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Middle East conflict

Top Turkish diplomat says phase two of Gaza deal may begin in early 2026

The transfer of power to the Palestinians is at the top of the agenda now, noted Hakan Fidan

ANKARA, December 22. /TASS/. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that phase two of the implementation of the Gaza deal could begin in January.

"We expect that the second phase will begin immediately after [US President Donald] Trump’s statement in the first weeks of the new year. And, naturally, the transfer of power to the Palestinians is at the top of the agenda now," he told a news conference in Damascus after talks with his counterpart in the Syrian interim government, Asaad al-Sheibani.

He also said that the consultations on Gaza in the United States over this weekend had focused on the existing problems in the settlement process and expectations from it. "We discussed these issues in detail. Of major importance in this respect is the United Nations Security Council resolution, which contains many provisions that are part of the peace plan, such as forming government bodies, first of all, the Board of Peace. The American side presented a preliminary draft plan on Gaza’s restoration. We listened to them and we had an opportunity to express our opinion. We also discussed how these decisions could be implemented in practice," the top Turkish diplomat added.

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United States Palestine Israel Turkey Donald Trump

Moscow, Caracas reiterate brotherly ties, strategic cooperation — top Venezuelan diplomat

"During the phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, we again reiterated our brotherly relations, mutual respect, and strategic partnership between us," Yvan Gil Pinto said

Russia and US can implement many mutually beneficial projects — Kremlin

But this should not be tied to the settlement in Ukraine, despite Washington's desire to consider these topics in a single package, noted Dmitry Peskov

Ukraine talks progress, territorial issues: statements by US vice president

JD Vance noted progress on the Ukraine front during the negotiations with Russian Presidential Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Miami

Georgian president calls EU decision to allocate €90 billion to Ukraine bluff

"Ukraine has simply been sold out," Mikhail Kavelashvili said

Two US mercenaries eliminated in Ukraine — Newsweek

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

Russia to define its response to West’s intermediate-range missile deployment — diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia had to scrap its unilateral moratorium on the deployment of ground-based short-and medium-range missiles

PREVIEW: Putin to continue two-day informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg

While the first day of the summit was filled with protocol events, the second day is devoted more to informal communication

Critical infrastructure facility damaged in Ukrainian city of Odessa

One of the city districts was partially left without electricity

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

Alexander Stepanov pointed out that the ASMPA-R has successfully completed tests with the Rafale M carrier-based aircraft, confirming its operational compatibility

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

The Russian leader noted the expansion of mutual trade exchanges and the deepening of cooperative ties between the members of the union

Over 370 homes damaged in Belgorod in Ukrainian attacks over past week

Repair works are being conducted at 557 residential buildings

Hungarian PM objects to sending tax dollars to Ukraine, advocates spending money at home

Viktor Orban has repeatedly confirmed that his government calls for resolving the Ukraine conflict peacefully and has no plans to spend Hungarian taxpayer money on further military activities in the country

Ukraine launches over thousand strikes on Aleshkinsky district in Kherson Region over week

The authorities added that Ukrainian militants shelled the Aleshki Central District Hospital

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

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

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

Viktor Orban argued that the move would ultimately lead to cuts in other areas of European countries’ budgets, emphasizing that Hungary will not participate in the loan

Assassination of General Sarvarov in Moscow is terrible tragedy — Kremlin

The security services will conduct an investigation, Dmitry Peskov said

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 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

Witkoff calls Russia-US consultations on Ukraine ‘productive, constructive’

Moscow highly values Washington's efforts to settle the conflict and strengthen global security, he added

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

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

There were no casualties

Russia wants lasting peace for Ukraine, not temporary ceasefire — Russian senior diplomat

Addressing the prospects of the negotiation process on a Ukrainian settlement, Sergey Ryabkov refrained from speculating on "any potential linkages to electoral calendars in various countries"

Ukrainian authorities evacuate almost 147,000 civilians from frontline areas

More than 16,500 of those evacuated are children

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

Putin’s envoy didn't brief Kremlin on Miami talks over phone — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitriev will report to President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival in Moscow, noted Dmitry Peskov

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 wants military conflict between the US and Russia, Gabbard says

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that every time Donald Trump makes progress and moves closer and closer to that hope for peace, the warmongers in the deep state step up and try to do everything they can to stop it

European leaders tend to delay decision making, Romanian president says

Nicusor Dan stressed that EU politics was a democratic process, but "the debates are a little bit too long"

Brussels promised that sanctions would crush Russia, but they destroyed Europe — Orban

Hungarian Prime Minister emphasized that this is the price of poor decision-making and that negotiations are needed

Vance indicates breakthrough in Ukraine talks between Russia, United States

The US vice president said that America would continue to make diplomatic efforts towards a Ukraine resolution

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"

Putin sends major message to West by his statement on Ukraine — portal

L’AntiDiplomatico also recalled that during his year-end press conference, the Russian leader noted that US President Donald Trump "is making serious efforts" to end the Ukrainian crisis and is doing this "absolutely sincerely"

Russia downs 41 Ukrainian drones over past eleven hours — top brass

Three drones were intercepted over the Krasnodar Region

The West brings strategic stability to the brink of an abyss — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov recalled that at the end of 2024 and the start of this year, the administration of former US President Joe Biden, driven by an aggressive and risky pursuit of a so-called 'strategic defeat' for Russia, undertook a series of highly provocative steps that sharply heightened tensions

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

Senior Russian general killed in bomb blast in Moscow — Investigative Committee

"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

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

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

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

US National Intelligence confident Russia not planning to control entire Ukraine

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

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

The day before, Dmitriev told Russian journalists the talks were constructive

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"

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

Tatyana Moskalkova did not specify the number of those evacuated

European Commission becomes ‘Titanic’ dragging EU down with it — magazine

According to journalist Rafael Pinto Borges, Brussels has experienced institutional decline, which the European Commission prefers to ignore

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

Commenting on Turkey's resolute statement to Ukrainian security services regarding the unacceptability of attacks on vessels in the Black Sea, the diplomat noted that Ankara attaches great importance to ensuring the security of civilian shipping as such

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"

Putin satisfied with work of Medvedev government

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

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

Alexander Lukashenko said an Oreshnik system has entered combat duty in the republic and denied media reports that it was deployed in Slutsk

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

Kiev loses nearly 4,300 troops, mercenaries in fighting near the LPR over week — expert

Russian servicemen also destroyed more than 300 various enemy combat vehicles

Russia-Armenia relations are developing well, Putin says

The Russian president said "the teams worked hard on all sides, prepared good documents, everything has been signed, and everything is moving forward"

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

Baltic countries obsessed with idea of provoking Russia, Belarus — senior diplomat

Moscow and Minsk must not yield to these provocations, Sergey Ryabkov stressed

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

Kremlin spokesman has no idea of what Vance meant by ‘breakthrough’ on Ukraine

According to Dmitry Peskov, it is hardly possible to try to solve such a complex problem in the public domain

US, Ukraine discuss sequence of next steps during consultations — Witkoff

According to the Special Representative of the US president, the parties, in particular, held "a separate constructive meeting"

IN BRIEF: Kiev officials plan to flee, diplomats unlikely to return, Russia’s SVR reveals

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, Ukrainian diplomats serving overseas are aware that there are no options to put an end to the Ukraine crisis on Vladimir Zelensky’s terms

Putin goes to St. Petersburg for informal CIS summit

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

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"

Relations with US, nuclear arms, Russia's security: Ryabkov's statements

The deputy foreign minister stressed that Russia still has serious questions for the United States over Ukraine

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

At the same time, US diplomats noted that Washington considers "the channel of bilateral operations as a constructive and permanent platform for negotiations to stabilize the work of the missions"

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

Special presidential envoy accompanied the post with a photo of himself wearing a T-shirt with the words "Next time in Moscow" and the signature of Russian President Vladimir Putin

The Wire actor dies at 36

Law enforcement officers filed a report on the death of a person, finding no signs of foul play

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

El Pais also characterizes Ukraine’s demographic situation as catastrophic

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

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

Lavrov holds over 20 meetings during two days of Russia-Africa Forum in Cairo

According to the Foreign Ministry, the top Russian diplomat held bilateral talks with his African counterparts from the Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Botswana, Gambia, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea and others

Democrats to move to impeach Trump if they win Congress in 2026

Speaker of the House of Representatives, member of the Republican Party Mike Johnson pointed out that the Democratic Party intends to "dismantle" the foundations of the country

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

Ukraine army attacks key ZNPP substation in Energodar with drones, artillery

Mayor Maxim Pukhov emphasized that the risk of further strikes remains high

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

Europe's biggest nightmare is Ukraine deal on Russia's terms — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that nobody can rewrite history

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

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

Tatyana Moskalkova noted that Russia had great difficulties in transporting the 15 Ukrainian nationals who were to reunite with their families because Ukrainian Nazis keep shelling the Kherson Region and we were unable to evacuate their own fellow citizens

Central African army well equipped, steadily developing — Russian envoy

Alexander Bikantov stressed that prospects for cooperation between Russia and the CAR in the defense industry are very promising

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

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

Drones entering Romania’s airspace pose no threat, president says

Nicusor Dan believes the drones that have been recorded in the country’s airspace have not intentionally been sent on its territory

Louvre robbers steal over 8,000 diamonds and 200 pearls — TV

Investigators are examining information about a white van that was parked in the south of Paris during the robbery

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

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

Europe stagnates culturally and economically — Vance

The US Vice President added that Europe's immigration policies have caused a significant backlash from the native population

FACTBOX: What we know about terror attack on senior Russian general in Moscow

A parked car exploded at 12, Yasenevaya Street at around 7:00 a.m. Moscow time

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

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

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

According to its information, the heads of US missions abroad have been notified that their terms in their current positions will expire in January

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

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

F‑16 intercepted an aircraft that entered restricted airspace over Palm Beach, NORAD reported

Continuation of Ukraine conflict beneficial to politicians, arms dealers, bankers — Orban

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

Maduro condemns attacks on tankers carrying Venezuelan oil

He noted that the Venezuelan people and all social strata of society remain steadfast in defending peace and national stability

Ukrainian drone attack damages two piers, two vessels in Krasnodar Region

According to the regional operational headquarters, specialists are extinguishing fires that broke out at the piers and are covering an area of 1,000 to 1,500 square meters

NATO seeking to invent pretexts to intervene in Ukraine — Russian MP

Leonid Slutsky recalled that Russia has repeatedly warned against deploying NATO military contingents to Ukraine

Last Russian consulate general closes in Poland

Russian Consul General in Gdansk Sergey Semyonov urged all the visitors to contact the consular department of the Russian embassy in Warsaw

Slovakia to vote nay on EU's Ukraine financing plan — PM

Robert Fico and other members of the Slovak government have repeatedly stated that the country insists on an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations while refusing to finance the continuation of the conflict

Ukrainian journalists say took pictures of Mindich in Israel

The details are promised to be released later

Trump names Louisiana governor as US special envoy to Greenland

The American leader has repeatedly said that Greenland should become a part of the United States

Share of settlements in national currencies within EAEU at 93% — Putin

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

Russia to adhere to Alaska agreements in all versions of Trump’s plan — Kremlin aide

The Kremlin representative said Russia would work out its position from which it would go further, including with the Americans

Special unit of Ukrainian International Legion neutralized — security forces

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

Russian general killed in Moscow listed in Ukraine’s unwanted persons database since 2022

Russian Investigative Committee Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko earlier reported that Fanil Sarvarov was killed in an explosion in southern Moscow on Monday morning

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

All of them were born between 2015 and 2021