⚡️Second stage of joint Russian and Belarusian non-strategic nuclear forces exercise is under way, Russian Defense Ministry announced.

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🇷🇺🇧🇾Russia & Belarus will carry out joint Armed Forces training for combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The exercise of non-strategic nuclear forces is aimed at ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, the ministry added.

Earlier, as part of the first stage of the exercise, military personnel worked out the tasks of obtaining special training ammunition for the Iskander operational and tactical missile complex, equipping it with launch vehicles and secretly advancing to the designated positional area to prepare for missile launches. Russian Air Force personnel practiced using equipment of special combat training units of aviation weapons of destruction, including aeroballistic hypersonic missiles "Kinzhal" and sorties to designated patrol areas.

The maneuvers should be seen in the context of bellicose statements by Western politicians and destabilizing actions by NATO, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

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❗️French President Emmanuel Macron is discussing with his entourage the possibility of stepping down as head of state in the event of a right-wing victory in the parliamentary elections, Europe 1 radio reported, citing a source.

"The resignation of the president is not a taboo. Yes, today we must consider all scenarios. He is ready to sacrifice the end of his five-year term, one of his aides assures.

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Russian Rusak drone worth $1,000 destroyed an American Stryker armored personnel carrier worth $1 million in special operations zone, a representative of drone manufacturer told Sputnik.

"The effectiveness of the use of our drones is proven by the ratio of the prices of drones and the enemy equipment they destroy," the representative said.

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🔸Watch the second stage of joint Russian and Belarusian non-strategic nuclear forces exercise began

🔸US lifted ban on arms supplies to neo-Nazi Azov battalion - report

🔸Russia abstained from voting on the US-drafted resolution on the Gaza ceasefire adopted by the UN

🔸Macron might reportedly step down as head of state as his prospects after EP elections loom

🔸EU Parliament elections show people's discontent with Brussels' agenda

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Ukroboronprom and German Rheinmetall first joint project launched in Ukraine, Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industry announced

It is a workshop for repair and production of armored vehicles, where Ukrainian specialists will work, but under the supervision of German colleagues.

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❗️Two French citizens attempted to enter the territory of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, one of them died of dehydration, a source told Sputnik.

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"India wishes Russia all the success for the BRICS chairship during the year," Dammu Ravi, secretary for economic relations at India's Ministry of External Affairs, India's BRICS sherpa, told Sputnik at the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting.

"We know that BRICS is a reflection of the truly multipolar world which Russia is taking forward. India is a good friend of Russia and we would like to work very closely with Russia for the success of the BRICS chairship during the year," he added.

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❗️LIVE: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivers welcome address at BRICS Ministerial Meeting

👉 Watch the livestream here or on Sputnik's website

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❗️Key statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting:

▪️We are witnessing a profound change in the system of international relations.

▪️It will allow each nation to determine its own destiny.

▪️ Only by uniting our ranks will we be able to effectively promote our common vision of the future.

▪️ We are talking about formats in which the principles of equal cooperation are actually established: These are not only BRICS, but also a number of other organizations and associations.

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❗️"Situation in the world tends to further complicate," senior Russian diplomat Sergey Ryabkov on prospects of making changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine.

"Challenges from our side raise the question of the need to bring documents in line with needs," he added, commenting on the possibility of changing the state nuclear doctrine.

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❗️Several Russian Navy vessels will enter Cuba on June 12 within international cooperation framework, Navy Commander-in-Chief confirmed to Sputnik.

Earlier, the Cuban Foreign Ministry said that the visit of the Russian ships was in line with friendly relations and that none of the ships carried nuclear weapons.

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Stavropol compact rocket ship launched in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, Sputnik correspondent reports.

Such ships have been built at the Zelenodolsk Gorky Plant since 2010, the Stavropol ship is the twelfth in the series.

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Key statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️The sudden change in the US position on the supply of weapons to Ukraine's terrorist Azov battalion* indicates that Washington will stop at nothing to suppress Russia.

▪️The Kremlin is extremely negative about the lifting of the US ban on the supply of weapons to the Azov battalion.

▪️Washington is ready to flirt with neo-Nazis, which confirms the relevance of Russia's concerns about the spread of neo-Nazi ideas.

*The 'Azov' battalion is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.

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🇷🇺🇮🇷Russia and Iran continue to work on comprehensive treaty, Kremlin spokesman said.

"The work [on a comprehensive treaty] continues. But of course, given the current period in Tehran, when preparations for the presidential elections are underway, the schedule is shifting slightly to the right," Dmitry Peskov said.

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