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Putin-Trump Alaska Summit

Russia’s top diplomat Lavrov, Kremlin aide Ushakov to accompany Putin at Alaska summit

The Putin-Trump summit was initially planned as a one-on-one meeting

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 2

© Ivan Pilshchikov/TASS

© Alexander Kazakov/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

NEW YORK, August 15. /TASS/. Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov and Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, will be accompanying Russian President Vladimir Putin at his talks with US leader Donald Trump in Alaska tonight, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN.

While the Putin-Trump summit was originally planned as a one-on-one meeting, it was later agreed to hold it as a three-on-three event.

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Military operation in Ukraine

Kiev steps up attacks on Russia using NATO arms — military expert

Andrey Marochko suggested that Kiev had intensified the number of strikes against Russia using NATO-supplied weapons due to increased ammunition deliveries from alliance countries

Talks with US on Ukraine produce slow but steady progress — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that negotiations between Washington and Moscow are accompanied by "extremely harmful and even malicious attempts by a group of countries, primarily Western European ones, to torpedo and derail all diplomatic progress"

Zelensky says he spoke with Witkoff and Kushner by telephone

Vladimir Zelensky did not disclose the content of the conversation

French politician sides with Telegram founder, accuses Macron of creating 'digital gulag'

Florian Philippot also called for France to leave the European Union as soon as possible in order to protect freedom of speech

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Yvan Gil Pinto highly appreciated Russia’ "steadfast support" in preserving a zone of peace in the Caribbean

AZAL plane presumably damaged by warhead elements — Kazakh authorities

The commission concluded its examination of the GPS cassettes recovered from avionics modules No. 1 and No. 3

Arms supplies to Taiwan to bring US no closer to its goals — Chinese embassy

Such moves will not reverse the inevitable failure of Taiwan independence, spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated

Putin expects next decade to bring unprecedented breakthrough in technology

The Russian leader drew attention of regional and federal officials, and businessmen across all industries to the fact that actually the time of breakthrough was "already here for us"

Russian embassy warns of danger of Ukrainization of Italian politics

The embassy expressed its full solidarity with the Italians who became victims of the Ukrainian Nazis and the irresponsible Italian politicians who condoned them

Tajikistan reports fatalities from border clash with Afghan terrorists

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US DHS places 27 Ukrainians on list of ‘worst of the worst’ detained foreigners

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The head of the conservative European People’s Party Manfred Weber asserted that US President Donald Trump will not "ensure a peaceful settlement exclusively with US troops"

Bundestag believes German army has opportunity to ensure peace in Ukraine

head of the Bundestag defense committee Thomas Rowekamp said that the German army "has capabilities that it can use, including in Ukraine"

Launch of Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from Plesetsk proceeded normally — Russian top brass

Spacecraft was inserted into the target orbit at the calculated time and taken over for control by the ground assets of the Aerospace forces

DPRK announces death of senior official Kim Chang Son

The KCNA stated that he long occupied important party and state positions

Niger bans issuing visas to US citizens — agency

According to the sources, the measure is based on the principle of reciprocity

Kiev striking infrastructure in Krasny Liman with towed artillery used by NATO — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, Kiev dispatched its artillery unit equipped with M777 155mm howitzers near the locality of Mayaki in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Red Cross receives 182,000 appeals about missing persons in Ukrainian conflict

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Beijing opposes US maritime blockade of Venezuela

According to He Yongqian, Beijing believes that a US blockade "could not only disrupt the normal functioning of international energy markets, but also pose additional security risks"

Parallel imports down to $2 bln monthly in 2025 — ministry

According to the statement, such dynamics reflects in particular the successful adaptation of the economy to the sanction pressure, growth of domestic production

Russian army destroys Ukraine's underground bunkers in Zaporozhye Region

Zaporozhye Region Governor Yevgeny Balitsky stressed that the seizure of Gulyaipole would pave the way for the liberation of the entire Zaporozhye Region

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Russia approves treaty with Myanmar on protection of citizens in international justice

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Russian MFA claps back at West over Kaliningrad comments

Maria Zakharova said that a certain stupidity and audacity shine through in these statements

Trump threatens Democrats with "last Christmas" in light of Epstein case

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Rodion Miroshnik added that it remains unclear what the first point of Zelensky’s plan, intended to affirm Ukraine’s sovereignty, actually means

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It will be implemented if such cases arise, the Russian deputy prime minister added

Bank of Russia lowers dollar exchange rate for December 26 to 77.88 rubles

The official euro exchange rate was lowered by 58 kopecks to 91.8902 rubles

Court sentences Left Front coordinator to six years in prison for justifying terrorism

The reason was a Telegram post in support of the members of a Marxist circle from Ufa who are accused of terrorism

Russian Post suspends overland delivery to Baltic States

Delivery by air to these countries continues

Ukrainian soldiers ignore pressure to celebrate Catholic Christmas — military expert

According to Adnrey Marochko, the majority of Ukrainian servicemen continue to consider rescheduling of the Christian holiday an act of blasphemy

Casualties among Knyaz Vandal drone operators minimal — Ushkuynik

The head of Ushkuynik named the factors that contribute to this phenomenon

Russian football officials plan attending 2026 UEFA, FIFA Congress sessions — RFU

The 2026 UEFA Congress is set to take place in Brussels on February 12 and the 2026 FIFA Congress is slated to be held on April 30 in Canada’s Vancouver

Over 1,300 restaurants, hotels in UAE will begin using Russian software

The collaboration is expected to generate approximately $1.2 million in annual revenue

Switzerland should respect Russia and do business with it — Swiss businessman

Tito Tettamanti said the West made a mistake by intervening too much in Ukraine's affairs to weaken Russia

Germany to have to return to compulsory military draft — paper

Head of the Bundestag defense committee Thomas Rowekamp said that 20,000-30,000 servicemen leave the active army every year

French rush to resell Christmas gifts floods online marketplaces

According to Ouest-France, eBay had already recorded 500,000 listings by the morning of December 25 and expects the total number of posts to rise by 400%

Ukraine extends ban on Russian goods imports for year

The prohibited products include meat, fish, coffee, tea, chocolate and other confectionery, baby food, animal feed, alcohol and cigarettes

Gazprom to supply Russian consumers with 386 bcm of gas in 2025 — CEO

It will be close to a record, the company’s CEO Alexey Miller said

Foreign intelligence services monitoring Oreshnik missile deployment in Belarus — KGB

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier stated that a maximum of 10 Russian-made Oreshnik systems would be deployed in the republic

Ruble becomes strongest-performing currency in 2025 — Bloomberg

As Bloomberg noted, the ruble’s rise has been influenced by reduced demand for foreign currency in Russia.

Moscow calls detention of Russia’s Adler vessel by Sweden 'farce majeure'

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Sweden should apologize for the incident

Su-57 fighter jet successfully evades enemy radars and electronic warfare — Chemezov

Rostec CEO noted that the corporation received feedback on all equipment deployed in the zone of the special military operation

Zelensky's new peace plan not to work for Russia, says expert

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EU twists law of sea by pushing Russian 'shadow fleet' narrative — diplomat

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Russia rescued Ukrainians abandoned by Kiev in Sumy Region — human rights commissioner

Russian troops brought them to a safe place in Belgorod

Sweden better apologize for detaining Russia's Adler vessel — Foreign Ministry

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Fire area in Temryuk port reach 4,000 sq m

Two tanks with oil products are on fire

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Lavrov discusses preparations for CSTO summit in Moscow in November — Foreign Ministry

The meeting was attended by representatives of the presidential administration, federal executive authorities and organizations involved in this work

Press review: Ukraine mulls elections and Trump plans laser fleet as gold prices soar

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 24th

KVN drones destroy Ukrainian equipment worth two German armies — Ushkuynik

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Macron tries to turn EU into 'digital gulag' — Durov

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AI breakthrough, personnel training, low unemployment: Putin’s statements

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Zelensky blackmails Western handlers to get them secure his re-election — Russian diplomat

Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential powers expired on May 20, 2024

Two militant bases dismantled in CAR, plans to disrupt presidential elections thwarted

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US ready to facilitate peace talks between Cambodia, Thailand — Rubio

US Secretary of State spoke with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to "express concern about the ongoing violence between Cambodia and Thailand"

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Russian presidential administration ready to make public Putin-Barroso conversation

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Russia says supports de-escalation around Venezuela, pins hopes on Trump's pragmatism

Maria Zakharova reiterated Moscow's support for "the efforts of the government of Nicolas Maduro aimed at protecting sovereignty and national interests and maintaining the stable and secure development of his country"

Russian troops liberate Svyato-Pokrovskoye community in Donetsk region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 215 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and six armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Humanitarian aid convoy from Dagestan comes under attack in border area

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Refusal to take path of peace is Ukraine’s tragedy — German general

Harald Kujat opined that the West’s massive support created an illusion for Kiev that "it can turn the strategic situation into its favor"

Press review: Zelensky peace plan is no-go for Russia and Trump puts on peacemaker hat

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Russian fish, seafood exports to China up 10% in January-November to $3 bln

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Germany seeks €500 mln fund to address social isolation

Andre Berghegger, head of the Association of German Towns and Municipalities, argued that community meeting spaces should remain open as much as possible, "without long breaks, holidays, sick days or early closures"

Russian stock indices show mixed dynamics as Thursday's main trading session closes

The yuan-to-ruble rate fell 10 kopecks to 11.03 rubles

MOL, NIS ask US to suspend sanctions against Serbian company — Serbian Energy Ministry

Minister Dubravka Djedovic-Handanovic stressed that the Serbian government is committed to creating conditions that will allow NIS to continue operating "regardless of how long it takes to complete the transaction" between MOL and the company's Russian shareholders

No Hong Kong flu in Russia — academic

Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Education Gennady Onishchenko noted that H3N2 flu changed since 1973

EU needs to understand Kiev never to repay its loans — Russian Foreign Ministry

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Rosatom sees signs of US readiness to cooperate with Zaporozhye NPP in future — CEO

Alexey Likhachev recalled, this will only be possible after "peace comes and we reach a consensus on resolving all the tasks of the special military operation"

At least 77 Ukrainian UAVs downed overnight over Russian regions — defense ministry

34 were intercepted over the territory of the Volgograd Region

Almost all Ukrainian brigade deserts — Russia’s security forces

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Cancer-stricken Serbian sues NATO for use of depleted uranium in 1999 attack on Yugoslavia

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Russia ready to discuss form of document on absence of plans to attack NATO — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that Russia remains open for serious talks

Polish officials not allowed to enter Russian consulate’s former building

Poland’s last operating Russian Consulate General located in the city of Gdansk closed down earlier this week