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West seeking to drag Belarus into war ‘by all means’ — Lukashenko

According to the Belarusian president, the Poles are simultaneously "squealing" that "the war in Ukraine gives them opportunities to effect regime change in Belarus"

MINSK, February 20. /TASS/. The West is seeking "by all means" to drag Belarus into war, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with senior national security officials.

"They want to drag us into this war by all means," the BelTA news agency quoted him as saying.

According to the Belarusian leader, Minsk has classified information about "what the chief of staff of one of the NATO member countries thinks about it." Lukashenko paraphrased the thinking of the senior Western military official as follows: "We failed to involve Belarus in the conflict. Minsk's active participation in the war would undermine the regime in Belarus and Lukashenko. This option is still viable."

According to the Belarusian president, the Poles are simultaneously "squealing" that "the war in Ukraine gives them opportunities to effect regime change in Belarus." "To our fugitives (representatives of the Belarusian opposition who are abroad - TASS). This is a quote," Lukashenko said.

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Ukraine crisis Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

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Russian diplomat puts blame for Kiev’s crimes on West

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Switzerland conference on Ukraine aims to issue ultimatum to Russia — Lavrov

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Russian air defenses down several projectiles near Sevastopol, Belbek airfield

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Valery Pikalev appointed head of Russia’s Federal Customs Service

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Candidate for Russian sports minister advocates for holding more int'l club competitions

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin nominated Mikhail Degtyarev, who has served as the governor of Russia’s Far Eastern Khabarovsk Territory since 2021, for the post of the country’s sports minister

Heads of more than 20 Russian regions to attend EXPO in Harbin — presidential aide

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Egypt threatens to end its mediation between Israel, Hamas — WSJ

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All Ukrainians who covered up Nord Stream sabotage identified, politician says

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Supply of munitions for special military operation currently sufficient — Zolotov

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US Congress has evidence of Biden family’s involvement in terrorism — Ukrainian politician

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Blinken arrives in Ukraine amid nervousness over special military op — Kremlin

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Putin gives interview to Xinhua news agency ahead of China visit

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Ukrainian politician calls for international tribunal for NATO crimes

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Biden signs decree banning uranium imports from Russia — White House

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Kremlin says no mechanisms in place to exchange info on Nord Stream sabotage with Kiev

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Nominee for Russian defense chief urges need to outpace Ukrainian army in technology

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Russia’s Federal Guard Service gets latest weapons, including aircraft — director

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Federal Protective Service begins testing newest anti-drone systems

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Russian official lauds defense industry as world’s most powerful in basic arms output

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Putin highlights successful trade between Russia, China

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Russia, China want to be at forefront of establishing democratic world order — Lavrov

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Central Asian countries aware of risks of joining anti-Russian sanctions — diplomat

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Putin to visit China May 16-17 — Kremlin

The visit to China will be Putin’s first foreign visit after his re-election as the Russian president, and, as Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said earlier, will be a "reciprocal step to the first official visit of President Xi Jinping which took place last year also following his re-election"

Russian-Chinese partnership shows resilience to any external pressure — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov emphasized that 2024 is an anniversary year from the standpoint of establishment of the Sino-Russian diplomatic relations

Head of Main Personnel Directorate of Russia’s Defense Ministry Yuri Kuznetsov detained

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Capital flow from Russia to Central Asia to intensify ‘anti-sanctions immunity’ — expert

Central Asian countries expect an increase in Russia’s economic presence in the region, Rustam Khaydarov said

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

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Belarus says Ukraine keeping up to 120,000 troops near border between countries

Konstantin Molostov said Belarus is taking "appropriate measures" in response to the actions of Ukraine

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Russia’s UN mission expects Georgia to be wise enough not to sell out to US like Ukraine

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Kiev reports difficult situation in Kharkov region

This direction has been strengthened, Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky said

Orban not pro-Russian, but pro-Hungarian politician — Putin

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NATO countries waging proxy war against Russia — Russian diplomat

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UNSC meeting on Western weapons supplies to Kiev to be held on May 20 — Russian mission

"We will respond to the Westerners," Dmitry Polyansky said

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Ukrainian commanders trading blame with each other over defeats near Kharkov — NYT

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

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West must accept responsibility for Ukraine crisis, engage in peace talks — Maduro

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Mikhail Bogdanov and Nazih el-Nagari pointed to the necessity of an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave and stable humanitarian aide to the enclave’s population

Economic interaction will be priority at meeting of Russian and Chinese leaders — aide

Presidential aide for international affairs Yury Ushakov recalled that Russia last year moved up to fourth place among China's counterparties

Cost of BREST fast reactor construction estimated at $1.3 bln, says Rosatom

The high cost of the project is particularly due to the growth of prices for materials

Putin sees training of fresh talent for government service as priority

"We have a whole range of relevant programs, competitions and projects in place," the Russian leader stressed

Death toll in Sunday’s apartment building collapse in Belgorod climbs to 16

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Georgian government members could face sanctions over ‘erosion of democracy’ — US official

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Russia’s onslaught on Kharkov may compel Ukraine to truce — NYT

On May 11, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported liberating several populated localities in the Kharkov Region

Russia to invite numerous global South leaders to BRICS summit — Lavrov

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Putin’s informal meeting with Xi Jinping seen as most important part of his trip to China

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Russian troops destroy over 16,000 armored vehicles in Ukraine operation — top brass

Russian troops improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on the Ukrainian army in the Kharkov area over the past day, the ministry reported

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

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Blinken says current special military operation stage critical for Kiev

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Conflict between Russia, Ukraine may last about 10 years — Polish foreign minister

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Ukrainian commanders flee Kupyansk, leaving covering force — Russian lawmaker

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Russian, Chinese leaders to exchange views on cooperation within UN — Kremlin aide

Among other priorities, Yury Ushakov cited cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Project of high-speed railroad connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg approved — Kremlin

"Details of the future document will be adjusted in the process," Dmitry Peskov added

US to reassess ties with Georgia if foreign agents bill becomes law — White House

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to preview any actions that the US could take

Putin, Xi to sign document on closer bilateral partnership — Kremlin aide

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