Kremlin

Putin wants Western Balkans as his next ‘playground,’ UK warns
Tensions are rising in the Western Balkans, Europe’s ‘other hotspot.’ Britain’s foreign affairs chief David Lammy sees the ‘long hand of Russian interference.’

Ukraine still holds land in Russia and is actually expanding, top US general says

Norway criticizes Finland’s move to quit land mine treaty

Putin to conscript 160,000 more Russians for war with Ukraine

Marine Le Pen’s allies in Russia and Hungary lash out at guilty verdict

Ukraine and Russia do the Trump dance to shift blame for peace-talk problems
Kyiv officials trash Putin’s ‘external governance’ plan for Ukraine
Ukrainian presidential adviser tells Russian ruler to “pop some pills.”
The Romanian mathematician trying to stop Putin and Trump wrecking the West
Elon Musk and JD Vance don’t know enough to judge the country’s election crisis, and Trump should be tougher on Putin, says Bucharest Mayor and presidential candidate Nicușor Dan.
Ceasefire? What ceasefire? Killer Russian drones rain down across Ukraine
“And against this backdrop, speaking about easing pressure on Russia, lifting sanctions, and so on, is definitely inappropriate and unhelpful,” says Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump’s deal with Putin faces European reality check
Top leaders meeting in Paris want to show the U.S. and Russia can’t carve up the continent by cutting out the EU and Ukraine.
Trump team’s rush to get Ukraine peace deal risks letting Russia off the hook for war crimes
“Justice is a prerequisite for sustainable peace,” says the head of a Nobel Peace Prize-winning NGO.
Armenian parliament adopts law to launch EU membership process
Decision in Yerevan paves the way for a long and winding (and potentially fruitless) quest toward a place in the bloc.
Russia refuses to give up massive Ukrainian nuclear plant to Trump or anyone else
It’s ours, end of story, Moscow says.
Trump admits Russians could be ‘dragging their feet’ on Ukraine peace deal
“I’ve done it over the years,” U.S. president says of using stalling tactics when negotiating contracts.
The Ukrainian teens who took on Putin’s gulag archipelago — and won
When Vlad and his friends realized the Kremlin would not return them home, they staged an open revolt.
7 bargaining chips Trump has given Putin over Ukraine
In seeking a historic peace accord between Russia and Ukraine, President Donald Trump has presented himself as an agnostic arbiter focused only on bringing the three-year war …
Putin prayed for Trump after assassination attempt, top envoy says
The Russian president “was praying for his friend,” Steve Witkoff claimed.
Russia could return to international sports scene, incoming Olympics chief says
The Olympic committee banned Moscow from competing as a team in the 2024 Paris Olympics because of the country’s incursion in Ukraine.
Why Zelenskyy won’t wear a suit
All clothing sends a message, and the Ukrainian president’s is that he’s standing by his people as long as the war continues.
Russia aspires to Olympic comeback under new IOC boss
“We expect that in the era of the new leader … Russia will return to the Olympic podium,” Moscow’s sports chief said.
German defense minister slams Trump-Putin partial ceasefire deal
“Putin is playing a game, and I am certain that the American president will not be able to watch for long without reacting,” said Boris Pistorius.
‘You see?’ Russia broke Trump’s hyped partial Ukraine ceasefire after 1 hour
Moscow struck civilian infrastructure Tuesday night, prompting Ukraine to respond with counterattacks.
Inside the scramble to save America’s pro-democracy media outlets from Trump
In ending media mission Washington will be “ceding territory to the Russians, the Iranians and the Chinese,” says Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty CEO.
Putin refuses Trump’s full Ukraine ceasefire demand
Russian leader agrees to 30-day suspension of strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure after call with American counterpart.
Moscow and Beijing rejoice at looming death of Radio Free Europe, VOA
“We couldn’t shut them down, unfortunately, but America did so itself,” editor-in-chief of Russia’s state broadcaster said.
German parliament passes historic spending reforms
The vote to unleash borrowing for the military and Ukraine is a “first major step towards a new European defense community,” says incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz.
EU’s front-line states rally against Russian energy return
A return to buying more of Moscow’s fossil fuels would be a mistake, EU countries bordering Russia told POLITICO.