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Military operation in Ukraine

Russian diplomat blasts Kiev’s reaction to Orban’s peace initiative as smokescreen

After his talks in Kiev on Tuesday, Viktor Orban proposed that Ukraine consider a ceasefire as a step toward starting talks with Russia to settle the armed conflict at a press briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Alexander Demianchuk/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Alexander Demianchuk/TASS

MOSCOW, July 3. /TASS/. Kiev’s peace rhetoric is nothing but a facade as Ukraine keeps pursuing the goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia set to it by the collective West, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik Radio, commenting on how Ukraine responded to a ceasefire proposal put forward by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"All that peace rhetoric is just a smokescreen, smoke and mirrors, cliches or memes. Abstract words that must be learned by heart and voiced, while there is only one goal, which was declared by the collective West, namely to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia," the diplomat said.

After his talks in Kiev on Tuesday, Orban proposed that Ukraine consider a ceasefire as a step toward starting talks with Russia to settle the armed conflict at a press briefing. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky however, did not even mention this initiative at the same briefing.

Deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office Igor Zhovkva later said that Kiev had taken note of the Hungarian premier’s ceasefire proposal but that it believed such initiatives cannot be considered in isolation from other settlement aspects.

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Foreign policy Maria Zakharova Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

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Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

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Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

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"The nuclear forces is ready on January 19, just like it will be ready on January, 20," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

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The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

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Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

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Ukraine conflict moves towards NATO-Russia direct clash — expert

Commenting on Ukraine's long-range missile strikes on Russian territory, Elena Basile remarked, "US President Joe Biden has decided to make the task of resolving the Ukraine conflict even more difficult for his successor"

US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

According to former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter, the United States "is a direct party to the invasion and occupation of Russian soil," because it helped Kiev plan its incursion into the Kursk Region

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

Russian army traps Ukrainian troops in Chasov Yar — intelligence center

The official reported that fighters from the 98th Airborne Division were engaged in fierce battles

Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

Earlier, Muneo Suzuki emphasized on his blog that the decision that this decision by Biden on the tail-end of his presidency looked like "a last gasp"

Elon Musk denies his impact on Trump’s decisions on nominates for cabinet positions

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Official declines to say if US gives Ukraine targeting data for Storm Shadow missiles

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Moscow-Washington hotline not in use now — Kremlin spokesman

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Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

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Rubicon center drones hit Ukrainian equipment in Russia's Kursk Region

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage showing the destruction of the enemy equipment

West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

According to Dmitry Suslov, retaliatory measures may include the handover of more advanced weapons to the forces "that are directly fighting against the US, particularly, in the Middle East"

Israel could annex West Bank in two weeks, journalist Hersh says

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters last week that statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich about preparations for a possible annexation of parts of the West Bank in 2025 run counter to the two-state solution and are not conducive to peace

Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them

Indonesia accepts invitation to become partner state in BRICS, ambassador announces

In this role, Indonesia "will actively contribute to and participate in any initiatives of BRICS," Jose Antonio Morato Tavares emphasized

Canada neglects its sovereignty by approving transfer of land mines to Kiev — diplomat

According to Oleg Stepanov, since the authorities of the country have long acted, "especially in security matters, according to the rule 'what Uncle Sam says, so Ottawa will do' and don’t blush about this."

FACTBOX: What is known about UAV attacks on Russian regions

During the night, air defenses intercepted and destroyed two Ukrainian UAVs in the skies over the Rostov and Volgograd regions

Humanitarian situation in Gorlovka harsh as Ukraine targets key infrastructure — DPR head

More than 80,000 users were left without power in Gorlovka on Tuesday morning due to the Ukrainian armed forces' shelling

Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 19th

Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a British-made howitzer and four US-made artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day

No Western sanctions to limit Russia’s foreign trade — minister

All restrictions that Western countries impose affect themselves in the first place, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added

US Senate refuses to block arms supplies to Israel

More than 60 out of 100 senators voted against the three corresponding resolutions, while 17 legislators supported them

Russian State Duma passes law on federal budget for 2025-2027

According to the document, federal budget revenues are forecast to be 40.296 trillion rubles ($404.8 bln) in 2025, 41.84 trillion rubles ($420.3 bln) in 2026, and 43.154 trillion rubles ($433.5 bln) in 2027

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

According to Andrey Sushentsov, Biden is under pressure from Washington’s allies and "the hawks" in his government who believe that the US is not providing enough support to Kiev

Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Iran claims to have disabled Israel’s Iron Dome air defense in past strikes

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Russian troops advance in areas north, south of Velikaya Novoselka in DPR — official

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Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

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Putin’s Q&A session and press conference to be held on one of December Thursdays — Kremlin

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Ukrainian losses, captives, aid to civilians: situation in Kursk Region

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Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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Belarusian security agency says Minsk aware of Poland’s efforts to prepare terrorist cells

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Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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