23 Feb, 23:43

CDU leader rejects coalition with Alternative for Germany party

"Their goals are opposite to ours, and therefore there will be no cooperation," Friedrich Merz said

BERLIN, February 24. /TASS/. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) that is winning the snap election to Bundestag, rejected the possibility of having the coalition with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that comes second.

The Christian Democratic Union takes the lead together with their sister party Christian Social Union.

"Their [AfD] goals are opposite to ours, and therefore there will be no cooperation," Merz said on the air with ARD television. CDU clearly said even before the elections that it will not cooperate with AfD and voters of both parties knew about that, he added.

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Trump believes Ukrainian conflict to be settled soon

The US leader expressed confidence that all sides were showing enthusiasm to reach the agreement

Moscow breaks temperature record for April 18 — lead meteorologist

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Russian troops liberate Preobrazhenka community in Donetsk region over past day

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According to the US Secretary of State, the understanding of whether it would be possible to put an end to the Ukraine conflict may come "in a matter of days"

Russia says some Ukrainian soldiers surrendered in Kursk Region

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US-Iran to hold second round talks in Rome on April 19 — Oman’s Foreign Ministry

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Ceasefire in Ukraine unrealistic at this point, Russia’s UN envoy says

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EU to take part in Ukraine talks to ensure lifting of Russia sanctions — top US diplomat

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Liberation of Kalinovo in DPR to accelerate Russian army’s advance to Konstantinovka

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Russia, Iran certain that effect of illegal sanctions can be reduced to zero — Lavrov

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Signing of US-Ukraine minerals agreement on April 26 may not take place — official

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Yesterday, 19:16

Rosatom says other countries coming to Russia for help with quantum tech development

That said, having become one of top three developers of quantum tech, Russia has spent roughly 20 times less money on its quantum program than the leaders in the "quantum race," Solntseva noted

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Memo of intent points to US aid for Kiev, does not recognize Ukraine’s debt

The memo also notes that the parties intend to avoid conflicts with Ukraine’s obligations under European Union accession and agreements with other creditors

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Trump, Lula admire Putin, disdain Zelensky — media

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Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: US could rally 70 countries against China and EU targets Russia before May 9

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 17th

Yesterday, 17:20

Germany grants Kiev new aid package with 66 MRAP armored vehicles, UAVs

The new package also includes shells for Leopard 2 tanks

Technology to jam Starlink signal begins to be used in Kherson Region — governor

This technology has already started to be deployed, and the effects are already being felt, Vladimir Saldo stressed

Yesterday, 10:36

Russia’s Medvedev says European troops to return in coffins if deployed to Ukraine

Earlier, Andrey Yermak, the head of the office of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, said he along with the Ukrainian defense and foreign ministers, Rustem Umerov and Andrey Sibiga, respectively, had arrived in Paris for talks with senior US officials

Yesterday, 18:13

EU may introduce restrictions on exports to US — Bloomberg

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Press review: UN ready to join Black Sea deal while Russia lifts Taliban ban

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 18th

Yesterday, 11:08

Responsibility for what happened in Sumy certainly lies with Zelensky — Russian diplomat

As Maria Zakharova stressed, "the junta leader tried to shift the responsibility for this next terrible war crime against his own citizens to the head of the Sumy military administration"

Talks on Ukrainian conflict resolution complicated — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov answered to a question about US President Donald Trump’s recent remark that he expected Russia’s response on a proposed Ukrainian ceasefire this week

Russia ready to help facilitate Iran-US nuclear deal agreements — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister stressed that Moscow welcomes the willingness to achieve objective and mutually acceptable agreements

Yesterday, 22:13

US national shot dead during plane hijacking attempt in Belize

The pilots managed to land the aircraft at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

Russia, Iran build strategic partnership in response to Western sanctions — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat also emphasized that Moscow and Tehran "have a lot of supporters within the United Nations, including the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter that develops position documents, particularly demanding an end to illegal practices and a return to the norms of international law"

Yesterday, 19:18

Iranian foreign minister hands Putin letter from ayatollah — Iran’s Foreign Ministry

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, "mainly nuclear issues" were discussed at the meeting, as well as the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East

Houthis attack US aircraft carriers Harry Truman, Carl Vinson — spokesman

Yahya Saria also said that "the US military buildup and continued aggression against Yemen will only lead to more attacks"

Yesterday, 10:14

Moon and Mars cannot be explored without nuclear energy — expert

The scientist further noted that Russia is entirely self-sufficient in space-related activities, but that the country had lost "its launch capabilities and many other assets," because the rest of the world had begun actively developing commercial space industries

US not ready to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine yet, Rubio says

The negotiators will go back to their capitals, "mulling over, and return to us early next week," the US Secretary of State said

Russian troops liberate four communities in Donetsk region over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 1,900 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy tanks and 39 armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

Yesterday, 14:02

Kiev's regime loses more than 165 troops in Kursk area over past day — Russia’s top brass

Over the period of fighting in the Kursk area, the enemy has lost up to 74,780 troops, 410 tanks, 334 infantry fighting vehicles, 305 armored personnel carriers

US offers easing of anti-Russia sanctions as part of Ukrainian settlement — Bloomberg

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Zelensky aide's remarks on ceasefire ring cynical as Ukraine attacks ZNPP — diplomat

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Yesterday, 20:01

Lavrov confirms to Rubio Moscow’s readiness to work with US on Ukrainian crisis — ministry

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Trump expects to get Russia’s response on Ukraine truce this week

US president said that sides are getting close to the agreement

Moratorium on energy sites strikes can be seen as progress in settlement — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov commented on the statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the US does not plan to deal with the Ukrainian settlement for weeks and months

Yesterday, 20:48

Hamas leader in Gaza opposes disarmament

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Paris meeting helps West agree upon positions on peace in Ukraine — French MFA

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Marco Rubio pointed out that the White House was in constant contact with London and Paris on settling the Ukraine issue

Yesterday, 12:35

US increasingly distances itself from Europe's plans to help Kiev — Russian MFA

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Yesterday, 13:33

Attack on Russia using Taurus missiles would imply Germany’s involvement in conflict — MFA

Meanwhile, the Kiev regime has been "a tool of this Western manipulation," Maria Zakharova argued

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Two days ago, 18:34

Despite suspending space ties with Moscow, Europe still uses its equipment — Putin

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Yesterday, 18:34

At least three killed in cable car crash near Italian city of Naples

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Yesterday, 14:52

Kabul grateful to Moscow for decision on Taliban — Afghan embassy in Russia

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Yesterday, 19:46

Washington, Kiev to sign minerals deal on April 24 — Trump

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Yesterday, 20:00

Taliban expects to develop full-scale diplomatic, economic ties with Russia

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Yesterday, 05:29

Russian troops establish new footholds near Figolevka in Kharkov region, expert says

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Yesterday, 15:40

All parameters of possible agreements on Ukraine should be fulfilled by parties — MFA

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On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump had a telephone conversation in which they discussed the situation in Ukraine

Yesterday, 17:01

Diplomats deny reports of missile strike on Indian pharma company’s Kiev warehouse

"The most likely explanation of the incident is that one of Ukrainian air defense missiles fell on Kusum Healthcare’s warehouse setting it on fire," the Russian embassy in New Delhi said

Belarusian detained in Novorossiysk intended to blow up military assembly point — FSB

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EU, US who use energy as weapon, not Russia — German lawmaker

Steffen Kotre also pointed out that it would be sound to consider reserves, i.e. to develop the production of domestic gas

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According to the Defense Ministry, 27 drones were downed over the Voronezh Region, 12 over the Belgorod Region, another 12 over the Sea of Azov, three over Crimea, one over the Rostov Region and one more over the Krasnodar Region

Yesterday, 12:01

Russian MFA spokeswoman calls insane Franco-British plan to send contingent to Ukraine

Maria Zakharova noted that, alongside the French and the British, "only similarly frenzied Russophobes in the Baltic states" are willing to join this venture

Ukraine fails to meet any of EU’s membership criteria — German lawmaker

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Russia seeks to resolve Ukraine conflict, ensure national interests — Kremlin spokesman

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Ukraine's Defense Ministry acknowledges issue of forced mobilization, shortage of recruits

Ukraine introduced martial law and general military mobilization on February 24, 2022, extending them several times since then

Yesterday, 11:27

Putin lauds Qatar’s efforts to help resolve Israel-Palestine conflict

According to the Russian leader, Russia and Qatar share a similar vision of how a lasting peace could be achieved

Yesterday, 08:41

Rheinmetall to complete construction of ammo factory in Ukraine next year

Rheinmetall is Germany’s largest defense company

Russia-Afghanistan business forum to be held in Kazan

The Russian delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk

Yesterday, 12:49

Russia suspends Taliban ban following court ruling

The court session was held behind closed doors

Yesterday, 22:35

Lavrov to hold talks with Iran’s foreign minister in Moscow on Friday

On Thursday, Abbas Araghchi was received by Russian President Vladimir Putin

Yesterday, 19:01

Hungarian officials not to come to Victory Day parade in Moscow — Orban’s office

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Yesterday, 23:08

Ukraine, US sign memorandum expressing willingness to reach deal on minerals — official

The sides are preparing to set up an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine

Yesterday, 18:29

Russia says requests closed UN Security Council session on energy strikes moratorium

First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky reiterated that the moratorium had been faithfully observed by the Russian side

US should stop supporting Kiev to achieve peace — Russian politician

Sergey Mironov also remarked that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent statement reflects Washington’s "helplessness and unpreparedness for a genuine resolution of the Ukraine conflict"

Yesterday, 12:35

Moscow to respond in kind if Tallinn attacks Russian ships — MFA

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Russia strongly condemns such "pirate-like behavior," arguing that the powers now granted to the Estonian Navy exceed the bounds of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

US envoy says territorial issue could be partially resolved in Russia’s favor

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German politician sees deployment of troops to Ukraine as unimaginable

Lars Klingbeil still stressed that "Germany should remain Ukraine’s biggest military supporter in Europe"

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US hopes to reach ceasefire in Ukraine in matter of weeks — media

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Yesterday, 20:54

Trump aims at soonest end to conflict in Ukraine, Rubio tells Lavrov

According to the statement, 'United States want this war to end'

Yesterday, 01:28

Hollywood star Van Damme ready to visit Russia as ambassador of peace

Van Damme added that he would like to talk with the Russian leadership "only about peace, sport and happiness"

Russian troops liberate about 80% of DPR territory, says military expert

Russian troops will still have to take such large communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic as Konstantinovka, Kramatorsk, Slavyansk and Druzhkovka, he specified

Expert says Romania may normalize relations with Russia if nationalist candidate wins

According to Marius Ghincea, the majority of Romanians believe that Budapest has not been independent in its foreign policy as it lacks individuality and has played a passive role in relations with its Western partners

Yesterday, 11:26

Russia-US contacts now main driving force of work on Ukrainian settlement — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, such work is under way

Yesterday, 19:02

Trump wants to use duties to force creditors to restructure US national debt — economist

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Zelensky signs laws to extend martial law, mobilization in Ukraine

Zelensky, whose presidential powers officially expire on May 20, 2024, submitted the relevant bills to the Ukrainian parliament on April 15

Yesterday, 10:02

Ukraine deliberately struck ZNPP before expiration of moratorium on energy attacks — plant

The ceasefire on energy infrastructure, in place since March 18, followed a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US leader Donald Trump

Russian troops stay put in Syria — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya said that there are talks with the current Syrian government

Yesterday, 22:32

Trump says he is not in a rush to attack Iran over its nuclear program

US president said that 'Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death'

Yesterday, 18:45

Three Ukrainian drones attack ZNPP satellite city of Energodar — mayor

No casualties were reported

Raiffeisen Group suspends sale of its Russian division — FT

One of the people close to the talks told FT that global uncertainty as well as the changing relationship between the US and Russia were behind the halt