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Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

Previously, Elon Musk said on the X social platform, commenting on Zelensky’s supposition that the United States cannot force Ukraine to "sit and listen" at the negotiating table because Ukraine is an independent country, that Zelensky has an "amazing sense of humor"

MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. The United States and Russia will not ask Vladimir Zelensky for his input if they decide to negotiate, says former Prime Minister of Ukraine (2010-2014) Nikolay Azarov.

The ex-prime minister believes that Zelensky’s "plan of resilience" presented earlier is nothing more than a PR stunt.

"When the two main partners - in this case, the two main adversaries, the United States and Russia - decide to agree to something, no one will ask him [Zelensky - TASS] what he thinks. Elon Musk said it best when he stated that he [Zelensky] has a great sense of humor, […] if he thinks he cannot be compelled [to sit at the negotiating table with Russia]," Azarov said on Russian TV.

Previously, Elon Musk said on the X social platform, commenting on Zelensky’s supposition that the United States cannot force Ukraine to "sit and listen" at the negotiating table because Ukraine is an independent country, that Zelensky has an "amazing sense of humor."

Kiev has repeatedly pointed out that its Western partners do not take Zelensky into account when they hold negotiations about the Ukrainian conflict. Ukrainian opposition lawmaker Alexander Dubinsky believes that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz put Zelensky "in his place" with his remarks that he did not discuss anything behind Ukraine’s back during the phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although the press releases after the call make it clear that the two leaders did just that.

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Middle East conflict

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Current escalation of Ukrainian conflict not seen as world war harbinger — Pentagon

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Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also declined a request to comment on the US permission to use ATACMS missiles for deep strikes on Russia

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US senator labels Biden’s approval for ATACMS strikes on Russia as unconstitutional

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Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

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Sergey Naryshkin emphasized that irrationality had particularly affected leading European countries, where presidents, prime ministers, and chancellors unfailingly served the interests of globalist capital

West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

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Russian forces gain foothold in central Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

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Ukraine conflict moves towards NATO-Russia direct clash — expert

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Six European countries accuse Russia of allegedly attacking security architecture

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US Embassy in Kiev to be closed on November 20

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Russian, US presidential spokespersons not contacted since Obama presidency — Peskov

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Sweden detected ship movements when cable damage occurred, minister says

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Houthis report striking commercial ship in Red Sea

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Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

Previously, Elon Musk said on the X social platform, commenting on Zelensky’s supposition that the United States cannot force Ukraine to "sit and listen" at the negotiating table because Ukraine is an independent country, that Zelensky has an "amazing sense of humor"

Putin ready for talks on Ukraine, including with Trump — Kremlin

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Allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with US weapons irresponsible — Slovak PM

Robert Fico noted that authorizing the use of long-range weapons for strikes against Russia would not alter the balance of power in the conflict zone

Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

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US uses veto right to block new UN Security Council draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza

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Donald Trump announced that his campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt will be the new White House press secretary

Washington refrains from naming those responsible for Baltic Sea cable rupture — DoS

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Strikes inside Russia to escalate conflict instead of changing its course, says expert

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Indonesia accepts invitation to become partner state in BRICS, ambassador announces

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Trump plans to counter China 'all over the world' — transition team

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Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 20th

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List of trade with Russia expanding in Sweden — Russian envoy

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FACTBOX: Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania resigns

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Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

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Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them

More than 5 drones attack industrial enterprise in Russia’s Voronezh Region — governor

According to Alexander Gusev, firefighters and other emergency management services are working at the scene

Pentagon confirms that US authorized use of antipersonnel landmines in Ukraine

Ukrainian side had committed to not using the mines in areas populated by civilians

Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

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Pentagon official admits US arsenals shrinking amid Ukraine, Mideast crises

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Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

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Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine makes defeat over its army impossible — SVR chief

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Russia delivers strong response to US by revising nuclear doctrine — Chinese expert

Wang Yiwei suggested that outgoing US President Joe Biden and the American "deep state" are trying to intensify the situation in Ukraine because President-elect Donald Trump "is unwilling to support Kiev"

Swedish armed forces to help investigate Baltic Sea cable ruptures

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Moscow’s response to strikes with Western arms on Russian soil to be felt — diplomat

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Biden’s ATACMS decision aimed at tying his successor’s hands — expert

In his opinion, Russia "should not fall for this gambit," and "just keep on winning"

Russia’s foreign intelligence agency successfully adapting to new challenges — SVR chief

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UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

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Russia says its forces downed 5 ATACMS missiles that Ukraine fired into Bryansk Region

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Admiral Nakhimov cruiser to sail out on auxiliary engines in November

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Up to allies to decide whether or not to authorize strikes inside Russia — NATO chief

"I would generally say let’s not communicate too much and not make our adversaries more wise than is necessary," Mark Rutte added

FSB arrests German citizen who arrived from Poland to sabotage Russian energy facility

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Turkey ready to continue mediatory efforts toward settling Ukrainian crisis — Erdogan

"Ukraine is our neighbor. Russia is our neighbor too," the Turkish leader noted

West fails to bring Ukrainian issue to forefront of G20 summit agenda — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister stressed that "no one from the countries of the world majority, the Global South, supported it"

Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

According to Andreas Kluth, the decision on ATACMS may have been another attempt by the current Washington administration to provide Ukraine with support until the president-elect comes to power