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Tokyo’s protests are not alarming, Kuril Islands are ‘our land’, says Russian PM

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Iturup on Friday

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Alexander Astafyev/POOL/TASS

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

© Alexander Astafyev/POOL/TASS

ITURUP, August 2. /TASS/. The Russian government is not alarmed by the protests of the Japanese side in light of Russian officials’ visit of the Kuril Islands, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who arrived in Iturup on Friday, told journalists.

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Japan says Russian PM’s possible visit to Kuril Islands runs counter to its stance

"Of course not," he said, answering the question on whether he is worried about the Japanese side’s protest. "It is our land, it is an entity of the Russian Federation. These islands are part of the Sakhalin Region. Why should we be concerned about it?" Medvedev added.

The prime minister reiterated that Russian government officials visit both the Kuril Islands and any other territories of the Russian Federation without any agreement with any states "with all benevolent attitude and the wish to develop friendly ties." "Moreover, the more indignation is, the more reasons to come here for Russian government representatives, and that’s what we will do, of course," he concluded.

The Japanese government expressed deep disappointment over Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to the Iturup Island, which is part of the Kuril Islands, on Friday.

Moscow earlier consecutively rejected the Japanese side’s protests over Russian officials’ trips to the southern Kuril Islands.

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A total of 2,319 people entered the Syrian territory via the border with Lebanon in the past 24 hours, the center’s deputy head, Capt. 1st Rank Oleg Ignasyuk, said

Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

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The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"

Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

Dmitry Peskov chose not to respond to a question about whether Russia has proof that UK-made Storm Shadow missiles had been used against it

Russia’s reaction to Austrian OMV’s failure to pay for gas justified — MFA

The company stated it would seek damages amounting to 230 million euro for failing to receive the contracted volume of gas from the Russian company for delivery to Germany

Lavrov arrives in Brest for two-day working visit — correspondent

The top Russian diplomat will also hold an official meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov

US decision on strikes inside Russia stems from malice rather than strategy — journalist

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Putin warns West that Russia can respond to any turn of events

"There will always be an answer," the president said

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Canada neglects its sovereignty by approving transfer of land mines to Kiev — diplomat

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Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

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Russia always fulfilled its trade obligations, ready to cooperate with Germany — Putin

"It was underscored that Russia has always been committed to its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if the German side shows interest in this," the statement says

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

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The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

Russian stock market indices in the red on Thursday — market data

The mood in international markets was mainly neutral

Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

Russia got the support of 129 countries in a November 20 vote in New York at the 40th plenary session of the UN General Assembly

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"The direct line and press conference are being prepared," Dmitry Peskov said

Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

According to Daniel Davis authorizing US long-range weapons to be used against Russia is "foolhardy to the highest order," "especially because there is no military upside for doing so"

NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

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US warships fire more missiles at Houthi sites in Yemen — source

"The new strike targeted districts of Al-Tuhayta, Al-Ghuwarraq and Al-Jabana in the north of the province," the source said

NATO deployment to Ukraine would mark its entry into the war, Russian diplomat warns

According to Maria Zakharova, the Estonian minister is inciting other NATO members to engage in a venture that is "bound to fail"

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

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Russia to use revenues from frozen assets of Western investors — Finance Minister

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Newly arrived Ukrainian soldiers rob, loot in Kharkov Region’s Kupyansk

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Russian State Duma passes law on federal budget for 2025-2027

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

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Washington has no plans of updating nuclear posture after Russia’s test of new missile

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Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

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"The nuclear forces is ready on January 19, just like it will be ready on January, 20," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

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Preliminary data shows anti-ship missile downed over Sevastopol waters — official

Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

US vote at UNSC rejected chance of stopping 'horrific bloodshed' in Gaza, Russian MFA says

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

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Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

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Media from unfriendly states will be admitted to Putin's annual press conference — Kremlin

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China slams US nuclear policy for undermining global stability

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NATO supports Ukraine not out of charity but for its own strategic interests — deputy head

Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

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Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

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Russia ready to assist Serbia in building oil pipeline via Hungary — Transneft

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Enemy has no countermeasures for Russia’s Oreshnik missile — Putin

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Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

According to Andreas Kluth, the decision on ATACMS may have been another attempt by the current Washington administration to provide Ukraine with support until the president-elect comes to power

Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

Final test launch of Russia's new RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile successful — designer

The RS-26 Rubezh missile based on the previous RS24 Yars is expected to be put on combat dutiy in 2015.

US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention