Key statements by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service:

💬The United States doubts the irreversibility of Armenia's course towards rapprochement with the West, believing that "money-counting" Armenians are aware of the impending damage;

💬The United States does not abandon plans to impose "democratization", aiming to completely subjugate Armenia, but this practice is destructive

💬Pro-Western parties in Armenia are tasked with countering the authorities if they try to follow the example of Georgia

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🇷🇺🤝🇰🇿Putin-Tokayev talks: What to expect?

November 27 will see talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana as part of Putin’s two-day state visit to Kazakhstan.

🔸The two leaders are expected to discuss further development of the bilateral strategic partnership, especially in light of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the Collective Security Treaty Organization and Russia chairing the Commonwealth of Independent States and BRICS.

🔸After the talks in closed and expanded formats, Putin and Tokayev will sign a joint statement on deepening strategic cooperation.

🔸The document touches upon the most pressing issues of political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, as well as cultural and humanitarian ties, according to Russia’s presidential aide Yury Ushakov.

🔸A total of two dozen agreements on energy, transport, healthcare and other areas are expected to be inked following the talks, including a protocol on extending the December 2010 bilateral intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation related to oil supplies to Kazakhstan.

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Russian troops have liberated the settlement of Novaya Ilyinka in the Donetsk People's Republic, Russia's Defense Ministry announced

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🇷🇺🪖Key statements from the Russian Defense Ministry's daily briefing on the special military operation's progress:

🔸The Russian Zapad Battlegroup repelled four Ukrainian counterattacks; Ukrainian losses amounted to 450 militants;

🔸Ukrainian losses in the area of responsibility of the Russian Yug combat group amounted to more than 400 fighters;

🔸Russian troops hit airfields and manpower of the Ukrainian armed forces in 144 districts;

🔸Ukrainian forces lost up to 145 soldiers in the area of responsibility of the Russian Vostok combat group;

🔸The Russian air defense forces shot down 54 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones.

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❗️Russia's air defense systems destroyed and intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea and the territory of Crimea from 5.30 to 17.30 GMT

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💬 Psychedelic head trip by US civil servants is being paid for by US federal budget - Russian FM

US top officials who have the right to compile sanctions lists and deploy troops have screaming-and-crying sessions at the expense of taxpayers' money, Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said.

Her comment comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is under scrutiny following reports that the State Department organized therapy sessions for employees distressed by Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory.

"This is not the name of a new geopolitical game or an American campaign," she noted ironically. "These are meetings between US State Department employees, American diplomats, and their superiors in a ‘sob session’ set-up."

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❓All leaders are equal, but are some more equal than others?

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that certain individuals may be exempt from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in an apparent nod to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, The Times of Israel reports.

Earlier, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Barrot said that the court’s statute “deals with questions of immunity for certain leaders,” however, he noted that if Netanyahu steps on French territory, Paris will be "committed to international justice and will apply international law.”

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🇸🇰 Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he intends to take part in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism on May 9 in Moscow.

"I gladly accepted the official invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to take part in these important celebrations."

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Global majority countries come together to create alternative payment rails – Digital Economies Association Head

The old financial institutions do not have an understanding of how we transfer and create value, Dr. H.C. Cristina Amor Maclang, Secretary General of the International Digital Economies Association, told Sputnik at the international business forum "World of opportunities: Russia-ASEAN", organized by the Roscongress Foundation.

"In this growing multipolar world, the idea of the global majority countries coming together to create alternative payment rails, ideally on chain, is something that we will all be working towards in the International Digital Economies Association," she added.

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⚡️Sputnik correspondent Abdelkader Al-Bay has sustained a leg injury as a result of shelling by Israeli forces in the Al-Khiyam area in southern Lebanon.

He was working with a group of other journalists covering the withdrawal of Israeli troops when the attack happened.

Al-Bay is currently in hospital receiving medical care.

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'BRICS is a big power in the world' - participant of Young Scientists Forum

Khaled Faeag Mostafa Shehata (Egypt), participant of the Russian Congress of Young Scientists, explains why scientific cooperation between BRICS member states is fruitful.

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❗️Ukrainian losses in the Russian Kursk region amounted to more than 250 militants and two tanks, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Russian Sever Battlegroup defeated formations of 14 Ukrainian brigades in the districts of 11 settlements of the Kursk region.

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UPD: Abdelkader Al-Bay has got first aid. Now he is going to the city of Saida to continue filming people returning to their homes.

He's fine, but has small shrapnel wounds in his legs. A colleague from Lebanese media was seriously wounded with two bullets.

Footage after the injury

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❗️Russia sent a clear signal to the West with the launch of the hypersonic Oreshnik missile: stop supplying Kiev with weapons and do not encourage it to new military adventures, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.

▪️Russia is committed to the agreements with the United States on the issue of notifications of missile test launches, and the necessary communication channels for this remain open.

▪️Western countries are under the dangerous illusion that they will be able to achieve a strategic victory over the Russian Federation.

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