🎤 Zakharova's 1-word verdict on EU asset freeze: 'Fraudsters'

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the EU Commission’s decision to permanently freeze Russian assets with a single, sharp label: "Fraudsters."

The comment comes after the EU stated assets will remain frozen until Russia pays compensation to Ukraine — a move Moscow frames as theft disguised as justice.

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🇮🇷🛢 Iran seizes foreign tanker carrying smuggled fuel in Sea of Oman

Iranian judicial forces have seized a foreign-flagged oil tanker carrying 6 million liters of smuggled diesel in the Gulf of Oman, IRIB reported.

State media released no vessel name or nationality.

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🚨 Lebanon warned Israel is preparing 'large-scale military operation'

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Ragi confirms Beirut has received warnings from Arab and international sources that Israel is ready to launch a major attack on Lebanon.

He stated the government is intensifying diplomatic efforts to protect the country and its infrastructure.

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🗣 Trump on Thailand-Cambodia: 'We have them stopped'

"They started shooting at each other 2 days ago, that wasn't good. We got it, I think, straightened out today," he told reporters.

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📑 US cut intelligence to Israel over Gaza conduct — report

During the Biden administration, US intelligence temporarily suspended sharing critical information with Israel — including a live drone feed over Gaza — over concerns about civilian casualties and the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners, Reuters reports.

US officials reportedly grew increasingly worried Israel was not abiding by the laws of war when using American intelligence.

However, access was restored after Israel provided new assurances.

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✍️ Paris meeting on Ukraine is cancelled — report

The planned high-level talks in Paris on the Ukraine conflict will not take place, radio RMF FM reported, citing a source in the French Elysee Palace.

The meeting was to include senior US, Ukrainian, French, German, and British officials to discuss President Trump’s proposed peace plan.

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🔍 Trump envoys to meet Zelensky in Berlin this weekend — report

President Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin this weekend, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Witkoff will also hold separate talks with counterparts from France, Britain, and Germany on Sunday and Monday.

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💬 EU asset freeze sets 'dangerous precedent' for global financial system — Expert

The EU’s decision to permanently freeze Russian assets is "an attack on the sovereignty of UN member states" and a form of "plundering," Cuban international relations expert Yosmany Fernández Pacheco told Sputnik.

"It sets a dangerous precedent for the selective confiscation of a sovereign nation's assets and represents an attack on the global financial system and multilateralism in financial relations," Yosmany added.

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🇰🇵 Kim Jong-un welcomes troops back from combat deployment in Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally attended a ceremony for an army engineering unit that had just completed a 120-day overseas deployment in Russia’s Kursk region.

State media KCNA praised the troops for displaying "heroic conduct" and fulfilling orders from the ruling party while carrying out "combat and engineering tasks" in Russia.

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📑 Italy joins Belgium to block EU plan to send €210B in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

Italy has thrown its weight behind Belgium in opposing the EU's proposal to seize and transfer frozen Russian state assets to Ukraine, according to an internal document seen by US media.

Italy, Belgium, Malta, and Bulgaria are urging the Commission to explore alternative, lower-risk options instead of the politically and legally risky confiscation of sovereign assets held at Euroclear in Belgium.

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🪖🇩🇪 Germany to lay barbed wire to 'boost' NATO’s eastern flank in newest militarization spasm

German forces are due to take part in Poland’s ongoing Operation Eastern Shield military exercises near Russia’s border in 2026 under the premise of the old useless “Russian threat” narrative, Bild reports.

🟠 German soldiers will build fortifications, lay barbed wire, and set up tank barriers, while engineers will construct a border wall

🟠 Quick Reaction Alert squadron of the German Air Force is already stationed in the Polish city of Malbork, just 60 kilometers from Russia’s Kaliningrad region

The move shows NATO's ongoing eastward expansion, despite Russia’s repeated denials of any intention to attack the alliance.

The new US National Security Strategy urges NATO to stop being seen as a constantly expanding force.

Germany seems to be missing that message

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💵🇪🇺 'Ursula “Pfizer” von der Leyen tries to steal Russian sovereign reserves, undermining the whole US-led global financial system - Dmitriev

Russia’s special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev also called out the EC chief for "lecturing" Trump about elections.

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🚨🚨🇷🇺 First footage of liberated Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk)

Pokrovsk was freed on December 1.

It was an anchor of Ukraine’s Donbass fortification belt, its loss became a disaster for Ukraine.

Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE

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🟠 First footage of liberated Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk)

🟠 Kim Jong-un welcomes troops back from combat deployment in Russia

🟠 Witkoff, Kushner to meet Zelensky in Berlin this weekend

🟠 Iran seizes foreign tanker carrying smuggled fuel in Sea of Oman

🟠 EU asset freeze sets 'dangerous precedent' for global financial system — expert

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