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French leader likely to visit Russia, Ukraine on February 7 and 8, says agency

Earlier, the Russian president held a phone call with his French counterpart on the issue around Ukraine and the talks between Moscow, the US, and NATO on security guarantees

French President Emmanuel Macron Gonzalo Fuentes/ Pool via AP

French President Emmanuel Macron

© Gonzalo Fuentes/ Pool via AP

PARIS, February 4. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron plans to pay a working visit to Russia on February 7, while his visit to Ukraine is scheduled for February 8, Agence France-Presse stated on Friday with a reference to the Elysee Palace.

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Macron to share his vision of Ukrainian de-escalation with Putin

On Wednesday, the French leader told reporters that he did not rule out his visit to Russia.

On Thursday, at Paris’ initiative, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Macron discussed the situation around Ukraine and the talks between Moscow, the US, and NATO on security guarantees over the phone. The leaders also agreed on further contacts.

On January 28 and 31, Putin and Macron held talks over the phone. The Kremlin revealed that the leaders agreed on the possibility of holding a personal meeting. At the same time, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not mention the exact date of possible consultations.

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Vladimir Putin France Emmanuel Macron

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Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian training center with NATO instructors in Poltava

Vladimir Saldo stressed that the military bloc is providing both financial and administrative support for the operation of such centers

Russian units expand offensive bridgehead in DPR over week

According to the report, the Russian forces liberated several residential areas in the region

Russian forces advance in some areas in Kursk direction, senior commander says

According to Apty Alaudinov, while there has been "heavy fighting since this morning," Russian forces "have been gradually eliminating the enemy, driving them out, while pressing forward"

Top Hungarian diplomat condemns idea of using Western weapons deep inside Russia

According to the statement, Peter Szijjarto "reiterated Hungary’s commitment to diplomacy over arms, emphasizing that Hungary remains the only EU and NATO member that has not and will not supply weapons to Ukraine"

EU officials focus on serving US energy interests, Russian diplomat says

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"The Single Voting Day is held across Russia on September 8," the head of state said

US allocates new $250 million military aid package to Ukraine — Pentagon

According to the statement, the package includes RIM-7 missiles and air defense support, ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber, Stinger MANPADS, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems

BRICS summit in Kazan to bring together leaders of important, powerful countries — Vucic

Vucic specified that during his conversation with Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko, they touched upon economic cooperation issues, including "the construction of the Russian Railways’ dispatch center

Ukraine pulling fresh forces to Kursk area — Russian officer

According to the commander of the Akhmat special forces commando unit Apty Alaudinov, there were no large-scale attacks on Wednesday

Russia's hydro potential allows to build 250 GW of hydroelectric power stations — minister

Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev emphasized that Russia will use this potential in stages

Syrsky to be fired over fallout from attack on Kursk Region, says Ukrainian politician

Ukraine’s former Interior Minister Yury Lutsenko said that the best Ukrainian units and equipment had been deployed to the Kursk Region

Ukraine looking at letting foreigners serve in military intelligence, become army officers

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Belarus won’t be drawn into military confrontation with Ukraine, Russian senator believes

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"It is very difficult to end this war diplomatically without the Russian side," Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said

Kiev fails to get anything done during month-long foray into Kursk Region — politician

Vladimir Rogov pointed out that Ukraine was losing dozens of hardware units and hundreds of militants on a daily basis, which could have stabilized the positions of Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas where Russian forces are advancing

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Russia to continue efforts to promote Gaza settlement — foreign ministry

"The Russian side reiterated its readiness to continue political and diplomatic efforts to stop bloodshed as soon as possible," Mikhail Bogdanov said

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

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Ukraine may receive about 2 million FPV-drones by year-end — expert

"According to open sources, in 2023, about 40 billion rubles was allocated to finance the Ukrainian project Drone Army," a representative of the Center for Unmanned Competences said

Miners’ power consumption in Russia above 2.5 GW — Bitriver

"Gray miners make connections to public utility networks using tariffs for households, which are not designed for the consumption profile characteristic for mining," the statement reads

Trump puzzled by Putin’s ironic comment about supporting Harris

Puyin said ironically that after incumbent US President Joe Biden "had been withdrawn" from the presidential race, Moscow came "to back" his successor Kamala Harris

Another Ukrainian projectile destroyed over Kursk Region

Earlier in the day, Governor Alexey Smirnov reported that two Ukrainian projectiles had been shot down over the Kursk Region

Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

According to the report, the Russian military repelled two attacks by enemy assault groups towards Matveyevka and Olgovka, and foiled Ukrainian attempts to attack three settlements

Ukraine’s 80th Brigade mopped up Kursk Region villages — captured solder says

Oleg Ivanenko surrendered to the Akhmat special forces on August 16

Response to mpox requires $290 mln over six months — WHO

"The strategy, plan and resource requirement will be reviewed and adjusted quarterly," the organization said

Oil market still underestimates OPEC+ actions and geopolitical risks — experts

Finam analyst Nikolay Dudchenko noted that yesterday’s OPEC+ decision demonstrates the cartel’s readiness to continue controlling the situation on the oil market

Zelensky complains that current fleet of F-16s not enough

On August 4, the Ukrainian leader confirmed that Kiev had received the first F-16s from its Western allies

Japan loses Russian car market for long — Russian Foreign Ministry

Tokyo did itself a disservice in attempts to isolate Russia, Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted

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According to the statement, the two suspects sought to "launder funds obtained from that scheme"

Iran’s mission to UN denies country supplies weapons to sides of conflict in Ukraine

The statement followed a report by the Wall Street Journal that alleged, citing unnamed US and European officials, that Iran supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia

Kiev seeks lifting of restrictions on strikes on Russia amid dire battlefield situation

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Another 400,000 people flee Ukraine in 2024

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Fish catch in Russia in 2024 may reach around 5 mln tons

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Russia’s top diplomat notes Turkey’s serious intentions to join BRICS

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Russia’s neutral athletes invited to attend 2024 Paralympics closing ceremony — RPC chief

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Ukrainian forces daily send troops to Kursk area, suffering losses — commander

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Former French officer involved in planning attack on Russia’s Kursk Region

According to Yevgeny Lisnyak, the objective of the regiment where the officer was serving was to carry out sabotage operations deep in the enemy’s rear

US intelligence doesn’t see attempts of foreign interference in American 2024 election

Representative of the office alleged that foreign countries including Russia, China and Iran seek to influence the outcome of the election

Durov declines Russian, Emirati diplomatic assistance — Politico

"The person concerned refused Russian consular protection and an Emirati consular visit but agreed that the Emirati embassy be kept up to date on his situation," the official said

China interested in cooperation with Russian technology companies

"China also has its own experience in creating technology parks built with private investment," lawmaker Alexey Govyrin said, adding that "this experience is also very useful" for Russia

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Ukrainian troops flee blindly during liberation of DPR's Prechistovka — top brass

It also released a video showing Ukrainian servicemen fleeing en masse towards Zolotaya Niva and Shakhterskoye, leaving their wounded comrades on the battlefield

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It is stressed that Boris Johnson instructed the Ukrainians to fight to the last Ukrainian

IAEA intends to increase cooperation with Russia

"I hope everybody understands the work of the IAEA, the technical basis of what we do, and our un-relentless compromise with nuclear safety," Director General Rafael Grossi stressed

White House irked by Putin’s ironic comment about US elections

Earlier the Russian leader said ironically that after incumbent US President Joe Biden "had been withdrawn" from the presidential race, Moscow came "to back" his successor Kamala Harris

Putin calls West's policy to ban Russia from dollar settlements ‘stupid’

The head of state noted that in this situation, Russia and its friendly countries are switching to national currencies in their mutual settlements

Russia effectively fighting foreign military instructors in Ukraine — Kremlin

"Foreign countries are definitely involved in the conflict," Dmitry Peskov noted

Russian swimmer Shabalina win complete set of Paralympic medals in Paris

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China takes no interest in US election, has no plans to interfere — embassy

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Russia says its Grad MLRS destroys Ukrainian positions near border in Kursk Region

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Daily volume of purchase of foreign currency and gold will equal 8.2 bln rubles

Striking Ukrainian reserves: situation in Kursk Region

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Ukrainian mass resignations speak of Kiev's transition to full dictatorship — envoy

Rodion Miroshnik emphasized that many deputies, even from the President's Servant of the People party, are no longer willing to follow the instructions of the President's Office

Ukrainian ambassador’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine 'affronts' Asian peoples — Chinese daily

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Turkey's entry into BRICS will encourage other countries to join association — expert

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Russia already won special military op — army official

"Our next task is to do everything possible to ensure that we remain a united family ready for future challenges," Apty Alaudinov said

Ukraine’s troops cling to outskirts of Krasnogorovka, sustain daily losses — DPR head

Denis Pushilin said Russian soldiers were very resourceful in selecting methods and tactics of liberating the city, as well as rescuing the local population

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Voter turnout at gubernatorial election in Kursk Region nears 47%

As many as 55,040 people took part in the voting online

Slovak PM warns of assassination threats against country's politicians

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Medvedev touts Russia as global leader in drone warfare thanks to special op

The Russian Security Council deputy chairman pointed out that no one could have imagined that drone usage would become so widespread before the special military operation

Putin says Russia 'backs' Harris post-Biden exit

The Russian president joked that Harris’ "laughter is so expressive and contagious," that you can assume "she’s doing well"