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Several Russian companies work on using digital assets in external settlements

Anatoly Aksakov also said that work is now underway in another important direction - the use of digital currencies in international payments

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Several Russian companies are working on mechanisms for international settlements using digital financial assets, which could be implemented this year, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market Anatoly Aksakov said on Wednesday.

"We have adopted a law under which digital financial assets can be used in international payments. I know that several organizations are now preparing mechanisms for implementing the adopted decisions. We expect that they will be implemented this year, we’ll see how they work. It’s quite possible that this will be a serious channel to replace fiat currencies in international transactions," he noted.

Aksakov also said that work is now underway in another important direction - the use of digital currencies in international payments. "They are actively used in international payments, but so far, they have not been legalized in any way. I hope that we will start doing it in the near future," he said.

Commercial deliveries of restyled Aurus Senat to start from 2025 — Acting Deputy PM

The restyled version of the Aurus Senat limousine was presented earlier today at the presidential inauguration ceremony

Ceasefire proposal envisages Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza

Al-Hayya said the proposal also paves the way for unhindered return of displaced persons to their homes

Top Russian, Sierra Leonean diplomats to discuss security, development issues in Moscow

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Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

According to the politician, the cause of the discussion on dispatching Western troops to Ukraine, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, is a "shameless calculation for political bonus points"

Hamas agrees to Gaza truce proposal

It hasn’t been reported under what conditions the radicals agreed to the proposal or whether the proposal they approved is the same as the one that was endorsed by Israel

US concocting latest counter-offensive narrative to justify aid to Kiev — DPR head

Denis Pushilin stressed that Ukraine would not be able to launch a new counteroffensive before 2025

Russia to defend its security, sovereignty by all means — deputy foreign minister

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Cuban president departs to Russia on working visit - administration

Miguel Diaz-Canel visit is "aimed at discussing priority issues on the bilateral agenda," the statement says

French ambassador to represent Paris at Putin’s inauguration — source

According to the source, Paris "took note of the results of the presidential election in Russia" in March

China to support peace conference on Ukraine approved by Moscow, Kiev — Xi

Chinese President stressed that China is neither the cause nor a party to the conflict

Russia hands over last RD-180 rocket engines to US under existing deal

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Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the French Army is "visibly concerned" over the growing number of French citizens killed in Ukraine

Ukrainian army last weekend tried to regain positions near LPR's Svatovo — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that on Easter Ukrainian troops opened fire on the territory of the LPR and positions of Russian troops

After drone attack on Kremlin Russia has no choice but to eliminate Zelensky — Medvedev

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, according to Dmitry Medvedev, "is not even needed for signing an instrument of unconditional surrender"

NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

According to the journalist, everything that Washington does shows that it wants this war

Detention of US soldier in Russia’s Vladivostok has no relation to espionage — diplomats

Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok that "not following the case of the US citizen closely"

Russia signals unfriendly countries by inviting ambassadors to inauguration — diplomat

"We assumed that some of them (ambassadors from unfriendly countries - TASS) would not come, which is what happened in the end," Sergey Ryabkov pointed out

French Foreign Ministry denies France sent troops to Ukraine

Earlier, media reports said that France had sent 1,500 troops to Ukraine, citing a statement by former US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Stephen Bryen

US envoy leaves Russia for certain amount of time — senior Russian diplomat

"The Foreign Ministry was told about this some time before the issue with inviting ambassadors to the inauguration ceremony of the Russian president was resolved," Sergey Ryabkov said

Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

He specified that his group took the helmet as proof of the elimination

Defense chief says Finland may reopen crossing points on Russian border

"The law is currently being finalized. It is expected to be submitted to parliament in one to two weeks. The law should enter into force very soon," the minister noted

Chinese President Xi supports Olympic truce initiative for 2024 Summer Games in Paris

Chinese President Xi Jinping is traveling to Europe for the first time in five years and he has scheduled visits to Paris, Belgrade and Budapest upon invitations of the leaders of France, Serbia and Hungary

West recognizes deteriorating situation in Ukraine — Lavrov

Western countries need to think how not to lose to Russia in the conflict, the minister said

Xi, Macron condemn Israeli assault on Rafah — Chinese Foreign Ministry

"The two heads of state stressed that an immediate and sustainable ceasefire is urgently needed to enable the delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip," the statement reads

NBC reports US soldier allegedly detained in Russia on suspicion of theft

The soldier is accused of stealing from a woman

Russia ready to engage in equal dialogue on security, strategic stability — Putin

The Russian leader emphasized that together with its partners in the Eurasian integration process and other sovereign centers of development, Russia would continue working to establish a multipolar world order and a system of equal and indivisible security

Kyrgyz president to attend SEEC meeting, Victory Day parade in Moscow

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Press review: Russia flexes nuclear muscle and Israel signals imminent offensive in Gaza

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Kremlin aide chides ambassadors that didn’t come to Putin’s inauguration

Such behavior "speaks volumes in and of itself," Yury Ushakov told reporters

US doesn’t plan to adjust nuclear posture due to Russia’s announced drills — official

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Australian Navy’s destroyer, helicopter impede Chinese drills in Yellow Sea — top brass

The Australian side "calls black white and lays the blame on someone else" in its comment on the incident, Zhang Xiaogang noted

US intensifying efforts to find replacement for Zelensky — SVR

It is reported that all those politicians may be sought-after were the situation on the front line to deteriorate sharply or if the need arises to replace Zelensky as soon as possible

Talking about sending troops to Ukraine Macron diverts public attention — Donetsk leader

Denis Pushilin highlighted that France needs to restore order, to deal with the sentiments, protests, changes that are now taking place in France itself

Putin formally takes office as Russian president for six-year term

After being sworn in, the head of state delivered a speech

Medvedev warns Russia will pull no punches with France in response to Macron

The politician also wrote, "In hostem omina licita," a Latin phrase that can roughly be translated as "everything is legal if it is done to an enemy"

Vladimir Putin to take his fifth presidential oath

China to look for ways of settling Ukrainian crisis jointly with France — Xi

Xi arrived on a state visit in France on Sunday

Russian embassy rejects accusations of Moscow’s involvement in cyberattacks on Czechia

The embassy made the statement after Russian Ambassador Alexander Zmeyevsky was summoned to the Czech Foreign Ministry

Russia holds final rehearsal of Victory Day Parade on Moscow’s Red Square

Participants in the special military operation in Ukraine will also march across Red Square

Polish judge asks for political asylum in Belarus

Tomasz Szmydt noted that he currently considers returning to Poland impossible, including due to safety reasons

Russian forces knock out Ukrainian troops from two strongholds in LPR — expert

The situation near Belogorovka remains "stably tense," Andrey Marochko said

Thousands of trucks crowding on EU and Russia borders — newspaper

The record high queue is registered at the moment at the Terekhovo - Burachki border crossing between Latvia and Russia

US citizen detained in northwest Moscow on charges of petty hooliganism

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Macron’s Ukraine troop talk ego-driven, not strategic — Marine Le Pen

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Ukrainian counteroffensive unfeasible despite arms promises — Estonian military expert

In May, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that the total losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in 2024 surpassed 111,000 troops and 21,000 units of arms and military hardware

State Duma bans foreign agents from acting as candidates, observers during elections

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China to never forget NATO bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade — Xi Jinping

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Israeli tanks enter Rafah in south Gaza — newspaper

IDF said it was delivering targeted strikes on Hamas facilities in the eastern part of Rafah

Israel to continue Rafah operation, also sending negotiators to Cairo — premier’s office

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Infrastructural facility damaged after Ukrainian drone attack — official

Emergency teams will start recovering efforts after agreeing upon with the Russian Defense Ministry, Vyacheslav Gladkov noted

Russian troops liberate Ocheretino community in DPR — top brass

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Russian Foreign Ministry tells French ambassador Paris’ policies destructive

Pierre Levy was told that the French authorities' attempts to create some kind of "strategic uncertainty" for Russia with their "irresponsible statements about the possible dispatch of Western military contingents to Ukraine are doomed to fail"

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FACTBOX: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biography

Since June 12, 2013, Putin has been the leader of the non-governmental movement All-Russia People’s Front, created at his initiative as a coalition of social and political forces

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British envoy reiterates London’s course on aiding Kiev will continue — Foreign Office

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Slovakia’s charge d'affaires to attend inauguration of Russian President — TASR

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Zelensky's authority dwindling as term clock ticks down — Russian intel agency

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UK Ministry of Defense subjected to major cyberattack — Sky News

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Israel’s operation in Rafah comes as response to attack on border crossing — diplomat

Yulia Rachinsky-Spivakov said that Israel, together with its international partners, has created a humanitarian zone, providing safety and vital infrastructure for displaced Gaza residents

FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

Hitler's former adjutant Otto Guensche was captured during the battle of Berlin in April-May 1945 and, while being kept in custody in an investigative prison in Moscow, presented a firsthand account of what was happening at Hitler's headquarters in the last months of the war

US election results to not affect desire to inflict strategic defeat on Russia — Lavrov

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Lavrov, senior Serbian officials discuss Kosovo, top-level dialogue

Particular attention was paid to the situation in the Balkans, the Kosovo problem resolution, and the situation in and around Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Russian Foreign ministry said

IDF takes control of Rafah crossing on Gaza-Egypt border from enclave’s side

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Putin says Russia had to use force to defend people in Donbass as peaceful means failed

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Xi Jinping’s visit to Belgrade has huge importance for Serbia — president

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US seeking to throw Balts, Poles, Germans, French ‘into fire of war’ — Medvedchuk

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West plotted aggression against Russia on eve of special military operation — top brass

"History repeats itself," Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Intelligence Department, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Hero of Russia Admiral Kostyukov said

New Russian combat equipment in 2024

Trump develops plan on peaceful resolution in Ukraine — Telegraph

Former US President will not reveal it until the election, the Daily Telegraph reported

Russian government to receive 'acting' status until new cabinet approved

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Putin’s inauguration to be aired at noon on May 7 — TV channel

US may send troops to Ukraine if Kiev defeated, Democratic leader says

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Kremlin refrains from speculating on preferred successor to Zelensky

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Islamic Resistance in Iraq attacks Israeli airbase in Eilat

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UK government’s delegate to skip Putin’s inauguration

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Latvian Air Force chief says Ukraine could have to give up some territory for sovereignty

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Russia's opponents tried to destroy it from within, but failed — Putin

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Sri Lanka decides to keep free visas for tourists from Russia, six other countries

"It was confirmed that the free visa service currently offered to citizens of seven countries, India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia will continue," the government of Sri Lanka said

Launch of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner manned spacecraft postponed

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Zelenodolsk shipyard floats two warships

Project 22160 ships are designed to guard and protect maritime economic zone

Diplomats from friendly countries only invited to May 9 parade — Kremlin aide

The heads of structures of the CIS, the Union State of Russia and Belarus, the CSTO, the EAEU, the SCO, "heads of diplomatic missions of friendly states, as well as military attaches from friendly states" have been invited to attend, Yury Ushakov said

Russian troops to practice employing non-strategic nuclear weapons in missile drills

The missile drills will aim to maintain troop combat posture and will also come as a response to inflammatory statements and threats by some Western officials against Russia, the ministry specified

West’s latest escalation in Ukraine requires Russian response — Kremlin

"Deploying NATO soldiers to confront the Russian military in the latest escalation of tensions is an unprecedented move, and, of course, it requires special attention and special measures," Dmitry Peskov said

Insolent western policy makes Russia hold tactical nukes drills — ambassador

"We do not threaten anyone. However, the strategists in Washington and their satellites have gone nuts but must understand that Russia will use all the means to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the rising stakes," Anatoly Antonov said

Russian military intel declassifies WWII documents, hands them over to Victory Museum

"This is the first time in history that reports of the heads of military intelligence and cipher telegrams from foreign hubs in Germany on preparations for an attack on the Soviet Union are shown here," Igor Kostyukov said

Top UK diplomat knows nothing of repentance, Lavrov says

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Putin may propose candidate for prime minister as early as today — spokesman

Dmitry Peskov recalled that after the inauguration, the Russian government resigned and the members of the Cabinet continued to work in the status of acting ministers

Russia aims to avoid escalation but will not bend to Western pressure — senior diplomat

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US not to send troops to Ukraine — Department of State spokesman

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Draft Israel-Hamas deal envisages release of all hostages

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day

Southern neighbors of US to regain stolen lands — Russian Security Council’s secretary

Nikolay Patrushev speculates that country may split into the North and the South again to get back to its original shape

UK ambassador leaves Russian MFA after being summoned

The diplomat, who spent more than 30 minutes at the ministry, provided no comment as he was leaving

What we know about Israel’s military operation in Gaza’s Rafah

The Israeli army announced that it had "eliminated about 20 terrorists" of Hamas since the launch of the operation

Two more Ukrainian drones shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

This happened in a period from 8:10 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Moscow time