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

The talks between the two leaders lasted around two hours

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky are currently holding a phone call with European leaders, RBC-Ukraine news agency reported, citing sources in the Ukrainian delegation.

The Trump-Zelensky talks lasted around two hours. According to statements from the two sides ahead of the meeting, it was scheduled to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine as well as agreements on economic cooperation and security guarantees between Kiev and Washington.

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Ukraine United States Donald Trump Vladimir Zelensky

President Vucic confirms plans to organize parliamentary elections in Serbia in 2026

According to the Serbian President, the snap elections will be a political response to the demonstrators

Three killed, dozens hurt in riots in Syrian western governorates — TV

According to the television channel, an officer of the new government’s security forces was among those killed

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

Working groups on Ukraine, cooperation prospects: details of Putin-Trump phone call

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

Offensive actions are underway

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The opposition’s attempt to invoke the constitution to justify the removal of Touadera as a member of a ‘tribe not residing in the CAR’ also does not stand up to scrutiny

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Nearly 970 ceasefire violations by Israel reported in Gaza Strip since October 10

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

Aist-2T satellites launched from Vostochny spaceport put into orbit

They are designed to photograph the planet's surface and obtain stereoscopic images to create digital terrain models

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

Earlier, in an article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Russia and China, Lavrov emphasized that the West is deliberately escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait

French movie star Brigitte Bardot dies at 91

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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

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

Russian troops liberate eight communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center forces kept destroying the surrounded Ukrainian combat group in Dimitrov and mopping up the settlements of Rodinskoye and Grishino in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week

Russia stands against Taiwan’s independence in any form — Lavrov

Russia recognizes Taiwan as an integral part of China and stands against the island’s independence in any form

Zelensky uses elections to delay settlement — top Russian senator

Valentina Matvienko added that Zelensky is being pushed toward these statements by "European war instigators"

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

From a technical standpoint, this is a relief, but politically it is a defeat for Zelensky and his European allies, who promised to make Moscow pay, but in reality, settled for a compromise

EU goods imports into Russia exceed exports — Eurostat

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

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

Kremlin spokesman confirms Putin-Trump phone call

Trump described this call as "good and very productive"

Hezbollah refuses to disarm until Israel withdraws troops from Lebanon — leader

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

Russia-China relations serve as significant factor in global stability — Lavrov

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

Apple announces prices for new iPhones in Russia

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"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

Russia to increase number of high-tech defense industry enterprises — factsheet

The state armaments program for 2027-2036 envisions the widespread integration of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence

Moscow will give a harsh response to theft of Russian assets in European Union — MFA

"If the European Union dares to steal Russian assets, the consequences for the entire global financial system will be extremely negative," Maria Zakharova noted

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

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

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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

Russia plans to upgrade nuclear triad through 2036 — Kremlin

The state arms program is a long-term planning document that stipulates developing, producing and maintaining the combat readiness of armaments, military and special equipment

INTERVIEW: Delegates from 150 countries to attend security conference in Moscow in May

According to Sergey Shoigu, issues of security in post-Soviet space, the development of cooperation with neighboring countries both on the bilateral basis and within multilateral organizations

Trump rejects suggestions Russia not serious about peace in Ukraine

The US leader stated that Kiev had carried out strikes in various parts of Russia

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

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

Kiev's European allies seek to undermine US, Russian efforts on Ukraine — mission

Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky stated that history will harshly judge Kiev's European allies

Iran exercises maximum restraint in view of provocations — Lavrov

In 2025, five rounds of Iran-US talks on nuclear issues, mediated by Oman, ended without results due to Israel’s military operation against the Islamic Republic and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities

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

Gazprom reports record gas withdrawals from European storage facilities during holidays

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

The talks between the two leaders lasted around two hours

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

An IAEA expert team is overseeing the repairs, which are expected to last several days

Russian troops destroy Ukraine vehicles, stronghold in Zaporozhye

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

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Recruitment offices for the four PMCs will be established in nine French cities

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

According to the German Chancellor, Russia “has already confirmed its committement to the principles of free trade”

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

According to Sergey Ryabkov, political contacts between the sides are maintained but this in not done publicly

Russia’s figure skating star Valieva excluded from national team’s roster

"Everything is done in compliance with the legislative documents," Director General of the Figure Skating Federation of Russia Alexander Kogan said

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

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Russia launches satellites for its allies from Vostochny spaceport

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West uses sanctions to cling to fading dominance — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that unilateral coercive measures represent a serious obstacle to establishing a just and equitable multipolar world order

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Some demonstrators said they were demanding the release of activists previously detained by the new authorities

Group of mercenaries from Ukrainian National Guard wiped out Kharkov Region

The battalion of Colombian mercenaries within the brigade was formed with the appointment of Cuban-born Daniel Vincentovich Kitone, as brigade commander, Russian security sources said

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

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Samsung registers two trademarks in Russia

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Sunday’s Putin-Trump phone call was their ninth in 2025, 1st since October 16

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

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

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

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

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Over 100 rioters detained in Latakia city — TV

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Russian troops liberate Ostapovskoye community in Dnepropetrovsk Region over past day

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Ukraine loses over one million troops in three years of fighting

The 2024 toll exceeded 595,000, which is more than in the first two years taken together

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

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Putin agrees to US proposal for settlement in framework of working groups — Kremlin aide

One of them will deal with "various aspects of security issues," and the other with "economic issues," Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said

Russian, US lawmakers reach preliminary agreement on meeting — senior Russian MP

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

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

She grabbed the title after defeating Zhu Jiner of China 1.5:0.5 in a blitz tiebreaks match

Tu-214 to be produced step by step after all modifications are completed by 2026

Earlier on Saturday, the updated Tu-214 received approval for a major redesign of its standard configuration

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

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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"

Russia only hits Ukraine’s military plants, not people — envoy

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"

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

Mount Etna erupts, sending lava up to 400 meters into the sky

The institute described the episode as the strongest so far within a generally normal and closely monitored phenomenon

President Vucic confirms plans to organize parliamentary elections in Serbia in 2026

According to the Serbian President, the snap elections will be a political response to the demonstrators

Armenia doesn’t want to sever ties with Russia — top diplomat

When Armenia promotes relations with the United States and the European Union, there is no secret agenda for pushing Russia away behind this, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said

Third of Ukrainian troops surrender near Lisichansk, LPR’s envoy to Russia says

According to Rodion Miroshnik, the operation to liberate the LPR would be brought to an end as soon as the operation in Lisichansk was finished

Russia rescued Ukrainians abandoned by Kiev in Sumy Region — human rights commissioner

Russian troops brought them to a safe place in Belgorod

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

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

Sergey Ryabkov said that nobody can rewrite history

At least 20 years for Ukraine to meet EU accession criteria — German MP

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Globalization promoted by West fades into obscurity, Lavrov says

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