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Beijing turns down Kiev’s request for Zelensky to meet with Chinese PM — Politico

Before the forum, "Ukrainian leaders made no secret of wanting to meet with Chinese officials in Switzerland," the newspaper reported

BRUSSELS, January 17. /TASS/. China rejected Ukraine’s request for Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, where both came to attend the World Economic Forum, Politico reported, citing unidentified officials.

"China’s decision not to meet with Ukrainians appeared intentional and not the result of a scheduling problem," the report said.

Before the forum, "Ukrainian leaders made no secret of wanting to meet with Chinese officials in Switzerland," the newspaper reported. However, Zelensky "has headed home without the desired encounter in a blow to Kiev," it said.

A Ukrainian official told the newspaper that Kiev never requested Beijing to arrange a meeting with any Chinese officials in Davos.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier declined to comment on reports that Li Qiang could meet with Zelensky.

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Ukraine China Vladimir Zelensky

Conflict in Syria

Russia sees prevention of Syria's disintegration as essential, says Russian top diplomat

Sergey Lavrov stressed the need to "address problems in eastern Syria, a significant part of which has been illegally occupied by the US, namely its most fertile lands with the main oil fields"

Lavrov welcomes Trump team’s statements about willingness to resume dialogue

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Over 30 killed during mass escape of prisoners from Mozambique jail — authorities

A total of 1,534 prisoners, including 29 terrorism convicts, escaped

Russia practically eliminates remnants of Ukraine’s Air Force — source

The source said that attempts to recruit more pilots in Poland and other Eastern European countries were not particularly successful

Former Austrian minister believes EU ignored message Russia sent with Oreshnik missile

According to Karin Kneissl, Russia doesn’t want to trigger any nuclear war

Former Austrian minister names 4 suspect countries in connection with Nord Stream sabotage

Asked what countries could be behind the attack, Karin Kneissl replied that, like in an Agatha Christie novel, "there are many suspects in this imaginary room"

Nothing new in US statements on strategic stability dialogue — MFA

"By declaring on the one hand the intention to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and on the other hand, the readiness to discuss ways of maintaining stability, Washington deprives the hypothetical dialogue of a meaningful basis," Maria Zakharova said

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

As Europe’s migrant crisis grows far and wide, many Russian media are recalling the late Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi’s gloom prophecy made several months before his violent death

Taxi ploughs into crowd of pedestrians in New York, six wounded — Fox News

Six people were hospitalized with injuries of varying degrees

Russia doesn’t need ceasefire in Ukraine, it needs legally binding guarantees — Lavrov

According to the foreign minister, these agreements should be aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict

Press review: Middle East may host Putin-Trump talks as experts probe Kazakhstan crash

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Russia says Su-35S fighter jets provide cover to Aerospace Forces in Kursk Region

Also, one aircraft used onboard weapons systems to detect enemy air defense sites, according to the ministry

Biden tasks Pentagon with boosting military aid to Kiev

In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way, the White House’s press service released

Israeli premier threatens Houthis with HAMAS, Hezbollah’s fate

Benjamin Netanyahu promised that "this lesson would be learned throughout the Middle East"

Denmark to strengthen control over Greenland after Trump’s words — top defense official

Denmark plans to increase the number of personnel at the Joint Arctic Command in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk

Armored vehicle with Israeli commanding officers blown up in West Bank

The rest of the passengers in the vehicle did not get injured

Russian troops liberate Novy Trud community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy howitzers in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

Some Western media outlets reported earlier, citing anonymous Sudanese intelligence sources, that Khartoum had allegedly annulled an agreement with Moscow on placing a Russian naval logistics support base due to potential US sanctions

Lavrov sees ceasefire in Ukraine as road to nowhere, calls for reliable agreements

The top Russian diplomat pointed out that those accords should first and foremost address the root causes of the Ukraine crisis

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Earlier, the Israeli army press office reported that air-raid sirens sounded in several areas of central Israel following the launch of a missile from Yemen

Baku, Yerevan can jointly initiate dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group — diplomat

The spokeswoman went on to say that the stalemate began when Western countries de-facto blocked the work in this format

Development of gas pipeline route from Russia to China via Kazakhstan launched — Deputy PM

The capacity of the new gas pipeline should be 45 billion cubic meters per year, Alexander Novak said

Russian gas is most profitable for Europe in terms of price and logistics — Novak

In conditions of competing China, Europeans pay significantly more for US LNG than for Russian gas, the official noted

Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

"It’s important to note that the primary development in this context is the markedly increased role of non-Arab states in the region, particularly two key players," Vitaly Naumkin said

Russian investigators initiate criminal case into terror attack on borderline town

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Russian MFA sees reports of potential deployment of EU troops in Ukraine as provocation

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Biden’s last aid package to Kiev won’t contribute to Ukraine’s security — Russian diplomat

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"Such illegal actions, including the transfer of this billion, may surely prompt legal action. And we will surely use all possibilities in the future to protect our rights and the rights to our property," Dmitry Peskov noted

Azerbaijan Airlines says its ill-fated jet underwent full examination in October

The aircraft’s crew chief, Igor Kshnyakin, clocked more than 15,000 hours of flight time

Press review: Ukraine eyes missile programs as EU considers new sanctions on Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 25th

Two people preparing attempts on Russian military officials' lives recruited in Ukraine

One of the detainees stated that he had moved to Ukraine, where he was recruited by Ukrainian special forces

Rescue workers recover bodies of all those killed in Kazakhstan plane crash

The ministry confirmed an earlier statement by the Kazakh authorities that the crash had killed 38 people

Russia’s 2,000th R-7 rocket delivers Resurs-P remote sensing satellite into orbit

Resurs-P satellites are designed for the Earth’s remote sensing and for regional and local monitoring of its surface

Annual inflation in Russia gearing up to 9.7% over week — Economy Ministry

In the food sector, prices growth rates declined to 0.76% during the reporting week

Finnish company says power cable’s emergency shutdown due to sabotage

Finland and Estonia are connected by two sets of high-voltage submarine cables

Sandu regime may seize Moldavan power plant in Transnistria — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that "under such a scenario, the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region will be jeopardized"

Sunken tankers violated seasonal maritime traffic restrictions — authority

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Shelling on Donetsk decreases as frontline shifts — DPR head

Denis Pushilin noted that shelling in Donetsk’s Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts is expected to diminish further once Kurakhovo is liberated

CIS countries share common approaches to resolving global issues — Putin

Among other things, "members of the Commonwealth have been increasing cooperation in the fight against extremism, transborder crime, and drug trafficking, and everyday activities and contacts between security agencies have been established," the Russian president said

Putin offers condolences to Azerbaijani president over plane crash near Aktau

"Overall, we are expressing deepest condolences to those who lost their near and dear in this air disaster," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia’s Chechnya ships 200 ‘Jihad mobile’ vehicles for special military operation

The authorities of Chechnya handed over 200 "Jihad mobile"

Thailand accepts invitation to become BRICS partner state — MFA

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Russia not setting preconditions for talks on Ukraine — Lavrov

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Ukrainian intel agent plotted to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

The Ukrainian intelligence services planned to detonate the explosive device remotely from the territory of Ukraine, the press office said

Middle East in for ‘chaotic and violent’ time after change of power in Syria – analyst

According to Joost Niemoller, Israel is the main winner from the changes in Syria, while Iran seems the biggest loser

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Decision-making centers in Kiev may be targets of Russia’s strikes, says Lavrov

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Scientists present Russia's first 50-qubit cold atom quantum computer — MSU

The experiment that allowed testing the supercomputer prototype took place on December 19, the Moscow State University said

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Russian emergencies minister expects more natural disasters due to climate change

The Russian emergencies minister, Alexander Kurenkov, added, that weather anomalies are becoming more and more frequent

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The effort has been under way since 2018, with almost 600 children brought from Syrian refugee camps to their relatives in Russia

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According to the Kazakh Transport Ministry, the plane belonged to Azerbaijan Airlines

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Russian forces break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkov Region — expert

Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

Russia expects from Abkhazia to honor obligations on Russian investments

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Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

According to the report, the people of Greece witnessed the passage of convoys of Greek and foreign-made trucks transporting containers, mainly with shells, to Balkan states and Poland, and eventually to Ukraine

Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 24th

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In late November, Russian media outlets reported that Director of the Foreign Ministry’s North America Department Alexander Darchiev may become Russia’s new ambassador to the US, taking over for Anatoly Antonov who returned to Moscow, having been relieved of his duties as envoy by President Vladimir Putin’s decree

Zelensky defines essence of next summit on Ukraine in four-letter explicit word — Lavrov

The first Kiev-initiated conference on Ukraine was held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on June 15-16

List of BRICS partners to be announced soon — Brazil’s Foreign Ministry

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Putin's principles of Ukrainian settlement stem from international law — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat drew attention to the fact that "the Kiev regime plays into the hands the West, which needs to remove such a strong competitor as Russia from the international scene"

Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

29 people had been hospitalized

Ukrainian agent fails to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

The apprehended Ukrainian agent said that he had retrieved the explosive from a cache in the Moscow Region and tested its detonator

Oil slick monitoring zone in south Russia expanded

As of December 25, a total of 4,100 people have been taking part in the cleanup effort

Production of passenger cars in Russia up 25% in November to 80,400 units — Rosstat

11M 2024 production totaled 679,000 passenger cars

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According to emergency services, the incident was caused by a household gas explosion

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Russia has no illusions that Ukraine conflict can be resolved easily — top diplomat

"We have never stated that the incoming administration of [US President-elect Donald] Trump will necessarily give a start to negotiations on global security, on Ukraine," Sergey Lavrov noted

Press review: Kiev escalates attacks as payments ease for Russian raw material buyers

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 23rd

FACTBOX: Shelling of Lgov in Russia’s Kursk Region

The attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals, with a fourth victim passing away from injuries at the hospital shortly afterward

Australia contacts Russia regarding captured mercenary — diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that "Canberra obediently follows in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy"

Russian MFA says West could try to pull off some military 'scheme' in Belarus

A presidential election campaign is starting in Belarus on January 1, with the election scheduled for January 26

Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense frontline situation

The most difficult situation for Ukrainian troops is observed in the Krasnoarmeisk (Pokrovsk), Kurakhovo and Vremevka frontline areas

Russian fighters control about 40% of Terny in Donetsk region, military expert says

Andrey Marochko added that Russian servicemen have advanced east of Yampolovka, bringing the distance between that village and Russia’s frontline positions to less than 1.2 miles

Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, ammo depots over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russia sees US recommendation for its citizens to leave Belarus as provocation — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, this is not the first statement of its kind from the US Department of State

Georgia became inconvenient for 'friends' after rejecting Ukrainian scenario — official

According to Kakha Kaladze, the country faced unprecedented pressure because of this

Group of Syrian law enforcement officers ambushed in Tartus, 14 killed — minister

Previously, nine law enforcement officers were killed by gunfire during an operation to detain a high-ranking former officer of the previous government

Russia to donate 1 million euro to UN Climate Convention

The document says that the goal of the payment is to ensure the representation of Russian staffers in the convention’s secretariat

South Korean opposition launches impeachment proceedings against acting president

According to the law, an impeachment vote can take place no earlier than 24 hours after the initiative is introduced at a plenary session

Ukrainian agent planned to present explosive gift to Russian defense official — FSB

The Russian Federal Security Service reported earlier on Thursday that it had foiled a series of assassination attempts on the lives of high-placed Defense Ministry officials in Moscow and their family members

Mother, her 11-year-old son among victims of Kazakhstan plane crash — authorities

The emergencies ministry has published the official list of Kazakh citizens who perished in the crash

France made several requests to Russia on Ukraine topic through private channels — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, Paris proposed "to assist and facilitate dialogue on the Ukrainian issue"

Launch of Russia’s Bion-M biosatellite scheduled for March 25 — manufacturer

The spacecraft, taking 75 mice and 1,500 drosophila flies, as well as plants and microorganisms to space, was initially planned to blast off on September 1, 2024

Soyuz-5 to be dispatched to Baikonur in October 2025, launch due late December

The launch vehicle blasted off at 10:45 am Moscow time (7:45 am GMT)

Almost 90 children reunited with relatives in Ukraine - commissioner

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Azerbaijani president on his way back home from Russia after AZAL plane crash

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FSB foils series of assassination attempts on senior Russian defense officials

The bombs intended for killing high-placed Russian Defense Ministry officials were disguised as a power bank and a document folder, the FSB press office specified

Oboronlogistics company blames loss of its ship Ursa Major on terrorist attack

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