Press review: US, Israel preparing new strikes against Iran as Ukraine mum on Russia talks

US laboratories in Ukraine violate legal norms, threaten millions of people — Miroshnik The Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large added that the activities of the laboratories constitute "a deception of US taxpayers"

Expectations from Putin’s visit to China and Zelensky’s remarks: Kremlin's briefing Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that any contacts between President Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping help create new momentum for the further development and expansion of relations between Moscow and Beijing

Russia no longer looking for replacing Western products but introducing its own — PM Mikhail Mishustin made this statement during the Digitalization of Industrial Russia conference

Trump says not ready to make concessions to Iran during peace talks The US president also made it clear that Washington may take new measures against Tehran

Russia maintains strategic advantages in Ukraine — US authorities According to a report compiled by inspectors general of the Pentagon, the Department of State, and the US Agency for International Development, now effectively terminated, the collective West’s assistance to Kiev has amounted to more than $325 billion since February 2022

Russian presidential envoy urges EU to find constructive voice in support of peace Kirill Dmitriev’s statement came in response to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said that the European Union has failed to use its diplomatic potential in the situation around Ukraine

Bilateral relations, energy and Russian delegation members: aide on Putin’s visit to China There is no link between the visits to China by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yury Ushakov noted

Putin to arrive in China on evening of May 19 to be met by Wang Yi — Kremlin aide As Yury Ushakov specified, the Chinese side will organize a formal welcome ceremony at the airport

Iran continues dialogue with Oman on security in Hormuz Strait — Foreign Ministry Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed that Tehran was in constant contact other stakeholders to develop a mechanism to ensure safe passage for all nations

Russia to respond to aggression as Kiev plans to launch drones from Latvia — intel agency Russia’s Foreign Intelligence reported that service members from the Ukrainian army’s Unmanned Systems Forces had been deployed to Latvia to prepare attacks on Russia from the Baltic country’s territory

Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to two scientists for COVID-19 vaccine research "The discoveries by the two Nobel Laureates were critical for developing effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 during the pandemic that began in early 2020," the statement reads

US investigates 56 cases of corruption and theft of American weapons in Ukraine According to a report prepared by the inspectors general of the Pentagon, the State Department, and the now effectively dismantled US Agency for International Development, 13 other investigations have been closed

Erdogan says Iran conflict 'devastating' global economy The extent of the damage caused by the shockwave that has swept across the world like a tsunami cannot yet be accurately assessed, the Turkish president said

US says Iran’s new proposal 'insufficient for a deal' — media According to the report, Iran rejects many of Donald Trump's demands and refuses to make any meaningful concessions on its nuclear program

EU pays highest amount for Russian LNG in over one year in March The European Union purchased around 933 mln euros worth of LNG from Russia

US has already spent more than $85 bln on military operation in Iran As calculated by Iran War Cost Tracker, basing on a Pentagon briefing for the US Congress on March 10, Washington planned to spend $1 bln for each day of the conflict

Chances for agreement with Iran appear very good right now — Trump The US president added that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several other countries asked the US to delay strikes on Iran by two to three days, believing that a deal is close

US probe confirms presence of military-biological facilities near Russian border — expert According to Boris Rozhin, the probe will transfer the issue of American military-biological activity abroad from the level of charges to the status of legal recognition

Spokesman says Kremlin has no reaction to award of Nobel Peace Prize to Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi was awarded "for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all"

Superiority of Russian services and proactive work: statements by Mishustin Advances in import substitution and development have reduced the urgent need for domestic software by a factor of four in recent years, the Russian prime minister noted

United States to conduct test launch of nuclear-capable Minuteman III ICBM on May 20 The statement emphasized that the test launch is routine, was planned several years ago, and is not in response to current world events

IN BRIEF: Putin’s statements on unprecedented level of ties with China and mutual support The Russian president says that the two countries are ready to support each other on key issues, including the protection of sovereignty

Putin, Xi to discuss most sensitive issues of bilateral relations — Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said the Russian president will begin his meeting with Xi Jinping after the welcome ceremony in the Great Hall of the People

Nearly 70% of Ukrainians use Russian language on daily basis — former PM Nikolay Azarov pointed out that Ukraine tried to eliminate the Russian language and ban a significant part of its culture

FSB detains two foreigners in Voronezh Region for blowing up drone at military unit According to the FSB, two citizens of former Soviet republics were recruited by a Ukrainian Security Service agent via Telegram

US continues to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets — report According to the report issued by inspectors general of the US Department of War, the Department of State, and the Agency for International Development, the training commitments are coordinated by the Air Force Capability Coalition that the US co-leads with Denmark and the Netherlands

US extends sanctions waiver until June 17 on Russian oil loaded by April 17 The document emphasizes that the license does not authorize transactions related to a number of Russian regions, including Crimea, the Donetsk People's Republic, and the Lugansk People's Republic, as well as Iran, Cuba, and North Korea

US increasingly leaning toward use of military force against Cuba — Politico According to one of the newspaper’s sources, US President Donald Trump and his aides have grown frustrated that the US pressure campaign has not led Cuba’s leaders to agree to significant economic and political reforms

US military intelligence believes Ukraine is delivering chaotic strikes on Russia Ukrainian strikes lack the coordination, tempo, and concentration on critical Russian military infrastructure, according to a report compiled by inspectors general of the US Department of War, the Department of State and the Agency for International Development

Kiev will spare no one if left unrestrained — Kremlin Actions by the Kiev regime may lead to more resignations in Europe, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told

Euroclear refuses to unfreeze Russian Central Bank’s assets: what is known The decision is based on the fact that the Russian regulator’s claim against Euroclear Bank is not recognized under EU legislation, and "Euroclear does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction"

World Gymnastics clears Russians to compete under country’s flag: what to know European Gymnastics will make its own decision on lifting restrictions on Russian athletes by the end of the week

NATO countries importing 'HIMARS clones' from South Korea to use against Russia — expert According to Alexander Stepanov, contracts are currently known to be in place for the supply of at least 290 systems of this type to Poland, 9 to Estonia, and 16 to Norway

Press review: US, Israel preparing new strikes against Iran as Ukraine mum on Russia talks Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, May 18th.