Referendum in southeast paves Ukraine’s way out of crisis, experts say

“Referendum is a victory of the southeast,” an analyst says

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Second package of Skripal Case sanctions to come into force on August 26

US President Donald Trump signed the relevant executive order on August 1

UN Security Council to hold emergency session on US missile projects on August 22

The emergency session of the UN Security Council was requested by Russia and China

Press review: Idlib attack tests Russia-Turkey ties and Moscow beefs up Arctic air defense

Top stories in the Russian press on Wednesday, August 21

Russian Navy to get six submarines in 2020 for first time over past 28 years

Last time, the Russian Navy received the same number of submarines in 1992

Russian hi-tech firm to export latest multiple launch rocket system with smart shells

The Tornado-S is a heavy upgrade of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system

Russia vows to thwart pressure against Venezuela

Russia's top diplomat decried the methods applied to Venezuela as "blackmail and pressure"

Kremlin unaware of radiation poisoning of those injured at Severodvinsk testing range

Earlier, reports were circulated by a number of media outlets claiming that doctors in the Arkhangelsk Region were not warned about the radiation poisoning of the patients

Chief of Russian General Staff and Chief of US Joint Chiefs of Staff discuss military ties

The previous talks between the two took place in March

Russia’s Baltic Fleet S-400 teams thwart massive air strike in drills

The combat teams conducted over 30 simulated launches against the notional enemy’s real air targets

Ukraine's president makes bold statement on Moscow’s possible return to G8 — diplomat

"Professionals should do things they are trained to do," the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman stated

Putin hands down orders to work on symmetric response to US new cruise missile’s test

The Russian leader stated this at a meeting with permanent members of Russia’s Security Council

No possibility of G8 being reinstated — Eurasia Group president

President of Eurasia Group Ian Bremmer said that this is not the first time US President Donald Trump has brought up the idea of reinstating the G8 format with Russia's participation

Macron confident on Russia’s European future after meeting with Putin

Macron noted that the talks with Putin also focused on the situation around Siberian wildfires

Putin arrives in Helsinki to hold talks with Finnish president

Earlier, the Kremlin Aide informed that the two aim to discuss the development of bilateral cooperation, cooperation in the sphere of trade, economy, investment, environment protection

Syrian army retakes city of Kafr Zita in Hama province — media

According to the Al-Hadath TV channel, the Syrian army has also seized the Wadi al-Anaz area east of the town of Morek

Russia’s cutting-edge missile corvette enters shipbuilders’ final trials

The trials will last about three months

Russian embassy confirms death of two Russians in helicopter crash off Greek’s Poros

A private helicopter crashed into the see south of the port of Poros at 15:40 local time

Russia vows to beef up western border amid rising tensions with NATO

Defense chief Sergei Shoigu pointed to NATO ongoing military buildup in Eastern Europe, the deployment of US missile defenses to Poland and Romania, as well as growing cooperation with Finland, Sweden

Russia not desperate for G8, thinks G20 format is more efficient — Kremlin spokesman

The Kremlin spokesperson pointed out that discussing global problems in geopolitics, security or economy without China and India is "not very efficient"

Ex-president says Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons due to threat of US sanctions

Leonid Kravchuk added that he had no regrets about his consent to destroy his country’s nuclear arsenal

High wildfire risk persists in Russian Siberia, Far East — weather authority

The Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring said that a high wildfire risk also persists in the south of the European part of Russia

Russian defense firm to start serial production of anti-tank missiles

The first batch of munitions is undergoing qualification tests

Thank you, Putin! Venezuelan vice president conveys Maduro’s gratitude to Russian leader

The sanctions illegally introduced by the US against Venezuela opened up new doors for closer cooperation between Moscow and Caracas, according to the vice president

Belarusian paralympic rower drowns during training in Austria — paper

The 33-year-old athlete, who is a wheelchair user, drowned when his boat capsized on the Danube River

Russia sends humanoid robot to International Space Station on unmanned Soyuz spacecraft

The rocket lifted off from the Gagarin Start launch pad at 6:38 Moscow time

All G7 states need to be consulted before renewing G8, says Kremlin

US President Donald Trump said earlier hat "it’s much more appropriate to have Russia in" the G8

Serbia to sign free trade zone agreement with EAEU on October 25

According to Russian ambassador Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, in the future, Serbia may become one of the links on the space between the EU and the EAEU

Troops in western Russia to get over 1,300 weapon systems by year-end

The military district will continue manning its troops with contract-enlisted personnel with more than 9,000 people enlisted this year

Statements on Germany meddling in Russia’s affairs unfathomable, top diplomat says

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman informed of the attempts by the US and German media to interfere in Russia’s domestic affairs through their coverage of unsanctioned protests in Moscow

Russia’s Northern Fleet warships enter Mediterranean in long-distance deployment

The drills will involve other Fleets within the Russian Navy

Rosneft signs agreements on offshore gas field development with Mozambique

The ceremony of exchanging copies of the agreements was held in the Kremlin following the talks between the presidents

Russian, Mongolian troops employ new tactic in Selenga-2019 joint drills

A new tactic, ‘A Stealth Attack,’ is based on the experience of modern armed conflicts

German foreign minister calls for direct and open dialogue with Russia

Heiko Maas urged Moscow to play a constructive role in efforts on Ukrainian settlement

Serbia to get Russian-made Mi-35 and Mi-17 military transport helicopters in early 2020

According to the Serbian official, Russia and Serbia "have never had such a volume of cooperation" since World War II

Trump says G8 format with Russia's participation is 'more appropriate'

The US president said that "it should be the G8 because a lot of things we talk about have to do with Russia"

US to get hypersonic weapons in next two years — Pentagon

US Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy said earlier his country was looking into possibility of developing all types of rockets previously prohibited under INF treaty

Su-24MR reconnaissance plane enters service with air regiment in Russia’s Central Command

It is fitted out with radar reconnaissance equipment and the image-recording capability

Pentagon: If extended, New START should include Russia’s advanced weaponry

The document can be extended for no more than five years by mutual consent of the parties

Press review: What topped the Putin-Macron talks and Zelensky’s meeting with Netanyahu

Top stories in the Russian press on Tuesday, August 20

Turkey ready to discuss convoy attack in Syria with Russia

On August 19, the Turkish military convoy was attacked in Idlib when heading to an observation post, three civilians were killed, while twelve were injured

Greek FC Olympiacos expects full-house at Champions League home match with FC Krasnodar

The teams will clash on August 21

Russian diplomat warns against making a show out of G8 reinstatement discussions

Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow is ready to look at the Group of Seven’s initiatives to reinstate the G8 format

Press review: Putin’s visit to Finland and Trump’s G8 revival bid

Top stories in the Russian press on Thursday, August 22

What’s on the presidential menu in Helsinki?

After concluding talks in the Finnish presidential palace, the two leaders headed to Restaurant Walhalla on the historic grounds of the Suomenlinna fortress

Air France flight Moscow-Paris requested landing in Luxembourg, due to emergency on board

No one was injured, according to the airport's press service

Russian S-400 teams go on high alert to repel enemy missile strike in Baltic Fleet drills

The drills involve over 200 personnel and more than 20 items of military and special hardware

Russia’s upgraded MiG-31 fighters hold dogfight in stratosphere in Kamchatka drills

The fighters flew at a speed of 2,500 km/h and an altitude of more than 20 km

Putin expressed confidence in implementation of Nord Stream 2

The Russian leader emphasized that it is theoretically possible "to imagine a situation where the United States will convince Europe to replace Russian gas with American gas"

Russia’s latest reconnaissance drone makes debut flight

The Altius-U is the drone’s final conceptual design after the tests of several prototypes

G7 wants Russia back in the club due to stiff competition with G20, says source

The diplomat characterized the proposal to resume the G8 format as "wise"

Bound to get much better: Kremlin upbeat on future of Superjet-100

Recently, concerns were raised over Mexican airline Interjet's plans to sell its SSJ-100s