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Abkhazia does not risk losing sovereignty, relations with Russia confirm this — president

Badra Gunba stressed that the sides hope to continue building interstate relations, noting that they are the main thing on which the political course will be based

MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. Abkhazia is not afraid of losing its sovereignty as Russia recognized the republic's independence in 2008, Abkhaz President-elect Badra Gunba said.

"There are no fears about our sovereignty, and there cannot be any. The Abkhazian people have determined their future. A future that lies in the development of a state, an independent state. And Russia supported this decision of the people of Abkhazia, which was sought by thousands of its best sons and daughters. Therefore, we respect the opinion of Russia, which supported and recognized independence. In this sense, the March 5 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is another confirmation that Russia respects our independence, our sovereignty," Gunba told a TASS correspondent in his first interview with Russian media.

He added that the sides hope to continue building interstate relations, noting that they are the main thing on which the political course will be based.

Allied relations between Russia and Abkhazia were established after Moscow recognized Abkhazia's independence in 2008. A treaty on cooperation and mutual assistance was signed in 2008 and a treaty on alliance and strategic partnership was signed in 2014, according to which Russia helps Abkhazia to establish itself as an independent state, strengthen its international position and socio-economic recovery.

Lukashenko pardons more than 100 citizens of various countries

Among them are citizens of Australia, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, the United States, Ukraine, and Japan

Russian Academy of Sciences to do everything possible to secure Butyagin's release

According to the institute, thanks to the work of the Myrmekion archaeological expedition led by Butyagin, the main stages of the ancient city's history were identified and documented in detail, and unique archaeological material was collected, which gained worldwide fame

Some 11,270 diamonds hidden in hand luggage seized at Frankfurt Airport — DPA

Law enforcement officers detained a 53-year-old man who had flown to Frankfurt from Angola, and placed him in custody

EU's grandiose fraud, Putin's possible visit to Turkey: Peskov's statements

Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan exchanged views on Ukraine in depth

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Belgium supported long-term freeze of Russian assets — Reuters

Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy and Malta also said that the EU summit should make the decision on the use of Russian assets for Ukraine

Kiev agrees to create demilitarized zone in Donbass along front line — Le Monde

This point is reportedly included in a new 20-point version of a peace plan developed by Kiev with the support of Great Britain, France, and Germany, which Ukraine recently handed to the United States

Russian assets in EU to be blocked until end of conflict — Kosta

The next step will be "securing Ukraine’s financial needs for 2026-27," the president of the EU Council added

Trump will not dictate to Europe how to build relations with Russia — US blogger

American political commentator and Russia Up Close host Eddie Gonzales also noted that the new US National Security Strategy does not explicitly label Russia as a 'security threat', as previous documents did

Western politicians bound with Zelensky by corruption — Russian diplomat

He blackmails them on the parameters of the Ukraine settlement and the issue of elections, said Maria Zakharova

Platform for protecting regions from drones successfully tested in Russia

The project scheme is based on the Jupiter flight information service automation system developed by Azimut, which ensured unified management and processing of data received from specialized systems

EU intends won’t return Russian assets as long as Europe experiences economic problems

Commenting on this decision, EU leaders did not go into these legal details, but simply called the freeze on Russian assets "indefinite"

North Korean combat engineers clear mines on over 40,000 hectares in Russia’s Kursk Region

This is invaluable help in the work, without which our borderline territory cannot be rebuilt, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said

US plan envisions Donbass buffer zone as Russian territory — Financial Times

According to their information, the plan specifies that "Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone"

Zelensky is Europe’s 'shield' against US, not Russia — Ukrainian opposition politician

According to Viktor Medvedchuk, the European bureaucracy no longer views Europeans’ national identity as a value and simply doesn’t recognize their sovereignty

Sixty-eight ionizing radiation sources lost in Ukraine — Russia’s top brass

According to the report, the loss of control over ionizing radiation sources was qualified as a radiation accident

Korean sappers return to DPRK after completing combat mission in Kursk Region

The ceremony of welcoming their return took place on December 12

Moscow may not like new version of US peace plan — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov said that Russia has to see what the Americans agree on with the Europeans and Ukrainians

House of Representatives rejects attempt to impeach Trump over death penalty remarks

US Congressman Al Green accused Donald Trump of abusing his presidential power and of attempts to "undermine democracy"

Air defenses down 41 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight

28 of them were destroyed over the territory of the Saratov Region

Decision to permanently freeze Russian assets would cause irreparable damage to EU — Orban

The Hungarian Prime Minister affirmed that Budapest will "do everything possible to restore the legal order"

Arktikugol's upgrade to favor Russia's successful work on Spitsbergen — minister

Russia has been operating on Spitsbergen for more than 90 years

Russian ambassador rejects German accusations of state involvement in cyberattack on DFS

Sergey Nechayev called the German government's accusations unfounded, unjustified, and absurd

FACTBOX: What is known about Bank of Russia's lawsuit against Euroclear

The procedure for executing the court order using Euroclear's assets will be determined after the court's decision enters into force, the regulator's press service reported

Don State Technical University completes first stage of testing unmanned Dontech tractor

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No dark spots in history of Russia-Iraq relations, says Putin

The Russian president added that Russia and Iraq have always had very good relations

Three Ukrainian soldiers surrender in Dimitrov — Russia’s top brass

According to the report, the prisoners of war "recounted how their commanders had sent them to their deaths at the line of engagement"

Kiev, Europe buy time and seek ways to continue Ukraine conflict, senator says

According to Alexander Voloshin, for Vladimir Zelensky, as well as for his patrons, the continuation of the conflict is the only chance for "political survival and further enrichment at the expense of the lives of ordinary Ukrainians"

League of Arab States is discussing preparations for Russian-Arab summit — mission chief

According to Walid Hamid Shiltagh, the summit could be held as early as next year

Nearly 1,500 people evacuated from Moscow’s VTB Arena due to bomb threat

Firefighters and ambulances have arrived on the scene

Russian troops liberate eight communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Over the past week, Battlegroup South units liberated the settlements of Seversk and Chervonoye in the DPR

MFA calls EU authorities 'thimbleriggers' after indefinite freezing of Russian assets

According to the European Commission's plan, the indefinite asset freeze is the first stage in the expropriation of Russian assets

Russian boxer Gassiev captures World Boxing Association heavyweight title

The Russian landed a left hook, sending the Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev to the canvas

Russian forces holding their positions near Kupyansk, despite Ukraine’s counterattacks

According to Andrey Marochko, high-intensity counterattacks have been going on for a long time

Russian forces strike units of nine Ukrainian brigades, regiments in Zaporozhye Region

Russian units are advancing methodically, liberating the territory of the Zaporozhye Region, said governor Evgeny Balitsky

Press review: NATO divided over Ukraine’s status and US-Venezuela conflict escalates

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 12th

Internationally wanted human trafficker eliminated in Libya — news outlet

According to the agency’s statement, Ahmed al-Dabbashi, also known as al-Amu, was killed during an operation to arrest his associates in Sabratha, a city located west of Tripoli

Russian diplomat slams any operations with Russian assets as theft

Sergey Nechayev warned against committing a crime that has no precedent in world history that will inevitably entail negative legal and reputational consequences for the European Union

Indefinite freezing of Russian assets will undermine euro's positions, warns Russian MP

According to Leonid Slutsky, the decision to freeze the assets for their subsequent use in a reparations loan to the Kiev regime will mean "crossing the Rubicon," a step that will be followed by a wave of response measures from Russia

Versatility of Russian-Turkish relations helps to cope with difficulties — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that it also allows to resist the pressure from third countries

Two civilians killed in Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Saratov Region

The Ukrainian drone attack also damaged the facades of several buildings, added Governor Roman Busargin

Ukrainian soldiers frozen to death at Liman positions in Kharkov Region — defense source

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EU Council decided to perpetually block Russian sovereign assets

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Drone attack in Russia’s Saratov Region kills one — governor

There is damage to civilian infrastructure

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EC Spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the commission will "now look into this request"

Ukraine's Peacekeeper website adds 25 more Russian children to database

All the children were born between 2018 and 2022

Zelensky using referendum on territories as pretext to slow down talks — Medvedev

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After the goods were confiscated, the ship continued on its way, the newspaper said

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Euroclear ready to lawsuits in Russian courts due to assets blocking

The European Commission and the Belgian government made no comments on such news so far

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Kremlin aide says all of Donbass is Russian territory

Yury Ushakov cited a provision in the Russian Constitution

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Nikolay Azarov also stressed that Vladimir Zelensky has never consulted the people of Ukraine

Bulgarian government resigns — PM

Rosen Zhelyazkov said that the government must "give in" to the demands of citizens

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"Slavyansk is another major hub of the Ukrainian armed forces in the north of the republic," Igor Kimakovsky said

Russian GDP reach $680.8 bln in Q3 2025 — statistics

The physical volume of GDP gained 0.6% in annual terms

EU to rue indefinite freezing of Russian assets — RDIF CEO

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Hussein Abdullah Al-Safadi signed the corresponding document on August 20 in Moscow

Bank of Russia files a lawsuit against Euroclear in Moscow Arbitration Court

The amount of the claim against the depository was not specified in the statement

Zelensky, E3 to hold talks in Berlin on December 15 — media

No decision has been made on whether the US side will be represented in person or participate remotely

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"There will be the regime’s capitulation, either political or military," Artyom Dmitruk said

Lukashenko pardons more than 100 citizens of various countries

Among them are citizens of Australia, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, the United States, Ukraine, and Japan

Belgium demands EU countries halt investment agreements with Russia — media

Belgium is demanding independent and autonomous guarantees from EU countries in return for its support for a floated loan to Ukraine using immobilized Russian assets

EU rejects US interference while itself violating Georgia's sovereignty, PM says

The US administration correctly evaluates developments within the EU, Irakli Kobakhidze said

US hindering Venezuela to sell its oil, supply it to Cuba — Cuban foreign ministry

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Irresponsible politicians, not Russia, threaten Europe — embassy

Diplomats commented on NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's statement that the alliance would allegedly become Moscow's "next target"

EU considers Ukraine's accession by 2027 'absolutely impossible' — Reuters

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Putin concludes his visit to Turkmenistan

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Russia concerned about latest escalation in eastern provinces of DRC — MFA

The Ministry called on the involved parties to return to dialogue and adhere to their prior commitments within existing negotiation frameworks, advocating for a peace settlement

Russia unaware of changes US and Ukraine made to peace plan — Peskov

No information from Washington regarding US-Ukraine negotiations has been received, Dmitry Peskov stated

Moscow calls on Berlin to tone down anti-Russian rhetoric — embassy

Russia urged the German side to stop stirring up hysteria over Russia's alleged preparations to attack one or more NATO countries

Trump says only Zelensky dislikes his peace plan

The US leader stressed that Washington was "very close" with Russia and Ukraine to having a deal

Russia delivers massive overnight strike on Ukrainian military-industrial sites

Kiev loses 1,355 troops along engagement line in past day

Bank of Russia will challenge any unauthorized use of its assets frozen abroad

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Polls in Ukraine, scientist detained, Brit soldier: what Foreign Ministry said

Vladimir Zelensky "has no chance of being legally re-elected" for a new term, Maria Zakharova stated

Zelensky pushed to the wall by battlefield situation, illegitimacy — Russian diplomat

For this reason, he began to blackmail his Western curators, said Maria Zakharova

Russia’s Battlegroup West destroys over 220 Ukrainian troops, Bastion MLRS in past day

Also the Battlegroup West’s air defense crews suppressed 21 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and 38 Vampire heavy attack drones of the Ukrainian army

Witkoff to meet with European leaders, Zelensky in Berlin — WSJ

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Kiev’s nuke blackmail, suppression of sabotage: statements by Russia’s NBC Defense chief

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UK to stop relying on US for security — under-secretary

Alistair Carns expressed disagreement with provisions of the new US National Security Strategy that criticize European countries for uncontrolled migration

Ukraine's admission to EU by 2027 not agreed upon with Europeans — newspaper

It is noted that Kiev is willing to forgo some economic benefits, such as EU agricultural subsidies, to expedite the process

Many Russian companies show interest in working with Iraq — Putin

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Russian Pacific Fleet corvette Gremyashchy concludes business call at Brunei

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Ukraine conflict could lead to World War III, Trump warns

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Russia seeks answers from US on seizure of tanker off Venezuelan coast

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Russia ready to welcome Iraqi leader 'at any time' — Putin

At the talks in Ashgabat, Abdul Latif Rashid remarked that he would like to visit Russia and meet with Vladimir Putin

Russia-Italy relations at their worst since WWII — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that Italy has been swept up in anti-Russian narratives and is facing "pressure from NATO, the Anglo-Saxon world, and this ultraliberal dictatorship"

FBI officials held secret meetings with Kiev's top negotiator in US — media

According to the report, the meetings have caused alarm among Western officials who remain in the dark about their intent and purpose