Ukraine sets task of building Europe's strongest army, returning Crimea — security chief

According to a report by BelTA, Lukashenko dismissed such speculations as "fakes"

According to his press secretary Sergey Nikoforov, consultations are underway about the place and time of the negotiations

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov added that the boats could have been directed by US drones

The Japanese authorities have been refraining from the term "occupation" in the recent years, instead preferring to say that "these islands are covered by the Japanese sovereignty"

However, the competent authorities may authorize an aircraft to land in, take off from, or overfly for humanitarian purposes or for any other purpose consistent with the objectives of this regulation

Russian Foreign Minister briefs Turkish top diplomat on Russia’s operation in Donbass

Konashenkov also said that several Russian soldiers have been taken prisoner

According to Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the Russian President, Russia’s delegation had left for the Gomel region to hold talks with the Ukrainian side

The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and the European Commission agreed to impose new "tough financial sanctions" on Russia

20 missiles were fired

The attacks destroyed a home in the town of Pervomaisk, the mission added

Present-day Ukraine was wholly created by Communist Russia, Putin said

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, February 28th

French President Emmanuel Macron is determined to take "measures to freeze financial assets" of Russian public figures on the national level

"The key issue of the talks is an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from Ukraine," the statement reads

"During this entire period, the population of DPR and LPR was subjected to abuse, perennial shelling on the part of the Kiev regime that openly adopted a course towards Russophobia and genocide," the Russian top diplomat noted

Russian Armed Forces destroyed over 800 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects

"He fled to Lvov with his entourage, where he and his assistance were provided with accommodation," the speaker said

The Russian special operation was very timely, Deputy Head of the DPR People’s Militia Eduard Basurin noted

The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries

The Russian Defense Ministry reassured that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are limited to surgically striking and incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure

According to Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky, the Ukrainian delegation was late due to complicated logistics

Maria Zakharova said in an interview with the Vecher (Evening) with Vladimir Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1

He noted that Russia is being threatened with arrests of assets of Russian citizens and companies abroad - "just like that, without any sanctions," "in a blanket fashion," "out of spite"

On Friday, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to suspend Russia from its rights of representation in the Committee of Ministers and in the PACE

Maria Zakharova recalled that Italy and many other countries possess the US nuclear weapons but do not have access to them

Russian President stressed that the Western countries were also taking unfriendly actions against Russia in the economic sphere

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia "has every possibility and potential to do that"

The civilian population is not at risk, the Defense Ministry said

Russian delegation is ready to start talks with Ukraine in Gomel, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says

Vitaly Klitschko admitted that the capital’s authorities were not in full control of volunteer battalions of territorial defense, who had been provided with weapons

External conditions for the Russian economy have drastically changed, the regulator noted

This is a response from the UN secretary general, Maria Zakharova said

"Russia will pay a serious price for this short term and long term, particularly long term," the US leader stressed

Russian President stressed that the Ukrainian nationalists were playing the role of the army’s ‘blocking detachments’

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that Western countries participating in Sunday’s UN Security Council meeting had "failed to offer a word of compassion to Donbass residents"

The workers of the power plant continue servicing facilities

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov underscored that "since the beginning of the operation, Russian Armed Forces hit 1,114 objects of Ukrainian military infrastructure

The phone conversation was held at Israel’s initiative

These countries created damage "on several continents," Maria Zakharova stressed

82 Ukrainian servicemen laid down their weapons and voluntarily surrendered to the Russian Armed Forces

It was plotted by order of the Islamic State terrorist organization

Serbia has always supported Ukraine’s integrity, Serbian President said

According to the source, following the loss of the Gostomel airstrip, the Ukrainian military relocated three Buk-M1 launchers in order to reinforce the defense of the Zhulyany airport

The Chinese diplomat noted that Beijing’s position on this issue differs from the views of the American leadership

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, February 25th

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that Turkey has been unhesitatingly complying with the Montreux Convention to this day

The reason is the Ukrainian delegation’s logistics, the source said

Russia will not suspend the military operation in Ukraine during the talks with the Ukrainian side, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

He stressed that Belarusian high-tech enterprises might help Russia obtain substitutes for Western and Asian microchips