Luhansk, Donetsk republics have no plans to hold Ukrainian parliament elections

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, March 21st

The European Union, Canada, the United States and Japan froze $300 billion worth of Russia's assets after the start of the special military operation

Rallies and marches in support for detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu are also held in Ankara and several other Turksih cities

Alexander Mikhailov noted that Zelensky understands his resignation is merely a matter of time

Sergey Shoigu recalled that money transfers from Russia into Armenia amount for approximately 15% of the country’s GDP

After talks with his US counterpart Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a halt to attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure

The purchaser has not been named

The Ukrainian militants had previously acted in a similar way against civilians in the city of Mariupol and other settlements

Taiwan’s defense agency has regularly recorded the approach of Chinese warplanes and warships of late

As Dmitry Polyansky underlined, he is convinced that "the Security Council can and must play a role in the negotiating process and make sure that its results are observed by all parties"

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that previously Donald Trump threatened Palestine’s radical movement Hamas with tough measures if Israeli hostages are not released

Thus, according to the SVR, it is planned to "make public information that the 'president' personally and his team have misappropriated more than $1.5 billion only from funds meant to buy munitions"

Dmitry Peskov explained that he had not read the letter outlining the capital relocation proposal itself, but was aware of its contents from the media

According to the documents obtained by TASS, the supervisory agency approved the indictment and sent the charges to the capital's court

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,670 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 19 enemy armored fighting vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

Thierry Mariani said Zelensky "behaves like a mafioso, ready to eliminate those whom he considers a threat to his own power"

"Life has proved that those were true words. We did not chase anyone off, they left themselves, someone under pressure from their governments, someone out of fear, someone in solidarity with the neo-Nazis," the politician said

Valery Pikalev noted that this number was 11% higher than in 2023, but 1% short of its projected target

The street around the diplomatic mission remains blocked, as Turkish authorities have 'launched an investigation into the incident'

No data on casualties were provided

The Russian Security Council secretary stressed that Vladimir Putin pays the utmost attention to the implementation of agreements reached with the North Korean leader

The final statement of the meeting makes no mention of the 40-billion-euro military aid package, proposed by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, or its reduced variant

The Hungarian Prime Minister spoke to journalists in Brussels after a meeting of the leaders of the parties that formed the Patriots of Europe faction

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, March 18th

Keir Starmer's spokesman added that UK military planners will meet next week to discuss the terms of reference for a potential Western military contingent in Ukraine

According to the report, these people are taken to temporary accommodation centers where they can receive all necessary assistance

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 240 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

"If Berlin makes such claims, it means that Germany may have such plans itself; but in that case, Berlin needs to call things by their proper name," Maria Zakharova stated

According to the report, the Israeli military also struck the southeastern city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza in recent hours and shelled the Netzarim corridor, along with the town of Rafah in the southern part of the enclave

According to a tank commander with the call sign Veter, the Battlegroup Dnepr continues to carry out combat missions in the Zaporozhye direction, showing high efficiency and professionalism

Robert Fico noted that the republic will not send a single cent to arm Ukraine

A total of 56% of those polled said they approved of the Russian government’s handling of the country, while 60% approved of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s performance

The MOEX Russia Index lost 0.98% to 3,191.61 points, while the RTS Index edged down by 1.26% to 1,187.89 points

It is planned that Shoigu will meet with the leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un and other leaders of the country

Sergey Shoigu emphasized that "Russia highly values the achieved level of strategic relations between the countries and is committed to deepen them"

A report on the implementation of the order must be submitted to the head of state by June 15

Elvira Nabiullina still noted that the economy "follows a 'soft landing' path"

The complete closure of the Department of Education requires the approval of a corresponding bill by Congress

Hatami was speaking about the consequences of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force

The newspaper earlier pointed out that during Trump's potential state visit to the United Kingdom, Charles III could propose that the United States become a member of the British Commonwealth

Still, most voters support the idea of reforming the budgetary rule and establishing a fund for infrastructure investments

"We have repeatedly said that introduction of so-called peacekeepers into Ukraine in practice would mean a foreign military intervention that further escalates the conflict," Maria Zakharova stated

American journalist Tucker Carlson recalled that 'the Russian position is he is not elected,' so one 'can't sign any kind of treaty with him'

They have been charged in absentia and placed on the wanted list

"I think it's inappropriate to discuss personnel, let alone senior officials who might be on a negotiation team," US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said

Meanwhile, the US leader also effectively indicated that it is premature to discuss tightening Washington’s sanctions against Moscow

The Russian president also ordered to take measures providing for the use of solutions based on artificial intelligence in manufacturing and operation of drones

The US leader also reiterated that the Ukrainian conflict would have never happened if he had been president in 2022

According to preliminary reports, no deaths occurred, and two people were injured

The government has pledged to find and bring to justice not only those who committed the crime but also their accomplices, sponsors, and supporters

The decision doesn’t apply to those who received citizenship "under legal procedures, such as marriage to Syrian nationals," Director General of Civil Affairs in Syria, Abdullah Abdullah, explained

Harald Vilimsky added that "the European Union is treating Hungary as if it does not exist"

Technical teams are going to be meeting in Jeddah beginning Monday

Speaking at the White House, the American leader noted that he had previously held telephone conversations with Russian President state Vladimir Putin, as well as with Vladimir Zelensky

Key facts about Russia's population since the year 1897

According to Maria Zakharova, Ukraine was an "emerging democracy" plagued with "corruption, graft and nationalism"

The two-time Olympic champion will take office on June 24

At the same time, the Ukrainian president denied saying that he was ready "to discuss the question of Ukraine’s neutral status"

This position held exclusively by American generals since 1951

According to Ali Khamenei, US and European politicians are seriously mistaken when they call resistance in the region Iran's proxy forces, since all countries that oppose Israel's aggression against the Palestinians have their own stance

Vladimir Zelensky said that "the UN will not have any mandate to protect Ukraine"

Rate reduction can only be expected "after we will be confident that inflation is declining consistently, steadily, and with the pace enabling us to return inflation to 4% in 2026"

According to the report, Osama Tabash’s elimination "impairs Hamas' intelligence-gathering capabilities"

The opposition-organized rallies are proceeding peacefully

The State Information Service added that Cairo is vehemently against this resettlement idea as this is a "matter of national security" for Egypt

Vitaly Kiselev noted that reports from Russia’s sympathizers in Bulgaria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic indicate that local media are propagating the narrative that the Kiev forces have not surrendered Sudzha

Alexander Ovechkin now has 35 goals in 53 games this season

The Ukrainian troops used the facility as a secure logistics point while the station was under their control

Eight commanders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades who participated in the attack on the Kursk Region were charged in absentia, the spokesperson said

Over the past 24 hours the group's units improved their tactical position, defeated the manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces, a territorial defense brigade, and a national guard brigade

Payments were made in accordance with the decree of the Russian Federation on the temporary procedure of honoring state debt liabilities of the Russian Federation to residents and foreign creditors

Mikhail Pavliv explained that in Jeddah, the Americans got everything they wanted in the military aspect from Ukraine very quickly

US Presidential Special Envoy noted he finds the claims that 'the Russians are going to march across Europe' odd

The execution deadline is June 1, 2025

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, in turn, told the newspaper that the US realizes that an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is unattainable

In his words, the United Kingdom has chosen to go into confrontation

"We see that the enemy 'clung' to Chasov Yar, realizing that this settlement is located on elevated ground, the dominant height, and in the future our units will have operational space in terms of advancing in a number of directions: to Kramatorsk, to Slavyansk, to Konstantinovka, so, of course, the enemy is impeded," Denis Pushilin said

About 500 Russian fighters moved through the pipe towards Sudzha

Security forces managed to suppress the rioters and regain control of the institution, but a number of convicts managed to escape

According to the Russian President's decree, the order was conferred to Sergey Lavrov to recognize his "outstanding services to the Fatherland, significant contribution to developing and implementing Russia’s foreign policy course, and years of dedicated activity as a statesman"

Putin and Trump held a phone call on March 18, discussing the idea of a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict

Kirsty Coventry stated it in response to a question whether Russian athletes would be likely to take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Following the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Ansar Allah movement said it would strike Israeli territory

The investigation established that on March 20, Ukrainian servicemen, having illegally entered Russian territory, intentionally detonated the Sudzha gas distribution station

Accoriding to the sources, most of the participants in the meeting of the "coalition of the willing" expressed their unwillingness to participate directly in sending forces to Ukraine, limiting themselves to offering support to those NATO countries that decide to deploy their troops there

Russian fighters have so far taken a new foothold and are conducting a clearance operation, Andrey Marochko specified

Sergey Shoigu noted that representatives from over 100 countries had already confirmed their participation in the upcoming meeting

In the early hours of March 21, the Ukrainian military blew up the Sudzha gas metering station, a key conduit through which Russian gas once flowed to Europe

The Russian diplomat stressed that for most countries, Russia is becoming a "pioneer" that strives to defend vital things regardless of sanctions and restrictions, because they are universal

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed that "Western countries are ready to abandon their international legal obligations at literally any moment - whenever they feel like it, whenever it suits them"

The destruction of the gas metering station in Sudzha by Ukrainian forces is a provocation designed to undermine the peace initiatives of US President Donald Trump, Sergey Mironov stated

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova doubted that Washington would have a reason not to take advantage of these opportunities

120 flights will need to divert due to the shutdown

The Diplomatic website notes that Washington aims to make swift progress to announce a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible

The exception from sanctions against Gazprombank for Hungary will be effective until May, the Hungarian Foreign Minister said