• Russia prepares to absorb Belarus as Minsk's debt mounts

    Russian President Vladimir Putin and self-proclaimed president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko put their signatures under the integration decree of the Union State, approving 28 programs in the areas from gas price regulation and defense to central banks policy.

    The document, the preparation for which was going slowly for more than three years and accelerated dramatically after the elections in Belarus, was signed via a videoconference on Thursday.

    Russia will continue to "provide assistance …

  • Turkey vows to never recognize Crimea as Russian

    Turkey will continue to adhere to the policy of non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea by Russia, said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

    "Turkey is actively in contact with Russia on many current issues, including the situation in Syria, Libya and Karabakh. There are differences in positions, but the parties adhere to the policy of constructive dialogue with mutual consideration of sensitive issues in the national interest. This, in particular, concerns Ukraine," Cavusoglu said at a …

  • Putin: Zircon hypersonic missiles will be supplied to Russian Navy in 2022

    Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles will be supplied to the Russian Navy in 2022, said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the leadership of the Defense  Ministry and defense industry.

    "Tests of the sea-based Zircon hypersonic cruise missile are being completed. From next year, these missiles will begin to be delivered to the Russian Navy," Putin said.

    Putin noted that during the tests, the missile hit both land and sea targets from an underwater and surface positions.

    Putin …

  • Russia and Belarus to adopt joint military doctrine

    On November 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin 4 will take part in a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, which will be held in the format of a video conference, the press service of the Kremlin reported.

    During the meeting, it is planned to approve a "package of important integration documents". These are the "Main directions for the implementation of the provisions of the treaty on the creation of the Union State for 2021-2023", which include 28 sectoral programs, as …

  • Kyiv: Russia has amassed 90,000 troops near Ukrainian borders

    Russia has amassed near the Ukrainian border and in the Donbas about 90,000 troops, reported the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

    "According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, at the beginning of November 2021, a group of troops with a total number of about 90 thousand people is deployed near our border and in the temporarily occupied territories," the statement of the Defense Ministry reads.

    This includes the troops of the 8th, 20th armies of …