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French politician sides with Telegram founder, accuses Macron of creating 'digital gulag'

Florian Philippot also called for France to leave the European Union as soon as possible in order to protect freedom of speech

PARIS, December 25. /TASS/. The leader of the French party The Patriots, Florian Philippot, agreed with Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, who had accused French President Emmanuel Macron of seeking to turn the entire EU "into a digital gulag — through censorship (DSA) and mass surveillance (Chat Control)" due to online criticism that has hurt the president’s approval ratings.

"Very true!" Philippot wrote on X, commenting on a post published by Durov a day earlier. The French politician also called for France to leave the European Union as soon as possible in order to protect freedom of speech.

Durov made the remarks after the US decided, on December 23, to impose sanctions on a number of European officials including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and several other individuals, who, according to Washington, were involved in attempts to censor Americans. The Telegram co-founder described Breton as a "close ally and appointee of Macron", as well as the "architect" of the EU’s Digital Services Act, which significantly strengthened control over a number of Internet platforms across the bloc.

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

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

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Moscow calls detention of Russia’s Adler vessel by Sweden 'farce majeure'

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Sweden should apologize for the incident

Putin already sent Trump telegram wishing him a Merry Christmas — Kremlin

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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

KVN drones destroy Ukrainian equipment worth two German armies — Ushkuynik

According to CEO Alexey Chadayev, after the invasion of the Kursk Region, the Ukrainian armed forces "were unable to carry out a single successful attack with the mass use of mechanized military equipment"

Ukraine’s ex-premier describes Zelensky’s plan as attempt to stall talks

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

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that everything slows down during Christmas time

Ruble becomes strongest-performing currency in 2025 — Bloomberg

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Russian strategic bombers fly over neutral waters of Barents, Norwegian seas

Su-33 fighter jets of the Russian Navy escorted the long-range bombers

Belgium shocked by US sanctions against five EU citizens — foreign minister

Maxime Prevot said that EU digital legislation is not directed against the United States, but serves to ensure that EU citizens have the same security and dignity in the digital space that they enjoy in their public lives in Europe

Mobilization in Ukraine, NATO near Kaliningrad: Foreign Ministry statements

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EU, UK hurt most by Washington’s Russia policy turn — expert

According to Andrey Sushentsov, the US was the first to realize that it’s impossible to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia

Oreshnik system in Belarus is just first stage of its deployment on EU border — expert

According to Alexander Stepanov, the next stage could be the deployment of strategic instruments, including the Oreshnik missile system, in the Kaliningrad Region

Humanitarian aid convoy from Dagestan comes under attack in border area

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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

Ukrainian city of Odessa reports partial power cuts

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At least 141 Ukrainian drones downed over Russian territory overnight — defense ministry

62 of them were destroyed over the Bryansk Region

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Conflict in Ukraine can be resolved within 90 days — US envoy to NATO

Matthew Whittaker noted that the forthcoming winter may be very difficult for Ukraine

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Putin meets with businessmen in Kremlin — spokesman

The Russian government’s officials in charge of economy and social affairs, presidential administration officials, and Russian Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina attended the meeting

Zelensky's new peace plan not to work for Russia, says expert

The expert focused on the political points of the plan and on the security guarantees demanded by Kiev

Foreign intelligence services monitoring Oreshnik missile deployment in Belarus — KGB

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier stated that a maximum of 10 Russian-made Oreshnik systems would be deployed in the republic

Zelensky's desire to maintain army size proves he is not thinking about peace — politician

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

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Some 20,000 Muscovites voluntarily sign contracts for military service annually — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin said that Moscow is one of the largest centers for the recruitment of military personnel for the special military operation

Putin sends New Year greetings to Kim Jong Un

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Beijing opposes US maritime blockade of Venezuela

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Russia ready to discuss form of document on absence of plans to attack NATO — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that Russia remains open for serious talks

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

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

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"

EU needs to understand Kiev never to repay its loans — Russian Foreign Ministry

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The drones were destroyed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. GMT

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Kiev striking infrastructure in Krasny Liman with towed artillery used by NATO — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, Kiev dispatched its artillery unit equipped with M777 155mm howitzers near the locality of Mayaki in the Donetsk People’s Republic

US military reports Santa Claus flying over Russia

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Pentagon’s report distorts reality of Chinese military developments — newspaper

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Tajikistan reports fatalities from border clash with Afghan terrorists

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Polish officials not allowed to enter Russian consulate’s former building

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

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Hungarian PM gives hot take on biggest threat of war facing Europe

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Gloomy mood in European Commission’s headquarters — Politico

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Exports of Russian goods to the EU amounted to 21.7 bln euro, while imports of goods from the EU into Russia totaled 22.2 bln euro

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Su-57 fighter jet successfully evades enemy radars and electronic warfare — Chemezov

Rostec CEO noted that the corporation received feedback on all equipment deployed in the zone of the special military operation

Russian army destroys Ukraine's underground bunkers in Zaporozhye Region

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Japan’s chief cabinet secretary refrains from comments on MP’s visit to Russia

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

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CEO of the Ushkuynik Research and Production Center Alexey Chadayev said that the drone has become the most popular and widely used in its niche

MP from Japan’s ruling party, Muneo Suzuki, departs to Russia on visit

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Kremlin confirms Moscow-Paris contacts on case of French national Vinatier

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Air defenses destroy 29 more Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions within three-hour period

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

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Dutch B4Ukraine, tracking Russian oil exports registered undesirable — Prosecutor’s office

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Trump wishes merry Christmas to all, including 'radical left scum'

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Fire area in Temryuk port reach 4,000 sq m

Two tanks with oil products are on fire

Taking Gulyaipole to expand bridgehead along Gaichur River — Russian defense source

According to the report, the enemy's resistance is complicated by harsh weather conditions

Russia developing scenarios for using net guns against drones

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FACTBOX: How Catholics celebrate Christmas

The first records of Christmas being celebrated as an independent holiday date back to the 4th century

Macron tries to turn EU into 'digital gulag' — Durov

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