Vladimir Putin has invited Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who arrived recently in Moscow, to a meal without any delegations from the two countries, TASS reports. 

“I propose this arrangement: we will listen to how our colleagues have been working, and then we will give the delegations another opportunity to talk, and then I want to invite you separately to a New Year’s work lunch,” Putin said. 

When speaking about how Russia-Belarus relations have been developing in recent times, …

The Solitaire, a ship working on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, has begun laying pipes in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, Aftonbladet reports. The pipes needed for construction will be stored at the Swedish Karshamn Port. 

Sveriges Radio reported that the pipe-laying operation in this region will last until summer 2019, and that the Karshamn Port administration has hired 110 extra staff for this period. 

Nord Stream AG, the pipeline’s operator company, announced on December 23 that the …

According Syrian sources, Israeli aircraft entered Lebanese airspace at low altitude and then carried a missile attack on military facilities near Damascus. At least three Syrian soldiers were injured during the attack.

The Syrian state agency SANA confirmed that the air attack was carried out by the Israeli Air Force. According to SANA, some of the missiles were intercepted, but several Syrian soldiers were injured.

SANA, citing a source in the Syrian Army, reports that air defense responded …