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Trump believes prospects for new meeting with Putin hinge on settlement progress

The US president added that he believes the essential elements of a deal have already been outlined

WASHINGTON, December 28. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump said the prospects for a new face-to-face meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin depend on progress in settling the Ukrainian crisis.

Speaking to reporters at the start of a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence near West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said a meeting with Putin in the near future "depends" on progress toward a settlement.

The US president added that he believes the essential elements of a deal have already been outlined.

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Vladimir Putin United States Donald Trump

Trump, Zelensky holding phone call with European leaders — news agency

The talks between the two leaders lasted around two hours

Ukraine loses over one million troops in three years of fighting

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Liberation of Gulyaipole opens good prospects for offensive — Putin

Vladimir Putin also noted the effective actions of the Battlegroup Center in eliminating Ukrainian forces near Krasnoarmeysk in the Dimitrov agglomeration

Zelensky says US has proposed 15-year settlement agreements

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Zelensky uses elections to delay settlement — top Russian senator

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The Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador at Large on Kiev’s War Crimes said that Russia "does not set the task of making life of the Ukrainian population unbearable"

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Slutsky urged patience, noting that the details still need to be worked out to ensure tangible results

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According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and prospects for cooperation between the two countries prior to Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Zelensky

West’s eyes are 'wide shut' to corruption scandals in Kiev, says Lavrov

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Group of mercenaries from Ukrainian National Guard wiped out Kharkov Region

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FACTBOX: Recapping US envoy Steve Witkoff’s visits to Russia

This is the sixth meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff since the beginning of the year as Washington pushes to get a peace deal done

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: Russia appreciates efforts by Trump

European leaders, Zelensky, Trump to hold phone call on December 27 — Reuters

According to his information, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also take part in the discussion

Special op experience, work of defense industry sector: Putin's statements

The president noted that the Russian defense-industrial complex is operating steadily, providing the armed forces with the necessary equipment

Threat of direct conflict between Russia, US in now past — senior Russian MP

Now, in his words, efforts are needed to reduce the number of conflicts

Europe openly states about its preparations for war with Russia — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister emphasized that after a new administration came to power in the United States, Europe and the European Union emerged as the main obstacles to peace

Trump says has spoken with Putin over phone ahead of meeting Zelensky

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed to TASS that such a phone call did take place

Apple announces prices for new iPhones in Russia

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The Russian foreign minister noted "the particular importance of Russian-Chinese relations of a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation"

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Trump-Zelensky meeting unlikely to achieve breakthrough in Kiev's favor — German expert

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Russia to start trials of most advanced Katran combat drone this year

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Advanced coastal defense missile systems to protect Russia's Caspian Flotilla base

The Bal coastal defense missile system is armed with Kh-35 subsonic low-altitude anti-ship missiles and is capable of destroying enemy ground and naval targets at a range of about 130 km

Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia becomes new FIDE World Rapid Women's Champion

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Liberation of Gulyaipole and Dimitrov: Putin's statements at meeting with Gerasimov

The Russian leader also pointed out that the establishment of a buffer zone on the Russian-Ukrainian border is proceeding well

US abandons decades-old partnership with Europe in 2025 — newspaper

The newspaper also emphasized it was now unclear whether Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty on collective defense was anything more than an empty declaration

Russia open to contacts, but Europe is not interested in that — senior Russian diplomat

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Kupyansk under control of Battlegroup West — Russian defense ministry

TASS has compiled the main information about the situation in the special military operation zone over the past 24 hours

DPRK leader sends New Year greetings to Russian president — KCNA

"On behalf of the government of the DPRK and the Korean people, I extend the warmest and sincerest greeting of best wishes to you and, through you, to the government of the Russian Federation and the fraternal Russian people on the occasion of the New Year 2026," Kim Jong Un said

Greenland acquisition could raise US companies' market value by $1 trillion

Russia must focus on enhancing the valuation of its mineral resources in the Arctic Region, Alexey Chekunkov emphasized

US National Security Strategy does not contradict dialogue with Russia — Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov stressed that Moscow will assess its results based on the following steps made by Washington

Trump slams UN for not doing enough to settle conflicts, including in Ukraine

The United Nations must start getting active and involved in world peace, noted Trump

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian units in northwest of Kupyansk — Defense Ministry

Offensive actions are underway

Russia to support China in case tensions escalate in Taiwan Strait — top diplomat

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418 people were killed and more than 1,140 were injured

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The defense ministry has deployed additional forces and armored vehicles to Latakia and Tartus

West's policy on Ukraine rules out peaceful coexistence with Russia — German expert

Werner Patzelt emphasized that regardless of the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia "will not cease to be part of European geography and geopolitics"

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‘Crucial’ power line repairs begin near Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant — IAEA

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Russia shows first kamikaze drone detection and countering system

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

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The battlegroup’s air defense units shot down 39 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, battlegroup’s spokesman added

Last of world-famous Dionne quintuplets dies at age 91 — New York Times

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Samsung registers two trademarks in Russia

The trademarks are registered under Class 9 of the International Classification of Goods and Services, which includes various types of televisions and monitors

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The group’s leader Naim Qassem emphasized that the government’s striving for a monopoly over weapons now is in the interests of the United States and Israel

Trump, Zelensky holding phone call with European leaders — news agency

The talks between the two leaders lasted around two hours

Zelensky’s inner circle transfers $50 mln every month to UAE accounts — Turkish newspaper

At the same time, it published no documents to prove the transfers, according to Aydinlik

FACTBOX: S-500 Anti-Aircraft Missile System

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

Europe’s so-called ‘War Party’ ready to go to full extent — Lavrov

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Tokyo needs to abandon 'hostile policy' toward Moscow for resumed dialogue — Russian MFA

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Russia terminates agreement on cross-border cooperation with Finland — decree

The Russian Foreign Ministry has been instructed to notify the other party of the decision

French movie star Brigitte Bardot dies at 91

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Russia’s response to any attack to be ‘devastating’, worth repeating it — top diplomat

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Politico awards anti-prizes to Sarkozy, Trump, von der Leyen for 2025

In addition to them, the Titanic award "for grand ideas that fail" went to the Italian bridge project intended to connect Sicily to the mainland

Russian troops destroy Ukraine vehicles, stronghold in Zaporozhye

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the enemy was using the vehicles to covertly transport personnel to Gulyaipole to reinforce positions in the locality

Zelensky’s regime not ready to engage in constructive talks — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister emphasized that Kiev's regime terrorizes civilians by targeting civilian infrastructure

Updated US National Security Strategy questions for first time NATO’s expansion — Lavrov

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Mobilization in Ukraine, NATO near Kaliningrad: Foreign Ministry statements

TASS has compiled the key statements by the official representative of the Foreign Ministry

EU wants closer cooperation with Russia to remove economic barriers - Merkel

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Attempt to ‘give Ukraine time’: Merkel on Minsk agreements

She expressed doubt that at that time NATO states would have been able to support Kiev to the extent that they do now

Authorities discussing establishment of Islamic bank in Russia — lawmaker

Anatoly Aksakov said that he expects this work to be completed next year

WWIII avoided thanks to Trump’s policies — Russia’s special presidential envoy

Kirill Dmitriev also thanked the US leader for clarity on Russia "having a stronger negotiating position than Ukraine to resolve the conflict"

Japan should weight everything before assuming militarization course — Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov noted that the detrimental influence of such an approach on the regional stability is obvious

EU’s decision on loan to Ukraine deals major blow to Zelensky, allies — newspaper

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

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

Globalization promoted by West fades into obscurity, Lavrov says

According to the top Russian diplomat, more and more countries are realizing that it is safer to rely on regional mechanisms

Russia can receive unlimited number of Indian specialists — first deputy PM

Denis Manturov confirmed that the labor mobility agreement was signed during the Russian-Indian summit in New Delhi