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Russian troops in Syria grapple with supply shortages amid strategic withdrawal
Russian forces stationed in Syria are reportedly experiencing shortages of water and provisions, prompting a continued withdrawal from remote areas of the country. The issue is notably present at Russia's naval facility in Tartus and the airbase in Khmeimim, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.
Amidst these logistical struggles, Russian troops have been withdrawing from distant Syrian regions, often accompanied by rebels who have toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime. Ukrainian intelligence …
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Hungary's 'Christmas Ceasefire' plan rejected by Ukraine amid tensions Over Orban's Kremlin ties
Ukraine has firmly rejected Hungary's proposal to organize a phone call between Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Budapest initiative, put forward after Orban's conversations with Putin, aimed at achieving a "Christmas ceasefire" and "mass prisoner exchange," was met with skepticism in Kyiv.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Ukraine "in an unprecedented diplomatic gesture" firmly but politely declined the call. However, analysts note that …
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Turkey seeks U.S. exemption from Gazprombank sanctions amid energy dependency concerns
Amid the fallout from U.S. sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank affecting Turkey, Ankara is urging Washington to lift the restrictions specifically for the Turkish side. According to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, this topic was raised on December 13 during discussions in Ankara with an American delegation led by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The publication reminds us that the U.S. administration imposed sanctions on Gazprombank to hinder Russia's use of the international financial …
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Russia begins withdrawal of military forces from Syria
Russia has begun pulling its military forces from Syria, according to media reports and satellite imagery. Reuters, citing an anonymous source within the Syrian security forces, reports that on Saturday, a cargo plane departed Russia’s Khmeimim Airbase in Latakia province for Libya. The source, whose affiliation with either Assad’s security services or the new regime remains unspecified, indicated that more flights are expected in the coming days. Cargo helicopters have also been spotted at the …
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UAE banks halt transactions for Russian companies amid U.S. pressure
Russian businesses face increased payment scrutiny as UAE banks are now blocking and delaying transactions linked to Russian companies amidst a fresh wave of U.S. sanctions. These new restrictions add to the immense challenges the Russian economy faces due to Western-imposed sanctions, tightening the financial noose as overseas anti-sanction "hubs" fall apart under the threat of secondary sanctions.
The UAE had emerged as a crucial financial "hub" for Russian entities, facilitating their trade …