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Japanese lawmaker, stalwart Moscow supporter Suzuki plans to visit Russia soon — agency

Muneo Suzuki is expected to meet with Russian officials during the visit

TOKYO, December 24. /TASS/. Muneo Suzuki, a member of Japan’s upper house of parliament from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a stalwart Moscow supporter, plans to visit Russia in the near future, the Kyodo news agency reported, citing government sources.

The lawmaker is expected to meet with Russian officials during the visit. He is also a proponent of allowing former Japanese residents of the South Kuril Islands to visit the graves of their relatives. The Japanese government has repeatedly described this as a priority in terms of relations with Russia.

Suzuki held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier on Wednesday, presumably informing her of his plans to travel to Russia during their talk.

Suzuki advised Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga on relations with Russia when the two served as Japanese prime ministers. In addition, he held several meetings with Shigeru Ishiba during the latter’s term as prime minister, particularly to discuss Russia-related issues.

Suzuki has on many occasions condemned the Japanese government’s position on Ukraine, saying that Tokyo was too focused on following America’s lead where policy is concerned. He visited Russia in October 2023, becoming the first Japanese lawmaker to travel to the country after the start of Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine. The trip, conducted without Tokyo’s blessing, as well as Suzuki’s comments to the Russian media, sparked criticism from the Japan Renewal Party of which he was then a member. As a result, Suzuki left the party, citing differences on relations with Russia. He was elected to the upper house of parliament for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in July.

Suzuki has repeatedly stressed that he will remain a friend to Russia regardless of criticism against him, and will act "as a bridge between our two countries.".

EU loan will not lead to improvement in Ukrainian military’s situation — Guardian

The Guardian draws attention to the low level of recruitment into the Ukrainian armed forces

Belarusian KGB sniffs out foreign spy ring eavesdropping on pilots — report

The network was assisted by several individuals residing in Belarus

New German intelligence chief holds phone call with Russian counterpart — portal

The WDR broadcasting company’s investigative unit described the conversation as "a rare instance of direct contact between German and Russian agencies"

Medvedev curious about reasons for unexpectedly conciliatory statements from EU

The Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council noted that Boris Pistorius stated he doesn't believe a war between NATO and Russia is imminent, while Alexander Stubb acknowledged that Moscow has no interest in attacking member countries of the alliance

Peace in Europe unattainable without review of West's anti-Russian policy — Medvedev

"It is crucial to recognize that the root cause of the conflict in Ukraine stems from the aggressive ‘Eastern policy’ pursued by Anglo-Saxon nations along with NATO and the European Union," the politician stated

Press review: Ukraine mulls elections and Trump plans laser fleet as gold prices soar

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 24th

Press review: Russia-US dialogue eyed in 2026 and EU seeks retreat after summit failure

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 23rd

Sanctions against Russia have not hindered growth of its trade with Brazil — ambassador

Today, Russia ranks eighth among Brazil's trading partners, Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos said

About 417,000 Russians have signed military service contracts — Medvedev

Additionally, more than 36,000 have voluntarily joined units dispatched to the zone of the special military operation, the politician stated

Two policemen die as result of explosion while detaining suspect in Moscow

Investigators and forensic experts are examining the incident site and establishing all the circumstances around it

Brazil concerned about Trump's actions towards Venezuela — ambassador to Russia

Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos also expressed hope that a military conflict between the United States and Venezuela will not occur

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

Ukraine’s major oil producer Ukrnafta sustains critical damage

The company did not specify the exact nature of the damage or where it occurred

Russian forces now occupy both banks of Seversky Donets River — military expert

Andrey Marochko said that significant success has been achieved in this area in a very short time

Debris of plane crash near Ankara located - NTV

According to the TV channel, the Falcon 50 crashed due to a technical malfunction

Air defenses down 172 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight

110 of them were destroyed over the territory of the Bryansk Region

Parties to negotiations on Ukraine discussing four final documents — US NATO envoy

There is a 20-point peace plan, together with sort of the multilateral security guarantees, the US specific security guarantees, and the post-peace economic growth and prosperity plan, Matthew Whitaker said

US pressuring Venezuela to change its government — Russian envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the US President's statement is "a direct claim to another state's natural resources and subsoil"

Plotter of terrorist attack on oil pipeline neutralized in Tyumen Region — FSB

According to the FSB’s Public Relations Center, the suspect, a Russian citizen originally from Vinnitsa in Ukraine, resisted arrest and was subsequently neutralized during the operation

Medvedev calls on world to designate Ukraine’s nationalism as destructive ideology

The politician described Ukrainian nationalism as a hand-made political project that rose to its anti-human fame last century with what he called targeted mass support from the United States and Great Britain

KazTransOil, PERN ink agreement for oil transot to Germany

The agreement on cooperation regulates issues of oil acceptance and delivery at the Adamowo-Zastawa point in the territory of Poland

US remains hostage to approaches it criticizes in case of Venezuela — UN envoy

Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya expressed hope that "Washington will be able to stop in time and avoid a fatal mistake"

Global gas consumption gain 25 bln cubic meters in 2025

Gazprom pointed to the revision of priority developments in favor of hydrocarbons in some countries and international energy companies

Globalist fake media machine attacks Trump, his peace efforts — Dmitriev

Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy commented on Donald Trump's opinion that the NYT newspaper poses a serious threat to national security and that its dissemination of false information should be stopped

Serbia supports Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine, offers venue for talks — top diplomat

Marko Duric said that Belgrade strongly support US President Donald Trump’s peace plan and all other initiatives that may put an end to hostilities

Medvedev suggests encouraging separatism in West as countermeasure

"Separatism is a gamble that can be played by two," the politician noted

Ukrainian media outlet releases Kiev’s 20-point peace plan

Ukraine presented this plan to the American side at recent talks in the United States

US NATO envoy believes ball is in Russia's court in Ukrainian settlement

According to Matthew Whitaker, Washington is trying to find out the maximum that Russia is willing to do to end the conflict

Putin to present state awards at Kremlin today

The Russian leader will present orders, medals, and honorary titles to renowned musicians, artists, scientists, teachers, sports figures, healthcare workers, industrialists, agriculturalists, and other prominent figures

US moves additional forces to Caribbean — media

At least ten Osprey tiltrotor aircraft that are used in special operations, as well as a C-17 large military transport aircraft have been deployed to the area

Russian air defenses destroy drone en route to Moscow

In total, three drones were shot down after midnight

Russian reconnaissance drones penetrating deep behind Ukrainian lines — expert

Vitaly Kiselev added that the weather is also helping Russian forces operate in these areas

Thief conks jewel courier on head in Paris, steals sapphire priced at 150,000 euro

The injured courier was hospitalized

FACTBOX: Two traffic police officers killed in explosion in southern Moscow

The suspect is also dead

Kremlin spokesman urges Poland to remember political distortion has no place in G20

"As a rule, the Poles tend to politicize everything and distort the meaning of policies," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

West 'understands nothing about Russians,' Rostec says in response to Reuters report

The Russian defense industry is currently focused on solving state problems, not on generating more profit

Europe has 'epiphany' on Ukraine negotiations — opposition figure

Viktor Medvedchuk said that Europe had previously acted as a "bridge between Russia and the United States," but today's attempts by Europeans to build a wall between Moscow and Washington "are a joke"

SANA reports on meeting between Syrian foreign, defense ministers and Putin in Moscow

The Kremlin press service has not yet reported such contact

IN BRIEF: Putin's key statements on economy at cabinet meeting

The president said that Russia and its economy are in a good place, "despite numerous challenges"

Italy becomes first NATO country to receive Rheinmetall’s Skynex air defense system

The contract is worth $86 million and includes an option to deliver up to three additional systems

Venezuela has overwhelming support in UN Security Council — president

The Venezuelan leader called the US seizure of vessels "piracy" and noted that "no one can defeat" the country

Liquidation of Hezbollah’s military wing aligns with Lebanon’s security interests — MFA

"In accordance with the government plan, the process of disarming Shiite fighters must extend to not only the south but all other regions of the country," Lebanese Foreign Minister Yousef Raji said

Ukraine lost 1-2 GW of power grid capacity as a result of December 23 explosions

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported earlier that Russian troops struck Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities and energy facilities with Kinzhal missiles on the morning of December 23

None of BRICS members wants to leave association — Brazilian ambassador to Russia

Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos noted that BRICS is a constructive force in strengthening a multipolar world order that is becoming increasingly inclusive and democratic

Russian troops liberate Zarechnoye in Zaporozhye Region over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Brazil interested in Russian diesel, gasoline supplies — ambassador to Moscow

Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos emphasized that "diesel is especially important because Brazil's transportation system relies heavily on road freight"

Ukrainian troops try to bypass Russian EWF systems using short-range UAVs — developer

According to the statement, such steps are an attempt by the enemy to complicate the operation of radio reconnaissance and electronic countermeasures, reduce the time of reliable detection, and increase the survivability of the command and control channel

Russia’s Novocheboksarsk minesweeper conducts patrol sweep in Baltic Sea

The ship's crew also practiced laying out contact and non-contact sweeps

US sanctions against former European officials cast doubt on EU sovereignty — Kallas

The chief of the European diplomacy said that Europe will continue to defend its values of freedom of expression

West needs Zelensky's peace plan to pump resources out of Ukraine — expert

The clause on creating special funds to attract $800 billion for Ukraine's reconstruction was introduced "because money can be made on creating these funds," Alexander Dudchak said

Anti-Venezuela actions to be template for US actions against other states — Russian envoy

Vasily Nebenzya pointed out that US policy represents "an unambiguous signal to all countries in the region seeking to pursue a sovereign course and independently determine their economic, political, and cultural systems"

Share of new heavy trucks from China on Russian market falls to 53% in 11 months

Imports of Chinese trucks weighing more than 16 tons into Russia dropped by 90%

Polish prosecutor’s office receives Kiev's extradition request for Russian archaeologist

Alexander Burtyagin, who heads the North Black Sea region sector at the Ancient World department of the world-famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and heads the museum’s Kerch expedition, was detained on December 4

BRICS has developed criteria for admitting new members — ambassador to Moscow

A candidate country must have good relations with its neighbors and be opposed to unilateral sanctions, Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos noted

Iraq says Iran stops gas supplies due to 'extraordinary circumstances'

Ahmed Musa, head of the Iraqi ministry's press service, noted that Baghdad "has taken emergency measures to prevent a crisis at power plants until gas supplies resume"

European Union disintegrating before our eyes — Orban

The Hungarian PM noted that "EU decision-makers are constantly forced to backtrack"

Top Syrian diplomat says country’s relations with Russia enter new stage

According to Asaad al-Shaibani, Syria "seeks to forge balanced relations with all states"

Another drone flying toward Moscow destroyed

Emergency services specialists are working at the site of the fallen debris, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said

FSB thwarts hostage-taking, prisoner escape from penal colony in Kurgan Region

A prisoner concealed a shiv in his punishment cell, where he was placed for violating prison rules

Ukraine conflict likely to end in 2026 on terms unfavorable to Kiev — Politico

Foreign affairs columnist Jamie Dettmer doubts a €90 billion loan will be sufficient to keep Ukraine solvent

Trump's Golden Fleet is doomed due to lack of proper US air defense system — expert

"Presently, the US Navy’s onboard air and missile defenses are incapable of reliably intercepting hypersonic threats, including sophisticated missiles like Russia’s Tsirkon and comparable Chinese systems," Alexander Stepanov noted

Russia developing scenarios for using net guns against drones

These scenarios will form the basis for the methodology that will be taught to Russian military personnel at training centers

Spacecraft with artificial gravity patented in Russia

"The space system with artificial gravity includes an axial module with static and rotating parts, connected with the help of a hermetically sealed flexible junction, as well as habitable modules, rotation equipment and power sources," according to the patent

Putin warned Bush that admitting Ukraine to NATO will lead to Russia-US confrontation

The Russian leader stressed that this would create a threat of NATO moving its military bases and various arms systems to the exact proximity to the Russian border

Russia, Brazil plan to increase trade in national currencies — ambassador to Moscow

The large trade deficit between the two countries limits the use of national currencies for trade and commercial transactions, the diplomat noted

Social unity around grand goals is key to Russia's achievements, Putin says

The Russian president highlighted the readiness of millions to unite around shared, noble goals

Russian expert questions CNN wolf story

According to Amirkhan Amirkhanov, the wolf population has increased in recent years in the European part of Russia and Europe in general

German top diplomat says Russia’s military successes pose 'serious threat' to NATO

Johann Wadephul also noted that there was no point in providing Ukraine with security guarantees without clear commitments from the United States

Gloomy mood in European Commission’s headquarters — Politico

According to the newspaper, after months of discussions, EU leaders "delivered a harsh reality check, with the executive’s ambitions dashed by political and national red lines"

EU had chance to prevent Russia conflict in 2022 — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban said that Europe could have sent a peace mission to Moscow and Kiev instead of declaring their conflict its own war

Russian-made Snickers bars on sale in London despite sanctions

Employees at one of the stores said they did not know where the bars were made

Several points of Zelensky’s so-called plan unworkable, expert says

Alexander Dudchak doubts that Kiev is really ready to carry out an "all-for-all" prisoner swap according to the plan

At least 5 people were on board plane that crashed near Ankara — Turkish interior minister

The Libyan Army Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Haddad was also on board the Falcon 50 aircraft

Putin to attend plenary session of Russian Federation Council — Kremlin

The autumn session of the Federation Council is closing and the Russian Parliament is summing up the year-end results, Dmitry Peskov said

Taliban harms Russia less than Western-backed groups promoting division — Medvedev

In April, Russia’s Supreme Court suspended a ban on Afghanistan’s Taliban movement, which had previously been included in the list of terrorist organizations

US can gain control of Greenland without 'firing a shot' — EP member

Anders Vistisen also noted that Denmark "cannot defend Greenland alone"

Russian intel chief reveals recent extended call with MI6 director

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

Deployment of Oreshnik in Belarus will not affect balance in Europe — defense minister

Viktor Khrenin emphasized that the deployment is a direct response to aggressive actions by Western nations

Russian troops pressing Ukrainian army in Krasny Liman direction — expert

Igor Kimakovsky said that Russian forces are also successfully fighting near the settlement of Ozyornoye

Resumption of air traffic between Russia, US long overdue — Russian MFA

Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of the North Atlantic Alexander Gusarov emphasized that this step would clearly demonstrate the improving dialogue between the two countries

Dmitriev jokes European Commission chief would be banned from entering US

Kirill Dmitriev commented on a post by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the State Department's intention to take steps to bar leading figures of the global censorship-industrial complex from entering the country

Thai F-16 fighter jets attack Cambodian territory — newspaper report

Thai jets dropped six bombs near Phnom Sampov in the Banan district of the Battambang Province in northwestern Cambodia

Putin-Trump call can be arranged quickly if needed — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that everything slows down during Christmas time

Emergence of BRICS payment system quite possible — ambassador to Moscow

The diplomat called this topic one of the most important on the BRICS agenda

IN BRIEF: Fire at enterprise in Tula Region, 172 UAVs, aftermath of overnight attack

In particular, 110 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Bryansk Region

Kiev deploying most combat-fit UAV units, assault groups to Gulyaipole — defense source

Russia’s Battlegroup East forces continue steadily advancing in Gulyaipole, a source in Russian defense circles said

Corruption in Biden's team at root of Ukrainian conflict — Dmitriev

"Warmongers are warmongers for one reason: they profit from war," the envoy stated

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

Sergey Ryabkov said that nobody can rewrite history

Russian air defenses destroy drone en route to Moscow

Emergency services are working at the crash site

Kiev loses about 20 battalions in fighting near Vilcha — expert

Vitaly Kiselev added that, despite heavy losses and massive, combined attacks by the Russian army, the Ukrainian army brigades have "a very large number of soldiers that go AWOL"

Hungary refuses to ignore 'constitutional coup' in EU — minister for EU affairs

Janos Boka warned that the Hungarian government "will not sit idly by" as this happens

Hungarian PM rings alarm bell on war

Viktor Orban added that some proposals and decisions made at the European Union summit on December 18-19 were aimed at escalating the conflict in Ukraine and further antagonizing Russia

Parade of Russian Father Frosts, Snow Maidens takes place in Mexico City

The procession, accompanied by Russian and Soviet New Year's songs, attracted genuine interest from local residents and tourists

Putin warned Bush that NATO membership would split Ukraine — declassified documents

During their meeting in Sochi in April 2008, Bush asked the Russian leader why Russia opposes to Ukraine’s NATO membership

West accuses Russia of Bucha killings just as it did with Holodomor — Medvedev

According to the politician, the groundwork laid by predecessors in creating false ideologies is now actively exploited by the "regime of the bloody Kiev comedian"

Russian scientists create 72-qubit quantum computer — Rosatom Quantum Technologies

According to Yekaterina Solntseva, Director of Quantum Technologies at Rosatom State Corporation, it is especially important that the scientists have taken another step toward progressively improving the reliability of operations

Brazil fully supports peace talks on Ukraine — ambassador to Moscow

Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos noted that Brazil has never supported the diplomatic isolation of Russia

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 160 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Anglo-Saxon nations tap into Soviet-era tactics to 'decolonize' Russia anew — Medvedev

The senior Russian official recalled a briefing in the US Congress on the "decolonization of Russia" in June 2022, as well as the financial and media support provided by the Anglo-Saxons to the terrorist organization "Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum"

Russia to formulate its position following Miami meeting, to soon continue talks — Kremlin

Negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement took place in Miami on December 20 and 21

EU got involved in conflict in Ukraine to rev up economy — Orban

The prime minister believes the decision is wrong