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Senior Russian diplomat slams US plans to build up military presence in Saudi Arabia

Washington earlier announced plans to send additional forces to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks

© AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. Washington’s plans to step up its military presence in Saudi Arabia will whip up tensions in the Persian Gulf region, Russian Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters on Wednesday answering a question from TASS.

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US preparing to send more troops to Middle East — media

"This is just an escalation of tensions. Are they going to fight someone or what?" he said.

Bogdanov drew attention to the Security Concept for the Persian Gulf region promoted by Russia. "Our concept contains the philosophy of joint efforts without any dividing lines and confrontation. On the contrary, [the Russian concept envisages] the involvement of all parties concerned without exception — states and regions, Arab countries, not only members of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Iran, Iraq, maybe someone else," he stressed.

Washington earlier announced plans to send additional forces to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks. The number of US troops in the country will reach 3,000. US officials say that these measures are aimed at countering Iran, which, according to Washington, continues to pose a threat to security in the region and is responsible for attacks on Saudi oil facilities, which occurred in September 2019.

Putin ends talks with Pashinyan, starts meeting with Uzbekistan’s president — spokesman

Putin’s meeting with Pashinyan lasted a little more than an hour

Putin signs decree setting Russia’s development goals for 2030

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Ten powerful solar flares erupt from Sun over past day

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Macron’s aggressive rhetoric baffles even his allies — diplomat

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Double standards with regard to Russia make US look pathetic — experts

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European Commission confirms agreement on expropriation of income from Russian assets

This decision must now be approved by the EU Council at ministerial level

FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

Hitler's former adjutant Otto Guensche was captured during the battle of Berlin in April-May 1945 and, while being kept in custody in an investigative prison in Moscow, presented a firsthand account of what was happening at Hitler's headquarters in the last months of the war

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The atmosphere in society has changed, now "reliability, mutual responsibility, sincerity, decency, nobility and courage" are highly valued, the Russian leader stressed

French military already present in Donbass — French journalist

Christelle Neant said that the Ukrainian armed forces is drafting people with no military experience as part of its mobilization campaign and sends them to the frontline after "just two or three weeks of training"

Emergency Ministry employee detained in Kherson Region over collaboration with Ukraine

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Five workers wounded during Ukrainian strike on oil storage facility in Lugansk

Leonid Pasechnik also said the strike "damaged power lines, disrupting electricity supplies to nearby houses"

Euroclear fighting over 100 lawsuits in Russian courts against investors demanding refund

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More than 90% of payments in EAEU are carried out in national currencies — Putin

The Russian leader noted that the combined GDP of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, according to available estimates, increased from $1.6 trillion to $2.5 trillion

NATO wants Ukraine to fight until victory, it is unrealistic — Hungarian foreign minister

Peter Szijjarto pointed out that NATO is crossing its own red lines by stating that "the war in Ukraine is our war"

FACTBOX: Key facts and figures about Russia’s Victory Day

Festive processions, gatherings, assemblies and reception ceremonies are held across Russia on May 9 to honor veterans of the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War

France not at war with Russia — Macron

"We are also not seeking a change of power in Russia," the French leader underscored

EU to agree 14th package of anti-Russia sanctions by July — EUobserver

Moreover, the new package of sanctions proposes an EU27-wide prohibition on Russian funding for "European political parties and European political foundations", "non-governmental organizations", and "media service providers", EUobserver said

Rally organizers plotting riots involving volunteers from Ukraine — Georgian intel agency

The State Security Service claimed that foreign instructors were training protesters to stage provocations against police and create chaos in the country

Dutch MEP congratulates Putin on his inauguration

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IMF warns against violations related to use of Russian assets for helping Ukraine

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China supports Serbia in defending its sovereignty on Kosovo issue — Xi

Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Serbia on May 7-8

West should engage in dialogue with Russia — US expert

In Peter Kuznick opinion, the world is on the verge of a most serious conflict while "NATO is conducting massive war games"

Southern neighbors of US to regain stolen lands — Russian Security Council’s secretary

Nikolay Patrushev speculates that country may split into the North and the South again to get back to its original shape

Some countries reevaluating reliance on dollar over national security concerns — IMF

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Putin may hold bilateral meeting with Lukashenko in Kremlin later on Wednesday

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Russian diplomat accuses EU spokesman of 'inciting terrorism' with Crimean Bridge remarks

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Kiev forces view journalists wearing 'press' vests as primary target — war reporter

Christelle Neant recommended using small "press" labels in order to help Russian troops identify media workers

Kremlin sees Ukrainian petition for deployment of NATO troops as dangerous provocation

The petition to invite foreign troops to Ukraine was posted on the Ukrainian president’s website on Tuesday

Indonesian ambassador says Su-35 fighter jets contract remains in force

Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Jose Tavares said that around 30% of weapons in service with his country’s armed forces are Russian-made

Ukrainian army leaving positions near Avdeyevka over Russia’s incessant gunfire — POW

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Detention of US soldier in Russia’s Vladivostok has no relation to espionage — diplomats

Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok that "not following the case of the US citizen closely"

US begins Astral Knight 2024 exercise in Europe involving 5,000 troops — Pentagon

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Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

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Ukraine approves bill on drafting convicts for military service

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Pashinyan arrives in Moscow for summit, meeting with Putin

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Belgium explains absence of ambassador at Russian president’s inauguration ceremony

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Russian diplomat slams Western ambassador for being absent from Putin’s inauguration

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Arms supplies to Kiev unlikely to drastically change situation on battlefield — US expert

In Peter Kuznick opinion, despite Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's assertions, "Ukraine is not going to drive every Russian soldier from the country"

Putin’s inauguration kicks off in Kremlin

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Putin to participate in EAEU summit — his first international event of new term

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Russia wants no country to interfere in its election process — Kremlin spokesman

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Putin says Russia had to use force to defend people in Donbass as peaceful means failed

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Russia may strike Britain's military facilities if London's threats materialize — MFA

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Ukraine loses several hundred servicemen near DPR’s Novopokrovskoye due to lack of defense

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Aleksandar Vucic greets Chinese leader at Belgrade Airport

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French tired of supporting Ukraine — war correspondent

Christelle Nahan noted that people were tired of the fact that there was not enough money for the development of infrastructure, hospitals and schools, for pensions and benefits for children

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day

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Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

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Pashinyan leaves for Moscow to attend summit, meet with Putin

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian missile solid propellant workshop over past day

Russian troops gained better positions in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

US envoy leaves Russia for certain amount of time — senior Russian diplomat

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Putin wants number of foreign students in Russia to rise to 500,000 by 2030

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Russia to develop cooperation with North Korea in all possible areas — Kremlin

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier that the US together with its partners would continue imposing sanctions for allegedly assisting weapons and petroleum products supplies between Russia and North Korea

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"In particular, there was no evidence of deliberate actions on behalf of the above-mentioned individual," Business Insider wrote

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Ukraine to be able to mobilize no more than 10,000-15,000 convicts — report

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Russian government resigns

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Turkish expert says Putin's inauguration speech echoes what he said in Munich years ago

Aydin Sezer recalled that during the Munich Security Conference back in 2007 "Putin said that the unipolar world had no future and a multipolar world order was needed"

French troops to become target for Moscow forces if deployed to Ukraine — Russian MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, French President Emmanuel Macron’s bellicose rhetoric "is being rejected not only by many European Union and NATO allies," but also - most importantly - "by the vast majority of French citizens"

Kiev troops presumably used ATACMS missiles to strike Lugansk — politician

"Missiles hit an oil storage facility within city limits," Vladimir Rogov said

Press review: Vladimir Putin sworn in for fifth term and EU, Ukraine talk arms deal

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, May 8th

Russia vows not to deport Ukrainian citizens missing ‘green card’ deadline

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Armenia to refrain from financing CSTO activity in 2024

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Russian space agency still in talks on launching two Luna-27 mission spacecraft

"The plans are the same - we are planning to launch," Roscosmos Director General Yury Borisov told

Xi Jinping arrives in Serbia on his first visit in eight years

Chinese President began his visit on the day marking the anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by NATO aircraft

Kiev meddling in Russia’s domestic affairs by calling Putin’s presidency illegitimate

"It was another blatant attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of our country and it was definitely orchestrated by the West with the use of the Kiev regime as its tool," Maria Zakharova noted

Ukraine’s economy to fall into deep coma without West’s support — Russian MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, the Kiev regime is nothing else but "a huge global laundering operation for the transfer of tens and hundreds of billions of dollars for unknown purposes and no one knows where"

Forecasts show Russia may overtake Japan in terms of GDP growth by 2030

Andrey Belousov opined that the Russian Central Bank’s key rate would remain at a high level so far, declining to 6-7% by 2027

Freak snowstorm hits Moscow

The snow falling on the ground does not melt immediately

NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

According to the journalist, everything that Washington does shows that it wants this war

Ukrainian companies report damage to energy facilities

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Appeal for Western troops posted on Ukrainian president’s website

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Russian embassy expresses regret over London’s new restrictions

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Aerospace Forces receive new Su-35S fighters

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Russia to join ranks of top four global economies — presidential decree

The government is tasked to present eleven new National Projects by September 1 of this year

Attack on Soviet Union was OUN’s aim from outset — declassified archives

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Belarusian president sees aggravating military situation at western, southern borders

"Remarks of war and nuclear strikes can already be heard from certain figures," the Alexander Lukashenko said

Ukrainian shelling leaves female civilian wounded in Gorlovka, mayor says

In addition, two of the city’s neighborhoods lost power

Australian Navy’s destroyer, helicopter impede Chinese drills in Yellow Sea — top brass

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Germany’s recalling ambassador to Russia another unfriendly step, diplomat says

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UK announces expulsion of Russian defense attache, new diplomatic visa restrictions

According to Home Secretary James Cleverly, this is a message to Moscow in response to its actions allegedly aimed at undermining British assistance to Ukraine