❗️ More than 600,000 questions have been received for the annual year-end ‘Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin’ press conference so far, the Kremlin has said.

At the same time, many are asking him to run for a new term.

WATCH LIVE: Putin Awards Gold Star Medals to Heroes of Russia

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🇷🇺 Kalashnikov Concern has started deliveries of a new model of the Strelok combat equipment kit to the Russian Army.

The kit consists of Corset Plus body armor, additional protection modules, a set of pouches, a 30-liter rucksack, and a transport bag.

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🇷🇺 Putin honors Russia's heroes by awarding them gold star medals

The event is being held on the eve of Heroes of the Fatherland Day in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

More than 200 service members and civilians who have demonstrated outstanding courage and heroism have been invited to the ceremony.

Among the event's participants are Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation, honorees of the Order of St. George, as well as recipients of three or more orders of valor. The tradition of honoring the Heroes of the Fatherland has been revived starting from 2013.

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🇷🇺 Russian Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense troops train at range in special operation zone

In the course of the drills, servicemen from the 200th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Northern Fleet practiced the use of Shmel man-portable flamethrowers (0:31). Under cover of automatic weapons fire, the flamethrowers struck a mock enemy in open terrain, buildings, and other structures.

Radiological, Chemical, and Biological reconnaissance troops using an RHM-6 chemical reconnaissance vehicle monitored the presence of toxic substances in the air.

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🇩🇪 According to a media report on December 7, Germany's failure to finalize its 2024 budget has unexpectedly thrust Finance Minister Christian Lindner into a potentially powerful role within German politics.

The deadlock over the budget has resulted in Lindner's ministry gaining significant control over public funds. This has effectively made him the de facto power behind the throne, overshadowing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

This development is a result of the ongoing discussions between Chancellor Scholz, Economics Minister Robert Habeck, and Lindner, which have not yet been resolved. As the year-end deadline looms, a temporary budget management system has been enacted. Under it, Lindner now holds significant authority in determining funding for ministry projects, including vital initiatives such as the basic allowance for children. However, it is important to note that state obligations, such as salaries, pensions, and benefits, remain unaffected.

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Seven psychological manipulations Biden used to pressure Congress to pass a new Ukraine aid package

Have you ever heard the manipulative "if we don’t protect Ukraine, we can be next" argument when Western leaders try to justify their poor policy? All such manipulations have been outdone by Joe Biden’s latest urgent message to Congress: the address literally consisted of propaganda techniques.

Nika, our AI anchor, is sure that all of these psychological tricks have long been known. Get ready to find out what are they, and how to counter these tactics.

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🇷🇺 Putin responding to a Russian serviceman's question about running in the election:

"I won't hide the fact that I've had thoughts at different times. But right now, you are right. These are times when decisions must be made. I will run for the office of president."

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📹 "On behalf of the residents of the reunited territories: DPR, LPR, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, all servicemen, we ask Putin to take part in the elections. He said he is with our people, and he will run for office," Artem Zhoga, the hero of the DPR, said.

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“The Ukraine conflict is the most serious military conflict and geopolitical conflict that Russia has faced since World War Two, because we are really in a new patriotic war. We are in the great power conflict against the West. We are in a conflict, which we have not seen yet in the recent Russian history because even during the Second World War, Russia was fighting against the Axis countries, but the United States and UK were on our side. Now we are struggling against the collective West all together. This is an unprecedented challenge, which has required and continues to require very serious mobilization.” Dmitry Suslov, Russian foreign policy strategist, told the New Rules podcast.

👉 What is the fundamental problem with Western “peace proposals,” and Russia plans for the BRICS chairmanship in 2024: You can find the full episode on Rumble

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🇷🇺🪖 Key points of the Russian MoD briefing on the weekly progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️The Russian Armed Forces improved their position along the front line in some areas and repelled 19 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF);

▪️The Russian army launched 30 group strikes on the UAF airfield infrastructure and foreign mercenaries' accommodation points.

▪️Russian troops maintained an active defense in the Zaporozhye region, repelling five attacks by UAF assault groups.

▪️Ukrainian losses in the Kherson region amounted to up to 350 servicemen.

▪️The Russian Armed Forces repelled 10 attacks by the Ukrainian forces in the Krasny Liman region; the enemy losses amounted to more than 1,445 soldiers and 33 pieces of equipment.

▪️The UAF lost more than 845 servicemen and 3 tanks in the South Donetsk direction.

▪️The UAF lost up to 260 servicemen and six armored vehicles in the Zaporozhye direction.

▪️The UAF lost over 480 servicemen and 3 tanks in the Kupyansk direction.

▪️The Russian Armed Forces foiled attempts by UAF sabotage groups to cross the left bank of the Dnieper River.

▪️Russian air defense systems shot down five Ukrainian aircraft.

▪️The UAF lost more than 1,560 servicemen in the Donetsk region.

▪️Russian troops shot down 224 Ukrainian UAVs.

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🇷🇺 Russia calls on Venezuela and Guyana to refrain from any actions around the Essequibo area that could cause harm to the parties, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

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🇪🇺 The European Union is looking at reviving a World Trade Organization case against the USA

The trade spat stemming from the Trump administration's imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs, which led to reciprocal tariffs on goods exceeding $10 billion.

Brussels has expressed discontent with the current talks, accusing Washington of intransigence. Despite this, the EU is holding back on reintroducing reciprocal tariffs on American goods, which suggests a willingness to engage their counterpart across the Atlantic.

The EU's decision to restart the WTO case serves several purposes: it keeps the threat of future tariffs alive, maintains leverage over the US, and allows a prolonged negotiation period to avoid an imminent re-imposition of duties. It comes amid media reports that Brussels is wary of levying tariffs, since that step could unintentionally give a boost to Trump's political campaign in the 2024 American presidential election race.

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