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Military operation in Ukraine

Still no apologies from Vatican: MFA diplomat comments on venue offer for Ukraine talks

Earlier, in an interview published by America The Jesuit Review magazine, the Pope called military personnel from Buryatia and Chechnya "the cruelest" soldiers in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, December 12./TASS/. Representatives from the Vatican have not yet apologized for Pope Francis’ remarks about the cruelty of Buryat and Chechen soldiers, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel, commenting on statements from the Vatican’s Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who said the city-state could be a suitable place to host negotiators for dialogue on Ukraine.

"I’m afraid the Chechen and Buryat brothers and I did not appreciate that. As far as I remember, there have been no words of apology from the Vatican," Zakharova said.

Pietro Parolin said on Monday that the Vatican wanted "to offer a space where the sides could meet and start a dialogue without any preliminary conditions" on Ukraine.

Earlier, in an interview published by America The Jesuit Review magazine, the Pope called military personnel from Buryatia and Chechnya "the cruelest" soldiers in Ukraine. His remark sparked a wide public outcry both in these republics and in Russia as a whole. Russia’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Alexander Avdeyev expressed indignation and made a statement to that effect to the leadership of the diplomatic service of the Holy See. Maria Zakharova called such statements a distortion of the truth.

Pope Francis claims that his remarks about the cruelty of Buryat and Chechen soldiers were misinterpreted and were only a "figure of speech," the chairman of the World Union of Old Believers, Leonid Sevastyanov, said later, citing a letter he had received from the pontiff.

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Foreign policy Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

20 Russians killed, 115 injured over week due to Ukrainian shelling of border regions

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DPR’s head calls for eliminating Western combat vehicles supplied to Ukraine

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Ukraine’s Zelensky should be tried for war crimes, DPR head says

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Vasily Nebenzya said that this was not the only example of lies or understatements by Western representatives

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

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According to Boris Dolgov, relations between Iran and Russia are developing steadily in terms of cooperation

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Acting Industry and Trade Minister Nooruddin Azizi noted that Afghanistan could become a convenient point for the transit of goods to the states of South Asia

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Iran to hold extraordinary presidential election on June 28 — Election Headquarters

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Ukrainian forces unprepared to withstand Russian offensive near Kharkov — newspaper

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Kronshtadt submarine joins Russian Navy

The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Yevtukhov, Northern fleet Commander Alexander Moiseyev, and representatives of the United Shipbuilding Corporation and the shipyard

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Viktor Vodolatsky also said the liberation of Staritsa would make it possible to reduce to a minimum and later completely remove the threat of bombardments for the Belgorod Region

Finland may open its border with Russia after relevant law is passed — PM

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The IRGC Commander Lieutenant General Hossein Salami confirmed it

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Iranian President’s funeral will be held in Mashhad on May 23 — Vice President

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Deputy Director of Russian Foreign Ministry’s Latin America department Dmitry Belov stressed that Brazil is Russia’s strategic partner in Latin America

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All passengers and crew of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi were killed in the crash, according to Iranian Red Crescent Society head Pir Hossein Kolivand

Russian forces reach Gulyapole’s suburbs in Zaporozhye Region

Russian force have advanced to about 1.5 kilometers and are now in Gulaypole’s suburb

Haiti airport reopens for commercial flights after 2 1/2 months hiatus

Accordint to Diario Libre, Haitian airline Sunrise Airways has resumed all domestic flights and some of the international flights on May 20

Russia says its paratroopers seized Ukrainian strongpoint near Andreyevka

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DPRK forced to take measures to increase nuclear deterrence after US test — statement

The US carried out a subcritical nuclear test at the proving ground in Nevada

Press review: Kiev eyes expanded strikes on Russia and takeaways from Putin's China visit

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, May 20th

More than 200 Ukrainian drones intercepted over DPR cities in a week

According to the FSB, among the neutralized UAVs there were both reconnaissance and attack drones

Protests in Iran after president's death possible, but system will endure — expert

Vladimir Sazhin noted that the struggle for the leverage of power in the country following Raisi's death could begin in the camp of conservatives, whom the late president represented

Five Southeast Asian states eye Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter — Rosoboronexport

Negotiations being held with several countries

Helicopter carrying Iranian president crashes due to technical failure — news agency

On May 19, a helicopter carrying the Iranian president crashed in Iran's Eastern Azerbaijan Province

One civilian killed, three others wounded in Ukrainian drone attack in Belgorod Region

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Russian troops destroy Ukrainian Baba Yaga drones more effectively with thermal imagers

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Zelensky may be target of assassination a la Hitler in 1944 — Medvedev

"However, it will change nothing either for the Ukrainians or for us," Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council stressed

Ukraine peace brokers should take note Zelensky’s legitimacy expired — Russia’s UN envoy

"It runs counter to common sense to discuss any issues, let alone sign any documents with leaders who have lost their legitimacy," Vasily Nebenzya said

DPR collects evidence of Kiev's war crimes in Donbass — regional head

Denis Pushilin emphasized that the regional authorities have tried to appeal to international human rights organizations, but to no avail

Zelensky's presidential powers to expire May 21 — Ukrainian legislator

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Number of people injured in Bishkek unrest rises to 41 — government headquarters

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It is time for Ukraine to recognize realities on the ground, Lavrov says

The conversation with the top Russian diplomat took place on the sidelines of the state visit of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to China

President, Foreign Minister of Iran die in helicopter crash — Red Crescent

The helicopter carried Governor of the East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rakhmati and Tabriz Imam of Friday Prayer Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem

Polish PM says nine people arrested over alleged sabotage attacks at Russia’s request

"This concerns beatings, arson and attempted arson," Donald Tusk said

Lavrov welcomes Xi Jinping's proposal for Ukraine conference

The ministers discussed the results of Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to China

Two powerful explosions rocks Kharkov

An air raid alert has been in effect in the Kharkov Region for almost eight hours

Lai Ching-te takes over top office in Taiwan

More than 500 foreign guests attended the inauguration of 64-year-old Lai Ching-te, including representatives from 12 countries that recognize Taiwan as a separate state

Russian troops destroy 9,700 artillery guns in Ukraine operation — top brass

Russian Battlegroup North units kept advancing deep into the Ukrainian army’s defenses in the Kharkov area over the past day

Third of Ukrainian troops surrender near Lisichansk, LPR’s envoy to Russia says

According to Rodion Miroshnik, the operation to liberate the LPR would be brought to an end as soon as the operation in Lisichansk was finished

Russia creates sanitary zone to protect its cities from Ukrainian shelling — Kremlin

On May 17, Putin explained the Russian military's offensive in the direction of Kharkov by the Ukrainian military’s continued shelling of residential areas in the border regions, including Belgorod

China ready to closely cooperate with Russia to develop SCO — top Chinese diplomat

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for joint efforts in the interests of "fairer and more reasonable global governance"

Russia’s military superiority over Ukraine to grow, European intelligence thinks

The intelligence sources insist that Russia is purportedly planning to create a 1.5 mln-strong regular army by 2026 because it expects a standoff with NATO

Netanyahu accuses ICC of anti-Semitism, distorting reality

It is aimed against the Israel Defense Forces soldiers who are heroically fighting against vile Hamas, Netanyahu said

Russia calls for investigation of all deaths of humanitarian workers in Gaza — envoy to UN

"Over the past two weeks, the Israel Defense Forces has been blocking the entry of 3,000 trucks with humanitarian aid for enclave residents through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom checkpoints," Vasily Nebenzya stressd

Russia’s UN envoy calls on world community to put pressure on US, Israel

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the chances of moving the conflict into a diplomatic domain "look elusive"

Kiev insists on unattainable demands for settlement — expert

According to Peter Kuznick, Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, Zelensky’s approval rating has dropped to approximately 60%, because "the Ukrainians are tired of war"

US rejects ICC’s legitimacy but uses it against enemies — Russian ambassador

"This is yet another example of double standards and a parade of American hypocrisy," Anatoly Antonov said

Pentagon chief promises 'steady flow' of weapons to Ukraine 'week after week'

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that "much more US military assistance" is on its way to Ukraine

End of Zelensky’s term to have no effect on Russia’s operation — Kremlin

The powers of the current Ukrainian president under the current Constitution expire on May 21

Indian Army receives 27,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles — newspaper

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of a joint Indian-Russian venture to produce Kalashnikov assault rifles in the country in March 2019

Russia urges US to abandon destructive policy course on CTBT — Zakharova

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, "the experiment does not contradict Russia’s understanding of a ‘subcritical’ test and therefore does not violate the provisions of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty or the US moratorium on nuclear tests"

Russia’s upgraded T-80BV tank to feature capability of firing depleted uranium shells

The use of depleted uranium ammunition does not violate any international treaties, expert says

Lavrov to attend meeting of SCO foreign ministers

The ministers will also consider candidates for new SCO secretary general and director of the executive committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Organization

UNSC fails to adopt Russia’s draft resolution on preventing arms race in outer space

Seven out of 15 UN Security Council members, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the resolution, while seven voted against and Switzerland abstained

Russia to rely not on 'Western guarantees' but on its army — Medvedev

"Any newly-minted Fuhrer' of the Ukrainian Reich is capable of tearing it up at any moment for opportunistic reasons," the politician noted

NATO's attempts to create anti-Russian bridgehead in Central Asia worrisome — MFA

According to Sergey Overchenko, the US and NATO are trying to "entice" the Central Asian countries into so-called partnership programs and continuing unflagging attempts to bring their military infrastructure to the region

20 Russians killed, 115 injured over week due to Ukrainian shelling of border regions

Rodion Miroshnik said that in total, the Ukrainian armed forces fired at least 2,109 rounds of ammunition at civilian targets in Russia’s frontline areas last week