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NATO chief hopes for success of Geneva talks on Ukraine

BRUSSELS, April 16, /ITAR-TASS/. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed hope on Wednesday that an international four-party meeting in Geneva on the situation in Ukraine, involving Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union and due on Thursday, will be constructive.

“We do hope that the Geneva talks will pave the way for a peaceful and political solution to the crisis,” Rasmussen told journalists in Brussels after a meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

He said that political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis is the only way out.

“NATO fully supports the Geneva talks and all the efforts of the international community to find a political solution, which fulfills the democratic aspirations of the entire Ukrainian people and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the NATO chief said.

The holding of the four-sided talks on April 17 on Ukraine in Geneva is still on the agenda, but any use of force against protesters in Ukraine’s southeastern regions should be stopped, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh.

Protests against the new self-proclaimed Ukrainian authorities, who were brought to power as a result of a coup in February, have erupted in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking eastern territories, in particular, the Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov regions, with demonstrators demanding referendums on the country’s federalization.

Ukrainian parliament-appointed acting head of state Alexander Turchinov on Tuesday announced the start of an antiterrorism operation in the Donetsk Region in an apparent effort to crack down on protests of federalization supporters.

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Lin Jian also reaffirmed Beijing's position on the Ukrainian issue

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Russia uses aerial bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions near DPR’s Konstantinovka — source

According to the report, at least 15 Ukrainian servicemen were killed as a result of the attack

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Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

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Kremlin clarifies notification process for Oreshnik missile launch

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Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

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Russia’s steel production plunged in October — WSA

China produced 81.9 mln metric tons in October, up 2.9% on an annualized basis

Signal to West and 'red card': experts weigh in on Putin’s missile launch statements

The important message in Vladimir Putin’s speech was that "Russia does believe that the West has shifted from a proxy-war to direct war" and that the parties find themselves in "a global conflict" now, Dmitry Suslov said

Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

"Ukraine should be forever grateful that President Putin is calm, rational and kind - because Zelensky is practically begging for his country to be flattened," American political commentator Jackson Hinkle said

Western countries should 'be afraid, tremble' after Putin's statement — lawmaker

Andrey Kartapolov added that the special military operation in Ukraine "will continue its course until all tasks are completed"

Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also claimed that Washington, while helping Ukraine, is not attempting to turn the conflict into a large-scale regional confrontation that spills beyond the country’s borders

Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, such behavior is "typical of the Democrats"

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Russian military to warn Ukrainian civilians of future Oreshnik attacks — Kremlin

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Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

At the same time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi once again criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine

Enemy losses, mercenary intrigue, humanitarian aid: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost 150 troops, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece and two mortars

Putin’s remarks on hypersonic missiles send serious warning to West — Turkish politician

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

According to Donald Tusk, "no one knows how the conflict will end"

Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

Russia got the support of 129 countries in a November 20 vote in New York at the 40th plenary session of the UN General Assembly

Russia's Oreshnik missile poses significant threat to West, Turkish expert warns

These missiles pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the entire Western world, including continental Europe and Great Britain, Abdullah Agar stressed

Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

"Russia has repeatedly stated that such actions will receive a response – and it will be a stronger one," Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stressed

Russian forces gain foothold in Chasov Yar’s industrial zone — expert

The units of the Ukrainian armed forces have created "a very serious defense line" along the railroad and along one of the streets of the settlement, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS

Commissioning of Oreshnik and new developments: Putin’s meeting with defense specialists

Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia