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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN UKRAINE

Ukrainian presidential hopeful opposes granting special status to Donbass

Zelensky suggested creating a media portal in the Russian language, which will be broadcast across Europe and tell the truth about the events in Ukraine, which the citizens of Donbass want to hear

© Mikhail Pochuev/TASS

KIEV, April 18. /TASS/. Ukrainian front-running presidential candidate Vladimir Zelensky is against the idea of granting a special status to Donbass, he said in an interview with RBC Ukraine news agency published on Thursday.

"I believe that no," he said answering a question whether the war-torn Donbass region should obtain a special status. Zelensky acknowledged that a solution to the conflict in the region won’t be quick. "This is our great story and it will take us long to solve this criminal situation."

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Donbass fighters thwart Ukrainian saboteurs

According to Zelensky, one of tools of ironing out the conflict is infowar. "What can be helpful for us here is infowar. I hope very much information will help these people understand that they need Ukraine and Ukraine needs them, and they are the same Ukrainians as others," he said, explaining that "many humanitarian steps should be taken here."

In particular, the presidential candidate suggested creating a major European media portal in the Russian language, which will be broadcast across Europe and tell the truth about the events in Ukraine, which the citizens of Donbass want to hear. Zelensky labeled the citizens of Donbas territories not controlled by Kiev as "hostages." Meanwhile, dismissed the idea of signing a law on amnesty for those who took part in the combat actions in Donbass.

The Minsk peace agreements on Ukraine envisaged a constitutional reform, under which Donbass would get a special status on a permanent basis. However, the Ukrainian parliament has not passed the constitutional amendments. The law on a special status earlier adopted by the Verkhovna Rada has been basically frozen until the election in the region. Moreover, neither the constitutional amendments nor the law guarantee granting a special status to Donbass on a permanent basis, and this period is limited to just three years.

In the first round of Ukraine’s presidential race on March 31, the candidate from the Servant of the People party Vladimir Zelensky received 30.24% of the vote, while incumbent Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, who seeks a second term, came in second with 15.95%. The runoff is scheduled for April 21.

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

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Enemy has no countermeasures for Russia’s Oreshnik missile — Putin

Speaking in a televised address, the head of state assured that Russia will issue notifications before using this type of missile

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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

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

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

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EU considers ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant as binding — foreign policy chief

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

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Russian stock market indices in the red on Thursday — market data

The mood in international markets was mainly neutral

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

Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

Dmitry Peskov chose not to respond to a question about whether Russia has proof that UK-made Storm Shadow missiles had been used against it

Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 19th

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

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

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

According to Oleg Stepanov, since the authorities of the country have long acted, "especially in security matters, according to the rule 'what Uncle Sam says, so Ottawa will do' and don’t blush about this."

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

Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them

Captives, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 150 people, while five Ukrainian servicemen surrendered

US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also claimed that Washington, while helping Ukraine, is not attempting to turn the conflict into a large-scale regional confrontation that spills beyond the country’s borders

Lavrov arrives in Brest for two-day working visit — correspondent

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China slams US nuclear policy for undermining global stability

The United States continues to modernize its nuclear triad, Lin Jian noted

Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

"We need to bring together more voices of peace and pave the way for a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis," Chinese president said

Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

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The company stated it would seek damages amounting to 230 million euro for failing to receive the contracted volume of gas from the Russian company for delivery to Germany

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

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

According to the document, federal budget revenues are forecast to be 40.296 trillion rubles ($404.8 bln) in 2025, 41.84 trillion rubles ($420.3 bln) in 2026, and 43.154 trillion rubles ($433.5 bln) in 2027

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IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

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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

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

"Experts are well aware - and the Russian side has repeatedly underscored this - that it is impossible to use these weapons without direct participation of military specialists from the countries that produce these weapons," the president said

US forces strike Houthi sites with seaborne missiles — TV

According to Al Arabiya, US warships fired at least four missiles at Houthi-operated facilities in the Al-Matina area around 90 km south of the province’s administrative center

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Bank of Russia’s officials hit by US sanctions

The head of the financial monitoring and currency control service of the Russian Central Bank was also added to black lists

NATO supports Ukraine not out of charity but for its own strategic interests — deputy head

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

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"By authorizing long range missiles to strike inside Russia, Biden is committing an unconstitutional Act of War that endangers the lives of all US citizens," Thomas Massie said

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The likelihood of a direct armed conflict with NATO is increasing because some individuals in the alliance are ready to raise the stakes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Andrey Bystritsky emphasized

Putin warns West that Russia can respond to any turn of events

"There will always be an answer," the president said

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Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

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Wu Qian stated that the United States must immediately correct its mistakes, "honestly respect China’s main interests, and seek to create favorable conditions for high-level contacts between the military of the two countries"

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

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Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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US sanctions against Gazprombank will not affect gas supplies to Hungary — Ministry

The United States introduced sanctions against Gazprombank earlier today

Final test launch of Russia's new RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile successful — designer

The RS-26 Rubezh missile based on the previous RS24 Yars is expected to be put on combat dutiy in 2015.

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

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

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

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

Putin’s Q&A session and press conference to be held on one of December Thursdays — Kremlin

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

Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

The New York Times reported earlier, citing sources, that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-made ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

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Newly arrived Ukrainian soldiers rob, loot in Kharkov Region’s Kupyansk

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

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

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

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Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

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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

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

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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

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"The nuclear forces is ready on January 19, just like it will be ready on January, 20," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

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