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Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia reflects new level of relations — top diplomat

The Russian foreign minister characterized the visit as "historic"

His Majesty King Salman of Saudi Arabia, center, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, next to him, right Alexei Nikolsky/Russian president's press service/TASS

His Majesty King Salman of Saudi Arabia, center, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, next to him, right

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian president's press service/TASS

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Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia planned for October, says Kremlin

MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia reflects a qualitatively new level of Russia’s relations with that country in contrast to the previous visit the Russian leader made in 2007, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Russia’s Channel 1.

"This is a historic visit in the sense it is being held during Vladimir Putin’s second presidency and reflects a qualitatively new level of our relations in contrast with the visit that took place in 2007 and even in comparison with last year’s visit by His Majesty King Salman of Saudi Arabia, to Russia," Lavrov said, when asked if Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia confirmed its status of a historic one.

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Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

Kremlin mum on reports about Slovakian prime minister's plans to visit Moscow

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier that the Slovak prime minister intended to hold talks with Putin on December 23 amid Vladimir Zelensky's refusal to extend gas transit through Ukraine

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

According to Andrey Kelin, the UK’s official reaction to the launch of the Oreshnik missile was rather vague

Scholz, German Interior Minister booed during visit to terrorist attack site — newspaper

A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting "Get out!"

Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

According to John Mearsheimer, Russia has become much stronger over the past two to three years because it has managed to become "a truly sovereign country"

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

The Russian president will not congratulate leaders of unfriendly countries, but he will congratulate some individuals and people of several ones, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Russia’s international reserves up by $3.8 bln to $618.2 bln over week — Central Bank

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PREVIEW: Putin expected to unveil several transport facilities

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Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

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Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

The president noted that Russia had become much stronger over the past two or three years as it became a truly sovereign country

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

Brazil unveils BRICS logo for 2025

The emblem is based on the kapok tree growing in the Amazon, painted in the colors of the national flags of the community's states

Novak assumes price of US LNG at least 30-40% higher than of Russian pipeline gas for EU

Russia’s Energy Minister adding that the US LNG is "uncompetitive as of today"

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 3,610 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the week

Banks find opportunity to work under sanctions — Central Bank chief

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Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

Russian sleeper agents open up about secret trip to 2018 World Cup

The married couple, Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, returned home as a result of an exchange

Slovak PM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin, Serbian president says

"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

Putin meets with Federation Council Speaker Matviyenko in Kremlin

The upper chamber of the parliament wrapped up its autumn session

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Moscow lets US media freely work in Russia, despite opposite situation in US, Putin says

The Russian President stressed that, judging by the questions coming from the Western media as well as those who pay their salaries in the US, there is a clear desire to portray Russia as being in bad shape

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

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Russian missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to become world’s strongest warship after upgrade

The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has been under repairs at the Sevmash Shipyard since 1999; real work on the warship has been carried out since 2013

Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

Putin grants Russian citizenship to Italian opera icon Giancarlo del Monaco

Over the course of his career, del Monaco has directed more than 100 operas in major theaters around the world

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

Mourhaf Abu Qasra becomes top Syrian defense official in transitional government — TV

According to Al Watan newspaper, Abu Qasra was the commander of the military wing of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham movement

Eight people killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip — TV

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in Deir al-Balah and a downtown Khan Yunis

Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

This figure is indicated in an internal report prepared by the company, which assesses prospects of gas pipeline use in the future

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

Lavrov explains Russia’s position on Ukrainian settlement to Swiss counterpart

"The Russian side stressed the inadmissibility of NATO’s eastwards expansion, which was among the key reasons of the current situation, which made the special military operation unavoidable," the statement reads

Russia’s federal budget deficit to total 1.7% of GDP in 2024

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German chancellor exasperated by idea of spending frozen Russian assets to help Kiev

According to the Financial Times, the idea was promoted by the US and UK but resisted by Germany, France and Italy

Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

The lawmaker believes that the bribe money wasn’t meant to come from Russia’s frozen funds but Zelensky "could have brought it in a suitcase"

Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin thus meant that the Oreshnik missile is a generation ahead of all existing weapons, while not being a nuclear weapon itself

Putin declares 2025 year of defender of Fatherland

The Russian president made the announcement at a meeting of the State Council

Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

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Soviet ice hockey great Vladimir Vikulov dies at 67 Fri

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Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

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Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Ship with sailors from Syria, Egypt sends distress signal in Kerch Strait

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Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

Everything depends on its content and the approach of the team of US President-elect Donald Trump are important, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said

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Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

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Key rate, inflation and criticism of Central Bank: statements by regulator’s chief

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Syria's new authorities appoint Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister

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Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

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US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

NATO prepares for war with Russia, Moscow takes these risks into account — senior diplomat

According to Alexander Grushko, NATO's general course poses a danger both to Russia and to the entire architecture of global and regional security

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

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Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

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US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

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Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

The motive for committing the crime could have been dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi refugees in Germany, Dr. Horst Nopens, Head of the Magdeburg Public Prosecutor’s office, said

Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

BRICS is approaching G20 format, Brazilian foreign minister says

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Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Yemeni capital city subjected to massive airstrike - TV channel

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Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

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US Congress passes stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown

As many as 85 senators backed the bill, while 11 voted against it

Gaza peace deal closer than ever, Palestinian radicals say

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Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

The Russian Defense Ministry has also purchased more than 100,000 units from small design bureaus and civilian manufacturers, the statement said

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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Persecution of Orthodox Church to come back to haunt Ukraine — Putin

"The ongoing situation with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a gross violation of human rights, religious freedoms," the Russian President noted

Syrian armed groups to merge into one under auspices of the country's Defense Ministry

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the militant leader of the main group driving the Syrian armed opposition, met with the leaders of the armed groups and discussed with them the new format of the Syrian army

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

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Google’s fines in Russia reach stratospheric levels — lawyer

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Biden signs bill to fund US government until March 14, 2025

The US Senate and House of Representatives approved the bill a day before

Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

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Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

The Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that all operational services worked well when dealing with the aftermath of the drone attack

Russia’s first two helicopter carriers to be laid down in Crimea in spring 2020 — sources

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Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

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