Contents tagged with Russia

  • Kremlin: Russia is ready to supply S-400 air defense systems to Belarus

    The Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) sees no obstacles to potential deliveries of the S-400 system to Belarus, said the director of the FSVTS, Dmitry Shugaev, in an interview with RBC news agency .

    "After all, we live in one Union State. Naturally, we are not indifferent to how [Belarus’] airspace will be protected," he added.

    When asked whether Russia can make a discount to Belarus on the S-400, he replied that "it is premature to talk in advance about some …

  • Kremlin: deployment of Russian troops to Ukrainian border should not be seen as a threat

    The movement of Russian military equipment in Russian territory is exclusively an internal affair of Russia, said Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, commenting on reports about the deployment of Russian troops to the Ukrainian border

    "Russia has never threatened, threatens or posed a danger to anyone," Peskov said.

    He added that Moscow is forced to take measures to ensure its own security "against the background of quite aggressive expansionist tendencies, especially from …

  • Kremlin accuses Ukraine of trying to draw Russia into hostilities in Donbas

    The Ukrainian authorities are trying to draw Russia into hostilities in the Donbas, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on air of the TV channel "Russia 24".

    "Yes, the escalation is obvious. Attempts to create a provocative situation, to cause some kind of response from the militia and, probably, to draw Russia into some forceful actions. This is noticeable, " Lavrov said.

    “In particular, there is a “mysterious story" that Ukraine used a Bayraktar drone in the Donbas, bought from …

  • U.S. expels 55 Russian diplomats

    The United States is expelling 55 Russian diplomats, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

    According to her, Washington continues to insist on bringing to parity the number of diplomats in the two countries, including the Russians working in the UN permanent mission in New York in the total count.

    "If we compare embassies and consular offices, the picture is completely different. The Americans now have about 130 people working in Russia, while in our mission in Washington …

  • Russian Space Agency to move space launches to French Guiana amid budget cuts

    The Russian Space Agency Roscosmos will move some of its space launches from Russian cosmodromes to Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, said Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin.

    According to him, the spaceport, which is located in French Guiana on the Atlantic coast, is "a unique location on the equator, convenient for space launches."

    "We are likely to load this launch complex, including with our federal launches. We have an interest," RIA Novosti quoted Rogozin as saying.

    According to him, the "move" …

  • Kremlin demands Google display annexed Crimea and Kuril Islands as part of Russia

    The head of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption Vasily Piskarev demanded at a meeting with the representaives of Google Corporation that the company display annexed Sevastopol, Crimea and the Kuril Islands as part of Russia in the Google Maps service, TASS reports with reference to the press service of the committee.

    According to Piskarev, at a meeting with Google’s representatives in April, he pointed out "inconsistency with national legislation in identification of …

  • Kremlin will allow Russians to use messenger apps only after registering with their passports

    Russian citizens will be able to use Internet messengers only after passing identification, including providing their passport data, according to the government decree N 1801 which was signed by the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    The document, dated October 20, comes into force on March 1, 2022 and is valid for six years.

    It requires that the "organizer of the instant messaging service" when registering a user would conduct identification "by reliably establishing information about …

  • U.S. puts Russians applying for American visas into ‘homeless nationalities’ category

    The U.S. Department of State has categorized Russians who want to apply for a U.S. visa as belonging to "homeless nationalities.". The list of ‘homeless nationalities’, in addition to Russia, includes Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

    American officials usually include in “homeless nationalities” citizens from those countries where there is no U.S. consular mission. The document prescribes those wishing to obtain an American visa to apply to the …

  • Russian Defense Minister warns NATO against deploying troops near Russia’s borders

    NATO is pulling forces to Russia's borders amid calls for military deterrence, said Russian +Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said in response to German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

    "The Defense Minister of Germany should know well wow this has already ended before for Germany and Europe. Security in Europe can only be common, without infringing on Russia's interests. But NATO is not ready for an equal dialogue on this issue today,” Shoygu said.

    In Afghanistan, according to …

  • Putin: visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense to Kyiv will open NATO’s doors for Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin is confident that the visit of United States secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to Kyiv is intended to open doors for Ukraine to join NATO.

    According to the Russian president, the formal membership of Ukraine in the Alliance may not take place, but "the military development of Ukraine is already underway." Putin expressed concern that this poses a real threat to Russia.

    "Here comes the defense minister (of the United States), who in fact opens a door for …