Russia

Read recent news stories and current events about Russia on Newser.com

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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....

Russia Releases American Held Since 2021

Kremlin frees Marc Fogel on deal struck by Trump envoy

(Newser) - Russia on Tuesday freed an American teacher detained there since 2021, reports the New York Times . The deal to free Marc Fogel was struck by President Trump's special envoy to the Mideast, Steve Witkoff. In August 2021, the Pennsylvania resident was charged after bringing less than an ounce of...

Trump to Ukraine: We'll Swap Aid for Vital Minerals

President says US wants rare earth elements vital for high tech

(Newser) - The US and Ukraine appear to have settled on a way to keep American military aid flowing to the nation—Ukraine will provide rare earth minerals vital to the high-tech industry.
  • Trump: "We're telling Ukraine they have very valuable rare earths," Trump said Monday. "We're
...

Canada Can No Longer Claim the Magnetic North Pole

World Magnetic Model gets its first update since 2020

(Newser) - GPS systems around the world are adjusting to a new model tracking Earth's magnetic north pole, the point that attracts the needle of a compass, which is now closer to Siberia than to Canada, reports the Washington Post . The point, which differs from the geographic North Pole at the...

Trump Has Flattery, Threats for Russia

End the war against Ukraine or face tariffs, sanctions

(Newser) - Add Russia to the list of countries that could be hit with tariffs, President Trump warned Wednesday—unless it puts an end to its war against Ukraine, reports CNBC . The president discussed the subject in a Truth Social post that started with flattery. "I'm not looking to hurt...

Russia-Iran Deal Will Affect 'the Entire Region'

Vladimir Putin, Masoud Pezeshkian sign wide-ranging cooperation pact

(Newser) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a broad cooperation pact Friday in the face of stinging Western sanctions. Officials say the "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty" covers all areas—from trade and military cooperation to science, education, and culture, per the AP . Putin praised the...

Zelensky: Russia Carried Out 'Massive' Attack in Ukraine

Kyiv counts at least 117 missiles, drones fired into regions across the nation on Wednesday

(Newser) - Russia launched a major ballistic and cruise missile attack on regions across Ukraine early Wednesday, targeting energy production and compelling authorities to shut down the power grid in some areas, amid freezing winter weather, officials said. The Russian Defense Ministry said it launched a strike on "critically important facilities...

Russia Welcomes Trump's Comments on the War

Foreign minister praises president-elect, says Putin is open for direct talks with him

(Newser) - Russia's top diplomat said Tuesday that Moscow is open for talks with President-elect Donald Trump and praised him for pointing to NATO's plan to embrace Ukraine as a root cause of the nearly 3-year-old conflict, per the AP . Any prospective peace talks should involve broader arrangements for security...

Russia Is Teaming Up With Iran to Deal With 'Acute Issues'

Per Russia, Putin will host Iranian leader Masoud Pezeshkian to sign 'strategic' alliance deal

(Newser) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart this week for the signing of a broad partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran, the Kremlin said Monday. The agreement on a "comprehensive strategic partnership" between the countries will be signed during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Moscow...

Trump: Putin Wants to Meet Over 'Bloody Mess' in Ukraine

Kremlin says it has 'mutual desire' for dialogue, but it's not yet clear when/if such a meeting will happen

(Newser) - Donald Trump has pledged to end the Russia-Ukraine war soon after he takes office later this month, and while it's not clear how he plans to do so, the president-elect is hinting about the first possible move toward that goal. Russian President Vladimir Putin "wants to meet, and...

Blinken: Russia 'May Be Close' to a Big Move on N. Korea

Top US diplomat says Kremlin may soon recognize nation as nuclear power, share space tech

(Newser) - Russia is close to sharing advanced space technology with North Korea, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to South Korea on Monday, warning that the Moscow-Pyongyang alliance continues to develop. North Korea "is already receiving Russian military equipment and training," Blinken said in a press...

32 Dolphins Dead Following Oil Spill
32 Dolphins Dead After Oil Spill
Jan 6, 2025 2:09 PM CST

32 Dolphins Dead After Oil Spill

Russia, Ukraine call it an ecological 'disaster'

(Newser) - Thirty-two dolphins have died since fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken tankers three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula from Russia's southern Krasnodar region, an animal rescue group said Sunday. Russia's Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center said the deaths are...

Ukraine: Russia 'Getting What It Deserves' in Kursk

Though Russia purports to have stopped much of a new Ukrainian offensive

(Newser) - Russia's Kursk region is back in the news, with word from Moscow that Ukraine launched a new offensive there on Sunday. NBC News calls the move an apparent effort to grab new territory in the region, which Ukraine first entered in August . It took a swath of territory at...

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