Trump, Putin may discuss mutual restrictions in nuclear field - Arms Control Association

The possibility of US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussing options for mutual restrictions between the two countries in the nuclear sphere during their upcoming direct interaction is not ruled out, Arms Control Association (ACA) Executive Director Daryl Kimball told RIA Novosti.

"To date, Trump and his team have not offered a plan for constraining dealing with Russia’s strategic arsenal nor has President Putin. But it is likely that the two presidents will engage in direct discussions regarding the conflict in Ukraine, and other issues, and it is possible, if not likely that they will discuss options for mutual constraints following the expiration of New START," Kimball said.

Nuclear arms control between the United States and Russia is a necessity for both countries, the ACA head said.

"While trust may be at an all-time low, that is all the more reason for the two sides to avoid unconstrained strategic nuclear competition now or in the future," Kimball added.

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🔸Is the Northern Sea Route the key to ending the Ukraine conflict?

🔸Trump vs. WHO: What's behind the pushback against the organization?

🔸Syria’s power shift: West debates strategy to counter Russia and Iran

🔸Bunkers boom while experts yawn: America’s new obsession

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❗️None can guarantee Moldovan president won't start war in region — SVR
 
More statements by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service:
 
💬Moldovan President Maia Sandu categorically refused to discuss with Ukraine the issue of energy supply to Moldova after the expiration of the Russian-Ukrainian gas transit agreement.
 
💬According to Sandu, if Russia does not find a way to deliver gas to Moldova, Chisinau will "take revenge" on Transnistria.
 
💬Moldova has ordered the opening of criminal cases against the leadership of Transnistria "for separatism."
 
💬Sandu has demanded the preparation of a forceful seizure of the Moldovan regional power plant located in Transnistria.
 
💬The European Union would not mind the appearance of a new crisis point in the zone of Russia's interests but is not ready for it yet.

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🇷🇺🦣Mammoth remains found in Russia 

A mammoth of unique preservation has been discovered in the permafrost in Russia's Yakutia. The geological age of the find is estimated to be 50,000 years. 

In total, six mammoth remains have been found in the world; five of them in Russia.

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📹Russia's Grad MLRS crew struck a cluster of infantry and equipment of the Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk People's Republic to support the assault of Russian stormtroopers in suppressing the firing points of the Ukrainian army.

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Russia, Iran to sign strategic partnership agreement in Jan - Iranian FM spokesman
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian may hold a meeting to sign the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in January 2025, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said.
 

"I hope this document will be signed at the end of [January]," Baghaei told reporters.

 
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty is to become a milestone in the development of Russian-Iranian relations. The document will include bilateral cooperation in such areas as energy, the manufacturing industry, transportation, and agriculture.

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❗️Russian President Vladimir Putin and Slovak PM Robert Fico discussed bilateral relations and energy issues during talks at the Kremlin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed.
 
Other topics covered included the situation in Ukraine and the course of the special military operation; the conversation was extensive, he added.

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Further statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

💬 Putin and Fico discussed relations between Russia and Slovakia, which suffered due to past authorities in Bratislava;

💬 The situation with gas supplies from Russia to European countries in transit through Ukraine is complicated and requires increased attention.

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

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🇷🇺🪖More statements from the Russian MoD daily briefing on the special military operation's progress:    

▪️Ukrainian forces lost up to 610 soldiers and two tanks in the Russian Tsentr Battlegroup's area of responsibility;

▪️Ukrainian losses in the Russian Yug combat group's area of responsibility amounted to 400 militants;

▪️Ukrainian troops lost more than 400 soldiers per day in the area of responsibility of the Russian Zapad Battlegroup;

▪️Ukrainian forces lost up to 155 soldiers in the area of responsibility of the Russian Vostok combat group;

▪️Russian air defense systems shot down 14 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones.

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The primary goal of the Russian delegation's visit to Tehran is to discuss transportation and logistics with Iran, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev.

Led by Deputy Prime Ministers Alexei Overchuk and Vitaly Savelyev, the Russian delegation has arrived in Tehran, where negotiations with Iran's president are scheduled.

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🛩 Rostec sends 'kings of the sky' to Russia's army

The United Aircraft Corporation (part of Russia's Rostec state arms corporation) has transferred another batch of Su-57 fighter jets and Su-34 bombers to Moscow's troops.

The multifunctional Su-57 is capable of hitting air, land and sea targets. The aircraft can be used around the clock, including in difficult weather conditions and interference conditions.

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❗️In the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian losses amounted to over 300 militants, Russia's Defense Ministry informed

Two tanks, including Abrams, were destroyed, the ministry added.

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📊 For the first time in its 3-year history of monetization, Telegram became profitable for 2024 showing impressive results:

💬 The number of Telegram Premium subscribers tripled, exceeding 12 million in revenue, which increased Telegram's total revenue up to more than $1 billion

💬 Telegram's cash reserves are up to $500 million

💬 A meaningful share of the $2 billion in debt was repaid, taking advantage of favorable prices for Telegram bonds

💬 This year saw innovations in monetization: (Stars, Gifts, Giveaways, Mini Apps, the Affiliate Platform, Telegram Business, and Telegram Gateway…) demonstrating that social media platforms can achieve financial sustainability while staying independent and respecting users' rights.

💬 Monetization proves that Telegram prioritizes its users

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Donald Trump has nominated Michael Duffey, an opponent of military aid to Ukraine, to the position of undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, according to the New York Times.

In 2019, at Duffey's request, the Pentagon blocked a $250 million military aid package for Ukraine.

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🇷🇺🛩 Strategic wings: Which aircraft form Russia's long-range aviation

December 23 marks Long-Range Aviation Day of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The military branch is part of the strategic reserve of the Russian Armed Forces and one of the three components of the country’s nuclear triad.

Let’s explore the aircraft currently in service in Russia’s long-range aviation:

🔶Tupolev Tu-160: A supersonic, variable-sweep wing, nuclear-capable heavy strategic bomber and airborne missile platform with a range of 14,000 km and a maximum speed of 2,200 km/h. The aircraft is armed with subsonic long-range cruise missiles and aero-ballistic short-range hypersonic missiles.

🔶Tupolev Tu-95MS: A four-engine, turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform with a range of 10,500 km and a maximum speed of 830 km/h. Armament includes cruise missiles, freefall bombs, and cannons.

🔶Tupolev Tu-22M3: A supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber with a range of 6,800 km and a maximum speed of 2,300 km/h. It is equipped with guided missiles, hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles, freefall bombs, and cannons.

🔶Mikoyan MiG-31: A supersonic interceptor aircraft and one of the fastest operational combat aircraft in the world, with a range of 3,300 km and a maximum speed exceeding 3,000 km/h. It is armed with air-to-air missiles, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and a cannon.

🔶Ilyushin Il-78: A four-engine strategic aerial refueling tanker with a range of 7,300 km and a maximum speed of over 850 km/h.

🔶Additional aircraft: Russia’s fleet also includes various trainers and transport planes.

The history of Russia's long-range aviation dates back to December 23, 1913, when the flight of the world’s largest four-engine heavy bomber, the Ilya Muromets, took place. These aircraft were part of the world’s first long-range bomber squadron, operational in Russia as of December 23, 1914.

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🇬🇧❌🎅UK says no to Christmas

Vendors at Christmas markets in London, UK, were banned from using the word “Christmas." Instead, they were told to stick to “Winter markets.”

"It's something to do with religion; they can't say 'Christmas'," a vendor told a journalist. 

In late November, UK PM Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of running an “open borders experiment” after new figures showed that net migration to the UK had hit a record high of nearly 1 million during the period covering Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s administrations.

However, Starmer himself faced criticism in July for failing to handle a crisis that triggered a wave of violent riots in Southport.

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