MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia will respond to Ukraine's attacks on its oil refineries, logistics and energy facilities, there was no need for Ukraine to start them in the first place, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Despite growing opposition in France, Slovakia and Germany's Saxony-Anhalt to further financing Ukraine, “the central, crucial actors” such as Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron are still backing the Ukrainian leadership, legal academic and former AfD MEP Gunnar Beck explains to Sputnik.

Experts have assessed the results of Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev's visit to Pakistan — the first ever by a head of the Russian Interior Ministry.

The ongoing trial of a Ukrainian man accused of participating in the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 is unlikely to have a meaningful impact on Germany’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, German political analyst and independent journalist Dr. Gregor Spitzen tells Sputnik.

The speed limit on Starshield satellite terminals in Ukraine will severely impair its ability to strike Russian targets, military expert Evgeny Mikhailov tells Sputnik.

BAKU (Sputnik) - Volodymyr Zelensky has demonstrated through his position on the Russia-US diesel deal that he is not ready for constructive engagement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine continues to strike targets in the Russian energy sector, contradicting the peace efforts of the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Venezuela may increase oil production by up to 200,000 barrels per day over the coming year under favorable conditions, former Chilean Energy Minister Ricardo Raineri told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US Federal Maritime Commission has proposed introducing a $200,000 fee for Spanish vessels entering US ports and restricting imports of Spanish goods in response to the closure of ports to US-flagged ships.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Energy Ministry expects a slight decline in nationwide coal production in 2026 to 430 million tonnes from 434 million in 2025, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Dmitry Islamov said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have liberated the settlements of Nefedovka and Chernoye in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian oil companies are ready to start exporting diesel fuel, and all the necessary procedures will take two to three weeks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday.

SEOUL (Sputnik) - North Korea suspects Japanese militarists of seeking to build a nuclear weapon with the help of the United States under the pretext of developing nuclear-powered submarines, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday, quoting a security analyst.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The share of Russian-made oil and gas equipment in the domestic market has exceeded 84%, Russian Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Mikhail Ivanov said at the Russian Energy Week on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday that it had detained a Swedish citizen in the Pskov Region who planned acts of sabotage at military facilities under the pretext of joining the Russian armed forces.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine is forced to cancel missions involving drones due to a slowdown in the Starlink satellite communication system, The Telegraph reported, citing Ukrainian assault troops.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - There is currently no subject for discussion on a settlement in Ukraine with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (E3), as they are demonstrating only hostility and an inability to engage in talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Lebanon hopes for Russia's positive role in ensuring Lebanese sovereignty and stability, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said at a meeting in Moscow with Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.