The White House is reportedly considering ending the price cap on Russian oil as part of a potential peace deal US President Donald Trump has reportedly been exploring ways to ease sanctions on Russia as part of a broader effort to facilitate peace negotiations over […]
Lindsey Graham has said he will propose new restrictions if Moscow does not engage in peace talks on the Ukraine conflict US Senator Lindsey Graham has warned that he will propose new sanctions against Russia if Moscow does not engage in ceasefire negotiations over the […]
Two British diplomats have been ordered to leave Russia over “intelligence and subversive activities” Moscow will not tolerate undeclared British intelligence personnel on Russian territory, the Foreign Ministry has stated, insisting UK citizens provide accurate information when applying for a Russian visa. Russia has revoked the […]
Washington has begun to demonstrate pragmatism and a determination to resolve the accumulated problems, the Russian president has said The renewed contacts between Moscow and the administration of US President Donald Trump have sparked “hope” that relations between the two countries could move in a […]
Washington has begun to demonstrate pragmatism and a determination to resolve the accumulated problems, the Russian president has said
The renewed contacts between Moscow and the administration of US President Donald Trump have sparked “hope” that relations between the two countries could move in a positive direction, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Communication between Russia and the US effectively broke down under former US President Joe Biden. Trump has sought to revise Washington’s approach towards foreign policy and held an extensive phone call with Putin on February 12. After that, Russian and US delegations held a high-level meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to discuss reestablishing dialogue.
Speaking at a meeting of the board of Russia’s Federal Security Service on Thursday, Putin said that “the first contacts with the new American administration inspire certain hopes.” The American side has demonstrated a “reciprocal determination to work on restoring interstate relations, on gradually resolving the colossal volume of accumulated systemic and strategic problems in the world architecture.” He noted that these issues, which had accumulated in recent years, ultimately provoked the Ukraine conflict and other regional crises.
On Thursday, Russian and US diplomats held a closed-door meeting in Istanbul to discuss normalizing embassy operations following years of strained relations and diplomatic expulsions.
According to Putin, not everyone in the West appears to be happy with the restoration of US-Russia ties. In his words, “part of the Western elites are still determined to maintain instability in the world” and will likely try to disrupt or compromise the dialogue that has begun between Moscow and Washington.
At the same time, the president noted that the current US leadership appears to be showing a certain “pragmatism” and a “realistic view on things” by rejecting many stereotypes and “messianic ideological cliches of their predecessors,” which had contributed to the collapse of relations.
Earlier this week, Putin said that Russia and the US are discussing “major” joint economic projects, noting that Moscow is ready to cooperate with American private companies and government entities to develop Russia’s rare-earth minerals.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that Moscow and Washington could restore economic ties after the Ukraine conflict is resolved. Trump has also suggested that sanctions on Moscow could be lifted “at some point” as part of a negotiated settlement on Ukraine.
The agency gave funds to manufacturers of dog collars and custom carpets, as well as fashion and confectionery firms The US Agency for International Development (USAID) funneled millions in American taxpayer dollars into Ukrainian fashion and pet companies, then attempted to hide the funding from […]
The agency gave funds to manufacturers of dog collars and custom carpets, as well as fashion and confectionery firms
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) funneled millions in American taxpayer dollars into Ukrainian fashion and pet companies, then attempted to hide the funding from Congress, American conservative newspaper the Federalist reported on Wednesday.
USAID, Washington’s primary mechanism for funding political projects abroad, had its multi-billion dollar budget frozen by President Donald Trump last month, pending a review for alignment with his “America first” policy. The president cited uncontrolled spending and massive corruption in the agency, calling for it to be shut down entirely.
Seeking accountability for the agency’s allocation of taxpayer dollars, Senator Joni Ernst arranged for her team to visit USAID headquarters for an “in-camera review” of Ukraine aid data in October last year. Despite multiple attempts to gain some clarity on the agency’s books, USAID had stonewalled both her direct communication and Congressional action for years.
While they were restricted in what they were allowed to see, Ernst’s staff found that millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded grants were funneled into Ukrainian confectionery, fashion and pet companies, the Federalist wrote.
The agency allocated Ukrainian luxury fashion businesses a total of roughly $733,000, a “custom carpet manufacturer” a $2 million grant, and a “specialty biscuit and confectionery company” around $678,000, the outlet said.
“Literal pet projects” such as a “dog collar manufacturer” company and a “pet tracking app” firm were handed $300,000 each, the newspaper said.
Beyond the “in-camera review,” USAID “failed to provide any of these documents” to her staff, Ernst said. The agency often cites national security as a reason for keeping “controversial charges” in its books obscure, the Federalist wrote.
While USAID claimed the grants were to “enhance Ukraine’s wartime posture” by boosting its economy, in effect, “the American people have funded extravagant trade missions and vacations for Ukrainian business owners to film festivals and fashion weeks across the glamorous capitols of Europe and beyond,” Ernst wrote in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this month.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he will put an end to funding Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, claiming that his predecessor Joe Biden spent $350 billion on assisting Kiev. The US president has announced that the US will “get back” the money through an upcoming deal to tap Ukraine’s mineral resources.
With USAID funding suspended by Trump, the vast majority of Ukrainian media companies have been put at risk of shutting down, multiple NGOs have reported. According to French NGO Reporters Without Borders, 9 out of 10 media outlets in Ukraine were dependent on USAID as their primary donor.
The court in Bosnia and Herzegovina was relying on a “pseudo-law” and its actions were “illegitimate,” the Kremlin has said Russia has denounced the conviction of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik by a court in Sarajevo, describing it as an “absolutely political” decision. The move […]
The court in Bosnia and Herzegovina was relying on a “pseudo-law” and its actions were “illegitimate,” the Kremlin has said
Russia has denounced the conviction of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik by a court in Sarajevo, describing it as an “absolutely political” decision. The move could have wide-reaching repercussions for the entire Balkan region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
A Bosnian court sentenced Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, to one year in prison on Wednesday. He was charged with obstructing decisions made by Bosnia’s constitutional court and defying the authority of international envoy Christian Schmidt. A German national, Schmidt was formally tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement that concluded the Bosnian war. Moscow questions his legitimacy due to what it considers to be appointment irregularities.
“We condemn such actions because they can have very negative consequences not just for Bosnia and Herzegovina but for the Balkans as a whole,” Peskov told journalists on Thursday, referring to the court decision. “These actions could lead to destabilization,” he added.
The Kremlin spokesman also condemned the court ruling as persecution of not just the Bosnian Serb leader but “all the patriotic Serb forces.” According to Peskov, the decision was based on a “pseudo-law” pushed through by Schmidt. The Bosnian court ruled that Dodik acted illegally when he signed laws making the peace envoy’s decrees illegal in Republika Srpska and suspended the enforcement of Bosnia’s top court rulings on its territory.
Schmidt’s appointment as the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina has never received the approval of the UN Security Council, which is typically required in such cases, Peskov said. The official was appointed by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) – an international body charged with implementing the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement – back in 2021.
Russia and China officially stated that they did not recognize Schmidt’s legitimacy due to the irregularities in his appointment. On Thursday, Peskov branded the official “an imposter” and called on the Bosnian authorities to go back to the “spirit” of the Dayton agreements.
Dodik himself did not attend his sentencing and announced plans for the Republika Srpska National Assembly to reject the court’s decision and prohibit the enforcement of any rulings from Bosnia’s state judiciary within its territory. He added that Republika Srpska would obstruct the operations of Bosnia’s central government and police within its jurisdiction.
The politician has two weeks to appeal the verdict, although it is unclear if he plans to do so. The court ruling was also condemned by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who talked to Dodik following the verdict. The Hungarian leader branded it a “political witch hunt.”
Too many media and cultural personalities have failed to return from abroad, officials have said Ukrainian authorities will ban journalists and culture personalities from leaving the country starting early next month, according to a statement by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications. The restrictions […]
Too many media and cultural personalities have failed to return from abroad, officials have said
Ukrainian authorities will ban journalists and culture personalities from leaving the country starting early next month, according to a statement by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications. The restrictions come as the country struggles with a mobilization campaign that has failed to replace military losses in the conflict with Russia.
In a statement on Wednesday, officials claimed too many Ukrainian citizens have taken advantage of letters of assistance issued by the ministry, which allowed them to obtain permission from the State Border Service to travel abroad. While the permission is always granted for a limited period of time, many of those who left have failed to return to Ukraine.
The ministry blamed loopholes in national legislation, noting that while it initiated changes as early as 2022, “the issue remains unresolved.”
The Ministry announced that it will suspend the issuance of letters of assistance to the State Border Service of Ukraine starting on March 3. According to officials, the draft legislation proposes a list of “exhaustive requirements” for granting a letter of assistance for traveling abroad to men of draft age working in the cultural or media sphere.
Ministry adviser Dmitry Zolotukhin said that in 2024 alone, more than 500 men who left Ukraine after receiving letters of assistance, never returned to the country. He added that Ukrainian authorities are conducting criminal investigations into each case.
Ukraine announced a general mobilization in February 2022, barring most men from 18 to 60 from leaving the country. Last year, faced with mounting losses on the battlefield, Kiev significantly tightened the mobilization regulations and lowered conscription age from 27 to 25.
Ukrainian recruitment officers are also increasingly relying on heavy-handed methods to hunt potential draftees in the streets, malls and other public places, often resulting in violent clashes with reluctant citizens. Some potential recruits have decided to try to flee the country, even at the risk of their lives.
The threat of violence by the group’s leader has heightened safety concerns ahead of Saturday’s march Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), a Kiev-backed neo-Nazi militia force, will take part in an anti-Kremlin march in Berlin on Saturday, organizers have confirmed. Other participants have […]
The threat of violence by the group’s leader has heightened safety concerns ahead of Saturday’s march
Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), a Kiev-backed neo-Nazi militia force, will take part in an anti-Kremlin march in Berlin on Saturday, organizers have confirmed. Other participants have expressed safety concerns, citing threats issued by the RDK’s leader.
On Wednesday, the RDK announced its intention to join the demonstration in the German capital organized by various political factions opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin. The statement urged “all supporters of the armed struggle by the Russian people against the Kremlin regime to attend this event, gather under our banners, and together show the world the real Russian opposition.”
RDK leader Denis Kapustin, known as ‘Nikitin’ and nicknamed ‘White Rex’, issued a warning to rival opposition groups attending the event, in particular supporters of libertarian politician Mikhail Svetov and “other degenerates.” Kapustin cautioned them to “mind your f*cking mugs” and remember that RDK members “will hit first,” as reported on social media.
Svetov voiced his concerns through his media outlet, SVTV, questioning whether “the neo-Nazi’s threat reflects the position of the organizers.” The march was proposed by several activists, including the widow of the late Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny. Demonstration co-organizer Ilya Yashin said on Thursday that the RDK’s column would be one of approximately ten participating and that the group had offered guarantees of peaceful conduct.
The RDK is armed and financed by the Ukrainian government and has orchestrated several deadly incursions into Russia in recent years. Moscow labels it a terrorist organization commanded directly by Ukrainian military intelligence.
Although Kapustin did not specify why he targeted Svetov in his message, the threat may stem from Svetov’s call to bring Russian flags to the Berlin march. The display of the Russian state symbol at such opposition events is contentious, with some activists deeming it offensive to Ukrainians.
Ukrainian officials have told the British magazine that the nation will soon have no option but to draft young adults Kiev is under pressure to escalate its mobilization drive to sustain the conflict with Russia, according to The Economist. While Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky strives […]
Ukrainian officials have told the British magazine that the nation will soon have no option but to draft young adults
Kiev is under pressure to escalate its mobilization drive to sustain the conflict with Russia, according to The Economist. While Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky strives to motivate younger men to volunteer, his officials acknowledge that increased mandatory conscription may be inevitable.
Last year, Kiev revamped its military service system, lowering the conscription age to 25 and imposing stricter penalties for draft avoidance. However, these measures have reportedly fallen short of the recruitment goals. The Economist reported on Wednesday that Western advisers are urging Kiev to draft younger individuals, viewing this as the quickest path to strengthening the army.
Publicly, Zelensky has resisted lowering the draft age – privately, however, his officials have reportedly acknowledged that it will likely be necessary. A senior official told the British magazine that the “tightening will continue because no one has come up with a better solution.”
With frontline casualties increasing, many eligible men have been evading draft officers or have even resisted. The Economist noted a recent incident in Poltava, where a military official was fatally shot during a recruitment raid. While Ukraine’s security services attribute the blame to ‘Russian infiltrators’, soldiers suspect the violence may be “homegrown,” foreshadowing a potential increase in domestic discord.
The Ukrainian government has initiated a program to attract younger volunteers into the military. Officials told The Economist that their aim is to recruit 4,000 people per month by offering generous compensation and a promise of demobilization after one year, though many have reportedly expressed skepticism.
”The army does not honor the terms of the contracts anyway – recently we got some guys who were transferred from an engineering brigade. They signed up to be pontoon builders, now they’re infantry,” a Ukrainian marine officer told The Times last week.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is advocating for a rapid resolution to the Ukraine conflict, pointing to the death toll and destruction incurred on both sides. Officials in Washington view the conflict as an obstacle to improving relations with Moscow. Trump has also pushed for a rare-earth minerals deal with Ukraine, which he believes would offset the US expenditures on the conflict over the years.
In contrast, the EU and a number of European NATO members have pledged to continue pouring resources into the conflict. Zelensky has insisted that peace negotiations will only be possible from a “position of strength.”
The Security Council has adopted a US-drafted resolution on the conflict without condemning Russia “Common sense” has finally prevailed in the UN Security Council after it approved a US-drafted resolution on Ukraine without anti-Russian rhetoric, Moscow’s deputy envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, has told […]
The Security Council has adopted a US-drafted resolution on the conflict without condemning Russia
“Common sense” has finally prevailed in the UN Security Council after it approved a US-drafted resolution on Ukraine without anti-Russian rhetoric, Moscow’s deputy envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, has told RT.
Two competing resolutions on Ukraine were submitted to the UN on Monday, one of which was initiated by Kiev and its EU backers and condemned Russia. The other text, backed by the US, avoided branding Russia as an aggressor and called for a “swift end” to the conflict. The US text was later tabled at the UNSC, where it passed with ten votes in favor, with backing from Moscow and Washington and five abstentions from European members.
Speaking to RT on Wednesday, Polyansky said it was the first time in a long while that the UNSC was able to speak with one voice on the Ukraine conflict after the US resolution was adopted with the support of Russia, China, and others.
“We owe this to common sense because I think now more and more people realize the true colors of the Zelensky regime and the true colors of Ukraine that was created under him,” the diplomat said.
According to Polyansky, the new US administration under President Donald Trump has taken a more pragmatic approach on the crisis, which “really sets the framework for our future deliberations and work on this issue in the Security Council and in the UN.”
Washington’s voting against a Ukrainian draft resolution condemning Russia “clearly” shows that the US approach to the conflict has changed, and that there is now a clash between a “militaristic” mindset in the EU and a “realistic” one in Washington, the diplomat said. Some members of the bloc stepped up their aggressive rhetoric this month after Moscow and Washington announced plans to restore ties and work on resolving the Ukraine conflict.
The EU was caught off guard by the US change of tone, Polyansky argued, as Brussels has spent years in a rigid position regarding any Ukraine resolutions.
However, the attitude of Western countries over the past three years has shifted from “Ukraine must win” to “Ukraine must have very strong negotiating position,” and finally “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” Polyansky added.
The recent vote in the UNSC showed that Western countries that have sought to isolate Russia are “themselves are becoming more isolated,” the diplomat claimed.
Polyansky stressed that a sustainable solution to the Ukraine conflict can only be achieved by addressing the root cause of the crisis, such as Ukraine’s NATO ambitions. Kiev also must remove its troops from all Russian territories, including the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, he added.
Explosive-laden aircraft intended for long-range attacks on infrastructure were hit on the ground A Russian missile has obliterated over a dozen Ukrainian long-range kamikaze drones before they could be launched, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Thursday. Kiev employs single-use UAVs to attack targets […]
Explosive-laden aircraft intended for long-range attacks on infrastructure were hit on the ground
A Russian missile has obliterated over a dozen Ukrainian long-range kamikaze drones before they could be launched, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Thursday. Kiev employs single-use UAVs to attack targets deep within Russia, including oil refineries.
The Russian military released a video showcasing the successful pre-emptive operation. It shows a tightly packed group of drones on the ground, with personnel hurriedly attempting to cover them. The location was subsequently struck by an Iskander missile.
According to the statement, Ukraine lost approximately 14 Cobra-type drones, several vehicles equipped for their deployment, and at least 20 military personnel. The attack reportedly occurred near Shostka, a city in the northern part of Ukraine’s Sumy Region, roughly 45km from the Russian border.
Ukrainian media describe the Cobra as a domestically-produced drone with a wingspan of three meters and a maximum payload of 15kg. It is said to possess a range exceeding 300km, reach speeds of up to 150kph, and cost about $2,000 each.
Ukrainian forces launch long-range kamikaze drones virtually every night under the veil of darkness, although the number deployed can vary significantly. On Thursday morning, the Russian military reported the interception of 19 such drones, a stark contrast to 128 the day before.
Moscow asserts that Kiev is escalating long-range strikes due to its inability to secure victories on the front line. Reports indicate the Ukrainian army is grappling with mass desertions, insufficient reinforcements, and declining morale, prompting military leadership to reassign troops to ground forces from other branches.
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A man suspected of preparing attacks in Stavropol Region has been arrested, according to the security services A man accused of plotting a series of terrorist attacks against Russian security facilities has been arrested in the city of Stavropol, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced […]
A man suspected of preparing attacks in Stavropol Region has been arrested, according to the security services
A man accused of plotting a series of terrorist attacks against Russian security facilities has been arrested in the city of Stavropol, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday.
According to an official statement provided to RT, the suspect is from a country in Central Asia and is a supporter of a Ukrainian paramilitary group that is banned in Russia. The FSB report says he was directed by a handler based in Ukraine and was preparing attacks using Molotov cocktails against key government and security facilities in Stavropol Region.
The suspect’s intended targets reportedly included the regional offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, a military commissariat, a military hospital, and the administration of Stavropol’s Industrial District.
The authorities revealed that the suspect had conducted reconnaissance, acquired chemical components, and assembled incendiary devices. Following the planned attacks, he allegedly intended to flee to Ukraine and join the country’s armed forces.
The FSB has also released a video of the suspect’s arrest and interrogation, in which he confesses to being ordered to carry out the attacks. It shows Molotov cocktails and communication devices found in his apartment, including messages containing instructions from his Ukrainian contact.
Officials have not yet disclosed the suspect’s identity, nor have they specified which terrorist group he was affiliated with.
The FSB frequently reports on foiled sabotage operations linked to Ukraine. Late last month, Russian security officers said they had prevented a planned attack on a train operating between Kislovodsk and Mineralnye Vody, with the suspect arrested in Stavropol Region.
Moscow has long accused Kiev of employing terrorist tactics in the ongoing conflict, citing targeted assassinations of civilians and covert operations carried out by Ukraine’s intelligence services.
Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik warned that Ukraine may resort to terrorist attacks in an effort to derail peace talks, echoing a similar statement from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.
