Middle East conflict

31 Jan, 14:44

Egypt to open Rafah checkpoint on Friday — TV

Ambulances are on duty at the crossing

CAIRO, January 31. /TASS/. Egypt will open the Rafah checkpoint on the border with the Gaza Strip on Friday, the Palestinian side of the border crossing will be managed by the Palestinian National Authority, Egypt’s Al-Qahira Al-Ekhbariya said.

According to the TV channel, the crossing has already opened a gate through which injured and sick Palestinians will be taken out to be treated in Egypt. Ambulances are on duty at the crossing itself, ready to receive Gaza residents in need of medical care and transport them to hospitals if necessary. The TV channel pointed out that it is "not sure that the first injured will be taken out on Friday," but said that "dozens of injured people" will be evacuated to Egypt through Rafah in the coming days.

Official Cairo has not yet commented on this information.

Middle East conflict

No talks underway on second phase of Gaza ceasefire deal — Hamas official

Movement Spokesman Hazem Qassem stressed that Hamas remained committed to the three-phase Gaza ceasefire deal

Trump not interested in reviving Ukraine minerals deal now — Reuters

Representatives of the Ukrainian delegation began "begging" to sign the deal immediately after being told to leave the White House, according to the report

Yesterday, 20:55

US halts Ukraine’s energy grid restoration support plan — NBC News

In addition to ending the Ukraine Energy Security Project, USAID is also dramatically downsizing its presence in Ukraine

Two days ago, 15:54

Lukashenko says no one can resolve Ukraine conflict without Kiev

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States and Russia have not yet begun formal negotiations to resolve the crisis in Ukraine

Yesterday, 12:38

Zelensky in no-win situation in talks with Trump — expert

On February 27, the US president confirmed his intention to sign an agreement with Vladimir Zelensky regarding the mining of rare earth elements and other minerals in Ukraine

Yesterday, 19:42

Russia, China confirm readiness to strategic security consultations

"Sergey Shoigu and Xi Jinping discussed cooperation within the framework of existing formats of cooperation under auspices of the Security Council of the Russian Federation," the press service said

Zelensky offers Europe to 'buy' war Washington refused — Medvedchuk

Leader of the Other Ukraine movement added that the new Washington administration had not just refused to "purchase the war," but saw it as a scam that European politicians had not yet "seen through"

Yesterday, 18:29

US to withdraw support for Kiev if Zelensky fails to seek peace — Trump

"And if we're out, you'll fight it out," the US president pointed out

Yesterday, 20:38

Trump claims good mutual understanding with Putin

US leader called his Russian counterpart a "tough", bet very "smart guy"

Two days ago, 17:04

Trump extends anti-Russian sanctions linked to Ukraine for one year

"These restrictive measures "must continue in effect beyond March 6, 2025," the US president said

Ukraine doesn’t acknowledge any debt to US — Zelensky

According to Vladimir Zelensky, the US-proposed minerals deal is a "new agreement," which has no relation to the assistance to Kiev, which has already been provided

Yesterday, 13:01

Industries in eastern Germany count on return of Russian gas supplies — Bloomberg

According to the report, resumption of supplies from Russia would allow businesses in Germany, which are facing many problems due to rising energy prices after refusing Russian gas, to restore their competitiveness

Zelensky's attempt to act like ‘tough guy’ at meeting with Trump insulted everyone — media

"Now Zelensky will have to figure out how to fix this on his own. We can’t fix it for him," senior US official said

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Russia, US take another step to mend ties as Kiev tries to outwit Washington

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, February 28th

Yesterday, 12:11

Russia, China should constantly deepen strategic coordination — Xi

The Chinese president also emphasized the need for the full implementation of the consensus reached by the two leaders, advocating for the principles of unwavering good-neighborliness

Trump says Zelensky overplayed his hand, has to say he wants to make peace

"We're not looking to go into a ten-year war and play games," US leader said

Yesterday, 20:06

Russia, China underscore importance of diplomatic solution for Ukrainian crisis

The Secretary of the Russian Security Council and the President of China also noted the need to continue coordinating efforts at key international platforms, in the first instance in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Yesterday, 18:42

Pope Francis has bronchial spasm, urgent aid needed

It is reported that the Pope’s condition required non-invasive lung ventilation

2 Sep 2024, 11:31

Ukraine will lose in Kursk — Putin

The Russian leader noted that the Kursk attack was meant to stop the Russian advance in Donbass

Yesterday, 20:51

Russian official says Zelensky prone to ‘bloody provocations’ after White House spat

According to Yevgeny Primakov, Kiev has few ways to save face, and "to spill a lot of innocent blood at once and then blame it on Russia is one of the easiest ones"

Yesterday, 15:38

Russian, US diplomatic missions starting to resume normal work — lawmaker

According to Leonid Slutsky, the "diplomatic war" unleashed by Barack Obama in 2014 is coming to an end

Battlegroup Dnepr inflicts damage on six Ukrainian brigades in 24 hours

The Ukrainian army lost up to 95 troops, six cars, two artillery weapons, two counterbattery stations, and an electronic warfare station, battlegroup spokesman said

5 Dec 2024, 23:10

Zelensky not thinking straight wanting to bring back people of Russian culture — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister recalled Vladimir Zelensky's interview in September 2021, where the Ukrainian leader advised people feeling associated with the Russian culture to "get out to Russia"

Yesterday, 12:34

Lavrov, Vulin discuss strategic partnership between Russia and Serbia — Russian MFA

"Special attention was paid to a Kosovo settlement and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina," the statement reads

Yesterday, 19:03

Zelensky leaves White House early after sparring with Trump

The UNIAN news agency reported that Zelensky and Trump canceled the joint news conference that was to have followed the talks

Yesterday, 19:09

Trump tells off Zelensky for 'acting disrespectfully' to US

"What you are doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country," the US president said

Two days ago, 15:13

Macron persuaded Trump to receive Zelensky in Washington — media

Vladimir Zelensky reportedly began calling the French president, asking him to convince Donald Trump to reconsider all meetings cancellation, as he hoped to sign an agreement on Ukrainian minerals in Washington

Yesterday, 17:10

Russia ratifies treaty with Belarus on security guarantees

Certain provisions of the treaty address Russia's nuclear weapons, emphasizing their role as a key deterrent against military conflicts, including nuclear ones

21 May 2024, 06:04

Ukraine’s Zelensky should be tried for war crimes, DPR head says

Denis Pushilin pointed out that it was Zelensky who gave criminal orders and took a position that seriously endangered both the residents of Donbass and the population of the rest of Ukraine

Two days ago, 13:35

Russia-US talks in Istanbul end after 6.5 hours — correspondent

The talks ended without comments for the press

Yesterday, 16:13

Return of US tech companies would pull Russia back into 90s, 'dependency' — IT CEO

According to Natalya Kasperskaya, should they return to Russia, these American companies will hold on to their "usual approach," that being predatory pricing, enormous discounts, lobbying, and bribery

Yesterday, 08:12

US to recognize new Russian regions out of economic interests — Ukrainian politician

Viktor Medvedchuk warned that Ukrainian resources which Washington would own as a result of a resource deal will yield profits only if the new owners cooperate with Russia

Yesterday, 15:14

Return to Russian market will be difficult for European car brands — expert

According to Sergey Sadovenko, the return of Asian automakers, namely "Koreans" and "Japanese", will be the fastest

Europe may face street protests, former top Austrian diplomat warns

Kneissl stressed that in Europe, "politics has turned into a business where people make profits and build ties in order to get high posts"

Zelensky refused to apologize for heated exchange with Trump

"I’m not sure that we did something bad," Vladimir Zelensky said

Yesterday, 12:12

IN BRIEF: Key takeaways from latest round of Russia-US talks in Istanbul

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department Director Alexander Darchiyev headed the Russian delegation

Yesterday, 14:13

Russian, US diplomats discuss steps in Istanbul to fund their embassies

The Russian Foreign Ministry specified that the sides touched upon "the issues related to Russia’s diplomatic property in the US in the context of returning to the Russian side six facilities, wrongfully expropriated in 2016-2018"

Yesterday, 17:31

Trump, as he meets Zelensky, says US-Russia talks have been 'very great'

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump spoke by phone on February 12, discussing such issues as the prospects for a settlement in Ukraine

Yesterday, 17:12

NATO secretary general to participate in March 2 meeting on Ukraine in London

On February 25, it was reported that this meeting will build upon the one held in Paris last week

Yesterday, 07:32

US-Ukraine minerals deal to trigger Ukraine’s split — Medvedchuk

Zelensky has been actively trying to sell Ukraine in bulk and retail since 2024, the Ukrainian opposition politician noted

US not to tolerate political games, disrespect of country — homeland security secretary

Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem thanked US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance "for standing up for America"

Yesterday, 14:56

US agrees to appointment of Darchiev as new Russian ambassador — Russian MFA

Alexander Darchiev is expected to depart for Washington shortly

Yesterday, 18:43

Trump says Zelensky not ready for peace

"He can come back when he is ready for peace," the US president said

Yesterday, 10:12

Kremlin not to comment on Trump’s statements about Zelensky before talks end

Earlier on February 28, Trump said that he respects Zelensky

Two days ago, 10:00

Press review: UK undermines Russia-US talks as top Russian diplomat talks Syria, Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, February 27th

Gas prices in Europe rise by 5% in February

The average gas price in Europe rose o $542 per 1,000 cubic meters

Zelensky's digs at Trump part of broader impeachment plot, says Ukrainian lawmaker

Alexander Dubinsky emphasized that Trump’s opponents wanted to take revenge against the US president for his public criticism of "the Democratic leadership, consistently portraying them as incompetent"

Yesterday, 11:37

Musk believes JD Vance on track to become US president

NBC previously reported that some supporters of US President Donald Trump were studying the possibility of amending the Constitution to allow him to run for another term

Lavrov rules out freezing Ukraine conflict along engagement line

"We have a constitution based on the will of the people," the top Russian diplomat told reporters

Yesterday, 18:17

Trump says stupid to ask whether US sides with Ukraine

Reporter asked if Zelensky thought the US was on his side

31 Jan 2023, 14:12

US played key role in ousting Ukrainian president in 2014, researcher says

Jeffrey Sachs noted that the course of NATO expansion to Ukraine and Georgia was adopted by US President George Bush Jr. back in 2008

Yesterday, 15:51

Minerals deal to turn Ukraine into 51st US state — paper

The agreement says that an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine, which will receive 50% of the country's income from minerals – not only rare earth metals, but also other resources, including titanium, uranium, lithium – will be set up

Yesterday, 12:43

Consulate attack result of France fomenting hate against Russia — diplomatic mission

The consulate was outraged by the ruling of the French court, which sentenced the attackers to eight months in prison, to be served at home under electronic monitoring

Yesterday, 11:00

Russia offers US to consider restoring direct flights — Foreign Ministry

"The American side has been asked to consider the possibility of restoring direct air links," the ministry said

US may halt all military aid to Ukraine — The Washington Post

The decision, if made, would apply "to billions of dollars of radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles awaiting shipment to Ukraine through the presidential drawdown authority," according to the publication

Yesterday, 15:53

Four African countries to create trade corridor

According to the media, the goal is to strengthen regional integration by creating a land corridor connecting participating countries

Yesterday, 18:01

Possible drone fragments found in Romania’s Galati County — Defense Ministry

The search area is located in a countryside area about 500 meters from the Moldovan border, the Defense Ministry said. No damage was done to infrastructure, it said

Yesterday, 20:48

Shoigu, Xi stress intention to prevent terror attacks

Chinese presiden stressed that Russia and China must continuously improve strategic coordination and practical cooperation

Yesterday, 09:35

Trump sends sobering message on Ukraine to Europe — media

At a White House meeting on February 27, the US president dismissed the possibility of the United States providing military support for a potential European peacekeeping mission in Ukraine

24 Jan 2024, 15:08

Zelensky leads Ukraine to terrible finale, killing his own people — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova compared the Ukrainian president with a drug baron from classic US movies

Yesterday, 14:40

Romania may become hub for deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine — interim president

"The peace agreement will certainly need guarantees, and these guarantees will most likely involve the stationing of troops either in Eastern Europe or Ukraine," Ilie Bolojan said

Trump believes peace deal to precede security guarantees to Kiev

That doesn't mean security guarantees "can't happen as part of that negotiation, but you have to have an agreement," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said

Yesterday, 16:43

Russian troops repel massive UAV attack in Bryansk Region

It is reported that air defense units of the Russian Defense Ministry are actively working to detect and destroy air targets

Yesterday, 19:04

Rare minerals deal between the US, Ukraine canceled — reporter

It is noted that White House confirms press conference is canceled

Yesterday, 20:04

White House confirms US, Ukraine didn’t sign minerals deal

The American leader said Zelensky could come back when he was ready for peace

11 Nov 2024, 09:24

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

Yesterday, 19:43

Rare minerals deal between the US, Ukraine canceled — reporter

"Ukrainians were begging to reset," Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich added, citing the White House officials

11 Nov 2024, 14:27

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"

Two days ago, 07:59

NATO continues supplying Ukrainian forces for counterattacks — expert

According to Colonel Vitaly Kiselyov, the movement of a large number of equipment and manpower of the Ukrainian armed forces is reported in the Kursk and Krasnoarmeysk directions

Rubio says Zelensky should apologize for fiasco in White House

"You start to perceive that maybe Zelensky doesn’t want a peace deal," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said

Relations between Trump, Zelensky may be ‘irreparable’ — media

According to US official, what happened at Trump’s meeting with Zelensky at the White House was "disastrous"

Musk says time to find out what happened to aid to Ukraine

"Time to find out what really happened to the hundreds of billions of dollars sent to Ukraine," he said

Yesterday, 09:10

Russian army knocks out Kiev’s forces from Burlatskoye near DPR border — politician

Vladimir Rogov highlighted that Russian units were making rapid advances along this section of the frontline

Operators of Battlegroup East’s drones destroy 14 Ukrainian tanks in one month — top brass

The operstors also destroyed more than 40 armored combat vehicles, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Yesterday, 07:21

IN BRIEF: What we know about foiled Ukrainian attack on Metropolitan Tikhon of Crimea

Cleric Nikita Ivankovich and Denis Popovich, an aide to the metropolitan, a Russian citizen and a Ukrainian citizen, respectively, have been arrested for planning the attack

Yesterday, 13:12

Russian troops liberate eight communities in Ukraine operation over week

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,340 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 34 enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported

28 May 2024, 07:53

Many Western companies backtrack on their Russia exit plans — newspaper

"Many European companies have found themselves really between a rock and a hard place," one executive working with western companies in the country was quoted as saying

Two days ago, 18:51

Trump says Ukraine won’t join NATO — newspaper

The US leader said it at the beginning of a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House

Yesterday, 16:44

Skype confirms termination of operations in May

"Over the coming days you can sign in to Microsoft Teams free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts," the press service of the platform said

Yesterday, 11:28

Macron urges Europe to reject subservient dependency on US

According to Emmanuel Macron, Europe has to evolve "in order to regain power"

Yesterday, 19:44

Zelensky interjects, engages in disputes, makes rude remarks to media at Trump meeting

Zelensky ignored the question about the chance of holding elections in Ukraine

Yesterday, 10:22

Russia seeks to build dialogue with everyone, including the US, with respect — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov did not agree that it makes sense to build cooperation only from the perspective of truth, which is different for everyone

Trump says ceasefire in Ukraine could take place immediately

"If you want to end the war, you sign up an agreement that's going to take a period of time," he said

Two days ago, 15:50

US deports person wanted in Russia for robbery

According to the investigation, the attacker, acting within an organized group, participated in a robbery at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo airport in 2014, targeting three citizens

9 Feb 2024, 02:04

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

Yesterday, 22:15

Argument between Trump, Zelensky to exacerbate conflict in Ukraine — expert

An "absolutely new political situation emerged that can trigger unpredictable consequences," Andrey Bystritsky, board chairman of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s Development and Support Foundation, said

Yesterday, 15:32

Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from Privolnoye in Donbass area

Russian forces thus continue advancing westward in the Donetsk People’s Republic to the administrative border of the Zaporozhye Region, Vladimir Rogov said

Putin says European elites eventually to be "at Trump’s feet wagging their tails"

Russian President has expressed confidence that his US counterpart Donald Trump will quickly establish order among European elites

Two days ago, 15:51

Russian army 7 km away from Kupyansk — head of Kharkov regional military-civil authority

Vitaly Ganchev noted that the front line in the Kupyansk area was gradually widening

Russian Battlegroup South inflicts damage on Ukraine’s Azov nationalist battalion

"The Ukrainian army lost over 170 troops, a tank, two armored combat vehicles, three pickups, and six field branch artillery weapons, with two of them produced in the West," battlegroup spokesman said

German car industry has no prospects on Russian market — Kneissl

"The demand for expensive German cars will remain niche, for a small group of people who consider them as a status symbol," the head of the "G.O.R.K.I." center of the St. Petersburg State University thinks

Rallies in support of, against South Korean president taking place in Seoul

According to unofficial police estimates, about 60,000 people are participating in a rally in support of the head of state

Trump leaves question on possible suspension of military aid to Ukraine unanswered

"It doesn't matter what I'm considering," he told reporters

Yesterday, 16:39

Merz says he sees no reason for FRG to make its own nuclear weapons

At the same time, the CDU leader pointed out that "articles 4 and 5 of the NATO Treaty concerning consultation and assistance remain unchanged, meaning that Germany’s nuclear cooperation with the Americans continues as before"

Yesterday, 08:03

Russia, China should uphold outcome of WWII — Chinese foreign minister

Wang Yi said it is an imperative to maintain global peace and promote the development of our planet

Oreshnik missile warheads withstand heat equal to Sun’s temperature — Putin

Russian scientists thought about creating such systems back in the late 1980s, the head of state noted

Yesterday, 09:19

Investors hunting for Russian shares after start of Russia-US talks — Bloomberg

As the agency writes, investors are "buying up anything that has even a tenuous link to Russia"

Yesterday, 15:03

Musk jumping the gun by saying that ISS should be deorbited — Russian cosmonaut

Oleg Artemyev speculated that Musk's suggestion to abandon the ISS was made "in haste, without sufficient consideration"

Russia has won special military operation — Kneissl

"No one expected Russia to be so stable," former Austrian Foreign Minister said

Yesterday, 13:09

FACTBOX: What is known about rare earth metals

The term "rare" refers to the supposed scarcity of these minerals and "earth" comes from an old name for oxides, the chemical form for these elements in the mineral

Two days ago, 08:35

Kiev must sign mineral deal to avoid total collapse of US-Ukraine ties — Chinese expert

Although a deal offered to Ukraine by the European Union "may be fairer than that of the US, it comes too late," Zhang Hong believes