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Putin, Lukashenko to hold informal meeting July 17

On July 9, Lukashenko said that an informal meeting with his Russian counterpart during his working visit to Russia could take place on Valaam Island

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MINSK, July 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko will hold an informal meeting on July 17, and on July 18, they will take part in a plenary session of the Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions, the Belarusian leader’s press service reported on Monday.

"The two presidents will hold an informal meeting on July 17," the press service said.

According to the press service, on July 18, Putin and Lukashenko will take part in the plenary session of the 6th Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions. Besides, negotiations between the two leaders are planned. "They will focus on the development of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Russia. The parties will also discuss cooperation within the framework of the Union State," the Belarusian president’s press service noted.

On July 9, Lukashenko said that an informal meeting with his Russian counterpart during his working visit to Russia could take place on Valaam Island.

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Vladimir Putin Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

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

"Ukraine should be forever grateful that President Putin is calm, rational and kind - because Zelensky is practically begging for his country to be flattened," American political commentator Jackson Hinkle said

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Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that a real information war has been underway for a long time

Russia’s steel production plunged in October — WSA

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Russia forced to roll out new weapons as West fuels conflict, Minsk says

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

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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US administration chooses to escalate Ukraine conflict — Kremlin

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Bundeswehr prepares plan for Operation Germany in case of war with Russia — newspaper

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Daily death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon nears 60 — health ministry

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Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

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Kremlin confident Putin's statement got through to US administration

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Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

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

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

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Commissioning of Oreshnik and new developments: Putin’s meeting with defense specialists

Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

North Korean leader warns of growing risk of nuclear war — KCNA

Kim Jong Un added that negotiations with the US only confirmed the North Korean view that Washington’s hostile policy remains unchanged

West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Russian strategic missile forces to be equipped with advanced weapon by 95%

"A large-scale investment program for expanding production capacities at defense sector organizations is being implemented", Vasily Tonkoshkurov said

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US, West have no capabilities to intercept new Russian hypersonic missile — expert

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

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Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

"No, there have been no notifications, for Russia has no such obligation with regard to intermediate-range missiles," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

US, European officials suggest returning nukes to Ukraine — NYT

US officials believe that ramping up weapons supplies to Ukraine is unlikely to change the situation in the combat zone short term, but it may help Kiev strengthen its stance in case a truce is reached

Russia’s reaction to Austrian OMV’s failure to pay for gas justified — MFA

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Russian forces cut off key Ukrainian supply route in Velikaya Novoselka, DPR

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Putin's speech shows West that Russia won’t waver, is ready for any scenario — expert

Dmitry Suslov pointed to a crucial message in the President's speech: "Russia firmly believes that the West has moved from a proxy war to a direct war" and that the sides are already "in a state of global conflict"

Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

The head of state also approved citizenship applications from foreign nationals and stateless persons residing in the country

Turkey’s desire to be gas hub important for energy security — Russian official

Russia will continue developing pipe gas supplies and will "continue supplying competitive energy resources to partners and the whole world," Pavel Sorokin noted

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

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

Russia hammers Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, energy sites over week

Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

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"

West builds up military presence near Russia’s Arctic borders — presidential aide

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Oreshnik missile to change course of Ukrainian conflict, Medvedev believes

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

Russian stock market indices mixed on Friday — market data

The MOEX Russia Index surged by 0.48% to 2,581.05 points

Bulgarian politician sees Oreshnik missile strike as wake-up call for peace

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US decision to allow missile strikes deep into Russia fuels global escalation — Slovak PM

Robert Fico also rejected the belief that this escalation would not impact "those living far away, in Spain, England, or America"

Russia shelters over 30,000 people fleeing from Ukrainian shelling — commissioner

Tatyana Moskalkova said that, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 112,337 people had been evacuated from the Kursk Region alone

US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

Western countries should 'be afraid, tremble' after Putin's statement — lawmaker

Andrey Kartapolov added that the special military operation in Ukraine "will continue its course until all tasks are completed"

China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Lin Jian highlighted Washington's use of double standards in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the United Nations

Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

Russia uses aerial bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions near DPR’s Konstantinovka — source

According to the report, at least 15 Ukrainian servicemen were killed as a result of the attack

Zelensky’s actions make Ukraine vulnerable to coup, says politician

"Democratic institutions in the country have been destroyed, rendering dialogue between the government and the people impossible," Viktor Medvedchuk said

Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

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

Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

According to Donald Tusk, "no one knows how the conflict will end"

Illegal decisions on Russian property in Finland will not go unanswered — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that the Russian Embassy in Helsinki has sent requests to clarify the situation

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

The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"