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In response to Zelensky’s call for sanctions, Trump says it’s for him to decide

US president also spoke highly of his latest phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders

WASHINGTON, May 21. /TASS/. Responding to Vladimir Zelensky’s call to toughen anti-Russian sanctions, US President Donald Trump said the matter was only for him to decide.

"Well, that's going to be my determination. That's going to be nobody else's determination," Trump said, commenting on Zelensky’s remarks. "We'll see how Russia behaves."

He also spoke highly of his latest phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders.

"I think we had very good conversations yesterday," Trump added.

"I had a talk yesterday for two and a half hours with President Putin. As you know, I also spoke to all of the European - or to many of them - leaders, but they were representing the whole [EU]," the US president said.

The two leaders held a more than two-hour long phone call on Monday. They mostly discussed resolving the Ukraine conflict. Following the call, Putin said that he had first of all thanked Trump for the US support in resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. According to the Russian president, Moscow is ready to work with Kiev on a memorandum "addressing possible terms of a future peace agreement, including defining a number of positions." However, "eliminating the root causes of this crisis" remains the key thing for Russia, he stressed.

Middle East conflict

Iran may attack Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility — TV

The Al Jazeera's source also said that the IRGC has "precise information about Israel's stockpile of air defense missiles"

Trump sees progress in Ukrainian reconciliation process

US President didn't go into details

Putin gives interview to Sky News Arabia

Russian President does it after the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

Using 'dirty bomb' against Russia to be Ukraine’s last mistake, Putin says

"This would be a colossal mistake on the part of those Russia is calling the neo-Nazis on the territory of current Ukraine," the Russian leader said

Trump says he gives Iran two weeks for diplomacy

"I would say two weeks would be the maximum," US President noted

Nazi elements within Ukrainian leadership must be eliminated — Putin

Putin noted that in order to achieve a resolution to the conflict, Ukraine must recognize the results of the referendums held in Donbass and Novorossiya

Tornado-S rockets effectively break through Ukrainian air defense

The rockets have an advanced inertial guidance system that successfully operates in conditions of satellite channel jamming, which is important in modern war that uses a lot of electronic warfare systems

Deliveries of drones to Russian armed forces grew by tenfolds — official

In Viktor Yevtukhov words, "the demand for drones will only grow" in the future

Israel says its jets currently strike military targets in southwestern Iran

According to the Fars news agency, explosions were heard in the city of Ahvaz and the port of Mahshahr

Putin hopes Israeli threats toward Khamenei just words

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called one of the goals of the military operation against Iran was that Khamenei "cease to exist"

Tourist damages 17th-century painting in Uffizi Gallery when falling

According to Corriere della Sera, the painting is a 1690 portrait of Ferdinando de Medici by Nicoletto

Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted 65% of Iranian missiles over past day, news report says

According to the official, Iranian missiles are equipped with a navigation system for the final phase of their flight that helps them accurately hit designated targets

Iran says it used undetectable missiles to strike Mossad headquarters

According to the Iranian official, the attack came as a surprise for the Israel

Russia never questioned Ukraine’s right to independence — Putin

The Russian president noted that the right thing would be to come back to these fundamental values at the core of Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty

Strike on Iran will inevitably drag US into regional war — former Pentagon chief

Leon Panetta is convinced that the United States made a "terrible mistake" by going into Iraq in 2003, and believes that it should serve as a lesson for Trump

Ukraine tries to ‘prick’ Russia with story about returned Russian soldier’s body — source

Under the Istanbul agreements, Russia handed over 6,060 bodies of deceased Ukrainian servicemen to Ukraine, while Kiev returned only 78 bodies to Moscow

Putin says not even discussing possibility of Ayatollah Khamenei’s assassination

Russian President said at a meeting with the heads of the world's leading news agencies organized by TASS, when asked what Russia's reaction would be if Israel were to assassinate the ayatollah

Iran has right to peaceful use of nuclear technology — Putin

On the night of June 13, Israel launched a military operation against Iran

Liberation of Kupyansk suburb creates logistics issues for Kiev forces — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that Moskovka was one of the settlements where the Kiev regime had pursued "decommunization and derussification"

Putin looks forward to visiting China

The Russian president noted that Russia-China relations continue to grow stronger

Agreements worth $80.3 bln signed at SPIEF-2025 — organizing committee

Presidential Adviser and Executive Secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee Anton Kobakov noted that the overall atmosphere of the forum was marked by a strong sense of optimism about the recovery of business relations

Iran shoots down fifth Israeli F-35 — municipal authorities

According to the report, the fighter plane was taken down in the Javadabad area of the Varamin municipal district

West using topic of Ukraine to distract attention from Middle East — Russian diplomat

According to Vasily Nebenzya, Western countries are obviously seeking to demonize Russia and keep afloat the unconvincing narrative picturing Ukraine as a victim and Russia as an aggressor

Former Spartak Moscow FC striker Promes taken to Netherlands

According to the report, two military police vans were seen leaving the airport, one of them presumably carrying Promes

Russian Air Defense downs 4 JDAM bombs, 97 Ukrainian UAVs in past 24 Hours

The report also noted that since the beginning of the special military operation, Russian forces have destroyed a total of 663 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 64,682 UAVs, 611 surface-to-air missile systems, 23,997 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,572 multiple-launch rocket system vehicles, 26,451 artillery pieces and mortars, and 37,102 units of special military automotive equipment

Russian economy on brink of recession — economic development minister

Maxim Reshetnikov noted that figures point to slowdown

US could strike Iran as soon as next weekend — Hersh

According to the American journalist Seymour Hersh, the operation will "entail heavy American bombing"

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

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military-industrial, fuel and energy sites over week

China uses US efforts to stifle its growth as fuel to surge forward — deputy premier

"As China has proven in recent years, the stronger the blow, the swifter the progress and development," Ding Xuexiang said

Immediate negotiations with Russia are Ukraine’s only chance — envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya thanked the United States for supporting the direct dialogue between Moscow and Kiev

Iran launches Sejil medium-range missile in combat conditions for first time — news agency

According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran launched three such missiles into Israeli territory

Only Trump can make decisions on Russia, Ukraine — Department of State

The United States closely watched the negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said

High time for Zelensky to admit loss of everything — Republika Srpska president

According to Milorad Dodik, Zelensky believed the words of Western politicians "who clapped him on the shoulder and promised him a lot of things, but they failed in all of this"

IAEA has no evidence Iran is developing nuclear weapons — Putin

As Putin emphasized, if Israel "has certain concerns, they must be addressed

Russia warns US against interfering in military actions against Iran — MFA

Maria Zakharova said that it would be an extremely dangerous step with unpredictable negative consequences

Ukraine must not acquire nuclear weapons — Putin

According to Putin, these conditions form the foundation for long-term regional stability

New world order is emerging naturally, like rising sun — Putin

"Our role is to formalize this process and facilitate it, ensuring it develops in a more balanced way that aligns with the interests of the vast majority of nations," the Russian president said

FACTBOX: Putin names five steps to change national economic structure

The Russian economy should be more technologically advanced

Moscow acts in full compliance with Russia-Iran treaty amid Middle East flareup — diplomat

"Hence such intensive contacts of our head of state with the conflicting sides, regional players, all the countries involved," Maria Zakharova said

Israel Defense Forces says it completed one more wave of strikes on Iran

A statement by the IDF press service says the attack involved 15 Israeli fighter jets

US has not achieved its energy policy goals, reduced oil production — Rosneft CEO

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is taking place on June 18-21

Putin admits worried about threat of World War III

"There is a lot of conflict potential, it is growing," the Russian president said

UK Foreign Office: 14 European countries to step up fight against Russia's 'shadow fleet'

The representatives of 14 European countries have promised to "take appropriate action within international law," if vessels "fail to fly a valid flag in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea"

No country’s security should come at expense of another’s — Putin

"I would like to emphasize that Russia has always stood for ensuring the security of each country without prejudice to the security of any other country," the Russian president said

TASS elected OANA chair for next three years

The voting was held at a plenary meeting of the 19th General Assembly of the organization in St. Petersburg

Putin meets with king of Bahrain’s advisor ahead of SPIEF plenary session

As Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov announced, the meeting’s main topic was the Middle Eastern escalation

Trump fears Iran may turn into 'another Libya' — NYP

According to information obtained by New York Post, Trump favors limited strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in Natanz and Fordow

Ukraine, Middle East, new world order: main points from Putin's keynote address at SPIEF

According to the Russian president, Russians and Ukrainians are one people

Largest protest since declaration of martial law takes place in Kiev

The protesters gathered downtown near the entrance to the House of Trade Unions, which was cordoned off by the police

Trump says might support ceasefire between Israel, Iran

"It's very hard to stop," US President noted speaking about Israel and Iran exchanging strikes

Suicide bomber kills at least 20 people in Nigeria

Numerous people sustained injuries, according to the Daily Post

Western media coverage of Iran-Israel conflict overlooks nuclear risk element — MFA

Maria Zakharova warned against assuming that just because so-called "precision strikes" are being carried out, a nuclear disaster is out of the question

Kremlin advisor says US debt is its biggest problem

According to Anton Kobyakov, the US needs to address its negative trade balance and budget deficit

Russian activist, founder of 'Army of Beauties' sentenced to 22 years for state treason

According to the investigation, Nadezhda Rossinskaya systematically raised funds for the Ukrainian army, disguising them as humanitarian projects and partially transferring them to a terrorist organization banned in Russia

Iran may attack Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility — TV

The Al Jazeera's source also said that the IRGC has "precise information about Israel's stockpile of air defense missiles"

Israel again under fire from Iran, with about 25 missiles launched

According to the report, sirens went off in areas including near Tel Aviv, and at least one loud explosion was heard during the attack

NATO members realize they are nothing without US — Kneissl

Only time can show how long will NATO continue to exist, ex-Austrian foreign minister and head of the Geopolitical Observatory for Russia’s Key Issues said

Turkish minister says Israel put Middle East on brink of disaster by attacking Iran

According to NTV television, OIC foreign ministers will hold a special meeting on Iran as part of their convention

Putin says Russia ranks first in Europe in terms of GDP

The Russian leader stressed that these are very significant indices

Russia ready to help Iran restore damaged nuclear facilities — Rosatom head

Alexey Likhachev said Germany had abandoned the Bushehr nuclear power station, damaged but later restored by Russian specialists

Iran ready for talks with Israel, but attacks need to stop — foreign minister

Araghchi also said he views the possibility of US joining the attacks on Iran as very dangerous

US use of nuclear weapons in Iran would lead to catastrophic developments — Kremlin

As Dmitry Peskov noted, there are so many speculations that "it’s impossible to comment on them"

Belarus frees 14 prisoners at Trump’s request — Kellogg’s deputy

According to John Coale, US President Donald Trump "encouraged this trip"

Iran will be ready to attack US military in Middle East — top diplomat

"That's quite understandable, and self defense is a legitimate rights of every country," Abbas Araghchi said

Russian Knyaz Vandal FPV drones destroy NATO equipment worth over $2bln since August 2024

The FPV jam-resistant drone was tested in August 2024 when Ukraine intruded into the Kursk region

Russia handed over to Ukraine its best peace proposal, advises to accept it — diplomat

Vasily Nebenzya added that the document was based on principles voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024

Kiev creates own problems after deciding to attack Russia’s Kursk Region — Putin

Kiev authorities personally formed a line of combat contact stretching along for almost two thousand kilometers, the Russian president said

Saudi Arabia will be guest country for SPIEF-2026

Presidential Adviser and Executive Secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee Anton Kobakov also announced that the second Russia-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Forum is expected to take place in Cairo

China's new mosquito-sized drone could revolutionize military warfare, medicine — SCMP

According the newspaper, which cited military sources and TV channels, similar miniature bionic robots are best suited to reconnaissance and special missions on the battlefield

Another Iranian missile attack reported in Israel, explosions heard

Shortly after the report, the IDF announced "a series of strikes against missile storage and launching infrastructure sites in central Iran"

US not ready to discuss potential impact of Israel’s strikes on Iran’s Bushehr NPP

"I'm not going to speculate on a hypothetical dynamic at this point," US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said

Russia is fulfilling all agreements reached with Ukraine in Istanbul — Medinsky

Earlier, media outlets reported claims that in the process of transferring more than 6,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, Russia was allegedly substituting them with the bodies of Russian servicemen

Ukraine, Russia exchange POWs as agreed in Istanbul — Russian Defense Ministry

Right now, Russian military personnel are in Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical assistance

Trump says he struggles to understand why Iran needs nuclear energy when it has oil

"You know, they're sitting on the top of one of the largest piles of oil in the world," US President said

Russian army starts fighting for Kupyansk by liberating Kharkov Region’s Moskovka — expert

Andrey Marochko said the settlement is actually a suburb of Kupyansk

EU wants government change in Russia, like Israel wants in Iran — expert

"They are working to topple a government of a country," former Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl said

Many Donbass mineral reserves classified under Stalin — Donbass head

Denis Pushilin said that many deposits are still classified

Putin points to Israel's huge Russian-speaking demographic

The Russian leader also noted that Russia has traditionally friendly allied relations with the Arab and Islamic world

Press review: US may abandon Ukraine talks as Mideast braces for escalation

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, June 20th

Israel attacks Iran’s Rasht off Caspian Sea coast

The strike was delivered on the territory of the Sefidrud Technology Park

Iran suspects US of using negotiations as cover-up for strike — foreign minister

"United States again to show their determination for going for a negotiated solution, or they have something else in their mind and they want to attack Iran anyway," Araghchi said.

Russian companies see India as base for setting up IT teams — Indian minister

Vaishnaw added that there are many areas for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the IT sector

Trump will do his best to resolve conflict with Iran diplomatically — Vance

The vice president added that Trump is "not going to tell anybody exactly when or what he's going to do"

Lukashenko meets with US special envoy Keith Kellogg

"The agenda of the talks included international issues and the situation in the world in general, regional issues and Belarusian-US relations," the BelTA news agency reported

Kneissl doubts that EU will exist in its present form few years later

Kneissl went on to say that since mid 1990s, the European Union has been expanding without deepening integration

Iran ready for dialogue on atom, won’t give up its nuclear program — president

Masoud Pezeshkian noted that Tehran welcomes dialogue and negotiations, but only if the country's legitimate rights are respected

Russia demands official apology from Rome over 'monstrous' Kremlin post — diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, "the situation with free speech in Italy has reached a really frightening stage"

Medvedev says both Israel, Iran should abandon their nuclear programs

"We know that Israel has a secret nuclear program," the Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman said

West’s hybrid war against Russia seeks to destroy EU — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added that "many EU countries are on the verge of recession"

Putin not ruling out taking control over Sumy, but says there is no such goal now

The Russian president said that Russia's actions are caused, among other things, by the constant shelling of the country's border territories by the Ukrainian forces

Putin notes six waves of NATO’s eastward expansion since 1990s

Since the early 90s and over decades, we have been told that in no case NATO would expand eastward, the Russian president said

Russian forces can easily liberate Sumy due to crisis in Ukrainian army ranks — expert

"This is not a major issue for our armed forces, this is quite a realistic task given the current personnel crisis in the Ukrainian army," Yan Gagin said

Russian Armed Forces liberate Zaporozhye settlement in Donetsk People’s Republic

At the same time, Ukrainian armed forces sustained losses exceeding 1,350 servicemen over the past 24 hours in the zone of the special military operation

Russia got assurances from Netanyahu, Trump that staff at Bushehr NPP will be safe — Putin

According to the president, Russia relied "on the certain level of relations with Israel, on the recovering relations with the United States"

Russian forces 1 km away from Kupyansk after capturing Moskovka — analyst

Andrey Marochko noted that this is a very short distance

Downed F-35, US fleet withdrawal, secret Chinese flights: news on Israel-Iran conflict

On Wednesday morning, 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck Iranian facilities used in the production of uranium enrichment centrifuges

Iran says it hit Israeli targets in areas including Ben Gurion Airport

"The operation used a large number of Shahed-136 combat drones, along with high-precision solid and liquid-fuel missiles," said the statement

Russia’s security zone in Sumy Region is 10-12 km deep — Putin

As the Russian president pointed out, Russia "was forced to create security zones along the border" after the Ukrainian army was expelled from the Kursk Region

Putin to take part in Brazil-hosted next BRICS summit

Brazil took over BRICS presidency from Russia on January 1

Iraq extends ban on flights in its airspace for another 24 hours — air traffic controllers

This will be the ninth day of ban on civilian air traffic in the region

Russia backs Iran’s fight for legitimate interests, peaceful nuclear program — Putin

The Russian president also commented on criticism in Western media that Moscow allegedly should have helped Iran against Israel