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Kissinger says Ukraine’s NATO membership would prevent Kiev from using force in disputes

He suggested that as a result of the current conflict, Ukraine could be able to regain all territory it had lost after February 24, 2022, but Russia will hold on to Crimea

LONDON, May 17. /TASS/. Ukraine’s NATO membership would meet the interests of both Kiev and Moscow as it would prevent Ukraine from using force in any future territorial disputes, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in an interview published in Economist on Wednesday.

"We have now armed Ukraine to a point where it will be the best-armed country and with the least strategically experienced leadership in Europe," he said.

He suggested that as a result of the current conflict, Ukraine could be able to regain all territory it had lost after February 24, 2022, but Russia will hold on to Crimea.

He said such a settlement, in which Russia loses some gains but retains others, could leave both a dissatisfied Russia and a dissatisfied Ukraine. The task now is to bring the hostilities to an end, without setting the stage for the next round of conflict.

"What the Europeans are now saying is, in my view, madly dangerous," Kissinger said. "Because the Europeans are saying: ‘We don’t want them in NATO, because they’re too risky. And therefore, we’ll arm the hell out of them and give them the most advanced weapons.’".

Tehran holding indirect talks with Washington in Oman, Iran's envoy to UN confirms

Amir Saeid Iravani said that the talks are "an ongoing process"

Remembrance action for victims of May 2, 2014 massacre held in Odessa

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Putin-Xi talks were very successful, Kremlin aide says

The environment was very friendly and the leaders were in a good mood, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told TV journalist.

Tanzania-flagged ships sinks in Black Sea

The ship sank 26 nautical miles from the Romanian town of Sfantu Gheorghe

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

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

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Diplomat warns about response to EU ban on broadcasting of Russian media outlets

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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

Georgian president vetoes bill on foreign agents

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Russia’s anti-tank missile system gets ‘top attack’ capability similar to US Javelin

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Battlegroup North liberates settlement of Staritsa — Russian Defense Ministry

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Amir Saeid Iravani said that the talks are "an ongoing process"

Russian troops deliver 28 precision strikes on Ukrainian military sites over week

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Over 12,000 armed radicals killed in Gaza since October 7 — government spokesman

It is reported that four battalions are still operating in Rafah

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London blacklists two Russian companies, one firm from North Korea

The restrictions were imposed on Vostochnaya Stevedoring Co LLC and Toplivo Bunkering Company, as well as North Korean Paekyangsan Shipping Company

Acute foreign policy confrontation between Russia, West ‘in full swing’ — Lavrov

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

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Legitimate Ukrainian president needed to sign any agreements, says Putin

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Russia, China sign ten joint documents

The agreements penned included an initiative to develop the Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island, protocols on requirements for beef and other products exported to China

Energy infrastructure facility suffers damage in Ukraine’s Poltava Region

Ukrainian media outlets reported explosions in the city of Mirgorod

Russian forces cut off ammunition supplies to Ukrainian forces in Volchansk — lawmaker

Viktor Vodolatsky also said the liberation of Staritsa would make it possible to reduce to a minimum and later completely remove the threat of bombardments for the Belgorod Region

Russian troops use latest Upyr FPV drones in Kharkov push

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Different routes for Power of Siberia 2 under discussion, including through NSR — Putin

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

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Mistral delivery connected with implementation of Minsk accords — Hollande

The French leader made the statement after his impromptu visit to Russia on Saturday for crisis talks with President Vladimir Putin, Le Figaro reported

Russia’s upgraded T-80BV tank to feature capability of firing depleted uranium shells

The use of depleted uranium ammunition does not violate any international treaties, expert says

Tourist exchanges between Russia, North Korea gain traction — minister

Russian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov also said that the Moscow Zoo and ballet dancers recently paid a visit to North Korea

Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage

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

The Russian leader stressed that it was politicians in Kiev who "withdrew from the negotiation process" as soon as troops were pulled back from Kiev

Law on new rules of mobilization comes into force in Ukraine

The new rules caused a storm of indignation among Ukrainian citizens of military age at the stage of the bill's introduction into the Verkhovna Rada at the end of last year

French tired of supporting Ukraine — war correspondent

Christelle Nahan noted that people were tired of the fact that there was not enough money for the development of infrastructure, hospitals and schools, for pensions and benefits for children

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

The North Korean leader also pointed to "the need to build an overwhelming nuclear war deterrent in response to the security situation caused by the enemies' reckless intrigues"

Expert says ‘sanitary zone’ in Ukraine should be 300 kilometers deep

it should be enough to make sure that US, French and British-made long-range weapons don’t reach Russia, including the country’s new regions, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia’s National Defense magazine told TASS

Kyrgyz security forces cordon off street in center of Bishkek where crowd gathers

According to the 24.kg news agency, about 1,000 people, who arrived there after the fight in the hostel, gathered behind the cordon

Almost 10,000 people evacuated from Ukraine’s Kharkov Region

The total number of evacuees stands at 9,907, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the regional military administration, said

Over 500 military, special vehicles commissioned to Russia’s Central Military District

According to the press office, the commissioned vehicles made it possible to complete equipment of seven motorized infantry and tank units

New Russian combat equipment in 2024

Current Kiev regime rooted in coup — Putin

The Russian leader blamed Kiev’s sponsors in the West for organizing this coup, saying they escalated it into an armed conflict

Starlink’s failure helps Russian army take Kiev forces by surprise in Kharkov Region — WP

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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

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North Korea tested tactical ballistic missile with new guidance system on May 17

The test launch confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the system, the Korean Central News Agency reported

European Council suspends broadcasting activity of four Russian media outlets

According to the Council, this ban does not apply to any activities other than broadcasting

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited the Russian President to visit his country when he traveled to Russia in September

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According to Roman Shkurlatov, two Patriot systems will not make Kharkov safe

Russia takes control of more land than Ukraine in 2023 counteroffensive — newspaper

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French army train unit of ‘super covert’ scouts in Estonia — radio

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Gazprom posts net loss under IFRS for 2023 amounting to $6.8 bln

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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

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Mikhail Razvozhaev warned of the danger of falling fragments and submunitions

Russian MFA urges France to refrain from use of force against protesters in New Caledonia

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Russia-China relations surpass classical alliances of past era — Lavrov

Talks with President Xi Jinping, meeting with other representatives of the Chinese leadership reaffirmed that our relations of comprehensive partnership, strategic interaction surpass in their quality the traditional interstate alliances of the past era and continue to play a key role in maintaining international security and balanced world development," the minister said at the 32nd Assembly of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy.

Shipments of long-range missiles to Kiev may expand ‘buffer zone’ toward Poland — Medvedev

"Once the Kiev regime uses Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG missiles with a range of at least 550 kilometers when the distance between Belgorod and Kiev is 429 kilometers, practically the entire central and most of the western parts of Ukraine fall within this sanitary zone," the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council said

State Duma approves Mikhail Mishustin as Chairman of Russian Government

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Belarusian air defense forces receive advanced Russian radar

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Russia warns US, EU, Kiev they are playing with fire — MFA about Ukrainian strikes

Maria Zakharova pointed out that behind these barbaric attacks with Western weapons the silhouettes of US and British handlers of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's were clearly visible

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

Russian servicemen seize British FV104 Samaritan armored ambulance — top brass

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US believes Hamas not ready for hostage deal with Israel now — news outlet

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

According to Sergey Ryabkov, it is necessary to "treat both the issuance and non-issuance of American visas with coldness and detachment"

Chairman of Georgia’s ruling party blasts foreign ministers for speaking at protest

Garibashvili suggested that foreign diplomats feel dismissive toward Georgia

Russia has no plans today to seize Kharkov, says Putin

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West should assess risks of Russia's response to asset confiscation — Foreign Ministry

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

The Russian leader noted that solutions on how to make payments are possible and do exist

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

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Dedollarization of Russia-China trade will continue — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also highly praised the cooperation between the regions of Russia and the provinces of China and emphasized its contribution to the development of the Russian territories bordering China

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Ukrainian president rejects French leader’s idea of Olympic truce

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

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New IMF estimate for Russian GDP in 2025 appears pessimistic — Economy Ministry

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Russian court seizes Deutsche Bank’s assets under RusChemAlliance’s claims

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Russian MFA describes Putin’s China trip as defining for world’s future

The trip laid the groundwork for many years to come, Maria Zakharova said

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

One employee died of injuries, Alexey Smirnov said

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

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

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Air defense is repelling a missile attack in Sevastopol — region’s governor

Traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily closed

German Chancellor Scholz warns against a full-scale ground operation in Rafah

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Swiss singer wins Eurovision 2024 contest

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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

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone over Crimea

The Kiev regime’s attempt to use a fixed-wing drone to carry out a terrorist attack on targets in Russia was foiled, Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement

FACTBOX: Everything on Pentagon’s biolabs outside US

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Ukrainian army’s logistics centers hit in Odessa Region

Russia, China to continue strengthening military ties — joint statement

The two countries are also set to hold joint naval and air patrols on a regular basis

Over 10,000 Ukrainian fighters surrender since summer using special radio frequency

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