The Syrian army’s offensive in the Idlib province in December, accompanied by the mass bombing of settlements by the Russian Aerospace Forces, has brought the Middle East to the brink of a new migration catastrophe.

The series of bombing runs which began on December 12 has forced more than 200,000 residents of the northern regions of Syria to leave their homes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told Reuters.

According to the department, by December 25 the …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a contract was signed for the transit of Russian gas to Europe from Russia through the territory of Ukraine for five years.

"This is the end of the year, but not the end of our achievements. Ukraine has signed a gas transit contract for five years, during which we will receive at least over $7 billion. The parties can extend the contract for another ten years," wrote Zelensky on his Facebook page.

"The Ukrainian gas transit system will be given …

Commander of Russian Long-Range Air Force Lieutenant General Sergey Kobylash said in an interview to the newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets that Russia plans to create an unmanned sixth-generation strategic bomber by 2040.

According to Kobylash, in addition to the modernization of existing Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22MZ bombers, the Russian military is planning to create a new long-range aircraft. "We are also planning to develop a subsonic strategic bomber of the fifth generation," said Kobylash. …

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said on Vesti Nedeli program on Russia-1 TV channel that Gazprom's $2.9 billion payment to Naftogaz of Ukraine was a difficult decision for the Russian side.

"There was a choice between bad and worse. But all of us together, we can lose much more, unprecedented amounts," said Kozak as quoted by TASS.

In mid-December, Gazprom and Naftogaz agreed on the terms and volumes of Russian gas transit to Europe. The parties also agreed to give up mutual claims. …

The Russian Energy Ministry has dramatically lowered its prediction of the country’s future liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, according to the Energy Strategy 2035, extracts of which were cited by Interfax.

In autumn, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Novatek co-owner Leonid Mikhelson said that in the next 16 years Russia could be producing up to 140 million tons of LNG per year. In October, the Energy Ministry set a target of 100 million tons by 2035 in its energy strategy. …

William Taylor, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Kyiv, said that “serious American” companies are investigating the possibility of buying the Ukrainian aerospace company Motor Sich, KyivPost reports.

“There are several serious American and other companies interested in Motor Sich. They’re doing legal due diligence, looking at financial reports, visiting the plant, and talking to the owners. They’re doing a serious analysis,” Taylor told a number of Ukrainian media outlets.

Taylor did …

In 2020, Russia will consider the possibility of withdrawing from its agreement with the OPEC countries, according to which the largest oil producing countries must reduce their production in order to support oil prices by preventing excess supply.

The OPEC+ deal, first signed at the end of 2016 and extended five times since then, becoming the first coordinated step between Russia and Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years, will not be permanent, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the TV …

The German news agency RND has cited Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko as saying that Germany refused to provide Ukraine with military assistance “needed for opposing Russian aggression”.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister said that Kyiv is gratef l to Berlin for financial aid and for support on the international level, but must nevertheless note that the German government declined Ukraine’s request for military aid.

“I am still expecting official Berlin to revise its stance on this …