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Middle East conflict

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Russia works for preventing major war in Middle East — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister pointed to "a sharp deterioration of the military and political situation in the entire region - from the border of Lebanon and Israel to the Red Sea"

© Sergey Fadeichev/TASS

RIYADH, September 9. /TASS/. The Middle East is on the verge of a major regional war and Russia is working with all sides for preventing it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a session of the Strategic Dialogue between Russia and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC).

"The inability of the world community to stop the hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the mass deaths of its residents has led to a sharp deterioration of the military and political situation in the entire region - from the border of Lebanon and Israel to the Red Sea," Lavrov said. "At the same time, the confrontation between Israel and Lebanon has reached a new dangerous level. The Middle East is once again on the threshold of a major regional war. It is our common responsibility not to let it happen."

"We are working with all sides to normalize the situation," Lavrov said. "We closely coordinate our actions both at the UN and on other platforms with our friends from the Gulf Cooperation Council."

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov

Phone conversation between Putin, Scholz lasted one hour — Kremlin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, marking their first phone conversation since December 2022

Russia always fulfilled its trade obligations, ready to cooperate with Germany — Putin

"It was underscored that Russia has always been committed to its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if the German side shows interest in this," the statement says

Putin-Scholz phone conversation was arranged promptly — Kremlin spokesman

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday

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Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Outgoing US administration should end military support for Ukraine — Hungary’s Orban

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IAEA inspectors notified of high voltage power supply line shutdown at ZNPP

The reason for the shutdown remains unknown

Abkhazian president’s office says investment agreement with Russia not revoked

Aslan Bzhania has not signed the document

Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

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Georgia’s ruling party scores 53.93% in elections, wins 89 mandates — CEC results

Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party has won the parliamentary elections with 53.93% of the vote

Trump to zero in on fragmenting BRICS, Ukraine to take back seat — expert

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Russian troops liberate DPR's Leninskoye, Makarovka

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The conversation took place at the initiative of the German side

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In a video address on November 14, the Ukrainian president unveiled a ten-point plan covering the issues of security, energy, weaponry, production in Ukraine, and cooperation with allies

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Russia routs Brunei 11:0 in friendly football match

That is the biggest ever victory for the Russian team

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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Finland seizes over 30 more real estate properties owned by Russian government

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Putin congratulates Gazprom on completion of work on Nord Stream 2

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German government confirms death of ten Germans in Ukraine since February 2022

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German chancellor calls for peace talks with Ukraine in phone call with Putin

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54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

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Ukrainian troops surrender as Russian forces advance — captive

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At present, Aslan Bzhania is staying in his home village of Tamysh

Police detain several protesters near CEC building in Tbilisi

Security forces drove the protesters away, cleared the road and detained several people

Russian troops organizing logistics, ammo delivery in Kupyansk outskirts — military expert

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"The BRICS Summit in Kazan demonstrated the desire of the global majority to establish a fair world order, reform global institutions and build equitable economic ties," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said

US does not fulfill LNG contracts for Europe worth tens of billions of dollars — Gazprom

In addition, the United States is influencing the global gas market with its verbal interventions regarding the possible withholding of LNG supplies to China, as well as a temporary suspension of the issuance of export licenses, Deputy Head of the Department - Head of the Directorate at Gazprom Kirill Polous said

Zelensky tried to dissuade Scholz from telephone talks with Putin — news agency

According to the source, Vladimir Zelensky told Scholz that the conversation with Putin "will only help to reduce the isolation" of Russia

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"

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Scholz met with US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Berlin on October 18

Gazprom says EU artificially destroys gas demand to the detriment of its own economy

As for global gas demand, gas consumption in January-October increased by 80 bln cubic meters year-on-year, the company noted

Russia, China eyeing new gas route via Kazakhstan — Novak

Consideration of the route is at the initial phase, the Russian official said

Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

According to Alexander Lavrentyev, there are "in fact Russian troops stationed" in Syria

Fire in women’s shelter near Moscow put out

The fire in a safe house for women in the city of Odintsovo near Moscow has been put out

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In case the authorities do not accept the opposition's demands, former lawmaker Natali Smyr called on the protesters not to leave the square around the complex of government buildings

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Ukraine lost more than 100 servicemen, a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two D-30 122-mm howitzers, a mortar and an electronic warfare station over the past day

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After 2022, Berlin has been pursuing an openly unfriendly policy against Russia, supporting the anti-Russian sanctions

Putin, Roscosmos chief outline vision for Russia’s space program

Yury Borisov provided a brief report about what the National Project consisted of, its main objectives, tasks and expected outcomes

Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 430 troops, ten tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, 19 armored combat vehicles, 33 motor vehicles, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station

Russian missile frigate enters Mediterranean Sea in long-distance deployment

In the Mediterranean Sea, the missile frigate’s crew will accomplish missions as part of the Russian Navy’s standing taskforce

Abkhazia’s opposition demands president step down in one hour

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Artillery shell hits office of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

There was no injury among peacekeepers, but only minor damages to the gym, UNIFIL said

China hopes for Canada's respect for 'one China' principle — Wang Yi

"We hope that Canada will fully understand the high delicacy of the Taiwan issue and sincerely abide by the 'one China' principle," the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying on its website

UAE’s accession to BRICS to strengthen coordination with Russia on global problems

Russian foreign ministet Sergey Lavrov visited the United Arab Emirates and talked with his colleague Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

IN BRIEF: Protesters storm parliament building in Abkhazia

Opposition members made several attempts to break into the parliament building and managed to enter the square in front of parliament

Scholz-Putin talk should be welcomed, as it is right step — Bundestag

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Press review: Switzerland open to hosting Putin-Trump talks as NATO and EU back Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 15th

Baltic Fleet’s patrol ship Neustrashimy returns to Baltiysk after long-distance campaign

Neustrashimy spent more than four months at sea and sailed approximately 30,000 nautical miles

Ceiling collapses at Siberian mine, at least one trapped - investigators

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday

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The talks were initiated by Berlin

Lavrov outlines Moscow’s approach to Ukrainian crisis during visit to UAE — ministry

Lavrov arrived in Abu Dhabi to take part in the Sir Bani Yas international peace and security forum

Trump picks campaign spokesperson for White House press secretary

Karoline Leavitt served as an assistant press secretary during Trump's first presidential term

Swedish minister in charge of gender equality suffers from bananaphobia

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Russia's liberation of Stepanovka in DPR spells trouble for Ukrainian troops in Kurakhovo

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Armenia’s statements indicate its reluctance to take part in CSTO events — diplomat

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Clear Zelensky won't be the one to decide about talks with Russia, says Lavrov

"Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate," the Russian foreign minister reiterated

RFK Jr. calls for immediate US-Russia talks on Ukraine

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward his latest peace proposal for the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, which envisages the recognition of the status of Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions as Russian constituencies

Russia open to Ukraine talks based on June proposals, Putin tells Scholz

"Russia's proposals are well known and outlined, in particular, in a June speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry," the Russian president said

FACTBOX: Abkhazian leader leaves capital amid opposition’s demands for polls

TASS compiled main facts about the situation in the country

Ukrainian people don't need support promised by Scholz after talks with Putin — Lavrov

Commenting on the Russian side's assessment of the conversation, the top diplomat emphasized that there is already a corresponding comment from the Kremlin

Putin tells Scholz agreements on Ukraine should proceed from realities on ground — Kremlin

"Possible agreements should take into account Russia’s interests in the security sphere, proceed from the new territorial realities and, above all, eliminate the causes of the conflict," the Russian leader said

Polish foreign minister confirms meeting with European counterparts to discuss Ukraine, US

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski added that apart from the top diplomats from France and Germany, Warsaw also invited Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga

China-Japan relations far more than bilateral — Xi

Xi Jinping also emphasized China's willingness to "work with Japan in accordance with the principles and directions established in the four political documents signed by the two countries"

Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

Earlier, the entrepreneur opined that the bloodshed in Ukraine would end soon

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

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russia introduced temporary restrictions on enriched uranium exports to the US

This is a tit-for-tat measure against the restriction of Russian uranium products imports introduced by the US for 2024-2027 and the ban to be imposed by it since 2028 onward

Zelensky announces work on new action plan

In terms of weapons, the plan will focus on production in Ukraine and cooperation with partners

Japanese foreign minister to visit Ukraine

No announcements on the issue were made previously

Release of 23 Russians taken to Ukraine from Kursk Region being discussed — ombudswoman

The documents are currently being considered by the Verkhovna Rada’s commissioner for human rights, Dmitry Lubinets and his office

Russian troops liberate five communities in Donbass region, Kharkov area over week

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 4,715 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 10 Western-made artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

China receives first batch of Russian S-400 missile systems — source

Russia’s S-400 Triumf is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and surface targets

Abkhazian president leaves interior ministry’s building

Aslan Bzhania headed to the village of Tamysh, his press service told TASS

One third of Mariupol residents, who fled to Ukraine, already returned

Lack of due support, and accommodation issues, are the reason

Abkhazia’s defense capability unaffected by protests — security official

The Abkhazian capital of Sukhum remains the sole place of protest activity in the South Caucasus republic, he added

France wraps up training of new Ukrainian brigade — minister

The brigade is equipped with French weapons

Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania refuses to step down amid riots

According to him, the government is also staying in the country and continues its work