Festive season: zoo animals getting into the Christmas spirit

"We have repeatedly said that introduction of so-called peacekeepers into Ukraine in practice would mean a foreign military intervention that further escalates the conflict," Maria Zakharova stated

Alexander Darchiyev, who headed the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department, was appointed as Russia’s new ambassador to the United States by a presidential decree in early March

US president did not indicate when or where exactly the agreement would be signed

Compensations until July 2026 will total 4.203 mln barrels per day

According to the FSB’s public relations center, among the documents there is a special message from the chief of the counterintelligence directorate Smersh of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, addressed to the Military Council of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and dated February 1944

"It seems that Brussels is still incapable of clearly answering certain questions, including what specific role the EU could play amid the shifting dynamics of the Ukrainian crisis," Maria Zakharova noted

The Russian leader is confident that Kirsty Coventry's personal athletic experience and interest in the real promotion of noble Olympic ideals will contribute to the success in such a responsible job

Russia has remained resolute in its denunciation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of when, where and by whom terrorist acts are committed, Maria Zakharova emphasized

"If Berlin makes such claims, it means that Germany may have such plans itself; but in that case, Berlin needs to call things by their proper name," Maria Zakharova stated

The officials' statement emphasized that many bodies remain under the rubble of destroyed buildings and rescuers have not yet been able to remove them

The decision to resume the production of the upgraded version of the Tu-160, the Tu-160M, was made in 2015

Movement's military spokesman Yahya Saria added that ships linked to Israel will also be attacked in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until it ends its operation in the Gaza Strip

According to the newspaper, Kiev and Washington "did not seem in sync about what plants were at issue"

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 240 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

The meeting participants instructed the European Commission and the EU Council to begin implementing the European Commission's proposals in practice

According to a tank commander with the call sign Veter, the Battlegroup Dnepr continues to carry out combat missions in the Zaporozhye direction, showing high efficiency and professionalism

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

Over the past 24 hours the group's units improved their tactical position, defeated the manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces, a territorial defense brigade, and a national guard brigade

Decker Eveleth said that the Oreshnik is the perfect weapon for attacking dense targets like air bases, where its conventional submunitions can deal significant damage

Maryana Bezuglaya noted that the findings of the investigation into the loss of one of the first F-16 fighter jets delivered to Ukraine last August have yet to be made public

The secretary of the Russian Security Council highlighted that Russia and China conduct joint strategic air patrols in the Asia-Pacific region and regularly hold naval exercises together

"The US also shares responsibility for this tragedy," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stressed

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed that "Western countries are ready to abandon their international legal obligations at literally any moment - whenever they feel like it, whenever it suits them"

They don't listen to Vladimir Zelensky, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large for the Kiev regime's crimes Rodion Miroshnik said

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union's External Action Service has "abandoned its diplomatic tools as ineffective and opted for aggressive rhetoric"

The statement also says that "in an additional strike, the IDF and ISA eliminated Ismail Abd al-Aal"

"Over the course of the day, more than 200 people contacted the hotline of the main department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Kursk Region, with nearly all inquiries focused on locating relatives," the statement reads

According to US Special Envoy for Ukraine, 'it, basically, shuttle diplomacy'

The complete closure of the Department of Education requires the approval of a corresponding bill by Congress

It is planned that Shoigu will meet with the leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un and other leaders of the country

The two-time Olympic champion will take office on June 24

In addition to the HIV-free certificate, foreigners will also need a similar document for infectious diseases that pose a danger to others

The magazine recalled that Israeli authorities said in April and October 2024 that the country's armed forces destroyed four air defense systems located near key sites in different parts of Iran

Robert Fico reportedly made this statement before departing for Brussels, where he will attend a European Council meeting

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that leading EU countries, including Germany, France and Poland, as well as non-EU countries Canada and the UK, will hold a new summit in Paris next week to discuss the situation around Ukraine

"Avtostat agency experts note that premium cars made up 8.8% of total car sales in Russia last month," the report said

"At present, work to construct a complex of hydrotechnical facilities, including the northern and southern piers spanning more than 2 kilometers, as well as berths and coastal infrastructure is ongoing in Kaspiysk," the ministry stated

In Europe and the US, "the door is open a crack" for the Russian film industry, noted Dmitry Kabanov, industry relations and international b2b events director of the Russian state-owned audiovisual product company Roskino

The death toll continues to rise as Israeli air attacks and ground assaults intensify

According to Asharq al Awsat newspaper, this is the first group of 2,000 Syrians held in Lebanese prisons to be deported to their homeland under a bilateral agreement

Maria Zakharova pointed to the fact that these contacts received a new impetus thanks to the initiatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump

"The opposition’s attempt to present its internal conflicts or problems with the law as the country’s most pressing problem is the height of hypocrisy," the Turkish President said

Operation Pipeline involved a joint assault unit comprising soldiers from the 11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade, the 30th Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division, the Akhmat special forces unit, and volunteers from the Veterans and Vostok V assault brigades

Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated 'that is what America has helped facilitate'

It is noted that the plan will not be approved at the European Council summit set to take place in Brussels on March 20

Air defenses downed 132 Ukrainian drones over Ukrainian regions overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said

US president also said he has just signed an executive order to "dramatically increase" production of rare earth minerals

According to head of the group's press center, Alexander Gordeyev, during the active operations, units of the Battlegroup East continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defense

According to the report, the existence of these facilities is well known at all levels of the Ukrainian government

The US president did not specify which specific regions he was referring to, but the White House has already made it clear that Russia is expected to maintain control over territories "that its troops already command," the newspaper said

This refers to air defense systems, strike drones and upgraded armored vehicles, Sergey Shoigu said

Sergey Shoigu recalled that money transfers from Russia into Armenia amount for approximately 15% of the country’s GDP

The Lebanese authorities and civil society organizations are providing assistance, shelter, warm clothes, food and medicine to the displaced

In his words, the phone call between the US and Russian leaders "call marks a substantive first step on what will be a long and winding road to a negotiated peace"

Robert Fico noted that the republic will not send a single cent to arm Ukraine

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that previously Donald Trump threatened Palestine’s radical movement Hamas with tough measures if Israeli hostages are not released

Dmitry Polyansky went on to say that despite a new round of escalation, a "diplomatic solution is not just possible, it remains the only realistic option"

According to Yahya Sarea, "the operation successfully reached its target"

On March 12, the politician told TASS that Russian forces had liberated around 5 square kilometers of land near the rural settlements of Zherebyanka and Kamenskoye in the Zaporozhye Region

Russia’s military advance gave strong results, with almost all settlements taken at once, and the enemy’s personnel destroyed, Akhmat Special Forces Commander Lieutenant General Apty Alaudinov added

"Anyone who wants peace will naturally support an end to the militarization of the terrorist gang," Maria Zakharova stated

"When the Ukrainian armed forces launched their offensive, they fell on Russia's defensive works - the largest and most comprehensive defensive line seen in Europe since the end of World War II," the magazine stated

At the same time, the Ukrainian president denied saying that he was ready "to discuss the question of Ukraine’s neutral status"

Maria Zakharova noted that attacking an energy facility in this context is understandable, 'because everything began with the energy sector in 2022'

"Life has proved that those were true words. We did not chase anyone off, they left themselves, someone under pressure from their governments, someone out of fear, someone in solidarity with the neo-Nazis," the politician said

In recent days, the Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly warned that Hungary will not allow Ukraine's immediate accession to the EU, claiming this would cause irreparable damage to the European economy

According to Farhan Haq, Antonio Guterres "made clear to his various interlocutors the willingness of the UN to make available its good offices, if the parties accept"

During the day, the enemy lost a MaxxPro armored combat vehicle

The diplomats pointed out that the meeting participants urged increased efforts to resolve the conflict over Ukraine and expressed readiness to provide appropriate assistance

Harald Vilimsky added that "the European Union is treating Hungary as if it does not exist"

"The pace of the indicator is primarily driven by oil production constraints in accordance with decisions of the Russian government," the company said

Large groups of young people and students are taking part in the rally

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova doubted that Washington would have a reason not to take advantage of these opportunities

The Hungarian Prime Minister spoke to journalists in Brussels after a meeting of the leaders of the parties that formed the Patriots of Europe faction

In his words, the United Kingdom has chosen to go into confrontation

In Wieslaw Kukula's words, general staffs of European countries will be involved in the planning

Sergey Shoigu noted that representatives from over 100 countries had already confirmed their participation in the upcoming meeting

According to the report, the hospital itself suffered severely in the battles and its first floor burnt out

Keir Starmer argued that Russia could allegedly violate any future agreements, so Western countries should work on security guarantees for Ukraine

Russian companies quickly reacted to the withdrawal of Western brands, taking free niches, well done to them, the politician added

On March 18, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine, conditions for preventing escalation, and some international topics by phone

The GDP growth in the G7 countries for 2024 was just 1.9%, while the BRICS countries saw a growth rate of 4.9%, the Russian leader noted

The final statement of the meeting makes no mention of the 40-billion-euro military aid package, proposed by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, or its reduced variant

According to Sergey Shoigu, "the very fact that a leader of a nuclear power is rattling weapons is a direct threat to the entire world community"

No deaths or injuries were reported

"[Other aspects] related to the Ukrainian settlement that the parties deem necessary may also be discussed," Dmitry Peskov added

Maria Zakharova emphasized that while there are certain "nuances" in both statements, they do not contradict each other

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, March 18th

According to Roman Busargin, more than 30 private homes and summer houses in Engels were damaged in the attack

"This is undoubtedly also a provocation to create an aggressive 'noise' that is meant to confuse," Maria Zakharova added

E-scooters rental is available for users in mobile apps

As Maria Zakharova stressed, it is absolutely clear that it was a deliberate, pre-planned provocative action

"The main signals from Brussels and the European capitals now relate to the plans for militarization of Europe, which is clearly at odds with the mood of the presidents of Russia and the United States to seek ways out for a peaceful settlement process," Dmitry Peskov said

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, March 20th

Company’s expenses for paying interest on loans increased by 1.5 times, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said