Russian cruise missiles hit terrorist targets near Palmyra

The missile attack was launched from the Mediterranean Sea, all targets have been hit.

MOSCOW, May 31. /TASS/. The Admiral Essen frigate and the Krasnodar submarine have fired four Kalibr missiles at the facilities of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia) located near the city of Palmyra, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Admiral Essen frigate and the Krasnodar submarine currently deployed to the eastern section of the Mediterranean Sea, fired four Kalibr missiles at the IS facilities near Palmyra. All targets have been hit," the statement reads. According to the Defense Ministry, the submarine fired missiles from underwater.

The attack targeted terrorist shelters east of Palmyra, where militants armed with heavy weapons had moved from Raqqa, the Defense Ministry added.

The statement also says that "the US, Turkish and Israeli military authorities were timely informed about cruise missile attacks, the current communications channels were used."

"The successful mission has proved the high level of the Russian navy’s combat readiness, particularly of the crews of the warships and the submarine involved in the cruise missile attack," the Defense Ministry pointed out.

"Russia’s navy has shown its ability to carry out effective attacks using precision weapons shortly after receiving orders," the ministry stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-05-2017

Hurricane death toll rises to 14 in Moscow, Moscow Region

108 people, including 22 children, remain in hospitals.

MOSCOW, May 30. /TASS/. Hurricane killed 14 people in Moscow and the Moscow Region on Monday, a spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee, Svetlana Petrenko, told TASS.

"Eleven people were killed in Moscow and three others in the Moscow Region," Petrenko said. One of the victims is a minor, the Health Ministry said.

A total of 168 people had sought medical assistance and 146 people were hospitalized, said Alexei Khripun, who heads Moscow’s department of health. Now 108 people, including 22 children, remain in hospitals and eight of them are in a serious condition. Most victims have bruises, cut wounds, fractures, head and spine injuries.

Moscow City Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the hurricane was "unprecedented."

In Moscow, the storm affected transport in 20 streets and more than 50 flights were delayed at the airports. The hurricane plucked about 3,500 trees and damaged roofs of more than 140 high-rise buildings and administrative buildings, and over 1,500 cars. In the Moscow Region, the thunderstorm blew down over 3,000 trees and damaged roofs of 42 houses and maternity clinics, and also 322 cars.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-05-2017

Trump’s administration seeks to restart Ukraine peace process — media

Rex Tillerson is looking to appoint a special envoy at the State Department "to manage and lead the new Ukraine effort," The Washington Post newspaper reported.

WASHINGTON, May 29. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to restart peace negotiations with Russia to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, The Washington Post newspaper wrote on Monday, citing US officials and outside experts.

The effort is led by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has reportedly discussed this issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "There is also a robust interagency process to chart the new strategy, and the office of Vice President Pence is also involved," the report says.

"Although still in its early stages, Tillerson’s idea is to restart a version of the peace negotiations that the Obama administration was engaged in last year, hoping that new circumstances and personalities might produce better results," the paper writes.

Tillerson is looking to appoint a special envoy at the State Department "to manage and lead the new Ukraine effort." The new envoy would reinvigorate the US-Russian diplomatic channel with Russian Presidential Aide Vladislav Surkov. President Barack Obama’s assistant secretary of state for Europe, Victoria Nuland, "was ultimately unable to make progress through that channel last year," the report says.

However, the current scandal, linked to the investigation into Russia’s alleged interference into the US presidential elections in 2016, complicates everything, the paper writes. Congress insists on applying more sanctions to Russia rather than lifting them.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-05-2017

Putin sends greeting to Border Guard on their professional holiday

Russia celebrates the Border Guard Day on May 28 since 1994.

MOSCOW, May 28. /TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin greeted the military, civil personnel and veterans of the country’s Border Guard on their professional holiday on Sunday.

The greeting is published on the Kremlin’s website.

"Today we honor those who protect reliably the state borders of Russia, protect their native land from the enemy, those who honor the patriotic traditions of many generations of their predecessors," the greeting telegram reads. "On this solemn day I want to thank you sincerely for the conscientious and responsible attitude to your duties, for the impeccable accomplishment of the assigned tasks, for the honest service to the Motherland and people."

Russia celebrates the Border Guard Day on May 28 since 1994.

Russian Border Guard control more than 60,000 kilometers of the state border. They also guard the Armenian border with Turkey and with Iran. The base of Russian patrol ships is in Abkhazia (Ochamchira).

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-05-2017

Moscow comments on Tallinn’s move to expel Russian diplomats

The Russian Foreign Ministry says Tallinn’s hostile move to expel Russian diplomats will only further complicate bilateral relations.

MOSCOW, May 26. /ТАSS/. Tallinn’s hostile move to expel Russian diplomats will only further complicate bilateral relations, which have been driven to a dead end by the Estonian authorities, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.

"We consider this Tallinn’s step as provocative and ungrounded," the ministry said. "Naturally, it will not stay unanswered. This openly hostile action taken by the Estonian authorities will only further complicate bilateral relations, which have already been driven to a dead end by official Tallinn."

"It looks like someone wants to further aggravate the situation at the border with Russia, to keep afloat the myth of the Russian threat in all manifestations, to justify the Russophobic policy of the Estonian authorities and the confrontational agenda of ‘containment’ of our country," the ministry said.

These developments, according to the Russian foreign ministry, are yet another manifestation of the Estonia government’s destructive policy, which runs counter to the long-term interests of relations between neighboring states. "Responsibility for the consequences rests with the Estonian authorities," the ministry stressed.

Earlier on Friday, an Estonian foreign ministry spokesperson told TASS that Estonia will expel Russian Consul General in Narva Dmitry Kazennov and Consul Andrei Surgayev. No reasons for such move were given.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-05-2017

Russia to build first helicopter carrier by 2022

Russia’s United Ship-Building Corporation earlier said the domestic shipyards could create the analog of Mistral ships.

MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. Russia will build its first helicopter carrier by 2022, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said on Thursday.

"The cycle of building a helicopter carrier is at least four years; yes, somewhere by 2022," the deputy defense minister said.

The Russian Navy currently lacks universal amphibious assault ships. Mistral-class helicopter carriers ordered in France in 2011 were not delivered to Russia.

Russia’s United Ship-Building Corporation earlier said the domestic shipyards could create the analog of Mistral ships.

Late in July last year, Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bursuk said the technical assignment for the universal amphibious assault ship had been prepared.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-05-2017

Russian lawmaker comments on US decision to end military subsidies to Ukraine

The US plans to end military subsidies to Ukraine, Pakistan, Vietnam and a number of other countries.

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. By leaving Ukraine without military subsidies, the US is embarking on a course towards sparing funds and honoring its national interests, Russian Federation Council upper house's Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told reporters on Wednesday in comments on Washington’s decision to shift military assistance to Ukraine from grants to loans.

"First of all, this indicates a course of the new administration towards changing approaches to military support, and the main thing comes through here - sparing funds and honoring the national interests," Valentina Matviyenko said. "Let us wait and see what will come of it," she added.

She said a change in conceptual approaches is evident - ‘not just supporting at the expense of US taxpayers, but issuing some loans, and this is a different approach, and the amount of these funds will evidently be slashed," she added.

Earlier, the chief of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney confirmed the United States’ intention to end disinterested military subsidies to Ukraine, Pakistan, Vietnam and a number of other countries. All of these will be offered a loans instead. In the meantime, assistance to Israel, Jordan and Egypt will remain free.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-05-2017

Defense Ministry reports on Russian army's 2016 picks

Russia’s nuclear triad is 60% furnished with modern armaments.

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. The Russian Armed Forces received 40 precision weapon carriers and 180 long-range cruise missiles in 2016, which helped increase their non-nuclear long-range capabilities by a third, Russia’s Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday.

"In the past year alone, units and formations received 40 precision weapon carriers and 180 long-range cruise missiles. This helped increase the Armed Forces’ capabilities for striking enemy targets by a third," Shoigu said in the upper house of Russia’s parliament.

Russia’s long-range ground-based, sea-and airborne non-nuclear containment weapons are arriving for troops at an accelerated pace, he said.

As a whole, Russia’s nuclear triad is 60% furnished with modern armaments, the defense minister said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-05-2017

Putin offers condolences to UK over terror attack in Manchester

The Russian president confirms readiness to step up anti-terror cooperation with UK.

MOSCOW, May 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed deep condolences to UK Prime Minister Theresa May over the deadly terror attack at the Manchester Arena in England, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday.

"We strongly condemn this cynical and inhuman crime. We expect that its masterminds won’t go unpunished," the Russian president stressed.

Putin "confirmed readiness to step up anti-terrorist cooperation with British partners - both on bilateral basis and as part of broad international efforts."

The president conveyed the words of sympathy and support for the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.

The blast occurred at the Manchester Arena at 10.35 p.m. local time on Monday shortly after a concert of US pop singer Ariana Grande. An explosive device went off outside the concert hall. Police are treating the incident as a terror attack.

According to the latest data, 22 people, including children, were killed and another 59 people were wounded.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-05-2017

Black Sea Fleet’s missile destroyer to join Russian Navy’s Mediterranean task force

Up to 10 combat ships and support vessels of the Black Sea Fleet are currently operating in the Russian Navy’s permanent Mediterranean grouping.

MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet missile destroyer Smetlivy will join the Russian Navy’s Mediterranean task force, Fleet spokesman Captain 1st Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachyov said on Monday.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s guard ship Smetlivy, which took part in anti-submarine warfare drills and fired surface-to-air missiles against an air target the other day, has started accomplishing the task of a planned passage from Sevastopol to the Mediterranean Sea," the spokesman said.

The missile destroyer Smetlivy will join the Russian Navy’s permanent Mediterranean grouping in the distant maritime zone where up to 10 combat ships and support vessels of the Black Sea Fleet are currently operating, including the most advanced frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen, the Fleet spokesman said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-05-2017

Ukrainian army shells Donetsk Republic’s territory over 40 times in 24 hours

The Ukrainian military delivered fire from artillery guns, mortars, tanks and armored vehicles, and also from small arms, the DPR command said.

DONETSK, May 21. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army has shelled the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) 44 times over the past 24 hours, the republic’s command reported on Sunday.

"Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian armed forces have violated the ceasefire 44 times. Overall, the Ukrainian army shelled 17 populated areas, the Donetsk News Agency quoted the DPR command as saying.

The Ukrainian military delivered fire from artillery guns, mortars, tanks and armored vehicles, and also from small arms, the DPR command said in a statement.

The participants in the Contact Group on the political settlement in east Ukraine agreed at their March 29 meeting in Minsk on a ceasefire from April 1. At their next session on April 12, they confirmed their commitment to the truce due to take effect at 10:00 Moscow time on April 13. However, shelling attacks continue.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-05-2017

Kiev forces shell Lugansk republic’s territory eight times

Since the autumn of 2014, members of the Contact Group on settling the crisis in eastern Ukraine have declared more than 10 ceasefires in Donbass.

LUGANSK, May 20. /TASS/. Ukraine’s forces have shelled militia positions in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic eight times over the past 24 hours, local defense authorities told the LuganskInformCenter on Saturday.

"The shelling targeted areas of the Almaznaya settlement, the Slavyanoserbsk and Frunze townships, as well as Smeloye and Kalinovka villages," the news agency said.

Since the autumn of 2014, members of the Contact Group on settling the crisis in eastern Ukraine have declared more than 10 ceasefires in Donbass. However, the Ukrainian forces have been repeatedly violating ceasefires, particularly using large caliber guns, mortars and tanks that should have been withdrawn from the contact line in accordance with the Minsk agreements.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-05-2017

Ukrainian opposition to contest ban on Russian websites in court

Experts estimate the full implementation of the presidential decree to take several years and cost approximately $1 billion.

KIEV, May 19. /TASS/. Ukraine’s Opposition Bloc party is set to contest in court the president’s decree barring access to a number of Russian websites, party member and lawmaker Yuri Pavlenko said.

"We [the Opposition Bloc] have prepared a request to the Constitutional Court, in which we ask to cancel the unlawful presidential decree on blocking web resources, because it contradicts the current legislation and the constitution," the lawmaker told the 1+1 TV channel.

"The measures, envisaged by the presidential decree, go against the principles of the law on sanctions and create a dangerous precedent of Internet censorship," he said, adding that experts estimate the full implementation of the presidential decree to take several years and cost approximately $1 billion.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko enforced the decision of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council on expanding the list of Russian nationals and entities subject to Ukrainian sanctions and extending earlier sanctions. The blacklist includes 1,228 individuals and 468 legal entities.

Among the blacklisted entities are Russian social networking sites Vkontakte (VK) and Odnoklassniki (Classmates), and also e-mail services Mail.ru and Yandex search engine. Ukraine’s presidential press service said that Internet providers will block access to these websites in the country.

The move was condemned by numerous human rights bodies, including Human Rights Watch. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland said the ban violates the basic principles of the freedom of speech.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-05-2017

Council of Europe chief alarmed at Kiev's decision to block Russian social networks

On May 16, Ukrainian President Poroshenko signed an expanded blacklist consisting of 1,228 Russian individuals and 468 companies.

MOSCOW, May 17. /TASS/. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland has voiced concern over Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko’s decree blocking Russian social networks and other internet resources on the country’s territory, a statement published on the Council’s website said.

The "Council of Europe Secretary General has voiced his concern about a decree by Ukrainian President Poroshenko on the blocking of several major online services and social networks on the territory of Ukraine," the statement reads.

According to Jagland, the "blocking of social networks, search engines, mail services and news websites goes against our common understanding of freedom of expression and freedom of the media." "Moreover, such blanket bans are out of line with the principle of proportionality," he added.

On Tuesday, Poroshenko signed an expanded blacklist consisting of 1,228 Russian individuals and 468 companies. This time, a number of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) members, judges of the Russian Constitutional Court, journalists and TV channels have been added to the blacklist. Besides, sanctions have been imposed on several Russian companies, including 1C, ABBYY and their Ukrainian subsidiaries. In addition, Russia’s VKontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks, Mail.ru and Yandex internet companies have been banned.

The banned Russian internet companies have a significantly large audience in Ukraine. Yandex claims to have as many as 11,000,000 Ukrainian users while about 25,000,000 of Ukrainian citizens use the Mail.ru platforms for communication. A total of 16,000,000 people in Ukraine use the Vkontakte social network, while the number of Odnoklassniki users totals around 9,500,000.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-05-2017

Moscow slams Ukraine’s ban on Russian military valor symbol as anti-democratic move

It is interesting to see how Ukraine will celebrate Victory Day next year, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. The Ukrainian parliament’s decision to ban the St. George ribbon, a Russian symbol of military valor, is an anti-democratic and anti-historic move, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.

"To speak seriously, the decision is anti-democratic and anti-historic, throwing into doubt a principled possibility of some kind of the country’s unification," the Russian diplomat wrote on her Facebook page.

"It is interesting to see how Ukraine will celebrate Victory Day and hold an Immortal Regiment march next year," she wrote.

The Ukrainian authorities have neither the strength nor the will to solve real problems but "now they will find money for tiger-repainting," the Russian diplomat wrote.

The Ukrainian parliament passed a law on Tuesday to ban the use of the St. George ribbon, a Russian symbol of military valor.

The decision was supported by 238 deputies compared to the required minimum of 226 votes.

"This law envisages an administrative penalty for wearing the so-called St. George ribbon during mass events," bill author and deputy from the National Front faction Anton Gerashchenko said, speaking from the parliament’s rostrum.

As the deputy alleged, the Ukrainian parliament is thus countering "the Russian aggression in Ukraine" as it considered the St. George ribbon as its symbol.

The administrative penalty won’t apply to World War II veterans wearing elements of the St. George \ribbon in their military decorations, as well as to museum expositions.

The new Ukrainian law stipulates a penalty of 850 to 2,550 hryvnia ($32-96) for the public demonstration of the St. George ribbon together with the ribbon’s confiscation.

A repeat violation of this law during a year may entail a penalty of up to 5,100 hryvnia ($192) or an administrative arrest for up to 15 days together with the ribbon’s confiscation.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-05-2017

First armored army in west Russia receives modernized T-72B3 tanks

The upgraded T-72B3 tanks are equipped with a more powerful 1,130 horsepower engine and have an advanced weapons suite.

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Units of the 1st armored army stationed in the Western Military District have received a new batch of modernized T-72B3 tanks, the district’s press office reported on Monday.

"A new batch of modernized T-72B3 tanks has arrived for troops of the Western Military District. Some twenty armored vehicles that have received state-of-the-art technologies and undergone control tests will enter service with a motor rifle formation of the 1st tank army," the press office said.

The upgraded T-72B3 tanks are equipped with a more powerful 1,130 horsepower engine and have an advanced weapons suite. They also feature a new sight system with a digital display and a rearview TV camera.

The tank’s armor has been reinforced with side skirts with Relikt explosive reactive armor (ERA) tiles, add-on slat armor, and new ERA modules in the soft shell.

"At present, one of the armored army’s formations is complete with new combat vehicles, which has allowed doubling its firepower," the district’s press office said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-05-2017

Donbass militia report Ukrainian army shells Donetsk, Lugansk republics

DONETSK/LUGANSK, May 15. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces have violated the ceasefire in the Donbass region 50 times over the past 24 hours, the defense ministries of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR, LPR) reported on Monday.

"The Ukrainian armed forces have violated the ceasefire 48 times over the past 24 hours," the Donetsk News Agency quotes a source in the DPR command as saying.

The Ukrainian military used artillery, mortars, infantry combat vehicles, armored vehicles, grenade launchers and small arms, with 16 populated localities in the DPR coming under fire. For his part, the head of Donetsk’s Petrovsky District Administration added that a dwelling house had been damaged by shelling in the village of Trudovskiye.

The Ukrainian army also shelled LPR people’s militia positions twice. "The urban-type settlement of Kalinovo came under fire from the area close to the village of Novozvanovka, with the Ukrainian mlitary using 120mm mortars and automatic grenade launchers," the Luganskinformtsentr news agency quotes a source in the LPR people’s militia as saying.

Members of the Contact Group on the settlement in eastern Ukraine reached an agreement on a ceasefire as of April 1 at a meeting in Minsk on March 29. At the April 12 meeting, the parties reiterated their commitment to the Easter truce, which was to come into effect at 10am Moscow Time on April 13. However, ceasefire violations persist.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-05-2017

States should abandon belligerent rhetoric to overcome global stagnation — Putin

Speaking at an international forum in China, the Russian leader named terrorism and decades-old regional conflicts among the main threats to global development

BEIJING, May 14. /TASS/. All countries need to abandon belligerent rhetoric in order to overcome the stagnation in global development, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday during the One Belt, One Road forum in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Speaking at the international forum, the Russian leader named terrorism and decades-old regional conflicts among the main threats to global development.

"In order to untie these knots, we should first of all abandon belligerent rhetoric, mutual accusations and reproaches that only make the situation worse," Putin said.

"In general, none of the current problems can be solved with old approaches," the Russian president added. "We need fresh ideas that would be free from stereotypes."

"The imbalances in the social and economic development, the crisis of the previous globalization model lead to negative consequences for relations between the states, for international security.

Poverty, social exclusion, the colossal gap in the level of development of states and regions fuel international terrorism, extremism, illegal migration," Putin said.

"We will be unable to tackle these challenges if we fail to overcome stagnation in the global economic development," he went on. "We should also keep in mind the threats posed by regional conflicts and zones of decades-long controversies, which still persist in many places in Eurasia."

According to Putin, Eurasia can lay down and put forward a "positive agenda" in the areas of security, economy, social sphere, management and search for new factors of growth.

"We should demonstrate the global community an example of a joint, innovative, constructive future, based on fairness, equality, respect to national sovereignty, on norms of the international law and inviolable principles of the United Nations," he said.

"However, desire and will alone are not enough to put such an agenda into practice. We need practical instruments of cooperation, and they can be created within the framework of integration processes," Putin said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-05-2017

Kiev troops violate ceasefire 59 times in past 24 hours, says DPR command

Its source said 19 settlements came under fire.

DONETSK, May 13. /TASS/. Ukrainian troops have violated the ceasefire 59 times over the past 24 hours, shelling the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the DPR operational command reports on Saturday.

"Tanks, mortars, infantry combat vehicles, armored vehicles, grenade launches and firearms were used," the Donetsk News Agency quoted a source from the DPR command as saying.

Its source said 19 settlements came under fire. Earlier, the press service of DonbassGas company said almost 300 residential buildings had been left without gas. Specialists are expected to restore gas supply within the day.

Since autumn 2014, the Contact Group on the settlement in Donbass has declared more than ten ceasefires, but none lasted for long. The sides accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.

On March 29, members of the Contact Group declared another ceasefire in Donbass starting from April 1 ahead of the Easter celebrations. However, the Kiev forces adhered to ceasefire just during one hour. At a new meeting of the Contact Group on April 12, it was announced that the parties to the conflict agreed to observe another ceasefire from 10 a.m. on April 13. However, shelling continues.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-05-2017

Russia’s Defense Ministry confirms US spy jet intercepted over Black Sea

The Russian fighter jet performed a maneuver of ‘greeting’ for the US pilots and after that the US surveillance plane changed the flight route, the ministry said.

MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday that a US surveillance aircraft P-8A Poseidon was intercepted by a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea on May 9.

At noon on May 9, Russia’s airspace control means detected an air target over the neutral waters of the Black Sea, which was approaching the state border of Russia. "The Su-30 fighter jet of the air defense forces on duty in the Southern military district was scrambled to intercept the target," the ministry said.

The Russian pilot identified the target as a US surveillance aircraft P-8A Poseidon. "The Russian fighter jet performed a maneuver of ‘greeting’ for the US pilots and after that the US surveillance plane changed the flight route towards moving from the border with Russia. The Su-30 fighter jet safely returned to its base airfield," the ministry said.

Earlier in the day, NBC broadcaster reported citing the US Navy that a Russian fighter jet flew within 20 feet of a US Navy P-8A Poseidon over the Black Sea on May 9. The report said this was a Russian Su-27 fighter jet. The US aircraft "was conducting routine operations in international airspace," according to Captain Pamela Kunze, a spokeswoman for US Naval Forces Europe. The interaction was considered safe and professional by the US aircraft’s commander, she said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-05-2017

Trump and Lavrov meeting round-up

The meeting of US President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lasted for about 40 minutes.

WASHINGTON, May 10. /TASS/. Before meeting with Donald Trump, Sergey Lavrov held talks with the US top diplomat Rex Tillerson. 

Lavrov's talks with the US president lasted for about 40 minutes behind closed doors.

Russia-US relations

Moscow and Washington can and should solve global issues together, Lavrov said following his meetings with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US President Donald Trump.

"I had a bilateral meeting with Rex Tillerson, then the two of us were received by President Trump," the Russian top diplomat said. "We discussed, first and foremost, our cooperation on the international stage."

"At present, our dialogue is not as politicized as it used to be during Obama’s presidency. The Trump administration, including the president himself and the secretary of state, are people of action who are willing to negotiate," the Russian top diplomat pointed out.

Lavrov said agreement reached with Tillerson to continue using diplomatic channel to discuss Russian-US relations. 

According to Lavrov, the current state of bilateral relations is no cause for joy. "The reason why our relations deteriorated to this state is no secret," the Russian top diplomat added. "Unfortunately, the previous (US) administration did everything possible to undermine the basis of our relations so now we have to start from a very low level."

"President Trump has clarified his interest in building mutually beneficial and practical relations, as well as in solving issues," Lavrov pointed out. "This is very important," he said.

Seizure of Russia’s diplomatic property in the United States is illegitimate and Washington realizes this, Lavrov said. 

"It is a specific issue," he said adding the US "does not deny it is ours." Besides, everyone realizes that "those actions were illegitimate," Lavrov added.

De-escalation zones in Syria 

Lavrov believes Syria has areas where US might contribute to operation of de-escalation zones. "We are ready for this cooperation and today have discussed in detail the steps and mechanisms which we can manage together," Lavrov said.

"We have confirmed our interest in the US’ most active role in those issues," Lavrov said. "I imagine the Americans are interested in this too."

"We proceed from the fact they will take up the initiative," he added. "We have thoroughly discussed the Syrian issue, particularly the ideas related to setting up de-escalation zones," the Russian top diplomat said. "We share an understanding that this should become a common step aimed at putting an end to violence across Syria," he added.

Lavrov said Russia and the US share understanding of Syrian de-escalation zones’ geography.

"At the current stage, we agree on the concept and even on practical steps concerning the geography of the de-escalation zones," the Russian top diplomat said. "The memorandum signed in Astana outlines further steps that would help the stakeholders come to terms on who and how will ensure the safety areas surrounding the de-escalation zones."

Russia is ready to cooperate with the US in setting up de-escalation zones in Syria, Lavrov stressed. 

"President Trump has reiterated that defeating terrorism is the United States’ main priority as far as Syria is concerned. We see eye to eye here," Lavrov said. 

"We have agreed we will be working together in the format of Astana (talks) which the United States attends as an observer," Lavrov said. "We have praised the constructive contribution the US made at the last meeting."

"We will be cooperating in the format of the Geneva process which, according to (UN Special Envoy for Syria) Staffan de Mistura, will be resumed the very next week," he said.

Anti-Russian sanctions

Lavrov said the issue of anti-Russian sanctions was not discussed at the talks.

"We did not discuss the sanctions. This is not our problem, these are unilateral actions that were taken against us," the foreign minister said.

Lavrov noted Russia would prefer not to use the right to retaliate for US sanctions imposed by Obama's administration in December 2016. 

According to Lavrov, the talks mentioned the Palestinian-Israeli settlement, the situation in Afghanistan, and also the fulfillment of the Minsk accords on the political settlement in east Ukraine.

"We agreed to continue working contacts on these issues and look for ways to bring closer the positions of all the parties concerned," the Russian foreign minister said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-05-2017