{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Vatican’s 'peace mission' said to involve mediation efforts on Ukraine

Sources in the Russian Orthodox Church said nobody was actively working to make this meeting happen

VATICAN, May 2. /TASS/. The Vatican’s peace mission mentioned earlier by Pope Francis is part of mediation efforts by the Holy See to help bring an end to the Ukrainian conflict, and the pontiff’s representatives may be sent to both Moscow and Kiev for this purpose, a Vatican official told TASS.

"These could be representatives of the [Vatican] Curia or diplomats," the official said. He recalled that the pope told reporters when traveling from Budapest on April 30 that the initiative was "not yet public." According to the official, the Holy See and Francis have always expressed their willingness to mediate peace, and the pontiff said he was ready to visit both capitals.

In a final Mass as he wrapped up his visit to Budapest on Sunday, the pope called on Hungarians to pray for the Russian and Ukrainian peoples. Later, Francis confirmed that he would be ready to do whatever it takes for a peace settlement. He also mentioned a "postponed" meeting with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, saying that this meeting must be held.

Sources in the Russian Orthodox Church said nobody was actively working to make this meeting happen.

Tags

Ukraine crisis Vatican

EU’s Borrell says bloc’s door will be closed for Georgia if it continues on same track

According to the EU top diplomat, EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Georgia and potential EU steps against its background

Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol kills 2, injures 22 — governor

The governor described the situation at the city’s Uchkuyevka area as grave

Poland at risk of direct confrontation with Russia, Belarus — Medvedev

According to the politician, "Poland's reckless actions, if rashly supported by its NATO allies, may have far-reaching dangerous consequences for the entire world"

Kiev regime suppresses family ties of Ukrainians, sending them to slaughter

Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev noted that "the long-suffering population of Ukraine is overwhelmingly Russian."

Russia will discuss possibility of joint Tu-204 aircraft production with Iran — ministry

Medvedev cites facts of Zelensky usurping power

As the Ukrainian president, he simply "hid in his drawer" 32 laws, thus violating the сonstitution, the Russian Security Council deputy chairman said

Ukraine sends mobilized soldiers to Avdeyevka area for reconnaissance — captive serviceman

The brigade’s command sends mobilized men, who have relatively little training, to the battlefield as "expendable material" to take on the main blow

Putin has no plans so far to take vacation in summer — Kremlin

Like all federal employees, the Russian president is entitled to a vacation, but Putin usually continues to work throughout the summer

BMP-3 combat vehicles start receiving drone suppression systems

The press service of High Precision Weapons company told TASS about it

Press review: Vietnam, Russia forge closer bonds and EU imposes fresh sanctions on Moscow

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, June 21st

Attempts to radicalize religious life should be curbed — Patriarch

The Trinity Sunday was chosen for a reason to attack churches in Dagestan and reveals "the devilish essence" of intentions of terrorists, the Patriarch noted

Seoul arms supplies to Ukraine depend on Russia-DPRK military cooperation — official

Seoul will lose its leverage over the Russian side in case Moscow hands over Pyongyang's military technologies, South Korea's national security adviser said

Loss of sovereignty fraught with risk of being dragged into was — Moldovan ex-president

Dodon expressed hope that the upcoming elections of president and parliament (due to be held this year and next year, respectively) will bring to power political forces, which value sovereignty and national interests more than geopolitical interests

Scholz wished to make secret deal with US on Nord Stream 2 — newspaper

According to the report, confidential papers confirm that the German chancellor "not only approved the project, but for years actively advocated it" and "by means of a dubious deal tried to prevent the United States from sanctions against the pipeline"

Russia to take measures to prevent Kiev’s attacks on energy facilities — foreign ministry

Ukrainian attacks at Russian energy infrastructure aimed at inflicting irreparable damage to the economy and creating the risk of a man-made disaster, Maria Zakharova said

EU’s 14 package of sanctions against Russia targets 27 cargo ships — EUobserver

All 27 vessels will be banned from entering ports and gateways of EU Member States, as well as from using a wide range of services related to maritime transport, according to the document

US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrives in South Korean port

It was joined by two Aegis-equipped destroyers, the Yonhap news agency said

Trophy T-64 tank wipes out Ukrainian positions near Chasov Yar

"Yesterday, the T-64 on which Maxim Likhachev surrendered departed on a combat mission near Chasov Yar," a security official in the Donetsk People’s Republic said

Press review: Putin comes out with peace plan and tough road ahead post-Ukraine summit

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, June 17th

Democrats may bring in new candidate if Biden performs bad in debate with Trump — Hersh

As the journalist has been told, Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, or J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, may replace US president in this scenario

Russia’s future depends on its army — Putin

More than 600 graduates took part in the meeting in the Kremlin

Russia’s upgraded Armata tank may get 152mm gun

The materials suggest that a potential enemy may create new-generation tanks at the turn of the 2030s, which will require an upgrade of T-14 Armata tanks

No such strikes as in Sevastopol should be — US lawmaker

"The only border our American military should be defending is our own border," Marjorie Taylor Greene said

Nearly 125 people hurt after Ukraine’s missile attack on Sevastopol — health ministry

According to Russian children’s rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova, five children are in critical condition

Hungarian PM says West's quest to defeat Russia in Ukrainian conflict hopeless

While blaming Russia for the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, Viktor Orban pointed out that the main reason for the conflict was Kiev's intention to join NATO

Biden will soon embroil US in World War Three — Trump

In former US President's opinion, Biden should be removed from his post as soon as possible

Trump vows to settle conflict in Ukraine before his inauguration

He also pledged to prevent World War Three

Orban speaks for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine

"I want in the first instance that the war ends and that the ceasefire regime is established," Prime Minister of Hungary said

Creative industries development to be discussed at Russia-Uzbekistan forum

The forum is being held in Vladivostok on June 24-25

Putin in touch with the military, social bloc after attack on Sevastopol — spokesman

According to the Russian defense ministry, the Kiev regime on Sunday stages a terrorist attack on civilian infrastructure in Sevastopol with the use of ATACMS tactical missiles carrying cluster munitions

Russia’s strikes hammer Ukrainian military airfields, mercenaries’ sites over week

Russia’s Southern Battlegroup improved its frontline positions and inflicted roughly 4,290 casualties on the Ukrainian army over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

Countries that recognize Palestine

US coalition’s drone attacks truck in Syria from Iraq, deaths reported — Russian military

Deaths and injuries among Syrian citizens were reported as a result

EU devises workaround to bypass Hungary’s veto on Ukraine support — Borrell

According to the EU top diplomat, Budapest, having earlier declined the use of Russian assets, should not take part in the decision on their use

Active phase of counterterrorist operation ended

In total, sixteen wounded people were delivered to the hospital in the regional capital, with thirteen police offers among them

Soyuz MS-26 manned spaceship to be launched on September 11 — crew commander

The spaceship will take the crew of the 72nd expedition, Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, and NASA’s oldest active astronaut Donald Pettit, to the International Space Station

Hungary to take no part in NATO mission in Ukraine — PM

According to Viktor Orban, "Hungary wants to remain an island of peace in Europe"

Putin’s visit to Asia became Washington’s worst fears coming true — US diplomat

Russian leader needed only four days to anger the US, ambassador of United States to Japan Rahm Emanuel said

Russia says its forces carried out precision strike on Ukrainian Air Force training base

The goal of the strike has been accomplished

Putin sees no need to include first strike concept in Russia’s nuclear doctrine

A retaliatory strike will be enough to destroy the enemy, Russian President said

US destroyed three Houthi drone boats in Red Sea

CENTCOM also reported that three ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden

Russian army starts active use of motorcycles to seize Ukrainian positions

These bikes helped five Russian servicemen take control of a Ukrainian strongpoint

Israeli jets target Hezbollah facilities in south Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces jets struck Hezbollah military structure in the area of Aitaroun, as well as infrastructure sites in the areas of Kfarkela and Khiam in southern Lebanon

DPRK visit gets Moscow-Pyongyang relations to unprecedentedly high level — Putin

The Russian president emphasized that "new horizons for productive cooperation on diverse tracks" are opening up for Russia and the DPRK

Five civilians killed, 26 others wounded in Ukrainian army’s shelling of DPR over week

Among those killed there were residents of Donetsk, which continues to be bombarded by the Ukrainian army, Denis Pushilin said

Skripals reluctant to appear at inquiry into death of Dawn Sturgess — lawyer

Sturgess’s family still want the Skripals to be kept on the list of possible witnesses

Putin hails Vietnam talks as productive, says Moscow expects to continue joint work

The Russian leader thanked the Vietnamese leadership "for a warm welcome and unforgettable hospitality"

One drone downed, two suppressed in Rostov Region

"Operative services are clarifying consequences on ground," Governor Vasily Golubev said

Police car comes under gunfire in Dagestani village

One police officer was wounded

Kiev’s attempts to drive Russian forces out of Kharkov Region will cost it dearly — Putin

The Russian president also said that Russia has no goal to approach Kharkov

Russia should be part of European security system — Orban

"Russia is different, its system and its society are not European," Prime Minister of Hungary noted

Medvedev puts equal mark between US authorities, bandera regime, ‘insane fanatics’

He also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished the soonest recovery to those injured

EU’s Borrell says bloc’s door will be closed for Georgia if it continues on same track

According to the EU top diplomat, EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Georgia and potential EU steps against its background

CSTO countries call for meaningful dialogue with Taliban — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, threats continue to emanate from the territory of Afghanistan as cells of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda terrorist groups are still present there

Houthis claim attacks against two ships — spokesman

"Both ships became targets because companies owned by them breached the ban on passing to ports of occupied Palestine," Yahya Saree said

Explosions heard in Ukraine’s capital Kiev

Air defenses were in operation

Houthis, Islamic Resistance in Iraq attack commercial vessels in Israel’s Haifa

The movement reported that its drones attacked Haifa-bound cattleship

Russia to insist on international reaction to missile attack on Sevastopol — diplomat

The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on charges of terrorism

Sevastopol declares state of emergency after Ukrainian attack

Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev issued instructions "to declare a state emergency in the city of Sevastopol until further notice"

Five militants killed in Dagestan during counterterrorist operation

NAC reported earlier that two militants were killed in Derbent, where the active phase of the counterterrorist operation ended

Two synagogues — in Derbent and Makhachkala — attacked by terrorists

"We call on the authorities to take the toughest measures against the bandits and murderers who committed this atrocious crime," Russian Jewish Congress said

Gazprom gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine reach 42.4 mln cubic meters

The transit line through Ukraine remains the only route to supply Russian gas to western and central European countries

Hungarian top diplomat says EU should focus on peace in Ukraine, not more military aid

Peter Szijjarto noted that he expected "a new battle between supporters of war and supporters of peace"

Russian strikes turn Western hardware into scrap metal — KCNA

"Russia's military edge is further assured on the Ukrainian battlefield," the news agency stressed

Russian troops should scale up FAB-3000 bomb strikes at key Ukrainian army sites — expert

"Considering a substantial strike effect of this munition, its use can be recognized as successful," Igor Korotchenko underlined

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians hiding from draft officers — NYT

Ukrainian men expressed fear of dying in the "bloody trench warfare", the newspaper reported

Ukraine to lose territories, NATO when all said and done — media

According to the publication, the Swiss conference has demonstrated that "international support for a forever war is waning and the time for ugly compromises is beginning"

Trump warns dollar to be displaced as number one world currency over Biden’s policy

It is noted that China is trying to displace the US dollar as the number one currency throughout the world

Orban calls for replacing Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president

Asked why he was against her serving a second term, the Hungarian PM cited "her low efficiency"

More than fifteen policemen killed in terrorist act in Dagestan

Several civilians were also killed as a result of the terrorist act, including Father Nikolay, who served for more than forty years in the Orthodox church in Derbent, Sergey Melikov added

Germany, Switzerland tied game at Euro 2024

They had the score as 1-1 in their match

Houthis claim attacking US aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in Red Sea

Additionally, the rebels attacked the Transworld Navigator bulk carrier with ballistic missiles in the Arabian Sea

India completes tests of reusable rocket

"With the objectives of RLV LEX accomplished, ISRO embarks into RLV-ORV, the orbital reusable vehicle," the ISRO stated

US supports Kiev regime’s crimes — Russian Ambassador

"Americans cannot sit overseas and escape responsibility for the blood and tears of innocent people," Anatoly Antonov noted

Ukraine lost Canadian armored combat vehicle Senator for the first time

At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a group strike on Ukrainian energy facilities and warehouses of Western aviation weapons overnight

Six militants killed in Dagestan — head of region

Sergey Melikov added that authorities will continue detecting sleeper cells

Five children in critical condition after Ukraine’s attack on Sevastopol — governor

According to the governor, seven adults are in critical condition

IN BRIEF: Up-to-date information about terror attack in Dagestan

June 24, 25 and 26 have been proclaimed days of mourning in Dagestan

Russian artillery crews disrupt Ukrainian units rotation

The artillery crew suppressed and destroyed Ukrainian manpower, enabling Russian assault units to improve the frontline position

Putin’s peace initiative is Russia’s fourth proposal on Ukraine, says top diplomat

Ukraine itself "destroyed its territorial integrity with the hands of those who came to power through a bloody state coup and began to impose Russophobic and Neo-Nazi rules," the top Russian diplomat stressed

People safely evacuated from church in Makhachkala, no one hurt - lawmaker

"The area around the church has ben mopped up," Artyom Bichayev said

EU foreign ministers to approve new anti-Russian sanctions

Ministers will discuss provision of military aid to Ukraine and the agreement on security guarantees intended to be signed by Brussels and Kiev on June 26

Japan was ready to attack Soviet Union in case Nazis captured Leningrad — archive

The Japanese were also collecting information about the Red Army in the Far East, including naval and military air bases and railroads

Russian plane makes observation flight over CIA, Pentagon and White House

A US State Department official confirmed that the path of the observation flight had been agreed by Washington and Moscow

Moscow plans to give adequate response if US closes Russian visa centers

"If such measures are implemented, the Russian side will give an adequate response," the diplomat emphasized

One policeman killed, one more wounded in attack on church and synagogue in Derbent

Efforts are being made to identify the attackers

Up to 100,000 people go missing in Russia every year, says official

As many as 70,000 to 100,000 people go missing in Russia every year and 25% of them are never found

UN calls on parties to conflict to avoid civilian casualties

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended condolences to Sevastopol residents

Foreigners planning to visit Russia allowed to undergo fingerprinting abroad

The procedure will be available in countries, whose list will later be compiled by the Russian government

Firefighters extinguished fire in Derbent synagogue

The press service of the Interior Ministry for Dagestan said earlier that the synagogue and the church were on fire in Derbent after the attack of militants

Russian foreign minister to discuss Eurasian security in Minsk

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to Minsk on June 24-25

Russia managing to provide for itself — Putin

In recent years, Russian has been living amid massive sanctions but has been managing to provide for itself both in terms of ensuring food and medicine supplies, according to the country’s authorities

Russian air defenses shoot down 33 Ukrainian drones over central Russia — Defense Ministry

On-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 2 UAVs over the territory of the Smolensk Region, 2 UAVs over the territory of the Lipetsk Region

Death toll from Ukraine’s attack on Sevastopol up to five — city governor

The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on charges of terrorism

Moscow doctors arriving in Sevastopol — governor

Specialists will "assess the condition of victims and evaluate the need and the possibility of transporting patients," Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said

US doubts likelihood of significant Ukrainian battlefield success — journalist Hersh

Seymour Hersh described US President Joe Biden’s foreign policy as a "disaster," as "Biden is continuing to send billions to Ukraine" and urging the US allies in NATO to do the same

Missile attack on civilians in Sevastopol cannot be justified — Patriarch Kirill

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the attack

Israel attacks facilities used by Hamas radicals in central Gaza Strip

"The terrorists operated from within buildings that previously served as an UNRWA headquarters and which the terrorists used as a shield for their terrorist activities," IDF said.

Vietnam sees US as strategic partner, foreign minister says

Kritenbrink visited Vietnam from June 21 to 22

Kremlin has no information about Ukrainian forces shooting down Russian aircraft

"Besides, after all, this is an issue that concerns the course of the special military operation," Dmitry Peskov noted