Russia

VOLGOGRAD, October 31. /TASS/: Belgium’s Ambassador to Russia, Jean-Arthur Regibeau, believes that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will help strengthen economic relations between Russia and the European Union.

"We believe, that we are rather positive in the sense that it would increase economic relations between the two sides, but it has to clearly respect rules set by the European Union [in the energy sector]," the Belgian diplomat told TASS on Thursday.

MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/: Turkey has failed to abide by its obligations under the Syria ceasefire as it continues military activities in Syria’s border areas, Commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi said on Twitter on Thursday.

"Turkey has not adhered to the ceasefire agreement with the USA and is continuing its war. Turkey, with jihadists, began to occupy Christian villages, trying to break into Tall Tamir dominated by Assyrians, and threatened with annihilation. The USA must fulfill its obligations," the tweet reads.

MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/: Head of Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin gave instructions to allocate funds for making two additional Soyuz MS manned spaceships, including due to the need to deliver NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

KRASNODAR, October 30. /TASS/: Two major retail chains in Germany, as well as speciality stores for Russian products, have started sales of wine produced in Russia’s Kuban, which was first supplied to the country in the spring of 2019, Fanagoria's Deputy CEO, Foreign Economic Activities, Mikhail Lelyuk told TASS on Wednesday.

"Wine sales started in two major retail chains of Germany — Rewe and Edeka," he said, adding that consumers may also find wine from the pilot batch in speciality stores in Germany where Russian-made products are sold.

MOSCOW, October 30. / TASS /: The total cost of 40% in the Arctic LNG-2 natural gas liquefaction plant construction project (10% of which were bought by Chinese CNOOC and CNPC, as well as French Total and a consortium of Japanese companies Mitsui and Jogme) is 675 bln rubles ($10 bln)," Novatek said in a statement on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is set to make a working visit to Hungary, will meet with Middle Eastern Christian church leaders in Budapest, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

"President Putin is now leaving for Budapest for a working visit. He is set to hold talks with his colleague [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban. Then, the Russian-Hungarian talks will take place, and a number of joint agreements will be signed. Putin and Orban will hold a press conference on the outcomes of the talks," Peskov informed.

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/: The Ukrainian side has changed its tone at the session of the Contact Group in Minsk, envoy of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) to Minsk talks Rodion Miroshnik told Rossiya-1 TV channel.

"We can note that at least the tone of [Ukraine's] envoy to the talks Leonid Kuchma was different today. He was much more understanding and practically talked openly about how Ukraine is interested in holding a summit in the Normandy format," Miroshnik said.

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/: Achievement of targeted indicators on exports of agriculture products may lead to problems with satisfaction of domestic needs in Russia, according to the economic monitoring report prepared by experts at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) and the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy obtained by TASS.

Russia’s agriculture exports should reach $45 bln as set by President Vladimir Putin in the decree to be implemented by 2024. Agriculture Ministry expects it to reach $24.7 bln by the end of 2019.

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/: The Project 955A (Borei-A-class) lead nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Vladimir (Prince Vladimir) test-fired a Bulava ballistic missile for the first time during trials in the White Sea, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.

"For the first time ever, a seaborne Bulava ballistic missile was test-fired from the latest Project Borei-A strategic missile-carrying submarine Knyaz Vladimir," the ministry said.

NOVO-OGARYOVO, October 29. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to visit his country. During the meeting with the Russian leader, Diaz-Canel also "conveyed warm greetings from Raul Castro."

"I take this opportunity to reiterate the invitation to visit our country when it is possible for you," he said.

"Thank you very much for the invitation, I will be sure to take advantage of it. Please convey my best wishes to comrade Castro," Putin replied.