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Efforts to settle Donbass conflict to stall without dialogue with Putin — Ukraine's leader

No one can be trusted in politics, Ukrainian president thinks

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky EPA-EFE/Toms Kalnins

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

© EPA-EFE/Toms Kalnins

KIEV, December 2. /TASS/. There will be no progress in efforts to resolve the Donbass conflict without dialogue with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in a video statement on Facebook on Monday.

"You know, we could do without dialogue but it would be like using a running machine — you are running in place and there is no movement forward. We don’t want to run in place, we would like all this to end," Zelensky pointed out.

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Zelensky calls relations with Russia ‘very challenging’

He emphasized that his participation in the upcoming summit of the Normandy Four countries (Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine), set to take place in Paris on December 9, wouldn’t be "treason against the people." According to Zelensky, the very meeting is "a victory."

Zelensky addressed the Ukrainian people, asking them not to trust politicians who criticized the upcoming talks, and pointed out that there was no alternative to resolving the conflict through diplomatic means. "Don’t believe anyone, no one can achieve anything through war, no one wants to waste hundreds of thousands of lives. Diplomacy is the only way," the Ukrainian president stressed.

Trusting 'no one'

No one can be trusted in politics, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with a Polish daily.

"I don’t trust anyone in politics," Zelensky said in an interview with the Gazeta Wyborcza, when asked whether he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I liked mathematics at school, everything was clear there. You are solving equations with one or two unknowns. Meanwhile, here everything is unknown, including our country, politicians in our country. I have come from business, and I believe that there can be no trust here [in politics]. Instead, everybody has their own interests," the Ukrainian leader added.

Military operation in Ukraine

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US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

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Global community condemns use of terrorists in geopolitical struggle — Russian official

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

Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

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

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Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

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

Foreign delegations show great interest in Russian defense products — security official

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SCO should unite against foreign attempts to trigger revolutions — Shoigu

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Russia warns US, NATO against harming its security — diplomat

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Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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

NATO bears direct responsibility for Ukraine crisis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

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

One more suspect in Crocus City Hall terror attack arrested — police

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

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"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

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

The date and location will be announced later

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Polish leader cautions NATO allies against provoking Russia

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Kiev confirms pulling back US-made Abrams tanks due to vulnerability to Russian UAVs

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

Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

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"

Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

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"

European Parliament urges EU states to regard Russian presidential vote as illegitimate

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

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Chances of Baku-Yerevan conflict settlement higher than ever, Scholz says

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Houthis say they attacked MSC Darwin vessel in Gulf of Aden

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"

Senior security official points to rising tensions on Belarus’ western border

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

French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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

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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"

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

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Russia and Europe are geographically close anyway, Dmitry Peskov noted

North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

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

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"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

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

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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

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

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"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

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Venezuelan foreign ministry, Russian embassy hold joint conference in Caracas

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

Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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

Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

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

Situation at ZNPP remains unpredictable — International Atomic Energy Agency

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

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Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

China vows decisive response to US move to deploy intermediate missiles in Asia-Pacific

The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

Putin’s trip to China will rivet world’s attention, Kremlin spokesman predicts

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

Casualties reported after Ukrainian strike on residential house in Zaporozhye Region city

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

Abrams tanks easy targets for drones — Russian expert

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"

West again tried to obstruct international security meeting in Russia — security official

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

Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

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

Ukraine’s army leaves first defensive line in Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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UN bound to stay as unique world organization — Russian ambassador

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

Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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

FSB nabs Neo-Nazi group members in Volgograd Region plotting high-profile terror act

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

Russia appreciates Bolivia’s push to defend sovereignty, Lavrov says

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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

US government prepares to sign $6-bln contract for arms deliveries to Ukraine — Politico

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

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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

Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

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

Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

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

Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

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

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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

Better situation for peace in Ukraine, threats to Belarus: new statements by Lukashenko

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

Russian troops wipe out military train with Western armaments in DPR over past day

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

Russian defense chief points to West’s double standards on right to self-defense

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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Ukrainian opposition demands parliament speaker's resignation over pro-Hitler remarks

The speaker’s shocking remarks sparked outrage among the public

Space station’s orbit raised by 1 km — Roscosmos

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