🇷🇺 Russian paratrooper air defense crews shot down three Ukrainian reconnaissance drones in the Artemovsk direction. The missiles were launched using Verba MANPADS and Strela-10 air defense systems.

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🇺🇸 A secret briefing in the US Senate, which was held at the request of the Joe Biden administration and concerned the discussion of aid to Ukraine and Israel, turned into a scandal, Western media has reported.

Here's what various media outlets have found out:

The Hill
The discussions were so heated that some Republican senators shouted questions at officials. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of not allowing an analysis of Ukraine's potential to be done.

The Washington Post
At least a dozen Republicans left the briefing, ignoring the presentation prepared for them.

The New York Times
The event turned into an argument between representatives of the two parties. The fiasco not only made it clear that the appropriations vote would fail, but also diminished the prospects for any bipartisan agreement in the near future.

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🇹🇷🇬🇷 Erdogan is travelling to Athens on Thursday: the Turkish president said he wants to open a new page in relations between the two countries, despite the differences.

This is only the second visit by a Turkish president to Greece in 70 years (the previous one was in 2017). The countries are scheduled to sign at least 20 agreements, including on migration.

Greek police, meanwhile, have banned public gatherings on the day of Erdogan's visit "for reasons of public security".

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🇮🇱🇵🇸 Latest updates on Palestinian-Israeli conflict:

▪️ IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has announced that the number of hostages has risen to 138. Some 20 women and children remain hostage in Gaza, while the rest are men.

▪️ Israeli military struck nearly 250 sites in Gaza Strip overnight, the IDF said.

▪️ US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Washington's efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East during a phone conversation, the US Department of State said.

▪️ Netanyahu said that no international force is capable of ensuring the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, as it can be guaranteed "only by the Israeli army."

▪️ Israel's defense minister says Hamas is losing control of the Gaza Strip.

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💶 The European Union has overpaid around €185 billion for gas imports since it imposed self-harming sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, according to Sputnik’s calculations based on Eurostat data.

Since February 2022, the EU's average monthly gas import expenditures have risen to €15.2 billion. Of this, 7.7 billion has been spent on liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the US cashing in the most on this. The remaining €7.5 billion were spent by the EU on pipeline gas.

It is estimated that EU member states over the course of 20 months spent a total of €304 billion on gas imports, while previously such expenses were accrued over several years.

Russia, on the other hand, despite the reduction in gas export volumes, received an additional € 14 billion euros due to rising energy costs.

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❗️ Presidential elections in Russia may be held on March 17, 2024. The issue will be considered on December 7.

🇩🇪 German defense minister: Berlin is not an ally of Ukraine

In an interview with ZDF, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius commented on accusations of insufficient military aid to Kiev, adding that Berlin and other partners are "doing what they can":

"First of all, we are not an ally of Ukraine. This means that we are not in a situation that obliges us to intervene within the framework of the alliance," he said.

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WATCH LIVE: Putin Arrives in Abu Dhabi For Talks With UAE President

👉Follow the live here or on the Sputnik's website

🇷🇺🇦🇪 During Putin's arrival, the sky over Abu Dhabi was painted with the Russian tricolor

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WATCH LIVE: Putin Pays Official Visit to UAE

👉Follow the live here or on the Sputnik's website

🇨🇳🇷🇺 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Washington needs to stop interfering in the internal affairs of the Asian country, the state-run television reported on Wednesday.

The diplomats also discussed during a phone conversation the situation in the Middle East, with Wang pointing a ceasefire as the main priority, the media added.

Earlier in the day, the US Department of State said that Blinken held a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart.

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