Putin emphasizes national unity as bedrock for achieving Russia's most ambitious goals

The president noted that "we can and should do everything for Russia to develop successfully and so that everything in our lives can change only for the better",

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. /TASS/. The unity of the citizens of Russia is the foundation for reaching the country’s most ambitious goals, President Vladimir Putin said in his New Year’s address to the nation.

"The present and future of Russia, and the future of our children depend on the efforts and contribution of each and every one of us. Only together, can we meet the challenges that our society and our country are facing today. Our unity is the bedrock for achieving any of the supreme goals. These values were passed on to us by our ancestors, a heroic, unbreakable generation of champions," Putin said.

President Putin noted that "2020 is at our doorsteps" and the world is already "on the threshold of the third decade of the 21st century."

"We are living in turbulent, dynamic and controversial times, but we can and should do everything for Russia to develop successfully and so that everything in our lives can change only for the better," he stated.

"Now, as we look forward with excitement to the chiming of the bells, we believe and hope that all our wishes are bound to come true," Putin stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-12-2019

Donbass republics, Ukraine start prisoner swap near Gorlovka

Donetsk and Lugansk are set to hand over 55 persons to Kiev and expect to receive 87 people.

GORLOVKA, December 29. /TASS/. The first prisoner swap over the past two years has started between the self-proclaimed Donbass republics and Kiev near Gorlovka, Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) ombudswoman Darya Morozova announced on Sunday.

"The swap has started," Morozova said.

The prisoner swap is taking place at the Gorlovka-Mayorskoye point of entry/exit on the line of contact between the Donetsk People’s Republic and Ukraine.

As the ombudswoman said, the persons held in custody in the DPR as a result of the armed conflict and subject to the swap had set off for the so-called grey zone - the territory between the positions of the conflicting parties - to finalize the exchange procedure.

Donetsk and Lugansk are set to hand over 55 persons to Kiev and expect to receive 87 people, Morozova said on Saturday.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-12-2019

Donbass prisoner swap with Kiev to take place on Dec 29 - DPR envoy

Daria Morozova informed that Kiev is expected to hand over 87 people for Donbass’ 55.

DONETSK, December 28. /TASS/. A prisoner swap between the self-proclaimed Donbass republics and Kiev will take place on December 29 under the "all identified for all identified" formula, Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) envoy to the Contact Group for settlement in eastern Ukraine Daria Morozova informed on Saturday. She added that Kiev is expected to hand over 87 people for Donbass’ 55.

"Kiev and Donbass have approved the prisoner exchange date under the "all identified for all identified" formula. This Sunday, December 29, that is, before the New Year, as agreed by the leaders of the Normandy Four, the Ukrainian side is expected to hand over 87 people. Donetsk and Lugansk will release 55 people," Morozova’s press service quotes her as saying.

On Monday, the Contact Group for settlement in eastern Ukraine has agreed to hold a prisoner swap before the end of 2019, as mandated by the leaders of the Normandy Four (Russia, Germany, Ukraine, France) on the outcomes of the summit in Paris.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-12-2019

Mass deliveries of fifth-generation Su-57 fighter to Russian troops to begin in 2020

The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets.

MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. The first large-scale deliveries of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet to Russia’s Aerospace Force will begin already next year, CEO of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec said in a material published by RBC media group on Thursday.

"Large-scale work awaits us in 2020 to stabilize the aircraft industry… The first large-scale deliveries of the fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft will begin. Of course, these are challenging tasks that will truly mobilize us," the chief executive said, commenting on the plans for the next year.

Russia’s Sukhoi Aircraft Company signed a contract with the Defense Ministry at the Army international arms show near Moscow on August 22, 2018 for the delivery of the first two Su-57 fighters to the Russian troops. Then-Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said that the first serial-produced Su-57 out of 15 such planes scheduled for delivery was set to arrive for the troops in 2019.

At the Army-2019 international arms show, the Defense Ministry signed a new contract with the Sukhoi Aircraft Company on the manufacture and the delivery of 76 Su-57 multirole fighters for the Russian troops.

The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.

The Su-57 took to the skies for the first time on January 29, 2010. Compared to its predecessors, the Su-57 combines the functions of an attack plane and a fighter jet while the use of composite materials and innovation technologies and the fighter’s aerodynamic configuration ensure the low level of radar and infrared signature.

The plane’s armament will include, in particular, hypersonic missiles. The fifth-generation fighter jet has been successfully tested in combat conditions in Syria.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-12-2019

First passenger train from St. Petersburg arrives in Crimea’s Sevastopol

The train departed from St. Petersburg on December 23

SIMFEROPOL /Crimea/, December 25. /TASS/. The first passenger train from the Russian city of St. Petersburg has arrived in the Crimean city of Sevastopol at 09:21 local time (06:21 GMT), a TASS correspondent reported.

The train departed from St. Petersburg’s Moskovsky Railway Station on December 23. A spokesperson for the Crimea Bridge Information Center told TASS earlier that the train had slowed down while crossing the bridge in order to provide its passengers with an opportunity to enjoy the views.

Trains will run between St. Petersburg and Sevastopol, and between Moscow and Simferopol on a year-round basis.

Crimea Bridge

The Crimean Bridge, which connects the peninsula with Russia’s Krasnodar region, is the longest in Europe. The bridge was opened to automobile traffic in May 2018, and then to cargo traffic in the fall of 2018.

The construction of its railway section was completed on December 18, 2019. Cargo trains are expected to start running across the bridge in July 2020.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-12-2019

First regiment of Avangard hypersonic missile systems to go on combat duty in Russia

Three other missile regiments have been rearmed with Yars mobile intercontinental ballistic missile systems.

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The first regiment of Avangard hypersonic missile systems will go on combat alert this week, Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said at the ministry’s enlarged board meeting with the participation of President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

"This week, the first missile regiment armed with the Avangard system with the hypersonic boost-glide vehicle will assume combat duty," the defense minister said.

Three other missile regiments have been rearmed with Yars mobile intercontinental ballistic missile systems. Russia has also completed deploying Peresvet laser systems. They have been on combat alert in the positioning areas of five missile divisions of Russia’s Strategic Missile Force since December 1, the defense minister said.

Russia’s airborne strategic nuclear forces have received five new upgraded missile-carrying bombers, the defense chief said.

Russia has also completed the tests of the improved Project Borei-A lead nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Vladimir, Shoigu said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-12-2019.

First Russian train to Crimea departs from St. Petersburg

The journey will take 43 hours and 25 minutes.

ST. PETERSBURG, December 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken part via video conference in a ceremony of departure of the first Russian train to Crimea that will arrive to the peninsula via the Crimean Bridge from St. Petersburg. Moreover, Putin kicked off regular traffic on the new railroad bridge across the Kerch of Strait.

The first train travelling between St. Petersburg and Sevastopol (№ 7/8) departed from the Moskovsky railway station. The journey will take 43 hours and 25 minutes, it is scheduled to arrive in Sevastopol on December 25 at 9:25 am (Moscow time). The train will pass the Crimean Bridge on December 25 between 2:10-2:30 am (Moscow time). A ticket for the St. Petersburg-Sevastopol train costs 3,500 rubles ($56).

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-12-2019

Russian diplomat says Poland has undermined bilateral ties for years

Aggressive rhetoric and the demolition of monuments to fighters against fascism and playing the first fiddle in imposing the EU’s anti-Russian sanctions are the direct evidence of this, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

MOSCOW, December 22. /TASS/. Polish authorities have undermined relations with Moscow for many years as well as the work of experts seeking to study challenging issues of the two countries’ history, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS on Sunday.

"Warsaw’s representatives for many years have undermined the work of experts and bilateral relations," Zakharova said commenting on the Polish Foreign Ministry’s statement in connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remark on World War II. "Aggressive rhetoric and the demolition of monuments to fighters against fascism and playing the first fiddle in imposing the EU’s anti-Russian sanctions are the direct evidence of this."

During his annual news conference on December 19, Putin recalled that the USSR was the last country in Europe, which signed the treaty on non-aggression with Germany, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Putin noted that the Soviet forces entered Poland in line with protocols under this pact, but earlier Poland had taken part in dividing Czechoslovakia. By the moment when the Soviet troops entered the territory, the Polish government had lost control over the armed forces and fled the country. As the Russian president said, "there was no one to talk to."

In response, the Polish Foreign Ministry voiced concerns over Putin’s remark. In its statement, the ministry noted that Putin’s words "represented a wrong picture of events" and aroused concerns and mistrust.

Russian-Polish experts are working as part of a commission on challenging historic issues in bilateral relations, set up to overcome contradictions over different viewpoints on the events of the past.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-12-2019

Nord Stream 2 participants strive to complete project as soon as possible

Allseas has suspended pipelay activities until legal, technical, and environmental clarifications are received.

MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Companies participating in the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline will work to complete the project as soon as possible, Nord Stream 2 AG told TASS.

"Allseas has suspended pipelay activities until legal, technical, and environmental clarifications are received," the company noted.

"Completion of the project is important for the security of energy supplies to Europe. We, together with the companies participating in the project, will work to complete it as soon as possible," the company added.

Switzerland-based Allseas, pipe-laying company for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, reported earlier suspension of pipelay activities. "In anticipation of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Allseas has suspended its Nord Stream 2 pipelay activities. Allseas will proceed, consistent with the legislation’s wind down provision and expect guidance comprising of the necessary regulatory, technical and environmental clarifications from the relevant US authority," the company said.

It was reported earlier on Saturday that sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas pipelines, included in the military budget for the 2020 fiscal year signed by US President Donald Trump (began on October 1), came into force.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 violate international law and present a perfect example of unfair competition.

The United States Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) specifying the annual budget and expenditures of the US Department of Defense for 2020 fiscal year (started on October 1), which obliges the administration to impose sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines. Earlier, on December 11, the House of Representatives voted for the document.

The Nord Stream 2 project involves construction of two lines with a total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters of gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. Gazprom’s European partners in the project are German Uniper and Wintershall, Austrian OMV, French Engie and Anglo-Dutch Shell. The pipeline bypasses transit states - Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and other East European and Baltic countries - through the exclusive economic zones and territorial waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-12-2019

Russia ready to look for solution of Ukrainian gas issue acceptable for all — Putin

Russia is ready to keep gas transit via Ukraine, the issue is about the term, volumes, the president said.

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russia is ready to look for a solution of the Ukrainian gas issue suitable for everyone, although the decision of the Stockholm Arbitration Court in the gas dispute between Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine was political by nature, President Vladimir Putin said at his annual news conference on Thursday.

"I am confident as the lawyer by the basic education that this decision of the Stockholm Arbitration Court is political by nature, rather than legal. One of the justifications of the award will appear strange for those present here but it is interesting. One of the justifications of the decision of the Stockholm Arbitration Court sets forth, "in connection with severe economic situation in Ukraine." This is nonsense… However, the [court — TASS] decision is present; we should proceed from that. We will take it as a premise and will look for a solution suitable for everyone, including for Ukraine," he said.

Ukraine has not yet repaid Russia the debt of $3 bln received from the Russian National Wealth Fund, Putin added. "A portion of Russian reserved funds from the National Wealth Fund was invested into Ukrainian securities worth $3 bln. The court decision in London has already been present; it is not being implemented," he noted.

Gas relations with Ukraine is a challenging and sensitive topic, the President said. "We want to settle this problem," he added.

The president expressed hope that the gas agreements with Ukraine will be reached, stressing that Russia is still ready to deliver gas at a discount.  "We would be ready to supply gas to Ukraine at a discount, as I have already said, 20-25%. This can be done and then it would be possible to reduce [the price] for the end consumer, instead of increasing it as you [Ukraine — TASS] plan from January 1," Putin noted.

"I think we will come to terms. By the way, we are on the way to these agreements and we will seek to make the Ukrainian side also satisfied with such arrangements. We have no desire of aggravating the situation in the energy sector and taking advantage of it in some way to influence the situation in Ukraine," the President said.

Russia will keep gas transit to Europe via Ukraine, though that route is more expensive, President Vladimir Putin told his annual news conference on Thursday, adding though that the main issue concerns the volumes and terms.

"Despite the construction of new infrastructure facilities, such as Nord Stream, Nord Stream 2, TurkStream, we will keep transit via Ukraine. The issue concerns the volumes of that transit and contract term," Putin said.

President noted that Russia is not eager to conclude a contract for a certain period to be able to suspend transit via Ukraine later. "That is a convenient route. By the way, the Ukrainian route to Europe is longer than the Baltic Sea route. It is longer and more expensive for us, though that is still a good route to central and southern Europe, and we are ready to keep it," he said.

The current contract signed in 2009 by Gazprom and Naftogaz on Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe will expire at the turn of 2019-2020. Trilateral consultations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission (EC) on the issues related to the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine are to be held on Thursday in Berlin. Currently bilateral consultations are underway.

The previous round of trilateral talks was held on October 28 in Brussels. According to its results, the parties for the first time since 2014 brought up the subject of resuming direct deliveries of the Russian gas to Ukraine. Moscow offers a "package solution" that includes a settlement agreement on legal disputes and direct gas purchases at reduced prices. As a fallback, Russia is ready to extend the current transit agreement for the whole 2020. However, Kiev refuses to accept abandoning of legal proceedings and the signing of a short-term contract.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-12-2019

Kremlin says Nord Stream 2 will be completed despite possible US sanctions

According to the Kremlin spokesman, possible US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 present a perfect example of unfair competition.

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The US’ sanctions will not suspend the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

"We assume that the project (Nord Stream 2) will be completed," he said when asked whether the US’ potential sanctions might suspend the creation of the gas pipeline.

Possible US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 violate international law and present a perfect example of unfair competition, according to Peskov.

"Such actions [possible US sanctions] are a direct violation of international law, they present an ideal example of unfair competition and spread their artificial dominance in European markets, imposing more expensive and uncompetitive products on European consumers - more expensive natural gas," he told reporters.

In his opinion, "neither Moscow, nor the European capitals, Berlin or Paris like such actions".

The United States Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) specifying the annual budget and expenditures of the US Department of Defense for 2020 fiscal year (started on October 1), which obliges the administration to impose sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines. Earlier, on December 11, the House of Representatives voted for the document, and now President Donald Trump is expected sign it. The US leader expressed his willingness to sign the bill as soon as it is adopted by lawmakers.

The Nord Stream 2 project involves construction of two lines with a total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters of gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. Gazprom’s European partners in the project are German Uniper and Wintershall, Austrian OMV, French Engie and Anglo-Dutch Shell. The pipeline bypasses transit states - Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and other East European and Baltic countries - through the exclusive economic zones and territorial waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-12-2019

Tu-22M3 strategic bomber makes landing with failed engine in southern Russia

The bomber performed its flight without an ammunition load and caused no damage on the ground, according to the top brass.

MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. A Tupolev Tu-22M3 strategic bomber of Russia’s Aerospace Force landed with a failed engine on the ground while the pilots were unhurt in the incident, the Defense Ministry of Russia reported on Tuesday.

"During a scheduled flight by the Tu-22 aircraft, its engine failed. Thanks to its skillful actions, the crew managed to steer the plane away from a populated area and land it on the ground," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, "the pilots were unhurt and got out of the aircraft on their own. By now, they have been taken to their home base."

The bomber performed its flight without an ammunition load and caused no damage on the ground, the ministry noted.

The Tu-22M3 two-engine supersonic bomber with a crew of four is designated to strike targets in the strategic depth of enemy territory. The bomber can develop a maximum speed of 2,300 km/h and has an operating range of 7,000 km.

Russia’s Aerospace Force currently operates only Tu-22 bombers in their M3 modification. The last time, a Tu-22M3 bomber crashed on January 22, 2019 when it was approaching for landing at the airfield of the long-range aviation regiment in Olenegorsk (the Murmansk Region). As Russia’s Defense Ministry reported, three crewmembers died in the crash while one pilot was injured.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-12-2019

Putin compares Russian truck maker Kamaz with phoenix rising from ashes

Putin met with Rostec Director General Sergei Chemezov and Kamaz Director General Sergei Kogogin.

NABEREZHNYE CHELNY, December 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin compared Russia’s renowned truck maker Kamaz with a phoenix on Friday, saying that the enterprise arose from the ashes after the troubled period of the 1990s.

"I remember very well the state in which the plant was in late 1990s and early 2000s. The fire [which took place in 1993] dealt a serious blow to the enterprise. You took control of it in a very difficult period. In the years that followed, the plant rose from the ashes like a phoenix and gained an absolutely new shape, not only in appearance, but also in essence, in quality," Putin said at a meeting with Rostec Director General Sergei Chemezov and Kamaz Director General Sergei Kogogin.

The engine-making facility of Kamaz was completely destroyed by fire on April 14, 1993. Production was restored by the end of that year. Losses were estimated at about $150 million.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-12-2019

Wall collapses in burning warehouse in Moscow’s south

The fire expanded to 7,000 square meters whereas the building is about 30,000 square meters, according to the Emergencies Ministry.

MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. A wall has collapsed as a result of the fire that engulfed a textile warehouse in Moscow’s south, the capital’s Emergencies Ministry told TASS on Friday.

"A wall has collapsed. There remains a risk that other structures will collapse as well," the ministry said. The collapsed area measures 300 square meters.

The acting head of the Emergencies Ministry's Main Directorate for Moscow, Sergei Zheltov told reporters that firefighting efforts were hampered by high temperatures and explosions of fuel tanks, flammable liquids, paints and varnishes. The fire expanded to 7,000 square meters whereas the building is about 30,000 square meters.

TASS reported from the site that people had been evacuated from neighboring buildings.

One firefighter was injured while extinguishing the blaze. The fire broke out in the warehouse on Friday noon, spreading intensively. More than 220 firefighters and 70 vehicles are engaged in the firefighting efforts. Apart from that, two helicopters are dumping water on the blazes.

Update: Fire put out at warehouse in Moscow’s south - emergencies ministry.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-12-2019

Normandy Four leaders reach progress in implementing Minsk-2 accords, expert says

The Normandy Four leaders held their summit in Paris on Monday for the first time after a three-year break.

MOSCOW, December 10. /TASS/. The summit of the Normandy Four (Russia, France, Germany, Ukraine) leaders in Paris on Monday showed some positive results while its participants managed to reach progress in settling the intra-Ukrainian crisis, Member of the Russian President’s Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations Bogdan Bezpalko told TASS on Tuesday.

"A positive result of the Normandy Four summit is that the presidents of Russia and Ukraine held a bilateral meeting and that the summit confirmed the baseline agreement to the Minsk accords, which obliges Kiev to fulfil many measures as part of settling the conflict in Donbass," the expert pointed out.

"It can be said that progress has been reached, although limited," he said.

The final document confirms that Russia has managed "to achieve certain progress within the framework of these preliminary terms [the exchange of prisoners-of-war under the ‘all-for-all’ formula until the end of the year and the disengagement of forces]," the political scientist said.

"These are all technical details that do not violate the basis of the Minsk accords concluded in 2015 and do not impose any additional commitments on Moscow," Bezpalko said.

However, the expert said he was somehow skeptical that "the Ukrainian side would fulfil the Minsk accords as a whole."

Touching upon the issue of Russian natural gas transit to Europe via Ukraine, which was not discussed at the Normandy Four summit but was raised at a bilateral meeting between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky, the expert said that "apparently, the sides failed to reach agreement on the gas transit."

Paris summit results

For the first time after a three-year break, the Normandy Four leaders held their summit in Paris on Monday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian, Ukrainian and French Presidents Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron met in the Elysee Palace to discuss the issues of settling the intra-Ukrainian conflict in Donbass.

The first personal meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian leaders took place during the summit. Before that, they communicated only over the phone. At a final press conference, the French president noted this fact as one of the main positive results of the summit.

During the negotiations that lasted a total of over seven hours, the sides drafted a final document, in which they stated some specific accords. The decision to swap prisoners-of-war in Donbass under the formula of "all identified for all identified" already by the New Year was one of the summit’s expected results.

The summit’s participants also undertook to ensure a complete and all-embracing ceasefire before the end of 2019 and also agreed to support an accord within the framework of the Contact Group on the political settlement in eastern Ukraine on three additional sections of disengaging forces and weapons in the conflict area by the end of March 2020.

The main result, however, was, perhaps, an agreement to continue the discussion at the highest level in the Normandy format already in four months and make steps within this time towards the political settlement of the conflict in Donbass.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-12-2019

Putin congratulates Lukashenko on 20th anniversary of signing Union State Treaty

Putin congratulates Lukashenko on 20th anniversary of signing Union State Treaty

Putin highly appreciates progress reached between the two countries over the past years on the path towards integration and cooperation.

MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory telegram to his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on occasion of the 20th anniversary of signing the Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus, the Kremlin press service said on Sunday.

"A historic decision on signing this crucial agreement signaled mutual desire to strengthen Russian-Belarusian relations based on the centuries-old traditions of fraternal friendship, cultural and spiritual affinity," the Russian president emphasized in his telegram.

Putin highly appreciates progress reached between the two countries over the past years on the path towards integration and cooperation, the coordination of efforts in security and foreign policy, the intensive development of trade and economic and interregional ties as well as the implementation of innovative scientific and technical programs and large-scale humanitarian projects bankrolled from the Union State’s budget, the telegram says.

The Russian leader also noted in his message that Russians and Belarusians have equal opportunities in choosing the place of residence, jobs and obtaining medical and social assistance.

Putin highlighted the importance of positive experience, which was gained as part of the Union State and was actively used in a broader format of the Eurasian Economic Union, and expressed confidence that the sides would advance mutually beneficial integration processes and bilateral cooperation in all areas.

The presidents of Russia and Belarus signed the Treaty on the Creation of a Union State on December 8, 1999. The document entered into force on January 26, 2000. Russia and Belarus are currently working on a program to boost integration, which includes 31 roadmaps, 20 of which are ready for signing.

On December 7, Putin and Lukashenko held an hours-long meeting in Sochi, which demonstrated that there is fewer number of issues related to integration, which are yet to be ironed out. The two presidents agreed to continue dialogue on December 20.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-12-2019

Advanced S-300V4 air defense missile system enters service in Russia’s Far East

The Eastern Military District’s anti-aircraft gunners earlier learnt to operate the new system at the Kapustin Yar training range in the southern Astrakhan Region, the press office informed.

MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. A new set of the advanced S-300V4 surface-to-air missile system arrived for the anti-aircraft personnel of the Eastern Military District’s air defense unit stationed in the Jewish Autonomous Region in the Russian Far East, the District’s press office reported on Friday.

"This system has arrived for service with the Eastern Military District’s air defense troops for the first time," the press office said in a statement.

The Eastern Military District’s anti-aircraft gunners earlier learnt to operate the new system at the Kapustin Yar training range in the southern Astrakhan Region, the press office informed.

The S-300V4 is an advanced highly mobile air defense missile system designated to protect vital military and administrative facilities and groupings of forces against strikes by ballistic and aerodynamic air attack weapons. This is the fourth version of the upgraded S-300V battlefield anti-aircraft missile system.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-12-2019

Putin to hold meetings with Zelensky, Macron, Merkel in Paris

The presidential spokesman pointed out that the Kremlin expected the Normandy Four summit to help resolve the situation in southeastern Ukraine.

SOCHI, December 6. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to hold separate meetings with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, French leader Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the Normandy Four summit in Paris on December 9, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

According to Peskov, there are plans "to hold important bilateral meetings with President Macron, German Chancellor Merkel and Ukrainian President Zelensky."

Peskov pointed out that the Kremlin expected the Normandy Four summit to help resolve the situation in southeastern Ukraine. "[Putin’s] attitude is serious, the only expectation is to facilitate efforts to resolve the domestic conflict in southeastern Ukraine, ensure a common understanding that there is no alternative to implementing the Minsk Agreements and prevent attempts to dilute them," the Russian presidential spokesman emphasized.

He was also confident that the French authorities would succeed in creating conditions for the summit despite the current protests in Paris. "We are not inclined to exaggerate the threats the summit could face as we believe that the French authorities are capable of creating conditions for the meeting and will do it," Peskov said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-12-2019

Kremlin says will not get involved in arms and defense spending race with NATO

The Kremlin spokesman recalled that Putin had said more than once that Russia would not enter into an arms and military spending race.

SOCHI, December 4. /TASS/. The decision to increase NATO countries’ defense spending merely confirms Moscow’s concerns over the alliance’s expansionist activities, but Russia will not get involved in any races in this field, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Wednesday.

"We see that NATO mostly indulges in containment and expansionist activities in relation to our country. This cannot but cause concern. Such decisions in favor of an increase of NATO’s budget merely confirm this," Peskov commented in the wake of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s statement that the NATO countries’ overall defense spending would grow by $130 billion in 2020 and by another $400 in 2024 in contrast to 2016.

Peskov recalled that President Vladimir Putin had said more than once that Russia would not enter into an arms and military spending race, harmful to its economy.

"Our security and parity from the standpoint of strategic stability are guaranteed for years to come. Russia will proceed along this road," Peskov concluded.

Source: ITAR-TASS 04-12-2019

Russia, Ukraine may hold gas talks on December 5

Kiev expects the Russian side to confirm the date of the future meeting.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/. Russia and Ukraine may hold talks to resolve gas issues on December 5, if Gazprom and Naftogaz are ready, Russia’s Minister of Energy Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

"No date has been set yet, as work is still going on between the companies," Novak said.

"If the companies are ready by this time, then we are ready to hold the meeting on the 5th (December - TASS)," he added, commenting on the proposal of the Ukrainian side to conduct negotiations on December 5.

On Monday, Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection of Ukraine Aleksey Orzhel said that the next round of consultations on the terms of transit and supplies of the Russian natural gas to Ukraine may be held on December 5. "Speaking about the closest dates… That may be on December 5 preliminarily," he said, adding that Kiev expects the Russian side to confirm the date of the future meeting, and that no such confirmation has been received so far.

The minister also confirmed that Kiev is considering the possibilities of resuming direct supplies of the Russian gas to the country, on the condition though that the gas price will not be ‘politically motivated’, and that it will stipulate the compensation related to execution of the Stockholm Arbitration Court’s judgement.

"We reiterate that the price (of gas supplies to Ukraine should be - TASS) indicative European," he said, adding that it is "critical" to Kiev, and that the price should stipulate "a discount from the European indicator," meaning the compensation on the Stockholm Arbitration proceeding between Naftogaz of Ukraine and Gazprom.

"Or we have another option - to go further to arbitration," Orzhel said.

The contract for the supply and transit of gas through Ukraine between Gazprom and Naftogaz ends on December 31, 2019. Russia, Ukraine, and the European Commission continue to hold consultations on the transit of Russian gas to the EU through Ukrainian territory since 2020, although the dialogue is complicated by litigations between Gazprom and Naftogaz.

Moscow offers a "package solution" that includes a settlement agreement on litigation and direct gas purchases at reduced rates. As a fallback, Russia is ready to extend the current transit agreement for 2020.

However, Ukraine considers rejection of litigation and signing of a short-term contract unacceptable. At the same time, in November, Executive Director of Naftogaz Yury Vitrenko announced that Ukraine would pump transit gas from Russia to its underground storage facilities if it would enter the country without an appropriate contract starting January 1, 2020.

Source: ITAR-TASS 03-12-2019

15 killed, 18 injured in bus crash in Russia’s Far East

The accident was caused by a tyre burst, a spokesperson for traffic police said.

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Some 15 people were killed and 18 others were injured when a bus veered off the bridge and plunged into the river in the Transbaikal Region, in Russia’s Far East, an official at local emergency medical services told TASS.

"After a road accident 15 people were killed, 18 were injured and six of them were hospitalized," the official said. The bus was carrying a total of 43 people.

The accident was caused by a tyre burst, a spokesperson for traffic police said. The bus was en route from Sretensk to Chita.

Source:  ITAR-TASS 01-12-2019