🇷🇺🇺🇸 Second Round of Russia-US Talks Held in Istanbul

The Russian delegation is led by Ambassador Darchiev, while the American side is represented by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Coulter.

According to Darchiev, the meeting aims to help “rid itself of the toxic legacy” of the Biden administration. Moscow also plans to raise issues regarding the return of seized diplomatic property and the resumption of direct air travel between the two countries.

The talks are expected to last at least four hours.

*Video shows the arrival of the US delegation at the Russian General Consulate in Istanbul.

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🚛🧠 Autonomous Trucks on the Roads in the Moscow Region

Tests of autonomous trucks were conducted on the Central Ring Road (TsKAD) in the Moscow region.

😁 The robo-trucks operated in fully automatic mode, independently changing lanes and reacting to weather conditions, including activating wipers during rain.

📈 Currently, 67 such trucks are already operating on the M-11 Neva highway, with their number expected to exceed 100 by the end of the year. By 2026, the total length of their routes is projected to reach 20,000 kilometers.

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🎖 In May, Russian schools will launch the "Music Instead of the Bell" campaign, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

🎶 Students will be called to class not by the traditional school bell, but by famous wartime songs such as "Zhuravli" (Cranes), "Smuglyanka," "Katyusha," "Siniy Platochek" (Blue Handkerchief), and many others.

The "Music Instead of the Bell" project has been running since 2024, with monthly themes tied to significant dates in many Russian schools. For example, in November 2024, excerpts from songs by Alexandra Pakhmutova were played instead of bells, and in December, compositions by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

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‼️Negotiations between Russia and the USA in Istanbul took place in a positive atmosphere, stated Ambassador Alexander Darchiev in Washington.

They lasted about 6 hours.

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🇷🇺 Russia will take inevitable and tough retaliatory measures against any steps by Japan to participate in supplying Kyiv with weapons.

🇯🇵 Earlier, Tokyo decided to join the work of NATO’s Security Assistance and Training Center for Ukraine.

🇷🇺 In response to this decision, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated Russia’s position:

"Any steps by Japan toward direct or indirect participation in supplying Ukraine with weapons and military equipment that will be used to kill Russian citizens, or aiding in the training of Ukrainian militants, are viewed by us as unequivocally hostile. Should they be implemented, our harsh measures will inevitably follow, inflicting significant damage to Japan’s interests in the areas most sensitive to it."

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🇷🇺📈 Russia’s international reserves have reached $658 billion—a record high.

As noted by the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), the primary reason for this is a positive revaluation. The previous record was set on March 21, when the figure stood at $650.4 billion.

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🍵 Perlova Tea House in Moscow

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🦍 At the Moscow Zoo, a gorilla named Vizuri amazed visitors with a floor breakdance move.

A good dancer can dance even in the snow!

☀️ Meanwhile, in central regions of Russia, the weather will finally improve in the coming days.

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🛬 A plane, reportedly belonging to Trump’s special envoy, arrived in Russia for a meeting with Putin.

📰 As reported, Steve Witkoff, a representative of Donald Trump, has flown to Russia again — this time to St. Petersburg. According to media sources, he may meet with Vladimir Putin as early as today to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

🤔 Previously, the U.S. president expressed dissatisfaction with delays in conflict resolution negotiations, warning that if no agreement is reached by the end of the month, the West will threaten to escalate sanctions against Russia.

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📍 Art object “Letter Æ” in North Ossetia, located near the settlement of Barzikau, between Fiagdon and the ancient necropolis of Dargavs.

📖 History: The Ossetian language belongs to the Iranian group of Indo-European languages and is the sole surviving representative of this branch. In 1844, academician Andreas Shegren developed Ossetian grammar and a Cyrillic alphabet, first using the digraph of Latin letters “A” and “E”.

In the new alphabet, the shapes of some letters were modified, and the total number of characters was reduced. The only letter that remained unchanged was the second one.

📌 The letter “Æ/æ” is a recognizable symbol of the Ossetian language. Today, the Ossetian alphabet is the only Cyrillic alphabet that includes the letter “Æ”, making it a beloved symbol of Ossetia.

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‼️ "Never and ever": Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that it is impossible for Ukraine to return to its 1991 borders.

"At the very least, because people live in these territories whom [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky considers creatures. He has repeatedly said this even before the start of the special military operation," Lavrov said.

🇷🇺 Other statements by the minister following the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting:

✅ The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump recognizes Zelensky’s hatred of Russians;

“So, could anyone even hypothetically think of handing these people over to such a person? <…> [In Washington] they have repeatedly stated publicly that Zelensky will have to come to terms with the territorial issue,” the minister emphasized.

✅ Resumption of air travel between Russia and the U.S. must follow the lifting of sanctions on Aeroflot;

“We made this proposal over a month ago at the aforementioned meeting in Riyadh. The Americans acknowledged it, but we have yet to see any reciprocal steps,” Lavrov said.

At the April 10 meeting in Istanbul, he added, Russian experts reiterated the proposal, but no progress has been reported so far.

✅ Do not be deluded by Russia-U.S. contacts, but aim for normalization of relations;

“Currently, in the U.S. itself, both among Democrats and Republicans, there are many who do not want President Trump’s policy—of normalizing relations and resuming dialogue on all issues despite disagreements—to prevail,” the minister noted.

However, Lavrov added, Russia will firmly prioritize its national
interests.

✅ Prisoner exchanges with the U.S. help build trust between Moscow and Washington;

“But fully restoring it will take a very long time, as trust was undermined and destroyed by the [Joe] Biden administration,” Lavrov stated.

✅ Lavrov advised Central Asian countries to “endure” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas during her tenure;

“This will likely be much easier than enduring harm to their own people. I truly don’t understand these politicians. The funniest part is that Kaja Kallas did not mention that Estonians and other EU nations are the ones who have to endure first and foremost,” he emphasized.

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Tuvans: Guardians of Ancient Traditions in the Heart of Asia

🇷🇺 The Tuvans are one of Russia’s indigenous peoples, primarily residing in the Republic of Tuva, located in southern Siberia near the Mongolian border. This Turkic ethnic group, with a population of around 300,000, preserves a unique culture shaped by nomadic traditions, Buddhism, and shamanism. The Tuvan language belongs to the Sayan group of Turkic languages, and many Tuvans also speak Russian.

📜 Tuva, historically known as the land of nomadic tribes, was influenced by the Uyghur Khaganate, the Mongol Empire, and China over the centuries. In the early 20th century (1914), the region became part of the Russian Empire as the Uryankhai Krai. After the 1921 revolution, the independent Tuvan People’s Republic was proclaimed, lasting until 1944 when Tuva voluntarily joined the USSR. Today, the Republic of Tuva is a federal subject of Russia, retaining its status as a national autonomy.

🙄 At the heart of Tuvan culture lies khoomei, the mesmerizing art of throat singing. This unique technique allows performers to produce multiple tones simultaneously, creating a symphony that mimics the rustling wind, babbling rivers, and animal calls. For Tuvans, khoomei is more than music—it is a dialogue with nature. Internationally renowned groups like Huun-Huur-Tu and Alash have introduced this tradition to the world, but in Tuva itself, throat singing can still be heard around campfires, carried by the voices of shepherds across valleys.

👻 Tuvan spirituality is a unique blend of Tibetan Buddhism and shamanism. Buddhist temples adorned with colorful prayer flags stand alongside sacred springs and groves where shamans (kamlaniye) conduct rituals to commune with spirits.

🐴 For centuries, the Tuvans were nomadic herders reliant on sheep, yaks, and horses for meat, milk, clothing, and tools. Even today, many rural families live in yurts (traditional felt dwellings—örgö), migrating seasonally with their herds.

🎉 At festivals like the summer Naadym, Tuvan traditions shine brightly. Communities gather for horse races, khuresh wrestling (where Tuvans are considered among Russia’s strongest), and archery competitions. Tables overflow with delicacies: dalgan (roasted barley flour), blood sausage, and airag (fermented mare’s milk).

‼️ Hospitality here is sacred: guests are always offered a bowl of salty milk tea and a slice of homemade bread—a gesture of generosity and unity.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 During the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Steve Whitcoff, Special Envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, topics related to resolving the Ukrainian conflict will be discussed, stated Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov also clarified that the upcoming meeting between Putin and Whitcoff is not connected to the recent Russia-U.S. negotiations held in Istanbul.

“These are two distinct tracks of the same overarching process,” emphasized the Kremlin spokesperson.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 Putin and Whitkoff met in St. Petersburg.

🤝 The special envoy and the Russian president smiled, shook hands, and proceeded to negotiations.

Before the meeting, Whitkoff and his spouse visited St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the main St. Petersburg synagogue. They were accompanied by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

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