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NAVALNY'S ALLEGED POISONING

Germany wants good relations with Russia, Merkel tells Bundestag

Merkel named the Alexey Navalny case and the Kleiner Tiergarten murder as examples of controversial points

German Chancellor Angela Merkel AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

© AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

BERLIN, December 16. /TASS/. Germany needs good relations with Russia, but one cannot turn a blind eye to controversial points, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the Bundestag Wednesday.

"On the one hand, one must see that there is a wish to have good strategic relations with Russia, I always said that, but we must not turn a blind eye to the reality," she said, answering the lawmakers’ questions.

Merkel named the Alexey Navalny case and the Kleiner Tiergarten murder as examples of controversial points. Besides, there were "little progress in the Minsk process" on Ukraine, the Chancellor said.

According to Merkel, there is no need for a "new start" in relations with Russia, as they "have length" already even without it.

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Middle East conflict

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Slovak PM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin, Serbian president says

"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

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Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

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Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

Biden signs bill to fund US government until March 14, 2025

The US Senate and House of Representatives approved the bill a day before

West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

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Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

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Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

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Possible arrival of new Russian envoy before Trump’s inauguration depends on US — diplomat

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BRICS is approaching G20 format, Brazilian foreign minister says

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russian sleeper agents open up about secret trip to 2018 World Cup

The married couple, Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, returned home as a result of an exchange

Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

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Russian missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to become world’s strongest warship after upgrade

The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has been under repairs at the Sevmash Shipyard since 1999; real work on the warship has been carried out since 2013

Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

The previous generation of Russian politicians chose the course towards the country’s destruction for the sake of joining the so-called civilized world but this was what the West wanted, President Vladimir Putin

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

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

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

ISS orbit raised ahead of launching Soyuz manned spacecraft

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Kremlin mum on reports about Slovakian prime minister's plans to visit Moscow

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What is known about Russia’s retaliatory strike on Ukraine after attack on Rostov Region

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

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