18 Feb, 20:22

Rubio says US, Russia should continue establishing lines of communication

"Today is the first step of a long and difficult journey but an important one," US Secretary of State said

WASHINGTON, February 18. /TASS/. The United States and Russia need to establish lines of communication and work toward this should continue, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh.

"We have to understand that it’s been three and a half years since there’s been any sort of regularized contact between the United States and Russia, and in some cases between any of the participants in this conflict and Russia. So, the goal of today’s meeting was to follow up on the phone call the President [of the United States Donald Trump] had a week ago [with Russian leader Vladimir Putin] and begin to establish those lines of communication. The work remains. Today is the first step of a long and difficult journey but an important one," he said.

The Russian and US delegations held talks in Riyadh on February 18. The talks lasted for 4.5 hours. Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy for the Middle East Stephen Witkoff represented the US side.

According to Ushakov, the delegations had a serious conversation on all the matters they had planned to discuss, including bringing the two countries’ positions closer together and contacts on Ukraine. The US Department of State said in turn that Lavrov and Rubio agreed to set up negotiating teams and cooperate on matters of mutual geopolitical interest.

Middle East conflict

Mediators discuss a 50-day ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas, Israel — TV

Asharq also reported that Qatari and Egyptian representatives held a series of meetings with the Hamas leadership in Doha, as well as talks with the US and Israel to agree on the details of the agreement

Russian army in Kursk Region forging ahead to border with Ukraine

The Russian Defence Ministry said earlier that assault units of the Don Cossack air assault regiment based in Feodosia had taken an important fortified strongpoint of the Ukrainian army in the borderline

Yesterday, 15:33

Death toll from quakes in Myanmar may exceed 1,000, with damage totaling 70% of GDP — USGS

According to the estimates by the United States Geological Survey, approximately 796,000 people live in the most affected area, while 3.9 million reside in areas where the seismic activity caused severe damage to unreinforced structures and moderate damage to buildings built to withstand earthquakes

Russian army advances cautiously in Chasovy Yar — military expert

Andrey Marochko noted that due to the ongoing active fighting in Chasovy Yar, it is currently difficult to count the area liberated and mopped up of Ukrainian troops

Yesterday, 14:28

Swedish defense chief says EU mission in Ukraine impossible without US backing

Pal Johnson noted that in order for a military contingent to be sent, several conditions must be met

Yesterday, 18:37

EU plans to cut agricultural imports from Ukraine starting in June — AFP

No details were given about specific commodities to be affected by the reduction or how much imports will plunge

Two days ago, 13:30

Houthis say hit Ben Gurion Airport, military facility in Tel Aviv with missiles

"The objectives of the operation have been successfully achieved," the movement’s military spokesperson said

Trump says US needs Greenland for international security

US president noted that Washington is "not relying on Denmark or anybody else to take care of that situation"

Yesterday, 20:33

Ukraine will not recognize US military aid as debt, Zelensky says

The previous version of the deal was not signed because of a verbal spat between Vladimir Zelensky and US leaders at the White House

Yesterday, 10:35

Ukraine reports tense frontline situation in Zaporozhye area

Ukrainian military commanders of various ranks have been characterizing the operational and strategic situation as complex lately

Two days ago, 13:36

Houthis attack another US aircraft carrier in Red Sea — spokesman

According to Yahya Saria, by striking the aircraft carrier, the Houthis prevented "the enemy's attempts to redeploy its warships to the southern Red Sea and expand its aggression against Yemen

Yesterday, 14:25

American bases to be targeted if US invades Iran, says Iranian parliament speaker

US Presidential National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated on February 23 that Washington was considering all options regarding Iran’s nuclear program

Yesterday, 08:02

Russian forces breach Ukrainian defenses, advance near DPR’s Katerinovka — expert

Andrey Marochko added that some of the Ukrainian army units, which had become fragmented following the breakthrough by Russian Armed Forces, retreated and reinforced their positions south of Katerinovka

Yesterday, 17:52

LG Electronics partly restarts its plant in Moscow Region — newspaper

The plant was producing washing machines and refrigerators

Yesterday, 14:08

Russian troops liberate five communities in Ukraine operation over week

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted more than 545 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy tanks and two US-made armored personnel carriers in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported

Two days ago, 11:40

Russia displays counter-UAV laser rifle

According to the designer company, the laser beam destroys the drone body, propeller, engines, battery

Yesterday, 15:44

Putin enjoys strong support among Russians — poll

A total of 51.9% expressed approval of how the Russian government is managing the country

Yesterday, 18:09

Ukraine talks see progress — Trump

"I think we're making progress, but there's a lot of ill will between the parties," the US leader said, commenting on the situation in Ukraine

Yesterday, 17:30

France, UK assisted Ukraine in strike on Sudzha gas metering station — Foreign Ministry

According to Maria Zakharova, the guidance and targeting of the strikes were conducted using French satellite systems, while UK specialists provided the coordinate input and carried out the launch

Yesterday, 04:56

Russia did not initiate combat in Ukraine, Putin says

Putin emphasized that for eight years, Russia has been trying to settle the Ukrainian issue peacefully

Yesterday, 09:21

IN BRIEF: What we know about impacts of earthquake in Myanmar, Thailand

Chinese seismologists believe the epicenter lay at a depth of 30 km

US launches 14 strikes on Yemen's Saada governorate, one person killed — TV

Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, was also shelled and attacked at least eight times

US not interested in military solution to Taiwan issue — senior Russian diplomat

"It seems to us that no one in the region - neither the United States nor China, of which Taiwan is a part - is interested in a military solution," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told

Yesterday, 08:56

Mass rapid transit system in Bangkok suspends service in wake of earthquake

"The MRT is closed and we don’t know when it will resume operation," a station operator told TASS

Yesterday, 01:03

Russian forces to overwhelm Ukrainian troops, Putin believes

"There are grounds to think that we will finish them off," the Russian leader said

Yesterday, 01:01

Russia ready to work with Europe without ‘being fooled’ by it — Putin

They are acting inconsistently, constantly trying to fool, Russian President said

Yesterday, 18:06

IN BRIEF: What we know about detention of Gagauzia’s head Evghenia Gutsul

On March 25, Evghenia Gutsul was detained at the Chisinau Airport

Yesterday, 22:29

Major fire starts in industrial area in northeast of Lugansk

Warehousing facilities are ablaze, no one was hurt

Yesterday, 10:06

Sudzha gas metering station 'virtually destroyed': new Ukrainian attacks on energy sites

The drones were targeting the infrastructure of the Saratov oil refinery

Yesterday, 20:56

IN BRIEF: JD Vance visits Greenland: US military presence plans, hopes for accession

TASS has gathered key remarks by the US vice president

Two days ago, 08:17

Russia to display battle-tested weapons at LAAD show in Brazil

Rosoboronexport said it is ready to discuss new industrial cooperation projects regarding the displayed weapons in full compliance with modern market trends

Assets of Ukrainian businessman Shifrin arrested in Russia on fraud case

The businessman was granted Russian citizenship in October 2016. In 2022, after the onset of the special military operation, he applied to the Russian embassy on renunciation of Russian citizenship

Yesterday, 12:05

Russian army sticks to moratorium on strikes on energy facilities — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that Ukraine continued to assault Russian energy infrastructure

Yesterday, 19:00

Thailand records over 50 aftershocks following Myanmar earthquake

The latest aftershock with a magnitude of 4.9 was recorded at 11:46 p.m. local time (4:46 p.m. GMT)

Yesterday, 18:47

Leader of Moldova’s autonomous region denounces arrest as political revenge

According to Evghenia Gutsul, Moldova’s Party of Action and Solidarity, which controls the parliament and government, is behind the court’s decision to send her to custody

Yesterday, 15:50

EU not present at Russia-US talks on Ukraine at fault of Brussels — Austrian ex-chancellor

On March 24, representatives of Russia and the United States met in Riyadh to discuss the resumption of the Black Sea initiative

Trump administration demands control over Ukraine's economy — newspaper

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Ukrainian authorities fear that the terms of the agreement will limit their ability to attract other investors and rebuild infrastructure

Yesterday, 15:49

Russian embassy slams UK, France for trying to undermine efforts to resolve Ukraine issue

Russian diplomats stressed that "instead of making far-fetched claims against Russia, London should stop covering up its Kiev minions" and "finally pay attention to the Ukrainian army’s ongoing attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, let alone the hunt for Russian journalists that Ukrainian terrorists organized"

Many Asian countries’ leaders invited to Victory Day parade in Moscow — Russian MFA

It became known earlier that the Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party To Lam would be present at the parade

Two days ago, 14:20

Pharaoh tomb 3,600 years old discovered in Egypt — media

Archaeologists first discovered a pharaoh's tomb at Abydos more than 10 years ago, providing evidence of a "lost" royal dynasty at the site

Yesterday, 03:21

Putin proposes introducing UN external governance in Ukraine to hold election

The Russian president reiterated that such precedents under the auspices of the UN existed in East Timor, New Guinea and parts of former Yugoslavia

14 Jun 2024, 14:13

Russia makes another real peace proposal to Kiev — Putin

Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia's plan would mean ending the conflict once and for all, not freezing it

Yesterday, 17:29

US-Russian cooperation on ISS runs smoothly, professionally — NASA

The agency did not address the question regarding the potential for expanding cooperation between the two countries, particularly concerning missions to Mars

Yesterday, 14:21

Russia, China say US military activity behind escalation on Korean Peninsula — MFA

"Both sides stressed that such provocative actions threaten peace and stability in Northeast Asia," the ministry stated

Yesterday, 19:33

Russian Emergencies Ministry sends rescuers to earthquake-stricken Myanmar

The ministry’s task force includes 120 rescuers from the Tsentrospas airmobile squad and the Leader Center for High-Risk Rescue Operations

Yesterday, 12:31

Ukraine to owe US more than $120 bln under revised minerals deal — newspaper

Additionally, Ukraine is required to make its own contributions to this fund

Two days ago, 19:00

Putin visits Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine

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Two days ago, 18:34

Siberia, Ural to have railway approach to Arctic — Putin

"Regions of Siberia, Ural, Northwest Russia will have the direct access to the north, to Arctic ports, making it possible to reduce the load on the Trans-Siberian Railway," the Russian leader stressed

Yesterday, 15:01

Foreign mercenaries are liability for Ukrainian military, expert says

Ruslan Pukhov also warned that the Ukrainian army could become a global concern once the conflict concludes

Two days ago, 21:07

Putin describes floating out of Perm nuclear sub as milestone for Russian Navy

"It is supposed to enter service with the Russian Navy and to start performing its combat tasks next year," the president added

Kiev trying to reassemble front, force Russian army to retreat from Volchansk — expert

Andrey Marochko said that development of combat power is registered in this area, including by assault teams

Yesterday, 23:18

Tennis player Kasatkina says she will represent Australia

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Yesterday, 17:10

Trump serious about normalization with Russia, EU has no option — ex-US intel official

Graham Fuller did not rule out that Europe would also move towards normalizing relations with Russia in the foreseeable future

Thailand records 77 aftershocks following Myanmar earthquake

They were almost not felt in many regions

Yesterday, 12:32

Too early to discuss details of Putin’s external governance plan for Ukraine — Kremlin

Earlier, the Russian leader said that external governance has been introduced globally before and that the practice could pave the way for legitimate talks on resolving the Ukraine conflict

Yesterday, 14:42

Russia’s foreign debt declines to $290 bln as of January 1 — Central Bank

The foreign det of Russia stood at $318.289 bln as of January 1, 2024

Lavrov describes NATO secretary general as ‘laughable and pathetic’

Russian Foreign Minister noted that Mark Rutte 'does not want even to speak on the subject'

Ukrainian troops control only three settlements in Kursk Region — commander

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that the battlegroup North had liberated the village of Gogolevka in the Kursk Region

Yesterday, 00:52

Iran sends its official response to Trump’s letter via Oman

According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the message comprises two documents

Yesterday, 18:25

Russia, US did not discuss re-SWIFTing Russian banks during talks in Riyadh

Russia and the US held consultations in Riyadh on March 24

Yesterday, 08:06

EU initiates preparations for 17th sanctions package against Russia

According to the source, the EU’s foreign service and the European Commission are actively engaged in this effort

Yesterday, 14:50

Russia says Western sanctions may become impetus to set up Large Eurasian Partnership

The Greater Eurasian Partnership is an initiative proposed by Putin, which he put forward in an address to the Federal Assembly in 2015

Yesterday, 16:50

What is known about the return of 25 Kursk Region residents from Ukraine to Russia

Among the returnees there are several elderly individuals, with the oldest being 92 years old

Yesterday, 14:21

Cyprus says is going to send troops to Ukraine 'under no circumstances'

According to Yiannis Antonio, Christodoulides said Cyprus is willing to contribute to the creation of a UN-mandated force to monitor security in Ukraine after a peace deal is signed, similar to the one inked before the deployment of the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel

Yesterday, 10:30

Anti-Russian sanctions cause discord between Italian authorities, people — expert

Michele Geraci noted that many Italians oppose anti-Russian actions

Two days ago, 11:16

EU outraged over being excluded from discussions on Nord Stream pipelines — Politico

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Channel One that Moscow and Washington were discussing the Nord Stream issue

Yesterday, 13:57

IN BRIEF: Major earthquake strikes Southeast Asia

The quake caused casualties in Myanmar, and the United States Geological Survey predicts that the death toll could surpass 1,000

Two days ago, 17:42

Russia to put new generation icebreakers into service — Putin

Russia already has the largest icebreaker fleet globally, the head of state noted

Yesterday, 17:54

Sandu cracks down on Gagauzia, her next target being Transnistria — legislator

According to Andrey Safonov, in the most extreme scenario, there could be an orchestrated conflict along the Dniester, on orders from the Euroglobalists to Chisinau

Lula da Silva confirms plans to attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow

Lula da Silva also said that he plans to discuss the potential peaceful settlement in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his visit to Russia in May

Canada’s Russophobic policy limits space for Arctic cooperation — Russian envoy

Mark Carney said earlier that Canada’s authorities did not intend to cooperate with Russia on the Arctic-related issues as it is not a like-minded nation

Two days ago, 13:03

US is trying to become largest Arctic power — Russian presidential adviser

Anton Kobyakov noted that the United States, while not a signatory to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, has nonetheless invoked its provisions to assert claims over Arctic territories, water areas, and oil-and gas-rich continental shelves

Two days ago, 21:04

Putin gives go-ahead to launch Perm nuclear submarine

"Go ahead!" the Russian leader said

Hamas ready to release several hostages for Eid al-Fitr ceasefire — radio

The radicals need a ceasefire for a few days to quell protests that Palestinians staged this week against Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip, sources told Kan

Ukraine loses up to 260 troops, one tank in responsibility area of Battlegroup South

Units of Battlegroup South took more advantageous military lines and positions in 24 hours, inflicted damage on troops and equipment of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army

Yesterday, 11:23

Russian forces liberate Gogolevka: situation in Kursk Region

Russian troops are engaged in fighting in the center of Guyevo in the Kursk Region, facing the most skilled units of the Ukrainian army's special operations forces

Yesterday, 15:39

Russian embassy slams British PM’s ceasefire deadline idea as 'absurd'

"The arbitrary deadlines Starmer hastily devised in his remarks to journalists are completely unfounded — especially given London’s clear intent to derail any peace initiatives," the statement reads

Yesterday, 13:16

Hungary wants explanation from Brussels about preparations for war with Russia — Szijjarto

"We are waiting for the European Commission to answer the question of why we now need to develop a 72-hour survival plan," the Hungarian foreign minister said

Yesterday, 16:20

Trump may reduce US military presence in Europe — Swedish defense minister

According to the minister, European countries "must one way or another take more responsibility in regard to ensuring the security" of the continent

Two days ago, 10:00

Press review: Kiev challenges Black Sea deal as the US reasserts China as its top rival

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

Yesterday, 14:43

Russia honors $102 mln Eurobond coupon payment — Finance Ministry

Payments were made in accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the temporary procedure of honoring state debt liabilities of the country to residents and foreign creditors, with their par value expressed in foreign currencies

Yesterday, 20:59

Several missing medical workers found dead in southern Gaza, Hamas says

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said earlier that the fate of nine doctors detained by Israeli troops remained unknown

Yesterday, 22:06

IMF board of directors approves $400 mln tranche to Ukraine

This will bring the total disbursements under the IMF-supported program to $10.1 billion

Two days ago, 07:34

Ukrainian combat group hits its own mines upon escape from Sudzha — Russian army engineer

There were both wheeled and tracked vehicles with Ukrainian crews and military personnel blown up on the minefields, he specified

Russia open to cooperation with US to ensure security in Arctic — embassy

"Russia assumes that security in the Arctic should be built by joint efforts of countries of the region through dialogue and cooperation," Russia’s embassy in Denmark told

Ukraine loses more than 190 troops in Kursk Region over day — top brass

The Defense Ministry also said that Russian servicemen had liberated the Veselovka settlement in the Sumy Region

Yesterday, 18:00

All USAID employees to be laid off by September 30 — media

According to the sources, all USAID overseas missions will be shut down in fiscal year 2025, which ends on September 30

Myanmar quake toll up to 694 dead — AFP

1,670 people were wounded

Senior Russian defense official discusses cooperation with Myanmar’s prime minister

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin also congratulated Min Aung Hlaing on the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Myanmar Armed Forces and handed over a congratulatory letter from Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov

Russian forces liberate Panteleymonovka, Shcherbaki — top brass

TASS has compiled the main information about the special operation progress over the past 24 hours

Yesterday, 09:30

EU leaders prepare for conflict with Russia, Hungary will not go to war — Orban

While Europe continues to speculate that the Ukrainian conflict could spread across the continent, the Hungarian prime minister dismissed this notion, stating, "This is not true"

Yesterday, 19:16

Russia’s export duty on wheat to be $22.62 per metric ton from April 2

The duty on the export of barley will total $2.59 per metric ton, the duty on corn will be $14.32 per metric ton, according to the Ministry of Agriculture

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Germany mulls Nord Stream restoration as Zaporozhye NPP sparks talks

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

Yesterday, 17:03

Price growth in Russia slowing down — Central Bank chief

The price hike is slowing down, and the economic growth continues at a more modest pace, Elvira Nabiullina said

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian special units in Guyevo — security forces

"The enemy expects to hold off the advance of the Russian armed forces as long as possible, hoping to escape through the forest to the Sumy Region," the source said

Yesterday, 18:39

IAEA experts find no leaks from ZNPP reservoirs — secretary-general

"During the visit to the fuel storage area located outside the ZNPP perimeter, the IAEA team reported that the levels in the storage tanks were normal, there were no traces of spilled fuel and no evidence of any repair work being carried out," the statement reads

Yesterday, 05:26

About 99% of LPR, more than 70% of DPR, Novorossiya liberated, says Putin

According to the Russian president, "along the entire line of engagement, the strategic initiative is fully with the Russian Armed Forces"

Yesterday, 11:11

Putin emphasizes importance of Syria’s integrity in phone call with Erdogan

The leaders also pointed to "the need to render all possible assistance to its government and people with a view to enhancing political stability and observing the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic and confessional groups there"

Yesterday, 09:31

Europe can provide no guarantees for peace in Ukraine without US — Hungary’s PM

Viktor Orban reminded that the two largest European countries - France and Germany - had once participated in the preparation of the Minsk agreements on the settlement in Ukraine, but they failed to be implemented

9 Dec 2021, 22:42

CIA employees worked in Russian government in mid-1990s — Putin

He underscored that "of course, the situation has changed"

Yesterday, 13:09

Russian negotiator welcomes US desire to achieve ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter

"It’s a good thing that such appeals and calls are being made," Grigory Karasin said