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Thai immigration on alert for mercenaries amid conflict with Cambodia — TV

Stricter control measures will be taken at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, as well as at airports in the cities of Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai

BANGKOK, December 15. /TASS/. The Thai Immigration police will cull residents of Eastern European countries and citizens of Cambodia arriving in the kingdom more intensely to prevent mercenaries from entering, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau Chaiyaron Rimphadi said.

"We will be particularly vigilant towards citizens from Eastern Europe. If they do not arrive as part of a certified tour group and enter individually without providing information about accommodation or return tickets, we will take them aside for questioning. We will also evaluate their behavior, as mercenaries tend to have certain character traits. Another group that we will pay attention to is the citizens of Cambodia. It is important to understand that Cambodians have the right to visa-free entry for touristic purposes. However, given the current situation with the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, we believe that such trips seem illogical," he said on Channel 3.

Stricter control measures will be taken at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, as well as at airports in the cities of Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai.

Middle East conflict

Implementation of Trump’s Gaza plan under question — Lavrov

Both parties - Israel and Hamas - say that its provisions are being violated, Russian Foreign Minister said

Russia and Saudi Arabia plan to invest $2 billion in technology projects

The two parties increase investments in projects on creation and introduction of modern technologies

Gazprom highlights untypically low gas reserves in European UGS for December

In particular, gas reserves in UGS facilities in the Netherlands have fallen below 60%

EU membership to provide no security guarantees to Ukraine — top Hungarian diplomat

The Hungarian government has repeatedly stated that it will not allow Ukraine's fast-tracked accession to the EU, as it would ruin the European economy and spark a direct armed conflict with Russia

Two Russian Tu-22M3 bombers make planned flight over Baltic Sea’s neutral waters

According to the Defense Ministry, all flights by aircraft of the Russian aerospace forces are performed in strict compliance with international rules of the use of airspace

Russneft to produce 6.14 mln tons of oil, 2.08 bln cubic meters of gas in 2025

In 2024, the company reduced oil production by 5% year-on-year to 6.092 mln tons

Iran would like to resume dialogue with US, IAEA, Russia ready to assist — Lavrov

He also reaffirmed Russia's stance, condemning the unjustified attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities

Norilsk Nickel forecasts ‘balance’ on cooper market this year, deficit in 2026 — review

Overall, the refined copper market is expected to remain very close to balance in 2025, with supply at about 27.7 mln tons

Lavrov slams EU’s aggressive actions as biggest global threat

According to Sergey Lavrov, Brussel pushes EU countries toward "disregarding the interests of own people"

EU 'traps' itself into Russia reparations loan plan for Ukraine, expert says

Boris Pervushin said this approach threatens to erode long-term trust in Europe as a stable and predictable economic space

Nearly 30 buildings damaged in wildfires in Rostov Region — governor

According to Vasily Golubev, no one was hurt in the fires and assistance will be rendered to those who lost their housings and property

Assad did not coordinate his approaches with Russia before resignation — Lavrov

Our efforts were collaborative, involving other international partners, primarily Iran and Turkey, noted Lavrov

US-Ukraine talks on crisis settlement in Berlin were 'confidential' — German daily

According to the report, the negotiations were conducted very secretly with journalists having no access at all to information about the particular level of the talks between the officials

IAEA should remain impartial regarding Iran — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that Moscow will encourage the resumption of Iran-IAEA cooperation

Ukrainian forces stretched thin in DPR, Russian commander says

Alexey Vereshchagin, commander of the Nevsky reconnaissance-assault brigade of Battlegroup South’s volunteer corps said that his "brigade’s zone of responsibility covers the city of Soledar, as well as the Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka area"

No recorded threats from Russia to use nuclear weapons — IAEA chief

According to Rafael Grossi, he only saw a statement that nuclear weapons exist in case an existential threat arises

Contacts with US on Ukraine drive Russia's stance home to Americans — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister emphasized that Washington has started to understand what needs to be done to achieve a lasting and long-term settlement of the conflict

Power Machines to invest in production facilities by 2030 — chief executive

The company orients towards the master plan for the energy sector development by 2042 approved by the Russian Ministry of Energy

Russia wants to develop cooperation with Iran within CSTO — Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov noted that Russia wants to cooperate with Iran and with its other neighbors, including within the Collective Security Treaty Organization

EU attempts to use Russian system encroaches international reserve system — Dmitriev

The Russian presidential envoy earlier expressed confidence that the Bank of Russia will prevail in legal proceedings

Bank of Russia sees preconditions for return to balanced growth

Evolving trends in the economic activity create preconditions in general for the gradual return of the economy to balanced growth, the Central Bank added

Russia should develop an effective strategy of LNG exports, says PM

While the share of the Russian Federation in the LNG market is about 6%, and in the next 15 years or more it should grow to 17-20%

Sri Lanka views uninterrupted Russian oil supplies, says ambassador

The Sri Lanka State Oil Corporation is currently holding negotiations both on LNG and on the modernization of the oil refinery, Shobini Gunasekera said

US showing interest in Lukoil's assets due to sanctions, Astana has priority — minister

According to Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov, the government is not currently conducting any negotiations to purchase those assets

Hungary, Slovakia prepare to challenge EU ban on Russian oil and gas in court — Szijjarto

The plan of the European Commission to reject Russian oil and gas breaches EU legislation, the minister said

Several countries ready to cut duties on US goods — American trade representative

According to Jamieson Greer, Vietnam has already reduced some of its duties on American goods

No true partnership in relations between Poland and Ukraine — Polish president

According to Karol Nawrocki, Ukraine does not feel that Warsaw's support is vital for Kiev, while Vladimir Zelensky is used to the guaranteed support of Poles

Russia to strongly object to changes to Ukraine peace plan — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov pointed out that Moscow had not seen the proposals yet

Platinoid market situation in 2026 will depend on investment activity — Nornickel

The company added that supply from Nornickel remains stable, while overall Russian supply is expected to increase in 2026-2027 following the launch of the Chernogorskoye deposit

White House believes that Israel violated ceasefire regime in Gaza Strip — Axios

According to the report, US President Donald Trump, during a recent conversation, told Benjamin Netanyahu that he needs to be a "better partner" regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip

Europe missed all chance to take part in Ukrainian settlement — Lavrov

"The West is turning a deaf ear to everything related to real facts Russia has repeatedly pointed to within the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and at meeting with ambassadors to Moscow," Sergey Lavrov said

Gas reserves in UGS facilities in Europe fall below 70%.

The withdrawal rate since the beginning of the heating season is about 30% higher than the average for the past five years, according to data from GIE

Russia to support Iran’s efforts toward settling crisis with IAEA, West — Lavrov

"The Iranian nuclear program was dismantled, despite the fact that it was endorsed by the UN Security Council resolution," Sergey Lavrov pointed out

Russia, Iran have huge potential for trade growth, it needs to be stimulated — Lavrov

Lavrov said that one should not forget that besides trade between the two countries, there is also investment cooperation

Berlin says no plans for direct dialogue with Russia

Some European leaders, the head of the European Commission and the NATO secretary general, are expected in the German capital in the evening

Russian senator calls Merz's words recognition of major geopolitical shift

"This is a serious recognition of a major geopolitical shift, which not everyone believes in yet, but which has been looming for a long time," Alexey Pushkov noted

Kiev lying about battlefield situation to influence US peace plan — source

The Ukrainian mass media are disseminating reports alleging that the Ukrainian army has taken control of the settlements of Kondrashovka, Radkovka, and Moskovka northwest and southwest of Kupyansk

Russian compatriots among victims of terrorist attack in Australia — foreign ministry

"Moscow strongly condemns the barbaric extremist attack, as a result of which 15 innocent civilians, including a ten-year-old girl, were killed and dozens were injured," Maria Zakharova stated

US Treasury rejects Xtellus' offer to buy Lukoil foreign assets — Reuters

Earlier, Xtellus had offered to organize a swap of Lukoil securities held by U.S. investors in a cashless deal to return them to Lukoil in exchange for the Russian company's global assets

Kazakhstan to deliver around 30,000 tons of oil to Kyrgyzstan by year-end

Transit of Russian oil to Uzbekistan is scheduled for December this year in a volume of up to 35,000 tons, Kazakhstan’s national pipeline operator said

Germany’s spending on support for Ukraine exceeds 75 bln euro since 2022 — Merz

According to the Chancellor, Germany will also allocate 170 million euro to ensure energy supplies in Ukraine

Oil transit from Russia to China via Kazakhstan does not require US approval — minister

Regarding large companies in the republic where Russian participants subject to sanctions are present, in Astana, "all of those projects received so-called exemptions from sanctions," Yerlan Akkenzhenov said

EU continues blacklisting companies, individuals

Seventeen individuals and four legal entities were added to the list in total

"Digitalization: A New Reality and Enhanced Opportunities for Expanding Cooperation"

Experts continued the discussion initiated at the BRICS summit regarding digitalization, emphasizing that amid global economic changes and challenges

Russian foreign trade surplus surge to $11.1 bln in October 2025 — Central Bank

The deficit of the services balance in October grew to $4.4 bln on account of rising imports, particularly in the category of miscellaneous business services and trips

European countries note progress in Ukrainian conflict settlement

The EU leaders "appreciated the strong convergence between the United States, Ukraine and Europe"

Implementation of Trump’s Gaza plan under question — Lavrov

Both parties - Israel and Hamas - say that its provisions are being violated, Russian Foreign Minister said

Russian troops liberate Peschanoye community in Dnepropetrovsk Region over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,480 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Russian human rights ombudswoman appeals to UN over archaeologist’s arrest in Poland

Tatiana Moskalkova asked UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to help the Russian archaeologist restore justice

Azerbaijan - Russia trade turnover increases by 5.7% in first 8 months of 2024

According to the State Customs Committee, Russia is the third trade partner of Azerbaijan in January-August after Italy and Turkey

Spain has provided Ukraine with aid amounting to 2 billion euros — prime minister

In November, following a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky in Madrid, Pedro Sanchez promised a new package of military aid to Kiev valued at 615 million euros

Bank of Russia sells yuan worth $188 mln with settlements on December 12

The Central Bank sold yuan on the domestic market in the amount of 14.8 bln rubles with settlements on December 11, 2025

Unfriendly countries discussing Russia’s possible expulsion from Interpol

The head of the National Central Bureau of Interpol of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Valery Kalachev, noted that such a procedure is not provided for by the charter of the organization

Press review: Kiev and Europe seek to derail peace plan as Ukraine awaits $5 bln EU aid

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 15th

Nornickel expects global nickel market surplus in 2025-2026

Nornickel recalled that the global nickel market has been in surplus for the fourth consecutive year

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet forms crews for latest missile corvettes

The sailors will undergo general training and study technical means and shipboard equipment and armament

Export duty on coking coal to be canceled from December 1 — Russian Energy Minister

Russia currently has the moratorium in effect on the steam coal export duty

Moscow says West morally culpable for Ukraine’s murders of Russian journalists

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that, unlike tongue-tied Western human rights organizations, Moscow will demand that authorized international officials do their duty in a conscientious manner

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

Italy softens language in Ukraine bill to get it passed ahead of EU summit — paper

According to the newspaper, the government also "encrypted" certain obstacles to approving a form of "reparation loan" to Kiev at the expense of frozen Russian assets

Seven EU countries against expropriation of Russian assets — news outlet

According to the report, Belgium, Hungary, and Slovakia initially opposed the plan, and they have now been joined by Italy, Bulgaria, Malta, and the Czech Republic

Cryptocurrencies will never become money in Russia — lawmaker

Anatoly Aksakov said such currencies can only be used as an investment instrument

EU social spending cuts to benefit the military will intensify, sparking protests — expert

According to Nikolay Gaponenko, protests by farmers, transport workers, and civil servants will transform from sporadic into a permanent background of public life in European elite countries by 2030

Germany agrees on ten-point plan to expand military cooperation with Kiev — media

The German government also plans to build a sort of alliance with its European partners to jointly purchase weapons for Ukraine

Serbian culture minister at center of investigation into case of General Staff buildings

The defendants in the case also include the Culture Ministry Secretary, the acting Director of the Republican Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and the acting Director of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Belgrade

Lavrov discusses Russia-US ties with American Chamber of Commerce officials

The Russian top diplomat shared his opinion about what's going on internationally and prospects for the development of Russian-US relations in the context of the Trump administration’s commitment to promoting a lasting settlement of the conflict around Ukraine

Direct strike by Western sanctions cost $100 bln for US business — AmCham

The AmCham President also informed about the poll on the issue of the impact of Western sanctions on the US business

Russian Transport Ministry exports record high traffic with the UAE in 2025

Minister Andrey Nikitin noted that volumes of air transportation are growing from year to year

Only Russia, Ukraine, US can discuss territorial concessions — Polish president

At the same time, Karol Nawrocki himself stated that he still dreams of being at the same negotiating table for peace in Ukraine with the leaders of Russia, the United States and representatives of Kiev

Russian embassy in The Hague calls on the Netherlands to end 'anti-Russian hysteria'

The embassy also recalled that Acting Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans recently called for increased military support for Kiev and expressed the need to "be prepared for a conflict with Russia by 2030"

EU leaders want to drag all of Europe into war with Russia — Hungarian top diplomat

Peter Szijjarto noted that Budapest intends to "stay away from this"

EU could lose global credibility if Mercosur deal fails — European Commissioner

The main critics of the deal are European farmers, particularly beef, poultry, and dairy producers

West erodes traditional values — Russian Foreign Ministry

"The deliberate erosion of these foundations and the relentless attempts by the neoliberal elite of the West to impose alien approaches on other nations are deeply disturbing," Kirill Logvinov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Organizations, said

Firefighting efforts at Temryuk port continue for third day after Ukrainian drone attack

According to the Russian emergencies ministry’s Krasnodar Region department, firefighting efforts involve 35 men and 11 fire engines

Nornickel forecasts balance in copper market this year, deficit in 2026

The company noted that despite a relatively balanced picture in the short term, persistent underperformance relative to production plans, delays in the launch of new projects are sustaining elevated structural supply risks

Gas reserves in European UGS facilities down to around 70%

The European Commission requests EU members to make sure that their UGS facilities are 90% full from October 1 to December 1 of each year for ensuring elevated reserves for the winter period

Zelensky to fail in trying to take Crimea back, secure NATO membership — Kremlin

According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, "there is a one million percent guarantee that it’s impossible"

Russia did not betray Syria, developments there are its domestic affair — Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov also noted that Russia has smooth, stable relations with the new authorities

Russia tests prototype of Ariadna non-satellite navigation system — NTI Fund

The NTI Fund specified that, unlike other domestic solutions and foreign analogues, the technology offers precise positioning of up to 15-20 cm

Russian exports to the US up 35% in 2025 — AmCham

The US business invested about $100 bln during 25 years in Russia, the AmCham President said

Moscow’s video game studios clinch export contracts

According to Moscow Deputy Mayor Natalia Sergunina, the total amount of transactions made with the support of the city was over $12.6 mln

Europe works against US in Ukraine peace process — Lavrov

"Europe is using the Ukrainian crisis to assert themselves, to put a spoke in the United States wheel in its quest to seek a just settlement," the Russian foreign minister said

US insists on complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbass during talks — AFP

According to the source, the US delegation "is taking Russia’s position" on this issue

Russia welcomes FIDE’s decision to reinstate Russian chess players’ rights — Peskov

"We deeply appreciate this decision made following the vote of the General Assembly," Russian presidential spokesman said

Russia never wavered in its support of Iran in JCPOA talks — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that Moscow has tried to work with the Europeans to persuade Washington to return to compliance

Russia’s pipeline gas supplies to Turkey up 14% in 10M 2025

In October, Turkey imported a total of 1.63 bcm from Russia via the TurkStream and Blue Stream

Chile’s new President Kast hints on difficult times for his country

The country's financial situation is bad, Antonio Kast said

Greece sentences 2 Russian sailors to 253 years in prison for migrant smuggling

The Russians pleaded not guilty

CUST, PSB, Federal UAS Center sign unmanned aerial vehicle technology agreement

The agreement signing took place at an extended meeting of the CUST Board

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

Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard digitalization boosted output by 70% — Patrushev

The official noted that the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard was one of the first Russian shipbuilding companies to implement a comprehensive digitalization project

Analysts maintain this year’s average key rate outlook

The average key rate is projected at 14.1% in 2026

EU youth seek to turn bloc into ‘United States of Europe’ — Politico

Support for the EU among Europeans has reached a record high in polls, the newspaper noted

Turkish warplanes take down drone over Black Sea — defense ministry

The Turkish Ministry of Defense did not specify where exactly the drone came from

EU seeking to turn Ukraine into ‘perpetual’ source of tension — Russian senator

According to Alexander Voloshin, NATO’s advance on Russian borders in bypassing formal procedures violates the principle of indivisible security

Syrian troops expand presence along Turkish border — media

On October 9, Turkey launched a military incursion into northern Syria

Hungarian, Polish foreign ministers exchange heated remarks on Russian assets online

The spat started with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s post, which stated that the EU leaders’ decision to seize Russian assets without consulting Hungary violates numerous laws and is "a declaration of war"

Russian Ministry of Industry to deal with tech policy implementation — PM

According to Mikhail Mishustin, interdepartmental coordination will be implemented by a specially created subcommittee within the framework of the governmental commission on industry

Hungary will not let EU to send military mission to Ukraine — top diplomat

"This will escalate the conflict to a degree that we cannot foresee, and will put Hungary and its people into a serious danger," Peter Szijjarto stressed

EU gets ready for war with Russia, wants military plants in Ukraine — Hungarian minister

Brussels claims that it will be "investment into Europe’s security," but, from Hungary believes "there's no logic in this"

EU blacklisted forty vessels said to carry Russian oil — Kallas

The European Union intends now to sanction tankers without waiting for approval of huge sanction packages, the EU top diplomat noted