Russia

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed with Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns Russian-US relations, the diplomatic crisis, regional conflicts and cybersecurity in a phone conversation, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.

"Such a phone conversation did take place," he said in response to a corresponding question.

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/: Russia’s Ministry of Energy has confirmed the death of its former minister Sergei Shmatko, aged 55. Nikolai Shulginov, the current minister, has offered his condolences.

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/: Russia and Germany have good prospects for the expansion of cooperation in the energy area amid the global energy transition, Head of the State Duma (lower house) energy committee Pavel Zavalny said at the Russian-German Potsdam Meetings conference held in Moscow on Monday.

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/: Moscow has denounced the failed terrorist plot to assassinate Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Baghdad in the fight against terrorism, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday. 

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/: The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is ready to be launched, deputy department head of Gazprom Alexei Finikov said on Monday.

"The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been completed and is ready for a start," he said.

Construction of the Nord Stream 2 ended on September 10, 2021. The gas line consists of two strings with the total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters per year from the Russian coast across the Baltic Sea to Germany.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russians went back to work on Monday after a nine-day hiatus ordered by the authorities to tame a record-breaking surge of coronavirus infections and deaths.

Despite the drastic move, the daily tallies of new cases and COVID-19 deaths remained high throughout the non-working period. Officials in the Kremlin argued Monday that it was too early to tell whether the measure had the desired effect.

“Too early to draw a conclusion. It will be clear in about a week,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the summit of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies that will run via a videoconference on November 12, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS on Sunday.

"Yes, it is being planned," Peskov said in response to a question about whether the Russian leader was expected to deliver a speech at the APEC summit on November 12.

SEVASTOPOL, November 7. /TASS/: The air defense team of the Black Sea Fleet’s frigate Admiral Essen held drills to protect a naval base from a notional enemy missile strike, the Fleet’s press ofice reported on Sunday.

MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/: Confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia grew by 39,165 in the past 24 hours to 8,795,095, the federal anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Sunday. The coronavirus growth rate equaled 0.45%, the latest figures show.

In particular, 2,551 new coronavirus cases were identified in the past day in St. Petersburg, 1,695 in the Samara Region, 796 in the Voronezh Region, 790 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region and 783 in the Republic of Crimea, the crisis center reported.

MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/: US and NATO guided missile ships that enter the Black Sea are attempting to test the strength of Russia’s Black Sea coast and southern border protection, Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said on Sunday.