3 Apr, 18:32

WTO chief sees risk of tariff war escalation

"The WTO was established to serve precisely in moments like this — as a platform for dialogue, to prevent trade conflicts from escalating, and to support an open and predictable trading environment," Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stressed

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala AP Photo/Jon Gambrell

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

© AP Photo/Jon Gambrell

GENEVA, April 3. /TASS/.Director-General of the WTO Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed her concerns in connection with the risk of tariff war escalation amid new import duties announced by the US and urged member-countries of the organization to use it for meaningful interaction and search for collaborative decisions.

"I'm deeply concerned about this decline [the decline in global merchandise trade volumes - TASS] and the potential for escalation into a tariff war with a cycle of retaliatory measures that lead to further declines in trade," she said in the statement released by the press service of the WTO.

"The WTO was established to serve precisely in moments like this — as a platform for dialogue, to prevent trade conflicts from escalating, and to support an open and predictable trading environment," the director-general stressed. "I encourage members to utilize this forum to engage constructively and seek cooperative solutions," she added.

Iran's nuclear program

Iran to expel IAEA inspectors if US, Israel continue to threaten Tehran with war

According to the statement, transferring enriched material to safe and undisclosed locations in Iran could also be on the agenda

Yesterday, 16:03

EU moves to sanction Serbian Deputy PM Vulin over Wednesday remarks — TASS source

According to the source, the procedure should be completed within a few days

Yesterday, 15:15

International Public Tribunal confirms Kiev regime’s killings of civilians in Kursk Region

According to Chairman of the International Public Tribunal Maxim Grigoryev, residents of the Kursk region described numerous Ukrainian war crimes, and only a small part of them are mentioned in the report

Yesterday, 20:58

China wants to ‘make a deal’ with US without drawing attention, Trump says

"They are proud people. And President Xi is a proud man," the US leader emphasized

Yesterday, 16:57

Vulin says EU values don’t suit Serbia anymore

"The EU has lost all moral authority to lead us and to judge us," the Serbian deputy prime minister stressed

Yesterday, 20:38

IOC discusses with winter sports federations admission of Russians to Olympics

The 2026 Olympics will be take place in Italy on February 6-22

Yesterday, 09:33

France, UK preparing military intervention in Odessa — Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the proposed "coalition of the willing" as nothing more than "a meme"

Yesterday, 18:05

US tariff policy could create new opportunities for Russia, India — Russian official

Vladimir Ilyichev deemed insignificant the US tariffs' impact on Russia

Yesterday, 21:26

TikTok deal postponed until US-China trade dispute settled — Trump

According to him, it is China that is not very enthusiastic about signing the deal at the moment

Yesterday, 09:55

Russian diplomat criticizes Zelensky for deceptive reaction to strike on military meeting

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the attack led to the enemy losing up to 85 personnel, including service members and foreign military officers

Yesterday, 16:17

Su-35S jet provides protection for Russian aviation in Kursk Region — Defense Ministry

"According to reconnaissance reports, the targets were successfully engaged," the ministry stated

Two days ago, 16:33

Ukrainian air defenses’ incompetent actions behind civilian deaths in Krivoy Rog — envoy

"The Russian Defense Ministry reported that as a result of a high-precision strike by a missile with a high-explosive warhead on the site of a meeting with commanders of formations and Western instructors, the enemy’s losses amounted up to 85 servicemen and foreign officers, as well as up to 20 motor vehicles," Vasily Nebenzya said

Yesterday, 09:11

Russian diplomat sees NATO seeking to move frontline eastwards, with no plans for peace

The North Atlantic Alliance is doing everything to add fuel to fire in the Ukraine conflict, Maria Zakharova said

Ukrainian attacks on Kharkov Region leave five children injured since year’s start

All of them were injured in deliberate strikes involving Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles

Yesterday, 17:23

US may soften port dues for Chinese ships — WSJ

Authorities now want to peg dues to the ship capacity, thus reducing payments for vessels of smaller size

Yesterday, 12:44

Kremlin declines to comment on Kiev's claims of capturing Chinese citizens

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said that the claims regarding Chinese nationals' involvement in the special military operation were completely unfounded

US stops backing Russophobic decisions within UN system, Russian diplomat says

According to Gennady Gatilov, changes taking place in the international arena in general and in relations between Russia and the United States in particular "will not be lost" and "cannot but impact the atmosphere" at international venues

Russia-US consultations kick off in Istanbul

Russia’s delegation is led by Moscow’s Ambassador to Washington Alexander Darchiev

Yesterday, 16:44

RDIF chief meets American Chamber of Commerce members

"More than 150 companies continuing their operations in Russia took part in the meeting," Kirill Dmitriev said

Yesterday, 13:00

Demobilization would strip Ukraine of one-third of its army, senior commander says

According to Alexander Syrsk, Ukraine cannot rotate troops due to problems with recruiting new servicemen

Yesterday, 11:26

Iran's response to US rhetoric justified, but Russia concerned — Kremlin

As Dmitry Peskov noted, "the Iranian authorities are taking the necessary precautionary measures"

Yesterday, 07:43

Apple loses most valuable company status as its shares drop 23% over last 4 days — TV

According to the TV channel, as of the close of trading on Tuesday, Microsoft's value was $2.64 trillion, while Apple's market capitalization was $2.59 trillion

Yesterday, 16:37

EU has merely 50% of funding to deliver 2 mln shells to Ukrainian army

According to Kaja Kallas, there is still certain progress in discussions between EU countries on providing two million shells

Yesterday, 20:40

IOC cuts down number of men’s football teams in 2028 Olympics

The 2028 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles on July 14-30

Russia-US consultations in Istanbul may last for up to five hours — source

Two hours have already passed since the beginning of the negotiations

EU ready to increase US gas imports to ease tensions — European energy commissioner

Dan Jorgensen is confident that the EU would be able to benefit from the market turmoil caused by the new US tariffs

Yesterday, 16:09

Italian reporter, Russian citizen Lucidi to turn to ECHR over detention in Estonia

Andrea Lucidi was denied permission to cross the border under the pretext that he is illegally taking cash and a camera drone to Russia even though he was in possession of these when entering Estonia

Yesterday, 17:11

US Treasury Secretary urges China to negotiate instead of setting new duties

The tariffs committee under China’s State Council said earlier that Beijing will increase additional duties on imports from the US to 84%

Kursk legislators unanimously accept city mayor’s resignation

The legislators appointed Deputy Mayor Sergey Kotlyarov to serve as the city’s acting head

Yesterday, 16:01

US not going to boost trade with Russia — Trade Representative

"Congress did the right thing a couple of years ago and revoked permanent normal trade relations with Russia," Jamieson Greer added

Yesterday, 13:01

Half of frozen assets of Russian citizens, companies unblocked by early 2025

According to Elvira Nabiullina, the Central Bank has not received any requests on return of foreign companies in the financial sector to Russia yet

Russia-US talks in Istanbul to last for several hours, source tells TASS

The consultations are unlikely to be as lengthy as the previous meeting held in Istanbul on February 27

Russian troops completing mop-up operation in outskirts of Guyevo in Kursk area

"Our fighters are completing mopping up forest belts in the outskirts of Guyevo where hundreds of bodies of destroyed Ukrainian soldiers and military hardware can be seen," the source said

Two days ago, 14:42

Russian soldiers in Guyevo were confronted by Ukrainian elite units

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that units from the battle group North had liberated Guyevo

Yesterday, 14:45

Russia expels two Romanian diplomats in retaliatory move — Foreign Ministry

"This measure is a response to Romania's unfounded decision to declare the military attache at the Russian embassy in Bucharest and his assistant as personae non gratae," the statement reads

Yesterday, 22:29

Trump rules out further increase of tariffs on Chinese imports

"I don't think I'll have to do it," he added

Yesterday, 18:35

Annual inflation in Russia accelerates to 10.28% — Economy Ministry

Prices growth rates remained at the last-year level in the non-food segment

Yesterday, 12:02

Russia-led fact-checking association launches platform to fight fake news

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova highlighted that more than 30 foreign journalists and investigators from different countries are either members of the association or collaborate with it

Yesterday, 13:27

Russian MFA warns West won’t succeed in hiding Ukraine’s crimes committed in Kursk Region

According to the diplomat, the West "covers up" the crimes of the Kiev regime by turning a blind eye to the atrocities of Ukrainian forces

Yesterday, 13:24

Russian forces strike Ukrainian tactical missile enterprise over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 435 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four US-made armored vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day

Yesterday, 14:00

EU Council approves tariffs on US goods

Details of new tariffs are not given but mass media reported earlier that they will total up to 25% and cover US exports to the EU amounting to 21 bln euro

Yesterday, 12:19

Russia issues protest to Estonian diplomat over vandalism at military cemetery

"The Russian side firmly rejects the hypocritical explanations of the Estonian side," the statement said

Yesterday, 08:26

Russia, US to hold next round of talks in Istanbul on April 10, Russian diplomat confirms

The Russian delegation will be led by Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiyev

Venezuelan president slams US trade war as end of Western globalization

Nicolas Maduro said that 'this is a lethal wound to international trade and economic law, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements'

Yesterday, 21:30

US to use military force against Iran, if necessary — Trump

He noted that the upcoming consultations with Iran will be only the beginning of a long process

Yesterday, 09:44

EU does not understand it pushes world to largest conflict since World War II — Zakharova

Maria Zakharova stated that the primary "instigators" of this "group of fixated fanatics" are the United Kingdom and France, led by President Emmanuel Macron

Yesterday, 15:37

US Treasury Secretary says China only country challenging America on tariffs

According to Scott Bessent, the US administration is already negotiating with Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam

Security tightened near Russian consulate in Istanbul ahead of Russia-US meeting

Dozens of media workers are waiting for the consultations to begin in front of the consulate

Trump's unpredictability may trigger surge of tensions in Eurasia — CIS Secretary-General

"In this uncertain environment, it is crucial to remain on guard and, in coordination with like-minded allies, to be prepared for all possible scenarios," Sergey Lebedev noted

Yesterday, 19:21

Russian MFA mocks Macron's shifting rhetoric, blames it on 'atmospheric pressure'

Maria Zakharova went on to say that before French President "started opening his nuclear umbrella over everyone, he was saying that he absolutely needed a place at the negotiating table"

25 Oct 2021, 15:32

Putin grants Russian citizenship to actress and singer Natalia Oreiro and her son

Natalia Oreiro said in an interview that she had applied for Russian citizenship in June 2020

EU cracks down on dissent, defies democracy it once lectured Russia on — Kremlin

"They are departing from the very standards of democracy they have long proclaimed and sought to impart to other nations, including us," Dmitry Peskov said

Yesterday, 18:14

US to decide on military presence in Europe after contacts with Russia — Pentagon chief

Pete Hegseth said that US President Donald Trump will make a determination about the force structure of US troops in Europe

US ready to staff its embassy in Russia to ensure visa issuance — source

The second round of Russian-US consultations on normalizing the operations of their embassies will be held in Istanbul on April 10

Yesterday, 11:51

FACTBOX: What to know about Ukrainian attack on TurkStream pipeline’s power supply station

According to the report, all the drones were shot down, which prevented the station from suffering any damage

Yesterday, 20:15

Trump says ready for fair trade deals with China, other countries

"We have $36 trillion of debt for a reason. We don't have a debt for fun. And people took advantage of our country, and they ripped us off for decades," the US leader emphasized

Yesterday, 11:09

Moscow condemns detention of female Russian diplomat in Paris — Kremlin

Paris intensifies the already strained relations with Moscow, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Yesterday, 12:08

US-China trade war triggers concern, Russia to take mitigation measures — Zakharova

"We are monitoring the developments, and we will comprehensively analyze the potential consequences and, obviously, take measures to minimize the potential damage to our country," the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman added

ASEAN states not to impose any retaliatory measures in response to US tariffs — statement

"We express our common intention to engage in a frank and constructive dialogue with the US to address trade-related concerns," the statement reads

CIS must strengthen security as military, political situation worsens — secretary general

Those systems of international security and economic relations that have operated in recent decades are currently undergoing serious changes, Sergey Lebedev noted

Yesterday, 17:24

Brussels demands Serbian president remove deputy PM from next cabinet — TASS source

Earlier on Wednesday, the Serbian deputy prime minister told the European Parliament that Serbia will never go to war with Russia in exchange for EU membership

Yesterday, 11:59

China to increase extra duties on US imports to 84% from April 10

The measure was taken in response to the increase of tariffs on Chinese products by US President Donald Trump

Residents evacuated from frontline village in DPR

It took several hours for soldiers of Russia’s Battlegroup East to rescue these people

US generals Cavoli, Donahue, Aguto linked to terrorist attacks in Russia — analyst

"They are actively involved in coordinating and planning military operations that target Russian citizens and civilian infrastructure," Alexander Hoffmann said

Some EU countries strongly oppose use of Russian assets for Ukraine’s needs — top diplomat

Kaja Kallas declined to name those countries

Yesterday, 01:33

Europe now aggressive towards Russia, but all global tragedies began with that — Lavrov

"Only after World War Two, when Europe was weakened, the Americans became the leaders of the so-called free world, and then it was them who initiated the majority of conflicts on the planet," the minister said

Yesterday, 21:40

Trump says hopes to meet with Putin ‘at some point’

His visit to Saudi Arabia is scheduled for May

Two days ago, 11:41

Possible US-Iran conflict to entail dire consequences — Russia’s deputy foreign minister

Andrey Rudenko clarified that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and Iran is not a military alliance

Anti-Russian sanctions would have cost Serbia 15 bln euro — deputy PM

Aleksandar Vulin stressed that Serbia 'is not ready to finance the war in Ukraine'

Yesterday, 10:26

Russian General Popov asks court to send him back to special military operation — lawyer

"Together with the Defense Ministry, we have filed a petition to suspend proceedings in the case and change pre-verdict restrictions in connection with a decision to send Ivan popov to the special military operation," the lawyer said

Yesterday, 15:54

EU spends 144 bln euros on Ukraine since 2022, including 49.6 bln on weapons — EC

According to the document, 73,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received EU training

Yesterday, 15:30

Vulin tells European Parliament Serbia 'will never go to war with Russia'

"For 20 years, we've been fulfilling every wish and demand of the EU, and then we're told that the next full members of the EU, without meeting a single condition, are Ukraine and Moldova," the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister said

Press review: US and China launch trade war while Russia and the US hold new talks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 10th

US, Russia carry out prisoner exchange in UAE, CIA director says

John Ratcliffe thanked the UAE government "for enabling the exchange"

Yesterday, 14:58

European elites want to benefit from Ukraine crisis, MEP says

Bart De Wever argued that the European Union needs a security system based entirely on diplomac

Two days ago, 23:43

US, Russia working on detailed plan of de-orbiting ISS — NASA deputy chief

"We work that together as a team with our Russian colleagues and all of our other international partners," Ken Bowersox said

Yesterday, 18:57

Russian MFA mocks Macron's shifting rhetoric, blames it on 'atmospheric pressure'

Maria Zakharova said that before the French president "started opening his nuclear umbrella over everyone, he was saying that he absolutely needed a place at the negotiating table"

Yesterday, 14:41

MFA shocked by Ukraine offering ‘safaris’ to foreign nationals

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the Kiev regime has long turned war into a business"

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Trump’s trade war may spark recession as Europe backs 'Russia conflict' idea

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 9th

Yesterday, 20:02

Pope Francis holds private audience with British royal couple

Initially, an official meeting with the Pope was announced by Buckingham Palace but later, it was postponed due to needs related to the Pope’s convalescence following his lengthy hospital stay

Yesterday, 18:16

WTO forecasts decline in US-China bilateral trade by 80%

"The negative macroeconomic effects will not be confined to the United States and China but will extend to other economies, especially the least developed nations," WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala added

Yesterday, 22:33

Trump doesn’t rule out reduction of US troops in Europe

When asked by reporters whether he has plans to reduce the number of US troops stationed in Europe, he said, "Well, good. I mean, it depends."

Kremlin dismisses Zelensky’s accusations of Russia dragging China into Ukraine conflict

"China has always maintained a very balanced position," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia wins industrial war, leaving Europe in the dust, British report shows

Meanwhile, Europe lacked a coherent strategy or understanding regarding its supply chains

Yesterday, 22:36

Serbia to always value Russia’s contribution to fight against Nazism — deputy PM

"We are not a nation that will forget that Serbia as it is today would have never existed if Russia had not sacrificed at least one life for our each victim for freedom - in the wars against the Ottoman Empire, during World Wars I and II," he said.

Yesterday, 13:55

Ukraine harvests own soldiers for organs, sends them to unknowing Westerners — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova recalled that the Ukrainian authorities had long legalized expedited procedures for transplant surgeries

Death toll from Israel’s strike of Gaza city up to 35, with dozens missing

Gaza’s health ministry said that number of casualties will grow after rescuers clear the debris

Yesterday, 06:39

Russian forces fighting to liberate last two communities in Kursk Region — defense source

Fierce battles continue in the village of Gornal and the farmstead Oleshnya

Yesterday, 14:15

Russia determined to discuss return of diplomatic property with US — ambassador

Alexander Darchiev underlined that it is "of critical importance for the restoration of normalcy in the entire bilateral relationship"

Yesterday, 15:45

US inconspicuously strengthens military presence in Poland — expert

According to Alexander Hoffmann, it is a direct consequence of NATO assuming the responsibilities for coordinating military assistance to Ukraine, a transition formalized during the summit in Washington last July

Press review: US sees first protests since Trump’s return and OSCE seeks Russia’s comeback

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 7th

Russian gas supplies to Slovakia considerably increased — PM

According to Robert Fico, he feels satisfaction when he hears from "German and other companies" that they cannot do without Russian gas any longer

Serbia not going to ban Russian mass media — deputy PM

The European Union, according to Aleksandar Vulin, bans all media outlets 'that are not echoing what Brussels is saying'

Yesterday, 14:19

Beijing won’t make concessions in trade war with Trump, US needs China — expert

Zhang Weiwei also claimed that in the first round of the trade war, 90% of the US tariffs against China were paid by American companies and consumers

Yesterday, 15:01

Russia, US agree on guarantees of bank servicing of their diplomatic missions — ambassador

It is a complicated task to strengthen the Russian-US diplomatic ties, Alexander Darchiyev added

Yesterday, 04:05

US senator claims Iran close to creating six nuclear bombs

"They will kill Israel" and "they'll come after us," Lindsey Graham said

Russia dismisses innuendos about nonexistent threat by Bosnia’s top diplomat — diplomat

Maria Zakharova criticized Elmedin Konakovic’s statement as "clumsy to say the least"

Russian Pacific Fleet warships wrap up visit to India

The Russian Navy was represented in the drills by the Pacific Fleet’s corvettes Rezky and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov and medium sea tanker Pechenga

Ukrainian troops trapped between Dzerzhinsk and Dimitrov in Donetsk region, says DPR

Russian forces have made considerable gains in the area of Sukhaya Balka, including the settlements of Aleksandropol, Panteleymonovka and Valentinovka where Ukrainian troops are under intense pressure

Yesterday, 23:48

Russia, US to hold second round of consultations in Istanbul on embassies’ operation

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, it will involve officials from the two countries’ foreign ministries

Yesterday, 17:47

Trump to push for 'enforceable' arms control agreements — diplomat

Thomas DiNanno posited that Washington should not have agreed to extend the Treaty Between the US and Russia on Measures for the New START "with no strings attached, no further negotiations"