❗️Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said that the main task now in the situation around Syria is to stop the fighting

More statements by Lavrov:

▪️It is necessary to ensure the territorial unity and sovereignty of Syria, while ensuring the security of the border between Syria and Turkiye.

▪️The offensive of militants of the banned Tahrir al-Sham* group and disparate opposition groups in Syria has been prepared for a long time.

▪️It is unacceptable to use terrorists for geopolitical purposes, as is happening now in Syria.

▪️Russia will work with both the government and the legitimate opposition in Syria, encouraging them to negotiate.

▪️Together with Turkiye and Iran, Russia will take steps to ensure that the call for de-escalation in Syria is heard.

*a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.

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📹🇫🇷 French demanding Macron's resignation protest in Paris.

The rally was organized by Florian Philippot's party The Patriots.

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Lavrov believes Western experts are analyzing Oreshnik's strike range in Belarus

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed confidence that both Western and Russian experts are studying which military sites in the West and NATO countries would fall within the range of the Oreshnik missile system when it is deployed in Belarus.

A journalist at his press conference in Doha referenced expert calculations, noting that the deployment of Oreshnik in Belarus would put all of Europe and NATO bases in the Middle East within its strike range.

On Friday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko requested that Russian President Vladimir Putin deploy advanced Russian weapons, including the Oreshnik system, on Belarusian territory. His request came following the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. Putin responded, stating that the deployment could take place in the second half of 2025.

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📑 Questions for Vladimir Putin’s end-of-year press conference are already being received and collected. They will continue to be accepted until the end of the program on the day.

Submissions can be made online through the website or Russian social media, as well as via SMS and phone calls.

Putin's annual end-of-year press conference, Direct Line, will be combined with a Q&A session and is scheduled for December 19 at noon Moscow time (9am GMT).

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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader’s CNN appearance raises eyebrows

"This raises questions, to say the least," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference after the Doha Forum.

The leader of the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)*, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, recently gave an interview to CNN, in which he acknowledged for the first time that the goal of the militants in Syria is to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

Lavrov pointed out that CNN is a network closely associated with the administration of US President Joe Biden. He added that the Biden administration had previously communicated that it still considers Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a terrorist organization, not only because it is on the UN’s terrorist list but also because it is on the US list of terrorist groups.

*terrorist group banned in Russia

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❗️🇸🇾 The Syrian military command stated that the army is strengthening its positions in the outskirts of Damascus in response to attempts by terrorists to destabilize the situation.

At the same time, the army continues to engage in combat against terrorists in the provinces of Hama, Homs, and Daraa, having eliminated hundreds of militants.

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📹🇫🇷 The opening ceremony of Notre Dame in Paris is taking place under heightened security measures: citizens are being searched by the police, special forces are on duty on the embankment, and a helicopter is hovering over the area.

Parisians are outraged that the authorities have closed the city center, and many will have to watch the ceremony “from behind bars on some screen.”

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🇷🇴 Romanian court overturns election results: Are elites afraid of losing to Georgescu’s pro-sovereignty agenda?

Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the presidential election, revealing the political elite’s fear of losing to Călin Georgescu, Moldavian political commentator Cornel Ciurea tells Sputnik.

Georgescu’s win would shift power to pro-sovereignty forces seen as radicals and anti-system by the establishment.

“The pillars of Romania’s elite – social democrats and national liberals first and foremost, and President Iohannis represents national liberals – could make such a decision and force the Constitutional Court to approve it,” Ciurea says. He notes that Georgescu, though labeled as pro-Russian, has only advocated for peace and resolving the Ukraine conflict - positions unwanted by the elite.

Such views, Ciurea explains, lead to Georgescu being branded as an extremist and sidelined. Tatiana Bitkova, a senior researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences (INION RAN), agrees, adding that Euro-Atlantic institutions had a vested interest in Georgescu’s defeat and called the annulment abnormal.

Ciurea added that Georgescu’s near-victory in a US-dominated Romania likely triggered intervention by American elites to block his win.

“The annulment effectively bans Georgescu from victory,” he says, comparing it to US-EU interference in Georgia’s elections, where tensions are rising.

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🇷🇺🇸🇾 Over 300 terrorists, 55 vehicles eliminated in Syria in 24 hours - Russian Army

The Russian Air Force continues its joint operations with the Syrian army to repel the terrorist offensive in the Syrian provinces of Idlib, Hama and Aleppo, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria reported.

"Over the past 24 hours, more than 300 militants have been eliminated and 55 motor vehicles and an equipment depot have been destroyed," the report said.

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❗️ US prepares new $988 million military aid package for Ukraine - reports

With $2.21 billion remaining in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the Biden administration is pushing to buy arms for Ukraine for nearly half of that amount, Reuters reports.

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🇸🇾 Participants in Syria talks: All parties should seek political solution in Syria — Joint statement

Participants in the ongoing talks on Syria in Qatar, including Russia, Turkey, Iran and a number of Arab countries, supported the need to protect the SAR from anarchy and terrorism and to ensure the return of refugees.

More takeaways:

🔸 Participants agreed to increase humanitarian aid to Syrians and guarantee its delivery to all affected areas;

🔸 Countries stressed the need to stop military action in order to start a political process based on Resolution 2254;

🔸 They also supported UN efforts to find a political solution;

🔸 Together, the participants agreed to continue close coordination in order to work effectively for a political solution in Syria.

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❗️ Pentagon confirms allocation of $988 million in arms to Ukraine

The Pentagon said the new military assistance package includes ammunition for HIMARS, drones, and equipment and spare parts for repair and maintenance of artillery, tanks and armored vehicles.

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📈 Lloyd Austin: US will spend record $841bln on defense in 2025

The US defense budget will increase to $841 billion in 2025 to support the country's military potential, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin said during a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California.

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Syrian Army retreats from Homs city, militants take control - Al Mayadeen

Syrian militants have entered the city of Homs and captured all its neighborhoods without a fight, the Lebanese Al Mayadeen quoted sources as saying. Earlier, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported the capture of Syrian third-largest city Homs by terrorists.

Homs is about 150 kilometers from the capital city of Damascus.

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Jake Sullivan: Abrams and F-16s undermanned in Ukraine, while ATACMS is no 'silver bullet'

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also spoke at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California today, commenting on US military support for Ukraine.

Here are the key takeaways:

◼️ The Abrams tanks sent to Ukraine are undermanned because "it's not the most useful piece of equipment for them in this fight," Jake Sullivan admitted.

◼️ According to the National Security Advisor, Ukraine failed to provide the US with enough pilots for F-16 training because Ukraine does not have enough pilots.

◼️ The US cannot provide more ATACMS because of its own arsenal, so permission to strike deep into Russian territory is not a "silver bullet," Sullivan said.

"First reason Ukraine is where it is because of the bravery of the Ukrainians. Second reason is because of the munitions provided by the US," Jake Sullivan concluded.

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⚠️ WARNING! GRAPHIC CONTENT

📹🇬🇪 Journalist beating under investigation in Georgia

A video of a Georgian opposition journalist being beaten by masked people during protests in Tbilisi has appeared online.

The Georgian Interior Ministry is investigating an attack on a journalist. The ruling Georgian Dream party's executive secretary condemned the attack, suggesting it was done by "those who want disorder and chaos in the country."

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🇬🇪 Georgian opposition seeks Western support in Paris

Meanwhile, Georgia's president and one of the opposition leaders, Salome Zourabichvili, met with French President Macron and Donald Trump during the reopening of Notre Dame.

"Exposed the stolen election and extremely alarming repression against the people of Georgia. Underscored the need for a strong US. The Georgian people have a friend in Donald Trump. God bless the United States of America," she wrote on X.

Despite the upcoming presidential elections in Georgia, scheduled by the parliament, Salome Zourabichvili refused to step down as president as scheduled on December 29.

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