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Ankara continues preparations for Putin’s visit to Turkey — presidential spokesman

"We are in contacts with our Russian colleagues on this matter," the Star newspaper quoted Ibrahim Kalin as saying

ANKARA, February 20. /TASS/. Turkish officials maintain contacts with Russian counterparts and continue preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Sunday.

"Our preparations for a visit to Turkey by Mr. Putin continue. We are in contacts with our Russian colleagues on this matter," the Star newspaper quoted him as saying.

The Turkish president said on January 26 that he had invited Putin to visit his country. He also said he was ready to organize Putin’s meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. On February 16, Erdogan said he wanted to have a telephone conversation with Putin to learn about what he thinks about the idea of a trilateral top-level meeting in Turkey.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Moscow and Ankara had agreed to organize the Russian president visit but had not yet agreed the concrete date. He said the visit would be made when the two presidents’ schedules allowed. He also said that Putin’s possible meeting with Zelensky in Turkey had not been looked at.

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Law on new rules of mobilization comes into force in Ukraine

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Slovakia’s Fico between life and death, it is loss for Slovakia, Hungary — Orban

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Ukrainian drone attack kills civilian in Russia’s Kursk Region — acting governor

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Strategic role of North Korean nuclear forces to increase by 2025 — Kim Jong Un

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Slovak PM’s attacker pleads guilty before court — media

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone over Crimea

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Confiscation of Russian assets by Estonia for transfer to Ukraine is theft — MFA

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Americans undermine trust in dollar, its role as reserve currency themselves — Putin

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US sanctions against Russia 'terrible stupidity' — Putin

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Energy infrastructure facility suffers damage in Ukraine’s Poltava Region

Ukrainian media outlets reported explosions in the city of Mirgorod

Russia to view seizure of its property as robbery — Russian MFA on Estonia’s move

Maria Zakharova added that "the Western puppeteers exploit the Baltic countries as a 'testing ground' to test the waters concerning various kinds of anti-Russian ideas"

Gaza ceasefire talks suspended — radio

The talks have reached an impasse because the parties to the conflict cannot agree on the conditions for the release of hostages, the Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported

Expert sees attack on Slovak PM as challenge to all opponents of war in Ukraine

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Putin apologizes to Harbin residents for tight security measures over his visit

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Putin, Xi Jinping discussed China’s security proposal, Lavrov says

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Dedollarization of Russia-China trade will continue — Kremlin

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Legitimate Ukrainian president needed to sign any agreements, says Putin

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Russian troops destroy 600 combat aircraft in Ukraine operation — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost over 520 troops in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

Assassination attempt on Slovak PM Fico was planned in advance — defense minister

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Afghanistan to expand range of goods exported to Russia — deputy PM Overchuk

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US sanctions on Russian, Chinese goods to backfire, spiking inflation at home — Putin

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Russia to find platforms for speaking out if US refuses to issue visas — senior diplomat

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Current Kiev regime rooted in coup — Putin

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Crowd gathered in central Bishkek agrees to disperse after talks with top police officer

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Russian air defenses down four Hammer air bombs, two HARM missiles over Belgorod Region

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Finnish president says Helsinki doesn’t ask for hosting NATO nuclear weapons on its soil

Alexander Stubb pointed out that after joining the North Atlantic Alliance, Finland wants to play a meaningful role in it

Russian troops advance towards Borovaya in eastern Kharkov region — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that as of today, more than 200 square kilometers of the region had been liberated from the Ukrainian armed forces

Israeli army says radical commander eliminated in airstrike on Jenin

Islam Khamayseh was involved in organizing a number of terror attacks in the area, the army’s press service reported

Russia, Iran turn US sanctions into new possibilities — senior Iranian diplomat

"It is impossible to build peace in the region without close economic ties," Ali Bagheri Kani said

Commander-in-chief warns Russian troops can circumvent Ukrainian forces in Kharkov Region

Kiev acknowledges that the situation in the Kharkov Region is extremely difficult for the Ukrainian troops

Orban sees link between attack on pro-peace Fico, war preparations in West

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Tanzania-flagged ships sinks in Black Sea

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Russia ready for talks with Ukraine, but needs to know who is trustworthy there — Putin

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Qatar to focus efforts on partnership with Russia on North-South project — envoy

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Australia announces another package of anti-Russia sanctions

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Zelensky admits possibility of Ukraine losing Kharkov

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Russia remains open to security dialogue with West but only on equal terms — Lavrov

Lavrov pointed out that those issues should be considered in their entirety

Press review: Day one of Putin's China visit and US stands by Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, May 17th

US, Iran enage in indirect talks on Middle East security — news outlet

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Russia to take response measures amid nuclear threats — senior diplomat

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Fico’s bodyguards saved his life — Slovakia’s Interior Minister

"The prime minister’s personal protection group acted absolutely properly amid a rapidly developing emergency situation," Matus Sutaj-Estok underlined