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China takes over UN Security Council presidency

Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Fu Cong will announce the agenda of the meetings at a press conference on Monday

UNITED NATIONS, February 1. /TASS/. China has taken over the rotating one-month presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

The UN Security Council is expected to hold about two dozen open meetings and closed-door consultations in February, particularly discussing the situation in the Middle East. Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Fu Cong will announce the agenda of the meetings at a press conference on Monday.

The UN Security Council is made of five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - and ten non-permanent ones. The current non-permanent members include Algeria, Guyana, Greece, Denmark, Pakistan, Panama, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Somalia and South Korea.

According to the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and all UN member states are obliged to obey its decisions.

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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

NATO faces crisis as member states increasingly distrust each other over intel — newspaper

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Keith Kellogg noted that the Washington administration would like to know how serious Ukraine was "to get to peace discussions"

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

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

Trump pointed out that he had discussed the issue with Moscow and Beijing during his first term in office

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

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"

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

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

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Russia to oppose deployment of European military in Ukraine — Kremlin

Moscow considers it unacceptable, Dmitry Peskov emphasized

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"

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Brussels 'declares war' on European leaders supporting Trump — Russian intelligence

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

NATO is dead, British expert says

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

Russia’s defense chief inspects laser innovations at Sarov federal nuclear center

Andrey Belousov held a working meeting with the heads of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center and specialized military agencies

France continues to provide intelligence to Ukraine — top defense official

"We transfer the information we have to the Ukrainian side," Sebastien Lecornu emphasized

Zelensky-Trump clash meant to involve London, Paris in talks, Russian diplomat says

"Zelensky’s heated exchange [with Trump] in the White House served the purpose of getting London and Paris into talks between Kiev and Washington," Rodion Miroshnik wrote

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

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Ukraine's disconnection from Starlink would set Ukraine back to last century — newspaper

If Washington cuts the system, it could also lead to a conflict with Poland, which is currently paying for 20,000 terminals on the network for Kiev's use

US hopes Ukraine has changed its stance, is interested in settlement talks — Rubio

"And it would be to the benefit of everyone, the Russian people, the people of Ukraine, the people United States," US Secretary of State said

Press review: Zelensky seeks talks as Europe hesitates to introduce military service

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Press review: EU opposition backs US aligned approach as Russia mediates talks with Iran

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, March 5th

Putin says armed conflict in Ukraine forced on Russia

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Polish PM highlights need for Europe to enter arms race with Russia

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

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Dmitry Peskov stressed that the main Russian ally is Belarus

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Abu Ubaida stated that Israel’s threats to resume military operations in the enclave would only cause more "disappointment" to the Jewish state

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

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

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Poland not ready to transfer MiG-29 jets to Ukraine yet — Duda

Warsaw previously transferred 14 MiG-29 aircraft to Kiev

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

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The naval commando unit received a jet ski from party chairman Dmitry Medvedev

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Russia won’t tolerate NATO contingents in Ukraine, Lavrov says

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Kellogg disagrees that Kiev wants peace more than Moscow

According to the envoy, Moscow reached out to the new administration in Washington "fairly fast" on Ukraine settlement matters

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

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

Earlier, a Pentagon spokesman told TASS that the US Armed Forces have suspended military aid deliveries to Ukraine

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Russian company to build drone plants in Belarus — CEO

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Russian artillery crews wipe out Ukrainian stronghold near Chasov Yar

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US developing plan to seize Iranian oil tankers — media

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Russia sees no ground for compromise on EU military deployment in Ukraine — Lavrov

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

"We need legally enforceable agreements and mechanisms that will prevent the resumption and recurrence of the crisis," Maria Zakharova stressed

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

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US froze military aid to Kiev because Zelensky took it for granted — intelligence chief

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Local residents have been advised to evacuate during the operation

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

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European leaders want 'forever war' — Musk

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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

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

"All the mistakes of our enemies and adversaries began in the same way: with a profound underestimation of the Russian character and, more broadly, of the representatives of Russian culture," the Russian leader stressed

Explosive device detonates in ATM in northeast Moscow

According to the preliminary version, the ATM was damaged by the explosion of three firecrackers

Europe not to win arms race against Russia as Moscow has no intention of joining — Kremlin

"We will focus on our own matters and secure our own interests," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

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

Trump introduced sanctions against Moscow and supplied Javelin missile systems for Kiev

Europe eggs Zelensky on for continued combat, Vance says

US Vice President said in an interview with Fox News

Russia says its Buk air defense system destroyed Ukrainian air-launched missiles over DPR

The ministry added that anti-aircraft crews are on 24-hour combat duty

Russia to introduce responsibility for executives of companies hiring illegal workers

Relevant authorities should close any loopholes for illegal workers and unfair employers by common efforts, Dmitry Medvedev noted

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

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

"At this stage, we do not see how Russia could pose a military threat to Moldova," Dorin Recean stated

Macron’s statements on 'Russian threat' full of inaccuracies — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov described the French leader’s statements as "very confrontational"

Russian troops liberate Andreyevka community in Donetsk region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted more than 70 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported

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

In that frontline area, the enemy is hastily delivering concrete slabs by railways to create a defensive line, Vitaly Kiselyov said

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

The world strongly responds to the behavior of employees of territorial centers for recruitment, Natalia Nikonorova noted

EU torpedoing mere prerequisites for peace in Ukraine — Russian diplomat

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

Trump makes it clear to Zelensky there is path back to talks with Washington — US envoy

Trump said earlier that he had received a message from Zelensky with the latter expressing his readiness for talks on a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine

All EU members but Hungary back bigger aid to Ukraine

"EU's aid to Ukraine and the rearmament plan gained the support of 26 countries out of the total of 27," the diplomat said.

Trump administration plans to revoke refugee status from 240,000 Ukrainians — report

According to Reuters, the planned legal status revocations will also affect 70,000 Afghans, including opponents of the Taliban (banned in Russia), along with 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans

EU leaders stop short of approving defense loans to member states

They called on the Council to consider the proposal as a matter of urgency

Zelensky says US, Ukrainian negotiators to resume talks

According to the earlier reports, US and Ukrainian teams are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on March 12

Russia-China duo important stabilizing factor in world affairs — MFA

The two countries make a significant contribution to the democratization of international relations and the establishment of a fairer multipolar world order, Maria Zakharova stated

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

According to the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, this situation will not change until Western countries stop using the Vienna platform to suit their own interests and violate OSCE principles, thus destroying this international structure

Trump says he plans to visit Saudi Arabia soon

The US president did not answer whether he plans to visit Saudi Arabia for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin

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"

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

With priority status assigned to long-range artillery and missiles

Lavrov compares Macron to Hitler, Napoleon

"Because they stated openly: 'We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia'," the top Russian diplomat said

Syria security forces say Assad supporters attack public buildings in Jebla

According to Knefati, there were also attacks on checkpoints and patrols in and around Jebla, which were "premeditated and deliberate."

US reconsidering funding for Ukraine — White House spokesperson

"What he National Security Council told me in regards to that was that they paused, or they are reconsidering the funding for Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said

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

According to the sources, "Washington aims to use these contacts to exert internal pressure on Zelensky, compelling him to agree to a ceasefire"

Macron's remarks disconnected from reality, Russian diplomat says

Earlier, in his address to the public, Macron discussed the growing threats to Europe and the nation, including alleged ones from Russia

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

Stages of creating Russian industrial zone in Egypt to be finalized in May — ministry

According to Roman Chekushov, it is necessary to obtain the Russian government’s consent of the concept that was discussed with the Egyptian side

Putin appoints Alexander Darchiev as ambassador to the United States

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, an agreement to ensure the swiftest appointment of Russian and US ambassadors was reached at the February 18 Russia-US talks in Saudi Arabia

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

Ukraine had violated written guarantees to ensure the safety of the IAEA observers at the Zaporozhye NPP more than once, Mikhail Ulyanov noted

Transition of Panama Canal under US control won’t affect Russian economy — expert

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

Ovechkin just nine goals away from Gretzky’s all-time NHL record

Canadian-American ice hockey star Wayne Gretzky played for four different NHL teams between 1979 and 1999, scoring more goals than anyone in history during his 20-year career

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

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