Contact group on Ukraine meets to advance Putin peace plan

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that the United States and its NATO allies had earlier announced that they would authorize Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons to hit inside Russia, after which American and British missiles struck Russian military facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions

The French interior ministry said earlier that an emergency meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council will be held on November 26 following Russia using its new missile against a Ukrainian defense sector facility

"There is more in the Russian arsenal than many believe," said Karin Kneissl, the former Foreign Minister of Austria

The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier in the day that the country’s latest Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile hit all the targets at a major Ukrainian military-industrial enterprise in Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk) with its MIRVed warheads

Additionally, Russian units eliminated one munitions depot

The president stressed that given the weapon’s special power, it "will be provided precisely to the Strategic Missile Forces"

At least four people were killed and 23 suffered injuries in an Israeli airstrike

According to Nikolay Patrushev, the "imposed sanctions restrictions are aimed at thwarting the implementation of Russia’s Arctic projects"

"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments.", Peskov said

The Taiwanese army responded by employing aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to monitor the targets

"The enemy positioned in the fortified area in Velikaya Novoselka in the south of the DPR is already trapped in a kill zone," the source said

Andrey Belousov stressed that Russian troops have accelerated their advance in the special military operation zone and have effectively disrupted Kiev's 2025 military campaign

"Based on the tasks and the range of this weapon, it can hit targets across entire Europe, which sets it apart from other high-precision long-range weapons," Sergey Karakayev said

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on November 21, announcing that in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia, Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time

Robert Fico also rejected the belief that this escalation would not impact "those living far away, in Spain, England, or America"

Grenell would play a key role in Trump's efforts to halt the conflict if he is ultimately selected for the post

According to the French military source, Russia's recent use of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile should be taken in the context of possible negotiations regarding the ongoing Ukrainian conflict

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

US officials believe that ramping up weapons supplies to Ukraine is unlikely to change the situation in the combat zone short term, but it may help Kiev strengthen its stance in case a truce is reached

The Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday evening that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it entered the Israeli airspace

According to the television channel, the attack was aimed at eliminating Muhammad Haydar

Speaking in a televised address, the head of state assured that Russia will issue notifications before using this type of missile

According to military expert Andrey Marochko, 10% of the territory is the so-called grey zone

Belarus faced widespread disruptions to mobile Internet access in 2020 due to the protests that erupted across the country

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

"An automated warning was sent 30 minutes before the launch," Dmitry Peskov said

"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

"A large-scale investment program for expanding production capacities at defense sector organizations is being implemented", Vasily Tonkoshkurov said

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

In May, New York jurors found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a hush money scheme

Previously, Elon Musk said on the X social platform, commenting on Zelensky’s supposition that the United States cannot force Ukraine to "sit and listen" at the negotiating table because Ukraine is an independent country, that Zelensky has an "amazing sense of humor"

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

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

Kim Jong Un added that negotiations with the US only confirmed the North Korean view that Washington’s hostile policy remains unchanged

According to the Russian president, it can install a nuclear warhead on this missile, if necessary, Deputy Chairman of Turkey’s Patriotic Party Hakan Topkurulu said

Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

Kurt Campbell said that it is important to 'keep attention on the horizon'

According to the Russian foreign minister, the West is directly involved in the use of long-range weapons against Russia, as not a single missile could be launched without its involvement

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

Earlier, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a precision strike on Ukraine’s Yuzhmash defense industry facility in retaliation for the use of US-and UK-made weapons for strikes on Russia

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

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Viktor Orban recalled that Russia has "one of the most powerful armies in the world, which boasts the most advanced, most powerful weapons"

Janet Yellen currently holds the position

He stressed that today "it is vital prevent economic and political confrontation in certain regions of the world from growing into a real war."

The former Austrian foreign minister stressed that she "counted on rational Western decision-makers, but irrationality is unfortunately on the rise among them"

"Democratic institutions in the country have been destroyed, rendering dialogue between the government and the people impossible," Viktor Medvedchuk said

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

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

The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Secretary (Defense Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and Russia’s First Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Andrey Boytsov

According to the security services, Ukrainian troops still have access to several unpaved roads, which are also under Russian fire control

"We know what kind of developments are being carried out there, but this will happen tomorrow or in a year or two, but we have such a system already today," the president said

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

Moscow and Beijing 'have maintained forward momentum in their bilateral relationship', Kurt Campbell said

Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that a real information war has been underway for a long time

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

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

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

According to the experts, Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s borderline Kursk Region turned out to be a "strategic catastrophe" amid "manpower shortages"

On Friday, Rutte held his first meeting with Trump in Florida

According to Daniel Davis authorizing US long-range weapons to be used against Russia is "foolhardy to the highest order," "especially because there is no military upside for doing so"

"European politicians need to think twice about what they do next, especially since Donald Trump, who will take office in two months, replacing the current White House occupant, has already expressed his commitment to the policy of peace," Krasimir Karakachanov said

Earlier, Tucker Carlson said that Joe Biden's approval of long-range missile strikes by the Ukrainian army deep inside Russia could threaten US people

Dmitry Suslov pointed to a crucial message in the President's speech: "Russia firmly believes that the West has moved from a proxy war to a direct war" and that the sides are already "in a state of global conflict"

The New York Times reported earlier, citing sources, that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-made ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

According to the Russian foreign minister, this represents the "confrontational logic" of the West

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Units of the Russian battlegroup East continue fulfilling military tasks in the area of the special military operation

According to Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Alexander Volfovich, "the West does not support peace, it supports war"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that strikes on Russian territory with Western long-range missiles had made the conflict in Ukraine a global one

"Those are very important logistical hubs and defence outposts for the Ukrainian armed forces, and losing them will give Russia the advantage to move forward to cities like Kramatorsk and Slovyansk," Marina Miron emphasized

According to him, the alliance is "fully engaged" in the Ukrainian conflict

"Certainly, it is being prepared in advance, this is a lengthy process," the Kremlin official said

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

"A top-level session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will be held in the near future, and this matter will naturally be addressed", the source told TASS

Robert Fico pointed out that "more and more evidence show that the West seeks to prolong the war in Ukraine for various reasons"

Mira Rapp-Hooper mentioned the US administration’s version, according to which North Korea has allegedly sent troops to engage in active combat in Ukraine

Spokesman Lin Jian highlighted Washington's use of double standards in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the United Nations

Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

According to the president, the missile is code-named Oreshnik, which can roughly be translated as hazel bush

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

According to Reuters, the Commerce Department plans to publish the new regulations "prior to the Thanksgiving break"

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

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Trump’s inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025

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

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

"Our friends are living in the Arab world," the politician noted

The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

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

According to it, the 1,000-page "Operation Germany" plan lists all infrastructure facilities that deserve special protection, and also contains a procedure for defense or "measures to deter Russia on NATO’s eastern flank"

"A diplomatic search for balance and mutual understanding should be the goal, instead of further escalation," Alice Weidel said

According to the politician, Western nations need to understand that they are fighting on Ukraine’s side

The company stated it would seek damages amounting to 230 million euro for failing to receive the contracted volume of gas from the Russian company for delivery to Germany

"No, there have been no notifications, for Russia has no such obligation with regard to intermediate-range missiles," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russia’s presidency of the integration will pass to Brazil this year, the diplomat said

The head of state also approved citizenship applications from foreign nationals and stateless persons residing in the country