Eurasia War, US-Iran Talks, and Global Tensions Dominate News

New type of war well underway in Eurasia — Lavrov

"It is well underway in Eurasia following the Western-plotted Ukrainian aggression against Russia and another attempt to weaken our country and remove it from the ranks of major global players," the Russian foreign minister said

US troop buildup near Iran not sign of any new decisions — White House

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Armenia interested in preserving, developing cooperation with Russia — top diplomat

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stopped short of linking the state of bilateral relations with Russia with the upcoming June 7 parliamentary elections in the republic

Finnish president says Europe may engage in dialogue with Russia this year

When asked whether he can act as a mediator, the Finnish president said that if he is asked, "it will probably be difficult to say ‘no"

Slovakia faces tough economic times due to EU’s fault — senior lawmaker

Europe’s competitiveness is declining. Electricity is one and a half times more expensive here, and gas is three times more expensive than in the US, Tibor Gaspar said

Fragments of drones that attacked Starobelsk college demonstrated to foreign reporters

The journalists also inspected the damaged and destroyed buildings of the educational institution, including the dormitory where students were staying at the time of the strike

Macron calls on Minsk to refrain from dragging into Ukrainian conflict

The French president also called on his Belarusian counterpart AlexanderLukashenko to take necessary measures to improve relations between Belarus and Europe

Ukraine military strikes train in Lgov district of Kursk Region, one carriage is ablaze

According to unconfirmed information, there have been no reports as of yet regarding possible casualties, Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein stated

Iran offers to open Strait of Hormuz in exchange for compensation from US — TV

The Iranian authorities have also proposed "discussing the issue of sanctions and frozen assets before signing any agreement

Over 30 ships pass through Strait of Hormuz in past day — IRGC Navy

According to the statement, the ships sailed through the strait "upon receiving permits" and "in coordination with the IRGC Navy"

At least 35 space industry companies to move to newly created National Space Center

According to Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov, the new center will house, among other things, control centers for Russia’s entire orbital constellation, including communication, navigation and remote sensing satellites and laboratories and design bureaus

Kremlin closely following developments after US airstrikes in Syria

Earlier on February 26, the US carried out airstrikes near the Syrian-Iraqi border

Duration of stay on Russian prospective orbital station limited to about 3 years — expert

In Vyacheslav Shurshakov' estimates, typical length of space missions to ROSS would be about 10-11 months

Pakistani senator sees Yalta as appropriate place for Putin-Trump-Xi meeting

These three must sit across the table, as has happened in history, and they must come up with a solution for peace, Aimal Wali Khan said

Situation with Islam in Russia remarkable unlike in US, Europe — UN

Miguel Angel Moratinos, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, believes Russia can be proud of its achievements in interreligious and interfaith dialogue

US, Iran to continue talks on nuclear program — Axios

The news portal emphasized that it is unclear whether a deal will lead to a lasting peace agreement that also addresses the nuclear demands of the US president

EU preparing for possible energy supply crisis due to conflict in Iran — Spanish newspaper

The EC assures that there is currently no risk to supplies, though markets are feeling the impact of rising Brent crude oil prices, which has led to higher gas and oil prices in Europe

Russian troops liberate five communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 1,260 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

One-page US-Iran agreement may be published on May 24 — Axios

Correspondent Barak Ravid said, citing his sources, that the mediators want to initiate negotiations on a detailed agreement a few days later

Presidential aide urges people to consider what would happen if Ukraine won

What these people are capable of doing to us and our children if they win, Vladimir Medinsky noted

Iran divides countries into three categories based on use of Strait of Hormuz — TV

According to the TV channel, all states are divided into three categories — "hostile," "neutral," and "friendly"

Ukrainian forces not easing up on their attacks on Energodar, damaging two buses — ZNPP

Two more passenger buses have been damaged in Energodar

Press review: Cuba readies for US attack as Moscow outlines ties with Washington

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, May 22nd

Iran proposes suspending uranium enrichment above 3.6% for ten years — TV

According to its information, "Iran has proposed suspending uranium enrichment above 3.6% for ten years"

Ten people remain in hospitals after deadly drone attack on college dorm in LPR

First responders said 32 people had been discharged for out-patient treatment

Russia uses Oreshnik weapon to strike Ukrainian military command posts

That was response to terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian military against civilian facilities located on the territory of the Russian Federation, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

US president says draft future agreement with Iran mostly negotiated

According to Donald Trump, the draft deal is subject to finalization between the US, Iran, and the various other countries on the list

Persian Gulf countries running out of interceptor missiles - Bloomberg

Iran has fired almost 1,200 ballistic missiles and 4,000 Shahed drones at the Gulf states since the start of the war

At least 16 killed, several more injured in passenger train blast in southwest of Pakistan

The explosion occurred in the Chaman-Pattak area

Trump says Iran has 48 hours to make deal or open strait

Time is running out: 48 hours remain before all hell rains down on them, US President said

Final NPT document not approved due to US hardline stance — Russian Foreign Ministry

Thanks to the efforts of Ambassador Do Hung Viet and the support of other responsible states, a number of difficult compromises were achieved, the ministry said

Pakistani top diplomat points to ‘significant progress’ in US-Iran negotiations

Ishaq Dar expressed his gratitude to the American side for its involvement in the process and to the Iranian leadership for its desire to resolve the disagreements peacefully

Lavrov highlights need to achieve goals of Russia’s special military operation

Russia’s friends and neighbors, as well as its opponents and enemies, are keeping the closest eye on it, the foreign minister said

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 interested in calling on Arab nations to help pay for cost of Iran operation — official

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

BBC declines to visit site of Ukrainian attack on college in Starobelsk — Russian diplomat

"CNN must be on vacation," Maria Zakharova added, making it clear that no requests had been received from the US media outlet

Western Europeans must accept world has changed — UN Under-Secretary-General

Miguel Angel Moratinos says there are others that "want to really share and participate, and to be at the same level"

Pezeshkian asks global community to judge which side, Iran or US, actually favors dialogue

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorism