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Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin

VAT increase will not be permanent — Putin

The ultimate goal is to reduce the tax burden in the future, the head of state stressed

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The increase in value-added tax (VAT) in Russia will not be permanent, President Vladimir Putin said, adding that taxes should be reduced in the future.

"I understood your hint about whether this will last forever. Of course not. The ultimate goal is to reduce the tax burden in the future," he said during the combined Direct Line Q&A session and year-end press conference headlined Results of the Year, speaking about the VAT increase from 20% to 22%.

The government assumes that it will lead matters precisely to this, Putin noted. "I am also counting on this," he said.

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Vladimir Putin Russia's domestic policy

Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin

Russia's GDP growth in 2025 was 1% — Putin

The Russian leader also said that the country is maintaining a solid pace of real wage growth

Russian army continues to advance west of Seversk, Putin says

The Russian leader recalled how the report on the liberation of Seversk was presented

US actions in Venezuela display Washington's neocolonial approach — Russia’s UN envoy

"Starting with false pretexts of combatting drug trafficking and terrorism, Washington has already moved on to open threats of military aggression and seizure of the territory and natural resources of a sovereign state," Vasily Nebenzya said

Maduro vows full effort to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty under any circumstances

The Venezuelan president stated that the United States is seeking a regime change in the Bolivarian Republic "to impose a puppet government that will turn the country with its natural resources into a colony"

Press review: Trump seeks to pressure Moscow as EU desperate to find funds for Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 18th

Russia, Africa working to increase number of intergovernmental commissions

19 such commissions are already operational

Preparations underway for Oreshnik missile system to assume combat duty in Belarus

The deployment of the Russian-made hypersonic missile system in Belarus is an issue of strategic deterrence, Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin stressed

Zelensky admits Biden told him Ukraine would not be brought in to NATO before conflict

Vladimir Zelensky noted that he repeatedly raised the issue with the White House, becoming a kind of running joke among US officials

Europe should consider Putin's words on placing Oreshnik missile on combat duty — expert

Military-Political Analysis Bureau head Alexander Mikhailov emphasized that the tactical and technical characteristics of the Oreshnik missile allow the Russian army to launch a strike targeting any spot in Europe

UK introduced sanctions against Russian oil producers

In total, restrictions affected 24 legal entities and individuals, including companies from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE

Special customs regime will make Hainan a development leader — expert

Deputy Director of the Swedish Belt and Road Institute noted that the launch of such a regime shows a firm commitment to expanding openness

Russian troops strike Ukrainian army’s energy infrastructure over past day

According to the latest figures, Kiev loses 1,405 troops along engagement line in past day

EU leaders upset about late start to Brussels summit — media

According to Politico, the delay was caused after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa held an impromptu meeting with a farmers’ association

Russian asset seizure to undermine trust in Euro zone, Putin warns

The president pointed out that apart from Russia, many other countries also keep their gold and currency reserves in Europe

Russia’s Safonov makes football goalkeeping history in French PSG FIFA championship win

The final match of the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup between Paris Saint-Germain football club from France and Brazilian Flamengo FC was played at the 45,000-seat capacity Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

Whole world, save for Europe, condemns US actions in Caribbean — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister underscored that "all other countries have clearly expressed their positions"

Western military presence in Ukraine in any format unacceptable for Russia — MFA

Maria Zakharova stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers would become legitimate targets for the Russian army

US relations thaw proving difficult — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that Russia's principled position, firmly based on the protection of national interests, respect for traditions, and a sustained readiness for pragmatic dialogue, constitutes the only correct approach

Russian president Putin starts year-end Q&A session

Everyone has a chance to address the president, as only a smartphone is required to do so

IN BRIEF: Resuming nuclear tests, NATO threat: what Russia's military chief of staff said

The North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of a so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russia’s borders

Russian defense technologies unmatched by Western military-industrial complex — expert

Alexander Stepanov noted that established industrial production would make it possible to make tens and even hundreds of items per year to provide strategic coverage for all critical areas and facilities in the Russian border regions

Russia hopes Serbia stands by national interests, not West's lies — SVR chief

"We will not interfere and will respect whatever choice they make," Sergey Naryshkin added

TikTok signs deal to sell its US business — Axios

Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will collectively own 45% of the US entity, nearly one-third of the company will be held by affiliates of existing ByteDance investors, and nearly 20% will be retained by ByteDance

Putin receives random but curated questions from Russians for Q&A session — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, to date, more than 2,100,000 questions have come in via different channels

Zelensky cannot withdraw troops from Donbass due to nationalist resistance — opposition

Viktor Medvedchuk noted that Western media outlets consistently report significant pressure from Washington on Kiev and Europe regarding this issue

US aware that continued conflict will end in Ukraine's defeat — intelligence chief

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the US administration has begun seeking compromise solutions and they were identified and articulated in what is known as the Trump peace plan

Corruption scandal fallout, threat to Ukrainian elites — Russia’s SVR statements

According to the intelligence service, the corruption scandal in Ukraine has resulted in "a sharp decline in the morale of Ukrainian troops on the frontlines"

Kiev and Europe try to disown compromises of Trump plan, Naryshkin says

"We have seen that in recent weeks both the Kiev regime and its European patrons, contrary to common sense, have been trying to disown those, in my opinion, sound, fair compromises proposed in the so-called Trump peace plan," Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said

FACTBOX: What is known about EU summit’s ruling on Russian assets

Ukraine's funding will be provided from the EU budget in the amount of 90 billion euros, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said

Ex-NASCAR racer killed in business jet crash in North Carolina

The members of Gregory Biffle's family were among the victims, a member of the US House of Representatives Richard Hudson said

Russia’s Intelligence Service likens declared unity of West to chimera

"It is based not on the common core interests of the peoples of these countries, but on the megalomania and exclusivity of their elites," Sergey Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, said

EU leaders discuss ‘uncapped financial guarantees’ to Belgium — Euractiv

According to the report, the EU leaders are poised to continue the summit until a result is reached

Putin calls EU’s attempts to seize Russian assets 'robbery'

The Russian leader emphasized that the European Union is trying to do it overtly

Krasny Liman to be liberated in near future — Putin

The head of state added that Russian forces currently control about half of the city

Russia advances in Donbass while West plays shell games — Ukrainian opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear that the desire for war in this situation does not come from Russia

Russia alarmed by worsening humanitarian situation in Syria — UN mission

"We are concerned by the fact that, despite political shifts in the country and the efforts by UN agencies, the humanitarian situation not only remains dire but is also showing signs of systemic deterioration," Dmitry Polyansky said

EU leaders looking for ways to finance Ukraine, but Hungary will not support them — Orban

"There is a huge possibility that no matter what kind of aid they would want to provide to Ukraine, Hungary will stay away from it," he said

Trump says US wants back oil rights allegedly taken by Venezuela

"They took all of our oil from not that long ago", US President said

ECB will not support loan mechanism for Ukraine breaching EU laws — Lagarde

Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prevents the ECB from printing money explicitly to finance government spending

EU fixated on idea of stealing Russia's money to continue war in Ukraine — Kremlin

"It feels as if they can think about only one thing: how to find money to continue the war," Dmitry Peskov noted

Gold futures record high on Comex again — market data

The precious metal price gained 0.92% to $4,401.9 per Troy ounce

EU summit communique makes no mention of Russian assets, meeting continues

The European Council press service has not yet provided journalists with even an approximate ending time for the first day’s discussions

New US security strategy rightly America first — Russian intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin noted that "there are clear tendencies toward isolationism, which US President Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance do not hide"

EU to issue 90 billion euro in interest-free loan to Kiev — Merz

The German Chancellor said that "the Russian frozen assets will remain blocked until Russia has paid reparations to Ukraine"

US pauses green card lottery after Brown University shooting — Reuters

On the evening of December 13, a shooting occurred at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, leaving at least two dead and nine others injured

EU replaced its ‘strategic defeat’ mantra with ‘maximum damage’ — Naryshkin

"They no longer prioritize ‘strategic defeat,’ because they have already realized that it will be impossible, so they want to deal maximum damage to Russia instead," director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said

Lukashenko says he is ‘outgoing’ president

According to the Belarusian leader, he wants to establish good relations between Minsk and Washington

Fico highlights need for compromise at European Council

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico repeatedly said that he would refuse to vote for any support for Ukraine's military needs at the summit

Route to Slavyansk opens from liberated Seversk — Putin

The head of state recalled that the Russian side had long ago urged the Kiev regime to withdraw its troops from the territories of the republics which do not want to live under nationalist control

IN BRIEF: Putin's statements on Ukraine at 'Results of the Year' conference

The president said that Russian troops in the special operation zone are advancing in all directions, fully seizing the strategic initiative

Belarus will not completely relocate its factories — Lukashenko

According to the President, agreements on localizing the production of Belarusian tractors and trucks in Vietnam are being implemented

Desertion in Ukrainian armed forces grows — Russian intelligence chief

"In contrast to the Ukrainian side, the Russian army is continuously advancing, liberating several villages and cities each week." Sergey Naryshkin stated

Inevitable Ukrainian surrender to make peace talk much easier — SVR

According to Sergey Naryshkin, no one will be able to prevent the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict after that

US Treasury removes six entities, two individuals from anti-Russian sanctions

The sanctions will no longer apply to Russian citizen Dmitry Bugayenko and Finnish citizen Evgenia Dremova

Russian intel chief reveals recent extended call with MI6 director

Sergey Naryshkin said the phone conversation was held "just a few days ago"

EU cannot continue proxy war against Russia due to financial problems — Chinese expert

Wang Yiwei said the idea of using frozen assets for military purposes "effectively exposes the hypocrisy of the EU"

Lukashenko says he cannot be president forever

Alexander Lukashenko named himself "a departing president"

FACTBOX: Drone hits Lipetsk, cuts power in Rostov-on-Don after Ukrainian overnight attack

Power outages occurred in Rostov-on-Don and two districts of the Rostov Region

EU summit fails to expropriate Russian assets, but may do so in future — von der Leyen

"The member states have agreed to finance Ukraine through an EU borrowing on the capital markets for an amount of 90 billion euro for the next two years," Ursula von der Leyen said

Press review: EU leaders clash over Ukraine and Trump approves Taiwan arms sale as test

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 19th

Beijing vows decisive response to $11 bln US arms sale to Taiwan

"The US side has announced a large-scale plan to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan, which seriously violates the One China principle and provisions of three joint communiques," Guo Jiakun said

Durov compares UK’s future to dystopian thriller

V for Vendetta’s totalitarian UK felt far-fetched 20 years ago, now "it feels less like fiction and more like a government action plan," Telegram co-founder said

IN BRIEF: What is known about situation around frozen Russian assets

Four EU officials said that a key point in the discussion was the idea of excluding Hungary and Slovakia from the general debt repayment scheme, as both countries oppose further aid to Ukraine

Special EU decision now needed to unblock frozen Russian assets — von der Leyen

The qualified majority implies that 16 out of the 27 EU member countries, home to over 55% population of the European Union, need to support the move

Netanyahu approves record gas deal with Egypt under US pressure — Axios

According to the source, the Trump administration has been pressing Natanyahu for several weeks to approve the deal

Four US planes spotted again near Venezuela's maritime border — dispatchers

"At least four carrier-based aircraft, namely Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter-bombers, are over neutral waters in the immediate vicinity of the Venezuelan border," the source said

Putin’s Direct Line Q&A to take place on December 19

"Questions will be accepted from 3:00 p.m. Moscow time on December 4 until the end of the program on December 19," the Kremlin specified

Russian troops to move westward after liberating Kupyansk-Uzlovoi — Putin

As the president stressed, the Russian troops have been assigned a very important task to eliminate the enemy group on the left bank of the Oskol River

Lukoil left Ghasha concession in the UAE in November — mass media

The Russian company transferred its 10% participation interest to ADNOC

EU diplomats do not rule out retaliation against Ukrainian elites by angry mob — SVR

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said that the Mindich-Zelensky case is undermining Ukraine

Continuation of conflict in Ukraine extremely dangerous — Belarusian president

The Belarusian leader commented on rumors that the end of the conflict in Ukraine is disadvantageous to him and the military-political leadership of the republic

UK 'co-running war' in Ukraine — former French military officer

When asked about the presence of Western servicemen in the area of the Russian special military operation, Xavier Moreau emphasized that there are "many British" in Ukraine

Europe will have to reopen dialogue with Russia — Macron

The French president believes that "Europeans and Ukrainians, will have to find the right framework to re-engage in this discussion in a proper manner"

Russophobic policies to cause further degradation of EU — Naryshkin

"The European Union has somehow missed the general trends and dynamics in global politics and global affairs," director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service noted

Fifteen Sydney attack victims remain in hospitals

Four of the victims are currently in critical condition

FACTBOX: S-500 Anti-Aircraft Missile System

The system is being developed with the capability to be operational for the next 25 years

EU elites put stake on anti-Russian policy — Russian intelligence chief

Sergey Naryshkin noted that leaders of certain European countries are "in a dangerous situation"

Kremlin gets set to be briefed by US on talks with Ukraine, EU

According to Dmitry Peskov, the Russian side is working on arranging contacts with American counterparts

'Political stumble' for Merz, von der Leyen, as EU fails to seize Russian assets — NYT

As The New York Times reported, the outcome made Europe "appear indecisive at a key moment"

Orban describes EU loan for Ukraine as 'lost money' — Reuters

Viktor Orban assured that his country "is staying out" from European financing of the Kiev government

Hungary 'absolutely ready' to host Russia-US summit — top diplomat

Hungary has maintained a pro-peace position since the onset of the conflict, Peter Szijjarto noted, despite what he called "enormous political attacks" against Budapest

Euro democracy in US crosshairs, meddling threat in Russian elections: Lavrov statements

The Russian foreign minister said that the US had sent a strong signal to Europe criticizing the democracy "that is practiced in Europe"

Ukrainian soldiers’ morale collapses after corruption scandal — SVR

According to the report, an increasing number of newly mobilized troops are deserting their positions, unwilling to risk

Lavrov to discuss preparations for third Russia-Africa summit in Cairo

It will be the first event of the format held on the African soil, the Russian Foreign Ministry said

Trump signs defense budget worth $901 billion — White House

"The Act will enable the DoW [Department of War] to carry out my Peace Through Strength agenda, protect the homeland from domestic and foreign threats, and strengthen the defense industrial base," the US leader said

Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia refuse to finance Kiev — EU summit statement

The European Council agrees to provide a loan to Ukraine of EUR 90 billion for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on the capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom

Kremlin warns about consequences for masterminds, perpetrators of Russian asset seizure

"Those who made decisions collectively, those who made decisions individually and those who put them into practice will all bear responsibility," Dmitry Peskov said

Ukrainian forces fail to retake parts of Krasnoarmeysk, suffer losses — Putin

According to the Russian president, the enemy is achieving no success

Washington's main concert complex to be renamed in honor of Trump and Kennedy

According to White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, the board of governors of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts decided "to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center because of the unbelievable work US President Donald Trump has done over the last year in saving the building"

Cessna 550 business jet crashes in US with victims — TV

The crash killed people, but their number and identities have not yet been disclosed

Intelligence services remain ‘almost sole’ link between Russia, Europe — SVR

Responding to a question about whether the Russian side observes more common sense in the approaches of European countries’ intelligence services than in the activities of their politicians, Sergey Naryshkin noted that "the approaches of intelligence services generally align with the policies of their states"

Karin Kneissl: Zelensky Has No Chance Left

Russia gradually returning to world sports — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that "this is a welcome process that can only be supported"

FACTBOX: Oreshnik ballistic missile

According to the Russian president, the combat testing of the Oreshnik missile system was conducted in response to an attack by US-made and British-made long-range missiles on Russian territory

Further funding for Ukraine risks prolonging conflict with Russia, Hungarian PM warns

Viktor Orban also pointed out that the idea of a Russian asset seizure was dead because talks on the issue "have stalled"

West can simply steal countries’ gold and foreign exchange reserves — Lukashenko

The Belarusian leader that the country held a record level of gold and foreign exchange reserves at present and suggested rethinking the strategy for managing international reserve assets

Dmitriev calls for resignation of Merz, von der Leyen after failure at EU summit

The Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund added that Friedrich Merz and Ursula von der Leyen "spent all their political capital, promised results – and delivered a spectacular failure"

Russia ready to restore intergovernmental trade commission with Slovakia

Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov heads the commission from the Russian side, Maria Zakharova noted

Refusal to use Russian assets for loan to Kiev will be victory for law — Dmitriev

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund, it was a "major blow to EU warmongers" led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Russia-UK relations head south after Putin's Munich speech in 2007 — foreign intel chief

According to Sergey Naryshkin, it has been a gradual process

Putin to sum up 'Results of the Year'

It will begin at noon Moscow time on Friday