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US embassy seeks permission to attend Gershkovich trial on July 18

"We were able to observe his last hearing on the 26th of June, we weren't able to talk and engage with Evan, but we at least had some people from the Embassy who were able to get eyes on," US special presidential envoy for hostage affairs told

Evan Gershkovich AP Photo

Evan Gershkovich

WASHINGTON, July 18. /TASS/. Staffers of the US Embassy in Russia will seek a permission to attend the July 18 court hearing into The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich’s suspected spying activities, said Roger Carstens, US special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.

"The US embassy will make an attempt to try to get in and observe. We were able to observe his last hearing on the 26th of June, we weren't able to talk and engage with Evan, but we at least had some people from the Embassy who were able to get eyes on," he told the annual Aspen Security Forum.

The Sverdlovsk Regional Court held the first hearing in the case on June 26. The session was held behind closed doors.

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, "acting as an agent for the American side, collected top-secret data about the activity of an enterprise of the Russian military-industrial complex." In this connection, the journalist was detained in Yekaterinburg at the end of March 2023; criminal proceedings were initiated against him under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Espionage"). He pleads not guilty.

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Borrell calls on EU to play ‘military role’

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Trump appointed Congressman Michael Waltz (Republican, Florida) as national security adviser

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Radoslaw Sikorski also expressed hope that the base will never go into action

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At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

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According to Reuters, Brasilia’s military police confirmed that a body was found near the court building

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"Certain communication is maintained between the defense ministers, in the four-lateral format," Alexander Lavrentyev said

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Kremlin spokesman denies media reports of phone call between Putin, Trump

Dmitry Peskov described the Washington Post and Reuters reports about the alleged telephone conversation as "the most remarkable example of the quality of the information that is published nowadays, sometimes even by quite respected outlets"

Bank of Russia sets dollar rate at 98.37 rubles for November 14

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Russia has written off $20 bln worth of African debts — MFA

Mikhail Bogdanov added that it allows using those debts "to implement socio-economic projects directly in the country"

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Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

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The ministry provided live-recording footage showing direct hits on Ukrainian military vehicles

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West attempted to prevent Russia-Africa ministerial meeting, diplomat says

African countries realized that "this pressure contradicts their own national interests", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said

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According to the plan, 360,000 people are to be mobilized in October; 325,000 and 300,000 in November and December, respectively

US administration always seeks to weaken Russia — Lavrov

The foreign minister pointed out that the Americans had long declared the idea that "there should be no country in the world more influential than the United States"

US shells for handful of Kiev’s Pion howitzers no game-changer — expert

Ukraine ran out of the Soviet-made ammunition for this type of artillery pieces back in 2022

Russia supports new UNSC draft resolution on Gaza — envoy

Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya noted that Resolution 2735 was only a tool to gain time for Israel

Russia keeps building defense capacity despite conflict in Ukraine — Polish general

According to Wieslaw Kukula, if the conflict in Ukraine ends soon, Russia will be able to build up its defense capacity to the point that it could take on all of NATO

Russian diplomat hails Odessa woman as defender of truth after flag protest

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Almost 80 killed, over 120 injured by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon in past 24 hours

The Baalbeck-Hermel Province in northeast Lebanon reported two people killed and 11 injured

Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

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Trump plans to appoint special envoy on Ukraine to hold peace talks with Russia — TV

According to the source, the job is not expected to be a salaried role

Russia elected to UN Committee for Program and Coordination

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US plans to remove 'arrogant' Zelensky and stage 2025 elections in Ukraine — SVR

"At the initial stage, it is planned to encourage entities within the Ukrainian civil society under their control, through US 'democratization' foundations and think tanks, to come up with a corresponding initiative," the statement reads

Venues for intra-Syrian talks offered by Oman, Egypt, Iraq — Russian diplomat

The Russian diplomat stressed that the committee’s work should be resumed as soon as possible, but, in his words, it takes a lot of effort to find a venue that would be acceptable for both Damascus and the Syrian opposition

Israel achieves its goals in conflict with Hamas, time to 'end the war' — Blinken

"Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself," the US Secretary of State noted

Trump 'demonstrates affinity' for Russian President Vladimir Putin — newspaper

Former Trump advisers have already backed his idea of cutting aid to Ukraine to force Kiev into talks with Russia, according to The Hill

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that military experts had praised the "unmatched capabilities" the plane displayed at the Airshow China in Zhuhai

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Steve Bannon noted that Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement seeks to completely cut funding to Ukraine. According to Bannon, Europe, including Italy, will follow Trump’s lead, and, if "they [Europe and Italy] truly believe what they have been saying in recent years, they should be ready to pay"

Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 450 troops, two tanks, three IFVs, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 33 armored combat vehicles, five artillery pieces, including a Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Crotale multiple rocket launcher, and 49 motor vehicles

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The production index of foodstuffs was 104.2% in January - September against the like period in 2023 and the index for beverages was 109.8%

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It is reported that the Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 765 personnel, an armored personnel carrier, a motor vehicle and two 122mm D-30 howitzers

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Maria Zakharova emphasized that the Baltic Sea "will always be a common space for all of the region’s countries without exception"

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"Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate," the Russian foreign minister reiterated

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Ukraine moves medics, non-combat personnel to infantry to counter Russian advance

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Russian Battlegroup North artillery units hit Ukrainian weapons, manpower in Kursk Region

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Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

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Czech intelligence warns of crime surge after Ukraine conflict ends

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Finnish government requests EU sanctions exemption for Russian owners of sports arena

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Russia to hold Astana-format summit in 2025 — Russian diplomat

Alexander Lavrentyev noted that despite the fact that the exact date of the summit has not yet been agreed upon, meetings in the Astana format are held regularly at other levels

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Russian Su-34 bomber strikes Ukrainian troops in borderline Kursk area

Russian tactical aircraft pilots conduct sorties at any time of day or night in any weather conditions, using various armament

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There is chance to stop war in Middle East under Trump — Russian diplomat

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Denis Pushilin added that "it is almost impossible to find an undamaged building"

Russia set to deepen cooperation with China in law enforcement — top security official

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Israel delivering strikes on refugee camps in Gaza — TV

At least ten people have been killed, Al Jazeera reported

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

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White Helmets remain serious factor of instability in Syria — Russian MFA

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