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Ukrainian leader Zelensky says ready to meet with US President Biden before June 16

"I believe such consultations should happen face-to-face, because many things just cannot be discussed over the phone," Ukrainian President noted

WASHINGTON, June 7. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is ready to meet with US President Joe Biden before American-Russian summit in Geneva on June 16, but such talks may be impossible due to 'a tight schedule of the US leader,' according to US-based Axios website.

"I believe such consultations should happen face-to-face, because many things just cannot be discussed over the phone," Zelensky said in an interview with Axios. "I understand that due to the US President’s pre-existing plans and his tight schedule they might well not happen, but that choice will be only his to make."

"As the guarantor of the Constitution of Ukraine, I myself am ready to defend Ukraine at any moment and at any spot of the planet, I am ready to meet with him and discuss all those details before his meeting [with Russian President Vladimir Putin]," the Ukrainian president said.

Zelensky also said that the US administration’s representatives did not have consultations with the Ukrainian authorities ahead of the upcoming US-Russia summit.

"Not yet, and I believe that it is up to them," the Ukrainian president said. "However, I do think that it would be a big mistake [not to]."

The Putin-Biden summit in Geneva will be the first top-level meeting between the leaders of the two superpowers since July 2018, when the Russian head of state met with then US President Donald Trump in Helsinki.

According to the Kremlin, the two presidents intend to deliberate on the current state of and prospects for Russian-US relations, strategic stability, as well as pressing global issues, including cooperation in the fight against the pandemic and regulating regional conflicts. On May 30, Biden said that he planned to raise the issue of human rights violations at the Geneva summit.

Thailand accepts invitation to become BRICS partner state — MFA

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Former Austrian minister believes EU ignored message Russia sent with Oreshnik missile

According to Karin Kneissl, Russia doesn’t want to trigger any nuclear war

Lavrov welcomes Trump team’s statements about willingness to resume dialogue

It is up to the US to take the first step towards restoring contact with Russia because it was Washington that suspended it after the launch of Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian foreign minister stated

Oil slick monitoring zone in south Russia expanded

As of December 25, a total of 4,100 people have been taking part in the cleanup effort

South Korean opposition launches impeachment proceedings against acting president

According to the law, an impeachment vote can take place no earlier than 24 hours after the initiative is introduced at a plenary session

Russia’s Chechnya ships 200 ‘Jihad mobile’ vehicles for special military operation

The authorities of Chechnya handed over 200 "Jihad mobile"

FACTBOX: Shelling of Lgov in Russia’s Kursk Region

The attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals, with a fourth victim passing away from injuries at the hospital shortly afterward

List of BRICS partners to be announced soon — Brazil’s Foreign Ministry

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Syrian authorities introduce curfew in Latakia, Homs after Alawite protests

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Russia to donate 1 million euro to UN Climate Convention

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Shelling on Donetsk decreases as frontline shifts — DPR head

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Sunken tankers violated seasonal maritime traffic restrictions — authority

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Putin offers condolences to Azerbaijani president over plane crash near Aktau

"Overall, we are expressing deepest condolences to those who lost their near and dear in this air disaster," Dmitry Peskov said

Armored vehicle with Israeli commanding officers blown up in West Bank

The rest of the passengers in the vehicle did not get injured

Middle East in for ‘chaotic and violent’ time after change of power in Syria – analyst

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One of two power cables between Estonia, Finland fails for an unknown reason

Two sets of underwater high-voltage direct current power cables connect Finland and Estonia

Russian troops liberate Novy Trud community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy howitzers in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Lavrov sees ceasefire in Ukraine as road to nowhere, calls for reliable agreements

The top Russian diplomat pointed out that those accords should first and foremost address the root causes of the Ukraine crisis

Nine Russian nationals survive, seven killed in plane crash in Kazakhstan

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CIS countries share common approaches to resolving global issues — Putin

Among other things, "members of the Commonwealth have been increasing cooperation in the fight against extremism, transborder crime, and drug trafficking, and everyday activities and contacts between security agencies have been established," the Russian president said

Russian emergencies minister expects more natural disasters due to climate change

The Russian emergencies minister, Alexander Kurenkov, added, that weather anomalies are becoming more and more frequent

Russia sees US recommendation for its citizens to leave Belarus as provocation — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, this is not the first statement of its kind from the US Department of State

Trump’s son posts image showing father buying Canada, Greenland on Amazon

"We are so back," Eric wrote for a caption

Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

29 people had been hospitalized

Diplomat refutes allegations about departure of new Russian ambassador to Washington

In late November, Russian media outlets reported that Director of the Foreign Ministry’s North America Department Alexander Darchiev may become Russia’s new ambassador to the US, taking over for Anatoly Antonov who returned to Moscow, having been relieved of his duties as envoy by President Vladimir Putin’s decree

Russian MFA says West could try to pull off some military 'scheme' in Belarus

A presidential election campaign is starting in Belarus on January 1, with the election scheduled for January 26

Nothing new in US statements on strategic stability dialogue — MFA

"By declaring on the one hand the intention to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and on the other hand, the readiness to discuss ways of maintaining stability, Washington deprives the hypothetical dialogue of a meaningful basis," Maria Zakharova said

Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense frontline situation

The most difficult situation for Ukrainian troops is observed in the Krasnoarmeisk (Pokrovsk), Kurakhovo and Vremevka frontline areas

Russia 10 years ahead of whole world with research into 4th generation nuclear power

The BREST-300 fast neutron reactor is due to be launched in 2026-2027 and to go on stream in 2028

Decision-making centers in Kiev may be targets of Russia’s strikes, says Lavrov

Moscow selects targets for strikes on the territory of Ukraine, proceeding solely from threats to Russia, the foreign minister stressed

Putin's principles of Ukrainian settlement stem from international law — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat drew attention to the fact that "the Kiev regime plays into the hands the West, which needs to remove such a strong competitor as Russia from the international scene"

Oboronlogistics company blames loss of its ship Ursa Major on terrorist attack

The Ursa Major dry cargo ship wrecked in the Mediterranean Sea

West plans to destabilize situation in Serbia — Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

According to Maria Zakharova, the interim self-governance bodies in Pristina, enabled by the United States and the EU, make steps to create intolerable conditions for the Serb population of Kosovo, effectively trying to drive it out of the region

Biden’s last aid package to Kiev won’t contribute to Ukraine’s security — Russian diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, this speaks of the fact that the West continues to do everything to escalate the conflict with Russia, not sparing effort or anyone in Ukraine

Production of passenger cars in Russia up 25% in November to 80,400 units — Rosstat

11M 2024 production totaled 679,000 passenger cars

Ukrainian agent fails to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

The apprehended Ukrainian agent said that he had retrieved the explosive from a cache in the Moscow Region and tested its detonator

Development of gas pipeline route from Russia to China via Kazakhstan launched — Deputy PM

The capacity of the new gas pipeline should be 45 billion cubic meters per year, Alexander Novak said

Soyuz-5 to be dispatched to Baikonur in October 2025, launch due late December

The launch vehicle blasted off at 10:45 am Moscow time (7:45 am GMT)

Russian forces break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkov Region — expert

Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

Sandu regime may seize Moldavan power plant in Transnistria — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that "under such a scenario, the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region will be jeopardized"

Russian fighters control about 40% of Terny in Donetsk region, military expert says

Andrey Marochko added that Russian servicemen have advanced east of Yampolovka, bringing the distance between that village and Russia’s frontline positions to less than 1.2 miles

Mine removal at Donetsk airport to start in 2025 — official

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Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

"It’s important to note that the primary development in this context is the markedly increased role of non-Arab states in the region, particularly two key players," Vitaly Naumkin said

Russian gas is most profitable for Europe in terms of price and logistics — Novak

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Russian commissioner hopes for resumption of effort to bring children from Syria

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Nine killed in shootout with law enforcers in Syria’s Tartus — TV

According to the report Al Hadath, the operation was aimed at detaining a high-ranking former officer of the previous government

Russia ready for talks on Ukraine, only if those discuss essential topics — Lavrov

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Russia expects from Abkhazia to honor obligations on Russian investments

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Kremlin will not speculate about causes of plane crash near Aktau — spokesman

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Azerbaijani president on his way back home from Russia after AZAL plane crash

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Mother, her 11-year-old son among victims of Kazakhstan plane crash — authorities

The emergencies ministry has published the official list of Kazakh citizens who perished in the crash

Azerbaijan Airlines plane made 2 circles near Kazakh airport before crashing — official

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Over 30 killed during mass escape of prisoners from Mozambique jail — authorities

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Kremlin admits legal action over transfer of $1 bln from Russian assets to Ukraine

"Such illegal actions, including the transfer of this billion, may surely prompt legal action. And we will surely use all possibilities in the future to protect our rights and the rights to our property," Dmitry Peskov noted

Around 29,400 square meters of Kerch Strait waters treated with sorbent after oil leak

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Launch of Russia’s Bion-M biosatellite scheduled for March 25 — manufacturer

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Russia practically eliminates remnants of Ukraine’s Air Force — source

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Annual inflation in Russia gearing up to 9.7% over week — Economy Ministry

In the food sector, prices growth rates declined to 0.76% during the reporting week

Biden tasks Pentagon with boosting military aid to Kiev

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Georgia became inconvenient for 'friends' after rejecting Ukrainian scenario — official

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US ramping up biological warfare presence in Africa — Russia’s top brass

Major General Aleksey Rtishchev said that branches of the US National Naval Military Medical Center are stationed in Ghana and Djibouti where active work is carried out in natural disease foci, isolation and sequencing of pathogens

Rescue workers recover bodies of all those killed in Kazakhstan plane crash

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Azerbaijan Airlines says its ill-fated jet underwent full examination in October

The aircraft’s crew chief, Igor Kshnyakin, clocked more than 15,000 hours of flight time

Russia says Su-35S fighter jets provide cover to Aerospace Forces in Kursk Region

Also, one aircraft used onboard weapons systems to detect enemy air defense sites, according to the ministry

Almost 90 children reunited with relatives in Ukraine - commissioner

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Two people preparing attempts on Russian military officials' lives recruited in Ukraine

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Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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Ukrainian agent planned to present explosive gift to Russian defense official — FSB

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Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

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Russia doesn’t need ceasefire in Ukraine, it needs legally binding guarantees — Lavrov

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Russia has no illusions that Ukraine conflict can be resolved easily — top diplomat

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IN BRIEF: What is known about passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan

According to the Kazakh Transport Ministry, the plane belonged to Azerbaijan Airlines

Russia’s 2,000th R-7 rocket delivers Resurs-P remote sensing satellite into orbit

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Former Austrian minister names 4 suspect countries in connection with Nord Stream sabotage

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IN BRIEF: What is known about shopping mall explosion in Russia’s Vladikavkaz

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Russian investigators initiate criminal case into terror attack on borderline town

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Scientists present Russia's first 50-qubit cold atom quantum computer — MSU

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Denmark to strengthen control over Greenland after Trump’s words — top defense official

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Taxi ploughs into crowd of pedestrians in New York, six wounded — Fox News

Six people were hospitalized with injuries of varying degrees

Russian MFA sees reports of potential deployment of EU troops in Ukraine as provocation

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Trump doesn’t want repeat of Minsk agreements — Kellogg

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Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

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Drone launched from Yemen falls in south Israel

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Baku, Yerevan can jointly initiate dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group — diplomat

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Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, ammo depots over past day — top brass

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Israeli premier threatens Houthis with HAMAS, Hezbollah’s fate

Benjamin Netanyahu promised that "this lesson would be learned throughout the Middle East"

FSB foils series of assassination attempts on senior Russian defense officials

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Finnish company says power cable’s emergency shutdown due to sabotage

Finland and Estonia are connected by two sets of high-voltage submarine cables

Ukrainian intel agent plotted to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

The Ukrainian intelligence services planned to detonate the explosive device remotely from the territory of Ukraine, the press office said

Group of Syrian law enforcement officers ambushed in Tartus, 14 killed — minister

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Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

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Russia not setting preconditions for talks on Ukraine — Lavrov

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Australia contacts Russia regarding captured mercenary — diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that "Canberra obediently follows in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy"

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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