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Top Russian security official mocks Macron as 'failed president'

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged it might be possible to consider sending troops to Ukraine in case of Kiev’s request

MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron does not understand what he is doing when he talks about sending troops to Ukraine, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev told TASS.

"I think that he is a failed president, this is what some other politicians in France also say, he does not understand what he is doing," he said.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with the British magazine The Economist acknowledged it might be possible to consider sending troops to Ukraine in case of Kiev’s request "if Russian forces break through the frontline." Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that these speculations were an unprecedented new round of tension.

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Even though Vladimir Putin’s visit to China was a state one, "it was a purely working trip"

French tired of supporting Ukraine — war correspondent

Christelle Nahan noted that people were tired of the fact that there was not enough money for the development of infrastructure, hospitals and schools, for pensions and benefits for children

Battlegroup North liberates settlement of Staritsa — Russian Defense Ministry

Russian air defenses down 37 drones, Tochka U missile, 21 HIMARS, Vampire, Olkha rockets in past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

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Russian troops advance towards Borovaya in eastern Kharkov region — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that as of today, more than 200 square kilometers of the region had been liberated from the Ukrainian armed forces

At least 10 UAVs suppressed in Krasnodar region — operational headquarters

According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage

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On May 16, US Department of State Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel noted that China cannot improve relations with Europe, if it will support Russia at the same time, allegedly fueling the Russian military-industrial complex

London blacklists two Russian companies, one firm from North Korea

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Israeli military kill about 50 terrorists in Rafah — IDF

During the operation, fighters also discovered dozens of tunnels that they intend to destroy

Air defense is repelling a missile attack in Sevastopol — region’s governor

Traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily closed

Russian air defenses down four Hammer air bombs, two HARM missiles over Belgorod Region

Attack on targets in Russia was foiled between 12:20 and 12:30 p.m. Moscow time (9:20 to 9:30 a.m. GMT) on May 18

Dedollarization of Russia-China trade will continue — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also highly praised the cooperation between the regions of Russia and the provinces of China and emphasized its contribution to the development of the Russian territories bordering China

Kiev asks US to lift restrictions on using weapons against targets in Russia — newspaper

According to The Wall Street Journal, Kiev has also asked Washington to lift restrictions on the use of US weapons against targets on Russian territory

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The Russian leader noted that solutions on how to make payments are possible and do exist

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Garibashvili suggested that foreign diplomats feel dismissive toward Georgia

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Israeli artillery also shells several areas in the east and center of the city of Rafah

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Russian forces cut off ammunition supplies to Ukrainian forces in Volchansk — lawmaker

Viktor Vodolatsky also said the liberation of Staritsa would make it possible to reduce to a minimum and later completely remove the threat of bombardments for the Belgorod Region

Press review: Day one of Putin's China visit and US stands by Ukraine

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone in Russia’s Belgorod Region — top brass

Air defenses on duty destroyed the Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the Belgorod Region, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian troops use latest Upyr FPV drones in Kharkov push

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US, Iran enage in indirect talks on Middle East security — news outlet

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New relations, successes of China's automobile industry: what Putin, Xi said in Beijing

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Ukrainian attack on bus in Kherson Region injures 16 civilians, kills one — governor

All the others have bruises and light wounds, Governor Vladimir Saldo told TASS

SCO foreign ministers to consider candidates for new chief at Astana meeting

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The environment was very friendly and the leaders were in a good mood, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told TV journalist.

Russia, China sign ten joint documents

The agreements penned included an initiative to develop the Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island, protocols on requirements for beef and other products exported to China

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US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle hit near Avdeyevka — security forces

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Slovak PM’s attacker pleads guilty before court — media

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Roman Mashovets wanted under a Russian Criminal Code article, the database said

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Roman Sinyagovsky added that, according to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage

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Russian forces also hit concentrations of Ukrainian manpower and equipment in 112 areas over the past 24 hours

Assassination attempt on Slovak PM Fico was planned in advance — defense minister

It is reported that doctors are doing everything possible to stabilize the patient

Preparations for Putin’s visit to DPRK ongoing — Kremlin spokesman

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited the Russian President to visit his country when he traveled to Russia in September

Energy infrastructure facility suffers damage in Ukraine’s Poltava Region

Ukrainian media outlets reported explosions in the city of Mirgorod

Patriot supplies unlikely to impact Russia’s plans to liberate Kharkov, expert says

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Putin holds meeting on floods, wildfires

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Putin apologizes to Harbin residents for tight security measures over his visit

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Ukrainian boxer Alexander Usik becomes absolute world heavyweight champion

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Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

Orban sees link between attack on pro-peace Fico, war preparations in West

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Stock markets on record-hitting spree around the world — Bloomberg

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Russia has no plans today to seize Kharkov, says Putin

The current Kiev regime is to blame for ongoing battles in the Kharkov direction, the Russian leader stressed

Russia warns US, EU, Kiev they are playing with fire — MFA about Ukrainian strikes

Maria Zakharova pointed out that behind these barbaric attacks with Western weapons the silhouettes of US and British handlers of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's were clearly visible

Slovak PM's life no longer in danger, top defense official says

The prime minister has successfully undergone two surgical operations since Wednesday

Russia’s anti-tank missile system gets ‘top attack’ capability similar to US Javelin

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Ukrainian forces unprepared to withstand Russian offensive near Kharkov — newspaper

It also emphasized that Russia had "a huge advantage in artillery shells," adding that "depleted Ukrainian air defenses" were unable to counter Russian air power

Almost 10,000 people evacuated from Ukraine’s Kharkov Region

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US should explain to Ukraine that military aid won’t last forever — magazine

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Starlink’s failure helps Russian army take Kiev forces by surprise in Kharkov Region — WP

In addition, Ukrainian forces were facing ammunition shortages due to a stalled US aid package

Two powerful explosions rocks Kharkov

An air raid alert has been in effect in the Kharkov Region for almost eight hours