US, Ukraine discuss sequence of next steps during consultations — Witkoff

According to the Special Representative of the US president, the parties, in particular, held "a separate constructive meeting"
Warmongers fail to interfere with talks between Russia, US on Ukraine in Miami — Dmitriev

The day before, Dmitriev told Russian journalists the talks were constructive
Russia to think about peace plan proposals based on contacts in Miami — Kremlin aide

Ushakov added that, most likely, the bulk of the peace plan proposals would not suit Russia
Russia says fakes about contacts with S. Korea aim to sow distrust between it, North Korea

These information fakes have no basis in fact, noted Maria Zakharova
Macron betrays Merz on expropriation of frozen Russian assets — FT

"He knows that there will be a price to pay for that", also said a senior EU diplomat
EAEU establishes itself as self-sufficient center of multipolar world — Putin

The Russian leader noted the expansion of mutual trade exchanges and the deepening of cooperative ties between the members of the union
Greece joined EU initiative to buy US weapons for Ukraine — Russian Foreign Ministry

According to Yury Pilipson, there is no doubt about involvement of ‘senior comrades’ in Greece's accession to the announced initiative
Dmitriev calls for acknowledging existence of warmonger campaigns in Western media

UK/EU politicians push the "let’s go to war with Russia"—covering up migration blunders/cashing in on weapons sales via "friendly" contractors, noted Dmitriev
Putin to hold bilateral meetings with Japarov, Lukashenko today — Kremlin

After that, there will be meetings in narrow and expanded formats, and later the leaders of the association will continue to communicate informally
Kiev’s attempting to disrupt peace talks with drone attacks on ships in Black Sea — MFA

Commenting on Turkey's resolute statement to Ukrainian security services regarding the unacceptability of attacks on vessels in the Black Sea, the diplomat noted that Ankara attaches great importance to ensuring the security of civilian shipping as such
Three Ukrainian drones downed in Russian regions

Two of them were destroyed over the territory of the Volgograd Region
Negotiations on Ukraine in Miami constructive, Dmitriev says

Talks on the settlement in Ukraine will continue in Miami on Saturday and Sunday local time, the Russian envoy continued
Merz finds himself in isolation in Europe due to position on Russian assets — newspaper

German Chancellor attempted till the last "to praise advantages of the de facto expropriation of Russian assets, downplaying risks at the same time," the newspaper said
US department confirms detention of tanker near Venezuelan coast

"The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil," the Head of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said
Press Review
- Press review: EU leaders clash over Ukraine and Trump approves Taiwan arms sale as testTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 19th
- Press review: Trump seeks to pressure Moscow as EU desperate to find funds for UkraineTop stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 18th
- Press review: EU sees Russia as threat while US ramps up attacks on boats near VenezuelaTop stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 17th
- Press review: US-Ukraine talks fail on Donbass as Kiev struggles with election competitionTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 16th
- Press review: Kiev and Europe seek to derail peace plan as Ukraine awaits $5 bln EU aidTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 15th
Press releases
- 2025 Eventiada Awards Opens for Entries in All Languages
- Submission of applications for the Eventiada Awards will last until September 30
- Ak Bars Finance is renamed as AKBFThe rebranding is related to the change of the shareholder
- New leadership navigates China on right courseSenior officials have strong expertise, rich local-level experience, analysts say
- Ak Bars Bank: the bank is not a subsidiary or dependent company with the Ak Bars HoldingThe bank chose snow leopard as a corporate symbol many years ago
Putin goes to St. Petersburg for informal CIS summit

The head of state will also have bilateral meetings with leaders of certain countries
Zelensky contradicts himself about elections in Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, this discussion is a reaction to the Russian leader’s latest statements
Russia-Africa ministerial meeting joint statement adopted unanimously — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the statement lays bare the countries’ principled approaches to the key issues of international development
US conducting operation to seize ship off Venezuela — agency

The officials did not say where operation was taking place but added the ·Coast Guard was in the lead, Reuters said
Zelensky says Ukraine discusses options to ensure election security with US

According to Vladimir Zelensky, the Ukrainian foreign ministry is working on the issue of organizing voting among Ukrainian nationals living abroad
Providing military aid to Ukraine weakens EU instead of making it stronger — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister recalled that the European Union’s summit on December 18 and 19 in Brussels decided to grant a military loan to Ukraine in 2026-2027 at the expense of a common European loan worth 90 billion euro
Putin’s words about Europe echo position of Trump with his supporters — Die Welt

This position will significantly complicate the already tense relations between European elites and the Trump administration
WSJ names five key obstacles to peace between Russia, Ukraine

These include territorial issues, Ukraine's accession to NATO, the size of the Ukrainian armed forces, the status of the Russian language, and control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Ukraine must be prepared for continuation of conflict in 2026 — US envoy to NATO

The reason is that a peace agreement may not yet be concluded by the end of this year, said US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker
Volvo files application to register three trademarks in Russia

Two of them are for Volvo, and the third is for Volvo Penta
Trump announces plans to visit Florida, where talks on Ukraine expected

The US leader noted that he "has a lot of meetings scheduled"
US Air Force carries out second wave of attacks on Islamic State sites in Syria — TV

IS sites in the Deir ez-Zor province were the hardest hit, the TV channel said
US starts publishing Epstein case files — FBI

Jeffrey Epstein’s friends and acquaintances included a large number of current and retired officials not only from the United States but also from many other countries, including former heads of state, major entrepreneurs, and show business stars
US starts striking Islamic State sites in Syria — NYT

The operation involves US fighter jets and attack helicopters
Britain refuses to expropriate Russian assets after failure of EU summit — FT

According to the newspaper, London "will continue to work closely with the G7 and EU on Ukraine financing"
Russia ready to organize voting for Ukrainians in case of legitimate elections in Ukraine

"If Ukraine opts for legitimate elections and we are tasked to organize voting for Ukrainian nationals in Russia, we will do everything we can to make this happen," CEC chairwoman Ella Pamfilova stated