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Middle East conflict

Palestinian president announces withdrawal from all deals with Israel, US — agency

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas EPA/ALAA BADARNEH

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

© EPA/ALAA BADARNEH

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Tuesday that his country withdraws from all agreements with Israel and the United States, the WAFA news agency reported.

"The Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine today are freed from all deals and agreements with the government of the United States and Israel, and from all obligations that stem from those deals and agreements, including in the security sphere," the agency quoted the Palestinian leader as saying.

Abbas went on to say that Israel must bear responsibility for its attempts to annex the occupied Palestinian territories. He also accused the US of abetting Israel.

On May 17, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the time has come to annex a section of Palestinian territories on the West Bank for the construction of Jewish settlements. The statement was made when he presented his cabinet of ministers, formed as a result of the March 2 elections, to the country’s unicameral parliament.

In December 2016, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2334 demanding Israel immediately stop settlement activities on the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel said back then it would not implement this resolution.

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Putin publishes article on Russian-Kazakh relations ahead of visit to Astana

Simultaneously, Russia’s Izvestia newspaper published an article by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Public tribunal releases more testimonies exposing Kiev forces' atrocities in Selidovo

According to the report, Ukrainian forces are known to have killed at least a hundred civilians

Moscow concerned with outgoing US President Biden’s escalation strategy — Kremlin

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Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

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Press review: Israel approves US ceasefire agreement and Georgia's new parliament convenes

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Erik Prince noted that it was necessary to end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible

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Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq discuss oil market, compensations

Participants in the meeting highlighted importance of keeping stability and balance in global oil markets

Ukraine requests UN Security Council meeting on November 27 — Russian mission

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UK Foreign Office warns about response to ‘baseless’ expulsion of its diplomat

A spokesman for the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said that London refutes the allegations against a British diplomat

Lithuania open to sending European troops to Ukraine — foreign minister

"It may become necessary for European soldiers to be deployed on Ukrainian soil, and Lithuania is always ready to consider such options," Gabrielius Landsbergis stated

Europe resumes talks of troop deployment to Ukraine — newspaper

According to the sources, this is driven by the fact that Washington may scale back support for Ukraine after Donald Trump returns to office as US president on January 20, 2025

US needs Ukraine's rare earth metals, including lithium — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister noted that American companies had already bought up most of the fertile land

US gives Ukrainian servicemen guidance on selecting targets for ATACMS — White House

The Ukrainian servicemen "are able to use ATACMS to defend themselves on an immediate need basis," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said

At least 15 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school — TV

According to the report, the attacked building had earlier been turned into a shelter for internally displaced person

Russian diplomat doesn’t rule out missile deployment in Asia as response to US’ actions

Sergey Ryabkov warned Russia’s adversaries against settling into a "false sense of security"

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

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Dr. Predrag Ceranic pointed out that in Republika Srpska, everyone understands very well that Russia was compelled "to make this move in order to protect its people in Donbass"

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According to reports, US president-elect Donald Trump mentioned Nehammer's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place shortly after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine

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Russian forces entrap Ukrainian troops near Svatovo in LPR — military expert

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West wants to use Kalinousky Regiment to destabilize Belarus — Russian intelligence chief

Sergey Naryshkin pointed out that now this nationalist group was fighting together with the Ukrainian army along with the Russian Volunteer Corps (recognized in Russia as a terrorist organization) and the Georgian Legion (the paramilitary group Georgian National Legion is blacklisted as terrorist and banned in Russia)

Russia fails to get seat at OPCW Executive Council — vote outcome

Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Permanent Representative to the OPCW Vladimir Tarabrin noted that the current situation regarding the participation in the Executive council "is clear evidence of the crisis that the Organization has fallen into"

Press review: Russia to mass-produce Oreshnik missiles and EU gas prices reach record high

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Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over day — top brass

It is specified that the Ukrainian army’s losses in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North in the Kharkov Region over the past 24 hours amounted to 30 personnel, two armored combat vehicles and four motor vehicles

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"The sooner Western capitals realize [the need to accept] the Russian president’s conditions for a peace agreement and talks, the better it will be for Ukraine, Europe and Russia, too," Sergey Naryshkin noted

US base in Syria’s Dei ez-Zor governorate comes under missile attack — TV

No further details were provided

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Russia’s Medvedev warns Europe could face 'catastrophic damage' from Oreshnik missile

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

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Sergey Naryshkin recalled that the only way to ensure peace is to eliminate the root causes that triggered the Ukrainian conflict

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When asked if the 1998 Russian-US memorandum of understanding on notifications of missile launches remained in effect, Sergey Ryabkov answered in the affirmative

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Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Moscow strips UK diplomat of accreditation over false data in documents — Russian agency

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NATO disregards all etiquette in discussing possible preemptive strikes on Russia — Lavrov

NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer earlier called for producing more weapons for precision strikes inside Russia in case a conflict broke out

Ukraine abandons Selidovo, laying mines in wells — security services

The Ukrainian armed forces used various modified Western-made mines and improvised explosive devices during the process

'Western vector' leaves Ukraine poorest country in Europe — politician

Ukrainians have never seen the promised freedom, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Ukraine supplies terrorists in Mali with white phosphorus munitions — website

The news portal pointed out that its source was an anti-government militiaman captured in the southern part of the country by the national armed forces

Russian Agriculture Ministry weighs idea of growing bananas domestically

Oksana Lut highlighted the export potential of agricultural products, given that certain parts of the world do not have a climate conducive to growing things

US no longer objects to use of S-400 air defense systems by Turkey, Defense Minister says

According to the Pentagon, these missile air defense systems could help revealing certain specifications of jet fighters and thus negatively affect their combat capabilities

Zaluzhny, not Zelensky, would become president if Ukraine held election today — poll

According to the survey, 27% of respondents would vote for Valery Zaluzhny, while only 16% said they would stick with Vladimir Zelensky

Launch of Oreshnik caused no negative reaction from Central Asia — Russian MFA

Alexander Sternik noted that Moscow was closely watching how relations among NATO, the European Union and the states directly adjacent to Russian territory were developing

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

The new fighter-bombers have undergone necessary testing and have been sent to the places of their operation, Vadim Badekha noted

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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Russian national Nikita Zhuravel sentenced to 14 years in prison for high treason

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Past year was deadliest for humanitarian workers in Gaza — Russia’s UN envoy

More than 300 workers, mostly UN staff, were killed in the enclave, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN said

Ukraine is a failed state, Russian foreign intelligence chief says

Sergey Naryshkin stressed that Moldova is "following in its footsteps"

Putin has high hopes for cancer vaccine being developed in Russia

Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortskova briefed the Russian President on the vaccine's development

US continues to plunder Afghanistan with impunity, says Shoigu

"In my opinion, the United States should invest in the reconstruction of Afghanistan after everything it has done and abandoned there," the top security official emphasized

Turkey to investigate causes of Russian Superjet emergency at Antalya airport

The Turkish side will also provide information on the progress of the investigation

Emergence of new weapons changed canons of war, Medvedev says

According to Russian security council deputy chairman, this primarily concerns drones

Russian military engaged in tough battles with Ukrainians in Kharkov Region — official

"Our forces continue their coordinated efforts to liberate the Kharkov Region from the enemy," Vitaly Ganchev said

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

According to the Russian foreign minister, this represents the "confrontational logic" of the West

Russia may soon push Kiev troops out of Kursk Region — Ukrainian battalion commander

It is noted that Russia has about three times as many men as the Ukrainians in the Kursk Region and six times as many explosive drones

Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Anglo-Saxon special services involved in Nord Stream blasts, SVR chief says

Sergey Naryshkin recalled that Nord Stream was a joint Russian-European project "aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted supply of inexpensive Russian gas to Europe"

Syrian defense ministry confirms Israeli attack on facilities in Homs governorate

The media reported earlier that two villages located in the north and west of the Homs governorate had come under an Israeli attack

Trump considers direct negotiations with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un — Reuters

According to the report, his team believes that this step could reduce the risk of an armed conflict

Majority of Americans oppose further military support for Ukraine, poll shows

The poll, conducted on November 19-22, involved over 2,200 Americans

Russian troops liberate Kopanki community in Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 440 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy ammunition depots

Blinken says hopes US support for Ukraine will continue under Trump

According to the US secretary of state, the administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden is determined "to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs" to fight through 2025

France, UK may deploy troops to Ukraine following ceasefire — expert

According to Elie Tenenbaum, European countries may send troops to east Ukraine to ensure the observation of a ceasefire regime and guarantee Kiev’s security

Preparation of Russia’s energy strategy until 2050 is in its final stage — PM Mishustin

The prime minister emphasized that increasing the energy and resource efficiency of the Russian economy is of paramount importance for the further sustainable development of the country

EU Commissioner for Justice calls on members states to step up assistance to Ukraine

Didier Reynders stressed that EU countries provided Ukraine with 45.5 billion euros for military needs and supplied "a wide variety of arms" from their stockpiles, including F-16 aircraft

NATO pledges to continue supporting Ukraine following Russia’s launch of Oreshnik missile

NATO said in the statement that Russia’s deployment of the missile called the Oreshnik will not change the course of the conflict

West seeks to destabilize global order, Russia’s intelligence chief says

"Euro-Atlantic elites are trying to convince the rest of the world that the only alternative to Western power is chaos, and for this purpose, they deliberately seek destabilization in key regions of the planet," Sergey Naryshkin said

Proposal to give Kiev nuclear arms highly extremist — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that this is an absolutely irresponsible line of reasoning from those with a poor grasp of reality

US, other countries to step up effort for ceasefire in Gaza

In Joe Biden's words, a truce will be possible with the release of hostages and on the condition that Hamas members will not be allowed to participate in the post-conflict government

Citizens of Poland, Germany, Italy apply for residence permit in Lugansk Republic

The decisions will be made in response to these applications in the near future

Kremlin explains why Oreshnik missile came as surprise

"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments," Dmitry Peskov said

India to buy 77,000 tons of coal in Mongolia — Reuters

Coal is expected to be transported via the territory of Russia