Russia
US and Russian officials hold landmark peace talks in Saudi Arabia as Ukraine remains excluded
Senior US and Russian officials have concluded extensive talks at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two powers since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia reportedly considers selling 6% stake in NIS to Serbia after US imposed sanctions
Serbia is considering a range of solutions to ensure NIS’s continued operations, all of which carry economic and geopolitical risks.
Visibly tired and upset Zelenskiy holds Ukraine war press conference with Erdogan in Istanbul
Says Turkey should be among countries with seat at any peace talks table. Turkish president says that table should be in Ankara.
Russia says pipeline drone strike set to wipe out up to third of Kazakhstan’s oil exports
Kremlin mouthpiece Medvedev claims Ukrainian attack was designed to harm US economic interests in deliberate move against Trump.
European leaders clash over peacekeepers in Ukraine at Paris meeting
Argument highlights the lack of consensus on how to respond to US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace talks with Russia, which have kicked off in Riyadh.
LONG READ: Can Ukraine go it alone (with a little help from the EU) if the US abandons it?
Now that Ukraine’s Nato membership hopes have been dashed and its Western allies are unlikely to offer binding bilateral security guarantees, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia on its own, given the EU continues to support it?
Inflation in Russia has probably peaked and rate cuts may start in June, says Rencap
Inflation in Russia has probably peaked, as the annualised preliminary January rate reached 9.9%, says Renaissance Capital, and rate cuts could begin as soon as June, but that will also crash economic growth.
Russian foreign minister accuses West of trying to destabilise Serbia
Sergei Lavrov slams sanctions on oil company NIS and claims ongoing protests are a foreign-backed effort to instigate a ‘colour revolution’ in Serbia.
Brazil to host expanded BRICS summit in July amid US dollar tensions
Brazil will host leaders from the BRICS nations and their new members in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, as the burgeoning bloc faces growing pressure from the US over plans to reduce dollar dependence in trade.
Kremlin orders Russian media to downplay importance of Trump after Putin call
Kremlin wants fewer mentions of US President Donald Trump, to emphasise Putin as the primary decision-maker
Ukrainian drone strikes Kazakhstan’s main oil export pipeline route in Russia
Attack comes on same day Hungarian and Kazakh top diplomats back idea of Ukraine conflict talks between Putin and Trump.
MOSCOW BLOG: International values-based order is dead
In his closing remarks at the end of this year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC), the outgoing chairman Christoph Heusgen broke down into tears. The event turned into an earthquake that has destroyed the trans-Atlantic partnership.
RENCAP: No major surprises as the Central Bank of Russia keeps rates on hold
The decision to maintain the key rate at 21% aligned with the consensus forecast. The regulator's rhetoric turned out to be slightly more hawkish than anticipated at the start of the week as inflation pressures remain.
Trump could use Putin to talk to Iran
Russia's Putin is being floated as a possible "Iran whisperer" as part of the Trump administration's latest push to tackle the long-standing Iran problem.
US threatens troop deployment to Ukraine if Russia resists peace talks
The United States may impose stricter sanctions and consider deploying troops to Ukraine if Moscow refuses to engage in meaningful negotiations to end the war, US Vice President JD Vance has warned.
Valentine’s Day Is a ‘spiritual venereal disease,' Russian MP Says
Valentine’s Day is a "spiritual venereal disease" and a form of "cultural sabotage" against Russia, according to Vitaly Milonov, a controversial deputy in Russia's State Duma
Poland to play key role in EU Paris meeting to counter Trump’s Ukraine talks exclusion
Poland was the poor second cousin to its EU peers when it first joined the EU two decades ago. But a flourishing economy, its frontline position and growing military might means it’s been promoted to the top table in EU affairs.
Europe out of Ukraine ceasefire talks
When asked if Europe will be at the table in the upcoming US-Russia negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, US special envoy to Ukraine retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg said “no.”
Putin taking Trump talks seriously, appoints a heavy-weight team to lead the talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking the upcoming ceasefire talks with US President Donald Trump very seriously and has put together a heavyweight team of his top officials to conduct the negotiations.
Hamas in Gaza releases American, Russian and Argentine-dual national Israelis in sixth prisoner swap under ceasefire deal
Hamas has released three Israeli hostages in Gaza's southern city of Khan Yunis on February 15 under a continuing ceasefire agreement with Israel.