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Russia not desperate for G8, thinks G20 format is more efficient — Kremlin spokesman

The Kremlin spokesperson pointed out that discussing global problems in geopolitics, security or economy without China and India is "not very efficient"

Russian president’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Russian president’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, August 22. /TASS/. Russia is not desperate to be back in the Group of Eight, the more so because many problems can be resolved more efficiently within the Group of Twenty format, Russian president’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

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G7 wants Russia back in the club due to stiff competition with G20, says source

"Return to the G7, the former G8, is not a goal in itself for Russia," he stressed. "In any case, Russia thinks that now it is not very efficient to discuss global problems in geopolitics, security or economy without China and India."

"So, other formats, for instance, the Group of Twenty, look more advantageous," he noted, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly said that Moscow was ready to cooperate with other states in any formats.

The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal bloc of countries with the world’s largest developed economies that brings together the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and Japan. In 1997, it was renamed the Group of Eight (G8) after Russia joined the club. In 2014, Western countries decided to return to the G7 format in the wake of the developments in Ukraine and the deterioration of relations with Russia.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that "it’s much more appropriate to have Russia in" [the G8]. According to a senior US administration official cited by CNN, Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, held a telephone conversation on Tuesday and agreed that the Russian president should be invited to a G7 summit in 2020. According to CNN, Trump plans to broach the topic at a G7 summit scheduled to take place in Biarritz, France, on August 24-26.

Military operation in Ukraine

Ukraine attacks Belgorod Region with 20 munitions, two UAVs in one day

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Ukrainian lawmaker Bezuglaya calls out ‘catastrophic situation’ in country’s army

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Ukraine admits number of deserted soldiers from Armed Forces of Ukraine surpasses 100,000

Earlier, military lawyer from the Center for Support of Veterans and Their Families Roman Likhachev said that more than 100,000 servicemen had voluntarily left their units

Russia’s Medvedev cautions next US leader against adding fuel to fire in Ukraine

The politician doubted the deep state in the United States wants another global war

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Medvedev sees West waging real war on Russia in Ukraine

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Harris has 4-point lead over Trump in final PBS election poll

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Russian diplomat says Ukraine took back just 279 POWs, although 935 were offered

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Israel steps up readiness for potential Iranian strike — report

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Russia says its troops mined, blocked one route used by Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region

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Bulgaria, Westinghouse sign engineering deal for additional reactors at Kozloduy NPP

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At least 70 people killed in Gaza over past 24 hours — TV

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 43,400 Palestinians have been killed and 102,300 wounded in the Gaza Strip since the conflict escalated in October 2023

Kursk region will be cleared of Ukrainian forces — Putin

He added that victory is impossible without volunteers who support the fighters at the front

NATO number one threat to global peace, says French politician

It is stted that NATO considers the EU as "a registration office of its members"

Mishustin to travel to Minsk for meeting of Russia-Belarus Union cabinet

The meeting’s agenda includes about 20 issues, such as mobile communications tariffs and development of suburban rail service

Russian Air Defense Forces shot down four HIMARS missiles, Hammer bomb, 42 Ukrainian UAVs

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Russian-North Korean partnership treaty called to stabilize region — Russian diplomat

"The treaty’s provisions, including article 4 on mutual support in case of an armed incursion, will be fully implemented, if need be," Anna Yevstigneyeva said

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The Belarusian President called for building relations in a neighborly manner

Israel hits Hezbollah intelligence headquarters near Damascus — IDF

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North Korea probably launched ballistic missile, Japan’s coast guard says

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Russia says 6 Ukrainian drones shot down over Bryansk Region overnight

Bryansk Region Governor Alexander Bogomaz said there were no casualties and destruction as debris of the downed drones hit the ground

Putin to accept diplomatic credentials from 28 ambassadors of countries like Japan, Canada

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Hezbollah fires 105 rockets from Lebanon at Israel on November 3 — IFD

The army "will continue to protect Israel and its people from threats" from Hezbollah, the press service noted

Crowds throw mud at Spanish king during visit to flood zone

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Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine Russia's legitimate military target — Kremlin

Earlier, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger announced that the company was opening a plant in Ukraine specializing in the repair and production of armored vehicles

Gazprom supplies 42.1 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine

The day before the pumping volume reached 42.1 mln cubic meters

Press review: Lavrov embarks on EU visit and Russia permits individual crypto mining

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US State Department says 10,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia’s Kursk Region

They "could enter combat in the coming days," Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman said

Russian Guardsmen uncover Ukrainian arms cache with over 100,000 munitions in LPR

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For US losing dollar as a standard of settlements would be like losing a war, Trump says

The Republican presidential candidate criticized the current US administration for allowing the unification of Russia, China, Iran, the DPRK and a number of other countries into one group

Ukraine attacks Belgorod Region with 20 munitions, two UAVs in one day

Vyacheslav Gladkov noted that two drones were shot down over the town of Schebekino and the Belgorod District

Economic sanctions against Russia not working — top Hungarian diplomat

As an example, he cited Europe’s continuing purchases of Russian liquified natural gas and Russian uranium supplies to the United States for the production of fuel for US nuclear plants

Putin participates in Russia’s strategic deterrence force training

The Russian president observed the drills from the Kremlin’s situational center

Opposition rally near parliamentary building in Tbilisi ends without incidents

President Zourabichvili and all the opposition parties refuse to recognize the election results, slamming them as rigged

Kiev's violation of agreements means less territory for Ukraine — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister also recalled the Istanbul agreements

Japan’s defense minister says North Korea launched 7 missiles that flew 400 km each

Japan issued a protest to Pyongyang through diplomatic channels

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The ceremony will also be attended by representatives from Argentina, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Finland

US warns it won’t be able to restrain Israel if Iran attacks — report

An Israeli official said the message was passed from Washington to Tehran through the Swiss

Israeli minister’s suggestion of nuclear strike on Gaza raises questions — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova stressed that such statements by Israeli officials shed light on the true reasons why Tel Aviv was opposing the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East

Ukrainian ombudsman asks Russia to provide lists of Ukrainians POWs for exchange

Dmitry Lubinets contacted his Russian counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova

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Prosecutor's Office deems activities of US-based business society undesirable in Russia

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Kremlin spokesman says he cannot recall Putin ever talking to Kamala Harris

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Moldova’s opposition to challenge presidential election results with Constitutional Court

According to Sor, the opposition has evidence of massive ballot rigging in favor of the incumbent president during the presidential election

Iran has hundreds of missiles capable of inflicting severe damage Israel — WSJ

The article states that the Israeli attack has compromised the air defense systems protecting key Iranian facilities

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Azerbaijan, Iran hold joint naval drills in Caspian Sea

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Over 78 mln US citizens vote early in presidential election — Florida State University

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Southern sector of Ukrainian defense in DPR close to collapse — The Guardian

Kupiansk military-civilian mayor Andrey Besedin described the situation as "critical" and said that approximately 1,400 people were refusing to evacuate from their homes, awaiting the arrival of Russian troops

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Syria demands UNSC take measures to stop Israel’s attacks

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Attempts to destroy Iran’s nuclear capacity may expand conflict — top Turkish diplomat

According to Fidan, Israel continues to put forward conditions in talks with the Palestinian movement Hamas

Former CIA, Pentagon chief describes incursion into Kursk as Kiev’s ‘strategic mistake’

In Robert Gates opinion, Russia is capable of continuing its special military operation in Ukraine until it decides that its goals are met, and underestimating its ability to carry on "is a huge mistake"

Kiev wants to exchange only militants from its nationalist battalions — Russian diplomat

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Putin meets with visiting North Korean foreign minister — Kremlin spokesman

On November 1, Choe Son Hui held talks with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov

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Around 100 air attacks of Ukrainian Armed Forces in DPR were foiled in one week

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Russia’s Ionosfera-M satellites successfully put into orbit after launch

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Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg appears at a rally in Georgia

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Moscow calls on Seoul to refrain from sending weapons to Ukraine — diplomat

"We call on our South Korean colleague to think twice and not to embark on this extremely dangerous path, which will lead Seoul to nothing good", Anna Yevstigneyeva said

Plane with 103 Russian POWs lands near Moscow

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New Russian combat equipment in 2024

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Representatives of religious denominations, public and youth organizations will take part in the ceremon

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Russian forces destroy US-made Stryker armored fighting vehicle in Kharkov Region

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Georgian opposition plans to disrupt first session of newly-elected parliament

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Attacks on reserves and Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Industrial facility suffers damage in Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region

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US election results will bring peace or third world war — Serbian leader

The United States presidential election is set to be held on November 5

Fencing installed around Harris’ residence in Washington ahead of election

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West itself signed death warrant for dollar, turning it into punishment tool — Lavrov

At the same time, the volume of mutual settlements in national currencies in foreign trade between the BRICS member countries reaches around 65%

BRICS countries dominate world economy — official

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Total losses of Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Region reach over 29,600 servicemen

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Russian diplomat slams Moldova’s election as most undemocratic in country’s history

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Malaysia rejects US call to 'stop being friendly' with Russia — PM

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BRICS to consider expanding group in 2025 — Lavrov

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Russia says Т-80 tanks of battlegroup East disrupt Ukrainian attack in South Donetsk area

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