{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Early voting for presidential elections begins in Belarus

Five candidates are vying for the post of head of state

MINSK, January 21. /TASS/. Early voting in the seventh presidential election in the history of Belarus will begin on Tuesday. Any voter who is unable to cast a ballot on the main day of voting - January 26 - can take part in it.

Five candidates are vying for the post of head of state, including incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994. His rivals are the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Oleg Gaidukevich, the entrepreneur Anna Kanopatskaya, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Sergey Syrankov, and the leader of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice Alexander Khizhnyak.

More than 6.9 mln Belarusian voters are eligible to participate in these elections.

Tags

Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

Trump excludes Kiev from talks on Ukraine conflict settlement — newspaper

The authors of the article also pointed to comments made by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the regular meeting of NATO defense ministers that Europe's leaders should take primary responsibility for ensuring its security

FACTBOX: Repelling Ukrainian attacks, Kiev's atrocities: news from Kursk Region

Units of the Battlegroup North repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks in the Kursk area over the past day

Scholz calls on Bundestag to ensure additional spending for Ukraine outside budget

"This means that our support for Ukraine, which is now more important than ever, will no longer be carried out at the expense of other tasks that our state must fulfill in relation to its citizens," the German Chancellor said

Scholz calls for increasing military spending so that Europe would be an equal ally of US

"In order for Europe to be and remain an equal ally of the US, we must do much more for our security so that we can continue to live in peace," the German Chancellor said

Zelensky says Ukraine not to accept results of talks without Kiev

Zelensky emphasized that the fact that American President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin before calling him was deeply upsetting for him

Talks on Ukrainian settlement should address Russian security concerns — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, when the Russian and US leaders, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, spoke by phone on Wednesday, they agreed that problems "can and should be solved through dialogue"

EU leaders must take primary responsibility for European security — Pentagon chief

"It's an imperative given the strategic realities that we face, and that begins with increasing defense spending," Pete Hegseth added

Medvedev says Europe's era is over

"It is weak, ugly and useless," the politician wrote

Ukraine intensifies attacks on Energodar due to failures on frontline — Russian politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, Ukraine’s attacks on Energodar and its actions in the Kursk Region stem from Zelensky’s desire to portray the Ukrainian armed forces as a viable threat in these regions

The Netherlands panic-stricken over Trump's plans for Ukraine — Russian ambassador

Earlier, Trump expressed his hope that agreements on solving the Ukraine crisis will be reached "in the not too distant future"

Contacts on Ukraine will be held next week in Saudi Arabia — Trump

"Tomorrow, there's a meeting in Munich, and then next week there's a meeting in Saudi Arabia, not with myself or President Putin, but with top officials. And Ukraine will be a part of it too," US leader said

NATO chief praises Putin-Trump phone call as 'successful'

Mark Rutte reiterated that it was necessary to ensure that Ukraine was in the best possible negotiating position

Russian national Trufanov should be freed during phase 1 of Gaza deal — Israeli ambassador

Simona Halperin stressed that Alexander Trufanov is alive

Biden's attempt to rule over world almost killed mankind — Medvedev

At some point, the US appointed itself as the leading country of our planet, the Russian official noted

India supports Trump's aspirations to peaceful resolution of conflict in Ukraine — Modi

The Prime Minister also stressed that India has been advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict since the beginning of the conflict

US may start lifting sanctions on Russia when reaching progress on Ukraine — expert

"Of course, Trump comes in with an America First agenda," Christopher Helali said

Russia expands its simplified visa regime to boost trade with China — PM

"All our citizens participating in international road transportation to China will be able to apply for a multiple-entry visa for one year regardless of their place of residence," Mikhail Mishustin said

West betrayed Kiev by pitting Ukrainians against Russians, Moscow diplomat argues

Maria Zakharova pointed out that it was the leaders of EU countries who admitted a while back that it was never their intention to implement the Minsk Agreements on Ukraine despite assuring the world otherwise

Russia can defend peace based on legal results of WWII — Lavrov

Russia will "boost multifaceted cooperation with all sensible partners," the minister noted

Riyadh mentioned in Putin-Trump talks as potential venue for meeting — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, no decisions have been made "either at the working level or at the highest level"

Medvedev calls Putin-Trump talk crucial for whole world

According to the Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, as a result of the previous US administration's policy, the world was teetering on the brink of apocalypse

Putin-Trump meeting to take place before potential exchange of visits — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, the aides will now coordinate the meeting at the working level

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

According to John Mearsheimer, Russia has become much stronger over the past two to three years because it has managed to become "a truly sovereign country"

Ukraine unlikely to get back its territories, says US President Trump

The US president pointed out that Ukraine's membership in NATO was not appropriate adding that the Kiev authorities must seek peace

Ukrainian forces strike Zaporozhye thermal power plant, equipment critically damaged

It led to a power outage for more than 50,000 subscribers

Kremlin mum on Putin’s alleged order to liberate Donbass before March

A number of web media outlets circulated reports earlier citing Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian intelligence service, as saying that Putin issued an order to liberate Donbass by March and that the Russian Armed Forces would focus on assault operations across the entire territory of the DPR

Press review: Putin, Trump discuss Ukraine peace, Iran deal as Armenia moves toward EU

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, February 13th

Large part of Ukraine seeks to become Russia or has already joined it — Kremlin

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said in an interview that "Ukraine may be Russian one day"

FACTBOX: Car rams crowd in Munich

The accident happened just an eight-minute drive from the venue set to host the Munich Security Conference, which will open on Friday

Ukrainian army selling US weapons to Mexican cartels, Tucker Carlson says

Earlier, Carlson said that "the Ukrainian military is selling about half of the arms they get from the United States into international black markets

Putin, Trump to hold talks in neutral venue before any state visits — Kremlin

"No final decision has been made but Saudi Arabia and Riyadh were mentioned as potential venues," Dmitry Peskov said

IMF says US economy loses global dominance

Kristalina Georgieva mentioned weakened government regulation, income diversification, and digitalization as key factors driving rapid growth in developing countries

Trump says he trusts Putin on Ukraine issue

The US president expressed confidence that the Russian leadership wanted peace

Trump destroys Western alliance supporting Ukraine — newspaper

The approach to the events in Ukraine that Trump showed in his telephone conversation with Putin is "full of sense," it noted

Another 26 foreigners from 12 countries prosecuted for mercenary activities in Ukraine

British, Colombian, Polish, Swedish and Argentinian nationals have been prosecuted

Rostelecom estimates loss from cable break in Baltic Sea at tens of millions of rubles

The kind of the cable break "gives rise to many questions," Rostelecom President Mikhail Oseyevsky said

Putin, Trump agree on need to resolve Ukraine crisis through talks — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, the Russian and US leaders "agreed that even the most complicated problems need to be solved through peace talks"

NATO plotting major smear campaign against Zelensky — Russian intelligence

Thus, according to the SVR, it is planned to "make public information that the 'president' personally and his team have misappropriated more than $1.5 billion only from funds meant to buy munitions"

Musk calls for 'overhaul' of NATO

The businessman has previously repeatedly criticized the US’ trans-Atlantic policies as he called for slashing defense spending in Europe amid a substantial budget deficit and growing public expenditure in Washington

Trump announces start of "reciprocal tariffs" on Thursday

The president earlier said that he planned to announce taking measures to make the level of tariffs in the US’ bilateral trade with other countries equal in coming days

Russian troops just 1.5 km away from state border near Ugledar in Donbass region — expert

Russian fighters use special cartridges to shoot down enemy drones, Yan Gagin noted

Musk claims US Treasury annually pays $100 bln to unidentified individuals

He noted that the DOGE team and the US Department of the Treasury had agreed to require "that all outgoing government payments have a payment categorization code, which is necessary in order to pass financial audits"

Trump says US to get back chip business from Taiwan — Reuters

US leader repeatedly announced the intention to impose tariffs on imports of chips from Taiwan and the wish to get chip producers back to the territory of the US

You can only clear Ukraine’s brains by making them "feel like Russians again" — Medvedev

The Russian official stressed that Ukraine’s proposals to "exchange territories" were absurd

Russia’s foreign trade surplus down to $4.5 bln in January — Central Bank

The country’s foreign trade surplus in 2024 was almost flat at $53.5 bln compared to $53.8 bln as per the previous estimation, the regulator added

Russia’s Su-57 fighter jet outshines US F-35 aircraft by maneuverability — Rostec

The latest Russian fighter jet features many unique solutions valued by the domestic design school, for example, the integral layout, perfect aerodynamics and vectored thrust engines, Russia’s state tech corporation explained

Germany’s far-right AfD advocates for Ukraine settlement, peace with Russia —politician

The document also states that Ukraine should eventually become a neutral country, not a member of the European Union and NATO

Kremlin now forming group of negotiators with US — Kremlin

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Moscow and Washington intend to immediately start negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict

Russian troops liberate Vodyanoye Vtoroye community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 510 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility

Lavrov doesn't understand why the world is in shock over Putin-Trump conversation

The top diplomat stated that the United States' European allies had abandoned dialogue and diplomacy as a means of communication with the outside world, opting instead for "the language of threats, sanctions, and arming the Nazi regime in Kiev to wage war against Russia"

Shoigu doubts that USAID suspension is irreversible

The administration of US President Donald Trump suspended the USAID on February 3

Ukrainian lawmaker sees Zelensky's sanctions on ex-president as start of political purge

Alexey Goncharenko described the sanctions against Poroshenko as a blow to the opposition and democratic values

NATO must aspire to prevent conflict of great powers in Europe — Pentagon

According to Pete Hegseth, "the US is committed to building a stronger, more lethal NATO"

German carmaker Porsche to cut around 1,900 jobs by 2029

The plan is to reduce the number of positions under an austerity program at the company's sites in Stuttgart and Weissach

Putin, Trump express readiness for dialogue, they will decide this themselves — Lavrov

At the same time, the foreign minister disagreed with a journalist's remark that everyone in the world was looking forward to a meeting between Putin and Trump

Rosatom seeks to partner with Serbia in nuclear ventures

Chief Executive Officer of the corporation Alexey Likhachev relayed this information to the Serbian government at a recent meeting, according to the report

No other aircraft can surpass Su-57 — Indian pilot

Russia's newest multifunctional fifth-generation Su-57E fighter made its first demonstration flight at the Aero India-2025 international aerospace exhibition

Putin, Trump speak over phone — Kremlin

Trump has repeatedly announced plans to speak with the Russian president in recent weeks

Trump says parties ‘went a long way toward getting solution on Ukraine’

"And I think we went a long way toward getting a solution to the horrible war where so many people are being killed," the president said

Russian national Vinnik on his way to Russia via Turkey after being released from US jail

His lawyer Arkady Bukh explained that Alexander Vinnik’s name "has been removed from the database of the correctional facility where he was kept"

Russia outpacing NATO in weapons production, profits not its primary concern — magazine

The artillery ammunition supply chain in the US is "in very bad shape," the article said

Press review: Trump probes Ukraine options while Russian military technologies rise

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, February 12th

Trump says he wants to discuss nuclear arsenal reduction with Russia and China

"Hopefully there'll never be a time where we need those weapons," US president said

Flight from Istanbul carrying Russian national Vinnik lands in Moscow's Vnukovo airport

"It spent a little over 4 hours in flight from Istanbul," the agency's source said

Trump wants to discuss defense spending with Russia, China — report

The US president also said he supports moves toward denuclearization and there is no need to build nuclear weapons

Zaporozhye NPP operating normally in wake of Ukrainian attack on thermal power facility

According to acting Energodar Mayor Maxim Pukhov, Ukrainian troops launched 15 artillery strikes on the city adjacent to the ZNPP

Kiev steps up efforts to hold back Russian army’s advance near Krasnoarmeisk, says DPR

Meanwhile, in the area between the Solyonaya and Volchya Rivers, Russian troops have achieved serious successes and are straightening the frontline in the sector between Chasov Yar and Dzerzhinsk, Igor Kimakovsky specified

Direct maritime cargo route from Bangkok to Novorossiysk set to launch by July

"All the goods supplied from Russia to Thailand and from Thailand to Russia pass through third country ports," Andrey Severilov noted

Trump pledges Ukraine’s involvement in settlement talks

"We would have Ukraine, and we have Russia, and we'll have other people involved, a lot of people," the president said

Putin-Trump call amicable, constructive — Kremlin

The two leaders also agreed that the Biden administration did great damage to relations between the two countries

Russia concerned over implementation of Israel-Hamas agreements — Lavrov

Russia has been working with its Arab colleagues and representatives of other countries at the United Nations toward preventing that, the Russian foreign minister stressed

US’ realistic assessment of Ukraine conflict not concession to Russia — Pentagon chief

Speaking in Brussels at a regular meeting of the Western contact group coordinating arms deliveries to Kiev, Pete Hegseth emphasized that returning to Ukraine’s 2014 borders was unrealistic

US President Trump says he is likely to hold meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia

According Trump, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud could play a role in the discussions between the Russian and US presidents

New US administration recognizes Russia's military successes in Ukraine — American expert

"US Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s speech in Brussels on February 12, acknowledging the unambiguous reality of Russia’s military accomplishments in Eastern Ukraine, is a further indication of a new realism in American foreign policy," Theodore A. Postol said

Russia's mission in Ukraine is one of liberation — ambassador to Romania

Vladimir Lipayev believes that Russia is actually protecting the interests of the Ukrainian people against the colonial aspirations of Western countries

Trump hopes to weaken Russia's partnership with China by bringing it back to G8 — senator

Alexey Pushkov also noted that the strengthening of China and the strengthening of the Russian-Chinese tandem are contrary to the interests of the United States

Trump’s top priority is to end Ukraine conflict as soon as possible, Pentagon chief says

According to Pete Hegseth, the goal is to create "enduring and durable peace"

US could slap 100% tariffs on imports from BRICS countries — Trump

The president earlier said he would impose 100% tariffs on imports from BRICS countries if they set up their own currency or give up the dollar

Orban sees EU as undeserving of role in Ukraine settlement talks

"The position of Brussels - to support killing as long as it takes - is morally and politically unacceptable," the Hungarian prime minister wrote

Foundation run by Keith Kellogg’s daughter delivers aid to Ukraine — WP

According to the report, the R.T. Weatherman Foundation has been active in Ukraine since the very start of the conflict

Putin spent many hours discussing world problems with Saudi crown prince — spokesman

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that "Saudi Arabia is a nation with which we have very constructive interactions across various sectors"

Press review: Washington's policies divide the West and Trump sparks Pentagon changes

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, February 11th

Ukraine brought to catastrophe, faces collapse of statehood — Russian intel chief

It is well-known that the territory of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was shaped only during the Soviet period and "before that it simply did not exist as a single administrative unit," Sergey Naryshkin pointed out

German authorities to prolong external management of Rosneft's assets in Schwedt refinery

the refinery supplies oil products to most of eastern Germany, including Berlin Airport, the DPA news agency reported

Russian national Vinnik to arrive at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport shortly — source

According to Vinnik’s lawyer Arkady Bukh, his client is on his way to Russia via Turkey

EU’s 'reduced priority' and 'blow to Ukraine': global reaction to Trump-Putin conversation

Trump has demonstrated that he considers Russia an important force in global governance, which is a very positive sign for dialogue and cooperation, Gou Liu, an expert from the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, said

Israeli Air Force strikes refugee camp on West Bank — TV

Firearms and improvised explosive devices are being used against the Israeli military, Al Jazeera reports

Europe no longer pivotal to Ukrainian settlement — Russian Permanent Mission to UN

Dmitry Polyansky was responding to a publication by the EU diplomacy chief, Kaja Kallas, who said that when it comes to Ukraine, "in any negotiation, Europe must have a central role," and the support of Kiev needs to stay its priority

Bank of Russia’s Board of Directors to hold a meeting on key rate on Friday

Analysts believe that although the regulator will consider raising the rate, it is very unlikely that it will happen

Import of pipeline gas to EU down in January after termination of Ukrainian transit — GECF

Pipeline gas imports to the EU decreased last month following the termination of transit of Russian gas via Ukraine, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum reported

FACTBOX: What we know about mining accident in Russia's Perm Region

Two people were killed in the accident

Crimes of Kiev forces in Kursk region should be recognized as genocide — official

"In addition to the village of Russkoye Porechnoye, which is well-known, there are cases in Korenevo, where civilians were shot in cars, and liberated Nikolayevo-Daryino, where the militants of the Ukrainian armed forces killed all the men," Vladimir Rogov said

China proposes hosting Trump-Putin meeting to US — WSJ

The White House refused to confirm to the news agency whether it had received such a proposal from China

Russia, Tajikistan work to improve efficiency of Russia's 201st military base — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the two countries also have a bilateral agreement for the modernization of Tajikistan's Armed Forces

Putin would be happy to see Trump at Victory Day celebrations — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov said that "if some countries, particularly major ones, decide to share in the joy of this victory with us and celebrate this day with us, we - and especially President Putin - will be pleased to welcome them in Moscow"

Vinnik thanks President Putin, everybody who secured his release

The released Russian national arrived at Vnukovo Airport on board a US plane

Russia to demonstrate Supercam S350 drone at IDEX-2025

The Supercam S350 project is continuously evolving and acquiring new capabilities along with improvement of its characteristics and the tactics of use

Zelensky serves as a cover for Western warmongers’ corrupt schemes — opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk argues that Vladimir Zelensky has no intention of ending the conflict.

Houthi leader suggests Trump relocate Israelis to US instead of displacing Palestinians

On February 4, Trump stated at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following their talks at the White House, that the United States was considering long-term ownership of the Gaza Strip in order to develop it for the sake of peace in the Middle East

Russian FPV drones destroy Stryker armored personnel carrier in Kharkov Region

The vehicle was identified through aerial reconnaissance