🇷🇺🇹🇷 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone conversation, reported the office of the President of Turkiye.

Following the conversation, the Kremlin revealed that the two leaders discussed:

✅ Reviving the Black Sea Initiative, which has yet to be fully realized.

✅ Cooperation in various fields, including energy.

✅ A dialogue with the US on the Ukrainian settlement and the normalization of relations between Washington and Moscow.

✅ Provocations by the Ukrainian regime, attempting to attack Russia's energy infrastructure.

✅ The situation in Syria.

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❗️Russian troops have liberated the settlement of Gogolevka in Russia's Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

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🗣 Disintegration of Syria would only benefit Israel - Iranian foreign minister

"The entire Middle East is our strategic field, and each country in it has its significance. Regarding the recent events in Syria, our main concern is the stability of the Syrian state, the preservation of its unity, and territorial integrity. This is of crucial importance, not only for us but for the entire Middle East," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

"The disintegration of Syria poses a great danger... I believe that the disintegration of Syria would only benefit Israel and its regime," he added.

In late November 2024, opposition forces launched a major offensive, capturing Damascus and forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee. On the same day, Israeli forces took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the 1974 separation agreement void after Syrian troops withdrew, and Israel began airstrikes on Syrian military sites. He also insisted on maintaining control over southern Syria and demanded full demilitarization of the region.

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❗️The Ukrainian regime has destroyed the Sudzha gas measurement station with a HIMARS strike, Russia's Ministry of Defense reported.

The ministry released a video showing the burning station.

It emphasized that Ukraine’s public commitments to halt attacks on Russian civilian energy infrastructure are yet another trick by Zelensky.

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❗️Russian troops have liberated the Krasnoye Pervoye settlement in the Kharkov region, Russia's Defense Ministry announced.

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🔍 New US-Ukraine deal: Pay back $120 bln, keep the change

A new agreement between Ukraine and the US regarding mineral resources requires Kiev to REPAY ALL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED, which could exceed $120 billion, a Ukrainian newspaper has reported.

This includes military, financial, and humanitarian aid provided since February 2022. While the exact amount is still to be determined, estimates range from $114 billion to over $120 billion. The repaid funds will be deposited into a US-controlled recovery fund for Ukraine, counting as the US contribution.

Ukraine is also required to contribute to this fund with 50% of its budget revenues from mineral licenses, royalties, and infrastructure projects directed toward it. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the US presented this new agreement, detailing the creation of the investment fund. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the agreement could be signed as early as next week.

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

▪️Russian troops liberated 5 settlements.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 3,355 soldiers, four tanks and 26 armored fighting vehicles in the areas of responsibility of Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 1,000 troops in the areas of responsibility of Russia's Battlegroup Vostok.

▪️Russian air defenses shot down two MiG-29 fighters.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 2,035 militants and four tanks in the Russian Yug Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 1,640 servicemen in the Russian Zapad Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 545 troops and two tanks in the Russian Dnepr Battlegroup's combat zone.

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