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Vladimir Putin's interview with Tucker Carlson

Putin describes Ukraine as artificial state

"We have every reason to affirm that Ukraine is an artificial state that was shaped at Stalin's will," the Russian President said

© Joern Pollex/ Getty Images

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Ukraine, in its present-day form, is an artificial state created by the government of the Soviet Union, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Tucker Carlson published on the US journalist’s website.

"We have every reason to affirm that Ukraine is an artificial state that was shaped at Stalin's will," he said.

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Russian upper house speaker slams PACE as vacuous, worthless structure

Valentina Matviyenko stressed that Russia is a sovereign and mighty state, which pursues an open, clear and independent foreign policy

Palestinian president thinks Israeli operation in Rafah imminent

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Portuguese government refuses to pay reparations for colonial past

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Eight people wounded in Ukrainian drone attack on borderline Belgorod Region

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Since the onset of Kiev’s military operation in Donbass in 2014, ceasefires have been repeatedly declared on major holidays, including religious ones and most of them were broken by Ukrainian forces within hours

Ukraine’s army leaves first defensive line in Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR

The Ukrainian military has suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware in that community, Igor Kimakovsky said

India confident Russia’s pivot to East profitable for both countries’ economies

"Russia is India’s long-standing and reliable partner," Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry Rajesh Kumar Singh said

Russia’s Battlegroup East improves frontline positions — top brass

The adversary lost up to 85 troops, four pickup trucks, two self-propelled artillery systems, an electronic warfare station and a field munitions depot

Russian upper house speaker slams PACE as vacuous, worthless structure

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Ukraine struggles to use GLSDB efficiently due to Russian jamming capabilities — report

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This person has been completely cleared, Philippe Lazzarin said

UNRWA urges to stop artificially provoked famine in Gaza — chief

Philippe Lazzarini noted that the agency alone "cannot provide food to everybody in the Gaza Strip"

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Southern neighbors of US to regain stolen lands — Russian Security Council’s secretary

Nikolay Patrushev speculates that country may split into the North and the South again to get back to its original shape

Russian cabinet extends obligatory sale of foreign currency revenue for one year

The move is to facilitate maintenance of stability of the foreign currency exchange rate and sustainability of the Russian financial market, the government noted

Russian mission to UN critisizes post of Lithuanian ambassador on Crimean Bridge

On Friday, Lithuanian Ambassador to Sweden Linas Linkevicius published the photo of the bridge, saying "If someone hasn't had a chance to take a photo at the Kerch bridge, it's still time

Panic on frontline growing on Ukrainian side — Kremlin

Russia must support the current dynamics in the special military operation zone, Dmitry Peskov said

Russian GDP gain 5.4% in Q1 2024 — Economy Ministry

In March 2024, the Russian economy grow by 4.2% annually

Israeli police arrests seven people after protest in Tel Aviv

The demonstrators burned pyrotechnics and refused to obey police orders, the press service of the Israeli police said

Armenians protesting against border delimitation with Azerbaijan disrupt concert

A similar protest took place at the Paronyan Musical Comedy Theater

Ukraine’s army chief reports deteriorating battlefield situation to Western allies

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Alrosa may leave Catoca project in Angola — Finance Ministry

Alrosa is working in Angola since 1992

Press review: Belarus' new national security strategy and Russia, US butt heads at UN

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Russia strikes major thermal power plant in western Ukraine — underground resistance

Five missiles hit Dnepropetrovsk while a strong blow with the subsequent detonation was registered in Krivoi Rog, the spokesman specified

Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

Repaired strategic bomber Tu-22M3 re-enters service with Russia’s Aerospace Force

The bombers will get advanced precision weapons while their radio-electronic devices and engines will be similar to the equipment aboard the latest Tu-160M2 aircraft

UNRWA chief considers involving ICC in investigation into deaths of his staff in Gaza

It also could be the Board of Inquiry or the Commission of Inquiry, Philippe Lazzarini said

Ukrainian forces trapped on outskirts of Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR official

Igor Kimakovsky reported that the enemy "experiences problems with logistics and the supply of ammunition and essentials"

Russian troops wipe out military train with Western armaments in DPR over past day

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Ukrainian forces fire 72 rounds of ammunition at DPR settlements over past 24 hours

During the day, the mission received reports about three injured civilians, four damaged houses and two civilian infrastructure facilities

More children killed in Gaza over 6 months than in all world conflicts in 4 years — UNRWA

Philippe Lazzarini pointed out that it is very difficult to get precise figures under war situation

Ukraine’s frontlines may collapse, if Russia decides to focus its offensive — paper

Ukraine is at a great risk of its frontline collapsing wherever Russian generals decide to focus their offensive

Shoigu talks about ties with NATO, attacks on Zaporozhye NPP as he attends SCO meeting

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Israel reports another airstrike on Hezbollah facilities in south Lebanon

Military infrastructure in the area of Markaba in south Lebanon was attacked

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Russian troops liberated the communities of Novomikhailovka and Bogdanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and advanced deep into the enemy defense

Ukrainian army says it will not ‘hide’ Abrams tanks, but keeps quiet about their location

On Friday, the Pentagon refused to comment on the rumored withdrawal of Abrams tanks from the battlefield and said that the Ukrainians themselves were in a position to say how they "use their Abrams tanks"

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Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

Musk travels to China — Reuters

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Belgium’s rejection of exchange of assets in Russia to impede process — Kremlin

It was reported earlier that the Belgian side did not recognize the exchange of blocked assets

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Medvedev vows Moscow's response to US law on seizing Russia's frozen assets will sting

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Russian cutting-edge missile frigate holds artillery firings in Arctic drills

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Scholz reiterates German soldiers, Taurus long-range missiles not to be sent to Ukraine

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Economic figures turn out above projections in early 2024 — Putin

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Dmitry Peskov stated that the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin "is well-known"

Russia’s response to West’s seizure of Russian frozen assets to be tough — diplomat

Maria Zakharova drew attention to The Wall Street Journal’s report that Germany allegedly wants to leave Russia’s frozen assets intact to used them as a tool during the conflict settlement talks to force Russia cede part of the Ukrainian territory it has taken control of

Settlement proposal on Gaza to Hamas provides for release of 20-40 hostages — TV

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Kiev requests over 800 Vector reconnaissance drones from Germany — media

According to Der Spiegel, last week the head of the German company Quantum-Systems GmbH, Florian Seibel, visited Ukraine together with German Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck

Hezbollah shells Israeli Air Force base, neighboring settlements

Al Mayadeen TV reported that at least 30 projectiles were fired at the facility from several rocket launchers

Medicine for Bekhterev’s disease may cause medical tourism to Russia — Health Minister

Previously, the media reported that the Russian Health Ministry registered the first treatment for the Bekhterev’s disease in the world

Russia closely watches all NATO maneuvers — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the lion’s share of the alliance’s wargames is designed precisely as the unfolding scenarios of confrontation with Russia

Russian investment in India’s strategic sectors of economy reaches $1.26 bln

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Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

There are two countries on the list

China, US free to have their own friends, partners — President Xi

Beijing sticks to the principle of non-alignment with any blocs, the Chinese leader said and called on Washington "to refrain from teaming up in small groups"

Russia proposes new rules for foreigners buying sim cards, requires biometric data

People covered under the new rules will only be allowed to buy a sim card at physical telecom locations, and not via the Internet

Some want to dismantle UNRWA to prevent creation of Palestinian state — agency chief

According to Philippe Lazzarini, more than 80% of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza believe that if UNRWA is dissolved, it will not be possible to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli issue through the creation of two states

UNRWA to dissolve only when Palestine becomes full-fledged state — agency chief

And if there is a political solution, agency can phase out, Philippe Lazzarini said

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket with European Galileo satellite on board

According to the broadcast on the page of the company in the X social network, the launch took place at 00:34 a.m. GMT

Top security official advises West to keep door open for joint research work with Russia

Nikolay Patrushev cited recent research showing that a simulated eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera, which has shown increasing signs of active volcanic status over the years, and what consequences such a natural disaster could potentially leave in its wake

Russia provides UNRWA with platform to explain Gaza situation to BRICS — agency chief

Philippe Lazzarini explained that against the backdrop of the terrible crisis in Gaza, he wanted to warn the BRICS members of the consequences of banning UNRWA's activities in the conflict zone

China to send two pandas to American zoo in ten-year loan program

It is a part of international cooperation on conservation of bamboo bears

Zelensky’s legitimacy to be soon called in question — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, it will be done from the legal point of view in any case

Hamas publishes another video with hostages — newspaper

The video showed hostages Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 46, who were kidnapped from their hometowns during the October 7 Hamas attack

Israeli troops conduct night raids in West Bank

The military used sting grenades and tear gas, the news agency noted

Kiev recognizes difficulties, losses on battlefield over six months of waiting for US aid

The office of the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky notes that the Ukrainian army needs to stabilize the frontline

West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

Checks on Russian-Kazakh border due to remaining terrorist threat — diplomat

Russian border guards are in direct contact with foreign partners, Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said

Death toll in Armenian bus accident rises to five

Nine people were injured, the country’s Interior Ministry said