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PREVIEW: Lavrov to sum up Russia’s foreign policy during big press conference

The event’s format implies answers to a wide array of question from Russian and foreign reporters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Press Service of the Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

© Press Service of the Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will summarize the work of the Russian diplomatic corpus throughout 2024 during the upcoming big press conference, and will disclose the main directions of Russia’s foreign policy for 2025.

The event’s format implies answers to a wide array of question from Russian and foreign reporters. Its duration is usually not limited: in the past two years, the minister answered questions for almost 3 hours. The event will be moderated by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Unanswered questions will later receive a written response from the ministry.

The list of attending journalists has not been announced this year, but representatives of lead Russian media and foreign reporters accredited in Russia have been represented at previous events. About 360 journalists from 140 media were accredited for the press conference in 2024.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov

Military operation in Ukraine

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 600 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy electronic warfare stations in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported

Russia to take measures to minimize risks of new Western sanctions — Kremlin

Earlier, a high-ranking representative of the outgoing US administration said that on January 10 Joe Biden imposed the most significant sanctions to date against the Russian energy sector, specifying that they are aimed, in particular, at the oil sector and the liquefied natural gas production and transportation industry

'German scenario' implausible for Ukraine settlement — Medvedev

In the historical sense, the "Germanic scenario" of settlement is only feasible in terms of integrating the territories of Malorossiya into Russia, the politician noted

Ukraine's manpower issues could precipitate ceasefire request — Polish general

Waldemar Skrzypczak warned against believing Ukrainian propaganda outlets’ reports of Russia’s alleged troop losses, which, in his words, were highly exaggerated

North Korea launches ‘unidentified missile’ towards Sea of Japan — Yonhap

According to News1, the missile might be a ballistic one

Expert questions Trump's ability to convince Russia to side with US against China

Wang Jisi did not rule out that Trump could introduce certain changes in relations between the US and Russia

Biden says he sought to avoid war between two nuclear powers as he speaks about Ukraine

Biden spoke a week before transferring power to his successor Donald Trump

Russian military starts evacuation of civilians from liberated Kurakhovo in Donbass region

"Motor rifle units from the Battlegroup South have started evacuating residents from the town of Kurakhovo that was liberated by Russian troops last week," the ministry said

Trump gives no impression of being strongly invested in Ukraine’s destiny — agency

Trump repeatedly said during this election campaign that he would find a diplomatic way out of the crisis before his inauguration, set for January 20

Scholz remained silent when Nord Stream pipelines were destroyed — Lavrov

Germany, the Russian top diplomat stated, has meekly accepted the undermining of its national interests by Washington

Russian FPV drones destroy Ukrainian soldiers in borderline Kursk area

As the ministry specified, reconnaissance units of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Rubicon Center of Advanced Unmanned Technologies detected a motor vehicle that landed Ukrainian army personnel in a forest belt in the Kursk direction

Two industrial sites damaged in massive drone attack in south Russia’s Saratov, Engels

According to Roman Busargin, schools in the two cities will operate online today amid a drone attack warning

Russian oil transit via Ukraine declines to its minimum — news outlet

According to the report, transit volumes declined by 16% against 2023, which is the lowest figure since 2014 at the least

NATO, countries, Ukraine plan to ramp up joint production of weapons — Polish minister

he five NATO member countries are going to set up large-scale military exercises in 2026

Russian PM arrives on a visit in Vietnam

Mikhail Mishustin is expected to meet President of Vietnam Luong Kuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam

US may deploy nuclear weapons in Greenland in future, Russian expert warns

Also, Copenhagen has imposed a ban on gas, oil and uranium production amid environmental safety measures, Alexander Stepanov noted

Scholz reiterated his public statements on Ukraine in phone talks with Putin, Lavrov says

The German Chancellor did not say a word about root causes of the conflict, the Russian language and the rights of Russians

Drone raid damages industrial building in Engels, Saratov Region — governor

Emergency and law enforcement services have been put on high alert

Opponents of Russian, Iranian influence on Syria seek control themselves — Turkish party

According to Omer Celik, it is necessary to continue the process of lifting sanctions on Syria

Sullivan sees Ukraine reducing military mobilization age to 18 in future

According to the US national security advisor, the outgoing administration briefed the team of President-elect Donald Trump on the manpower issue in Ukraine

Slovakia notes development of Russian economy — lawmaker

The Slovak parliamentary delegation arrived in Moscow on January 12 and will spend three days here

Russian forces broaden bridgehead for advancing towards Krasny Liman, expert says

Russian forces are also advancing in the Kupyansk area, approaching the city of Kupyansk

NATO base in Romania to be used for war against Russia — presidential candidate

"We don’t need war; this is my point," Calin Georgescu said

After Trump's call for greater defense spending Scholz wonders where to get money from

The chancellor vowed that Germany would continue to spend no less than the NATO target of 2% of GDP on defense

Kiev puts thought of recovering lost territory 'on indefinite hold' — media

According to the analytical article, Kiev "waits and watches the signals from Moscow and Washington and reiterates almost daily its desire for a 'just peace'"

Pistorius pays Ukraine unannounced visit — TV channel

According to the media outlet, the minister wishes to assess the current situation on the ground

PREVIEW: Lavrov to sum up Russia’s foreign policy during big press conference

The event’s format implies answers to a wide array of question from Russian and foreign reporters

Foreign car brands could return to Russian market, says AEB

The situation today could change, and the Association has lines of communication open with the majority of foreign vehicle brands, Alexey Kalitsev stressed

Baba Yaga drones attack their own troops, says Ukrainian army captive

Alexander Shevchenko noted that he did not undergo any special training

Economic losses from fires in California above $250 bln — AccuWeather

Fires destroyed more than 12,300 buildings

Russian lower house speaker calls for ensuring Ukraine’s neutrality as peace guarantee

Vyacheslav Volodin stressed that Russia’s future depends on the whether Russia achieves the goals of the special military operation that were set by the president

Attack on TurkStream threatens sovereignty of European countries — top Hungarian diplomat

Brussels also expressed concern over reports about the Ukrainian attack on the compressor station ensuring the operations of the TurkStream pipeline

FACTBOX: International status of the Arctic

Russian troops liberate Peschanoye community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 515 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 12 enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Over half of Greenlanders support joining the US — survey

US President-elect Donald Trump said on January 7 that Greenland should join the United States in order to ensure national security and protection against the Chinese and Russian threats

Only technical level of communication between US, Russia — Kremlin

The New York Times earlier reported citing sources that US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had allegedly been maintaining indirect secure channels of communication since February 2022

South Korea registers launch of several short-range missiles from DPRK

Previously, the news agency reported a launch of an "unidentified missile" towards the Sea of Japan

Russian MFA lists nine countries set to become BRICS partners from January 1

It is reported that Brazil’s BRICS chairmanship will announce the countries’ acquisition of the partner status as soon as it receives their confirmation

Trump declares desire to meet with Putin 'very quickly'

The US President-elect noted that he had to get into the office first

Attempted attack of TurkStream pipeline very dangerous for European consumers — Kremlin

Kiev attacked the Russkaya compressor station in the Krasnodar Region, which provides for gas supply along the TurkStream gas pipeline, by nine fixed-wing type drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier

Lavrov calls for assessing Trump’s methods of making America great again

The news conference is dedicated to reviewing Moscow’s main foreign policy achievements in 2024

Ukraine plunges into terrorism facing military defeat — politician

Unable to succeed on the battlefield, Zelensky's Ukraine is becoming the center of world terrorism, Viktor Medvedchuk pointed out

Trump acknowledged that NATO signed security pacts in bad faith — Lavrov

NATO was expanding closer to Russia’s borders, the foreign minister recalled

Japan, Germany dare not speak against US, says Lavrov

The foreign minister stressed that the two have no independent say in global politics but follow in the footsteps of US policy

Russia requests consultations with Serbia over US demands to remove Russian capital

According to Sergey Lavrov, in its relations with Serbia the West states that it wants to punish its partner Russia

China Southern cancels flights from Moscow to Beijing from late January

According to information on the air carrier’s website and in booking systems, this airline has no direct flights from January 20 to March 30

Press review: Kiev hopes Trump supports its proposals and Russia backs Panama's neutrality

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, January 14th

Congress Republicans prepare bill on purchase of Greenland

The bill has reportedly been dubbed Make Greenland Great Again Act

Russia concerned about Trump's statement on Greenland — Russian top senator

"The international law exists, as the Arctic states do, and there are rules of the game," Valentina Matviyenko stressed

Russia’s Malka heavy artillery gun can wipe out enemy armor with one shot — Rostec

"Each projectile scatters a mass of fragments over a considerable radius," the state tech corporation added

FACTBOX: Aftermath of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian regions this night

Air defenses downed 16 UAVs over the Tula Region, the area’s head Dmitry Milyayev said on his Telegram channel

Flights between Russia, China sufficient to meet demand — aviation authority

According to Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, during the season of transportation with the relatively low demand, such frequency is sufficient to meet needs of citizens

Biden claims he laid foundation for Trump’s support for Ukraine

Biden delivered his farewell speech on foreign policy in the US State Department

Switzerland is being pulled into 'military Schengen' — Lavrov

According to the minister, what the Council of Europe is doing now is being done by the decision of the United States

Kiev fails to disrupt gas supplies: attack on Russkaya station

On January 11, 2025, the Kiev regime attempted to attack the infrastructure of the Russkaya compressor station in the village of Gaikodzor in Russia's Krasnodar Region, which supplies gas to the TurkStream gas pipeline in order to cut off gas supplies to European countries, using nine fixed-wing UAVs

Putin to hold talks with Iranian President Pezeshkian in Kremlin — spokesman

The Kremlin’s press service announced in a statement on Monday that Iranian President Pezeshkian would arrive in the Russian capital of Moscow for an official visit on January 17

Armenia-US strategic partnership does not equal alliance, says expert

It is highlighted that the countries will likely cooperate in the security sector

Targeted attacks on war correspondents reveal Kiev's fear of truth — Russian top senator

Targeted attacks against Russian war correspondents in the special military operation zone occur with the endorsement of Western countries and their tacit approval, Valentina Matviyenko emphasized

Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from Chasov Yar refractory plant in Donbass area

Battles are now raging outside the refractory plant and Russian forces are now primarily mopping up the area of multistory buildings, following which the town’s full liberation can be considered, Igor Kimakovsky said

Outgoing US President should simply sit out his remaining days in office — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that Joe Biden’s administration prefers "slamming the door so everyone knows about it"

Russia bans entry to Estonian foreign ministry’s undersecretary for global affairs

The 31st meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, the organization’s decision-making and governing body, was held in Malta on December 5 and 6, 2024

Ukrainian captive confesses to killing civilians near DPR’s Selidovo

Mikhail Dyachenko surrendered two days ago in the Selidovo direction

Liberating Chasov Yar to deliver blow on Ukrainian logistics in nearby DPR towns — expert

Vitaly Kiselev said that in that area, Ukrainian troops ended up in a serious encirclement

Liberation of Peschanoye kills off another Ukrainian supply line — security services

The Dnepropetrovsk - Krasnoarmeysk highway is a major route for supplying Ukrainian forces in this area

Russian Foreign Ministry notes US hypocrisy in regard to California wildfires

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that in recent years, US officials have repeatedly criticized China for allegedly using forced labor, and at the same time US authorities had sent 395 prisoners to fight forest fires

Fire in Russian military hospital brought under control

The work required 22 fire vehicles and 65 firefighters, according to the statement

India considers impact of US sanctions on Vostok Oil project

On January 10, US introduced sanctions against the Russian fuel and energy sector, the tanker fleet and the financial sector

Temporary restriction imposed in airports of Penza, Ulyanovsk

Restrictions remain in effect in airports of Kazan and Saratov

US intends to disrupt TurkStream operations — Lavrov

The minister pointed out that the abandonment of fair competition and the use of unscrupulous and aggressive methods of suppressing it can be seen in the sanction policy

Kherson Region prepared to take in fire-hit refugees from California — governor

Vladimir Saldo noted that "this applies only to those who have not financed the Ukrainian army or supported the current Kiev regime"

Russia open to talks on security guarantees for Ukraine — Lavrov

"We are ready to engage in discussions about security guarantees for the country now called Ukraine, or for the part of the country that has yet to self-determine, unlike Crimea, Donbass, and Novorossiya," the Russian foreign minister specified

Russia not going to attack NATO countries, senior diplomat says

"Russia has never sought to sour relations with NATO," Vladislav Maslennikov said

Russian MFA says Biden knew his support of Ukraine nudged world toward nuclear conflict

Biden's statement today is an admission of a deliberate provocation, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said

Ukrainian army recognizes it failed in attempts to counterattack Kursk Region — media

The sources reported incessant attacks by Russian drones, noting that the country's army has started using new fiber-optic controlled FPV drones with a range of over 16 kilometers

Estimated damage from California wildfires rivals money US pumped into Ukraine — Lavrov

The fires have destroyed over 12,300 buildings

Mohammed Sinwar becomes new Hamas leader in Gaza Strip — WSJ

He "is working to build the militant group back up," because its combat ability has been severely crippled since the onset of Israel’s military operation in the Palestinian enclave

Biden seeks to spoil things for incoming US administration before stepping down — Lavrov

"This is exactly what Barack Obama did three weeks before Donald Trump’s first inauguration as president, expelling 120 Russian diplomatic workers," the top Russian diplomat emphasized

Russia will not give Donbass and Novorossiya to anyone — Patrushev

Nikolay Patrushev believes it is important for the world to recognize the incorporation of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol into the Russian Federation

EU Council approves inviting Switzerland to ‘Military Schengen’

This decision will make it possible to invite Switzerland to this project, for the participation in which it applied in September 2024

Hanoi holds welcoming ceremony for Russian PM, who arrived on visit to Vietnam

In Hanoi, pioneers and students from the capital's National University received Mishustin with Russian and Vietnamese flags, cheering slogans of greeting

US tries to gain foothold in CAR using PMCs, replace France, expert says

Alexander Ivanov clarified what goals Washington and Paris are pursuing in the African country

Yemen’s Houthis say they fired ‘hypersonic ballistic missile’ at site in Tel Aviv

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile, which was launched from Yemen, before it entered Israeli airspace

Russia concerned about people, not lands in terms of Ukraine issue — Lavrov

"The Ukrainian regime, which seized power through an illegal and unconstitutional coup, simply labeled these people as terrorists because they refused to recognize the coup," the foreign minister stressed

Pentagon acknowledges Russia’s 'incremental gains' in combat operations in Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on January 6 that Russian forces had liberated the city of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Russia-US relations near zero; easing conflict risks should remain a priority — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov stressed that the relations between Russia and the United States still carry significant conflict potential

Ceasefire deal on Gaza implies release of 33 hostages during 1st stage — newspaper

According to the report, women, children, men older than 55 and the sick will be released first

Musk accuses British PM of trying to interfere in US election

The entrepreneur suggested that Keir Starmer had sent operatives to America

Trump to intensify economic deglobalization — Chinese expert

Airplanes assembled in the US cannot be used by the whole world, Yan Xuetong said

PREVIEW: Russian PM Mishustin begins two-day visit to Vietnam

During the visit, the prime minister will meet with President of Vietnam Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam

Lavrov, Gazprom CEO discuss attack against Russkaya station with Turkish counterparts

The compressor station continues normal supplies of gas to the gas pipeline

Record $1.3 trillion invested in defense sector in US in past four years — Biden

"That's more than America did in any four-year period, during the Cold War," he stressed

Armenia cannot be member of both EU, EAEU, says Russian top diplomat

According to the top Russian diplomat, the two unions are two distinct free trade zones, two separate systems for reducing or eliminating duties and tariffs

Attack of Russkaya Station is energy terrorism — Kremlin

Kiev attacked the Russkaya compressor station in the Krasnodar Region, which provides for gas supply over the TurkStream gas pipeline, by nine fixed-wing type drones in order to stop gas deliveries to Europe, the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier

No big change in Croatia’s attitude to Russia after election — expert

Alexander Pivovarenko noted that Croatia’s parliament was controlled by a party that supported the idea of Euro-Atlantic loyalism, and it would be unreasonable for the president to spoil relations with the legislators

Lavrov urges listening to Greenlandic people’s views on Trump’s proposal

"This is similar to how we listened to the residents of Crimea, Donbass, and Novorossiya to understand their stance on the regime that had seized power through an unlawful coup and was rejected by the people of Crimea, Donbass, and Novorossiya," the top Russian diplomat noted

US diplomats can't take unlimited short-term business trips to Russia anymore, says Lavrov

Lavrov explained that in addition to its regular diplomatic employees stationed in Russia, the US sends several hundred people annually "for short-term business trips"

Press review: Trump plans Putin meeting while Israel-Hamas eye ceasefire

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, January 13th

Gas price in Europe up slightly on TurkStream pipeline attack news

The price of February futures at the TTF hub in the Netherlands rose to around $500 per 1,000 cubic meters or 47.375 euro per MWh

Russia cuts off road leading to Dnepropetrovsk from Krasnoarmeysk — security services

Additionally, the Krasnoarmeysk - Pavlograd road is also under Russian control

Trump plans to turn Greenland into militarized zone — expert

"Danish politicians have already said in a statement that they have sent a message to Trump, in which they offered to shake hands on a security deal, in fact, on the placement of American weapons," Alexander Mikhailov said