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☆ Russia Calls Ukraine Peace Meetings 'Pointless', Says Plan Can't Succeed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday that it was increasingly apparent to the world that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's plan to resolve the nearly two-year war had no hope of succeeding and dismissed meetings devoted to it as "pointless and harmful". The fourth in a series of meetings bringing together officials from several dozen countries - but not Russia - was held this week in Davos. "All such meetings ... including the Davos gathering and those to follow it, are pointless and harmful for settling the Ukrainian crisis." Russia is pointedly not invited to the meetings centred on Zelenskiy's peace plan, which calls for withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine, recognition of its 1991 post-Soviet borders and a mechanism to bring Moscow to account. The Swiss government agreed after the latest gathering on Zelenskiy's peace plan to host a global peace summit on Ukraine at Zelenskiy's request.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Andriy Yermak, Dmitry Peskov, Ron Popeski, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, Economic, Kyiv, Staff, Davos Locations: Russia, Davos, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Swiss

☆ Russia accuses Bulgaria of malice over diplomatic overflight ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Russia accused Bulgaria of malice and stupidity on Thursday for refusing to allow Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's plane to fly through its airspace. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is under European Union sanctions, said her presence on board the plane was the reason given by Bulgaria's foreign ministry for denying access to its airspace. Zakharova suggested that Russia could apply similar overflight bans to "thousands of NATO functionaries", and accused Bulgaria of creating "a dangerous precedent". Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared a boycott of the meeting in Skopje in protest of the Russian delegation's presence. Athens took all the steps required before allowing the overflight, the official added.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov's, Lavrov, Dmitry Peskov, Maria Zakharova, Zakharova, Felix Light, Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Organisation for Security, Cooperation, Kremlin, Russian Foreign Ministry, European Union, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, Europe, Skopje, North Macedonia, Russian, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Athens

[1/3] Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disembarks from a plane upon his arrival at an airport ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, North Macedonia, November 30, 2023. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels where he attended a NATO meeting. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. I think that is simply wrong," said Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov disembarks, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Dimitar Kovacevski, OSCE Michael Carpenter, Antony Blinken, Helga Schmid, Krisjanis Karins, Humeyra Pamuk, Aleksandar Vasovic, Ronald Popeski, Francois Murphy, William Maclean, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Organisation for Security, Cooperation, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Organization for Security, Baltic, OSCE, Soviet, NATO, Tass, Russian, North Macedonia's, Kremlin, AS, Ukraine, United, U.S, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Europe, Skopje, North Macedonia, BRUSSELS, VIENNA, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Estonian, Brussels, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Belarus, United States, Moscow, West, New York, Latvian

☆ Russia says it has got lots of requests for meetings with Lavrov at OSCE meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a joint press conference with Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto in Moscow, Russia, November 16, 2023. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it had received a lot of requests for one-on-one meetings with Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's top diplomat, on the sidelines of an OSCE meeting in North Macedonia. "I can confirm that there are a lot of requests for bilateral meetings," Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, told reporters. "There will be multilateral meetings in multilateral formats, and bilateral meetings are planned as well," she said. She said that the foreign ministry will provide details on Lavrov's schedule in Skopje later.

Persons: Sergey Lavrov, Yvan Gil Pinto, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Maria Zakharova, Lavrov's, Dmitry Antonov, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Russian, Venezuela's, Rights, OSCE, Organization for Security, Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Moscow's, North Macedonia, Europe, Skopje, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania

Now, hundreds of migrants from the Middle East and Africa have appeared at Finland's border from Russia, seeking entry into the Nordic country. They accuse Russia of driving the migrants to the border to sow discord as payback for Finland's membership in NATO. Finnish authorities quickly closed four checkpoints and then three more, leaving just one Arctic crossing point open for asylum-seekers. Finland also asked for help from EU border agency Frontex, which said it would send dozens of officers and equipment as reinforcements to the Finnish border. The Kremlin denies encouraging the migrants, and says it regrets the Finnish border closures.

Persons: Elina Valtonen, Petteri Orpo, Maria Zakharova, Valtonen, Russia’s, ”, Klaus Dodds, ” Dodds, Ylva Johansson, Sauli Niinistö, Alexander Lukashenko, Evika Siliņa, Siliņa, Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, “, Geert Wilders, Orpo’s, Vanessa Gera Organizations: HELSINKI, —, NATO, Nordic, Associated Press, HOW, EU, Frontex, Russian Foreign Ministry, Royal Holloway, University of London, VU EU Home Affairs, Belarus —, Latvian, AP, Poland’s, Guard Locations: Finland, Russia, East, Africa, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Finnish, FINLAND, Helsinki, Belarus, Europe, Moscow, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Baltic, Netherlands, Finns, Lapland, Murmansk, Warsaw

☆ Russia vows retaliation over Moldova decision to join EU sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The state flag of Moldova (L) flies outside the country's embassy in central Moscow, Russia December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Russia views Moldova's decision to join EU sanctions against it as a hostile step aimed at destroying ties with Moscow and will retaliate, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday. Among its provisions are regulations concerning action to be taken against individuals and institutions subject to sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with the Kremlin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of trying to oust her in a coup. Moscow denies the allegations and says Sandu is infusing anti-Russian sentiment in the country lying between Ukraine and Romania.

Persons: Maxim, Maia Sandu's, Sandu, Alexander Tanas, Maxim Rodionov, Andrew Osborn, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Union, Moldovan, Maia Sandu's Party of Action, Solidarity, Socialist Party, of Europe, European Commission, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moldova, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Moldovan, Chisinau, Ukraine, Venice, Romania

☆ U.S. Warns Iran Is Weighing Sending Short-Range Missiles to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Michael R. Gordon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, center right, examined munitions in Tehran in September. Photo: russian foreign ministry press service/ShutterstockWASHINGTON—The U.S. fears Iran is preparing to provide Russia with advanced short-range ballistic missiles for its military campaign in Ukraine, U.S. officials said Tuesday. Iran has already provided Russia with armed drones, guided aerial bombs and artillery shells, U.S. officials said.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu Organizations: Russian, WASHINGTON Locations: Tehran, The U.S, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, U.S

☆ An expired remnant of the Iran nuclear deal may help Russia rearm for another winter of missile attacks on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A UN Security Council resolution passed in the days after the 2015 Iran nuclear deal has expired. That could lead Russia to seek ballistic missiles from Iran as it steps up its attacks on Ukraine. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was passed in July 2015, days after the US and Iran agreed on the Iran nuclear deal. Russia continues to produce its own missiles and drones, but its constant attacks on Ukraine have strained its supplies. Iran's Zolfaghar Basir, top, and Dezful short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in Tehran in January 2022.

Persons: —, Morteza, Iran's Zolfaghar, Anton Mardasov, Mardasov, Rosoboronexport, Farzin, Moscow hasn't, Nadimi, Paul Iddon Organizations: UN Security, Service, UN, EU, Missile Technology Control, Iran's, Washington, UN Security Council, Moscow, Iranian, Business, Mardasov, Iranian Army, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Washington Institute for Near East Locations: Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, France, Germany, China, Tehran, Shahed, Russian, East, Syria, Israel, Arab, Iranian, Getty Images Russia

☆ Russia Bars Moldovan Nationals, Summoning Ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia barred entry to a number of officials from Moldova on Monday and complained about moves by its pro-European government to block Russian media outlets ahead of local elections earlier this month. A Russian foreign ministry statement said Moldovan Ambassador Lilian Darie was summoned to be told of the decision. Moldovan foreign ministry spokesperson Igor Zaharov told Moldova-1 television that the government stood by protecting its media from interference regardless of Moscow's moves. Moldovan news outlet newsmaker.md said the Russian list barred 11 parliamentarians -- all members of Sandu's pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity. Ahead of the election, Moldova suspended licences and barred access to 30 media sites - some based in Russia, others in Moldova - on grounds of spreading disinformation.

Persons: Maia Sandu's, Lilian Darie, Igor Zaharov, Zaharov, newsmaker.md, Sandu, Alexander Tanas, Ron Popeski, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, European Union, Moldovan, European Party of Action Locations: Russia, Moldova, Soviet, Russian, Moscow, Moldovan, Ukraine, Chisinau

Ten days after that, Russia said a Hamas delegation was in Moscow for talks. Moscow has offered to host a regional meeting of foreign ministers and Putin has said that Russia is well placed to help. "My explanation is it's because the war is becoming the organising principle of Russian foreign policy and (because of) ties with Iran, which brings military materiel to the table. The central Russian war effort is more important than, for example, the relationship with Israel." "We're going to finish this war (with Hamas) ... After this, Russia will pay the price," Weitmann said in a stormy October interview with Russian state broadcaster RT.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yosri, Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sergei Markov, Washington, Hanna Notte, Moscow, Alexei Pushkov, Pushkov, Markov, Alex Gabuev, Anatoly Viktorov, Alexander Ben Zvi, Mikhail Bogdanov, Amir Weitmann, Weitmann, we're, Andrew Osborn, Mike Collett, White, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, REUTERS, West, EU, Kremlin, U.S, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Likud, RT, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Russian, Gaza, Israel, Hebron, Russia, Moscow, United States, U.S, EU, Iran, Tehran, Ukraine, Berlin, Washington, Palestine, Arab, Jerusalem, Syria

☆ Russia: Armenia Skipping CSTO Summit Is Latest Anti-Russian Move Orchestrated by West
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday that Armenian Prime Minister's Nikol Pashinyan's decision to stay away from a summit of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) was the latest anti-Russian move by Armenia orchestrated by the West. Relations between Russia and Armenia, which are formally allies, have soured in recent months, with Yerevan publicly questioning the value of its partnership with Russia and trying to deepen ties with the West. Some Armenians blamed Russia for failing to stop what Baku called an anti-terrorist operation, an allegation that Moscow has rejected. Russian Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that Russia saw Pashinyan's refusal to attend the CSTO summit as the latest in a "chain" of events. The West, whose plans in Ukraine have failed, is now gripping Armenia, trying to tear it away from Russia," she said.

Persons: Minister's Nikol, Maria Zakharova, Armenpress, Dmitry Antonov, Felix Light, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Security, Organisation, West . Relations, West, Russian Foreign, Russia Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Armenia, Yerevan, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine

☆ Russia Suspends Nuclear Decommissioning Pact With Japan - Document
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russia has suspended a cooperation agreement with Japan on the decommissioning of Russian nuclear weapons, according to a government document made public on Thursday night. The document, posted on the Russian government's official online portal, showed that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin had signed an order suspending the 1993 agreement on Tuesday. It did not give a reason for the decision, but said the Russian foreign ministry would inform Japan about the move. Under the suspended agreement with Japan, Tokyo helped decommission weapons, including dismantling nuclear submarines. But Japanese media reported that the work had stalled as Moscow has stopped sending the necessary data to Tokyo.

Persons: Mikhail Mishustin, Andrew Osborn, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: Reuters, Russian, Japan, Tokyo Locations: Russia, Japan, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine, Western, Vladivostok, Tokyo

☆ Russia formally withdraws from key post-Cold War European armed forces treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Deputy head of Russia's Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev visits the Raduga State Machine Building Construction Bureau named after A. Bereznyak in Dubna, Moscow region, Russia February 2, 2023. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 7 (Reuters) - Russia formally withdrew on Tuesday from a key post-Cold War security treaty designed to de-escalate potential East-West conflicts, in a latest sign of rising tensions between Russia and NATO. "At 00:00 on November 7, 2023, the procedure of Russia's withdrawal from the CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe), was completed," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015. "Thus, the CFE Treaty in its original form lost touch with reality."

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Russia's Security, United, Sputnik, NATO, CFE, Conventional Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: United Russia, Dubna, Moscow region, Russia, Europe, Warsaw, Ukraine, United States, CFE, Melbourne

☆ Russia Formally Withdraws From Key Post-Cold War European Armed Forces Treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia formally withdrew on Tuesday from a key post-Cold War security treaty designed to de-escalate potential East-West conflicts, in a latest sign of rising tensions between Russia and NATO. "At 00:00 on November 7, 2023, the procedure of Russia's withdrawal from the CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe), was completed," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015. "The CFE Treaty was concluded at the end of the Cold War, when the formation of a new architecture of global and European security based on cooperation seemed possible, and appropriate attempts were made," the Russian foreign ministry said. "Thus, the CFE Treaty in its original form lost touch with reality."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, NATO, CFE, Conventional Armed Forces Locations: Russia, Europe, Warsaw, Ukraine, United States, CFE, Melbourne

MOSCOW, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Russia on Friday dismissed new U.S. sanctions over the war in Ukraine, saying that the United States would never defeat Moscow, while the boss of Russia's fastest growing natural gas company quipped the sanctions were a badge of success. The United States on Thursday targeted Russia's future energy capabilities, sanctions evasion and a suicide drone that has been a menace to Ukrainian troops and equipment, among others, in sanctions on hundreds of people and entities. The Arctic-2 LNG project - targeted by the new sanctions - had been expecting to start exporting soon and it is uncertain how much Russian LNG will now be blocked. The largest Russian LNG producer Novatek NVTK.MM said in September it would start shipments from Arctic-2 LNG early next year. Leonid Mikhelson, the head of Russian natural gas producer Novatek(NVTK.MM), told a conference in the Uzbek city of Samarkand that the U.S. sanctions were a badge "of our professionalism".

Persons: Maria Zakharova, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Novatek NVTK.MM, Leonid Mikhelson, Novatek, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Monetary Fund, Russian LNG, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Moscow, Russian, U.S, Europe, Uzbek, Samarkand

☆ Moldova Blocks Access to Russia's Main News Agencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova blocked access to the websites of major Russian news media including the Interfax and TASS news agencies on Monday, accusing them of taking part in an information war against the country. Moldova, a small country with a Romanian-speaking majority located between Ukraine and NATO-member Romania, has accused Moscow of trying to overthrow its pro-Western government since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Russian troops occupy a small, mainly Russian-speaking breakaway region, and Moldova's main opposition parties have long had close ties to Moscow. In a separate decree, Moldova also suspended the licenses of six domestic TV channels. Since June 2022, Moldova has already banned TV stations from broadcasting news and analysis programmes from Russia, allowing broadcasts in Russian of only entertainment shows and movies.

Persons: Maia Sandu, Dorin Recean, Aleksandr Tanas, Yuliia Dysa, Peter Graff Organizations: Interfax, TASS, NATO, Moldova's Intelligence, Security Service, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russian Foreign Ministry Locations: CHISINAU, Moldova, Romanian, Ukraine, Romania, Moscow, Russia, Republic Of Moldova

☆ Hamas is seeking eight Gaza hostages at Russia's request - RIA
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senior Hamas officials Bassem Naim and Moussa Abu Marzouk, and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov meet for talks on the release of foreign hostages, at a location given as Moscow, Russia in this handout image released on October 26, 2023. Hamas Handout/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsOct 28 (Reuters) - Hamas is looking for eight people identified by Russia as possibly being among the hostages in Gaza and is ready to free them, Hamas Politburo member Abu Marzouk told Russian state news agency RIA on Saturday. RIA cited Marzouk, who has been visiting Moscow, as saying that the Russian foreign ministry had handed over a list of eight names, all of whom had dual citizenship. "We are very attentive to this list and we will handle it carefully because we look at Russia as our closest friend," Marzouk was cited as saying. Russia on Friday defended its decision to invite a Hamas delegation to Moscow against strong Israeli criticism, saying it was necessary to maintain contacts with all sides in the conflict.

Persons: Bassem Naim, Moussa Abu Marzouk, Mikhail Bogdanov, Abu Marzouk, Marzouk, Andrew Osborn, Giles Elgood Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS Acquire, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Handout, Gaza, Russian

☆ Hamas delegation visits Moscow, discusses release of hostages in Gaza - agencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Families and supporters of hostages that are being held in Gaza after they were kidnapped from Israel by Hamas gunmen, attend a protest calling for their immediate release in Tel Aviv, Israel October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Tomer Appelbaum Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A delegation from Hamas visited Moscow on Thursday for talks on the release of foreign hostages including Russian citizens that the militant group is currently holding in Gaza, Russian news agencies reported, citing the foreign ministry. Senior Hamas member Abu Marzouk was among those attending the talks, TASS reported. "Contacts were held with him in continuation of the Russian line on the immediate release of foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a weekly briefing earlier on Thursday that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baghiri Kani was also currently visiting Moscow.

Persons: Tomer, Abu Marzouk, Vladimir Putin, Maria Zakharova, Ali Baghiri Kani, Zakharova, Baghiri Kani, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Russian Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, Moscow, Russian, Russia, Iran

MOSCOW (AP) — The upper house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday revoked the ratification of a global nuclear test ban in what Moscow has describes as a move to establish parity with the United States. The Federation Council voted to endorse a bill rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT. There are widespread concerns that Russia could move to resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Political Cartoons View All 1218 ImagesPutin has noted that while some experts have argued that it's necessary to conduct nuclear tests, he hasn’t yet formed an opinion on the issue. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier this month that Moscow will continue to respect the ban and will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does it first.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Sergei Ryabkov, Ryabkov, ” Ryabkov Organizations: MOSCOW, The Federation Council, Comprehensive, Russian Foreign Ministry Locations: Moscow, United States, U.S, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt, Russia, Ukraine, Washington

☆ Russia, Iran strengthen ties in 'trusting' atmosphere -Russian foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting in Tehran, Iran October 23, 2023. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsOct 24 (Reuters) - Russia and Iran are firming up bilateral relations in a 'trusting' atmosphere, Russia's foreign ministry said early on Tuesday after its chief, Sergei Lavrov, was received by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a visit to Tehran. "In a traditionally trusting atmosphere, current aspects of the bilateral agenda were substantively discussed with an emphasis on further building up the entire complex of multifaceted Russian-Iranian partnership," the foreign ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. Lavrov, who went to Tehran shortly after an Asia trip to China and North Korea, discussed energy and logistics projects with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. Iran initially denied supplying the Shahed kamikaze drones to Russia but later said it had provided a small number before Moscow launched the war.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Ebrahim Raisi, Lavrov, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Lidia Kelly Organizations: Russian, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Iranian, Kyiv, Moscow, United, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Russia, Asia, China, North Korea, Russian, South Caucasus, Nagorno, Karabakh, Ukraine, Moscow, United States, Melbourne

"We have identified that during the incidents, the vessels NewNew Polar Bear and Sevmorput were in the area. 'HEAVY OBJECT'Finland's NBI said "a heavy object" was found on the seabed near the pipeline damage and were investigating whether this was linked to the incident. NewNew Shipping, the owner and operator of the NewNew Polar Bear, declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. The Finnish foreign ministry, in a statement to Reuters said it had contacted China to seek help to get in touch with the NewNew Polar Bear. Russia's Rosatom said the Sevmorput had no link to any of the pipeline damage.

Persons: NBI, Risto Lohi, Lohi, Russia's Rosatom, Rosatom, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Gwladys Fouche, Alex Richardson, Jonathan Oatis, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, National Bureau of Investigation, Reuters, NewNew Shipping, NATO, Thomson Locations: Paldiski, Estonia, Handout, HELSINKI, VILNIUS, Finland, Sweden, Stockholm, Tallinn, Hong Kong, China, Russia, Finnish, Russian, Baltic, Gulf of Finland, Beijing, Moscow

☆ Russian foreign minister thanks North Korea for supporting its war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov takes part in a welcoming ceremony upon his arrival in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 18, 2023. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korea for supporting the country's war in Ukraine and pledged Moscow's "complete support and solidarity" for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said. North Korean state media said Lavrov's visit will mark a "significant occasion" in further consolidating relations between the countries. Photos released by the Russian foreign ministry showed Lavrov greeted by people holding flowers and flags of the two countries upon arrival in North Korea. The White House last week said North Korea recently provided Russia with a shipment of weapons in what it called a troubling development.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's, Kim Jong Un, Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Sandra Maler, Ed Davies Organizations: Russian, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, North, Russian Federation, Democratic People's, Russia's TASS, Thomson Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, Rights SEOUL, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korean, Russia, Koreans, China

☆ Russian Foreign Minister Thanks North Korea for Supporting Its War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korea for supporting the country's war in Ukraine and pledged Moscow's "complete support and solidarity" for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said. North Korean state media said Lavrov's visit will mark a "significant occasion" in further consolidating relations between the countries. Photos released by the Russian foreign ministry showed Lavrov greeted by people holding flowers and flags of the two countries upon arrival in North Korea. Lavrov's two-day visit comes a month after North Korean leader Kim made a rare trip to Russia, during which he invited Putin to Pyongyang and discussed military cooperation. Russia's TASS news agency earlier said Lavrov may also brief North Koreans on the results of Putin's visit to China.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's, Kim Jong Un, Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Sandra Maler, Ed Davies Organizations: Russian, North, Russian Federation, Democratic People's, Russia's TASS Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Moscow, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korean, Russia, Koreans, China

☆ Putin: Civilian toll from Israeli ground attack in Gaza would be unacceptable
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders' summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, October 13, 2023. Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBISHKEK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza would result in a level of civilian casualties that would be "absolutely unacceptable". "And most importantly, the civilian casualties will be absolutely unacceptable. Putin said, however, that Israel had the right to defend itself after being subjected to "an attack unprecedented in its cruelty". Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan and Alexander Marrow; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Pavel Bednyakov, Putin, Mikhail Bogdanov, Mark Trevelyan, Alexander Marrow, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Hamas, Russian Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Rights BISHKEK, Gaza, Gaza City, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Israel, Russia, East Jerusalem, United States, East, Moscow, Lebanese, Lebanon

☆ Russia condemns Finland's plan to speed confiscation of Russian real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Anne Kauranen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ints Kalnins Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday criticised a Finnish government plan to speed the confiscation of Russian-owned real estate in Finland, warning the Nordic country of countermeasures. Ousting Russian owners over unpaid bills is not currently legal if an official notification threatening confiscation cannot be delivered to them, Meri said. Meri said electronic notification would be sufficient once the rules change, but did not provide other details on Finland plans. "We will not leave without a proper response such actions of the so-called civilized Finnish state," Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement. Finland is also looking at ways to take control of Helsinki's biggest sports and events arena which has been shut since last year because of sanctions against its billionaire Russian owners.

Persons: Ints, Leena Meri, Meri, Maria Zakharova, Anne Kauranen, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, YLE, Thomson Locations: Helsinki, Finland, Rights HELSINKI, Finnish, Russia, Ukraine

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