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Zelensky seeks to drag out peace talks for remainder of Trump term

The only way for Zelensky to remain in power is to continue the war, Russian military expert Vitaly Kiselev emphasized

LUGANSK, December 19. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelensky will try to protract peace negotiations for the length of US President Donald Trump's term in office, Russian military expert Vitaly Kiselev told TASS.

Addressing the combined Direct Line Q&A session and year-end press conference headlined "Results of the Year" earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian military has been left practically devoid of strategic reserves and this fact should prompt Kiev to end the conflict by peaceful means. According to Putin, Russia is ready to end the Ukrainian conflict on condition that its security is ensured for a medium-and long-term perspective.

"A concrete plan is needed before sitting down at the negotiating table. Zelensky is not ready for that. Brussels has no plan. Zelensky has to protract the process for as long as possible. The only way for Zelensky to remain in power is to continue the war, to indulge in tedious and abstract talks, changing the agenda of the negotiating process all the time. <…> Zelensky and Brussels are seeking to drag out the talks and peace process as long as possible. For at least three years while Trump remains in office," the expert said.

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Kiev's lead negotiator holds consultations with Europeans ahead of meeting with US

Rustem Umerov said he would present a report to Vladimir Zelensky following the talks

Russian defense technologies unmatched by Western military-industrial complex — expert

Alexander Stepanov noted that established industrial production would make it possible to make tens and even hundreds of items per year to provide strategic coverage for all critical areas and facilities in the Russian border regions

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico repeatedly said that he would refuse to vote for any support for Ukraine's military needs at the summit

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Putin receives random but curated questions from Russians for Q&A session — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, to date, more than 2,100,000 questions have come in via different channels

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The Russian president noted that if Russian assets are seized, Russia will defend its interests in court and seek to identify jurisdictions that are not dependent on political decisions

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Special EU decision now needed to unblock frozen Russian assets — von der Leyen

The qualified majority implies that 16 out of the 27 EU member countries, home to over 55% population of the European Union, need to support the move

West can simply steal countries’ gold and foreign exchange reserves — Lukashenko

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"It feels as if they can think about only one thing: how to find money to continue the war," Dmitry Peskov noted

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Ukraine's funding will be provided from the EU budget in the amount of 90 billion euros, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said

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The Russian leader recalled how the report on the liberation of Seversk was presented

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Russian troops to move westward after liberating Kupyansk-Uzlovoi — Putin

As the president stressed, the Russian troops have been assigned a very important task to eliminate the enemy group on the left bank of the Oskol River

Russia ready to consider halting strikes deep inside Ukraine on election day — Putin

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Hungary 'absolutely ready' to host Russia-US summit — top diplomat

Hungary has maintained a pro-peace position since the onset of the conflict, Peter Szijjarto noted, despite what he called "enormous political attacks" against Budapest

Continuation of conflict in Ukraine extremely dangerous — Belarusian president

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Zelensky admits Biden told him Ukraine would not be brought in to NATO before conflict

Vladimir Zelensky noted that he repeatedly raised the issue with the White House, becoming a kind of running joke among US officials

Kiev and Europe try to disown compromises of Trump plan, Naryshkin says

"We have seen that in recent weeks both the Kiev regime and its European patrons, contrary to common sense, have been trying to disown those, in my opinion, sound, fair compromises proposed in the so-called Trump peace plan," Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said

Kremlin warns about consequences for masterminds, perpetrators of Russian asset seizure

"Those who made decisions collectively, those who made decisions individually and those who put them into practice will all bear responsibility," Dmitry Peskov said

Lavrov to discuss preparations for third Russia-Africa summit in Cairo

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Desertion in Ukrainian armed forces grows — Russian intelligence chief

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Lukashenko says he is ‘outgoing’ president

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Putin baffled by NATO Secretary General Rutte's war-with-Russia talk

The Russian president advised that Mark Rutte read the national security strategy of the United States, which is a key player, creator and main sponsor of NATO

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Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prevents the ECB from printing money explicitly to finance government spending

Route to Slavyansk opens from liberated Seversk — Putin

The head of state recalled that the Russian side had long ago urged the Kiev regime to withdraw its troops from the territories of the republics which do not want to live under nationalist control

Lukashenko says he cannot be president forever

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The Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund added that Friedrich Merz and Ursula von der Leyen "spent all their political capital, promised results – and delivered a spectacular failure"

Europe will have to reopen dialogue with Russia — Macron

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Russia-UK relations head south after Putin's Munich speech in 2007 — foreign intel chief

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EU to issue 90 billion euro in interest-free loan to Kiev — Merz

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Russian asset seizure to undermine trust in Euro zone, Putin warns

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The president said that Russian troops in the special operation zone are advancing in all directions, fully seizing the strategic initiative

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FACTBOX: Oreshnik ballistic missile

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Lavrov tells Europe we don't need your help on Ukraine deal, just don't blow it up

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Share of missing Russian servicemen must be reduced to absolute zero — Putin

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IN BRIEF: What is known about situation around frozen Russian assets

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FACTBOX: Drone hits Lipetsk, cuts power in Rostov-on-Don after Ukrainian overnight attack

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Trump not ruling out war with Venezuela

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Russian intel chief reveals recent extended call with MI6 director

Sergey Naryshkin said the phone conversation was held "just a few days ago"

Krasny Liman to be liberated in near future — Putin

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FACTBOX: S-500 Anti-Aircraft Missile System

The system is being developed with the capability to be operational for the next 25 years

Russia to eliminate threats to Kaliningrad Region should they emerge, says Putin

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Purpose of VAT increase, key rate, rising prices: Putin’s takes at 'Results of Year'

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Belarus will not completely relocate its factories — Lukashenko

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Russian president Putin starts year-end Q&A session

Everyone has a chance to address the president, as only a smartphone is required to do so

Western military presence in Ukraine in any format unacceptable for Russia — MFA

Maria Zakharova stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers would become legitimate targets for the Russian army

EU's decision to support Ukraine confirms that it does not want peace — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova said that EU member states decided to further prolong the Ukrainian conflict

Russia alarmed by worsening humanitarian situation in Syria — UN mission

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US actions in Venezuela display Washington's neocolonial approach — Russia’s UN envoy

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Ukrainian forces execute civilians in Seversk — Hero of Russia

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Four US planes spotted again near Venezuela's maritime border — dispatchers

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EU replaced its ‘strategic defeat’ mantra with ‘maximum damage’ — Naryshkin

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EU summit fails to expropriate Russian assets, but may do so in future — von der Leyen

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Ukrainian army has practically no strategic reserves left — Putin

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EU summit communique makes no mention of Russian assets, meeting continues

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Russia, Africa working to increase number of intergovernmental commissions

19 such commissions are already operational

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The North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of a so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russia’s borders

EU leaders discuss ‘uncapped financial guarantees’ to Belgium — Euractiv

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Lukoil left Ghasha concession in the UAE in November — mass media

The Russian company transferred its 10% participation interest to ADNOC