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US president to convene National Security Council meeting on Ukraine

The US leader continues to monitor the evolving situation in Ukraine, and is being updated regularly about events on the ground by his national security team, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said

WASHINGTON, February 20. /TSS/. US President Joe Biden will convene a session of the National Security Council on the situation in Ukraine on Sunday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

"Tomorrow, the President will convene a meeting of the National Security Council on the situation in Ukraine," she said.

The press secretary added that the US leader "continues to monitor the evolving situation in Ukraine, and is being updated regularly about events on the ground by his national security team." "They reaffirmed that Russia could launch an attack against Ukraine at any time," she added.

The West and Kiev have been echoing allegations about Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov castigated these claims as "empty and unfounded", serving as a ploy to escalate tensions, pointing out that Russia did not pose any threat whatsoever to anyone. However, Peskov did not rule out the possibility of provocations aimed at justifying such claims and warned that attempts to use military force to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine would have serious consequences.

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At least four Syrian law enforcement employees killed in operation near Homs

According to Al Watan, the Department of military operations in Damascus sent major reinforcements to the Homs Province in order to eliminate the remaining supporters of former president Bashar Assad

IN BRIEF: Putin talks to reporters about Oreshnik missile, natural gas transit

Russia could use Oreshnik again if need be, but the country is seeking to end the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian president said

No panic aboard crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane, eyewitness says

The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25

Ukrainian agents attempted to deliver booby-trapped documents to Archangel Project head

The project's curator Vitaly Romanov noted that the bomb was defused, and no one was injured

No politics behind current absence of Russian ambassador in US — Lavrov

The top diplomat stressed that it was not a demarche

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

Oreshnik missile systems still few, but they are enough — Putin

According to the head of state, the system's serial production has begun

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

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Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

Thailand accepts invitation to become BRICS partner state — MFA

As a BRICS partner state, Thailand hopes to raise the level of relations with the group’s members in order to gain better opportunities for the development of its economy

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The Belarusian leader believes that Germany should restore relations with Russia for the sake of its own economy

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Miguel Diaz-Canel thanked the association of the invitation and noted that the participation in such events has become a usual event for Cuba

US disrupts payment of Russian contribution to ICRC budget — Foreign Ministry

This is another example of a harmful impact of unlawful restrictive measures, the ministry said

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

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Russia imposes state of federal-level emergency due to fuel oil spill in Black Sea

Alexander Kurenkov noted that "this classification will enable the deployment of additional resources and personnel from federal executive authorities and state corporations, as well as provide necessary financial assistance to the affected entities from the Russian government’s reserve fund"

Russian stock market closes with growth in leading indices

By the of the trading session, the MOEX index rose by 1.23%, while the RTS index rose by 1.63%

Russia’s economic growth will be almost 4% in 2024, Putin says

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Putin congratulates Emergencies Ministry’s staff on professional holiday

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This stood at about $7 bln, in the outgoing year

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Dutch citizen remanded in custody in Moscow on charges of assaulting police officer

Harry Johannes van Wurden should be taken into custody for two months, until December 3

Two families with children return to Russia from Syria — commissioner

An aircraft landed in the Moscow Region, Maria Lvova-Belova said

Lukashenko, Putin discuss regional security, bilateral relations

The presidents also talked about cooperation between the countries in a variety of areas, including economy

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

"We are open to any negotiations, provided they essentially discuss the core causes [behind the Ukraine crisis] and the key principles put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June," the top diplomat said

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IDF blows up 2-km-long Hamas tunnel in northern Gaza Strip

According to the IDF, Hamas has been using this tunnel as a shelter for a long time

Turkey to help new Syrian authorities create regular Armed Forces — Defense Ministry

The defense ministry also noted that the experience of Turkey, which has an "exemplary army" and a powerful defense industry infrastructure, will significantly contribute to strengthening Syria’s security and defense capability

Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa put out of service by Israeli strikes — source

Damage also came from sweeping fires that were set off by strikes on oil tanks in both ports

Over 25 countries want to take part in Intervision Song Contest, Lavrov says

Russia is ready to welcome tourists from Latin American countries in every possible way, to show them Moscow and St. Petersburg, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka, Sochi, Suzdal, and Altai, the top Russian diplomat said

Astana, Moscow, Baku will not hide information on plane crash — Senate speaker

Maulen Ashimbayev warned against premature conclusions concerning an external impact on the plane based on photographs, noting that certain forces were trying to derive dividends

Contract for gas transit to EU cannot be renewed before New Year — Putin

According to the Russian President, an option of concluding contracts for delivery through third parties - Turkish, Hungarian, Slovak, Azerbaijani companies - is possible

Termination of transit of Russian gas to kill Ukraine’s gas transport system — experts

Moreover, Ukraine will have to reorganize the flows of gas on the domestic market and resolve respective issues with keeping pressure in the eastern and central parts of the gas transport system, experts added

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

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US-made Abrams tanks in Taiwan won’t help island — China’s defense ministry

The Chinese People's Liberation Army will comprehensively strengthen military training to prevent a separatist plot by supporters of Taiwan independence and interference by outside forces, according to Spokesman Zhang Xiaogang

Russia not setting preconditions for talks on Ukraine — Lavrov

The foreign minister stressed that Russia was deceived "when they stated that NATO would not expand eastwards and when they emphasized their commitment to resolve [the conflict] based on the UN Charter"

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

In conditions of competing China, Europeans pay significantly more for US LNG than for Russian gas, the official noted

EAEU leaders approve 17 documents following summit in Leningrad region

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

Russia shortens temporary stay term for foreigners to 90 days — Foreign Ministry

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The Cordelia Moon is 274 meters long and 50 meters wide

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Pumping also continues through the Sudzha station, where military activities are ongoing

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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

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Aleksandr Dubinsky recalled the unsuccessful financing of Ukraine in the middle of the year

Zelensky defines essence of next summit on Ukraine in four-letter explicit word — Lavrov

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El Al suspends Tel Aviv - Moscow flights

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This is a record for the entire history of observations

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained that he had arrived in the Yemeni capital to negotiate the release of UN staff and to assess the humanitarian situation in the country

Russia to press for progress on line of engagement — Putin

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

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

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