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Russia holds talks on easing visa regime with 18 countries — Foreign Ministry

According to Volynkin, negotiations are in progress with some Latin American and Caribbean states, as well as Malaysia, China and Hong Kong

MOSCOW, July 26. /TASS/. Russia holds talks on easing the visa regime with almost 20 countries, Foreign Ministry Consular Department head Ivan Volynkin said in an interview for TASS.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry is working on easing the visa regime with foreign states on a permanent basis - currently there are about 18 such states," he said.

According to Volynkin, negotiations are in progress with some Latin American and Caribbean states, as well as Malaysia, China and Hong Kong.

"A draft bilateral agreement on mutual cancellation of visa requirements is at negotiation stage with Malaysia. The Federal Tourism Agency is working with the Chinese partners on improvement of the bilateral agreement on visa-free group tourist trips. Extension of visa-free trips is also being worked on with the Hong Kong side," the diplomat added.

According to Volynkin, Russia currently has very favorable entry conditions for foreigners.

Putin, Slovak PM discuss bilateral relations, energy — Kremlin

"Therefore, a rather thorough conversation took place," Dmitry Peskov said

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Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

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Ukrainian army launches long-range missiles at Donetsk

Air defenses are in operation, and at least six aerial targets have been shot down

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First batch of nuclear-armed drones Poseidon manufactured for special-purpose sub Belgorod

According to the source, various trials of core components of Poseidon underwater drones, including the nuclear power

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

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Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger take armies to maximum alert — declaration

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Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

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

Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger reaffirm withdrawal from ECOWAS irreversible

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Kiev to face more destruction after its UAV attack on Kazan, Putin warns

"We will not only restore the damage that some attempt to cause to us but will also move forward even at a faster pace as we are doing now," Russian President said

Ukraine may cease to exist by 2034 — Russian security official

Dmitry Medvedev noted that Ukraine will never join NATO

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

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

According to Alexander Grushko, NATO's general course poses a danger both to Russia and to the entire architecture of global and regional security

Trump’s election victory changed Western approach to Ukrainian conflict, adviser says

According to Mike Waltz, Trump has made it clear that the war must end

Tehran, Moscow could sign partnership agreement in January 2025 — Iranian MFA

"This will be done at a bilateral meeting in the coming future," Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said

Putin calls Oreshnik missile development ‘an historic event’ for space rocket industry

Russian President also said that he had handed down direct instructions to produce and test-fire the Oreshnik hypersonic missile

Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

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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

Crew, passenger of An-2 plane crashed in Kamchatka satisfactory — medics

All three of them are in satisfactory condition, but it is too early to talk about their discharge, the regional hospital staff said

Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

The president noted that Russia had become much stronger over the past two or three years as it became a truly sovereign country

Serbia will never joint anti-Russian sanctions, deputy prime minister vows

Aleksandar Vulin noted that he is "not optimistic about prospects for the United States changing its policy toward Serbia" after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump

No real impulses for organization of Putin-Trump meeting so far — Kremlin spokesman

The Russian leader said during the press conference that he is ready for a conversation with the US president-elect and is ready to meet with him at any moment

Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

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Hungary wants to preserve relations with Russia as part of economic neutrality — Orban

The prime minister underscored that, "the more serious the problems in Europe are, the more decisively the economic relations in all other markets should be promoted"

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

The Russian president will not congratulate leaders of unfriendly countries, but he will congratulate some individuals and people of several ones, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov praised the new mechanisms for accelerating the introduction of advanced weapons and equipment developed by the civilian defense industrial complex in the interests of the Russian army

Jet fire reported at drill hole in Russia’s Orenburg Region

According to the statement, there are no casualties

Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Oil supplies to Hungary via Druzhba pipeline resume — top Hungarian diplomat

Reuters reported earlier that oil supplies to Belarus and EU countries via Druzhba had been suspended on December 19 due to technical problems

Gazprom to replace European sales market with new export destinations, says Italian expert

Demostenes Floros also drew attention to the growing potential of the ever-expanding domestic market and mentioned new ways of using natural gas in the future - for example, for the production of hydrogen and ammonia, necessary for the energy transition and agriculture (in production of fertilizers)

Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin thus meant that the Oreshnik missile is a generation ahead of all existing weapons, while not being a nuclear weapon itself

ISS orbit raised ahead of launching Soyuz manned spacecraft

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Houthis say attacked US aircraft carrier in Red Sea, shot down US fighter jet

According to the Houthi spokesman, the strike on US vessels was delivered with the use of "eight cruise missiles and 17 drones"

Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

The Russian Defense Ministry has also purchased more than 100,000 units from small design bureaus and civilian manufacturers, the statement said

Putin holding talks with visiting Slovak PM

According to Putin’s press secretary, the meeting is being held one-on-one

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

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Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

Taiwan to set up drone testing facility for global market

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Top Turkish diplomat calls for listing anti-Syrian sanctions

According to Hakan Fidan, during his contacts with al-Sharaa he "saw the Syrian leadership’s strong will and commitment in this area,"

Israeli delegation discussing in Doha ways of reaching deal om Gaza — TV

The Al Arabiya television channel said that, citing a source

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Trump nominates billionaire Feinberg as US Deputy Secretary of Defense

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US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

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Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

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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

Commander Makarov was killed in fighting to repel Ukrainian attack — ministry

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

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Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 45,200 — health ministry

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Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

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Syrian development help prevent regional war — Syria’s new leader

Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

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Group of foreign mercenaries taken out in Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

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

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Kalashnikov improves combat capabilities of Vikhr-1 aviation missile

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Russia declassifies intel about France’s plans to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine

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Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

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

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

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

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

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Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

Russia starts humanitarian electricity supplies to Abkhazia — minister

Abkhazia’s state-run energy company Chernomorenergo said that there will be just two two-hour shutdowns

Father of conscript who killed 8 in Siberia asks son to cooperate with investigators

The father said that his son would like the unit where he had served to be disbanded

Fico’s visit to Russia perfect slap in Zelensky’s face, Slovak politician says

The MEP said that Fico stands for Slovak interests in Russia, "even in spite of the warmongers in Brussels"

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Putin’s talks with visiting Slovak PM over — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

Russian forces take control of Severny neighborhood in Chasov Yar — Donbass region head

According to Denis Pushilin, Russian forces have been advancing almost along the entire line of engagement in the region

Russia considers launching direct flights with Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan — Minister

Roman Starovoyt noted that Russia is holding negotiations with many airlines from friendly countries

Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

According to Maxim Grigoryev, videos of interviews with witnesses and preliminary forensic examination of the bodies indicate that most of the victims are elderly women

Ukraine launches over 18 strikes on Russia’s Belgorod Region in past day

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the Borisovsky district was attacked by a UAV, with the roof of a private house being damaged

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

Ukrainian troops attempt counterattacks on Vasilyevka direction in Zaporozhye Region

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Latest nuclear-powered sub Arkhangelsk to join Russian Navy by yearend

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IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

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

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine