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Russian envoy to Belarus states that he won’t meet with opposition representatives

Earlier over the weekend Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko discussed the situation in the republic after the presidential election including the external pressure on Belarus

MINSK, August 18. /TASS/. Meeting of Russian diplomats in Belarus with representatives of the opposition in the republic is not planned, Russian ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev told TASS on Tuesday after his visit to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

"To [meet with] the opposition - no, I am not going to," he said, answering the question of TASS correspondent.

Talking about the meeting with Belarusian diplomats, the envoy said that it was a scheduled one: "We discussed the preparation for the Forum of Regions and the joint board of Foreign Ministries," the ambassador specified.

Earlier over the weekend Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko discussed the situation in the republic after the presidential election including the external pressure on Belarus.

In Belarus, where the presidential election was held on August 9, mass protest rallies of those disagreeing with the election results have been continuing for over a week. According to the final results of the Central Election Committee, incumbent president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko got 80.1% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who was considered his main opponent, was second with 10.12%.

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Moscow to respond to EC’s expropriation of €1.5 bln worth of proceeds from Russian assets

Such illegal actions should not be followed by a swift response, it should be well-thought-out and fully meet Russia’s interests, Dmitry Peskov noted

Kiev exports Kharkov Region's factory capacities to western Ukraine — governor

Vitaly Ganchev emphasized that three key industrial facilities of the Kharkov Region, listing the Turboatom plant, the Kharkov Malyshev factory and the Kharkov State Aircraft Manufacturing Company are actually being destroyed

Humanitarian aid should be delivered to Gaza without delay — King of Jordan

Abdullah II called on the US to create "a political horizon to achieve just and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution"

Ruble starts to decline amid the Bank of Russia’s decision to raise key rate

The Bank of Russia raised the key rate for the first time since December 2023 - from 16% to 18% per annum, and will consider the further raising it at its next meetings

Indian prime minister may visit Ukraine in August — TV

According to the WION television channel, the visit can be expected on the third week of August, most probably on August 23

Israel sets new conditions for Gaza ceasefire deal — news agency

Israel demanded that its army be given control of the border between Gaza and Egypt, the sources said

Northern Sea Route becoming more efficient than Suez Canal — Putin

The Russian leader noted that the Northern Sea Route is becoming more and more opened for ships in different seasons of the year but the icebreaker fleet will still be needed for a long time

EC announces expropriation of first €1.5 bln worth of proceeds from Russian assets

The funds will not go directly to Kiev, they will be channeled to the EC, to the European Peace Facility, to compensate EU countries for weapons

Almost all Ukrainian troops leave positions in DPR’s Novosyolovka Pervaya

A mop-up operation is underway

US, its allies getting dragged deeper into Ukraine conflict — Russian UN ambassador

Dozens of foreign servicemen on active service are dying in Ukraine, Vasily Nebenzya said

Kharkov Region records arrival of numerous French mercenaries — official

Vitaly Ganchev pointed out that Russian troops destroy mercenaries, as well as members of Ukrainian nationalist units, on a regular basis

High key rate and lowering inflation — Bank of Russia comments on economic policy

The inflation forecast for this year has been raised to 6.5-7%

Kiev plans to eliminate massive list of 'enemies of Ukraine' — political activist

Zakhar Prilepin noted that "Kiev (the Ukrainian authorities - TASS) does not care about any possible peace talks"

Russian money transfers to Uzbekistan reach $4.95 bln in 6 months

According to Mamarizo Nurmuratov, due to a significant decrease in the number of migrant workers from Uzbekistan working in Russia, the volume of remittances over 6 months decreased slightly in comparison with the same period last year

EC’s expropriation of proceeds from Russian assets to entail Moscow’s response

According to the French politician, such a decision will lead to the further escalation of tension "while Ukraine has already lost."

Top Ukrainian diplomat says Kiev ready for talks with Russia — Chinese MFA

According to the Ukrainian foreign minister, "talks need to be rational, substantive and aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace"

Ukraine has no access to Sea of Azov, its strategy detached from reality — official

Nikolay Patrushev also underscored that ships of Western states cannot freely access Azov ports

Putin to attend Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg on July 28 — Kremlin spokesman

The parade will mark Russia’s Navy Day, celebrated on the last Sunday of July

Numerous violations by YouTube serve as grounds to take action against company — watchdog

The regulator recalled that Russian courts had fined Google more than 25 billion rubles (about $290 million) over the past three years

Russian scientists in process of developing new HIV medicine based on lentiviral vector

The medicine will ensure a prolonged therapeutic effect with minimal side effects, and will not cause drug resistance

Finland claims Russian ship supposedly violated its territorial waters

Previously, the Defense Ministry claimed that four Russian planes violated the Finnish airspace on June 10

Press review: China mediates on Ukraine and forecasting foreign policy under Kamala Harris

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, July 25th

Bank of Russia raises key rate from 16% to 18%, first time since December 2023

Inflation has accelerated and is developing significantly above the Bank of Russia’s April forecast, the regulator said

Bank of Russia says scale of economic overheating in 1H largest over past 16 years

Overheating or positive output gap is the state of economy when output volume exceeds the so-called potential GDP, Elvira Nabiullina said

Russian snipers eliminate four Ukrainian soldiers from 1.8 km distance near Soledar

Over the year of its operation, the sniper company has eliminated about 200 targets

Staff at Paris hotel housing IOC officials go on strike

According to the newspaper, the hotel's employees have not received a pay raise since 2017, despite shareholders being paid a $10 million dividend in 2024

Press review: Putin sits down for talks with Assad and Biden addresses American people

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, July 26th

Lithuania prepares mass evacuation plan for war case

Lithuania has planned a national mass evacuation drill for the fall

Russian missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov arrives in Algeria on business call

The Russian missile frigate has arrived at the port of Oran together with the medium sea tanker Akademik Pashin

West finds it increasingly hard to ignore corruption in Ukraine — Russia’s UN envoy

"They are continuously pumping arms into the Kiev regime, albeit with serious problems and setbacks," Vasily Nebenzya said

Russian airstrike hits assembly point of Ukrainian troops, equipment near Kupyansk

According to Andrey Marochko, work is underway to gather accurate data on Ukraine’s troop and equipment losses

Ukraine may use talks with Russia to regroup militarily, expert says

"During his visit to China, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba expressed readiness for dialogue and talks with Russia, which indicates a potential change in strategy," Zheng Renyi noted

Ukrainian forces fire more than 180 shells at Russia’s Belgorod Region over day

According to region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, a civilian was killed and two people were wounded in the shelling of the town of Shebekino

Chersonesos should stand for Russian prosperity, Putin believes

The territory where modern Sevastopol is located was inhabited 2,500 years ago

Incident at Russian gas production facility kills one

Eight people were injured

West Bank on brink of explosion — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya pointed out that Israel has the right to ensure its security, "however, the road to this goal runs without any doubt exceptionally through a comprehensive resolution in the Middle East"

Beijing, Moscow preparing important visits for later this year — Chinese envoy

These efforts fully reflect the high level and special nature of China-Russia relations, Zhang Hanhui noted

Ukraine blackmails countries seeking peace with oil transit — chief of Orban’s office

Gergely Gulyas stressed that there is no oil deficit threat at the moment

Low fertility in Russia does not mean people being insecure about their future — Kremlin

"The thing is that demography is an area where measures cannot have an immediate effect, they have a delayed effect," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Ukrainian opposition demands parliament speaker's resignation over pro-Hitler remarks

The speaker’s shocking remarks sparked outrage among the public

Russian troops steadily advancing to Kupyansk in Kharkov Region — administration head

The administration’s staff tries to visit liberated communities as soon as possible to organize aid for local residents, Vitaly Ganchev said

'Biden’s plan' obstructs preparation of resolutions demanding ceasefire in Gaza — envoy

On May 31, the US president announced the conditions of a draft agreement on the settlement in Gaza, which implies a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners

German lawmaker Pellmann advises against further weapons’ supplies to Ukraine

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Russian economy growing despite Western sanctions — official

The Russian economy is gradually reducing dependency on export of commodities, developing through sectors that bring high added value, which is why China’s interest in cooperation with Russia is growing, Boris Titov noted

Number of Ukrainians with sober view of events to keep growing — Kremlin Spokesman

When asked, why Kiev started talking about a possibility of negotiations with Moscow at this specific moment, Dmitry Peskov noted that "it would be nice to obtain explanations from an official representative" of Kiev in this regard

US informs Iran of readiness to return to nuclear deal — newspaper

According to the source, the US informed the Iranian authorities that the Biden administration was ready to hold talks on a swift return to the JCPOA "provided that minor amendments to it are made"

German man sentenced to death in Belarus says he planned to enlist in Ukrainian military

Rico Krieger said Ukraine promised to pay him 2,000 euros a month

All UNSC humanitarian resolutions on Gaza remain only on paper — Russian diplomat

The Israeli authorities, according to Vasily Nebenzya, continue hampering aid deliveries

Russia's international reserves rise by $10 bln over week to $611.3 bln — Bank of Russia

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Ukraine uses Kharkov Region’s largest plants for needs of armed forces — official

Vitaly Ganchev stated that his automatically makes these enterprises targets for Russian forces

Indian naval ship arrives in St Petersburg

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Olympic Games in Paris declared opened

The Olympic Games in Paris will end on August 11

FBI seeking to interview Trump as part of assassination attempt investigation — TV

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Alexander Khinshteyn underscored that these measures are connected to the company’s own actions

Moscow open for talks, needs to understand how prepared Ukraine is — Kremlin

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Trump’s remarks on Russia’s victory over Hitler useful for Americans — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that the American people might be surprised "to find out that there are indeed many glorious pages in Russia’s history"

Paris spends $12 bln on Olympics, double what it planned — French daily

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The Obamas endorse Harris' nomination for US president

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Russia to continue airstrikes in Syria until it takes out militants staging provocations

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NATO cannot be trusted, says Kremlin aide

Nikolay Patrushev reiterated that NATO countries at different points in time pretended to be Moscow’s friends, calling it into their ranks, promising not to expand eastward, while now they "openly call Russia the main threat"

Russia’s Economy Ministry expects inflation to decrease by year end

Maxim Reshetnikov noted that the Bank of Russia’s forecast for inflation in 2024 "is within our [the Ministry of Economic Development's] range of current estimates"

Russian forces liberate three settlements in past week

Sixty-three Ukrainian soldiers surrendered to Russian forces in the past week

Russia’s Obereg armor vest outshines US, Chinese rivals in tests

Meanwhile, a Chinese-made armor vest failed to withstand a shot and was pierced through

Russia’s Vikhr air-launched missiles highly efficient in Ukraine operation — arms producer

Crews of Russian Ka-52M reconnaissance/strike helicopters reliably destroy various targets of the Ukrainian army by Vikhr-1 air-launched missiles at the frontline, it said

Russian energy export to China up 4% in 1H to $46 bln — Rosneft CEO

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What is known about arrest of former Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov

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Lavrov warns against ‘very bad scenario’ unfolding around Iran

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Olympic Games opening ceremony begins in Paris

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He noted that Washington’s allies in Europe needed to increase their defense spending

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Russia hits Ukrainian Neo-Nazi formations near Kharkov — underground resistance

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Dam restoration after burst to start in the morning — Ministry of Emergencies

All the residents were evacuated

One settlement flooded after Kialim water reservoir dam breach in Chelyabinsk Region

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WW3 may begin before Biden's term up, Trump says

Donald Trump specifically said in January that Joe Biden's policy had turned the world into hell and was leading the United States to a bloodbath

FACTBOX: Mi-28 helicopter goes down in Kaluga Region

The crew was killed, no destruction occurred on the ground

Ukrainian presidential office against negotiating with Russia at this stage

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Second front of conflict with Russia to open in Georgia if opposition comes to power — PM

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200 people to be evacuated after water dam breach in Chelyabinsk Region

An emergency situation regime has been declared in the city

2016 World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

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China demands that US withdraw nuclear weapons outside Europe

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Russian man found guilty of treason, sentenced to ten years in prison

According to the body, the convict planned to join the Free Russia Legion

Ukraine’s Zelensky, Kuleba lie claiming readiness for talks — Russia’s OSCE envoy

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New Iranian president criticizes Netanyahu’s speech to US Congress

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Open fire eliminated at carbon dioxide removal plant in Togliatti

Nobody was injured

NATO weapons to be hit in any country from where Russia may be attacked — Medvedev

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Some spectators leave their seats before 2024 Olympics opening ceremony kicks off

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Russian tennis player Andreeva won first WTA title in career

She defeated her fellow countrywoman Elina Avanesyan

Russia manages to keep NWS format afloat, despite contradictions — diplomat

The format of the five nuclear-weapons states is not at its best because of the West, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said

Russian firefighting gear accepted by Venezuelan oil company

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Lukoil becomes first Russian company with regional headquarters status in Shanghai

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Most Americans believe Biden should resign presidency now — poll

The survey of 1,074 people was conducted on July 22-24

External forces annoyed because Georgia won’t open ‘second front’ against Russia — PM

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Russia does not see US elites through rose-colored glasses — Kremlin

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Russia says its battlegroup North eliminated up to 235 Ukrainian troops

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Russian, US experts on Ukraine had clandestine meeting in neutral country — diplomat

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Germany fails to meet obligations under Convention on Cluster Munitions, lawmaker says

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Russia’s Nebo-M radars can detect F-22, F-35 warplanes — developer

Nebo-M can detect aircraft and ballistic missiles at a distance of one thousand kilometers

Russia launches work to develop sixth-generation fighter jet

The new military aircraft will be able to develop hypersonic speed