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‘Direct threat aimed at Russia’: Moscow strikes back at Zelensky’s remark on Crimea

Earlier, the Ukranian president noted that bringing back Crimea should become Ukraine’s main goal and philosophy

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

© EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

MOSCOW, December 2. /TASS/. Moscow regards the remarks by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who on December 1, declared his intention to seize back Crimea in front of the country’s parliament, as a direct threat to Russia and an encroachment on a Russian region, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.

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Zelensky says he needs direct talks with Russia to stop Donbass conflict

"We are analyzing the remarks by President Zelensky; yesterday’s remarks on the subject of Russia. Addressing the parliament, Zelensky said that bringing back Crimea should become Ukraine’s main goal and philosophy. We see it as a direct threat aimed at Russia. This sort of wording indicates that the regime in Kiev intends to use any and all available means, including ones involving force, in order to encroach on a Russian region. This is exactly how we are inclined to perceive this," the Kremlin official specified.

After the Western-backed February 2014 coup in Ukraine, Crimea and Sevastopol held a referendum, in which 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deal on March 18, 2014, which the Federation Council (upper house of the Russian parliament) ratified on March 21, 2014. Despite the convincing results of the referendum, Kiev has refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

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Ukraine Dmitry Peskov Vladimir Zelensky

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that military experts had praised the "unmatched capabilities" the plane displayed at the Airshow China in Zhuhai

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Maria Zakharova emphasized that the Baltic Sea "will always be a common space for all of the region’s countries without exception"

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

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The diplomats see this approach as "land in exchange for Ukraine’s security"

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At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

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Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

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According to the source, the job is not expected to be a salaried role

Kiev may offer Trump resources, partial rotation of US troops in Europe — official

Mikhail Podolyak also expressed Kiev's hopes that the newly elected US president would impose stricter economic sanctions on Russia, particularly in the oil industry, if not provide direct military support

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Troops from various Russian army units are engaged in battles in the outskirts of Kupyansk, Andrey Marochko said

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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

Russia has written off $20 bln worth of African debts — MFA

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Ukraine’s "overall population had declined to 29 million people in 2023 - compared to 48.5 million in 2001," Responsible Statecraft writes

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"Certain communication is maintained between the defense ministers, in the four-lateral format," Alexander Lavrentyev said

Trump 'demonstrates affinity' for Russian President Vladimir Putin — newspaper

Former Trump advisers have already backed his idea of cutting aid to Ukraine to force Kiev into talks with Russia, according to The Hill

People evacuated from Brazil’s Supreme Court after blast nearby — agency

According to Reuters, Brasilia’s military police confirmed that a body was found near the court building

Trump’s victory to make Seoul reconsider shipping arms to Ukraine — news agency

It is reported that Seoul is also looking at how Trump’s approach to the war will affect support for Ukraine among a range of countries

US denies possession of extraterrestrial technologies

According to Sue Gough, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, an office at the US Department of Defense that investigates unidentified anomalous phenomena, "is continuing its review of the historical record of US government UAP programs"

Russia to collaborate with Arab nations for Middle East de-escalation — diplomat

"A call was made to the international community to contribute to the achievement of this goal," Maria Zakharova added

Russian troops secure ground near Novodarovka, Rovnopol in Zaporozhye Region — official

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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

Man who died in blast in Brasilia tried to carry bomb into court building

According to Brasilia's Deputy Governor Celina Leao, the man has not yet been identified because there are explosive devices on his body

Trump does not rule out he may run in next US presidential election

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Scholz promises to transfer sixth IRIS-T system to Kiev by yearend

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

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According to Rumen Radev, Europe wants the conflict in Ukraine "to finish as soon as possible"

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Washington will always seek to control everything that is happening within NATO’s orbit, especially on NATO territory, the Russian foreign minister said

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Finland's Foreign Ministry will need to obtain unanimous approval from EU countries

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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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Radoslaw Sikorski also expressed hope that the base will never go into action

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Alexander Lavrentyev stressed that all parties to the conflict must be involved in talks so that a lasting peace in Syria could be achieved

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Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

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West criticizes Russia's growing ties with Caspian region countries — presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev emphasized that the United States and the European Union are making "efforts to dismantle relations between these states, undermine their political and trade cooperation”

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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"

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Roman Pukalov noted that the blast killed many fish in the reservoir, washed away fertile soil, and inundated potentially hazardous sites, including cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, and fertilizer depots

Turkey invited to join BRICS as a partner state, says minister

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"It is too early to talk about this because we should wait at least for the president’s inauguration," Alexander Lavrentyev noted

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Russian forces liberate Voznesenka community in Donbass region over past day

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"The sides indeed touched upon the topic of the conflict. We have nothing more to say," Dmitry Peskov said

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Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

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Russia to hold Astana-format summit in 2025 — Russian diplomat

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Grossi oversteps authority by talking about freeze of Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

The Russian diplomats also said that IAEA experts will stay at the ZNPP as long as Russia deems their presence there necessary

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Over the day, the enemy lost more than 430 troops, ten tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, 19 armored combat vehicles, 33 motor vehicles, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station