Russia Views F-16s in Ukraine as Nuclear Threat; Iran Deal Nears Finalization

Russia to view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as threat in nuclear sphere — Lavrov

"During combat operations, our military will not be clearing out whether or not each particular jet of this class is equipped to carry nuclear weapons," the minister added

Encircling Russia is uneasy task but new military bases appear all around, says Putin

"New weapon systems are also being deployed in the east, in the south, in the north and at sea and, all the more so, in the west," the President said

IRGC calls for US Air Force chief to resign after aircraft downed in Iran

The IRGC Navy also congratulated the air defense forces of the Islamic republic’s army on intercepting an US F-15E fighter jet and an A-10 attack aircraft in the skies over Iran

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

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

NATO forces intercept missile presumably launched from Iran — Turkish Defense Ministry

According to the ministry, "all necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at Turkey's territory and airspace"

Further phases of BRICS expansion will follow, says South African president

It is noted that the membership will take effect from January 1, 2024

Europe faces 'bad outcome', Russia remains independent state — foreign minister

According to Sergey Lavrov, Europe will repeat the mistakes of the past if its elites maintain their course toward armed confrontation with Russia

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

INTERVIEW: Time to update Rabat Plan of Action to combat racial hatred — UN deputy chief

According to him, the search for a balance between freedom of speech and freedom of religion must continue

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

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

EU aid to Ukraine frozen — Borrell

The ex-chief of EU diplomacy said the situation is similar with the approval of new sanctions against Russia

Russia set record volume of LNG supplies to Europe in January 2026

EU imports of Russian LNG amounted to 2.276 billion cubic meters, according to TASS calculations based on data from the European analytical center Bruegel

Death toll from Ukrainian attack on Starobelsk college rises to 16

Four more bodies have been recovered from under the rubble, spokesperson for the Russian Emergencies Ministry said

Russian senators highlight growing risks of AI election interference

"The commission believes that apart from the subversive tools used in every election process in Russia, the use of artificial intelligence in the upcoming elections poses a special danger and growing risk," the document states

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

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"

Over 15,000 Ukrainian servicemen in Crimea pass to Russian military service

As of March 26, Russian national flags were hoisted at all 193 military formations and organisations of Ukrainian Armed Forces deployed in the Russian Republic of Crimea

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

Two more passenger buses have been damaged in Energodar

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

Russia to raise issue of Ukraine's intent to use dirty bomb at UN — Lavrov

The Russian top diplomat stressed that the Russian side had specific information about Ukrainian scientific institutions that possessed technologies capable of creating a dirty bomb

Toyota to shut down all plants in Japan Tuesday due to large-scale disruption

The timing of the restoration of the plant is currently unknown

Trump says threatened Thailand and Cambodia with new duties

US President said he was sure that the duties is an important tool in the foreign policy for his administration

Ukraine loses over 360 troops in Kursk area in past day — Russian Defense Ministry

Five soldiers were surrendered, the Russian Defense Ministry said

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

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

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

West knows no bounds to aggression, tries to resolve issues by force — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister noted that Western policies result in number of unprecedented sanctions that undermine core principles of the Western order, such as free trade, market forces, and the inviolability of property

Putin: Russia stands for demilitarization of Ukraine

Russian President said he wished the Donbass problem could be settled through talks and the implementation of the Minsk agreements, but "regrettably, this is no longer relevant"

Russia could become part of new impetus for Alliance of Civilizations — UN

High Representative for the alliance Miguel Angel Moratinos called Russia a big partner and a big actor in the international arena

Russian MP warns of nuclear proliferation risk if Israel uses nukes against Iran

Alexey Pushkov noted that the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use nuclear weapons in Iran has been actively discussed on American television in recent days

Govt has no plans to restrict grain export in 2012 - Putin

“According to the information I have there is no need to impose any restrictions in the near future,” he said

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

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

Air defenses shoot down 42 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions in five hours

They were intercepted and destroyed over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Tula, Perm and Moscow regions, as well as over Crimea

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

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"

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