures its defense budget

Ukraine must be prepared for continuation of conflict in 2026 — US envoy to NATO

The reason is that a peace agreement may not yet be concluded by the end of this year, said US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker

More than 400 Palestinians killed during ceasefire with Israel — Palestinian ambassador

This is due to Israel continuing to violate the ceasefire regime and allowing humanitarian aid to be brought in only in minimally possible volumes, noted Abdel Hafiz Nofal

US starts striking Islamic State sites in Syria — NYT

The operation involves US fighter jets and attack helicopters

Donbass's water supply collapsed over decades of Ukraine’s governance — Putin

The Russian president explained that now to bring this system to a standard state and reduce water losses to zero it is necessary to spend as much money as it costs to construct and build another water pipeline

Ukraine’s ex-commander-in-chief warns about risks of civil war after conflict is ended

In Valery Zaluzhny's words, "the end of the war and the return of around one million of soldiers" will be "another challenge to the state and civil society"

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

Trump confirms retaliatory strike against IS in Syria

The strike was very successful, with precision, also said US President

US drafts $112-billion Gaza reconstruction plan — WSJ

According to the newspaper, Project Sunrise was designed "to turn Gaza’s rubble into a futuristic coastal destination"

Russian troops liberate four communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 1,795 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy tanks and 20 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

Putin sees EU's Russian asset grab as daylight 'robbery'

The Russian leader emphasized that the European Union is trying to do it overtly

Ukraine's Goncharenko sentenced 18 years in prison in absentia by Russia

The court also deprived him of the right to post information, manage websites and channels using electronic and information and telecommunication networks for four years

Bank of Russia won’t withdraw its lawsuit against Euroclear over asset freezing

At the same time, the regulator is considering defending its interests in foreign jurisdictions

Kiev counterattacks near Krasnoarmeysk, trying to slow Russian advance — expert

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk on December 1

Possible pause in Russian airstrikes thwarts Kiev's plans to avoid elections — senator

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Putin’s words about Europe echo position of Trump with his supporters — Die Welt

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Dmitriev calls for resignation of Merz, von der Leyen after failure at EU summit

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Kiev troops shell DPR four times in past day

The attacks targeted the city of Gorlovka and the town of Starobeshevo

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Elvira Nabiullina said that it is difficult for her to comment on specific arguments prevailing among EU member-countries that did not approve the confiscation of Russian assets

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Krasny Liman to be liberated in near future — Putin

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36 Ukrainian drones taken down over Russian regions in three hours

22 of them were destroyed over the Belgorod Region

Russian army has full strategic initiative in special military operation zone — Putin

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Putin says 3I/ATLAS comet poses no threat to Earth, it can be 'sent to Jupiter' anytime

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FACTBOX: S-500 Anti-Aircraft Missile System

The system is being developed with the capability to be operational for the next 25 years

Britain refuses to expropriate Russian assets after failure of EU summit — FT

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Route to Slavyansk opens from liberated Seversk — Putin

The head of state recalled that the Russian side had long ago urged the Kiev regime to withdraw its troops from the territories of the republics which do not want to live under nationalist control

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At least 27 drones taken down over various Russian regions overnight

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Putin baffled by NATO Secretary General Rutte's war-with-Russia talk

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Ukrainian elections only legitimate if citizens residing elsewhere take part — Medvedchuk

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Hong Kong fire death toll up to 161 — police

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Russian embassy in Mali rejects accusations against Africa Corps

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Putin envisions what Russia might look like in 200 years

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WSJ names five key obstacles to peace between Russia, Ukraine

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Kiev bombed polling stations for Russian elections during special op — Putin

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Russian diplomat says US Justice Department places her in waiting queue for Epstein files

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Putin to chair SEEC, host CIS leaders in St. Petersburg

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EU's decision to support Ukraine confirms that it does not want peace — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova said that EU member states decided to further prolong the Ukrainian conflict

Russia not at war with West, West fights Russia with Ukrainian nationalists’ hands — Putin

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Trump announces plans to visit Florida, where talks on Ukraine expected

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Georgian president calls EU decision to allocate €90 billion to Ukraine bluff

"Ukraine has simply been sold out," Mikhail Kavelashvili said

Ukrainian forces execute civilians in Seversk — Hero of Russia

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Kiev's terrorist attacks against ships, energy infrastructure in Black Sea inadmissible

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin participated via on-line conference in the ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Russia negative about discussions on nuclear weapons for Japan — deputy foreign minister

Andrey Rudenko pointed out that the militarization of Japan will only make the situation in Northeast Asia worse and, of course, will entail due countermeasures from countries who see this militarization as a threat

Lavrov tells Europe we don't need your help on Ukraine deal, just don't blow it up

"The Russian-American dialogue is based on understandings reached in Alaska," the Russian top diplomat stressed

Putin explained to the West conditions for building relations with Russia — expert

Andrey Bystritsky said that Vladimir Putin’s stance is consistent in emphasizing the principles on which peaceful coexistence can be based

Brussels will have to repay Ukraine’s debts to Europe, warns Russian diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador at Large Rodion Miroshnik noted that Ukraine will not receive the loan in a lump sum

Israel trying to resettle Palestinians abroad with US support — Palestinian envoy

Israel also seeks to open the Rafah crossing unilaterally solely to facilitate the departure of citizens from the Gaza Strip, but not for their return

Russia, Thailand in talks about use of Mir cards — deputy foreign minister

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Russia’s offensive in Zaporozhye forces Kiev to expand evacuation zone

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Hundreds of thousands of Russian troops fighting in special military operation — Putin

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Trump's efforts, piglets, Russia's secret weapon: Putin's statements at 'Results of Year'

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Purpose of VAT increase, key rate, rising prices: Putin’s takes at 'Results of Year'

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Russia ready to consider halting strikes deep inside Ukraine on election day — Putin

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German expert slams EU decision on loan to Ukraine as 'madness'

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