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Putin to hold meeting with UN chief via video link-up — Kremlin

The choice of format has nothing to do with the Russian president's state of health but rather with the pandemic precautions, the spokesman said

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

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MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres via a video link-up on Thursday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"UN Secretary-General Guterres is visiting Moscow. Today the president will also talk to the Secretary-General via a video conference. We will issue a statement like we do in case of phone conversations," Peskov said.

"It [the choice of format] has nothing to do with his [Putin’s] state of health. The recommendations by infectious disease doctors and special rules related to the president are the reason," Peskov said in response to a question if the choice of how the meeting would be arranged had anything to do with Putin’s health or coronavirus anti-body levels.

The Russian presidential spokesman also said that "it stems from the ongoing pandemic, as precautions are still in place and everyone needs to follow the recommendations of infectious disease doctors, particularly when it concerns the head of state." "The president has been holding quite a few face-to-face meetings and infectious disease doctors consider the matter separately every time," he noted.

When asked if Putin’s upcoming meeting with US President Joe Biden would also be held via video conference, Peskov stated that "This meeting will be a separate subject for epidemiologists to consider."

Putin received his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine on March 23. Neither the president nor his representatives clarified which vaccine he had taken. The head of state got his second shot in mid-April.

Putin has already voiced his position strikes inside Russia with US weapons — diplomat

Earlier The New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden has allowed to use US-supplied long-range missiles, known as the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, to strike inside Russia

Lavrov arrives in Rio de Janeiro to take part in G20 summit

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Bzhania says he remains Abkhazia’s elected president

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Fico’s adviser says special military operation underway between US, Russia

Military and financial support provided to Ukraine is not a way of solving the crisis, Mazgut said

Press review: UK and French leaders discuss Ukraine as the dollar continues to climb

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Talks on Iran Nuclear Deal to resume soon, Iranian foreign minister says

According to Abbas Araghchi, since the presidency of late Ebrahim Raisi, Iran-US talks were held through the mediation of Oman, but the process has been suspended since May

Russian forces capture 10 km of LPR border — military expert

On October 16, Andrey Marochko informed TASS that Ukrainian forces were still operating near three key towns in the LPR’s west: Svatovo, Kremennaya, and Lisichansk

One third of Mariupol residents, who fled to Ukraine, already returned

Lack of due support, and accommodation issues, are the reason

Blast occurs at Udmurtia facility, preliminarily due to drone

The blast did not cause serious damage, the staff have been evacuated

Scholz describes his phone call with Putin as important and detailed

"The conversation was detailed but revealed that little has changed in the Russia president’s views. This is not good news," Scholz said

Actions of those seeking to stage coup in Abkhazia harming relations with Russia

Abkhazia should rely on the union with Russia and build its own state, Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania said

Hostages taken in restaurant in Paris suburb — TV

Meanwhile, Le Figaro reported that the perpetrator stated his intention to commit suicide

German envoy doubts time is ripe for talks on Ukraine ceasefire

"It’s quite clear that Europe will play its part in resolving" the conflict, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said

Abkhazian lawmakers, public activists discuss mediatory efforts to settle political crisis

One of the opposition leaders and th chairman of the committee for defending Abkhazia’s sovereignty, Mikaa said

Trump vows to settle conflict in Ukraine before his inauguration

He also pledged to prevent World War Three

Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

According to Alexander Lavrentyev, there are "in fact Russian troops stationed" in Syria

Paris, London authorize strikes inside Russia — newspaper

According to Le Figaro, Kiev "will be able to use SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles for these purposes"

Russia awaits Trump’s proposals on Ukrainian settlement — Lavrov

"Russia's position was clearly worded by the Russian president on June 14, 2024," Sergey Lavrov stressed

Zelensky’s new plan for Ukraine is ‘an attempt to imitate’ busy activities — politician

Vitaly Ganchev noted that Zelensky's plans "pose no particular interest anymore to anyone and they the proposals are certainly not taken seriously"

Ukraine fires 57 munitions at Russia’s Belgorod Region in 24 hours

A social facility, a car and a power line were damaged

Russia inflicts damage on gas production facilities used for Ukraine’s defense industry

Energy facilities backing Ukrainian defense industry extensively attacked

German defense minister calls for trying to build dialogue with Russia on Ukraine

Boris Pistorius, however, noted that he sees no changes in Moscow’s course

Opposition to form temporary government unless Abkhazia’s president resigns

Abkhazia’s opposition has named Vice Premier, Finance Minister Vladimir Delba to the post of prime minister and acting president until new elections are held, Gulia said

Russia’s hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missile reaches eight times speed of sound

The source noted that Zircon missiles can be launched from universal launching platforms 3C14 which are also used for the Onyx and Caliber missiles

US State Department insists DPRK troops engaged in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

Patel also insisted that "Russian forces have trained the DPRK soldiers in artillery, in UAV, and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, which are critical skills for frontline operations"

West to face 'devastating' response if it allows Kiev to strike deep into Russia — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, Ukrainian social media accounts are meanwhile speculating that the Zelensky regime plans to present the received Western missiles as Ukrainian, changing the labels to use the weapons to attack Russia

Trump to zero in on fragmenting BRICS, Ukraine to take back seat — expert

According to the political scientist Boris Mezhuyev, in all likelihood attempts to replace the presidents of Brazil and Venezuela, and pit India, Russia and China against each other are coming

US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace 12 times in past day

Apart from that, two violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles were reported

Pentagon chief believes Ukraine conflict will be resolved through talks

Pentagon chief said that following a meeting with his Australian and Japanese counterparts

Biden authorizes use of US long-range weapons to strike inside Russia — media

The newspaper noted that the decision was made two months before Biden vacates the presidential office

Trump not to meet with foreign leaders before inauguration - Kyodo

According to the report, the Japanese government was notified about it by Trump’s team

Houthis say they attacked Tel Aviv, Ashkelon

According to Sarea, the Houthi drones "successfully hit their targets" in Israel

Outgoing US administration should end military support for Ukraine — Hungary’s Orban

Viktor Orban believes it would be only fair and just for the outgoing Biden administration to reduce military support for Ukraine as power changes hands

Russia introduced temporary restrictions on enriched uranium exports to the US

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Russia open to Ukraine talks based on June proposals, Putin tells Scholz

"Russia's proposals are well known and outlined, in particular, in a June speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry," the Russian president said

Macron doesn’t rule out phone call with Putin — TV

The French leader said that a conversation with Putin is possible "when relevant conditions and circumstances appear," the BFMTV television channel reported

Press review: Switzerland open to hosting Putin-Trump talks as NATO and EU back Ukraine

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Russian helicopters notable for high reliability — company

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IAEA inspectors notified of high voltage power supply line shutdown at ZNPP

The reason for the shutdown remains unknown

Turkey does not consider pullout from NATO — Erdogan’s party

Earlier, on Wednesday, the deputy leader of the Turkish Motherland Party, Ethem Sancak, said that Turkey might leave NATO in five to six months due to provocative actions against Ankara

Georgia’s ruling party scores 53.93% in elections, wins 89 mandates — CEC results

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He said that the document was adopted by a consensus, and the Peruvian presidency "even twice made sure" that it has been achieved, and was told in response: "yes, the consensus has been achieved."

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"Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate," the Russian foreign minister reiterated

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Ukraine is running low on Storm Shadow missiles — The Daily Telegraph

Reports on whether Kiev is authorized to use the UK-supplied missiles for deep strikes on Russia have been controversial over the past few months

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Lavrov arrived in Abu Dhabi to take part in the Sir Bani Yas international peace and security forum

Kremlin says tone of Putin-Scholz conversation was businesslike, quite frank

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 15

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Putin has already voiced his position strikes inside Russia with US weapons — diplomat

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Finland seizes over 30 more real estate properties owned by Russian government

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Ukrainian troops surrender as Russian forces advance — captive

Alexander Rapolyuk noted that they had originally been sent to the Kursk Region under the pretext of replacing their comrades, but upon arrival, they found that the servicemen they were meant to replace had already been killed

Abkhazia’s opposition agrees that vice president will act as head of state

Adgur Ardzinba, Leader of the Abkhazian Popular Movement, said that the entire cabinet is to resign

Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

Alexander Mikheyev also explained the expectations and effect of the demonstration of Russian military hardware at Airshow China in Zhuhai

Putin-Scholz phone conversation was arranged promptly — Kremlin spokesman

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday

Developments in Kursk Region: Ukrainian fighters suffer losses, face charges in Russia

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

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"

Foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side near Kupyansk, says military expert

Most of the intercepted talks deal with military issues, using a special talk chart, Andrey Marochko specified

Russian missile frigate enters Mediterranean Sea in long-distance deployment

In the Mediterranean Sea, the missile frigate’s crew will accomplish missions as part of the Russian Navy’s standing taskforce

Israeli drone strikes Islamist party’s office in western Beirut

Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya is affiliated with Hezbollah and takes part in the latter’s operations against Israel

Gas supply by Gazprom for Europe through Ukraine to Sudzha totals 42.4 mcm

On the previous day, the pumping also equaled 42.4 mln cubic meters

Kursk Region’s newspaper editor-in-chief killed in Ukrainian drone attack on her car

Apart from that, in his words, a newspaper employee and a police officer received wounds

US using Ukraine as instrument for fighting against Russia — Kremlin

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FACTBOX: Abkhazian leader leaves capital amid opposition’s demands for polls

TASS compiled main facts about the situation in the country

Five Ukrainian drones downed over Bryansk, Kursk Regions — defense ministry

Russian air defense systems destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Kursk Region and two - over the Bryansk Region

Europe’s financial, military resources depleted due to Ukraine situation — Fico’s adviser

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga said earlier that the total military help from the US and European states to Kiev had exceeded 100 bln euro

Scholz, Biden have nothing to offer Putin — German expert

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Kremlin says Putin spoke with Scholz in Russian through interpreter

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Scholz's call to Putin speaks of intention to learn Russia's position firsthand — Kremlin

The conversation took place at the initiative of the German side

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In order to stabilize the situation, President Aslan Bzhania decided to withdraw from the parliament a bill on the ratification of the agreement with Russia on the implementation of investment projects by Russian legal entities on the territory of the republic