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All working sessions of G7 summit in Hiroshima over

Over the three days, the countries held ten sessions during which they discussed the situation around Ukraine, relations with China, global economic problems, nuclear disarmament, cooperation with partners outside the G7, and other issues

© AP Photo/Susan Walsh

HIROSHIMA /Japan/, May 21. /TASS/. The leaders of the G7 and the countries invited to the summit in Hiroshima on Sunday completed all the scheduled working sessions, the organizers of the event reported.

Over the three days, the countries held ten sessions during which they discussed the situation around Ukraine, relations with China, global economic problems, nuclear disarmament, cooperation with partners outside the G7, and other issues.

On May 20, the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, the Cook Islands, the Union of the Comoros, and South Korea joined the G7 summit. In addition, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who arrived in Japan on Sunday, participated in two sessions on Ukrainian issues, including an expanded session with leaders from countries outside of the G7.

At the first session with Zelensky, G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing diplomatic, financial, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the Ukrainian president was initially scheduled to participate in the summit online. The agreement was reached during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Kiev in March.

Japan is chairing this year's G7 summit in Hiroshima from May 19-21.

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

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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

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

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New Tchaikovsky Conservatory to be built in China within three years

According to acting rector of the conservatory Alexander Sokolov, the Moscow Conservatory has already received "the approval of the Russian Culture Ministry for the implementation of this project"

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

In addition, Ukrainian forces were facing ammunition shortages due to a stalled US aid package

Six Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in south and center of Gaza Strip — WAFA

Several others were wounded, the Palestinian news agency reported

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

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

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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

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.

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

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Slovakia’s PM Fico still in intensive care — TV

According to the report, Robert Fico is in stable but still serious condition

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

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

According to the files of arbitration cases, the court has partially upheld RusChemAlliance’s claim for interim measures against Deutsche Bank

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone in Russia’s Belgorod Region — top brass

Air defenses on duty destroyed the Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the Belgorod Region, the Defense Ministry reported

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

One employee died of injuries, Alexey Smirnov said

Legitimate Ukrainian president needed to sign any agreements, says Putin

Ukraine was expected to hold its presidential election in March but the vote was canceled because martial law is in effect in the country

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

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European Council suspends broadcasting activity of four Russian media outlets

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone over Crimea

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

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

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Ukrainian president rejects French leader’s idea of Olympic truce

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Russian troops use latest Upyr FPV drones in Kharkov push

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

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

It is reported that doctors are doing everything possible to stabilize the patient

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

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

Participants in the action unfolded a large poster with the photos of victims of the massacre and laid flowers on a lawn in front of the entrance to Kulikovo Pole square

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

Russian air defense shot down 57 UAVs in Krasnodar region overnight — Defense Ministry

Three UAVs were destroyed over the territory of the Belgorod region

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

Russian forces advanced to better positions and inflicted casualties on 18 Ukrainian army brigades in the Kupyansk area over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

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New relations, successes of China's automobile industry: what Putin, Xi said in Beijing

According to the Russian leader, the partnership between Moscow and Beijing "will serve as a model of how ties between neighboring states should be built"

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Israel launched air attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp, the Qatari TV channel reported

Ukrainian president says Kiev needs over 100 F-16 fighter jets

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

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Teams of Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile systems of Russia’s Battlegroup East shield first-echelon troops and civilian facilities in the south Donetsk direction

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According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage

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In this regard, Russian musician and conductor Vladimir Spivakov pointed out that he had been dismissed as artistic director of the International Colmar Music Festival in France, which he had been leading since 1989

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Garibashvili suggested that foreign diplomats feel dismissive toward Georgia

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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

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

Putin holds meeting on floods, wildfires

He said while flooding is not over yet, there are also fires or fire-hazardous situations in some regions

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Russia to take response measures amid nuclear threats — senior diplomat

"Yet this vagueness has always been typical of the Western group’s doctrinal approaches, including nuclear weapons," Sergey Ryabkov noted

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

Russian Foreign Minister said that there is great rationale for the practical advancement of the idea of ensuring global security to begin with the formation of the foundations of Eurasian security without any Euro-Atlantic overlay

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

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

US directly responsible for emergence, escalation of Ukrainian crisis — Beijing

On May 16, US Department of State Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel noted that China cannot improve relations with Europe, if it will support Russia at the same time, allegedly fueling the Russian military-industrial complex

Lavrov believes Europe won’t be Russia’s partner for at least one generation

He made the remark in response after the idea was suggested by Dmitry Trenin, research director at the Institute of World Military Economy and Strategy

Gazprom delivering 42.4 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe through Ukraine via Sudzha

The transit line through Ukraine remains the only route for Russian gas supplies to western and central European countries

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

Slovak PM’s attacker pleads guilty before court — media

Meanwhile, Slovak Radio said that Fico, who was taken to the hospital in the city of Banska Bystrica after the attack, is in serious but stable condition

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

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

Press review: Mutiny trips West’s nuclear alarms and Kiev’s terror talk hides attack plans

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

According to the Hungarian prime minister, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is planning to visit Hungary in the run-up to elections to the European Parliament scheduled for June 6-9 to try and persuade Budapest to reconsider its stance

Repelling missile attack in Sevastopol completed — governor

Mikhail Razvozhaev warned of the danger of falling fragments and submunitions

Russia has 10 wildfires in close proximity to populated areas — minister

If more remote wildfires are counted, Russia has a total of 51 of conflagrations on an area of 43,058 hectares, he said

Ukrainian army’s logistics centers hit in Odessa Region

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

Traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily closed

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

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

The meeting was held in a generally calm atmosphere, the 24.kg news agency reported

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

Israeli military kill about 50 terrorists in Rafah — IDF

During the operation, fighters also discovered dozens of tunnels that they intend to destroy

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

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

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Ukrainian boxer Alexander Usik becomes absolute world heavyweight champion

He beat Briton Tyson Fury in a 12-round fight held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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

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

Zakharova also stated that Russia believes the crisis in New Caledonia is "the result of incomplete decolonization efforts and yet another confirmation that France's policy toward its former colonies, albeit renamed overseas territories, is reaching an impasse"

Russia has no plans today to seize Kharkov, says Putin

The current Kiev regime is to blame for ongoing battles in the Kharkov direction, the Russian leader stressed

Battlegroup North liberates settlement of Staritsa — Russian Defense Ministry

Russian air defenses down 37 drones, Tochka U missile, 21 HIMARS, Vampire, Olkha rockets in past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

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

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin noted that retaliatory measures "can be both symmetrical and asymmetrical in a variety of instruments, including legal, financial, and administrative"

Energy infrastructure facility suffers damage in Ukraine’s Poltava Region

Ukrainian media outlets reported explosions in the city of Mirgorod

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

The Chancellor also said that sufficient humanitarian aid should be delivered to Gaza