Russia

MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/: Russia is not going to lose its leading constructive role in the settlement of conflicts in the post-Soviet space, as it is Moscow’s historical duty, the director of the pan-European cooperation department at the Russian Foreign Ministry Nikolay Kobrinets told TASS in an interview.

"We are not going to lose our constructive role in settling conflicts in the post-Soviet area. This is our historical responsibility. And we will satisfy it despite any obstacles the European Union throws our way," he said.

MOSCOW, March 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Russian deputy prime minister said Thursday he hoped Moscow and Beijing would sign a contract to build the massive Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline by the end of the year.

Moscow is looking to pivot gas exports to countries which have not imposed sanctions targeting its energy sector, one of many hit by the measures since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine last year.

MOSCOW, March 24 (Reuters) - Russia wants to create demilitarised buffer zones inside Ukraine around areas it has annexed, an ally of President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying it might be necessary to push deeper into Ukraine if such zones cannot be set up.

More than a year into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin's core war aims remain unfulfilled despite Russian control of nearly a fifth of the country.

MOSCOW, March 24 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Friday said it was important to identify an object discovered next to one of the Nord Stream pipelines, and said the ongoing investigation into blasts that struck the pipelines last September must be conducted with full transparency.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also told reporters it was a positive sign that Denmark had invited the Russian-controlled operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to help salvage an unidentified object found close to the Baltic Sea pipelines.

23 Mar 2023; MEMO: Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday held a phone call with Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the first telephone conversation between the two countries' leaders since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Kremlin said, Anadolu News Agency reports.

According to a statement, the two sides reviewed the current status of the Russia-Oman interaction and its development prospects.

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/: The West tried to hit Russian citizens themselves with sanctions, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Thursday in his annual government report to the State Duma.

"In the very beginning, the West tried to assure us that the sanctions were not aimed against our citizens. At that time there were no illusions about it, but now even a person far from global politics understands: the main target was the Russian people," the head of the Russian Cabinet of Ministers pointed out.

SOCHI, March 23. /TASS/: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted positive dynamics in the sphere of military and military-technical cooperation with Burundi.

"We have good contacts in the line of law enforcement agencies. Burundian representatives traditionally take part in the annual special meetings of high representatives in charge of security issues. There is a positive dynamic in the sphere of military and military-technical ties," the Russian top diplomat pointed out on Thursday at a press conference following talks with Burundian counterpart Albert Shingiro.

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/: There are situations where agreements are counterproductive and one needs to take steps like launching a special military operation, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with Russian media outlets, including TASS, and users of the VKontakte social media network.

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the Kremlin press service reported.

This was the first telephone conversation between the two countries’ leaders since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The call was initiated by Oman.

MOSCOW, March 23 (Reuters) - Any attempt to arrest President Vladimir Putin after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for the Kremlin chief would amount to a declaration of war against Russia, his ally Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant on Friday, accusing Putin of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. It said there are reasonable grounds to believe that Putin bears individual criminal responsibility.