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Military operation in Ukraine

Kremlin confirms support for Orban's Ukraine-related efforts

As Dmitry Peskov remarked earlier, during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 11 Orban called for a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine and a Christmas truce, but Kiev rejected the idea

MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. Moscow continues to support Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Ukraine-related efforts, Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

In this way he commented on Orban's statement that the possibility of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine remained.

"We have presented our specific proposals. They were handed over by the FSB to the Hungarian embassy in Moscow. You heard the public reaction of the Kiev regime’s representatives. You also heard our statement yesterday that we support Prime Minister Orban's efforts," the Kremlin spokesman said.

As Peskov remarked earlier, during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 11 Orban called for a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine and a Christmas truce, but Kiev rejected the idea. For its part, Moscow promptly responded to Orban's initiative, and immediately after the conversation between the two leaders the Federal Security Service handed over proposals for a prisoner exchange to the Hungarian embassy in Moscow.

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Foreign policy Dmitry Peskov Military operation in Ukraine

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Kiev unable to draft enough soldiers even by reducing conscription age — Russian envoy

"According to the command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, over half a million people are currently wanted for draft evasion," Vasily Nebenzya noted

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Russia will not give Donbass and Novorossiya to anyone — Patrushev

Nikolay Patrushev believes it is important for the world to recognize the incorporation of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol into the Russian Federation

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Earth getting hotter, meteorologist confirms

Temperatures have been rising by 0.2 degrees Celsius every decade, meteorologist Roman Vilfand said

Twin Peaks and Dune director David Lynch dies aged 78

The US director's family made the announcement on his social media

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According to the sources, US President Joe Biden’s Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, US President-elect Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Qatari and Egyptian mediators worked on the deal, Axios reports

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Kremennaya area littered with remains of Ukrainian soldiers, Russian troops find

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Maria Zakharova stressed that Washington and Kiev are indeed working together, doing "everything to halt supplies of stable, reasonably priced and high quality Russian gas to Europe""

Press review: Hamas-Israel long ceasefire uncertain as UK backs Ukraine with 100-year pact

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, January 17th

Especially needed armaments delivered to Russian troops in full — top security official

Also in 2024, the production of many armaments increased, taking into account the experience of combat operations, Dmitry Medvedev said

Houthis to resume attacks if Israel violates Gaza ceasefire

Despite the announcement about the cessation of attacks, the Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said "the Palestinian issue has not been solved," so the conflict in the Middle East will continue

IN BRIEF: What is known about fire at oil depot in Voronezh Region after drone attack

A blaze at an oil depot broke out as a result of several drones crashing

Deployment of European troops in Ukraine prone with Russia-US conflict — FT

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Trump and company plan to tweak sanctions to facilitate Ukraine peace deal

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Russia surprised Denmark not up in arms about Trump’s plans to annex Greenland — MFA

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Kiev offered $1 mln to Russian troops for leaving Gorlovka

Elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces were deployed, indicating that the Ukrainian intelligence agency was confident it had successfully bribed Russian troops

Iran, Russia to launch financial messaging channel to get rid of SWIFT — ambassador

"The situation in banking and currency cooperation has significantly improved," Kazem Jalali noted

Israel’s advance in Syria unacceptable — new leader

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Slovak Prime Minister says he may meet with Zelensky in coming days

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UK to send Ukraine $3 billion from Russian assets — news outlet

The United Kingdom is one of the Group of Seven members which agreed to use the profits of frozen Russian assets for a $50 billion loan to Ukraine

Russia may supply limited amounts of gas to Transnistria via TurkStream — expert

As Egor Pak underlined, "there is no alternative to delivering gas to Transnistria via pipelines crossing Ukraine"

Trump’s team prepares sanctions against Zelensky’s entourage — Ukrainian reporter

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Sanctions against Russia 'will be thrown out' after Ukraine conflict ends — Hungarian PM

At the same time, Viktor Orban emphasized that "this requires further effort," as EU leaders are hesitant to change their stance and still support the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine

Russian president signs annual decree to call up reservists for training

The Russian government and regional authorities are instructed to ensure the implementation of measures related to the call-up of citizens for military training and the conduct of these training sessions

FPV drone crews take out Ukrainian tanks, infantry in Russia’s Kursk region — top brass

The ministry released video footage from a drone of how the entrenched Ukrainian infantry and a Leopard tank, among other armored fighting vehicles, were destroyed

FSB nabs Sevastopol resident gathering data for Ukraine’s military intelligence

This information was intended to be used by the Ukrainian military to deliver strikes at Russian military facilities, the press office said

Cyprus dispute must be resolved by Cypriots, without any outside finagling — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow has repeatedly stated its adherence to international law, "including the well-known UN Security Council resolutions on the Cyprus issue"

Greenland has no wish to be part of US but is open to economic cooperation — minister

"But we see ample opportunities to make a deal that could benefit both of our countries," Naaja Nathanielsen said

Zelensky says he signed century-long partnership agreement with UK

The report says the document will deepen bilateral relations in the defense sector and pave the way to further military support to the Kiev government

Moldova fails to define amount of its debt to Gazprom — publication

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Biden administration’s attempts to bolster influence in Africa fails — expert

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Kiev blocks Russian aircraft from aiding in US fire response — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova also noted a similar pattern during the Aventa-M ventilator shipment from Russia at the height of the pandemic

NATO soldiers not ready to fight Ukraine war, Latvia’s top diplomat says

According to Baiba Braze, putting European boots on the ground in Ukraine would cause escalation for the EU that has been shying away from it

EU sees Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system as 'surgical'

According to Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, Brussels will continue to support Kiev

Press review: Lavrov signals Russia’s readiness for talks as Kiev seeks stronger position

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, January 15th

Putin enjoys strong support among Russians — pollster

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Eleven of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zone

No major shift in US sanctions policy against Russia expected — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov remarked that "it would be strange if Bessent, as a minister, did not support his president’s decision"

Israeli defense ministry, IDF initiate preparations for hostage deal — press service

"Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir, conducted a situation assessment," the statement says

Akhmat fighters, paratroopers repel Ukrainian counterattack in Russia's Kursk Region

Russian troops have liberated 63.2% (309 square miles) of the area in the Kursk Region once held by the enemy (490 square miles)