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Argentine President Alberto Fernandez thanks Putin for delivery of Sputnik V

The Argentine President stated earlier that he will be the first in his country to get inoculated with the Russian vaccine since he does not question its quality.

BUENOS AIRES, December 24. /TASS/. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has expressed gratitude to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and developers of the Sputnik V vaccine against the novel coronavirus for its delivery to the Latin American republic. He posted a corresponding statement on Twitter on Thursday.

"Argentina already has a vaccine against COVID-19. We are expressing our sincere gratitude to the Sputnik V vaccine developers and the President Vladimir Putin for determination they demonstrated to out country. A road of hope is opening but the pandemic is not over yet. We need to continue to take care of ourselves," the head of state wrote.

On Wednesday, the Argentine Health Ministry issued a permit for the emergency use of the Russian vaccine. This decision was made on the basis of recommendations of Argentina’s National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices. On Thursday, a plane with the first batch of Sputnik V aboard numbering 300,000 doses landed at an airport in Buenos Aires.

Earlier, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the government of Argentina signed a contract to deliver 10 mln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. The Argentine President stated that he will be the first in his country to get inoculated with the Russian vaccine since he does not question its quality.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Russian diplomat thanks Tajik authorities for help in probe into Crocus terrorist attack

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US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

Joe Biden directed to send ATACMS to Ukraine in February, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said

IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

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Top brass posts video of Leopard tanks, Bradley combat vehicles seized by Russian troops

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Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

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The tactics employed by these criminals are becoming increasingly complex and barbaric, the Russian leader pointed out

US will have to take Russia into account and find common ground with it — Putin

Russian President said in an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel journalist Pavel Zarubin

Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

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Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

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Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

The unique vehicle was built on the basis of the Aurus Senat luxury car

US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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Attempts are made to turn Moldova into ‘second Ukraine’, Lavrov warns

The Russian foreign minister also said that Chisinau's behavior resembles role-playing

Russian Navy’s Bastion missile systems practice massive strike in Baltic drills

The Bastion coastal defense missile system is designated to defend the coastline over 600 km long

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

Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

Apty Alaudinov added that if the Ukrainian army received long-range weapons, it might try to attack Russia's civilian infrastructure due to its powerlessness on the front

Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

The source denied news media reports on the subject, which appeared earlier

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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

UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

The amendment gained seven votes from countries including Russia and China

US spends millions of dollars on studying UFOs, 'covers up' information — congressman

Tim Burchett added that "it’s not about little green man or flying saucers, it’s about tens of millions of dollars that our federal government is spending"

Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

"Today, under the two countries’ leaders’ special attention, political contacts, exchanges, cooperation in the economic, culture, science and other areas are developing with renewed momentum," Minister Plenipotentiary of the republic's embassy in Russia Lee Yong Zin said

Annual inflation in Russia gearing down to 7.82% over week — Economy Ministry

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Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

Simultaneously, the Air Force conducted two more military operation using a huge number of drones to target a US destroyer in the Gulf of Aden

Over 14,700 residential houses remain flooded in Russia

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West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

Top US diplomat Blinken arrives in Shanghai

A State Department spokesperson told a special briefing previewing Blinken’s trip earlier that the Secretary of State would visit Shanghai and Beijing to "build on our intensive diplomacy [with China] over the past year"

Niger would like Russia to train its troops — interior minister says

Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

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

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

According to the journalist, the decision to conduct the operation was made by US President Joe Biden personally, following nine months of discussions with White House national security advisers

Russia’s Viner vows to set up International League of Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs

Gymnasts from the world’s strongest clubs will be able to participate in this league

US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

The Belarusian leader specified that the US had organized the conflict in Europe, in this case in Ukraine, and "shifted it onto the shoulders of the European Union and NATO, promising to help with money"

Senior Russian, Tajikistani diplomats talk about fighting terrorists, radicals

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko emphasized the importance of creating a new architecture of Eurasian security as one of the elements of a multipolar world

Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

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

According to Nikolay Patrushev, these countries "understand perfectly well who is financing" the Kiev regime

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

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

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13 violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

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

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Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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EU may sanction 10 firms for allegedly shipping weapons tech to Russia — Bloomberg

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Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

Lukashenko says US rues giving rise to Russia-China alliance

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IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

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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

Continued threats to Pyongyang to put US, allies in danger, Kim Jong Un’s sister warns

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Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

"Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Vladimirovich Ivanov was detained on suspicion of committing a crime under part 6, article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code," the Russian Investigative Committee said

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"

Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Ukraine’s EU accession to require 20% increase in union’s budget — European Commissioner

Johannes Hahn made it plain that he does not expect Ukraine to join the EU any time soon, noting that entry before 2028, when the next seven-year budget plan kicks in, is "unrealistic"

No response from West to killing of Izvestia war reporter Eremin — diplomat

The Russian war correspondent died of wounds suffered from a strike by a Ukrainian FPV drone on April 19

ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

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Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Russia continues to "make an important contribution to strengthening of African countries’ potential, including UN Security Council and General Assembly"

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

US draft on nukes in space seeks to go beyond legal framework Russia adheres to — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that Russia reaffirms its "strict commitment" to the international legal obligations under space law

West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

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

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Russia’s new Supreme Court chief justice doesn’t plan drastic changes

Irina Podnosova said courts have been receiving an increasing number of complaints, attributing it to the rising trust that people have to the judicial system

US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

"We are tired to repeat over and over again - amid the US-backed Israeli military operation, which has been going on for more than six months already, adequate assistance to the enclave’s population is simply impossible," Vasily Nebenzya said

Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

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Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 22nd

German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

"A larger part of what is being manufactured is not sent to the frontline but goes to warehouses," Boris Pistorius said

Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," Venezuelan President stressed

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

Top Russian security official meets with counterparts at international security meeting

Nikolay Patrushev met with the heads of delegations from BRICS states

Russian athletes have right to decide on Olympic participation — aide

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete only under a neutral status, provided that they are not associated with security agencies and do not represent team sports

Central African Republic expects Russia to supply weapons, munitions — defense minister

According to CAR Defense Minister Claude Rameaux Bireau, all necessary documents are ready but there are certain logistical difficulties

Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

Speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club, the Russian leader also highlighted "the role and responsibility" of its members

Over 330 bodies recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Anti-Russian measures prove world cannot exist in unipolar diktat, envoy says

According to Anatoly Antonov, "the further it goes, the more America corners itself into a zugzwang"

Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

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US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

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Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

Apty Alaudinov posted a drone video footage of elimination Ukrainian personnel and Russian forces capturing enemy trenches

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

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Post-Soviet security bloc holds arms control consultations in Moscow

The participants in the consultations "stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to prevent further erosion of the relevant international legal framework"

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Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

The resolution gained 13 votes