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It is necessary to strengthen Union State of Russia and Belarus — Lavrov

He also noted the importance of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-led security bloc

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. It is necessary to strengthen the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

"The Russian and Belarusian presidents meet regularly. They have met many times this year. Such meetings are organized both in special bilateral formats and on the margins of multilateral event (Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS, Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, Eurasian Economic Union, or EAEU, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO). It is evidence of our orientation to strengthen the Union State. The necessity for that has increased," he said in response to a Belarus-1 TV question.

He also noted the importance of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russia-led security bloc. "We must rely only on ourselves, on the mechanisms envisaged by the 28 union programs and on extra possibilities under other integration projects on the territory of the former Soviet Union, such as the EAEU, the CIS, and also the CSTO, which should strengthen its unity, solidarity in the face of ‘attacks’ on the world order based on the United Nations Charter," Lavrov added.

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Russia forgives Somalia's Soviet-era debt

"One hundred percent of the stated amount is consolidated in accordance with this agreement," the document reads

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

The sources also told the Financial Times that Donald Trump intends to continue the military aid to Ukraine despite the statements he made during his presidential campaign

Russian troops break through Ukrainian defenses near Oskol Reservoir in Kharkov Region

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Putin calls issue of Vladimir Lenin’s burial extremely sensitive

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Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

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"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

Putin declares 2025 year of defender of Fatherland

The Russian president made the announcement at a meeting of the State Council

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German police confirm death of four people in Magdeburg Christmas market attack

According to the law enforcement agencies, a total of 205 people suffered injuries, with 41 being in critical condition

Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region town kills 6, injures 10 — official

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Ship with Syrian-Egyptian crew sends distress call in Kerch Strait

According to international law, the ship can be seized if wages are not paid

Russia’s capture of two DPR settlements paves way for liberation of Kurakhovo — official

Vladimir Rogov also noted that the liberation of Zelenovka and Novy Komar hastens the process of liberating major logistics hubs

Lavrov explains Russia’s position on Ukrainian settlement to Swiss counterpart

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Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

US grants 3-month exemption from sanctions on Gazprombank for Hungary — Orban

Hungary will now be in a relatively safe position for several months, the prime minister said

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

West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

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

Kiev’s Western patrons complicit in recent attack on senior Russian general — UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya recalled that Igor Kirillov had repeatedly presented evidence of the military activity of US laboratories in Ukraine

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

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

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The Russian president still noted that "today, especially in today’s Russia, we must not do anything that could divide the country"

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Social facilities, homes damaged by Ukrainian missile attack on Rylsk — acting governor

"The buildings of the House of Culture, physical fitness center, teachers’ training college, school, firefighting depot and private households were damaged," Alexander Khinshtein said

Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

Russian diplomats doing their best to release Gaza hostages — ambassador

Anatoly Viktorov expressed his wholehearted support to the family of Yelena Trufanova whose son Alexander is still being held hostage in the Palestinian enclave

Ukraine files charges in absentia against Russian army deputy general staff chief

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Ukraine will soon run out of willing fighters, Putin says

The head of state pointed out that ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had said at some point that Ukraine "needs to keep fighting until the last Ukrainian"

Russian forces create bridgehead near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy in Kharkov Region — expert

Ukrainian forces have been shifting significant reserves to this settlement, including fresh recruits with little to no training, to retain Kupyansk

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TASS has compiled the key facts behind the deadly attack

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

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

Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Ukrainian unit of machine-gunners disguised as Russian soldiers shoots civilians — captive

According to Bogdan Nikitchenko, the command sends "anyone available" to the Kursk Region

Putin meets with Federation Council Speaker Matviyenko in Kremlin

The upper chamber of the parliament wrapped up its autumn session

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According to head of state, the groups that fought against Syrian government forces have gone through major internal changes

Russia calls Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights unacceptable — MFA

"Israel must return to the full compliance with the well-known 1974 agreement with Syria," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stressed

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The inauguration of the president-elect is scheduled for January 20, 2025

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Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

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Heat supply cut off in almost 90 houses in Rylsk in wake of Ukrainian attack — official

According to Alexander Khinshtein, repair teams are working at the site

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German president intends to dissolve Bundestag on December 27

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Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban proposed a ceasefire and a major exchange of POWs between Russia and Ukraine during Christmas in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin

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

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

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The Hungarian prime minister reiterated that his proposal for a Christmas ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia remains on the table

Acting Kursk region governor revises death toll in Rylsk attack down to five

The number of those injured in the missile attack was revised up to 12 from 10

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According to a source, "Russians would target any kind of Western assistance inside Ukraine"

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

According to Andrey Kelin, the UK’s official reaction to the launch of the Oreshnik missile was rather vague

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 3,610 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the week

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Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Ship with sailors from Syria, Egypt sends distress signal in Kerch Strait

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Scholz says he intends to continue to speak directly with Putin in future

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As many as 70% of soldiers desert from reinforcements sent to Kurakhovo — politician

The situation is similar at several other sections of the frontline in the DPR

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

Putin says critics who insult him tell on themselves

According to the Russian president, people do it "because of their impotence"

First-ever baby conceived using technology that matures eggs outside body born in Peru

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US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

Several HIMARS rockets downed over Kursk Region as Ukraine continues attacks

Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein added that he was currently in Moscow for a State Council meeting but planned to travel to Rylsk as soon as possible

Poland to import 10% of LPG from Russia after EU sanctions take effect

According to the Polish Liquid Gas Association, Poland purchased about $500 mln worth of liquefied petroleum gas from Russia during the first ten months of 2024

FACTBOX: Ukraine shells Kursk Region's Rylsk

All emergency response services are working at the site of the strike

Key rate, inflation and criticism of Central Bank: statements by regulator’s chief

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

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Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

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Zelensky fully rules out possibility of gas transit via Ukraine — Slovak Prime Minister

Robert Fico emphasized that by blocking the continuation of gas transit, the Kiev authorities are damaging Slovakia's national economic interests and could negatively impact the European bloc as a whole

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

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

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

According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

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Bank of Russia keeping close eye on prevention of excessive cooling of economy

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‘Arkhangelsk, ’ ‘Knyaz Pozharsky’ nuclear submarines to join Russian Navy soon — commander

Admiral Alexander Moiseyev noted that the construction of nuclear submarines is Sevmash’s main purpose, which is performs successfully

Nine-months pregnant woman injured in Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk

According to the latest data, a total of nine people sought medical assistance after the attack

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

Witnesses confirm involvement of detained suspect in Russian general’s assassination

"The sufficiency of information about the crime and Kurbonov’s involvement is confirmed by testimony from the affected persons and eyewitnesses, crime scene examination, study of material evidence and documents, and other evidence as a whole," according to case files

Nuclear doctrine, special op, Oreshnik missile: what Putin said at Direct Line Q&A session

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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Russia recognizes Ukrainian businessman Akhmetov as extremist

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Expert predicts Russia, new Syrian authorities to establish strong ties

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Scholz could travel to Moscow to boost his party’s approval rating — report

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Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

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Putin grants Russian citizenship to Italian opera icon Giancarlo del Monaco

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

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

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