Self-proclaimed president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that he is ready to allow Russian troops in Belarus, if necessary, but sees no need for a Russian permanent military base.

He said this at a meeting on cooperation with Russia.

"There were no discussions in terms of the deployment of the Russian Armed Forces on a permanent basis, the creation of some bases. This was not even discussed. And we don't need that. Because, according to our concept of military security of the Union …

Russia intends to create 20 new regiments in the Western Military District, which borders Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States and Finland, said Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu.

According to Shoygu, Russia is improving the combat composition of its troops because NATO countries led by the United States "destroy the security system in the world." Shoygu said tat by the end of 2021 about 20 regiments and military units will be created in the Western Military District.

The minister added …

Annalena Baerbock, co-leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, who was nominated by the party for the German Chancellor, argues that Russia should be treated with toughness and dialogue, and considers it necessary to stop the Nord Stream 2 project.

"I think the right course of dialogue and toughness towards Russia is right," Baerbock, known for her critical statements against Moscow, said in an interview with Bild newspaper published on Monday. Asked by a journalist if she considered Russian …

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the SWIFT system may become part of a "sanctions spiral" against Russia, said the director of the Department of Economic Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Dmitry Birichevsky in an interview with RIA Novosti.

He recalled that "there are threats," especially from the United States, to disconnect Russia from the SWIFT system. However, under international law, sanctions can only be imposed by a legitimate body, such as the UN …

Three Russian mercenaries and two local policemen were killed when an improvised explosive device was detonated on a stretch of a road between Berberati (Mambere-Kadei Prefecture) and Bouar (Nana-Mambéré) in the Central African Republic (CAR), announced the CAR government spokesman, Anj Maxim Kazagi. According to the AFP news agency, the three Russians are fighters of one of the paramilitary groups.

"Three Russian allies and two Central African police officers were killed," Kazagi said. …

Russian airlines have started to bypass  Belarus’ airspace, despite the fact that the European restrictions do not apply to them.

Forbes reports, citing sources in the airline industry, that about 10 Russian flights flew around Belarus as of May 27.

"It is impossible to give the reasons for the change of routes and whether it is due to political motives," said one of the publication sources. "There may also be technical reasons."

According to another source, the airlines had asked in advance …

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Minsk will soon receive the second $500 million tranche of the $1.5 billion dollar loan.

"Until the end of June, there are no obstacles, everything is agreed,” said Peskov.

The loan agreement was signed on December 21, 2020. The first $500 million tranche was received by the Belarusian Ministry of Finance on December 30 last year.

In addition, according to Peskov, the transport ministries of Russia and Belarus have been tasked with " …

Russia imports more than a third of strategic metals and more than 60% of rare earth metals, with almost 100 percent dependency on imports of some of them, said the Russian parliamentary body of financial control, the Accounts Chamber, in the report “On the Effectiveness of Management of the State Sub-soil Resources Fund in 2018-2020”.

According to the Russian Accounts Chamber, foreign supplies represent 100% of the economy's needs in titanium, chromium, manganese and lithium, as well as more …