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Blinken, Erdogan discuss conflicts in Middle East, Ukraine

The top US diplomat also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

WASHINGTON, January 6. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul and they discussed the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"The secretary emphasized the need to prevent the conflict from spreading, secure the release of hostages, expand humanitarian assistance and reduce civilian casualties, and work toward broader, lasting regional peace that ensures Israel’s security and advances the establishment of a Palestinian state," the statement said.

Blinken and Erdogan also discussed European security priorities. In addition to Ukraine, they included completing Sweden’s accession to NATO and strengthening trade and investment between the US and Turkey.

The top US diplomat also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. They also discussed the situation in Gaza and Sweden's bid to join NATO.

Blinken set off on a Middle East tour on January 4, with plans to visit Israel, Turkey, and several Arab countries. In December 2023, Axios quoted sources as saying that at the end of the first week of January Blinken was going to discuss the settlement of the Middle East conflict with officials in the West Bank, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

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United States Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Antony Blinken Military operation in Ukraine Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Russian troops wipe out 10 pieces of Western armor in DPR

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Russia to restore peace in Donbass regardless of Zelensky’s attempts — MFA

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Russian ombudswoman urges world to denounce terrorism in wake of Belgorod attack

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Kharkov regions aspiring to join Russia — interim administration

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Protestors refuse to follow the instructions of the police, a TASS correspondent reported

Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet crashes in Far East

The pilot ejected and was not injured in the accident

Tucker Carlson reports on death of American reporter in Ukrainian custody

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Injury toll in partial building collapse in Russia’s Belgorod Region rises to 20

No dead bodies had been found so far, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said

Mercenaries’ flow to Ukraine declining — Business Insider

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Putin approves structure of new government

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Russia expects global bodies to impartially assess Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod — envoy

"We want an unbiased view of the events that are taking place," Rodion Miroshnik said

US is plotting another pandemic — Russian Defense Ministry

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

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Top British diplomat concerned about potential Russian advance in Kharkov Region

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Two women are in an extremely grave condition; doctors are endeavoring to rescue their lives," Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote

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In Zhukov’s words, the candidates "demonstrated their competence, as well as clear understanding of their duties in the government"

US, allies destroy four drones over Red Sea — CENTCOM

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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

Battlegroup North liberates four settlements in Kharkov Region in past day

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Putin signs decree setting Russia’s development goals for 2030

The decree is titled On the National Development Goals of the Russian Federation until 2030 and for a Longer Term until 2036

Russian air defenses destroy two Ukrainian drones over Belgorod Region

Russian Defense Ministry said that Another attempt by the Kiev regime to use fixed-wing drones to carry out a terrorist attack on targets in Russia was foiled at about 1:30 p.m. Moscow time

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Ukrainian army loses up to 160 troops in Battlegroup East responsibility zone

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Multiple deaths, at least 20 wounded in Ukraine’s shelling of Belgorod

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Ukrainian drone attack damages two industrial facilities in Russia’s Belgorod Region

Response teams are working at the scene

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US veteran calls Washington’s decision to drop Elbe Day celebrations with Russia ‘dumb’

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Russian PM Mishustin proposes Denis Manturov as his first deputy

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Kiev troops shell Kherson Region’s Skadovsk, casualties reported — governor

The Vladimir Saldo added that power and water supplies were disrupted in some parts of the city

Developer shows first image of Russia's new Sarmat ballistic missile

The RS-28 Sarmat is the newest heavy liquid-propelled intercontinental ballistic missile currently being co-developed to replace the world’s largest and most formidable ballistic missile, the Voyevoda

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Kiev describes situation in Volchansk as extremely challenging

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Alexander Dubinsky argues that the only situation where the president can continue to fulfill his duties after the expiration of his term is the period until the president-elected takes office

Death toll in partial building collapse in Belgorod climbs to 11

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Rusagro posts 68% drop in net profit under IFRS for Q1

Net debt totaled $683 mln as of March 31, 2024

Egypt decides to join South Africa’s UN court case against Israel

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Russian National Guard uncovers nationalists’ weapons in Kharkov, Zaporozhye Regions

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Putin nominates Boris Kovalchuk as head of Accounts Chamber

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Poland cancels talks with Ukraine over corruption allegations

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Some countries reevaluating reliance on dollar over national security concerns — IMF

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West attempted to disrupt Aeroflot flights to Mauritius — Russian Ambassador

The Western countries "stoop to nothing" in order to prevent other countries from developing relations with Russia, Konstantin Klimovsky said

US destroys Houthi drone over Gulf of Aden

The military noted that the drone posed an imminent threat to US and allied warships and commercial vessel's

Section of high-rise residential building collapses in Belgorod

Five people suffered injuries

Press review: Vladimir Putin sworn in for fifth term and EU, Ukraine talk arms deal

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, May 8th

France sends outdated missiles to Kiev in move to save money, expert believes

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Russian robotic drone jammers shield evacuation groups in Ukraine operation

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New Russian combat equipment in 2024

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"There would be a cease fire tomorrow if Hamas would release the hostages," US President said

Russian military fights Nazi followers in special military operation — Shoigu

He stressed that during the war, the qualities of a multinational people were revealed — its strength and fortitude, incredible mutual support, and a commitment to fight for the ideas of justice and humanism

Black Sea Fleet makes invaluable contribution to routing Ukrainian army, says Crimean head

Sergey Aksyonov congratulated Fleet commanders, service members and veterans on Black Sea Fleet Day and wished them "good health, prosperity and new successes in serving the Fatherland and our quickest victory!"

Gazprom delivering 42.1 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe through Ukraine via Sudzha

The volume also stood at 42.4 mln cubic meters on May 11

Israel carries out strikes on refugee accommodation centers in Jabalia - TV

The Israeli army is conducting a raid on the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus

Russia knows how to deal with Ukrainian drones — Putin

The Russian leader noted that those tasks that until recently were solved exclusively with the help of aviation systems are now being solved with small means, but with great effect

Russia’s Dnepr group repels counterattack by 118th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Over the week, units of the Dnepr group of troops defeated the manpower and equipment of three brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Death toll in partially collapsed apartment building in Belgorod climbs to 15

Belgorod and its suburbs came under massive shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces earlier on May 12

Russia remaining second largest supplier of LNG to Spain

In the first four months of 2024, Madrid purchased 26,854 GWh of gas from Russia, according to data provided by Spanish energy company Enagas

Kiev tried to kill Chief of Russia’s General Staff Gerasimov, The New York Times says

According to the daily, Kiev allegedly launched the attack when Gerasimov was on the front line

Trump sees Biden willing to stop all aid to Israel soon

Earlier, former US President said that the Democratic Party actually hates Israel

Russia urges OSCE to condemn Ukraine's criminal attack on Belgorod — mission

Russia’s mission to the OSCE said that "there should be no double standards or political filters at the OSCE when it comes to obviously brutal violations of international humanitarian law by the Kiev regime"

Putin hears reports on `barbaric’ attack at Belgorod, gives all instructions — Kremlin

"All necessary instructions have been given," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said as he condemned the latest missile attack on Belgorod as barbaric

FSB says Ukrainians attempted to attack May 9 crowds in Mariupol using drones

In all, more than 300 Ukrainian drones have been jammed over five large cities in the DPR over the past week

White House claims Russian forces started offensive on Kharkov

" We’ve been coordinating closely with Ukraine to help them prepare", John Kirby said

Europeans go for broke seeing risk of collapse for Kiev in special op situation — Kremlin

According to Peskov, currently, "the moment is crucial."

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

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the French Army is "visibly concerned" over the growing number of French citizens killed in Ukraine

New US arms shipment to Ukraine a reaction to Russia’s success at frontline — envoy

Anatoly Antonov also castigated the US administration for shrugging off responsibility for Ukrainian attacks at civilian facilities in Russia with the use of weapons being supplied from the United States

Russian forces down drones over Lipetsk Region, fire breaks out at power plant

An air raid alert has been introduced in the Lipetsk Region at 3:49 a.m. Moscow time (0:49 a.m. GMT)

US ready to do utmost relieving Kiev of responsibility for atrocities — Russian ambassador

"The reaction of American officials to the deadly strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on residential areas, or rather the absence of even a hint of condolences, is very telling," Anatoly Antonov said

Lithuania to hold presidential election, citizenship referendum

Eight candidates are running for presidency

Fire breaks out in Volgograd Refinery due to drone crash

No casualties, the regional administration said