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Biden, Netanyahu discuss prospects for ceasefire in Gaza — White House

Earlier, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN that the sides are very close to a ceasefire deal

WASHINGTON, January 12. /TASS/. Prospects for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip were the focus of a phone call between US outgoing President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said.

"President Biden spoke today with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. The two leaders discussed the ongoing negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire and hostage release deal based on the May 27, 2024 arrangement described by the President last year and endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council," it said.

Apart from that, they discussed "the fundamentally changed regional circumstances following the ceasefire deal in Lebanon, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and the weakening of Iran’s power in the region."

Earlier, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN that the sides are very close to a ceasefire deal, which may be reached before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 240 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hostilities continue until now.

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United States Palestine Israel Joseph Biden Benjamin Netanyahu

Russia ready for negotiations on Ukraine, but no temporary ceasefire — ambassador to UK

Andrey Kelin dismissed the idea of a temporary ceasefire, previously put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron

Top US diplomat acknowledges that conflict in Ukraine is proxy war between US, Russia

"It needs to come to an end," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said

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Milorad Dodik has also said that in terms of geopolitics, Ukraine is not a country that deserves to survive

US officials discuss delegation to future talks on Ukraine, inform Russia, says envoy

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NATO is dead, British expert says

Timothy Ash noted that Europe could no longer rely on the US security guarantee

Makeshift graves with bodies of 17 civilians found near Kupyansk — administration

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EU militarization to be carried out in cooperation with NATO — European Council

With priority status assigned to long-range artillery and missiles

Authorities announce curfew in Syrian province of Homs — agency

The curfew will last from 10:00 p.m. on Thursday to 8:00 a.m. on Friday

Nobody interested in Europe's proposals on Ukraine — ex-Merkel advisor

According to Erich Vad, it is unrealistic for the Europeans to continue the Ukrainian conflict being the only supporter of Kiev

Brussels seeks "peaceful strength" in Ukraine, rearms — EC head

The ReArm Europe Plan gives the EU member states the opportunity to invest in the Ukrainian defense industry or to procure military capabilities that go directly to Ukraine

Ukraine won’t be able to use Storm Shadow missiles without US intelligence — newspaper

The US has not only stopped sending its intelligence to Ukraine, but also prohibited the UK from sharing it with Kiev

Russian ministry to reduce home care, cosmetics share in parallel import list

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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"

Young Ukrainian contract servicemen likely to die before receiving pay — Russian senator

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Moldovan prime minister refutes Macron's statement about threat from Russia

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Alexey Bezborodov recalled that the operator of the ports will be Mediterranean Shipping Company

Russian troops liberate Andreyevka community in Donetsk region over past day

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International Criminal Court: at a crossroads or at an impasse?

Black Sea fleet receives Katran boat, Skvorets drones

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US to resume arms supplies to Kiev if rare-earths deal is signed — Medvedev

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Sales of heavy haulers in Russia plunge 50% in February — statistics

Kamaz was the bestseller in February with 1,190 trucks

US, Ukraine to discuss ways to resolve conflict at meeting in Saudi Arabia — envoy

The Axios news website reported earlier, citing sources, that US and Ukrainian officials would "discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire" at a meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 12

Russia’s Olympic Champion Melnikova gets neutral status permission for int’l tournaments

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EU torpedoing mere prerequisites for peace in Ukraine — Russian diplomat

Meanwhile, Washington’s rhetoric has turned more realistic of late, Maria Zakharova noted

Ukraine's attacks on IAEA staff at Zaporozhye nuke plant cannot be left unpunished — envoy

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Russia, Belarus reach new level of economic integration — official

Deputy head of the Russian presidential administration Maxim Oreshkin noted that the issue of technologies was one of the key ones from the standpoint of moving up and achieving results

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The document, however, makes one mention of NATO

Russian troops leveling out front near Dnepropetrovsk region after liberating Privolnoye

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As long as France is in NATO, it will be unable to manage nuclear arms on its own — expert

Alexander Mikhailov characterized Emmanuel Macron's statements as "political bravado," reflecting his desire to "consolidate his status as the informal leader of Europe"

Russia ready for honest conversation about root causes of Ukraine conflict — Lavrov

"I will not speculate on how long this pause may last," the top Russian diplomat said

EU asks EC, Slovakia, Ukraine to find solutions to issue of Russian gas transit

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Resumption of aid to Kiev depends on willingness to seek peace, minerals deal — US envoy

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Russia to introduce responsibility for executives of companies hiring illegal workers

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Washington, Moscow, Kiev made a lot of progress in past few days — Trump

"It'd be great to bring that to an end", US President said

MFA calls on Macron to apologize to French people for lying about Ukraine settlement

Maria Zakharova recalled that the ex-French president and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel "confessed, not under torture or pressure, that they were not going to fulfill the Minsk accords for all seven years, because they had a different plan"

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Russia needs sustainable peace in Ukraine, not "respite" for rearmament — Zakharova

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Trump's entourage in talks with Zaluzhny, Klitschko on outlook for ceasefire — media

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Kiev planning to deploy foreign mercenaries to Chasov Yar in Donetsk region — expert

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US seeks dialogue with Russia, China to get rid of nuclear weapons — Trump

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Syria security forces say Assad supporters attack public buildings in Jebla

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Pentagon's declaration of readiness for war with China leads to confrontation — diplomat

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Curfew imposed in Syria’s Latakia province amid clashes with Assad’s supporters — SANA

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Russia to work out new countermeasures if Japan continues to support Ukraine — diplomat

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Trump says he plans to visit Saudi Arabia soon

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Zelensky plans to visit Saudi Arabia on March 10

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steven Witcoff said earlier that delegations from Kiev and Washington planned to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukrainian reconciliation

Istanbul agreements may be departure point for Ukraine talks — US envoy

"You can start from that position," US president's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg stated

Respite for Ukrainian forces on battlefield unacceptable — Russian diplomat

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Putin asks Russia's opponents to recall ending of Napoleon's campaign

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Macron's remarks disconnected from reality, Russian diplomat says

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US developing plan to seize Iranian oil tankers — media

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Trump suspends introduction of tariffs on some goods from Mexico until April 2

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Macron's latest statements on Ukraine nervous — Lavrov

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Europe eggs Zelensky on for continued combat, Vance says

US Vice President said in an interview with Fox News

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Local residents have been advised to evacuate during the operation

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Kremlin agrees with Trump that he "gave Russia nothing except grief"

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Lavrov to hold talks with OSCE secretary general in Moscow on March 11 — diplomat

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No one prevents Macron from calling Putin — Lavrov

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