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Anti-Russian sanctions

EU adds 41 more oil tankers to anti-Russian sanctions

On December 15, the European Commission noted that over the past 18 months, the EU has blacklisted nearly 550 tankers allegedly carrying Russian oil

BRUSSELS, December 18. /TASS/. The EU has added 41 more oil tankers that allegedly carry Russian oil to its list of anti-Russian sanctions, according to an EU Council resolution.

On December 15, the European Commission noted that over the past 18 months, the EU has blacklisted nearly 550 tankers allegedly carrying Russian oil.

All of them are banned from entering EU ports, and European companies are also prohibited from providing them with financial and insurance services.

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Sanctions vs. Russia

Apparel production in Russia to grow by 24% in 2025 — Ministry of Industry

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Zelensky cannot withdraw troops from Donbass due to nationalist resistance — opposition

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According to the Southern Command, the Joint Task Force Southern Spear "conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters"

Russian forces thwart Ukrainian troops attempt to approach liberated Kupyansk

Airborne observation posts and mobile air defense teams ensured combat safety of the self-propelled guns

Russia going to develop international military cooperation — Putin

The collective security system of the Union States requires improvement, the Russian president stressed

Russian troops destroy 67 foreign mercenaries in battles for Yunakovka — defense source

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UK introduced sanctions against Russian oil producers

In total, restrictions affected 24 legal entities and individuals, including companies from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE

US House rejects resolution to end operations against drug cartels

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Karin Kneissl: Zelensky Has No Chance Left

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Maduro thanks Russia for condemning US aggression — top Venezuelan diplomat

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Security guarantees for Kiev make no mention of arsenal limits — newspaper

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Moscow values Budapest’s readiness to provide venue for Russia-US summit — diplomat

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The Russian president noted that Russia’s strategic nuclear forces will continue to play a key role in deterring aggression and maintaining the global balance of power

EU divided into two camps over seizure of Russia’s frozen assets — Politico

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German party leader slams Merz’s position on expropriating Russian assets

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"We hope that common sense will prevail and will proceed from this in our actions," a high-ranking Russian foreign ministry official said

Russia, China could become world leaders if US does not step up — Biden

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Euroclear rating’s downgrade could trigger capital outflows from EU — expert

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UK 'co-running war' in Ukraine — former French military officer

When asked about the presence of Western servicemen in the area of the Russian special military operation, Xavier Moreau emphasized that there are "many British" in Ukraine

Former French officer slams EU sanctions on its own citizens as 'Brussels dictatorship'

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Rome wary of Russian asset seizure, calls for going different route — radio

The broadcaster recalled that Italian PM Giorgia Meloni had signed a letter requesting "the exploration of less risky alternatives"

US won’t give Kiev 'security guarantees' to avoid WWIII — opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk said that "Washington is unwilling to risk, especially for Vladimir Zelensky, whom many US officials have certainly come to despise"

Russia advances in Donbass while West plays shell games — Ukrainian opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear that the desire for war in this situation does not come from Russia

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According to Andrey Belousov, Russia transitioned to a new system for promoting weapons to allies and partners

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According to the Russian president, the combat testing of the Oreshnik missile system was conducted in response to an attack by US-made and British-made long-range missiles on Russian territory

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According to Yury Slyusar, the attack caused fire to two single-family houses

MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center director shot dead in US

According to the newspaper, the scientist was found with gunshot wounds at his Brooklyn home on Monday

Ukrainian drone attack on tanker in Rostov-on-Don port cause casualties — authorities

No oil has been split

Austrian chancellor doesn’t rule out country’s participation in int’l mission in Ukraine

At the same time, Christian Stocker stated that Austria is set to remain committed to the principle of neutrality

Further funding for Ukraine risks prolonging conflict with Russia, Hungarian PM warns

Viktor Orban also pointed out that the idea of a Russian asset seizure was dead because talks on the issue "have stalled"

Russia to conclude military-technical cooperation agreements with six countries

Russia started the transition to a long-term and comprehensive nature of planning interaction with partners, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said

Italian PM says Rome has no intent of sending troops to Ukraine

The leaders of European countries said that security guarantees for Kiev should involve the creation of "a European-led ‘multinational force’ made up from contributions from willing nations

EU stuck in the mud on Russian asset seizure — media

According to the media outlet, the ambassadors only moved further away from reaching an agreement

Russian army gains steam as Ukraine's falls apart — Putin

The Russian president thanked the Defense Ministry for keeping Russia strong on the battlefield

Maduro vows full effort to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty under any circumstances

The Venezuelan president stated that the United States is seeking a regime change in the Bolivarian Republic "to impose a puppet government that will turn the country with its natural resources into a colony"

Europe's 'symbolic politics' undermining Ukraine peace process — Berliner Zeitung

According to the publication, what the Europeans are trying to sell as "active peace policy" is, from the perspective of Moscow and Washington, nothing more than "informational noise"

Hungary won’t finance continuation of Ukrainian conflict — PM

Viktor Orban also criticized the EU leadership for their arrogance in holding the EU-Western Balkans summit

Interpol puts two Ukrainians suspected of railway bombing on wanted list

"Interpol red notices have been issued for the men suspected of committing acts of sabotage in Garwolin County" Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said

S-500's capabilities unachievable for Russia's military-industrial rivals — expert

Head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis Alexander Mikhailov emphasized that the S-500 functions as a sophisticated space defense system

About five US military jets spotted over sea near Venezuelan border — air traffic control

According to the source, the aircraft are carrier-based

Ukraine faces economic collapse if EU refuses to grant 'reparation loan' — newspaper

According to The Financial Times, Ukraine's economy will be more impacted by the refusal to transfer expropriated Russian assets than Europe will be by the geopolitical and reputational damage

European guarantees for Ukraine aimed at arming it and provoking Moscow — expert

Alexander Dudchak explained that such plans effectively transform the entire territory of former Ukraine into a strategic military base under external control

Hungarian PM asks Putin about Russia’s response if EU uses frozen assets

According to Viktor Orban, Moscow responded that "a decisive response will follow, based on all mechanisms of international law"

Russian national detained in Iran released from prison — embassy

The embassy expressed gratitude to the Iranian side for its assistance in resolving the situation

Putin awards Gold Stars to Russian heroes who excelled in liberating Seversk

The ceremony took place at the Defense Ministry

Russia says rising tensions around Venezuela carry unpredictable fallout

Russia reaffirms its solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of the challenging times they are going through

Whole world, save for Europe, condemns US actions in Caribbean — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister underscored that "all other countries have clearly expressed their positions"

US escalates conflict with Venezuela to verge of military strike — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that strikes on Venezuela are most likely to be carried out remotely, with a ground operation being highly unlikely

Russia does not deny anyone right to security, but insists on NATO not expanding — Putin

It was publicly stated that there would be no NATO expansion to the east and the West "couldn't care less" about these promises, the Russian leader noted

Billionaire Isaacman to serve as new head of NASA

A total of 67 senators voted in favor of Isaacman’s nomination, while 30 voted against it

Russia says shoots down three bogeys over sea in Sevastopol

Earlier, an air alert was announced in the city

Liberating Gerasimovka, Russian troops expand bridgehead along Gaichur River — source

As a result of active combat operations, assault groups of the 36th Brigade advanced along the western bank, taking under control a 2-kilometer sector along the front and up to a kilometer in depth

First American sanctioned by EU exposes major embezzlement by Ukrainian official

Ukrainian media outlets reported earlier that the exposure of a large-scale corruption scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector might be followed by similar probes into the involvement of top officials in corruption schemes in the defense sector

US House rejects resolution against hostilities against Venezuela

The Republican-majority House voted 213 to 211 against this resolution

Russian troops liberate Gerasimovka in Dnepropetrovsk Region over past day

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian army lost roughly 235 troops, two tanks and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East

Corruption scandal fallout, threat to Ukrainian elites — Russia’s SVR statements

According to the intelligence service, the corruption scandal in Ukraine has resulted in "a sharp decline in the morale of Ukrainian troops on the frontlines"

West started war in Ukraine, Russia is trying to end it — Putin

The Russian president reiterated that it was the destructive forces in Ukraine, with the support of the West

FACTBOX: S-500 Anti-Aircraft Missile System

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

Trump names countries that will truly play important role — Kneissl

"Europe no longer plays any role in the world at all," the former Austrian Foreign Minister noted

US Congress approves defense budget proposal amounting to $901 billion

Ultimately, the lawmakers arrived at a compromise