Parliament speaker says ‘no prospects’ for sanctions against Russia

Russian troops improved their tactical position and repelled eight Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

The head of state accused Washington of preparing a "Belarusian liberation army" and reiterated Minsk's readiness to "defend its country"

"Battlegroup Dnepr units conducted active counterbattery warfare and destroyed enemy drones, manpower and equipment on the right bank of the Dnieper River," Governor Vladimir Saldo said

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Ukrainian troops are holding drills to cross the Dnieper from the right bank to the left bank and capture a large industrial site

Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

Rescue craft were promptly sent to the ship, fire extinguishing started, the crew was evacuated

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

According to the minister Gergely Gulyas, the North Atlantic Alliance "wants to provide financial assistance, as well as supply weapons and train Ukrainian soldiers"

The resolution passed in a 493-11 vote, with 18 abstentions

Tensions "have reached a peak where the slightest imbalance can lead either to a serious, high-profile and large-scale provocation or a conflict," Pavel Muraveiko stressed

The Russian top defense official added that in order to achieve its goals, Washington is exerting unprecedented pressure, including on its partners

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

The 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues took place in St. Petersburg on April 23-25

According to Sergey Ryabkov, discussions around the deployment of NATO nuclear facilities in Poland are an "unfolding story"

According to Nikolay Patrushev, some representatives planned to attend the meeting, but later succumbed to pressure and refused

The cosmonauts fulfilled their tasks way faster than planned, spending four hours and 36 minutes in space

According to Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov, the ministry will return to this issue later, as hydro resources accumulate after the rainy season

During the questioning, the detainees gave confessionary evidence that sharing the ideas of racial and religious supremacy, they established contact with the ringleaders of the pro-Ukrainian terrorist organization

The Russian leader pointed out that it is important to ensure stability and transparency in the Russian socio-political system

"The catastrophe in Gaza proves once again that the inability of the Palestinian people to implement their legitimate national rights is the root of the Palestinian-Israeli contradictions and the essence of the Middle East issue," Wang Yi stressed

"The main emphasis should be placed on the development of military contacts between the SCO and the CSTO,"the Russian defense minister said

On April 25, US police said at least 127 people were arrested during large-scale protests on American university campuses against Israeli actions in the Palestinian enclave

The adoption of a new military doctrine instead of the one that has been in force since July 2016 stems from the need for adaptation to the changed military-strategic situation

Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

Earlier, US President Joe Biden signed a package of bills approved by Congress, which total some $95 bln and include about $61 bln to help Ukraine and $26 bln to support Israel

"Despite unprecedented challenges we face in recent years, positive trends are becoming stronger in national economy," the head of state said

Country’s leader Kim Jong Un said the systems feature advanced technologies and "will contribute to strategic changes in the process of strengthening the artillery forces."

The Russian forces also foiled a counterattack of an assault group of the Ukrainian 80th mechanized brigade in the vicinity of the Krasnoye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic

The speaker’s shocking remarks sparked outrage among the public

Dmitry Peskov added that the EP "has turned into a machine brimming with internal contradictions that keeps generating boorish statements"

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 26th

The Ukrainian military has suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware in that community, Igor Kimakovsky said

"If the UN did not exist, it should have been created," Vasily Nebenzya said

Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

The resolution that European Parliament members passed at a plenary session in Strasbourg "urges the member states of the European Union and the international community not to recognize the outcome of the Russian presidential election"

The event brought together almost 200 diplomats, foreign ministry staffers and experts in international relations

The situation can take a sudden turn for the worse from one minute to the next, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said

According to the French leader, when building relations with Russia, Europe needs to rely upon its own strong security system

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service head added that the act of terrorism was intricately planned and it took an international network of conspirators to carry it out

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev noted that the heads of foreign delegations expressed sincere condolences to the Russian people over the casualties of the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow

"The return of inflation to target and its further stabilization close to 4% assume that tight monetary conditions will be maintained in the economy for a longer period than previously forecast," the regulator said

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

Thirty-one American tanks have become "unfit for the classical deployment," Maxim Buzhansky said

The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

The United States should not cross the red lines with regard to China’s sovereignty and security, Wang Yi added

Andrzej Duda slammed the reported instances of Russian missiles entering Poland's airspace as "a Russian provocation"

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun noted that he wanted to discuss "the most fundamental issues" with his Russian counterpart, given the constraints of time and place

The detention was reported earlier by the media, which said that police had captured Tajik national Djumokhon Kurbonov

The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

Comprehensive mechanisms require to be worked out, the head of state noted, responding to a proposal to add new tools to support of congress and exhibition activities

According to the article, the United States "is putting the finishing touches" on one of its largest Ukraine military aid packages to date, which may be announced on Friday

According to the report, Israel is willing to acceprt the release of women, men over 50 years old and those seriously ill

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Pavel Muraveiko stressed that "the leaders of Belarus and Russia are doing everything possible and impossible to ensure peace and security on western borders"

The Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

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

The date and location will be announced later

"United States has no intent of conducting combat operations inside of Ukraine, nor are these forces going to be anywhere near the frontlines," Patrick Ryder said

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu added that establishing a security framework in Eurasia will be an important goal for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Tensions in the area of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and in Energodar, where the nuclear power plant is located, escalated at the beginning of the month

In this regard, Sergey Shoigu mentioned the operation that Tehran carried out "in retaliation for a blatant attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus"

Beijing sticks to the principle of non-alignment with any blocs, the Chinese leader said and called on Washington "to refrain from teaming up in small groups"

The 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held on June 5-8, 2024

According to Nikolay Patrushev, these countries "understand perfectly well who is financing" the Kiev regime

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

"The largest nuclear powers, albeit indirectly, are actually fighting on Ukrainian territory. And not indirectly," the president of Belarus noted

According to Dmitry Kuzyakin, "as long as there is a lack of direct communication between those who make the tanks and who use them, the Abrams will not evolve to meet modern warfare requirements"

The exercise under the classified Orsha plan involves 1,500 military personnel from Lithuania's Zemaitija Motorized Infantry Brigade, Poland's 15th Mechanized Brigade, allied US and Portuguese units, as well as about 200 pieces of military equipment

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky should have realistic expectations

The Russian defense chief is certain that "this is an important moment in strengthening security in the SCO space"

Wang Yi also called for "resolutely opposing attempts to take advantage of the chaos and add fuel to the fire"

The German chancellor emphasized that Berlin's "offer to lend support in finding a long-term and acceptable solution remains valid"

Fatah also said Hamas is currently seeking to become part of the Palestine Liberation Organization, but is doing this "only to preserve itself and survive"

"It is very difficult to negotiate with those who are unable to make decisions, even if they want, they can’t, and only act as a side to a difficult conflict," Vladimir Medinsky explained

The countries will jointly announce the time of this trip, Dmitry Peskov said

The Russian foreign minister said that the sides would exchange opinions on how to develop bilateral relations along the path outlined by Bolivian President Luis Arce and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 25th

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that insurers conclude on their own that the "explosion at the gas pipelines was made using an explosive devices, willfully and due to political motives," thereby confirming its terroristic nature

The top diplomats are to discuss bilateral ties, political dialogue, ways of broadening cooperation in various sectors and improving the legislative and contractual framework

According to preliminary information, the average altitude of the orbital outpost was increased to 414.8 km above the Earth’s surface

Apart from that, IDF fighter jets delivered strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of Kfarchouba in southern Lebanon and in Markaba

The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability

Russia and Europe are geographically close anyway, Dmitry Peskov noted

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

The rescuers are involved in efforts to clear the rubble of a five-story house on Kuibyshev Street

The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

Earlier, demonstrators in several regions of Armenia tried to block highways, including international ones

The embassy said that the Austrian Mauthhausen Committee had also cautioned the organizations of Russian compatriots in Austria against participating in the event

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

The Houthis also confirmed that the movement will "continue its military operations, impeding the navigation of Israeli vessels in the Red Sea, the Arab Sea and the Indian Ocean"

TASS has put together the highlights of Shoigu's speech