{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Kremlin aide confident Zelensky's talk of elections comes from US pressure

"What a double-dealing," Yury Ushakov said

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov Vladimir Astapkovich/POOL/TASS

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov

© Vladimir Astapkovich/POOL/TASS

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelensky has begun discussing elections in Ukraine under pressure from Washington, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Politico that the time had come to hold presidential elections in Ukraine. Following this, Zelensky announced his readiness to do so.

"He also started talking about the elections under pressure from his US colleagues. What a double-dealing," Ushakov said, commenting on the situation.

Tags

Foreign policy Ukraine United States Vladimir Zelensky

Russian delegation arrives in Washington for G20 sherpa meeting — envoy

The first meetings will take place on December 15-16, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Marat Berdyev said

Syrian-American patrol attacked during meeting with Interior Ministry representative — WSJ

It has happened while a US lieutenant colonel was meeting with a representative of the Syrian Interior Ministry, according to the report

Russia needs guarantees to prevent Kiev from sabotaging agreements — Kremlin

Washington’s position is certainly very important here, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Sydney beach shooting death toll rises to 12 — authorities

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon designated the attack as a "terrorist incident"

Severstal delists from London Stock Exchange since August 22 — company

Earlier, it was reported that termination of listing and the GDR program of Severstal were caused by a number of sanction restrictions against the company

Number of Russian billionaires climbs to record high 146 — Forbes

The total wealth of the richest Russians also climbed to a record high $625.5 bln over the year, the Russian edition of Forbes says

FIDE votes to lift restrictions on Russian players

The Assembly has not yet made a final decision

Sydney beach shooting kills ten, leaves 16 injured

One of the attackers was killed and another two were detained

Russian AI market growing by around 30% annually

Chief of the Presidential Directorate for the Development of Information and Communication Technology and Infrastructure Tatiana Matveeva noted that the global AI market has already reached $243 bln in 2025

Russia to strongly object to changes to Ukraine peace plan — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov pointed out that Moscow had not seen the proposals yet

Russian air defenses down 290 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones in past day

Also air defenses downed four smart bombs

China highly praises Putin’s position on Taiwan, diplomat says

Lin Jian also pointed out that recognizing Taiwan as an inalienable part of China is a basic principle for building relations with China

Prince Albert praises ties between Monaco and Russia

An economic forum and bilateral tourism meetings will be on the agenda of Monaco Days in Russia

Ukraine conflict could lead to World War III, Trump warns

The US president said the conflict in Ukraine "doesn’t really affect the United States, unless it got out of control"

Russian population stands at 146 mln as of January 1, 2025 — statistics

Incremental growth of the population was noted in twenty Russian regions, particularly in Moscow and Leningrad Regions and in Ingushetia

Australian police arrest two more people over Sydney terrorist attack

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, police detained two men at a residence belonging to one of the attackers

Evacuation underway after blast struck village in Vladimir Region

According to the report, all emergency response forces are engaged

Cargo turnover of Russian seaports down 6% YOY in 2M 2024 — Association

Dry goods transshipment lost 4.4% to 64.5 mln metric tons

Saudi Arabia's crown prince may buy FC Barcelona for €10 bln

According to El Chiringuito journalist Francois Gallardo, club members participating in the club’s presidential election could block the sale

World-renowned Russian Choir to bring Victory Songs to Europe and US in 2018

The Turetsky Choir plans to visit more places after the Victory Songs had received a warm welcome in Berlin

Ukraine loses about 1,450 troops in special military operation zone in past day

The enemy lost over 240 troops in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North

Trump admits looming difficulties for Republicans at midterm elections

US President also said that he had brought multibillion-dollar investments for the United States, though it is unclear when the money would start working

Press review: Trump pushes Ukrainian elections as Europe debates use of Russian assets

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 10th

Russian GDP reach $680.8 bln in Q3 2025 — statistics

The physical volume of GDP gained 0.6% in annual terms

NATO specialists in Ukraine triggered special military operation — Kremlin

This posed a direct threat to Russian citizens in Ukraine, as well as broader security risks for Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

West weighs on Europe as venue for summit between Russia, US, Ukraine — TV channel

France, Finland, Spain, and Germany spoke out in favor of a neutral venue, such as Geneva

Medvedev rejects accusations of Russia’s ‘disproportionate use of force’

There were several explosions in Kiev this night

Almost 41,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip since October 2023

"The number of those killed as a result of Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 has increased to 40,972, with another 94,761 wounded," the ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel

About 10,000 mercenaries fighting for Kiev regime killed in Ukraine — ex-intel officer

However it is difficult to give the exact number of mercenaries killed in Ukraine, noted Vasily Prozorov

Western actions on BiH have most negative impact on situation in Balkans — Lavrov

According to Russian Foreign Minister, the West "launched a layered campaign against the Serbs," wishing "to reformat the country through its unitarization by depriving Serbs and Croats of Dayton rights"

US-Ukraine talks in Berlin last over five hours — media

According to Novosti Live, Vladimir Zelensky plans to comment on the progress of the negotiations on Monday

Zelensky: big business tycoons, diplomats make mistake by leaving Ukraine

The Ukrainian president stressed that his own family remained in Kiev

Ukrainian forces stretched thin in DPR, Russian commander says

Alexey Vereshchagin, commander of the Nevsky reconnaissance-assault brigade of Battlegroup South’s volunteer corps said that his "brigade’s zone of responsibility covers the city of Soledar, as well as the Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka area"

Ukrainian forces facing huge losses in Kharkov Region — Russian security officer

Ukrainian commanders are chaotically deploying brigade forces to various parts of the frontline in the Kharkov Region in an attempt to stop Battlegroup North from advancing

Russia’s response to EU freeze of Russian assets will follow shortly — diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also noted that the European Union’s policy toward Russia has long been devoid of any sound logic and resembles a theater of the absurd

Two people killed in shooting at Brown University — mayor of Providence

Another eight in critical status

NATO needs to prepare for global naval challenge from Russia, analysts say

The report adds that scenarios for a crisis "often focus on an escalation in what is a single strategic direction stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Kara Sea"

US forces conduct operation on ship traveling from China to Iran — WSJ

After the goods were confiscated, the ship continued on its way, the newspaper said

Trump is confident that Ukrainian conflict will be resolved

Speaking at the White House, the American leader noted that he had previously held telephone conversations with Russian President state Vladimir Putin, as well as with Vladimir Zelensky

IDF raids leave one dead, two wounded in West Bank — TV

According to the Al Jazeera channel, Israeli soldiers opened fire on a 21-year-old Palestinian in the town of Salim east of Nablus

Explosion reported in Ukraine’s northern city of Sumy

An air raid warning is currently in effect for the Sumy Region

Man who stopped Sydney attacker turns out to be local fruit shop owner

Ahmed Al Ahmed’s cousin told 7News that he was injured during the struggle and taken to hospital, where he is awaiting surgery

Zelensky started to promote war after coming to power on promises of peace — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that the Minsk Agreements were in fact a staged plan that had been signed by all parties, including Poroshenko

Sixty-eight ionizing radiation sources lost in Ukraine — Russia’s top brass

According to the report, the loss of control over ionizing radiation sources was qualified as a radiation accident

Thailand ready for cooperation to settle conflict with Cambodia

The Thai Armed Forces Joint Press Center stressed that Thai actions in the conflict with Cambodia are "within the framework of self-defense under international law, guided by the principles of necessity, proportionality, and distinction, and in strict compliance with the Rules of Engagement, with operations directed solely at military targets"

Number of injured in shooting at Brown University grows to nine

The shooter is yet to be detained

Proton-M launch delayed to fix problems — Roscosmos

The postponement will not affect the planned scientific program

Ukrainian attack leaves almost 30,000 customers without power in Zaporozhye Region

Balitsky noted that energy personnel were "working non-stop" to restore supplies as soon as possible, but the weather was complicating repair efforts

Ukraine has money to run only until April 2026 — El Pais

Ukraine's budget has been running a record deficit for several years

Over hundred people come to White House to rally against Trump's policies

Speakers criticized expelling illegal migrants

Police detain likely suspect of shooting at Brown University

No information has been released about the detainee’s identity or the motive behind the incident

Russian senator calls Merz's words recognition of major geopolitical shift

"This is a serious recognition of a major geopolitical shift, which not everyone believes in yet, but which has been looming for a long time," Alexey Pushkov noted

'Paranoid' Hegseth removes Driscoll from Ukraine talks — media

According to the newspaper, Hegseth saw Driscoll as exceeding his authority during the Ukraine talks

Many Russian companies show interest in working with Iraq — Putin

Relations between Russia and Iraq are diversifying and becoming more versatile by their nature, the Russian leader said

Press review: NATO divided over Ukraine’s status and US-Venezuela conflict escalates

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 12th

Trump vows retaliation over attack on US-Syrian patrol

The US President said that "in Syria, there will be a lot of damage done to the people that did it"

Zelensky to fail in trying to take Crimea back, secure NATO membership — Kremlin

According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, "there is a one million percent guarantee that it’s impossible"

Kremlin aide confident Zelensky's talk of elections comes from US pressure

"What a double-dealing," Yury Ushakov said

Turkey's position on Gaza settlement remains unchanged - Erdogan

The Turkish government has repeatedly emphasized the need to resolve the Palestinian crisis through a two-state solution

Euroclear ready to lawsuits in Russian courts due to assets blocking

The European Commission and the Belgian government made no comments on such news so far

Venezuelan president’s visit to Russia not yet confirmed — envoy to Moscow

"It may take place either this fall, or next spring or summer. Unfortunately, there is no date," Jesus Rafael Salazar Velasquez noted

Russia’s SME sector could drive non-commodity export growth — PM

According to Mikhail Mishustin, the government will allocate 1.5 bln rubles to further encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to expand into international markets

Trump considers Europe weak and unable to protect itself, its culture — US expert

According to Steve Gill, the new US National Security Strategy "puts into policy what President Trump has been saying for quite some time"

Explosions reported in Ukraine’s Odessa Region

Air raid warnings are currently in effect for the Odessa, Nikolayev, and Sumy regions

COVID situation in Russia remains stable, is under control — sanitary watchdog

According to Rospotrebnadzor, research results do not indicate any immediate threat for humankind but confirm the risks of the proliferation of new viruses

Thailand says ceasefire on Cambodia border depends on assessment of security situation

Thailand reiterates that it does not seek conflict and has not initiated violence, but it will not allow Thai civilians or personnel to be placed at risk

Russian stock indices in the red as trading on Moscow Exchange closes

The yuan exchange rate rose by 6.8 kopecks to 11.09 rubles

Explosions damage energy infrastructure in Ukrainian city of Odessa — authorities

Transport and industrial facilities were also damaged

Russia focuses on US instead of Europe in terms of Ukraine peace process — Kremlin

The Europeans are playing their own game, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Analyst expects EU to cease to exist as global political entity by 2023

The idea of "a united Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok" will ultimately give way to the reality of a divided, militarized, and economically weak continent

Death toll in Sydney terrorist attack rises to 15 — minister

Ryan Park added that four of those injured in the shooting had been transferred to the children’s hospital

Hungarian, Polish foreign ministers exchange heated remarks on Russian assets online

The spat started with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s post, which stated that the EU leaders’ decision to seize Russian assets without consulting Hungary violates numerous laws and is "a declaration of war"

Trump's policies create uncertainty for NASA operations — newspaper

NASA staffers are worried not just about the cancellation of these programs, but also about the need to return to the office after remote work

West erodes traditional values — Russian Foreign Ministry

"The deliberate erosion of these foundations and the relentless attempts by the neoliberal elite of the West to impose alien approaches on other nations are deeply disturbing," Kirill Logvinov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Organizations, said

Russia hands over another 1,200 bodies of Ukrainian servicemen to Ukraine — source

Kiev has not handed over a single body to the Russian side

MFA calls EU authorities 'thimbleriggers' after indefinite freezing of Russian assets

According to the European Commission's plan, the indefinite asset freeze is the first stage in the expropriation of Russian assets

Cruiser Moskva retains buoyancy, explosions of ammunition stopped — Defense Ministry

Measures are being taken to tug the cruiser to port

Syrian security forces carry out operation against Islamic State near Palmyra — media

According to Syria TV, the US-led coalition is also carrying out arrests in Palmyra and surrounding areas in response to the shooting

Fico describes Ukraine as ‘black hole’ swallowing billions of euros

According to the Slovak prime minister, the European Union is currently in crisis

Japan to suspend support of new solar parks — newspaper

According to sources in the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the decision was made over concerns about environmental damage and the negative attitude of the local population

Normalization in BiH requires immediate closure of high representative office — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister said that "It was obvious 20 years ago"

Russian delegation arrives in Washington for G20 sherpa meeting — envoy

The first meetings will take place on December 15-16, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Marat Berdyev said

Russia starts using Force reconnaissance drone, resistant to electronic warfare

The device is equipped with thermal imaging equipment and can work around the clock

Explosion reported in Kiev-controlled city of Zaporozhye

An air raid warning is currently in effect for the city

Putin, Erdogan discuss highly sensitive issues in Ashgabat — Kremlin

The meeting in Turkmenistan lasted for about one and a half hours

Seizure of Russian assets to backfire on EU — Hungarian PM

It is a direct step toward entering the war, Viktor Orban said

Iran concerned about potential resumption of UNSC sanctions — MFA

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei added that Tehran was "concerned" about the possible implications of Western nations’ decision to activate the snapback mechanism

Top Iranian diplomat to meet with Lavrov, lawmakers during visit to Russia — official

In Belarus, Abbas Araghchi will meet with President Alexander Lukashenko, Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, and other top officials

EU, Britain have no moral right to participate in Ukraine talks — opposition politician

According to Viktor Medvedchuk, "the EU, which claims to be a bastion of free speech, remained silent as opposition media outlets were shut down, churches were seized from believers, and the rights of the Russian-speaking population were systematically violated"

North Korean combat engineers clear mines on over 40,000 hectares in Russia’s Kursk Region

This is invaluable help in the work, without which our borderline territory cannot be rebuilt, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said

Moscow ready to provide help to Syria — Russia’s UN envoy

Russia is going to "continue providing multi-faceted assistance to the Syrian people, including through relevant international agencies by supplying humanitarian help, reconstructing social infrastructure facilities destroyed during the conflict, laying the groundwork for the return of Syrian refugees and temporarily displaced persons," Vasily Nebenzya said

Ukrainian soldiers frozen to death at Liman positions in Kharkov Region — defense source

Battlegroup North fighters found the frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who had died from hyperthermia at two out of six positions they seized

Rostourism receives over 750 calls from Russian citizens over situation in Egypt

Tour operators say the situation in Egyptian resorts is calm

Trump says threatened Thailand and Cambodia with new duties

US President said he was sure that the duties is an important tool in the foreign policy for his administration

Israeli drone strikes on southern Lebanon leave three dead — health ministry

Drones attacked cars near the village of Jwaya in the border district of Tyre and on the highway between the towns of Safed and Baraashit, the statement said

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

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

Russian rescuers helped more than 120 residents of quake-hit Myanmar

Russian doctors are conducting consultations and additional examinations