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Russia did not recognize Ukraine, which aspires to join NATO — top diplomat

Russia recognized Ukraine as a non-nuclear, non-bloc and neutral state, Sergey Lavrov said

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia recognized Ukraine as a non-aligned state, not as a country willing to join NATO.

"We recognized Ukraine as a non-nuclear, non-bloc and neutral state. We did not recognise a Ukraine that is now being drawn into NATO," he told the Shanghai Media Group (SMG) in an interview.

"Our objective is to thwart Ukraine’s militarization and its Nazification, to eliminate threats to the Russian Federation from its territory," Lavrov added.

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Foreign policy Ukraine Sergey Lavrov

Armenia’s actions contradict relations with Russia, risk causing changes — senior diplomat

According to Mikhail Galuzin, Moscow had previously "conveyed its negative attitude toward such steps to the Armenian side in a completely frank and partnership-oriented manner"

Putin calls Xi dear friend, quotes Chinese saying at meeting

"One day apart feels like three autumns," the Russian head of state said

Putin, Xi highlight exemplary relations, their role as strategic pillars at Beijing talks

The Russian leader described Russia and China as "important trade partners for each other"

Russian, Chinese delegations sign 20 documents on sidelines of talks in Beijing

The ceremony took place in the presence of the two countries’ leaders, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping

Donbass Dome takes down 19 Ukrainian drones over Donetsk region in past 24 hours

Residents of the region are advised to report any found debris or explosive objects to emergency services

Russia, China concerned about confrontational policy of some countries — statement

Moscow and Beijing called for putting an end to attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of other states and undermine the existing security architecture in various parts of the world

Armenia not looking to stoke tensions with Russia — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan noted that Armenia realized that it had to choose between the European Union and the EAEU

External power supply restored at UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant — IAEA chief

Rafael Grossi says the situation is still of grave concern

China to extend visa-free regime with Russia until end of 2027 — Foreign Ministry

According to Spokesman Guo Jiakun, the measure allows to further simplify humanitarian exchanges between China and Russia

FACTBOX: Review of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces drills since 2020

President Vladimir Putin reported in June 2025 that 95% of Russia's nuclear forces were equipped with modern weapons

Russian nuclear drills come in response to Western preparations for invasion — expert

The Russian nuclear triad is currently in optimal condition, Colonel Levon Arzanov said

Putin, Xi Jinping set to discuss key global issues during talks in Beijing

The meeting will be their second contact this year

Possibility of Putin-Trump meeting, spirit of Beijing: what Kremlin aide said

Yury Ushakov emphasized that he knew nothing about the "spirit of Anchorage," in contrast to the "spirit of Beijing," which indeed exists

Nine fast-neutron reactors to be built in Russia by 2042 — Rosatom

According to the statement, fast reactors with a closed fuel cycle are not just a means of increasing the efficiency of nuclear energy, but a prerequisite for its long-term existence

UN chief’s spokesperson confirms receiving Lavrov’s letter on Bucha

Stephane Dujarric added that the response has not "been mailed yet"

Russia to extend visa-free regime with China through 2027 — Peskov

According to the Kremlin spokesman, the visa-free regime has yielded positive results

Putin arrives at Great Hall of the People in Beijing for Russia-China talks

The venue is expected to host a Russia-China meeting involving key officials, talks between the two countries’ delegations, and Russian president's meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang

Putin meets Chinese engineer 26 years after iconic joint photo

The Russian president received a porcelain tea set as a souvenir from Peng Pai and presented him with a reciprocal gift

NATO to look for replacements in Europe for withdrawn US troops — Politico

According to the sources, Washington's previous decisions are ultimately aimed at reducing the US presence in Germany

Close cooperation between Moscow, Beijing important amid global tensions — Putin

The Russian leader emphasized that the countries' foreign policy cooperation was one of the main stabilizing factors on the international stage

Russia develops Odyssey repeater to increase UAV strike range

The Aviatechnolab Design Bureau said the Odyssey system extended the range of attack unmanned aerial vehicles to 70 kilometers

Root causes of conflict in Ukraine, visa formalities: Russia-China statement highlights

Russia and China will improve military cooperation mechanisms

Merlin-VR recon drone can fly 150 km without losing signal — operator

The senior UAV crew operator noted that thanks to improved communication quality, the flight range can be increased to 260 km

Iran accuses US of abusing UN Security Council platform

Washington is spreading false information about Iran and its peaceful nuclear program, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN says

Ruble tops ranking of world’s best currencies — Bloomberg

The ruble’s exchange rate against the dollar has fallen to its lowest since February 2023

Russia-China ties gain special value amid global turbulence — diplomats

Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov and Chinese Ambassador to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan said in a joint article that relations between Russia and China are stable and predictable

UK authorizes import of diesel and jet fuel produced from Russian oil from third countries

The exceptions to the sanctions rules come into force on May 20 and are of an indefinite duration

Russian firm unveils laser system for protecting civilian infrastructure from UAVs

The system detects targets at a distance of up to three km

Some Gulf countries had no idea US planned to attack Iran on May 19 — media

As Donald Trump said earlier, he was asked to hold off by the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, who convinced him to give diplomacy another chance

Boosting Russian oil transit to China via Kazakhstan being finalized — Novak

The Russian deputy prime minister said that this agreement was reached long ago

Latvia sets precedent by enabling strikes on Russia — expert

Ruslan Pankratov said that a new legal reality is emerging in which the territory of a NATO member state is being used as a bridgehead for strikes against Russia

Russia, China important trading partners for each other — Putin

The Russian president specified that trade turnover reached almost $240 bln in 2025

Senior Russian diplomat warns NATO ‘hot heads’ against posing threats to Russia

Russia will use military and technical means to repel any threats to it, Sergey Ryabkov said

Press review: Russia, China shape new global security while Moscow launches nuclear drills

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, May 20th

Trump briefed on military options against Iran on May 18 — Axios

According to information obtained by the news portal, the meeting was originally scheduled for May 19, with some officials expecting the US president to make a decision on potential strikes against the Islamic Republic during the consultations

Russian lab in DPR assembles up to 400 FPV UAVs from seized Ukrainian drones in two weeks

According to the Russian officer, on average, it takes five to six captured enemy unmanned aerial vehicles to assemble one operational drone

US Senate advances resolution to end war with Iran

Alongside most Democrats, Republicans Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Bill Cassidy also voted in favor

US, Israel pushing Iran to withdraw from NPT — senior diplomat

"They have no intention of being held accountable for their actions," Sergey Ryabkov said

Baltic states to be punished for assisting Ukraine in attacking Russia — MP

Speaking about Lithuanian threats against Kaliningrad, Leonid Slutsky noted that by making such statements the "hotheads" in the Baltics "are drawing fire not only upon themselves, but also on Europe as a whole"

Iran’s new leadership agrees on no nuclear weapons — senior Russian diplomat

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted that the NPT provides Iran with the right to peaceful nuclear energy under IAEA supervision without any restrictions

Press review: Putin China visit puts energy sector in focus as Trump signals bluff on Iran

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Russia, China to continue coordinating positions in G20, WTO, IMF — Putin

The Russian president added that both countries intend to promote the alignment of integrated processes within the EAEU and China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Russia to respond to aggression as Kiev plans to launch drones from Latvia — intel agency

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence reported that service members from the Ukrainian army’s Unmanned Systems Forces had been deployed to Latvia to prepare attacks on Russia from the Baltic country’s territory

US military intelligence believes Ukraine is delivering chaotic strikes on Russia

Ukrainian strikes lack the coordination, tempo, and concentration on critical Russian military infrastructure, according to a report compiled by inspectors general of the US Department of War, the Department of State and the Agency for International Development

Lavrov sends another letter to UN chief in search of answers about Bucha — diplomat

According to Vasily Nebenzya, Moscow views the incident as a "deliberate fake" used to derail the peace talks in 2022

RDIF expands cooperation with Chinese partners through new agreements in Beijing

The deals were signed during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing

Kiev’s attacks on Zaporozhye NPP impossible without West’s support — Russian diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says Western curators "instill a false sense of impunity in the current Ukrainian authorities and provoke them to new ventures"

Air defenses repel drone attack on industrial zone in southern Russia

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Launch of Xudapu NPP to provide China with cheap, clean energy — Putin

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Russia to respond proportionately if any country conducts nuclear tests — senior diplomat

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov says the current situation requires the readiness of the national infrastructure

Russian troops destroy German-made Gepard anti-aircraft gun in Ukraine operation

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 990 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Russian troops upgrading FPV drones in DPR against Ukrainian heavy UAVs — officer

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Putin highlights cooperation with China in car manufacturing, space exploration

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Russian troops liberate Volokhovka community in Kharkov Region over past day — top brass

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Russia wipes out part of Ukraine’s Alpha special forces in Dnepropetrovsk Region — sources

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Russia-China relations at unprecedented heights — Putin

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Russia considering projects with US investors as part of China partnership — RDIF chief

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Kiev forces expand attack area on Zaporozhye NPP over two weeks — official

Facility's Director Yury Chernichuk called the recent events "a massive psychological attack on the city, on the plant"

Putin arrives in Beijing for two-day visit

The Russian president's working schedule in China is quite extensive

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Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said he had spoken with Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz

China, Russia to improve military cooperation mechanisms — joint statement

Moscow and Beijing intend to deepen mutual trust in the military sphere

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Iran has no plans to withdraw from Non-Proliferation Treaty — senior Russian diplomat

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Russia, China to discuss energy projects during Russian delegation's visit — Novak

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Russia, China to expand cooperation in education — Putin

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Russia remains reliable energy supplier amid Middle East crisis — Putin

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Kremlin aide says he knows nothing about 'Spirit of Anchorage'

Yury Ushakov emphasized that the spirit of cooperation between Russia and China "really does exist"

China’s oil imports from Russia gain 26% in January-April — customs

Russia continues to be the largest exporter of oil to China

Kremlin aide says Putin, Trump may meet at APEC summit in China

Yury Ushakov clarified that Vladimir Putin's trip to the APEC summit had been confirmed

A number of US investors eye participation in Russian-Chinese projects — Dmitriev

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Senior diplomat sees growing risks of head-on clash between NATO, Russia

Sergey Ryabkov highlighted "the escalatory narrative" from European capitals about "the looming threat of a high-intensity war" with Russia

Russian UAV lab in DPR assembles FPV drones for various missions — officer

The Russian serviceman revealed that stabilized devices with high-quality imagers were being created for air defense units

Putin concludes his visit to China

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Dozens of Ukrainian men die crossing Carpathians to avoid draft

According to the media outlet, around 32,000 Ukrainian men have illegally entered Romania since 2022

Kremlin says calls from Lithuania’s top diplomat to attack Kaliningrad verge on insanity

Dmitry Peskov believes that such statements should not be taken seriously

Russia-China trade turnover up more than 10% this year — Putin

The Russian president added that trade cooperation will continue in line with approved long-term strategies

Smartphones not to blame for global decline in birth rates — expert

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Putin describes Russia-China talks involving key officials as substantive

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Qatar calls for respecting freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz

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Development of Russia-China partnership: key Putin’s statements

Trade turnover between Russia and China has grown by more than 10% this year

Ukrainian counterintelligence officer supplies dozens of coordinates for Russian strikes

Sergey Mikhailov surrendered in the Zaporozhye direction. He said he does not want to return to Ukraine