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Kiev acknowledges that it will probably lose Donetsk — JD Vance

The US Vice President suggested that territorial concessions "could be 12 months from now, it could be longer than that," stating that "territorial concession is a significant hold-up in the negotiations"

LONDON, December 22. /TASS/. Ukraine understands that it will "eventually" lose the rest of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), US Vice President JD Vance revealed.

"The Ukrainians understandably see that as a major security problem, [even as] they privately acknowledge that eventually, they’ll probably lose Donetsk," the US veep told UnHerd in an interview.

Vance suggested that territorial concessions "could be 12 months from now, it could be longer than that," stating that "territorial concession is a significant hold-up in the negotiations."

On December 22, Russian Special Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev announced he had left Miami following two days of talks on Ukrainian settlement. The US delegation included Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

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According to reports from the accounts of the families of the deceased, Jones and Zacherl were serving with international forces under the command of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency

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

Russian troops struck energy and port infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army and enemy deployment areas over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Ukraine steps up its activities in Kharkov Region, initiative remains with Russia — expert

Andrey Marochko recalled that last week, Russian servicemen liberated the village of Novoplatonovka

Press review: Kiev's Western support weakens as experts weigh in on Putin’s Q&A statements

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 22nd

European leaders tend to delay decision making, Romanian president says

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Russia to think about peace plan proposals based on contacts in Miami — Kremlin aide

Ushakov added that, most likely, the bulk of the peace plan proposals would not suit Russia

Ukrainian soldiers deserting due to being underpaid — outlet

A serviceman suggested that AWOL could become an even more widespread phenomenon in the Ukrainian army in the coming months

US department confirms detention of tanker near Venezuelan coast

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Warmongers fail to interfere with talks between Russia, US on Ukraine in Miami — Dmitriev

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Russian troops expanding buffer zone near Seversk in DPR — Pushilin

According to the DPR head, the evacuation of civilians from the city is underway

Kiev acknowledges that it will probably lose Donetsk — JD Vance

The US Vice President suggested that territorial concessions "could be 12 months from now, it could be longer than that," stating that "territorial concession is a significant hold-up in the negotiations"

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Russian servicemen also destroyed more than 300 various enemy combat vehicles

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An investigation is underway

Europe pressures Kiev to stem departure of youth to other countries — newspaper

El Pais also characterizes Ukraine’s demographic situation as catastrophic

Macron played key role in derailing EU plan on Russian assets at summit — Politico

At the summit, the French leader held discussions with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the report stated

Conflict with Thailand leaves 525,000 Cambodians dispaced — ministry

The number includes 274,800 women and 167,100 children

Iran promises not to break off relations with Russia at Europe’s request

According to Esmaeil Baghaei, European countries should pay attention to their behavior and analyze why the conflict in Ukraine arose in the first place

Dmitriev calls for acknowledging existence of warmonger campaigns in Western media

UK/EU politicians push the "let’s go to war with Russia"—covering up migration blunders/cashing in on weapons sales via "friendly" contractors, noted Dmitriev

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Kiev counterattacks near Krasnoarmeysk, trying to slow Russian advance — expert

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk on December 1

Republika Srpska’s new president maintains course of friendship with Russia — MFA

Yury Pilipson recalled that "the early presidential elections in the Republika Srpska held on November 23 were the result of a campaign launched under pressure from Western countries to illegally remove Milorad Dodik, the leader of the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from power"

EU loan to Kiev funds continuation of conflict — political director for Hungarian PM

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Kiev’s attempting to disrupt peace talks with drone attacks on ships in Black Sea — MFA

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Special unit of Ukrainian International Legion neutralized — security forces

The Ukrainian command continues to use elite special forces as assault troops

Vance rings alarm bell over growing 'Islamist' presence in European politics

The US Vice President also warned of potential long-term risks to Europe-Washington relations across various fields

Another 25 children added to Ukraine’s database of unwanted persons

All of them were born between 2015 and 2021

Expanding partnership within CIS meets interests of member countries — Putin

The Russian leader said that the Commonwealth will continue to address the challenges of socioeconomic development, strengthening stability, and shared security

Russia has no plans to attack EU, NATO countries — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement that Moscow "is even ready to legally enshrine this with regard to a potential solution to the current crisis based on the principle of equal and indivisible security"

US Department of Justice plans no redactions in Epstein files to project famous people

The agency pointed out that some of the material was temporarily removed based on requests from victims and their lawyers

Volvo files application to register three trademarks in Russia

Two of them are for Volvo, and the third is for Volvo Penta

Putin’s envoy to brief president on his Miami talks upon arrival — Kremlin

Kirill Dmitriev is on his way to Moscow from the United States following two days of talks on resolving the Ukraine conflict

Critical infrastructure facility damaged in Ukrainian city of Odessa

One of the city districts was partially left without electricity

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US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called such information about Russia's plans "a lie and propaganda"

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Russia sends home Ukrainians wishing to reunite with families — right commissioner

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Macron betrays Merz on expropriation of frozen Russian assets — FT

"He knows that there will be a price to pay for that", also said a senior EU diplomat

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The president also said that the association had implemented a 5-year strategy for Eurasian economic integration

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No new Russia-US meeting on irritants planned yet — embassy in Moscow

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"According to an investigation, on the morning of December 22, an explosive device planted under a car was activated on Yasenevaya Street in Moscow," Svetlana Petrenko said

Last Russian consulate general closes in Poland

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Greece joined EU initiative to buy US weapons for Ukraine — Russian Foreign Ministry

According to Yury Pilipson, there is no doubt about involvement of ‘senior comrades’ in Greece's accession to the announced initiative

Ukraine employs 30 drones to attack Belgorod Region over past day

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Kiev regime’s functionaries want to flee abroad after its fall — Russian intel agency

This trend is especially evident in Ukrainian diplomatic missions in Western countries

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Hungarian Prime Minister emphasized that Europeans deserve better, because Europe needs peace

EAEU establishes itself as self-sufficient center of multipolar world — Putin

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US Air Force fighter jet intercepts aircraft for approaching Trump's residence

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Russian citizen wins Just Dance competition at Games of Future

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Dmitriev hints that next Russia-US meeting on Ukraine could take place in Moscow

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Putin calls on CIS nations to stand together against attempts to rewrite history

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Up to ten Oreshnik systems to be deployed in Belarus — president

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It is an enormous responsibility, a colossal experience, and I am sure Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev will use it at his new post

Russia provides basic necessities to Ukrainians evacuated from combat zones — commissioner

Tatyana Moskalkova did not specify the number of those evacuated

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US in pursuit of third tanker off coast of Venezuela — Bloomberg

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Merz finds himself in isolation in Europe due to position on Russian assets — newspaper

German Chancellor attempted till the last "to praise advantages of the de facto expropriation of Russian assets, downplaying risks at the same time," the newspaper said

Drone strikes damage moorings, vessels in Russia’s southern Krasnodar Region

There were no casualties

US tanker with Venezuelan oil left for US — official

Vice President and Hydrocarbons Minister Delcy Rodriguez also posted a video of the tanker leaving port

Much time, effort needed to normalize Russia-US relations — senior Russian diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Moscow "wants to be sure that Washington has really embarked on a path of abandoning its extreme hostility toward Russia"

Leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan receive this year’s Leo Tolstoy Award

Valery Gergiev, general director of the Bolshoi Theatre and artistic and general director of the Mariinsky Theatre, presented the medal and diploma to the presidents

London court may hold hearings on Ukraine’s debt to Russia this spring

Russia was forced to take the case to the international court in London because Ukraine breached the debt payment deadline

Increase in birth rate noted in 26 Russian regions — deputy prime minister

It is still too early to talk about a reversal of birth rate trends, Tatyana Golikova said

INTERVIEW: Russia says relations with Slovenia fall to lowest level in history

Political dialogue has been frozen, diplomatic contacts have been reduced to a minimum, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties are gradually deteriorating, said Yury Pilipson

Deep State attempts to provoke third world war — Dmitriev

Kirill Dmitriev pointed out that "US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is great for exposing the deep-state warmonger machinery trying to incite WW3 by fueling anti-Russian paranoia across the UK and EU"

Russia’s Su-57 fighter with fifth-generation engine begins flight tests — Rostec

The state corporation added that UAC is currently implementing a program to expand production capacity, which will allow it to increase the volume of Su-57 aircraft deliveries to the military

Defense Ministry stops buying Kalashnikov AK-47 submachine guns

The weapon does not meet the Ministry’s needs, General Staff Chief Gen. Nikolai Makarov said

Trump administration recalls heads of nearly 30 foreign diplomatic missions — news agency

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Copper price on LME hits new all-time high

As of 8:32 a.m. Moscow time, the copper price stood at $11,993 per ton

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

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Russia says fakes about contacts with S. Korea aim to sow distrust between it, North Korea

These information fakes have no basis in fact, noted Maria Zakharova

New French missile could form basis of European 'nuclear umbrella,' expert says

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Putin goes to St. Petersburg for informal CIS summit

The head of state will also have bilateral meetings with leaders of certain countries