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Ukrainian PM says German company offers joint production of weapons

Kiev has "ten concrete projects" with German businesses, Denis Shmygal said

BERLIN, February 26. /TASS/. A German company has offered Kiev to organize joint production of weapons, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said in an interview with Germany’s Focus magazine on Sunday.

According to Shmygal, after last year’s international donor conference in Berlin, Kiev has "ten concrete projects" with German businesses. "Since then, interest is growing not only among German companies," he said, adding that risk insurance is still an obstacle.

"We are working on that," he said. "There is an offer from a German concern for joint production of weapons." However, he did not name either of German companies.

On January 25, the German government announced that it planned to supply Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2 tanks and to allow re-export of such tanks from other countries. On February 7, the German government approved supplies of 178 Leopard 1A5 tanks from the country’s industrial reserves. According to Pistorius, German tanks are expected to reach Ukraine in the last week of March at the latest.

Meanwhile, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow considers supplies of Western weapons to Ukraine as the West’s growing involvement into the conflict in Ukraine.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

IDF takes control of Rafah crossing on Gaza-Egypt border from enclave’s side

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NBC reports US soldier allegedly detained in Russia on suspicion of theft

The soldier is accused of stealing from a woman

British envoy reiterates London’s course on aiding Kiev will continue — Foreign Office

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Launch of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner manned spacecraft postponed

The decision was made due to problems in the oxygen relief valve of the Atlas V carrier rocket, manufactured by United Launch Alliance

China to never forget NATO bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade — Xi Jinping

The Chinese leader noted that the China-Serbia friendship, sealed with blood, will remain in the common memory of the Chinese and Serbian peoples

West’s latest escalation in Ukraine requires Russian response — Kremlin

"Deploying NATO soldiers to confront the Russian military in the latest escalation of tensions is an unprecedented move, and, of course, it requires special attention and special measures," Dmitry Peskov said

Russian forces carry out 25 group strikes at energy, military industrial facilities

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Trump develops plan on peaceful resolution in Ukraine — Telegraph

Former US President will not reveal it until the election, the Daily Telegraph reported

Talking about sending troops to Ukraine Macron diverts public attention — Donetsk leader

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Diplomats from friendly countries only invited to May 9 parade — Kremlin aide

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Russian military intel declassifies WWII documents, hands them over to Victory Museum

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Ukrainian counteroffensive unfeasible despite arms promises — Estonian military expert

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Russian forces knock out Ukrainian troops from two strongholds in LPR — expert

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US fails to shoot down Iranian missiles, drones in strike on Israel — IRGC general

Ali Belali described Iranian weapons as "an important factor of strength and the exercise of power in the world"

Russia looking into reports about sending of French troops to Ukraine — Kremlin

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French Foreign Ministry denies France sent troops to Ukraine

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Russia boosts sugar production by 47% in Q1 2024 — Agriculture Ministry

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Russia hands over last RD-180 rocket engines to US under existing deal

The United States has received 122 RD-180 rocket engines over more than 20 years of cooperation

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day

US citizen detained in northwest Moscow on charges of petty hooliganism

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Southern neighbors of US to regain stolen lands — Russian Security Council’s secretary

Nikolay Patrushev speculates that country may split into the North and the South again to get back to its original shape

Press review: Israel, Hamas inch closer to elusive truce and Xi tries to charm EU on visit

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Moscow’s exhibition of captured Ukrainian combat vehicles enjoys high popularity — Kremlin

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EU's handling of Ukrainian refugee issue could lead to new crisis, says Russian official

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, European Union countries would like "to get rid" of refugees because supporting them has taken a toll on the economy

Iran ready to share atomic energy technologies with other countries — AEOI chief

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Medvedev warns Russia will pull no punches with France in response to Macron

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Polish judge asks for political asylum in Belarus

Tomasz Szmydt noted that he currently considers returning to Poland impossible, including due to safety reasons

French ambassador to represent Paris at Putin’s inauguration — source

According to the source, Paris "took note of the results of the presidential election in Russia" in March

FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

Hitler's former adjutant Otto Guensche was captured during the battle of Berlin in April-May 1945 and, while being kept in custody in an investigative prison in Moscow, presented a firsthand account of what was happening at Hitler's headquarters in the last months of the war

Putin says Russia had to use force to defend people in Donbass as peaceful means failed

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Russia proposes its own draft of UNSC resolution on ending arms race in space

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Region-wide state of emergency declared in Irkutsk Region over fires in Vikhorevka

At least one man died in a fire

US may send troops to Ukraine if Kiev defeated, Democratic leader says

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Zelensky's authority dwindling as term clock ticks down — Russian intel agency

The SVR pointed out that the US does not care "who heads Ukraine"

Russian troops liberate Ocheretino community in DPR — top brass

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Avdeyevka area over the past 24 hours amounted to 380 personnel, a US-made Abrams tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, including a US-manufactured Bradley

Russian Foreign Ministry tells French ambassador Paris’ policies destructive

Pierre Levy was told that the French authorities' attempts to create some kind of "strategic uncertainty" for Russia with their "irresponsible statements about the possible dispatch of Western military contingents to Ukraine are doomed to fail"

Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

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Cuban president departs to Russia on working visit - administration

Miguel Diaz-Canel visit is "aimed at discussing priority issues on the bilateral agenda," the statement says

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Lin Jian stressed that the principle of one China is unwavering

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State Duma bans foreign agents from acting as candidates, observers during elections

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US election results to not affect desire to inflict strategic defeat on Russia — Lavrov

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Israel to continue Rafah operation, also sending negotiators to Cairo — premier’s office

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Thousands of trucks crowding on EU and Russia borders — newspaper

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US seeking to throw Balts, Poles, Germans, French ‘into fire of war’ — Medvedchuk

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Sri Lanka decides to keep free visas for tourists from Russia, six other countries

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US not to send troops to Ukraine — Department of State spokesman

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China to look for ways of settling Ukrainian crisis jointly with France — Xi

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Draft Israel-Hamas deal envisages release of all hostages

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Vladimir Putin to take his fifth presidential oath

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Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

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Russian troops seize Ukrainian T-64 tank near Ugledar in DPR

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Russians’ demand for tours to Sri Lanka may decline after introduction of paid visas

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Chinese President Xi supports Olympic truce initiative for 2024 Summer Games in Paris

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Russian Interior Ministry declares ex-Ukrainian army chief wanted

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Russian government to receive 'acting' status until new cabinet approved

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French President Macron says dialogue with Russia must be continued

Emmanuel Macron also said that technical capabilities and the striking range of Russian ballistic missiles endangered European countries

Russia working to bring senior Ukrainian officials before tribunal, diplomat says

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West recognizes deteriorating situation in Ukraine — Lavrov

Western countries need to think how not to lose to Russia in the conflict, the minister said

Russia holds final rehearsal of Victory Day Parade on Moscow’s Red Square

Participants in the special military operation in Ukraine will also march across Red Square

Detention of US soldier in Russia’s Vladivostok has no relation to espionage — diplomats

Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok that "not following the case of the US citizen closely"

Hamas agrees to Gaza truce proposal

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UK government’s delegate to skip Putin’s inauguration

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 12 times in past day

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Abbas hopes for full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza — WAFA

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Macron’s Ukraine troop talk ego-driven, not strategic — Marine Le Pen

The head of the parliamentary faction said she is convinced that the conflict in Ukraine "is not a war for France," and stated that she opposes the admission of Ukraine to the European Union and NATO

US concocting latest counter-offensive narrative to justify aid to Kiev — DPR head

Denis Pushilin stressed that Ukraine would not be able to launch a new counteroffensive before 2025

Kremlin refrains from speculating on preferred successor to Zelensky

Earlier, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reported the US was in contact with several Ukrainan political leaders as possible successors to Vladimir Zelensky

Ceasefire proposal envisages Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza

Al-Hayya said the proposal also paves the way for unhindered return of displaced persons to their homes

US doesn’t plan to adjust nuclear posture due to Russia’s announced drills — official

"We have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture and in response to these announcements, nor any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine," Matthew Miller said

Two more Ukrainian drones shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

This happened in a period from 8:10 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Moscow time