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Middle East conflict

Israeli minister says getting hostages back from Gaza not ‘most important’ objective

According to the latest data from the Israeli side, Hamas is still holding 24 living hostages and 35 bodies

TEL AVIV, April 21. /TASS/. Getting Israeli hostages released from Gaza captivity is not "the most important" objective of Israel’s continuing military campaign in the Palestinian enclave, Finance Minister and leader of the far-right Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich said.

"We must tell the truth: the return of the hostages is not the most important thing. Naturally, this is an important objective, but if you want to exterminate Hamas so that we don’t see a repeat of the October 7, 2023 events (a large-scale attack by Palestinian radicals on Israel - TASS), you must understand that Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in the Gaza Strip," he told the Galey Israel radio station.

On March 18, Israel resumed hostilities in the Gaza Strip and delivered a series of strikes on Hamas targets, thus cutting short the ceasefire that had been in place in the enclave since January 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office explained the move by Hamas' rejections of proposals advanced after talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff. It claimed that the goal of the operation was to release all of the Israeli hostages. Hamas placed responsibility for this latest spiral of escalation in Gaza on Israel and the United States.

According to the latest data from the Israeli side, Hamas is still holding 24 living hostages and 35 bodies.

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

The ceremony of welcoming their return took place on December 12

Many Russian companies show interest in working with Iraq — Putin

Relations between Russia and Iraq are diversifying and becoming more versatile by their nature, the Russian leader said

Zelensky will not hold any elections in Ukraine, former prime minister tells TASS

Nikolay Azarov said that if elections are held under the current circumstances, they would not bring about any meaningful change

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

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

Zelensky regime cannot be removed via election — lawmaker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kremlin aide says all of Donbass is Russian territory

Yury Ushakov cited a provision in the Russian Constitution

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

Putin concludes his visit to Turkmenistan

The Russian leader held a series of bilateral meetings, including with the leaders of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan

Zelensky maneuvering when he announces referendum on territories — Ukraine’s former PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ukrainian ex-premier says it’s impossible to negotiate on Zelensky’s peace plan version

Nikolay Azarov added that there was no chances of resolving the conflict by Christmas "first of all because of the stance taken by Western countries and Vladimir Zelensky"

US forces conduct operation on ship traveling from China to Iran — WSJ

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

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

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

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

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

A European diplomat briefed on the plan noted that it was not clear whether the EU leadership backed Ukrainian accession, the news agency said

Bulgarian government resigns — PM

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

USAID may be behind testing of pharmacological drugs on Ukrainians — Russia’s top brass

According to Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Major General Alexey Rtishchev, US officials have repeatedly confirmed that the US defense agency conducted work in Ukrainian biolabs

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

Vladimir Zelensky "straight up gave the White House the finger," Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman said

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"

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

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

EU to rue indefinite freezing of Russian assets — RDIF CEO

The EU Council is expected to officially enshrine the decision on the indefinite freezing of Russian assets in Europe today

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"

Putin conveys best wishes to Iran’s supreme leader

The Russian president pointed out that meetings with Iranian officials take place on a regular basis

Liberation of Seversk opens road to Slavyansk — DPR official

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

All of Google's assets in France seized following complaint from its Russian subsidiary

The seizure has been imposed as a security measure to prevent Google from attempting to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against its French subsidiary

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

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

Russian Pacific Fleet corvette Gremyashchy concludes business call at Brunei

During its long-distance deployment, the corvette Gremyashchy took part in the Russia-Myanmar naval maneuvers Marumex 2025

Top Transnistrian diplomat refutes Chisinau's claims that it called for dialogue

Chiveri told a conference in Chisinau on Thursday that he had sent an address to Tiraspol’s political director inviting him to discuss a range of problems the Moldovan side is concerned over

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

The decision to send Steven Witkoff to Berlin demonstrates the US administration's desire to overcome differences between Washington and Kiev regarding the terms of the peace deal, the newspaper believes

TASS opens regional information center in Kaliningrad

The "TASS Kaliningrad" center will host the agency's state-of-the-art press center, a venue designed to foster open dialogue between government representatives, businesses, public organizations, and the media

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

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

All the children were born between 2018 and 2022

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

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

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

Russia delivers massive overnight strike on Ukrainian military-industrial sites

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

Europol predicts potential war between humans, robots in Europe by 2035

Denis Niezgoda, chief commercial officer at Locus Robotics, a US company that creates robotic assistants, called the described scenario unrealistic within the next ten years

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

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

EU Council decided to perpetually block Russian sovereign assets

According to the plan of the European Commission, this step is the first phase in further expropriation of Russian assets

EU politicians attempt to alter public consciousness by falsifying facts — historian

Head of the National Center for Historical Memory under the Russian president Yelena Malysheva noted that the purpose of these statements was to embed new theses into public consciousness which, through repeated exposure, would no longer require any confirmation and would be perceived in the public space as truth

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

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

Russian GDP reach $680.8 bln in Q3 2025 — statistics

The physical volume of GDP gained 0.6% in annual terms

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

Firefighters and ambulances have arrived on the scene

'Paranoid' Hegseth removes Driscoll from Ukraine talks — media

According to the newspaper, Hegseth saw Driscoll as exceeding his authority during the Ukraine talks

Air defenses down 41 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight

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

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

This step is part of escalation staged by the United States to bar Venezuela from realizing its legitimate right to the free use of and trade in its natural resources, the Cuban foreign ministry emphasized

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"

Russia has no invitations from US to join Core 5, Kremlin spokesman says

Regarding whether Russia is interested in such a platform at all, Dmitry Peskov stated that "it remains to be seen what it means"

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"

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

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

Battlegroup North fighters found the frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who had died from hyperthermia at two out of six positions they seized

Russian boxer Gassiev captures World Boxing Association heavyweight title

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

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

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"

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

The tractor is equipped with a hybrid powertrain, pneumatic emergency braking system, and its own control system, which allows for operation via a tablet

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

About 10,000 mercenaries fighting for Kiev regime killed in Ukraine — ex-intel officer

However it is difficult to give the exact number of mercenaries killed in Ukraine, noted Vasily Prozorov

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

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

The Russian foreign minister also said that Moscow wants discussions on the fight against drug trafficking and ensuring maritime security to be collective, so that no nation would be staring down unilateral actions

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

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

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"

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

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

The ceremony of welcoming their return took place on December 12

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

There is damage to civilian infrastructure

Casualties in Tver, 90 drones: aftermath of overnight attack on Russian Regions

As a result of a drone attack on a house in Tver, seven people were injured, including a child

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

The regulator stressed that the solutions proposed by the European Commission where Bank of Russia assets may be used directly or indirectly or any other forms of unauthorized use of Bank of Russia assets are unlawful and contradict international law, including in respect of immunity of sovereign assets

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

Zelensky blackmails Western handlers to get them secure his re-election — Russian diplomat

Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential powers expired on May 20, 2024

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

PREVIEW: Russia-Jordan visa-free travel agreement comes into force

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

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"

Court sentences former Bolivian President Arce to five months of pretrial detention

The Prosecutor General's Office requested that Luis Arce be kept in custody pending a court hearing as it believed there was a risk of escape or attempts to obstruct the investigation

Russian stock market indices in the red this Friday — market data

The MOEX Russia Index lost 0.34% to 2,739.49 points, while the RTS Index dropped by 0.83% to 1,082.41 points

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

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

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

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

Russia has been operating on Spitsbergen for more than 90 years

Ukraine conflict could lead to World War III, Trump warns

The US president said the conflict in Ukraine "doesn’t really affect the United States, unless it got out of control"

Russian assets seizure could trigger crisis in EU comparable to Great Depression — expert

According to Jacques Sapir, "this will have extremely dire consequences for the largest European banks"

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

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

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

Merz says 'a lot of open questions' remain in talks on Ukraine

According to Merz, a major element of security guarantees that have been the subject of discussions for several weeks is "strengthening the Ukrainian army"

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

According to the report, Western countries’ aggressive policy in the field of biological security and the expansion of NATO’s military-biological programs create additional threats to the non-proliferation of biological weapons

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"

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

British, Belgian PMs agree that latest peace talks are 'pivotal' for Ukraine’s future

Keir Starmer and Bart De Wever agreed that keeping up the economic pressure on Russia and putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position would remain the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace

Japan, Turkey, Canada, South Korea keen to join EU’s scheme to fund defense investment

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