Lavrov and Turkey’s foreign Minister has discussed preparations for a meeting on Syria in Astana

Photo: RIA Novosti The Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov in telephone conversation with Turkish foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed the situation in Syria and preparations for the summit in Astana, dedicated to the Syrian settlement. This was reported in the Russian foreign Ministry. “The Ministers exchanged opinions on the situation in Syria. Emphasized the importance of early conclusion of the negotiation of practical options for the cessation of hostilities, the separation of the moderate opposition from terrorist groups and training meetings in Astana to start the process of political settlement in accordance with UN security Council resolution 2254”, — is spoken in the message published on the website of the Russian foreign Ministry. Earlier, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has declared readiness to accept in Astana, all parties to the negotiations on Syria and to create all necessary conditions for this.

In Syria, a day recorded 21 attacks by militants

© SANA via AP MOSCOW, January 1. /TASS/. Illegal armed groups over the past day, 21 times fired at settlements in Syria, including six of the attacks were committed in the province of Damascus, seven in Aleppo province, five in Latakia and three in the province of Hama. This is stated in the Bulletin of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, published on the website of the defense Ministry.

The head of the Crimea announced the resignation in the government of the Republic of

Photo: RIA Novosti The head of the Crimea Sergey Aksenov promised to take a number of personnel decisions in the national and municipal authorities. “Friday I’m at the last press conference, say. Will reshuffle. The government will be the replacement, and among the municipalities will be replaced,” said Aksenov in the air of radio “KP–Crimea”. On Friday, December 30, the scheduled final press conference of the head of the Republic. Aksenov added that when making personnel decisions to be guided by several criteria, among them — the development of the budget and the degree of fulfilment of orders. “We all get on the sheet, all will be clear who has how many in the Luggage remained unexecuted orders of the government, the government of the Republic of Crimea, and from this we will proceed”, — he stressed.

The plane sent from the US Russian diplomats landed in Moscow

© Marina Lystseva/TASS, archive MOSCOW, January 2. /TASS/. Plane special flight detachment “Russia” employees of the Russian dipuchrezhdeny, deported from the United States, landed in Moscow, the correspondent of TASS. A group of employees of the Russian Embassy in the US capital leaving the country at the request of the us authorities flew the day before from Washington international airport DULLES.

Putin expressed condolences to Erdogan in connection with the deaths of the terrorist attack in Istanbul

© Alexei Nikolsky/press service of the Russian President/TASS MOSCOW, January 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in connection with the death of citizens of Turkey and several other countries as a result of a terrorist act in Istanbul. This was reported by the press service of the Kremlin.

Adviser to Putin commented on new US sanctions

Photo: Dmitry Korotaev / Kommersant Advisor to the President of Russia on development of online German Klimenko said that the new anti-Russian US sanctions will not affect the cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, reports the RNS. According to him, it is at a low level. “Given the already low level of cooperation between the US and Russia in the field of cybersecurity, the new sanctions have nothing to deteriorate in this sector can not” — said Klimenko. Earlier, the Russian Embassy in the US said that new sanctions against Russia adopted by the White house aimed directly at undermining Russian-American relations.

The Russian Embassy in London has compared Obama with lame duck

Photo: kremlin.EN / Press-service of the President of Russia The Russian Embassy in London commented on the actions of U.S. President Barack Obama, who had sent out of the country for 35 Russian diplomats, publication of the image of the duck with the caption “lame.” “President Obama sends 35 Russian diplomats as during the Cold war. All, including Americans, will be glad to see an end to this hapless administration,” said the Embassy on Twitter. Earlier, the head of the international Committee of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev called the actions of the American administration “agony not even the lame ducks and political bodies”. On Thursday, the state Department declared persona non grata 35 Russian diplomats, which are now urgently in the New year’s eve you have to look for tickets on flights to Moscow. While Obama called the Russian diplomats as “spies.” Washington also imposed sanctions against Russia in