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Russia ready to welcome Belarusian president in Crimea ‘right now’ - diplomat

The Crimean authorities have repeatedly said that they are ready to welcome him, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said

MOSCOW, January 2. /TASS/. Crimea is ready to welcome Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko "right now," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said in an interview with TASS.

"As for President Alexander Lukashenko’s visit to the peninsula, the Crimean authorities have repeatedly said that they are ready to welcome him ‘right now’," he noted.

Lukashenko stated earlier that he intended to visit Crimea together with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Crimea’s head Sergey Aksyonov pointed out that the decision "is quite in line with the spirit of fraternal ties between the people" of Russia and Belarus.

After Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in a coup in February 2014, mass protests erupted in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. On March 11, 2014, Crimea’s Supreme Council and Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence. On March 16, the Crimean authorities held a referendum on reuniting with Russia. Most voters supported the idea (96.77% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol), with turnout reaching 80%. On March 18, 2014, Vladimir Putin signed the treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia. Ukraine, the United States and the European Union refused to recognize Crimea’s independence and its decision to reunite with Russia.

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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

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

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

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

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

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

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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

Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

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Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

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Brazil unveils BRICS logo for 2025

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Air raid alert issued in six Ukrainian regions

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

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

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

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

Possible arrival of new Russian envoy before Trump’s inauguration depends on US — diplomat

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Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

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

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Press review: South Korean president impeached as Ukraine turns to foreign mercenaries

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 16th

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

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

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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

US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

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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

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

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

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Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

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