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Belarus and NATO discuss joint military exercises
The Belarusian Defense Ministry has reported about the talks with NATO on holding joint exercises next year.
TASS reports that the parties are discussing the joint "peacekeeping exercises" as part of the Belarusian military training in the Italian NATO contingent.
It is expected that the Belarusian unit will be part of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon.
"Speaking about conducting joint exercises with NATO, we are not talking about preparation yet, but about the negotiation process, …
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Kremlin unable to provide Nord Stream 2 launch date
The Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov could not provide the date of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline launch because of the US sanctions. Russia previously planned to launch a gas pipeline bypassing Ukrainian territory by the beginning of 2020.
"I don't think anyone is going to say what the the date is now. There were external force majeure circumstances causes by the actions of a third party that are against international law, as well as the norms of international trade and …
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As talks with Russia stall Lukashenko orders Belarus officials to start looking for alternative oil supplies
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has instructed the heads of the Belarusian petrochemical industry to ensure the supply of oil from alternative sources within the next few days, reports the BelTA news agency. In the first place, Belarus officials consider delivering oil from the Baltic Sea port terminals by rail.
Head of the Belneftekhim concern Andrei Rybakov said that after telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko instructed to complete negotiations …
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First time in 6 years Putin calls Ukrainian President to wish Happy New Year
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on December 31, reports the Kremlin's press service. According to the Kremlin, the conversation was initiated by the Ukrainian side.
Putin and Zelensky noted the importance of the new gas transit contract and the recent exchange of prisoners between Kyiv and the territories of the Donbas that are not controlled by Ukraine. They also wished each other a Happy New Year.
Putin has not …
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Five Russian billionaires earned more in 2019 than the entire population of Russia
At a time when the incomes of most Russian citizens are still stagnating after a record dip since the 1990s, Russia’s billionaires have continued to amass wealth at a startling rate.
According to Forbes, the five wealthiest Russians became $27 billion richer.
Converted to rubles at the current exchange rate, Nornickel stakeholder Vladimir Potanin, Novatek co-owner Leonid Mikhelson, Lukoil president Vagit Alekperov, Vladimir Putin’s “friend” Gennady Timchenko and Power Machines’ owner Alexey …