Putin’s meeting with Trump in Washington out of question — Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s possible meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in Washington is out of question in the current situation, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, adding that the best option would be a meeting on the margins of an international summit.
According to the Kremlin spokesman, the topic of Putin’s possible visit to the United States was raised at the two leaders’ talks in Helsinki this summer. "Back then, this possibility was looked at but now it is out of question. No one says a word about it because now general prospects for their next meeting are unclear," he said. "Critical mass of dialogue is needed for that, but now it is lacking."
"De facto, the easiest option is to meet on the sidelines of international multilateral forums," he said. "The next such event will be held in Osaka. It will be the next Group of Twenty summit, in six months. And it is an untenable pause both for our bilateral relations and for international security and stability."
Dialogue with US stalls despite 'homework on either side, says Kremlin
The Kremlin regrets that Russia and the United States have so far not been very successful in developing bilateral dialogue, despite the "homework" on either side, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
"The dialogue has indeed stalled, in spite of certain plans and certain homework on either side," he said.
Peskov stressed that decisions to hold bilateral contacts had been "reversed at the last moment" on numerous occasions, "despite the existence of a range of very important, strategically important issues." "This is regrettable," the Kremlin spokesman concluded.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump were to have negotiations at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires held from November 30 to December 1. However, on Thursday, the US president tweeted that he had decided to cancel his meeting with Putin in the wake of the Kerch Strait incident.
Nevertheless, Putin talked briefly to his US counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina.
Kremlin ready for new Putin-Trump meeting, but won't impose itself and persuade Washington
The Kremlin is ready to hold a new meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, but it is not going to impose itself and urge the White House, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
"The Russian side is ready for a conversation [with the US] and believes the contact at the high level to be very important, but still we will not persuade the American side and impose ourselves," he noted. "It all depends on the Americans now."
According to the Kremlin official, US National Security Advisor John Bolton told him in Argentina of the readiness to continue contacts in his area of responsibility.
Ushakov reiterated that the two countries have disagreements, but they have always been, even in the Soviet era. "Still, it was not an obstacle to serious talks and achieving all the more serious results in the strategic sphere and in the sphere of security," he stressed. "As we understood the Americans, they are ready for these contacts, but it is still hard to say when and where these contacts will be held," the presidential aide added.
He noted that a tension over the two leaders’ meeting created a unique situation when experts and media representatives are "guessing" about whether this meeting will take place.
"It is just necessary to hold this meeting, and that’s that," Ushakov said. "It’s not working out yet."
The issue concerns a full-fledged summit, the Kremlin official said. "Contacts ‘on the move’ are very useful, but a serious conversation is needed, and we were ready for this conversation, including in relation to the [G20] summit," he added.
Putin to hold talks with Maduro on December 5 — Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold full-scale talks with Venezuela’s visiting President Nicolas Maduro in Moscow on December 5, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Tuesday.
"Putin and Maduro will have a one-on-one meeting first. Wider Russian-Venezuelan talks will follow," Peskov said.
Earlier, the Venezuelan embassy in Russia told TASS that Maduro at his meeting with Putin was going to discuss joint projects and bilateral relations. Venezuela’s Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo said Venezuela’s public company PDVSA had plans for joint projects with Rosneft, one of the largest investors into the Venezuelan economy. Currently the two companies work on several joint exploration and production projects in Venezuela: Petromiranda, Petrovictoria, Petromonagas, Boqueron and Petroperija. According to Rosneft, these projects’ overall geological reserves are estimated at more than 20.5 billion tonnes. Also, the companies have a joint oilfield service venture, Perforosven.
Venezuelan president arrives in Moscow to meet with Putin
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro arrived in Moscow on Tuesday to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, a spokesman for the Venezuelan Embassy in Russia informed TASS.
"The president’s plane has landed," he said.
Maduro earlier announced his planned to visit Russia and hold negotiations with the Russian president on December 5 on his Twitter account. The Kremlin confirmed that this meeting would take place.
The Venezuelan Embassy earlier told TASS that the parties were expected to discuss the implementation of some joint projects.
Putin discusses new summit on Syria with Turkish, German leaders — Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel a possible new summit on Syria between Russia, Turkey, Germany and France, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday.
"We agreed with Erdogan and Merkel that if needed another forum may be convened with the participation of Putin, Erdogan, Merkel and [French President Emmanuel] Macron," Ushakov said. Speaking on the venue of this summit, he said it could be held in other city than Istanbul. "That’s because the leaders probably won’t wish to meet in Istanbul all the time."
According to the Kremlin aide, the particular venue would be agreed on simultaneously with discussing the date. "There is only preliminary readiness of the three countries’ leaders for this meeting," he noted.
Putin did not discuss this issue with Macron of late, Uskakov added.
Russia to hold over 4,000 war games in 2019, says defense chief
The Russian Defense Ministry plans to hold more than 4,000 drills and roughly 8,500 practical combat training events throughout 2019, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on a conference call on Tuesday.
"Next year is going to be extremely busy. Over 4,000 various types of drills and nearly 8,500 practical combat training events are scheduled. The main focus will be placed on applying expertise in the use of troops in today’s armed conflicts and training commanders to effectively address non-standard tasks," the minister stated.
Shoigu added that the Defense Ministry would continue to practice snap combat readiness checks. "This form of monitoring makes it possible to pinpoint problems that are not very visible in everyday life," he stressed.
On December 3, the Russian Armed Forces shifted to its winter schedule of training. The defense chief noted that a lot of preparatory work had been done in the army before the start of the new training period.
The conference call with the defense minister was held at the National Defense Control Center, and was attended by area and combat arms commanders, as well as representatives of the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Primorsky and Smolensk Regions.
As for his meeting with regional representatives, Shoigu addressed possible solutions regarding the social problems of servicemen and their families, along with the development of the Young Army movement, and progress in constructing and arranging Patriot Park branches in their regions.
About 400 military policemen return to Chechnya from Syria
Military police battalion of the Southern Military District that performed tasks in Syria has returned to its home base in Chechnya, head of the Southern Military District’s press service Vadim Astafyev reported on Tuesday.
"About 400 servicemen of the military police battalion of the 58th combined arms army have returned to their home base in Chechnya from Syria," Astafyev said.
He specified that since August the battalion has performed tasks to guard important facilities of the Russian army in Syria, ensure public order and security for civilians in the liberated communities and follow humanitarian convoys and ensure security when conducting humanitarian missions.
The police arrived by planes of the military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force to the Mozdok airfield in North Ossetia.
The ceremony at which ministerial and state awards will be given to distinguished servicemen will be held on December 7 at the home station of the military unit.
WATCH Kalibr Cruise Missile Launch From Russian Nuclear Submarine
Russian ship- and submarine-launched cruise missiles are capable of striking enemy ships hundreds of kilometres away with incredible precision. Some of the missile's versions are even capable of penetrating ships' defences by reaching supersonic speeds while approaching the target.
The Russian Navy has reported a successful launch of 3M-54 Kalibr (NATO reporting name SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missile carried out by the Severodvinsk nuclear-powered submarine currently stationed in the Barents Sea. The launch, which was part of military drills, hit a target, situated some 700 kilometres away.
"The battle exercise was performed from the sea's surface at one of the Barents Sea ranges. The launched missile targeted an objective in the Chizha range in the Arkhangelsk region," the navy's press service reported.
Kalibr is a ship- and submarine anti-ship cruise missile, capable of hitting targets up to several hundred kilometres away (depending on modifications) carrying up to 450-kilogramme warheads. Some of its versions can reach supersonic speeds during terminal stages to prevent it from being downed by a ship's anti-missile defences.
Tank Race at -20Cº: Uralvagonzavod Pays Homage to Its Eminent Tank Inventor
On Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX-2018) opening day, one of its participants, the Russian tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod, celebrates the 120th birthday of the eminent inventor of T-34 tanks, Mikhail Koshkin.
UVZ paid homage to the designer with an unusual competition; for the first time in history, a drag race of three generations of tanks, T-34, T-72 and T-90C, was held at a proving ground in the far-off Urals region in the blistering —20Cº cold. All these military vehicles are the trademark of the manufacturer from Russia.
Director general of Uralvagonzavod, Alexander Potapov, who is now in Egypt at the EDEX-2018 arms and defense fair, commented on the occasion of Mikhail Koshkin 120th birthday stressing that Egypt was one of the first Arab countries to receive the T-34.
"Mikhail Koshkin is reckoned, certainly, as one of the founders of the national tank-building school and his Victory Tank is the progenitor of modern tanks. All the models that were manufactured in our factories in the post-war period have soaked up, one way or another, the design and combat experience of the legendary T-34. Besides, let me remind you that the T-34 was among the first tanks that were widely exported, and Egypt was one of the first Arab countries to accept it for service."
Mikhail Koshkin invented the T-34 in 1939. Its design simplicity and reliability have become one of the feats of engineering of the 20th century. To this day, T-34 is the most notable Soviet tank, as well as one of the best tanks and the most recognizable symbol of the Second World War. Many experts acknowledged its superiority in terrain crossing capacity, maneuverability, and mobility.
Its latest modification, the T-35-85 tank, is still in service with some countries. Since 1955, it was supplied to the Egyptian Armed Forces by the USSR along with other military equipment.
Uralvagonzavod participates in the EDEX-2018 show as a member of the Russian joint display exposition of Rosoboronexport.
Two other participants of the "Ural Race", tanks of the T-72 and T-90 generations, — in their most modern modifications — will be demonstrated at the UVZ exposition at the Egypt International Exhibition Center on 3-5 December 2018.
One killed, three injured in blast near Moscow — source
One person was killed and three others were injured when an explosion hit a residential house in the Moscow Region on Tuesday, a local law enforcement source said.
"In one of apartments in the residential house in the Kurovskoye village a clap occurred, and one person was killed and three others were wounded," the source said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s possible meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in Washington is out of question in the current situation, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, adding that the best option would be a meeting on the margins of an international summit.
According to the Kremlin spokesman, the topic of Putin’s possible visit to the United States was raised at the two leaders’ talks in Helsinki this summer. "Back then, this possibility was looked at but now it is out of question. No one says a word about it because now general prospects for their next meeting are unclear," he said. "Critical mass of dialogue is needed for that, but now it is lacking."
"De facto, the easiest option is to meet on the sidelines of international multilateral forums," he said. "The next such event will be held in Osaka. It will be the next Group of Twenty summit, in six months. And it is an untenable pause both for our bilateral relations and for international security and stability."
Dialogue with US stalls despite 'homework on either side, says Kremlin
The Kremlin regrets that Russia and the United States have so far not been very successful in developing bilateral dialogue, despite the "homework" on either side, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
"The dialogue has indeed stalled, in spite of certain plans and certain homework on either side," he said.
Peskov stressed that decisions to hold bilateral contacts had been "reversed at the last moment" on numerous occasions, "despite the existence of a range of very important, strategically important issues." "This is regrettable," the Kremlin spokesman concluded.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump were to have negotiations at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires held from November 30 to December 1. However, on Thursday, the US president tweeted that he had decided to cancel his meeting with Putin in the wake of the Kerch Strait incident.
Nevertheless, Putin talked briefly to his US counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina.
Kremlin ready for new Putin-Trump meeting, but won't impose itself and persuade Washington
The Kremlin is ready to hold a new meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, but it is not going to impose itself and urge the White House, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
"The Russian side is ready for a conversation [with the US] and believes the contact at the high level to be very important, but still we will not persuade the American side and impose ourselves," he noted. "It all depends on the Americans now."
According to the Kremlin official, US National Security Advisor John Bolton told him in Argentina of the readiness to continue contacts in his area of responsibility.
Ushakov reiterated that the two countries have disagreements, but they have always been, even in the Soviet era. "Still, it was not an obstacle to serious talks and achieving all the more serious results in the strategic sphere and in the sphere of security," he stressed. "As we understood the Americans, they are ready for these contacts, but it is still hard to say when and where these contacts will be held," the presidential aide added.
He noted that a tension over the two leaders’ meeting created a unique situation when experts and media representatives are "guessing" about whether this meeting will take place.
"It is just necessary to hold this meeting, and that’s that," Ushakov said. "It’s not working out yet."
The issue concerns a full-fledged summit, the Kremlin official said. "Contacts ‘on the move’ are very useful, but a serious conversation is needed, and we were ready for this conversation, including in relation to the [G20] summit," he added.
Putin to hold talks with Maduro on December 5 — Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold full-scale talks with Venezuela’s visiting President Nicolas Maduro in Moscow on December 5, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Tuesday.
"Putin and Maduro will have a one-on-one meeting first. Wider Russian-Venezuelan talks will follow," Peskov said.
Earlier, the Venezuelan embassy in Russia told TASS that Maduro at his meeting with Putin was going to discuss joint projects and bilateral relations. Venezuela’s Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo said Venezuela’s public company PDVSA had plans for joint projects with Rosneft, one of the largest investors into the Venezuelan economy. Currently the two companies work on several joint exploration and production projects in Venezuela: Petromiranda, Petrovictoria, Petromonagas, Boqueron and Petroperija. According to Rosneft, these projects’ overall geological reserves are estimated at more than 20.5 billion tonnes. Also, the companies have a joint oilfield service venture, Perforosven.
Venezuelan president arrives in Moscow to meet with Putin
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro arrived in Moscow on Tuesday to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, a spokesman for the Venezuelan Embassy in Russia informed TASS.
"The president’s plane has landed," he said.
Maduro earlier announced his planned to visit Russia and hold negotiations with the Russian president on December 5 on his Twitter account. The Kremlin confirmed that this meeting would take place.
The Venezuelan Embassy earlier told TASS that the parties were expected to discuss the implementation of some joint projects.
Putin discusses new summit on Syria with Turkish, German leaders — Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel a possible new summit on Syria between Russia, Turkey, Germany and France, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday.
"We agreed with Erdogan and Merkel that if needed another forum may be convened with the participation of Putin, Erdogan, Merkel and [French President Emmanuel] Macron," Ushakov said. Speaking on the venue of this summit, he said it could be held in other city than Istanbul. "That’s because the leaders probably won’t wish to meet in Istanbul all the time."
According to the Kremlin aide, the particular venue would be agreed on simultaneously with discussing the date. "There is only preliminary readiness of the three countries’ leaders for this meeting," he noted.
Putin did not discuss this issue with Macron of late, Uskakov added.
Russia to hold over 4,000 war games in 2019, says defense chief
The Russian Defense Ministry plans to hold more than 4,000 drills and roughly 8,500 practical combat training events throughout 2019, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on a conference call on Tuesday.
"Next year is going to be extremely busy. Over 4,000 various types of drills and nearly 8,500 practical combat training events are scheduled. The main focus will be placed on applying expertise in the use of troops in today’s armed conflicts and training commanders to effectively address non-standard tasks," the minister stated.
Shoigu added that the Defense Ministry would continue to practice snap combat readiness checks. "This form of monitoring makes it possible to pinpoint problems that are not very visible in everyday life," he stressed.
On December 3, the Russian Armed Forces shifted to its winter schedule of training. The defense chief noted that a lot of preparatory work had been done in the army before the start of the new training period.
The conference call with the defense minister was held at the National Defense Control Center, and was attended by area and combat arms commanders, as well as representatives of the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Primorsky and Smolensk Regions.
As for his meeting with regional representatives, Shoigu addressed possible solutions regarding the social problems of servicemen and their families, along with the development of the Young Army movement, and progress in constructing and arranging Patriot Park branches in their regions.
About 400 military policemen return to Chechnya from Syria
Military police battalion of the Southern Military District that performed tasks in Syria has returned to its home base in Chechnya, head of the Southern Military District’s press service Vadim Astafyev reported on Tuesday.
"About 400 servicemen of the military police battalion of the 58th combined arms army have returned to their home base in Chechnya from Syria," Astafyev said.
He specified that since August the battalion has performed tasks to guard important facilities of the Russian army in Syria, ensure public order and security for civilians in the liberated communities and follow humanitarian convoys and ensure security when conducting humanitarian missions.
The police arrived by planes of the military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force to the Mozdok airfield in North Ossetia.
The ceremony at which ministerial and state awards will be given to distinguished servicemen will be held on December 7 at the home station of the military unit.
WATCH Kalibr Cruise Missile Launch From Russian Nuclear Submarine
Russian ship- and submarine-launched cruise missiles are capable of striking enemy ships hundreds of kilometres away with incredible precision. Some of the missile's versions are even capable of penetrating ships' defences by reaching supersonic speeds while approaching the target.
The Russian Navy has reported a successful launch of 3M-54 Kalibr (NATO reporting name SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missile carried out by the Severodvinsk nuclear-powered submarine currently stationed in the Barents Sea. The launch, which was part of military drills, hit a target, situated some 700 kilometres away.
"The battle exercise was performed from the sea's surface at one of the Barents Sea ranges. The launched missile targeted an objective in the Chizha range in the Arkhangelsk region," the navy's press service reported.
Kalibr is a ship- and submarine anti-ship cruise missile, capable of hitting targets up to several hundred kilometres away (depending on modifications) carrying up to 450-kilogramme warheads. Some of its versions can reach supersonic speeds during terminal stages to prevent it from being downed by a ship's anti-missile defences.
Tank Race at -20Cº: Uralvagonzavod Pays Homage to Its Eminent Tank Inventor
On Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX-2018) opening day, one of its participants, the Russian tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod, celebrates the 120th birthday of the eminent inventor of T-34 tanks, Mikhail Koshkin.
UVZ paid homage to the designer with an unusual competition; for the first time in history, a drag race of three generations of tanks, T-34, T-72 and T-90C, was held at a proving ground in the far-off Urals region in the blistering —20Cº cold. All these military vehicles are the trademark of the manufacturer from Russia.
Director general of Uralvagonzavod, Alexander Potapov, who is now in Egypt at the EDEX-2018 arms and defense fair, commented on the occasion of Mikhail Koshkin 120th birthday stressing that Egypt was one of the first Arab countries to receive the T-34.
"Mikhail Koshkin is reckoned, certainly, as one of the founders of the national tank-building school and his Victory Tank is the progenitor of modern tanks. All the models that were manufactured in our factories in the post-war period have soaked up, one way or another, the design and combat experience of the legendary T-34. Besides, let me remind you that the T-34 was among the first tanks that were widely exported, and Egypt was one of the first Arab countries to accept it for service."
Mikhail Koshkin invented the T-34 in 1939. Its design simplicity and reliability have become one of the feats of engineering of the 20th century. To this day, T-34 is the most notable Soviet tank, as well as one of the best tanks and the most recognizable symbol of the Second World War. Many experts acknowledged its superiority in terrain crossing capacity, maneuverability, and mobility.
Its latest modification, the T-35-85 tank, is still in service with some countries. Since 1955, it was supplied to the Egyptian Armed Forces by the USSR along with other military equipment.
Uralvagonzavod participates in the EDEX-2018 show as a member of the Russian joint display exposition of Rosoboronexport.
Two other participants of the "Ural Race", tanks of the T-72 and T-90 generations, — in their most modern modifications — will be demonstrated at the UVZ exposition at the Egypt International Exhibition Center on 3-5 December 2018.
One killed, three injured in blast near Moscow — source
One person was killed and three others were injured when an explosion hit a residential house in the Moscow Region on Tuesday, a local law enforcement source said.
"In one of apartments in the residential house in the Kurovskoye village a clap occurred, and one person was killed and three others were wounded," the source said.
