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Elon Musk throws money behind GOP ahead of 2026 midterms — Axios

Midterm elections to the US Congress will be held on November 3, 2026

WASHINGTON, December 16. /TASS/. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has begun financially backing Republican campaigns for House and Senate seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, the Axios news website reported, citing sources.

According to Axios, this is an indication that his relationship with US President Donald Trump has thawed since their tiff earlier this year. The billionaire has recently donated large sums of money to the Republican party to help it win congressional seats, Axios’ sources say. Musk indicated that he will continue to do so throughout the whole 2026 cycle. The exact donation amounts will be disclosed when the campaign finance reports are released in January, the website explained.

Midterm elections to the US Congress will be held on November 3, 2026. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, as well as a third of senators (33), will be up for grabs. Currently, both chambers are controlled by the Republican party. As the Wall Street journal noted, the ruling party usually loses ground in midterm elections.

In June, Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump had a war of words on social media. The businessman said that without his support, the current head of the US administration would not have won the presidency in November 2024, called for Trump’s impeachment, criticized a major government spending bill and the president’s tariff policy, and predicted a recession for the American economy. Trump called Musk crazy and questioned his commitment as DOGE chief. At one point the president threatened to terminate government contracts with Musk’s companies, including SpaceX.

Former UN expert warns against deploying European force to Ukraine

Alfred de Zayas stressed that "NATO boots on the ground would only mean an escalation to the war"

Bank of Russia sets official dollar rate at 81.38 rubles for November 7

The official yuan rate is fixed at 11.37 rubles, up three kopecks

Bank of Russia lowers dollar exchange rate to 79.43 rubles for December 17

The official euro exchange rate has been raised by 58 kopecks to 93.8054 rubles

Austria’s former top diplomat slams EU’s indefinite freeze of Russian assets as theft

Karin Kneissl noted that the European Union had ditched a number of its own rules and norms

Suspect in knife attack on school outside Moscow admits guilt during interrogation

Moscow Department of Russia’s Investigative Committee spokeswoman Olga Vrady added that investigators have begun a sweep of the school

Lukashenko discloses detained blogger plotted ‘bloody coup’ in Belarus

According to Belarusian President, Roman Protasevich and his accomplices plotted a 'massacre and a bloody coup' in Belarus

US resumes use of Guantanamo base for detention of illegal migrants

According to the newspaper, 22 illegal Cuban migrants are now housed there

Kremlin invites special military operation veterans to talk to Putin during hot line

In 2024, the headquarters of the Popular Front received just over 2.5 million questions to the president in various formats

Hungary boost Russian pipe gas imports by 15% in 10M 2025

The TurkStream gas pipeline remains the only active route of Russian gas deliveries to Europe

US national security strategy states diagnosis for Europe — Deputy Secretary of State

According to the Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, the US President laid out "in clear and simple terms" that there is a turning point that Europe is facing

About 70,000 Indians working in Russia — Russian ambassador to India

Denis Alipov added that "overall, the prospects in the Russian labor market are enormous"

West uses 'Russian threat' narrative to justify confiscation of frozen assets — Dmitriev

This is also to cover up mass immigration, child abuse gangs, rising crime rates and economic decline, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev said

Kalashnikov presents new model of silent motorcycle

The motorcycle develops a speed of up to 100 km/h, has easy controls and is equipped with a universal trailer with a load capacity of up to 200 kg

Russia had to start special op to change world — Serbian journalist

Mario Bojic said it needed to happen for the world to change

Well-trained Russian specialists in CAR suffer minimal losses — military operative

According to Russian instructor with the call sign Gipalon, the group is always on full combat alert

Putin to meet with heads of defense enterprises outside Moscow

Among the participants of the meeting are Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov

Maximum rate on ruble deposits up to 15.63% in first ten-day period of December

The rate in the third ten days of November was 15.62% per annum, and 15.5% per annum in the second ten-day period of October, according to the regulator

Kupyansk is under Russian army’s control — Battlegroup West

According tp the report, Battlegroup West forces are firmly rebuffing all the Ukrainian army’s attacks on communities near Kupyansk, keeping them under control

Europe has no plan B in case seizure of Russian assets is rejected — Finnish PM

Petteri Orpo said he does not want to think about that

Russia says its Ka-52M helicopters take out Ukrainian troops, equipment in Kursk Region

According to the ministry said, the strikes on the previously detected enemy targets were delivered with air-borne missiles

Russian troops liberate Novoplatonovka in Kharkov Region over past day — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,520 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Russian assets expropriation to undermine EU's authority in financial markets — EP deputy

Thierry Mariani said the lack of a clear mechanism for lifting the freeze is a conscious decision of the authors of the initiative

Black marketeers posing as geologists try to hock uncut emerald

The suspects were detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg

Moscow to assess EU leaders' statement on guarantees to Kiev once it sees text — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow has only seen media reports about the joint statement by EU leaders on security guarantees for Kiev

Upgraded Force drone intercepting Ukraine’s UAVs in Belgorod Region

The Drone Force company previously announced the development of a reconnaissance version of the 15-inch Force drone with proprietary software and shifted control frequencies

Press review: US-Ukraine talks fail on Donbass as Kiev struggles with election competition

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 16th

Fighting near Zaporozhye nuke plant continues daily, threatens security — Grossi

The IAEA director general said the agency's inspectors at the nuclear power plant were forced to take shelter indoors the day before after hearing loud bursts of gunfire from near the main administrative building

Silver outpaces Microsoft by market capitalization

Silver capitalization is computed by multiplying the current silver price by the silver volume estimated to be mined to date, about 1,751,000 metric tons of silver

Russia adds Deutsche Welle to list of undesirable organizations

Bulgaria’s For Free Russia, Estonia’s House of Ingria, Norway’s Nature and Youth, and Germany’s Alliance for a Free Democratic Russia were also added to the list

Trump says Ukraine 'already lost territory'

Donald Trump also added that the US is working with Europe on the security guarantee

Germany doesn't rule out sending its troops to Ukraine as part of 'multinational force'

"The deployment of troops largely depends on the situation, context, and specific tasks," Germany's Social Democratic Party leader Matthias Miersch said

Trade between Russia, Iran to grow significantly in coming years — senior Russian MP

Russia and Iran actively cooperate through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, as well as through the Iranian delegation to the Eurasian Economic Union, Leonid Slutsky said

Revival of Nazism in EU and Europe’s 'bent towards stealing:' What Lavrov said

Russian Foreign Minister also noted that the situation around Russia’s frozen assets made it clear that "stealing is in the Europeans’ blood"

Air travel temporarily restricted at Zhukovsky airport

Restrictions are still in force in the airports of Tambov and Kaluga now

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

VEB.RF, Alfa-Bank allocate $63 mln to Trans-Eurasian fiber-optic communication line

The new communication line will be approximately 11,700 kilometers long

India's BRICS presidency in 2026 promises to be eventful — Russian envoy

Last year several countries began working within the BRICS framework, and many states are planning to join this association, the diplomat noted

West keeps trying to harm BRICS as it becomes real force on world stage — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov stressed that the desire for cooperation in this format remained strong

Putin appoints Yevgeny Ivanov Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

Yevgeny Ivanov served as the Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department since 2013

FACTBOX: Project 677 Lada-class submarines

Project 677 diesel-electric submarines are designed to destroy enemy surface ships and vessels, conduct patrols, conduct reconnaissance, protect sea lanes, lay minefields, and perform other missions

Ombudsmen of Russia and Ukraine exchange letters for prisoners

The parties agreed to continue searching for missing persons

Russian shipbuilders deliver 19 ships, three subs to Navy in 2025

Head of the Russian Presidential Directorate for State Defense Industry Policy Viktor Yevtukhov emphasized that domestic innovative solutions were used in the construction of each ship

Putin already working with Russians' questions for year-end Q&A session — Kremlin

"All information from the questions of Russians to the direct line is constantly reported to the president," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Ukraine's non-NATO pledge moot as alliance decides everything — top Hungarian diplomat

Peter Szijjarto emphasized that Ukraine’s membership in NATO was "purely a Ukrainian agenda item"

Four regions stand out in push to bring 'traditional' foreigners to Russia — Lavrov

The minister recalled that practical steps had previously been outlined to implement Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree on the voluntary resettlement of foreign citizens who share the country's traditional spiritual and moral values

Anti-government protests took place in Slovakia — TV

The protests, where people demanded the resignation of the government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, a Social Democrat, were organized by opposition liberal parties and movements of Slovakia

Czech Republic's ruling party to abstain from European Parliament vote on Russian gas

ANO MPs announced their decision to journalists in Strasbourg

Trump names countries that will truly play important role — Kneissl

"Europe no longer plays any role in the world at all," the former Austrian Foreign Minister noted

Moscow to make no concessions on Donbass, Novorossiya and Crimea — Ryabkov

The diplomat noted that in 2022, following referendums, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Lugansk People’s Republic, as well as Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions, were formally incorporated into Russia

Zelensky lying to Trump about being ready for elections — Ukrainian opposition politician

According to Viktor Medvedchuk, Zelensky and his gang have usurped the entire vertical of state power in Ukraine

Security forces arrest boy suspected of stabbing schoolmates outside Moscow

The reports say that a student stabbed a security guard, used pepper spray, and then stabbed a 10-year-old schoolboy who died of his injuries

Karin Kneissl: Zelensky Has No Chance Left

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

Fire occurs at submarine under repair at Russian shipyards — source

According to the source, there's no ammunition on board

Foreign journalists to be able to ask questions during Putin’s Q&A session — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also noted that there will be journalists from unfriendly countries as well

Elon Musk throws money behind GOP ahead of 2026 midterms — Axios

Midterm elections to the US Congress will be held on November 3, 2026

Georgian PM says Tbilisi’s prospects for NATO membership are vague

Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized that Tbilisi should be pragmatic about the developments

No concessions from Russia, dialogue with US: statements by Russian senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov reiterated that Russia "stands firm" on the understandings reached during the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Anchorage

Germany’s Left party critical of ‘multinational force’ idea for Ukraine

According to Soren Pellmann, the deployment of NATO forces to ensure the security of Ukraine’s airspace would lead to the "further escalation of the situation"

Germany withdrawing Patriot air defense systems, military personnel from Poland

The command in Rzeszow has been taken over by the Dutch military

Italians change their attitude to aiding Ukraine after corruption scandal — journalist

According to Daniele Dell’Orco, the Italian public seems to be growing increasingly tired of this whole situation month after month and wants a peace treaty to be signed

Hungary to use US nuclear fuel at Paks NPP after 2028

Fuel for the Paks nuclear power plant will be produced at a joint venture in Europe established by Rosatom and the French company Framatome, Lantos noted

EU’s 19 packages of sanctions on Russia weaken European economy — Italian official

Italian deputy prime minister and minister of transport and infrastructure Matteo Salvini emphasized that sanctions brought European economies to their knees, leading to more expensive energy for Italians

Zelensky believes US-Ukraine talks take place on December 20-21

The first round of negotiations between the US and Ukrainian delegations took place in Berlin on December 14 and lasted about five hours

FACTBOX: What we know about attack on school in Moscow Region

One child was killed and a security guard was injured in the attack, the Russian Investigative Committee’s press service reported

Kadyrov announces promotion to Colonel General

Vladimir Putin also relayed congratulations with the Day of the city of Grozny, Teacher’s Day and the Day of the Chechen Youth

Russian ambassador calls efficiency of increasing British military spending questionable

Andrey Kelin noted that the British military department's 2025 overruns may amount to more than 2 billion pounds

Finnish politician calls EU 'bankrupt' over plans to use Russian assets

Armando Mema emphasized that the EU is not doing "one thing right" and the bloc "should respect Belgium’s sovereignty" and its decision to refuse to transfer the assets to Ukraine

Erdogan warns against attacks on commercial ships in Black Sea

Turkey issue a clear warning to both sides concerning this matter, the Turkish president said

Russian stock indices up as trading on Moscow Exchange closes

The yuan-to-ruble rate fell 1.9 kopecks to 11.26 rubles

Belarus suppresses attempt to arrange provocation during national assembly

According to an Interior Ministry official, several searches took place after the identification of a suspicious citizen in the border area

Policeman guilty of traffic accident in Mari El dismissed

It was the policeman's fault. The medical test showed he had signs of alcohol intoxication

Russia plans better transport connection with Spitsbergen for tourists

Russia continues renovation of Russian settlements in Spitsbergen, Alexey Chekunkov said

US spy strategy in the Himalayas could have also been aimed at Soviet Union — expert

Recent reports by The New York Times revealed that during a covert operation in 1965, the CIA installed a SNAP-19C nuclear generator on Mount Nanda Devi’s summit to monitor Chinese missile activity

US declares end of era of global trade convergence in document to WTO — FT

The six-page document lists US grievances against the organization, veiled attacks on China for accumulating huge trade surpluses and on India for blocking improvements in the WTO's decision-making process

Ukrainian MP points out Umerov has not been back to Ukraine since start of US talks

Rustem Umerov was appointed to lead Ukraine’s delegation to the talks with the US side on November 29 in place of Vladimir Zelensky’s office head Andrey Yermak

Russia-Ukraine peace deal unlikely to emerge in two-three months — Kneissl

The former Austrian Foreign Minister stressed that the signature of Vladimir Zelensky at the moment "for a variety of reasons cannot have much weight"

Four drones jammed over Russia’s Smolensk Region — governor

Emergency personnel are working at the site where debris came down

Russian embassy calls UK’s claims about threat from Moscow unfounded

The diplomatic mission emphasized that Russia had no plans, intentions or reasons to engage in armed confrontation with the United Kingdom

Arctic Council has good chance of maintaining its relevance — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minster noted that, overall, "there are certain advances" in the work of the Arctic Council

Former UN expert warns against deploying European force to Ukraine

Alfred de Zayas stressed that "NATO boots on the ground would only mean an escalation to the war"

UK blackmailing US, exploiting 'loopholes' for asset seizure: statements by Russia’s SVR

The UK is urging the European Commission to justify the theft of Russian assets by exploiting legal gaps in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and by referring to "exceptional circumstances"

Alrosa's diamond production to decline by 10-15% in 2025 — chief executive

Production will depend on market conditions, Marinychev said, adding that the company intends to remain a global leader

German authorities rapidly preparing for full-scale conflict with Russia — envoy

"Berlin has chosen the path of destroying the unique bilateral interaction formats built by generations of predecessors," Sergey Nechayev noted

Putin studies questions from Russians for upcoming Q&A session in detail — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that there were fewer pressing questions from the participants of the special military operation

Merz assesses chances of EU agreement on Russian assets at 50-50

German Chancellor admitted that Europe has certain fears concerning the potential use of Russian frozen assets

Russian forces liberate settlement of Troitskoye in DPR before start of ceasefire

In addition, they hit the troops of a Ukrainian heavy mechanized brigade, three mechanized brigades, an assault brigade, a marine brigade and a National Guard brigade

'Coalition of Willing' prepares plans to deploy troops to Ukraine — British PM

Keir Starmer stated that the prior question is whether a just and lasting peace can be achieved

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

Trump to sum up results of outgoing year in his address — White House

Earlier in the day, the US leader announced his plans to address the nation on Wednesday evening

'Coalition of willing' has not called Putin's hotline, Kremlin official jokes

The event will be held at noon on December 19

Safe operating conditions for power units at Zaporozhye NPP not upset — power plant

The radiation level is normal and corresponds to natural background values, the statement reads

Russia will not agree to deployment of Western troops in Ukraine in any form — MFA

Russia is open-minded in terms of what decisions might be made, Sergey Ryabkov noted

Ukraine’s ex-commander-in-chief warns about risks of civil war after conflict is ended

In Valery Zaluzhny's words, "the end of the war and the return of around one million of soldiers" will be "another challenge to the state and civil society"

Russia unaware of outcome of talks on Ukraine between US, Kiev and Europe — Kremlin

Moscow has not yet received this information, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Continuation of conflict to do more harm to Ukraine — Slovak defense minister

Kiev could have made a peace deal with Russia on more advantageous terms right after the conflict began, Robert Kalinak recalled

Investigative Committee outraged by publication of footage of school attack near Moscow

According to Armen Gasparyan, if the media does not adhere to the request of the Human Rights Council, the state should punish them

Price of Brent oil down below $59 per barrel on ICE first since May 5

The price of futures contracts of WTI crude oil for February 2026 delivery was down by 2.92%

IIHF Council may decide on 2021 World Championship’s host country Monday - Fasel

On Saturday, the Czech car maker Skoda and the Nivea Men brand announced they would withdraw from sponsoring the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in case Belarus co-hosted the tournament

Azerbaijani-Russian trade turnover up 3% in 11M 2025

Exports of Azerbaijani products to Russia equaled $1.088 bln in the first eleven months of this year

Solution to Ukrainian crisis is near, Russia’s deputy foreign minister says

Sergey Ryabkov noted that "Russia's special military operation was inevitable because things were developing in a very wrong direction"