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Azerbaijani leader, Armenian PM meet in Abu Dhabi — news agency

Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan are being accompanied by their delegations

BAKU, February 4. /TASS/. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are holding a meeting in Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan’s state news agency Azertac reported.

The two leaders are being accompanied by their delegations. No other details have been disclosed.

Both are visiting the UAE for the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony.

Creation of Eurasian security architecture requires broad cooperation, expert says

Arvind Gupta believes that "any new security architecture in Asia should promote stability, diplomacy and dialogue"

India to buy US and not Russian oil, Trump says

This will help to end the conflict in Ukraine, the US president added

Russian negotiators touch down in Abu Dhabi

A plane with the Russian delegation members has landed in UAE

Russian economy to be more efficient by creating decent jobs — Putin

Russian President has requested ministries to pay greater attention to improvement of the employment structure

Russia to use nuclear weapons if faced with existential threat — Medvedev

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman stressed that Moscow acts in strict accordance with its nuclear doctrine

Russia can play key role in overcoming Iranian crisis — US expert

"We have a risk-prone president, one who makes rash decisions and is willing to use force", Scott Sagan, professor of political science at Stanford University said

Afghanistan wants to buy oil and gas from Russia — Ambassador to Moscow

"Trade and economic relations between the two countries are currently developing," Gul Hassan said

Russia is the only country implementing small nuclear plant projects in practice — Rosatom

"All the other ones are dealing with their presentation," Alexey Likhachev said

Effect of structural changes in economy to be seen as early as in 2026 — Putin

The country needs to restore economic growth rates, improve the business climate and boost the investing activity with the focus on labor productivity growth, the Russian president noted

Russia, US agree not to disclose Ukraine talks to avoid harming outcome — Medvedev

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman noted that security guarantees on the Ukrainian issue could not be unilateral, as such guarantees did not work

Bill Gates promoted unproven vaccines, blocked Sputnik — Russian envoy

"Gates became a Gatekeeper on vaccines through his foundation and effective control of vaccine alliances like Gavi," Kirill Dmitriev said

Musk believes new civil war already underway in US

Another wave of protests erupted in Minneapolis in late January

Ukraine to adjust negotiating approach after strikes on energy facilities — Zelensky

Another round of trilateral Russian-US-Ukrainian settlement talks is expected to be held in Abu Dhabi on February 4 and 5

Israel conveyed its Iran-related demands to US — TV

These include Iran’s transfer of its highly enriched uranium stockpile to a third country

Risks of a global war remain very high — Medvedev

The politician noted that he perceived "the decreasing pain threshold" as the main danger

Ukrainians from Marinera tanker afraid to return home for fear of persecution

The crew consisted of 28 people in total

Household funds in Russian banks up by 5.6% in December — regulator

Overall, by the end of 2025, the volume of household funds in the banking system increased by 16.2%, or $123 bln

Turkey ready to serve as mediator between Iran, US, will continue contacts — Erdogan

The Turkish president noted that Turkey coordinates its actions with its partners in the region

Trump says he noted need for Ukrainian settlement during talks with Putin

US President did not elaborate on when the conversation occured

Russia sets its goals, objectives for G20 — Foreign Ministry

According to Marat Berdyev, special attention will be paid to strengthening the fair character of the global economy

NATO chief’s statements hinder peace settlement in Ukraine — Russian MP

Leonid Slutsky recalled that Russia has repeatedly stressed that it will not tolerate any foreign contingents in Ukraine

Witkoff, Kushner to take part in trilateral talks on Ukraine in UAE on February 4

The negotiations will be held in Abu Dhabi

Russian forces advance in southeast of Konstantinovka, DPR, over day — military expert

"Konstantinovka is the last major stronghold of Ukrainian militants in Donbass," Andrey Marochko noted

FIFA chief Infantino’s words about Russia deserve special attention — Russian official

"For the first time, a sports official of this level said that sanctions bring nothing but disappointment and hatred," Alexey Dyumin said

Social network X says searches in Paris office baseless, denies all accusations

Global Government Affairs department said that staged raid reinforces their conviction that this particular investigation distors French law

Liberation of Toretskoye, DPR from Ukrainian soldiers took about month — Russian commander

On January 31, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of the settlement

US to lift 25% tariffs imposed on India for oil purchases from Russia — WP

Donald Trump announced earlier that the US and India had agreed to a deal on future bilateral trade terms

Russia delivers massive overnight strike on Ukrainian military sites in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 190 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 12 enemy motor vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Imported case of chikungunya virus registered in Russia — watchdog

The infected woman came to Moscow from a vacation in the Seychelles

Iran willing to suspend nuclear program to make deal with US — newspaper

According to two officials, Iran would prefer a proposal to create a regional consortium to produce nuclear power

Georgian parliament approves amendments to law aimed at preventing funding of unrest

Under the amendments, any sums of money transferred to any person that can be used to shape Georgia’s domestic or foreign policy will be considered a grant

Russian GDP add 1% in 2025 — Putin

The Russian president said that this is lower than dynamics observed before

Nissan registers Infiniti trademark in Russia — watchdog

The application to register the trademark was filed on June 3, 2025, from Japan

Gaddafi’s son will not be buried until murder investigation finished

According to Abdullah Othman, member of his political team, the body will be taken to the morgue of a private hospital in Zintan

Plans for meeting of US, Iranian officials still in force — Trump

Sides are holding consultations on the subject, the US president said

Muscat likely to be chosen as venue for Iran-US talks — TV

Originally, Istanbul was planned as venue for the negotiations

Netanyahu, Witkoff discuss Hamas disarmament, situation around Iran

The sides also discussed growing tensions in the region

Ukrainians begin to grasp connection between strikes on Russia and power outages

Such strikes often alarm people and provoke quiet protests rather than support, a member of the pro-Russian underground network said

Iran, US discussing date, venue for talks — MFA

Venue and date will be announced soon, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says

Situation on Russia’s fuel market stable, fuel reserves sufficient — Novak

"The balance of supply and demand has stabilized," the deputy prime minister added

US agrees to negotiate with Iran in Oman, talks possibly due on February 6 — Axios

Nuclear talks are expected to take place

Kazakhstan’s new draft constitution puts border speculation to rest — advisor

According to the politician, the new preamble stipulates that the borders of the state and its territorial integrity are inviolable

Trump says Russia’s one-week energy ceasefire was important step

Russian President Vladimir Putin kept his word, US President said

Inflation managed to be lowered to 5.6% by 2025 year-end — Putin

The Russian president noted that the rise in prices totaled 9.5% in 2024

US military shoots down Iranian drone over Arabian Sea — agency

According to the official, the Shahed-139 drone was taken down by an F-35 fighter jet

Press review: Epstein files weigh on Trump and Bitcoin plunges with little hope ahead

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, February 2nd

Historical memory may become national priority for Russia — official

Yelena Malysheva, head of the National Center for Historical Memory, added that the national priority should be based on public demand, and teachers need to develop common priorities, noting the importance of a common understanding and common resources

Russia sees Berlin's ultimatums as 'absurd'

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the German authorities are trying to kill the process of historical reconciliation of the peoples of Russia and Germany, the biggest thing determining Europe’s fate

Ukrainian energy minister says situation in Kiev critical

In his words, power generation facilities, as well as transmission and distribution networks were damaged in city

Opposition politician slams president Sandu's Nobel Peace Prize nomination as farce

The praise for Maia Sandu's achievements in defending democracy and the trite reference to the 'hand of the Kremlin' sound particularly absurd, Marina Tauber, Executive Committee Secretary of Moldova's Victory opposition bloc, said

Trump believes US-Cuba deal close at hand

Washington is dealing with the Cuban leaders, Donald Trump said

Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar to hold consultations on Eurasian Charter

The date and venue will be agreed upon by the participants later,

Share of foreign investments in Russian federal loan bonds growing to 3.4% last December

The par value of OFZ bonds held by nonresidents totaled $13 bln

Russian-Cambodian military cooperation group meets at Russian Defense Ministry

"During the meeting, the sides agreed on bilateral activities for the next term of collaboration," the Defense Ministry said

US believes Russia can easily boost nuclear potential when New START expires

US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller says Russia has the required experience

Russian national accused of terrorism extradited from Morocco

According to investigators, in 2012 the perpetrator traveled to Syria and joined an armed group that later became part of a terrorist organization

Laura Fernandez wins presidential election in Costa Rica after 94% of ballots counted

Laura Fernandez won 48.33% of the vote

IN BRIEF: What we know about training plane crash in Orenburg Region

According to preliminary data, two university students and an instructor were aboard the plane

IN BRIEF: What we know about bus accident in Krasnoyarsk Region where minors died

According to preliminary data, the accident occurred after a trailer with a modular house disconnected from the truck

Russian forces acting with utmost caution in Donbass, Novorossia — Medvedev

Western analysts often say that if Russia had behaved differently in this territory, the consequences would have been entirely different, Dmitry Medvedev said

France preparing neo-colonial coups in Africa — Russian Foreign Intelligence Service

"Emmanuel Macron's administration is feverishly seeking opportunities for 'political revenge' in Africa," the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service’s press bureau noted

Rutte is 'telling tales' when promising NATO troops in Ukraine — Russian legislator

Russia has repeatedly and consistently warned the West that any foreign military contingents deployed in Ukraine will be considered legitimate targets by Moscow

UAVs totally change combat pattern, no return to past possible — Medvedev

"Now, everyone is trying to catch up as quickly as possible," the Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman added

Putin, Saudi Crown Prince discuss OPEC+ and energy markets — Kremlin

According to the statement, "current international and regional problems" were also among the topics in the conversation

Russian UN envoy expresses concern over UN chief’s statements on Crimea, Donbass

Vasily Nebenzya said that self-determination and territorial integrity of states are indesputable

Inflation lowering to 4%, stabilization requires tough monetary policy — Bank of Russia

The response of prices to the rise in taxes and tariffs in January carries risks of high inflation expectations preserved with the population and the business

British, US spy planes spotted near Russia’s Kaliningrad Region

As of 5:10 p.m. Moscow time, both planes were still in the airspace near the Kaliningrad Region

Lawyer of Gaddafi’s son confirms his death — portal

Khaled al-Zaidi expressed his condolences and claimed his client's death to be result of a "treacherous attack"

Epstein’s files mention Zelensky in connection with human trafficking from Ukraine

Vladimir Zelensky appears in Epstein's files several dozen times, most prominently in connection with the Jean-Luc Brunel case

Russian stock indices up as main trading session on Moscow Exchange closes

The MOEX Index rose 0.64% to 2,786.15 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS Index rose 0.69% to 1,140.14 points

Russian senator rings WWIII alarm bell over potential US invasion of Iran

Vladimir Dzhabarov stressed that Iran was a large and "well-armed" country

Ukrainian army banned from capturing Russian servicemen — counterintelligence officer

Sergey Mykhaylov said the order was to interrogate and kill Russian soldiers

Dozen of powerful solar flares registered on February 3 — scientists

The first flares occurred just a few minutes after midnight

Russia destroys Ukraine’s HIMARS MLRS, S-300 launchers — top brass

Russian troops have liberated the settlement of Pridorozhnoye in the Zaporozhye Region

Potential troop deployment to Ukraine and nuclear weapons: Statements by Russia’s MFA

TASS highlighted the key points from the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statements

Russia defends its interests based on historical experience and to be heard — official

According to Yelena Malysheva, there is still work to be done in this direction

Source confirms negotiations on Ukraine to take place on February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi

The talks will bring together representatives of Russia, the United States and Ukraine

NATO chief says Western troops to be deployed in Ukraine the moment peace is concluded

Other types of NATO assistance will still be provided to Ukraine, Mark Rutte said

India's immediate halt of Russian oil import is 'extremely unlikely' — newspaper

Refineries’ reps and analysts clarified that there has been no government directive to stop purchasing oil from Russia

Military victory in special military operation visible on several fronts — Medvedev

The goal of Russia’s victory in the special military operation includes preventing new conflicts, Medvedev said

Infrastructure facility damaged in Ukraine’s missile attack on Belgorod

According to preliminary data, no one was hurt

G7 issued $37.9 billion in loans to Ukraine from Russian frozen assets in 2025

EU countries earlier made a decision to provide Ukraine 90 billion euro in financing in 2026-2027

NATO’s European command starts planning Arctic Sentry operation — Spiegel

According to the journal, US commander Alexus Grynkewich has given instructions to start military planning of the mission

Russia won’t make any demarches to US before expiration of New START — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that Moscow did everything necessary in a timely manner

Russia plans to cooperate with CIS countries to establish historical truth — Malysheva

The genocide of the Soviet people was purposefully planned, and the Nazis' plans did not include division into republics, head of the National Center for Historical Memory Yelena Malysheva noted

Trump’s management style negatively impacts dollar’s exchange rate — WP

According to the newspaper, the dollar has lost over 10% of its value since Donald Trump’s return to office in January 2025

IN BRIEF: What we know about Epstein files and reaction to them

Nikolay Novik, an expert at the Institute of World Military Economics and Strategy at the Higher School of Economics, said that the release marks the end of covering up for global elites, as the era of "backstage immunity" can be considered over

Russian GDP growth in 2025 to be close to lower limit of forecast range — Central Bank

"According to flash statistics and data from polls, the economic activity in the fourth quarter increased as compared to the third quarter, and quite noticeably," the experts added

Estonian authorities detain commercial vessel with Russian sailors

The Russia-bound Baltic Spirit container ship has been detained near the Naissaar island

Russia continues work on ice base near North Pole

The base is due to open in 2027

Corporate funds in Russian banks up by 0.7% in December to $818 bln — regulator

Overall, for 2025, corporate funds grew by a moderate 7.7%, below the 12.9% growth in 2024

Musk describes search at X office in France as political attack

French offices of Elon Musk's social media platform X were raided earlier by Paris prosecutors, Europol and a cybercrime unit

After mopping up at Pridorozhnoye, Russian troops begin offensive on Zaporozhye — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that there were some gaps in the Ukraine’s defenses in this sector

Press review: UN urges flexible arms control and Xi pushes yuan as global reserve currency

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, February 3rd

Trump not surprised by Russia's response to Kiev's attacks, focuses on diplomacy

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US President continues his efforts towards settling the conflict

Senior diplomat talks Russia-US dialogue, potential response to arms supplies to Greenland

It would be impossible to revive the strategic security dialogue between Russia and the United States unless Washington embraces a radical change to its foreign policy course toward Moscow, Sergey Ryabkov emphasized

Gaddafi's son killed in attack in his home's courtyard — TV

Saif al-Islam was shot dead outside his residence, sources close to the Gaddafi family said

Russia's overnight strikes do big damage to Ukrainian power grid

According to Kharkov Mayor Igor Terekhov, the TPP-5 power plant in the city was damaged

Macron says technical preparations for talks with Putin underway

The French president noted that consultations on the matter are also being held with European partners and Vladimir Zelensky

Russia never refused contacts with German partners — embassy

Earlier, chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger told DPA news agency that Russia allegedly shows no interest in participating in the Munich Security Conference