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Putin initiates economic annexation of Donbas breakaway republics
Russia is taking a significant new step towards the integration of the unrecognized republics of the Donbas into its economic space.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree "On providing humanitarian support to the population of certain areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine", which gives companies from the so-called Donetsk ansd Luhansk People’s Republics same benefits as Russian companies.
According to the document published on the Kremlin’s website of legal …
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U.S. accuses Russia of 'reckless' tests of anti-satellite weapons
The United States believes that Russia has tested anti-satellite weapons which posed a threat to the International Space Station (ISS), said at a briefing spokesperson for the United States Department of State Ned Price.
“The Russian Federation recklessly conducted a destructive satellite test of a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile against one of its own satellites. The test has so far generated over 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris and hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller …
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European gas prices soar as Germany refuses to certify Nord Stream 2
The European gas market is facing a threat of a new price shock after Germany refused to certify the Nord Stream-2 pipeline and demanded that the operator re-start the 4-month process and relocate assets and personnel related to the German section of the pipeline to Germany.
Germany's Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) announced it was suspending certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
The regulator of the German gas market said it believes that the operator of the pipeline, …
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France and Germany warn Russia against new aggression against Ukraine
Foreign Ministers of France and Germany Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas signed a joint statement following the meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. In the document, the Foreign Ministers said Russia would face "serious consequences" if it continues attempts to undermine territorial integrity of Ukraine.
In the joint statement, Germany and France "reaffirmed their firm support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Both ministers called on …
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Latvia begins military exercises near the border with Belarus
On Sunday, November 14, Latvia began military exercises in the south-east of the country. According to Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, about 3,000 members of the National Armed Forces and National Guard units are expected to be involved in the maneuvers.
According to a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, the exercises The Decisive Point will last until December 12. Their purpose is to test the large-scale cooperation of various military and command structures, as well as logistics and …
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U.S. delivers 80 tons of ammunition to Ukraine
The United States has delivered 80 tons of ammunition to Ukraine. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv reported on Twitter that this is the fourth $60 million delivery as part of Washington's security assistance, which was approved by President Biden.
After the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States, Washington agreed to allocate another $60 million, in addition to the previously agreed $250 million. Shipments of the American equipment and weapons were previously delivered …
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Russia deploys paratroopers to Belarus
Russia has deployed paratroopers to Belarus as the migrant crisis on Belarus-Poland border escalates and the EU threatens to impose more sanctions against Belarus, which may also affect Russian national airline Aeroflot.
On Friday, as part of a snap combat readiness check several units of the Russian Airborne Troops were sent to the Grodno region for joint tactical exercises with the Belarusian armed forces, Interfax reports citing the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry.
The …
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Kremlin: Putin is concerned about NATO maneuvers in the Black Sea
Maneuvers of warships and aircraft of the North Atlantic Alliance in the Black Sea are a cause of "concern" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
According to the press Secretary of the Russian President, Putin has repeatedly noted that NATO's military activity in the Black Sea is "a matter of concern."
Peskov said that Russia is paying "increased attention" in connection with the entry of American warships into the Black Sea. At the same …
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Ukraine to deploy 8,500 security forces and helicopters to the border with Belarus
Kyiv plans to deploy to the Ukrainian-Belarusian border 8,500 military and police and 15 helicopters. It has been decided to strengthen the border protection in the areas of potential entry of illegal migrants, said the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrsky.
According to him, it is necessary to build a reliable modern "smart border" with Russia and Belarus as a comprehensive solution to the problem. 17 billion hryvnia ($650 million) will be needed to finance this project. …
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Lukashenko threatens to block transit of Russian gas to Europe
Belarus can block the transit of Russian gas to the European Union if "unacceptable" sanctions are imposed against it, said self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander.
According to him, the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, which supplies gas from Western Siberia to Germany through Poland, can be shut down.
"Poland threatens us that it will close the border. Please close: fewer migrants will move there. That's not the question. What if we close the gas transit through Belarus? It will not be …