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Estonian legislator calls Munich conference results Russia’s diplomatic triumph

Marko Mihkelson said that Moscow now has an initiative not only on the battlefield, but also in diplomacy

VILNIUS, February 18. /ТASS/. The Munich security conference handed a diplomatic advantage to Russia, said Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament) of Estonia Marko Mihkelson.

"I believe that Russia achieved an important victory over the weekend - today it is more active diplomatically," the ERR national television and radio portal quoted him as saying.

The politician also said that Moscow now has an initiative not only on the battlefield, but also in diplomacy.

US special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, who took part in the Munich Security Conference, said on February 16 that the EU would not be present at the negotiating table on the Ukrainian settlement, but its interests would be taken into account. This caused serious alarm in the European capitals, and later Kellogg tried to reassure the allies by familiarizing them with American tactics in negotiations where the United States intends to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian and American delegations will hold talks in Riyadh on February 18 to discuss the restoration of bilateral relations, as well as preparations for discussing the Ukrainian settlement and for a meeting between their leaders. Russia is represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yury Ushakov. According to CNN, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy for the Middle East Stephen Witkoff will be present at the talks in Saudi Arabia.

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Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council opined that those companies would most probably want to get back

27 Chinese planes approach Taiwan — defense ministry

Taiwan’s defense agency has regularly recorded the approach of Chinese warplanes and warships of late

Russia to invite US to meeting of high representatives on security issues — Shoigu

Sergey Shoigu noted that representatives from over 100 countries had already confirmed their participation in the upcoming meeting

Kick-sharing services resumes operations in Moscow

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Trump says United States should build relations with Russia — Breitbart News

On March 18, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine, conditions for preventing escalation, and some international topics by phone

Medvedev urges to feel free to follow Trump’s example in protecting domestic brands

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Foreign mercenaries target retreating Ukrainian troops, POW says

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According to the report, the Ukrainian president announced the decision during phone conversation with the US leader on Wednesday

Russian forces strike military train with Ukrainian ammo, armament over past day

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The South Korean Defense Ministry called in Russian military attache Nikolay Marchenko to protest the incident

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Russian forces push Ukrainians out of Zherebyanki in Zaporozhye region — official

On March 12, the politician told TASS that Russian forces had liberated around 5 square kilometers of land near the rural settlements of Zherebyanka and Kamenskoye in the Zaporozhye Region

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US national security advisor Waltz says held phone call with Russian counterpart

Mike Waltz said that he had not discussed Western military assistance to Ukraine

New Russia-US talks on Ukraine won’t be held at ministerial level — diplomat

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Trump briefed on Kiev military’s terrorist crimes against Russians — delegation in Vienna

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Kiev fears Trump may agree to cede Odessa to Russia — media

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The Ecuadorian diplomat stressed that Moscow remains Quito’s strategic partner

Kiev attacks energy site in southern Russia after infrastructure ceasefire — top brass

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Orban says other EU states quietly support Hungary's stance against Ukrainian accession

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NATO can no longer 'wage war of attrition' with Russia — expert

"The primary reason for this is that Russia continues to outpace the US and NATO in terms of weapons production and military capabilities," Chung Jae-hung said

Trump’s course toward cooperation with Russia beginning to 'bear fruit' — US expert

In his words, the phone call between the US and Russian leaders "call marks a substantive first step on what will be a long and winding road to a negotiated peace"

Putin speaks on imminent Ukrainian defeat in Kursk at Prosecutor Office board meeting

The Russian president noted that the number of complaints received by the Prosecutor's Office increased by 10% in 2024

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The exchange was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump

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According to Mike Waltz, the sides are "to focus on implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire President Trump secured from Russia"

Houthis report new attack on US aircraft carrier in Red Sea

According to Yahya Sarea, "the operation successfully reached its target"

Kiev can't be trusted to honor agreements — MP

Konstantin Zatulin expressed confidence that any ceasefire regime, especially in its early stages, would be accompanied by provocations, assuming such a ceasefire was ever seriously considered

Trump, Zelensky agree that peace in Ukraine can be achieved — White House

The document said that the US administration characterized the US president's conversation with Vladimir Zelensky as "fantastic"

Released Russian POWs report widespread torture, secret jails in Ukraine, Kursk — MFA

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Turkish opposition leader calls for rallies in support for Istanbul mayor on March 23

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Moscow protests temporary lockdown of its embassy in Moldova

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Houthis say they attacked Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport with hypersonic missile

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier that a missile launched from the Yemeni territory had been intercepted before it reached Israel’s airspace

Telegram’s active users above one billion monthly — Durov

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Kiev sees Trump’s idea of US control of Ukrainian nuke plants as unworkable — newspaper

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Zelensky attempts to ridicule Trump by continuing attacks against Russia — State Duma MP

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Hamas says Israel passed Gaza ceasefire proposals through mediators

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The telephone call "lasted approximately one hour"

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Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, March 20th

Russia has no plans to attack Germany — MFA on Merz's remarks

"If Berlin makes such claims, it means that Germany may have such plans itself; but in that case, Berlin needs to call things by their proper name," Maria Zakharova stated

Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry becomes first female IOC president

The two-time Olympic champion will take office on June 24

US tried to eliminate Houthi senior official in Sanaa — media

Al Arabiya channel did not specify whether the strike successfully eliminated him

India, Russia to conduct Indra Navy joint military exercises

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Poland has no reason to place anti-personnel mines on Russia-Belarus border — envoy

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