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Ecuador decides to transfer Russian military equipment to US under pressure — diplomat

On January 10, the country's president, Daniel Noboa, said that Ecuador would transfer Russian-made and Ukrainian-made equipment to the United States in exchange for new equipment worth $200 million

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Ecuador's decision to transfer Russian military equipment to the United States is reckless and was made "under serious external pressure," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Izvestia.

"Such a reckless decision was taken by the Ecuadorian side under serious pressure from external actors," she said, commenting on Quito's decision.

On January 10, the country's president, Daniel Noboa, said that Ecuador would transfer Russian-made and Ukrainian-made equipment to the United States in exchange for new equipment worth $200 million. Russia's FFederal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said that the military cooperation agreement between the Russian and Ecuadorian governments does not allow the transfer of military products to a third party without Moscow's prior written consent.

Commander of United States Southern Command Laura Richardson said in January 2023 that Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and six more Latin American countries possess Russian-made weapons and the country would be willing to swap these Russian weapons for US-made ones if said countries agree to transfer them to Ukraine.

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Foreign policy Ecuador Maria Zakharova

Senior Russian diplomat, Libyan general discuss ensuring Libya’s sovereignty

"During a thorough exchange of views on the settlement of the military-political crisis in Libya, the focus was on the task of uniting all patriotic political and religious forces in the interests of ensuring the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Libyan state," the ministry said

US sees no signs indicating Russia’s plans to use nuclear weapons — Pentagon

Department of Defense spokesperson Sabrina Singh said that the United States views the decision to hold a military exercise of this kind as "deeply irresponsible"

Australian Navy’s destroyer, helicopter impede Chinese drills in Yellow Sea — top brass

The Australian side "calls black white and lays the blame on someone else" in its comment on the incident, Zhang Xiaogang noted

Cuban president hails Putin’s taking presidential office for another term

"March election demonstrated a record-breaking voter turnout," Miguel Diaz-Canel said

Russian lawmaker sees 'scare effect' in West as Russia prepares for nuclear drills

Vladimir Chizhov insisted that the drills do not mean "the Russian side is ready or intends to use these weapons immediately"

Russian space agency still in talks on launching two Luna-27 mission spacecraft

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Belarus won’t succumb to provocations or go to war with anyone — president

The Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko doubts that any serious political force in Western Europe wants a military conflict

US concocting latest counter-offensive narrative to justify aid to Kiev — DPR head

Denis Pushilin stressed that Ukraine would not be able to launch a new counteroffensive before 2025

US intensifying efforts to find replacement for Zelensky — SVR

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Belarus to respond instantly to any military aggression, says Lukashenko

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that Belarus would not draw any lines

Five workers wounded during Ukrainian strike on oil storage facility in Lugansk

Leonid Pasechnik also said the strike "damaged power lines, disrupting electricity supplies to nearby houses"

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Kyrgyz president arrives in Russia to attend Victory Day parade

Sadyr Japarov was met at the Vnukovo-2 airport by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin

Russian embassy slams ‘unacceptable’ Berlin’s decision to ban Russian flag on May 8-9

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Russia hands over last RD-180 rocket engines to US under existing deal

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Zelenodolsk shipyard floats two warships

Project 22160 ships are designed to guard and protect maritime economic zone

West plotted aggression against Russia on eve of special military operation — top brass

"History repeats itself," Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Intelligence Department, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Hero of Russia Admiral Kostyukov said

Putin signs decree setting Russia’s development goals for 2030

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US begins Astral Knight 2024 exercise in Europe involving 5,000 troops — Pentagon

The purpose of the exercise is to strengthen collective air and missile defense in Europe

NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day

Russia puts former Ukrainian lawmaker on wanted list

His entry in the database says the man is wanted "on criminal charges"

UN chief to send letter to Putin in connection with inauguration — spokesman

"A letter will be sent by the secretary general as he does whenever new head of state is inaugurated or reinaugurated," Stephane Dujarric said

What we know about Israel’s military operation in Gaza’s Rafah

The Israeli army announced that it had "eliminated about 20 terrorists" of Hamas since the launch of the operation

Putin’s inauguration kicks off in Kremlin

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Sweden approves Quran-burning rally ahead of Eurovision Song Contest

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Press review: Russia flexes nuclear muscle and Israel signals imminent offensive in Gaza

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Belarus gears up for trial run mounting nukes to delivery platforms

According to Alexander Volfovich, the Belarusian military's capabilities will be tested in the field of "delivery of warheads to military units, their mounting on launchers and their attachment to Su-25 jets"

Putin says Russia had to use force to defend people in Donbass as peaceful means failed

"A little later it became clear that we were simply being led around by the nose, and we had to take extraordinary measures to protect these people with military force," the Russian leader said

Putin’s schedule of foreign travels almost finalized — Presidential Aide Ushakov

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SBU claims it prevented plot to kill Ukrainian president

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British envoy reiterates London’s course on aiding Kiev will continue — Foreign Office

British Ambassador to Russia Nigel Casey was warned that any British military facilities and vehicles on Ukrainian territory and beyond may become targets in response to Ukrainian strikes, carried out via British-made weapons

Four single-family houses damaged in Donetsk after Ukraine’s shelling attack

Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin said earlier that five civilians were wounded in Ukraine’s attacks in the republic during the day

Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

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Indonesia making every effort to launch direct flights to Russia — Ambassador

Jose Tavares did not clarify whether the launch of such flights is possible in 2025

US envoy leaves Russia for certain amount of time — senior Russian diplomat

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Belarusian forces to rehearse tactical nuclear strikes as part of snap readiness test

An Iskander missile system battalion and a squadron of Su-25 airplanes are being brought to readiness to perform planned missions

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Former US President will not reveal it until the election, the Daily Telegraph reported

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The Department of State has announced a $10 mln reward for information "leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Russian national Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev"

Putin directs to scale up revenues of small technology companies

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Dmitry Peskov recalled that after the inauguration, the Russian government resigned and the members of the Cabinet continued to work in the status of acting ministers

Belarusian president sees aggravating military situation at western, southern borders

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It is stressed that Vladimir Putin proposes a certain general model, a certain general solution to the security system

Putin formally takes office as Russian president for six-year term

After being sworn in, the head of state delivered a speech

Xi Jinping arrives in Serbia on his first visit in eight years

Chinese President began his visit on the day marking the anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by NATO aircraft

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Since June 12, 2013, Putin has been the leader of the non-governmental movement All-Russia People’s Front, created at his initiative as a coalition of social and political forces

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Maria Zakharova described British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s remark that London considered it legitimate for the Kiev regime to use British weapons for strikes on Russian territory as "something absolutely insane"

Russia signals unfriendly countries by inviting ambassadors to inauguration — diplomat

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Luis Arce congratulated Vladimir Putin, who today took office as President of Russia for the fifth time

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Israeli operation in Rafah undermines mediation efforts — Hamas

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Euroclear fighting over 100 lawsuits in Russian courts against investors demanding refund

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace eight times in past day

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Inquiry against German Air Force chief over leaked conversation closed

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Appeal for Western troops posted on Ukrainian president’s website

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Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

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Detention of US soldier in Russia’s Vladivostok has no relation to espionage — diplomats

Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok that "not following the case of the US citizen closely"

Press review: China to weather US storm and ATACMS not 'wonder weapons'

Top stories from the Russian press on Saturday, April 27th

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IMF warns against violations related to use of Russian assets for helping Ukraine

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Russia working to bring senior Ukrainian officials before tribunal, diplomat says

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Hamas confirms participation of its delegation in Cairo talks

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The atmosphere in society has changed, now "reliability, mutual responsibility, sincerity, decency, nobility and courage" are highly valued, the Russian leader stressed

Putin wants number of foreign students in Russia to rise to 500,000 by 2030

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Putin will now use restyled Aurus car — Kremlin

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Aleksandar Vucic greets Chinese leader at Belgrade Airport

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Kiev troops presumably used ATACMS missiles to strike Lugansk — politician

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French Foreign Ministry denies France sent troops to Ukraine

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Indonesian ambassador says Su-35 fighter jets contract remains in force

Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Jose Tavares said that around 30% of weapons in service with his country’s armed forces are Russian-made

France not at war with Russia — Macron

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Russia to become technologically independent in key areas — decree

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Emergency Ministry employee detained in Kherson Region over collaboration with Ukraine

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West shows no will for peace, keeps pumping weapons, money into Kiev — French politician

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New round of talks in Cairo to be Israel’s last chance to return hostages — Hamas

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Venezuelan president congratulates Putin on taking presidential oath

Nicolas Maduro said he "respects and admires the people of Russia, who resolutely move forward along the track of unity and peace"

Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

He specified that his group took the helmet as proof of the elimination