Moscow

Russia and China utilized their veto power to block the UN Security Council's draft resolution proposed by the United States, which aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. According to reports from the BBC and AFP, cited by BTA, Moscow accused Washington of engaging in a "hypocritical spectacle" by failing to exert pressure on Israel.

The ruling party, led by GERB, knowingly approved the passage of the "TurkStream" gas pipeline through Bulgaria, according to recent revelations from a press conference involving various media and non-media entities conducting an investigation into the matter.

MOSCOW - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Thursday evening that, under an agreement he had reached with Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, a Serbia-Russia intergovernmental committee on trade, economic and scientific and technical cooperation would meet in Moscow in the autumn.

The European Commission has unveiled plans for significant tariff hikes on grain imports from Russia and Belarus. The proposed tariffs, described as potentially functioning as de facto sanctions, aim to address growing concerns over the use of food exports as a geopolitical tool by Moscow while safeguarding EU markets and farmers.

MOSCOW - The Serbia men's national football team lost 4-0 to Russia in a friendly game in Moscow on Thursday evening.

Serbia were down to ten men after Milan Gajic was sent off for a foul on Daniil Khlusevich in the visitors' penalty box in the 21st minute.

The Kremlin said Friday it is in a "state of war" in Ukraine, escalating the official language it uses to describe the conflict, now in its third year.

Russia has presented its offensive on Ukraine as a "special military operation," banned media outlets from using the word "war" and prosecuted anti-offensive campaigners for using the word to describe Russia's military actions.

The United States has urged Ukraine to cease its attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, citing concerns over potential repercussions on global oil prices and retaliatory actions. The call for restraint comes amidst reports of intensified drone strikes targeting refineries, terminals, and storage facilities in western Russia.

Russia launched a massive wave of deadly overnight attacks on Ukraine using over 90 missiles and 60 Iranian-made drones, Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, in one of the largest offensives recently.

"There were more than 60 'Shaheds' and almost 90 missiles of various types overnight," he said.

MOSCOW - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Thursday his discussions with Russian top diplomat Sergey Lavrov had addressed vital issues for Serbia, such as energy and natural gas supplies.

MOSCOW - Despite numerous challenges, Serbia-Russia bilateral relations are on a high level, Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said at the beginning of a meeting with Russian top diplomat Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday.

The one-hour meeting, which continued behind closed doors, addressed a wide range of bilateral political and economic cooperation.