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Next US attack on Iran could look like full-blown war — Axios

According to sources, it would be a joint US-Israeli operation, much larger that the one in June 2025

WASHINGTON, February 18. /TASS/. A US military operation against Iran would likely take the form of a weeks-long campaign, resembling a full-scale war, Axios reported, citing sources.

According to its information, it would be a joint US-Israeli operation, much larger that the one in June 2025 when the United States carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Overnight into June 13, Israel launched a military operation against Iran. Less than 24 hours later, Tehran retaliated. On June 22, US jets targeted three Iranian nuclear sites, effectively entering the conflict. The following evening, Tehran carried out a missile strike on Al Udeid, the largest US military base in the region, located in Qatar. US President Donald Trump later announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a complete ceasefire. The truce took effect on June 24.

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United States Iran

Switzerland ready to host next round of talks on Ukraine — Foreign Ministry

The Swiss Foreign Ministry emphasized that it "is in contact with all parties and consistently offers its good offices"

LDP leader Sanae Takaichi reelected Japanese prime minister

Sanae Takaichi secured 354 votes

Talks in Geneva address 'major issues, major compromises' — TASS source

The trilateral talks have been underway for over four hours

France, Germany on collision course over EU military leadership — Russian expert

Both countries vie for military leadership in the European Union, Alexander Kamkin noted

Iran, US see progress at indirect negotiations in Geneva — Oman’s top diplomat

Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi stressed that in order to conclude a final deal "much work is yet to be done"

Lagarde to step down as ECB head ahead of schedule — FT

According to the report, Christine Lagarde wants to give outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron, whose term ends in May 2027, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz the opportunity to appoint a new head of one of the community's most important institutions

US allegations about China conducting nuclear tests baseless — Chinese embassy

Spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington Liu Pengyu stressed that this is political manipulation aimed at pursuing nuclear hegemony

Iran, Russia to conduct joint drills in Sea of Oman Thursday — Iranian Navy

According to Iranian Navy’s spokesman Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo, the main objective of these maneuvers is to practice cooperation in combating maritime security threats, particularly in protecting merchant vessels and oil tankers

Hungary halts diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine — Szijjarto

The country is supplying "significant volumes" of diesel fuel, gas and electric power to Ukraine, the Hungarian foreign affairs and trade minister noted

Witkoff announces significant progress in negotiation process on Ukraine

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US says Geneva talks with Iran met expectations — Axios

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier that Iran and the United States had reached an understanding on a range of issues

Kiev's negotiating team splits into two camps — The Economist

Head of Vladimir Zelensky's office Kirill Budanov believes that doing a deal now with Russia under the auspices of Washington will be more beneficial for Kiev, since the window of opportunity may close soon, the magazine claims

Dutch mercenaries flying Ukrainian planes will be legitimate targets — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Netherlands is increasingly involved directly in the conflict with Russia

US must build trust with Russia, China to prevent resumption of nuclear testing — expert

Executive Director of the American Arms Control Association Daryl Kimball emphasized that any US resumption of testing would set off a chain reaction of nuclear testing by other nuclear-armed states

Expert suggests Telegram may remain functional due to the messenger’s policy

Association of Bloggers and Agencies President Yulia Dolgova also highlighted the factor of using means to bypass blocking

Putin to chair supervisory board meeting on strategic initiatives for 15th anniversary

The meeting will review the agency’s 2025 results and outline goals for the upcoming period

Japan-Russia trade turnover in January increased by 14.65%, reaching $692 million

Japan increased coal imports from Russia by 258.6%

Russian delegation at Geneva talks reports directly to Putin — Kremlin spokesman

The Russian delegation is led by Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky

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According to Sergey Lavrov, Russia will "consistently continue to support Cuba" in protecting its "sovereignty and security"

Canada’s nuclear weapons development would result in international isolation — newspaper

The media outlet doubts that Ottawa would use the weapons even if they were successfully produced

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Europe's weapons supplies to Kiev show unwillingness to see peace in Ukraine — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that weapons are supplied despite the ongoing peace talks

Russian MP slams Poland’s plans to claim reparations from Russia

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German chancellor rules out pursuit of nuclear weapons

Friedrich Merz also noted that Berlin was ready to discuss with Paris and London a potential European nuclear umbrella within the framework of NATO

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Gas withdrawal from UGS facilities in EU countries amounted to around 475 mln cubic meters on February 15

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Three intelligence officers, staffers of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, were killed while performing special assignments, the statement noted

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Russian Finance Ministry suggests simplifying branches’ opening for foreign banks

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JD Vance also pointed out that that he would like to see greater efforts from European states to protect their borders in order to preserve "civilizational coherence"

Large Flamingo missile production line destroyed in Ukraine, Zelensky admits

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Alexander Drozdenko has ordered assistance to the military in clearing the rubble

United States may use military force if talks with Iran reach deadlock — Vance

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US reportedly explores scenarios for potential lifting of anti-Russian sanctions

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US strike on drug-trafficking vessels leaves 11 people dead — Pentagon

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US trying to fabricate pretext for resuming nuclear testing — Chinese embassy

China urges the US to take concrete steps to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, Liu Pengyu said

Russia, Iran fulfilling all military contracts — Iranian Ambassador

"In every matter, Iran relies on its domestic resources, its people, and its own armed forces," Kazem Jalali said

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Vladimir Zelensky will be briefed on the results of the first day of talks, Ukraine’s chief negotiator said

West unwilling to support Ukraine's economy, it just needs outpost against Russia — expert

Viktor Medvedchuk emphasized that Europe does not need Ukraine as an equal economic partner

Ukrainian military attack Alyoshki district 750 times in one week

Ruslan Khomenko, head of the district, added that four civilians were wounded in Ukrainian strikes over the past seven days

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Rosatom confirms dropping Siemens as partner in Paks II project

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Russian detained in Sweden at US request — TV

The man is suspected of violating sanctions in 2022-2023

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Tehran and Washington reached understanding on a range of general issues, the IRNA news agency said

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Ukrainian units face 'icy hell' in Kupyansk-Uzlovoy area — Russian Defense Ministry

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At least 43 Ukrainian UAVs shot down overnight over Russian regions and Black Sea

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

Europe withdraws all gas it pumped in for heating season from storage facilities

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Russia’s Petrosyan flawless in ladies’ short program at 2026 Italy Winter Games

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Russia urges US to refrain from imposing naval blockade on Cuba — top diplomat

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Telegram could meet all of Roskomnadzor’s requirements in month — MP

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy Andrey Svintsov stressed that Telegram has begun actively complying with illegal content blocking requirements

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US keeps influence on Venezuela through control over its oil sales — Energy Secretary

That money goes back down to Venezuela, Chris Wright said

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The visit and work were organized flawlessly, the source said

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Czech Republic suggests supplying oil to Slovakia over its branch of Druzhba pipeline

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Kiev carries out targeted terrorist attacks against children — Russian diplomat

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Russia to demand legal codification of NATO’s non-expansion eastward — newspaper

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Trilateral talks on Ukraine end in Geneva after 6 hours of discussions

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Corvette Stoiky took part in exercise with Iranian Navy ships in Gulf of Oman

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Russia hopes Iran talks not to end in military gamble — Foreign Ministry

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Marines of Battlegroup Center deliver cargo with centimeter precision using drones

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Russia consistently opposes blockade of Cuba — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that "many countries in the world" act the same way

Russian fighters enter Ukrainian positions in forest near Konstantinovka, DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that the enemy had seriously fortified Novodmitrovka, having constructed "strong fortifications"

Russian troops break Ukrainian defenses near Kramatorsk after liberating Minkovka — expert

The Ukrainian army had many strongholds, materiel depots and temporary deployment sites in Minkovka, Andrey Marochko said

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Charges against China regarding nuclear tests shaky at best — US expert

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Trump extends order authorizing detention of ships bound for Cuba for year

The US leader also added that a mass migration from Cuba would endanger United States national security

Putin to receive Cuba's foreign minister in Kremlin — presidential spokesman

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Disagreements arise in EU on measures for new anti-Russian sanctions package — Bloomberg

According to the news agency, Greece and Malta speak against the proposal to replace the Russian oil price cap with a ban on maritime services for Russian oil, such as insurance and transportation

Slovakia requested Croatia to let Russian oil flowing over Adria pipeline

The Economy Ministry of Slovakia expects that feedstock supplies over the Druzhba oil pipeline halted since early February will resume shortly

Ukrainian soldiers blow up ferry in Dnepropetrovsk Region to skip combat — defense source

According to the source, it were soldiers of the Ukrainian army’s 67th brigade

Finnish politician calls on the West to recognize Russia's red lines in Ukrainian conflict

Armando Mema noted that the Russian side had repeatedly spoken about security guarantees, but Europe "refused them with arrogance"

Ten skiers missing in California avalanche

The avalanche struck near the town of Truckee in the Castle Peak area northwest of Lake Tahoe, which is a popular destination for freeride skiing

Russia to test Internet provider drone similar to Starlink — newspaper

According to the newspaper, the drone will operate at an altitude of 15 to 24 kilometers

Russian diplomat calls any step toward Ukrainian settlement significant

It is Kiev and its Western backers who are diminishing the importance of negotiations, Maria Zakharova emphasized