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Anti-Russian sanctions

Russia, China urge to give up unilateral sanctions in joint statement

Russia and China urged all Ukrainian regions and public and political groups to start talks

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping ITAR-TASS/Alexei Druzhinin

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping

© ITAR-TASS/Alexei Druzhinin

SHANGHAI, May 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia and China intend to confront interference in domestic affairs of other countries and urge to give up unilateral sanctions, the leaders of the two countries said in a joint statement upon results of talks between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in the Chinese city of Shanghai on Tuesday.

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Russia, China to resist interference in internal affairs of other states — joint statement

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Sanctions vs. Russia Vladimir Putin China Xi Jinping

Middle East conflict

Israeli Defense Minister admits his country's involvement in assassination of Hamas Leader

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Trump’s election victory changed Western approach to Ukrainian conflict, adviser says

According to Mike Waltz, Trump has made it clear that the war must end

Iranian president invited to visit Russia in early 2025

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Kremlin reviews Putin's international activity in outgoing year

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Lives of several hostages depend on IDF’s advance in northern Gaza — Hamas

According to spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing Abu Ubaida, areas where these hostages are held allegedly come under regular Israeli bombardments

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Russians most often attribute their negative emotions regarding the past year to economic hardships and rising prices, while citing family events as positive highlights

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

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Russia’s prominent figure skating coach Tarasova lauds ISU’s recent decision

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Germany fails to admit its policy of support to Ukraine falters — Russian envoy

"The ambition to impose a ‘strategic defeat’ on Russia has fallen out of favor, even among hardline political figures, given the unfeasibility of such an outcome," Sergey Nechayev said

Russia considers launching direct flights with Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan — Minister

Roman Starovoyt noted that Russia is holding negotiations with many airlines from friendly countries

Ukrainian army launches long-range missiles at Donetsk

Air defenses are in operation, and at least six aerial targets have been shot down

White Helmets staged Douma ‘chemical weapons attack’ on civilians — Russian General Staff

On April 7, a number of NGOs, including the White Helmets, alleged that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta

Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

According to the SVR, Maia Sandu recently convened a meeting on energy security issues with senior government officials

West to criticise Fico's visit to Russia, but understands necessity for it — expert

Fyodor Lukyanov emphasized that Robert Fico, just like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has also visited Russia, is driven by the interests of his country and first of all "is accountable to his own citizens, and not the European Commission"

Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin thus meant that the Oreshnik missile is a generation ahead of all existing weapons, while not being a nuclear weapon itself

Russian Defense Ministry names those who worked on bioweapons in Ukraine

The chief of Russia’s radiation, chemical and biological protection force, Igor Kirillov, told a news briefing that one of the key figures was Robert Pope, the Director of the US Defense Department's Cooperative Threat Reduction Program at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Lukashenko announces upcoming meeting with Putin and official visit to China

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Special services remove over 4,000 tons of contaminated soil in Krasnodar Region, Crimea

Russia's Maritime Rescue Service collected 25 tons of oil-water mixture in the Kerch Strait water area, surveying 170 square kilometers of water territory

Russian Railways boost freight traffic via border crossings with China by 14.1% this year

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Deployment of Moldovan troops to Transnistria to violate settlement accords — expert

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

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According to the latest data, two people were killed

Fico’s visit to Russia perfect slap in Zelensky’s face, Slovak politician says

The MEP said that Fico stands for Slovak interests in Russia, "even in spite of the warmongers in Brussels"

Berlin’s any aggressive action will not remain unanswered — Russian ambassador

"This concerns both the potential use of Taurus and plans for stationing US mid-range and short-range missiles on German soil," Sergey Nechayev stressed

Senior Russian MP hopes that Trump really wants peace in Ukraine

"Such an achievement would serve his interests as the incoming US president," Leonid Slutsky noted

Lavrov reaffirms Moscow’s unity with Belgrade in protecting rights of Serbs — Russian MFA

Another issue discussed was cooperation in the oil sector amid illegal Western sanctions, the ministry said

Ukrainian conflict will end when Kiev’s sponsors see need for peace — Russian diplomat

In a mid-June meeting with senior officials from Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined key prerequisites for resolving the situation in Ukraine

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

Kremlin announces countries to become BRICS partners from January 1

According to Yuri Ushakov, the confirmations of readiness to become a BRICS partner country have been received from Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan

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Gustavo Petro emphasized Colombia's backing for Panama in defending its sovereignty

Russia no threat to Finland, Sweden, but ready to counter threats from them — diplomat

Addressing a news conference after the BRICS summit in Kazan earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of seeking to expand unfairly and warned that Russia would spare no effort to reverse the situation

Russian forces liberate one more settlement in Donetsk People’s Republic

According to the report, battlegroup Center made Ukraine suffer roughly 610 casualties and lose two tanks in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Israeli Defense Minister admits his country's involvement in assassination of Hamas Leader

Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on July 31, Israel has previously denied any involvement in his assassination

Mineral fertilizer export duty in Russia to be 7% by end of December

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Houthis say they attacked targets in Israel with drones

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Russia evacuates 4,000 Iranian fighters from Syria at their request — Putin

Russian forces evacuated them from the Hmeimim base to Tehran

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

Russian gas imports by Czech Republic soaring — news agency

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Finland plans to open three crossings on border with Russia — paper

The media reports that Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is expected to announce the government's decision on Tuesday

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More than 20 countries show interest in BRICS — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov noted that uncontrolled expansion of the association would break its backbone

Meeting of Putin with Slovakia’s Fico lasted for two hours — presidential aide

According to Yuri Ushakov, the meeting was substantial

Russia, Iran talk four points for Rasht-Astara project implementation — Deputy PM

According to Vitaly Savelyev, the Iranian side has taken on commitments to provide a land buyout schedule

Global mpox incidence exceeds 117,000 cases — WHO

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Kiev’s shelling kills 61 civilians in Russia-controlled part of Kharkov Region in 2024

According to the report, 35 civilians suffered injuries

Russian drone operators use air ramming to down 4 Ukrainian copters in Kharkov Region

UAV operators of the battle group North continue to be on round-the-clock duty in the sky over Kharkov Region and identify reconnaissance and strike drones of the Ukrainian militants

Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

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Iran informs Russia about ratification of free trade zone agreement with EAEU

Alexey Overchuk noted that the parties discussed Iran's participation in the Eurasian Economic Union as an observer

Kiev to face more destruction after its UAV attack on Kazan, Putin warns

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Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

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Ukrainian troops attempt counterattacks on Vasilyevka direction in Zaporozhye Region

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Scientists discover 400 dead seals along Dagestan's coastline

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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Houthis say attacked US aircraft carrier in Red Sea, shot down US fighter jet

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Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Putin holding talks with visiting Slovak PM

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Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

CIS must enhance anti-terror measures amid Syrian developments — senior Russian lawmaker

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Russian Olympic champ Nagorny welcomes ISU’s decision to clear Russian athletes

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Ukraine shells city hosting Zaporozhye NPP — politician

No reports of casualties and damage have come in yet

Putin arrives in Paris to pay last respects to Jacques Chirac

Chirac will be buried at the Montparnasse cemetery next to his daughter Laurence

50,000-year-old mammoth calf carcass revealed in Yakutsk

The mammoth calf is female, with a shoulder height of 120 cm and a total weight of approximately 180 kg

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Russian Olympic champ Nagorny welcomes ISU’s decision to clear Russian athletes

"It's great when athletes, who devoted their lives to what they chose to do, get the chance once again of competing internationally, to win medals that they can bring home," he said

Trump wants to rename North America's tallest mountain Denali

Denali, standing at 6,168 meters, was once considered the highest point of the Russian Empire before the territory was sold to the United States

Eight more dead dolphins found in Krasnodar Region following tanker accident

Earlier, 10 dead harbor porpoises were found after the accident in Novorossiysk

PREVIEW: Putin expected to unveil several transport facilities

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin has several closed-door meetings slated for December 22

Russian forces take control of Severny neighborhood in Chasov Yar — Donbass region head

According to Denis Pushilin, Russian forces have been advancing almost along the entire line of engagement in the region

Ten dead dolphins found in Russia’s Krasnodar region following oil spill

Additionally, mass beaching of Azov Sea harbor porpoises has been reported in Novorossiysk, some 60-70 km (32-42 nautical miles) from Anapa, where the oil spill occurred, Tatyana Belei highlighted

Greenland PM tells Trump island not for sale

Mute Egede stressed that Denmark should continue to be open to cooperation and trade with the whole world, especially with its neighbors

Biden refuses to commute Boston Marathon terrorist's death sentence — media

Earlier, the head of the US administration commuted the sentence for 37 out of 40 people to life imprisonment without the possibility of release

Group of foreign mercenaries taken out in Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

The military said that a conversation in a foreign language was intercepted by radio intelligence before visual control over the group was established

FACTBOX: What we know about missing An-2 plane in Russia’s Kamchatka

The An-2 airplane with two crew members and one passenger was transporting 800 kg of commercial cargo on the Milkovo - Ossora route

Ukraine may cease to exist by 2034 — Russian security official

Dmitry Medvedev noted that Ukraine will never join NATO

Russian stock indices in the green on Monday — market data

The ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index edged up by 2.43%, the dollar-denominated RTS Index gained 3.16%

Former Mossad agents disclose details of pager operation against Hezbollah

Mossad used dummies to test how much explosive is required to be just enough to hurt the pager’s owner, but not the person next to him

Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

Skoda, Volkswagen to recall over 55,000 cars in Russia — regulator

All owners of vehicles subject to the recall will be informed of the need to bring the vehicle to the nearest dealership for repairs, Rosstandart said

Kiev considers negotiations with Russia inevitable, Ukrainian official says

At the same time, Sergey Leshchenko clarified that "there will be no repeat of Minsk or Istanbul agreements," meaning there would be no agreements resembling the Minsk accords of 2015 or the Istanbul talks of spring 2022

Russia makes another real peace proposal to Kiev — Putin

Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia's plan would mean ending the conflict once and for all, not freezing it