Russia

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After Putin Visits Troops, a Big Claim From Russia

Nation's Defense Ministry says Russia has retaken Sudzha, largest town in its Kursk region

(Newser) - Russia claimed Thursday that its troops have driven the Ukrainian army out of the biggest town in Russia's Kursk border region. The Russian Defense Ministry's claim that it recaptured the town of Sudzha, hours after President Vladimir Putin visited his commanders in Kursk, couldn't be independently verified,...

This Phone Call Was a Long Time Coming

US and Russian spy chiefs make first such contact in more than 2 years

(Newser) - The heads of the CIA and SVR—that's Russia's foreign intelligence agency—reportedly spoke in November 2022. Then, nothing—until Tuesday, reports CBS News . The phone call between CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the SVR chief Sergei Naryshkin was reported by Russian state news agency Tass, which said...

After 7 Hours of Negotiations, Russia Now Holds 'the Key'

Whether a 30-day ceasefire will come to pass is up to Putin

(Newser) - Will a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine come to pass? "The key is in Moscow's hands," is how the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office put it, reports ABC News . Some seven hours of negotiations on Tuesday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National...

In Turnaround, Trump Takes a Hard Line on Russia

After he suspended military aid to Ukraine, he's concerned it's getting a 'pounding,' threatens tariffs

(Newser) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is surely flummoxed by President Trump's sudden threat Friday to layer more sanctions and tariffs on Russia. After claiming it was Ukraine's fault for Russia's invasion , suspending US military aid to Ukraine , and pausing intelligence sharing with the country, Trump wrote Friday on...

Pentagon: Hegseth Didn't Halt Cyber Ops Against Russia

Reports claimed defense secretary told US Cyber Command to stand down

(Newser) - The Pentagon on Tuesday denied reports that Pete Hegseth has ordered US Cyber Command to cease its cyberoffensive against Russia, the Hill reports. "TO BE CLEAR: @SecDef has neither canceled nor delayed any cyber operations directed against malicious Russian targets and there has been no stand-down order whatsoever from...

In Russia's Telling, America Suddenly Isn't Terrible

Europe is the bad guy, the US now gets a pass

(Newser) - Russia's propaganda machine has for years had plenty of fodder to work with as far as the US is concerned. We've been "egoistic," a "puppeteer" trying to act as the "master across the ocean" in its telling. But as the New York Times reports,...

CIA Director: Trump Had Us Pause Intelligence to Ukraine

Ratcliffe indicates the pause may soon be lifted

(Newser) - The flow of weapons and intelligence from the US to Ukraine has been temporarily put on ice, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a Wednesday interview. Speaking with Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo, Ratcliffe said, "Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process,...

Vance's Ukraine Remark Infuriates Brits

VP denies mocking UK, France about peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine

(Newser) - JD Vance has found himself the subject of criticism more than once over the past few weeks, and he's making new headlines the morning after President Trump's record-setting speech before Congress for being caught on a hot mic noting just how long his boss' speech was. The vice...

Zelensky: It's 'Time to Make Things Right' After US Clash

Ukraine leader offers partial ceasefire deal with Russia

(Newser) - Things continue to move quickly in regard to the Russia-Ukraine war. One day after President Trump paused US military aid to Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has put forward what the Washington Post calls the "framework for a partial ceasefire" with Russia. The Ukrainian president also called his White House clash...

Zelensky: Ukraine 'Ready' to Sign Minerals Deal With US

Despite contentious meeting between Ukrainian president and Trump, Vance

(Newser) - Despite his contentious meeting with US President Trump and Vice President Vance, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says he remains "ready to sign" a minerals deal with the US. The deal wasn't finalized at the White House as planned due to the abrupt turn of events the Oval Office...

Zelensky Offers Up His Own Resignation

Says he'd do it for peace—or NATO membership

(Newser) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to President Trump calling him a "dictator without elections" on Sunday, denying the charge and suggesting he'd leave the presidency if it meant long-lasting peace for Ukraine. For peace, "I am ready to do that. And I also can exchange it for...

At a Tense G20, UK Minister Rips 'Tsarist Imperialism'

David Lammy says he sees no desire for peace in Ukraine from Russia

(Newser) - UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he saw no will to achieve peace in Ukraine, only glorified imperialism, after listening to a speech by Russia's top diplomat at a tense Group of 20 meeting in South Africa on Thursday. Lammy was speaking to reporters after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey...

Trump Blames Ukraine for Starting War

'You could've made a deal,' he says of Zelensky

(Newser) - President Trump on Tuesday appeared to blame Ukraine for starting its war with Russia, despite the fact that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's anger that Ukraine was not invited to Tuesday's US-Russia talks , and his assertion that Ukraine...

Rubio: We See 'Incredible Opportunities' With Russia

Secretary of state has high-level talks with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia

(Newser) - Russia and the US agreed Tuesday to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties, America's top diplomat said after talks that reflected an extraordinary about-face in US foreign policy under President Trump. In an interview with the AP , Secretary of State...

Russia Frees American Held on Drug Charges

Kalob Byers was arrested at a Moscow airport earlier this month

(Newser) - An American citizen was arrested on drug charges in Russia earlier this month—but unlike WNBA star Brittney Griner, Kalob Byers is not going to be hit with a long prison sentence. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Monday that the 28-year-old has been released from detention, ABC News reports. Byers...

The Spy Novelist's Job Is Much Trickier These Days
The Spy Novelist's Job
Is Trickier Under Trump
OPINION
Feb 17, 2025 9:39 AM CST

The Spy Novelist's Job Is Trickier Under Trump

Joseph Finder worries that modern authors are avoiding complex issues involving Russia

(Newser) - Joseph Finder writes spy novels, and he observes in a Washington Post op-ed that the "great John le Carre had it much easier" decades ago. After all, le Carre specialized in the Cold War, when the Russians—or least Russian leaders—were undisputed villains. "The gift of the...

Rubio in Saudi Arabia for High-Level Russia Talks
It's a Busy Day
in Global Diplomacy
Feb 17, 2025 8:14 AM CST

It's a Busy Day in Global Diplomacy

Rubio prepares for high-level Russian talks, and European leaders will meet separately

(Newser) - It's shaping up to be a hectic day in regard to world diplomacy:
  • US, Russia: Top officials from the US and Russia arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday ahead of Tuesday talks on a range of issues, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, reports the New York Times
...

EU Leaders Hold Emergency Huddle Over Trump

(Newser) - French President Emmanuel Macron called leaders from key European Union nations and the United Kingdom to his ornate Elysee Palace on Monday for an emergency meeting on how to deal with the US, a once rock-solid partner, the AP reports. The move follows a weeklong diplomatic blitz on Ukraine by...

Report: Marc Fogel Swapped for Cybercrime Kingpin

Trump says another American prisoner is due to be released soon

(Newser) - Marc Fogel, a US teacher and former diplomat arrested in Russia , is back on US soil—and a Russian cybercrime kingpin is apparently set to depart from it. "We got a man home whose mother and family wanted him desperately," President Trump said Wednesday of Fogel, per ABC...

Signs Show North Korea's Ties With Russia Are Deepening

Russian ambassador claims wounded troops are being treated there

(Newser) - A Sunday interview given by Russia's ambassador to North Korea indicates ties between the two countries continue to deepen, harkening back to Cold War-era days. The New York Times reports Alexander Matsegora told the state-run news outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta that injured Russian troops are being treated in North Korea....

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