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Russian President Putin praises German Chancellor Merkel as ‘sincere person’

Also, the Russian president said he always treated Merkel with respect and "this is the way I still keep treating her"

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

SOCHI, January 11. /TASS/. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a very sincere person with a vision on the settlement of various issues, including on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with German daily Bild.

"I am confident that she is a very sincere person," Putin said. "She has the frames, within which she must work, but I have no doubts that she is sincerely striving to find solutions to the settlement of the conflicts, including the situation in the southeast of Ukraine."

The Russian president said he always treated Merkel with respect and "this is the way I still keep treating her."

"In any case, I believe that the level of trust between us is very high," Putin said adding that once he even had to apologize to the German chancellor.

In 2007, the Russian president brought his dog Connie to one of the bilateral meeting with the German chancellor and it turned out later that Merkel was afraid of dogs, while some of media agencies reported that Putin did it on purpose to intimidate the German high-ranking official.

Putin told Bild he did not know at that time that Merkel was not fond of dogs.

"I knew nothing about it," he said. "On the contrary, I wanted to do something pleasant when I introduced her to my dog. Afterwards, however, I explained everything and apologized.".

Military operation in Ukraine

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Preliminary data shows anti-ship missile downed over Sevastopol waters — official

Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

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Russian State Duma passes law on federal budget for 2025-2027

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It was also reported that over 100 people were wounded

UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

According to the report, CCTV cams were not installed on Christie Miller road in Salisbury

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West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

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Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

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French Foreign Ministry refuses to disclose number of SCALP missiles shipped to Ukraine

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Russian forces push Ukrainian troops 10 km away from Lisichansk in LPR — expert

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"Once again, a chance to free the hostages, who include Russian nationals, has been missed," the statement reads

Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from half of positions in Kurakhovo in DPR

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US Senate refuses to block arms supplies to Israel

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Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

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

Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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Allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with US weapons irresponsible — Slovak PM

Robert Fico noted that authorizing the use of long-range weapons for strikes against Russia would not alter the balance of power in the conflict zone

Captives, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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"The direct line and press conference are being prepared," Dmitry Peskov said

Canada neglects its sovereignty by approving transfer of land mines to Kiev — diplomat

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Putin previously warned about Kiev's attempts to blow up TurkStream pipeline — Kremlin

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China holds US responsible for disrupted defense ministers' meeting in Laos

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Mikhail Mishustin added that "it is necessary to modernize border crossings in coming years, including introduction of practice of electronic paperwork"

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Major-General Gholamreza Soleimani stressed it was essential to inform the world that Israel had failed and now survives solely relying on support from the United States

Japanese lawmaker urges global condemnation of decision on missile strikes on Russia

Muneo Suzuki described Joe Biden’s decision as "dangerous and provocative"

Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

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Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

"The US continues to benefit from the Ukrainian crisis, regardless of which administration is in power," Andrey Sushentsov said

Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

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US, NATO decision on strikes continues policy of escalation — Putin

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US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Russia to use revenues from frozen assets of Western investors — Finance Minister

Tit-for-tat measures will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions of Western countries, Anton Siluanov noted

Russian diplomat accuses West of using coercive measures to punish certain countries

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Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

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Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

Defeating Ukrainian forces near Olgovskaya wood, enemy losses: situation in Kursk Region

The Russian Armed Forces have completed the destruction of a Ukrainian battlegroup blocked in the area of the Olgovskaya wood

West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

Viktor Orban asserted that the government’s mission is to prevent Hungary from being dragged into the Ukrainian conflict

Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

Kiev has not accepted the legitimate results of the 2014 referendum, in which the people of Crimea and Sevastopol voted to become part of Russia, and is displeased by the operation of the Crimean Bridge, which connects the Kerch Strait with the Krasnodar Region

Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

"The enemy positioned in the fortified area in Velikaya Novoselka in the south of the DPR is already trapped in a kill zone," the source said

Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

Rubicon center drones hit Ukrainian equipment in Russia's Kursk Region

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage showing the destruction of the enemy equipment

No Western sanctions to limit Russia’s foreign trade — minister

All restrictions that Western countries impose affect themselves in the first place, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added

Media from unfriendly states will be admitted to Putin's annual press conference — Kremlin

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Humanitarian situation in Gorlovka harsh as Ukraine targets key infrastructure — DPR head

More than 80,000 users were left without power in Gorlovka on Tuesday morning due to the Ukrainian armed forces' shelling

Russian troops advance in areas north, south of Velikaya Novoselka in DPR — official

Earlier, Vladimir Rogov stated that a successful offensive by the Russian Armed Forces north of Velikaya Novoselka could allow them to encircle the settlement

FACTBOX: What is known about UAV attacks on Russian regions

During the night, air defenses intercepted and destroyed two Ukrainian UAVs in the skies over the Rostov and Volgograd regions

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NATO deployment to Ukraine would mark its entry into the war, Russian diplomat warns

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Kiev suffering fiasco on entire front line — aide to DPR head

Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"

Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

According to Daniel Davis authorizing US long-range weapons to be used against Russia is "foolhardy to the highest order," "especially because there is no military upside for doing so"

Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, November 21st

Russia hit Ukrainian military-industrial facility in response to use of Western missiles

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US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

According to Yevgeny Lisnyak, the special services threaten people with criminal charges of collaborationism if they refuse to join the unit

Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

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US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

According to Andrey Sushentsov, Biden is under pressure from Washington’s allies and "the hawks" in his government who believe that the US is not providing enough support to Kiev

US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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US uses veto right to block new UN Security Council draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza

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Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

Russian army units have advanced much farther into the city’s northern part, in particular, along the southern bank of the Kurakhovo reservoir, Vladimir Rogov specified

US decision on strikes inside Russia stems from malice rather than strategy — journalist

According to Sumantra Maitra, Washington’s move will not improve Kiev’s situation