Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on September 25 that all proposals for resolving the war with Ukraine remain on the negotiating table, while adding that Russia still needs to consider what is in its interests. The remarks came amid competing claims over strikes and casualties, with no agreement yet on a ceasefire or resumption of negotiations.
Vladimir Putin's United Russia party secured a record supermajority with approximately 355 of 450 State Duma seats in Russia's first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in a tightly controlled vote that excluded opposition parties critical of the Kremlin.
Russia opened polling stations for a three-day parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin frames as a referendum on support for the war in Ukraine. United Russia is expected to win decisively, with most anti-war candidates barred from running.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Russia has no aggressive intentions toward Europe and is ready to restore relations, even as he accused NATO of expanding and preparing for war. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, warned of intensifying Russian hybrid attacks against the continent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree placing the Russian subsidiaries of Swiss food giant Nestlé and French retailers Auchan and Leroy Merlin under temporary state administration, the latest move against Western companies operating in Russia.
Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman close to Vladimir Putin, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for parties following Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding to Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas, according to ProPublica. The couple acknowledged the payments as a wedding gift.
A Russian drone hit a Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train just 2 kilometers from the Polish border, shortly after former UK PM Boris Johnson and other Western officials had passed through the station. Ukraine's foreign minister said Putin is 'knocking on NATO's door.'
Leaders from BRICS nations are gathering in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS summit, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit is expected to focus on wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with economic challenges.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other BRICS leaders for a summit in New Delhi this weekend. The gathering comes as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, particularly the US-led war on Iran, strain unity within the expanded bloc.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would constitute a direct war with Russia, speaking ahead of a BRICS summit in New Delhi. The warning comes as Ukraine conducted its deepest strike into Russian territory, targeting Arctic gas facilities over 3,000km from its border.
President Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in an hour-long phone call to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, suggesting that US-Russia relations could be "fully restored" and trade prospects opened if the conflict concludes, according to Kremlin officials.
Ukrainian officials announced that three-way negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia could resume in early October, following recent visits by US special envoys to both Kyiv and Moscow with new peace proposals. The talks come after a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking the Trump administration's renewed push to end Russia's war in Ukraine following their earlier visit to Moscow.
Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on September 5 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 72-hour pause on strikes against each other's capitals during the diplomatic talks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day halt to strikes on Kyiv ahead of visits by US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv, marking Washington's latest attempt to broker peace in the war now in its fifth year.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly floated a trilateral summit between President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a secret visit to Moscow. The proposal came as Washington seeks to restart stalled Russia-Ukraine peace talks, though Putin has rejected similar meeting formats in the past.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise visit to Moscow this week to warn Russian officials against escalating tensions with NATO members, particularly the Baltic states, though he did not meet with President Putin.
Russia summoned Japan's ambassador to Moscow to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's 'anti-Russian' remarks following President Vladimir Putin's first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands. Japan had issued a sharp protest over Putin's visit to the Russian-controlled islands, which Japan claims as its Northern Territories.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed pride in his country's deepening relationship with Russia in communications with President Vladimir Putin, as reported by state media on August 16, 2026. The reaffirmation of ties comes amid North Korea's provision of military support for Russia's war efforts and coincides with North Korea's liberation anniversary celebrations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands on August 13, 2026, traveling to Iturup, the largest island in the chain. Tokyo issued a strong condemnation, stating the visit has made any improvement in Russia-Japan relations more difficult.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, territories seized from Japan at the end of World War II and claimed by both nations. Japan's foreign minister summoned the Russian ambassador and called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," while Ukraine's foreign minister condemned it as a provocative attempt to normalize occupation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia will seize European merchant vessels if European countries continue targeting Russian ships, with the Pacific Fleet commander stating forces are ready to inspect and detain vessels from hostile states. Putin made the threat while speaking aboard a Russian warship.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv has delivered new proposals to American negotiators aimed at ending the war with Russia, while Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov told the BBC that Putin can no longer claim victory in Ukraine. The developments come as Russia reportedly increases ballistic missile production and Ukraine warns against territorial concessions.
Ukraine conducted a massive drone attack on Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, disabling two major grain terminals and raising concerns about global supply disruptions. The strike comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to seize European vessels in retaliation for potential seizures of Russian merchant ships.
Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old former US Marine and English teacher, was freed from Russian custody on humanitarian grounds after spending more than four years in prison since his January 2022 arrest. Russian President Vladimir Putin granted the pardon amid severe concerns about Gilman's deteriorating health.
NHL star Alex Ovechkin faced backlash after appearing in a political campaign advertisement for Russia's ruling United Russia party, backed by Vladimir Putin. Ovechkin defended his decision by saying he supports his country and plans to live in Russia after his hockey career ends, while insisting he is "full of peace and love" and not pro-war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation on August 4, 2026, creating Russia's first comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrency trading, exchanges, and digital assets. The law, effective September 2026, allows retail and qualified investors to purchase crypto through licensed intermediaries while maintaining a ban on crypto payments for domestic transactions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed landmark legislation creating a regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency market, including rules for retail trading. The law represents a significant shift in Russia's approach to digital assets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed landmark legislation creating a regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency market, including rules for retail trading. The law represents a significant shift in Russia's approach to digital assets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed landmark legislation creating a regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency market, including rules for retail trading. The law represents a significant shift in Russia's approach to digital assets.
President Vladimir Putin announced a major military reshuffle on Wednesday, establishing a new Unmanned Systems Forces branch under Denis Lyamin and replacing key operational commanders in Ukraine as Russia's territorial gains have slowed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is preparing to mobilize an additional 30,000 North Korean troops and expand domestic conscription as battlefield losses outpace recruitment. Intelligence reports suggest Russia is laying groundwork for a major mobilization wave.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine during talks in Omsk, proposing a freeze in hostilities and resumption of negotiations under an 'Istanbul 2.0' framework. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry welcomed the call while emphasizing Moscow needs greater pressure to agree to peace.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui held high-level meetings in Moscow, including talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a third strategic dialogue with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. North Korean state media KCNA said the two sides reached consensus on all issues discussed and agreed to accelerate bilateral cooperation across multiple fields.
Russia is experiencing widespread fuel shortages leading to extensive queues at petrol stations, rising prices, and growing public frustration. The crisis, linked to Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries and the ongoing war's economic toll, has forced Putin to publicly acknowledge the problem in a rare admission of domestic difficulty.
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a lengthy phone call discussing Ukraine and potential peace negotiations, just as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara for their summit. The call, in which Trump positioned himself as a peacemaker, comes amid uncertainty over how to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
Ukrainian drones struck a major oil terminal and military facilities near St. Petersburg in one of the largest deep-strike operations of the war, prompting Putin to visit military installations and vow further territorial gains. President Trump subsequently held a 90-minute phone call with Putin, offering to help find a solution to the conflict.
Russia conducted a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine's capital with missiles and drones, causing explosions, fires, and injuries to at least 11 people. The assault came hours after President Zelensky warned of intelligence indicating a massive strike, and follows reports that Putin ordered his military to develop new offensive operations to capture Kyiv.
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine causes over 2 million military casualties according to a U.S. thinktank study, signs of internal pressure emerge with a top Russian banker publicly calling for an end to the war and continued assassinations of military figures exposing rifts in Putin's security apparatus. Meanwhile, Putin has ordered new offensive operations to capture Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing increased scrutiny as Ukraine launches deeper drone attacks into Russian territory, with prediction markets showing rising odds of his departure from power and reports suggesting he has retreated from public view amid mounting challenges including the strategic liability of Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly admitted that Ukrainian long-range strikes are causing fuel supply problems across Russia, with the Siberian region of Irkutsk implementing a 50-litre limit at state-run gas stations. Videos show fights breaking out at Russian fuel stations amid the shortages.
Ukraine has launched major drone attacks on Russian targets including a Moscow satellite communications center, killing civilians, while weeks of strikes on refineries have created a severe fuel shortage forcing Russia to import gasoline and implement rationing in Siberia. The escalation comes as Putin indicates willingness to host U.S. negotiators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly admitted to fuel shortages and operational problems in the ongoing Ukraine invasion, while vowing to continue efforts to capture four Ukrainian regions. The acknowledgment comes as Ukraine escalates attacks on Russian oil refineries and weapons facilities, causing significant disruption.
Ukraine conducted long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, igniting a major facility in southern Russia and killing at least two people. President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged Russia is experiencing a difficult period as Ukraine intensifies strikes on energy infrastructure up to 1,200 miles inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian forces have escalated long-range drone attacks on Russian territory, striking oil refineries up to 1,200 miles inside Russia, prompting emergency declarations in occupied Crimea and vows from President Putin to ensure security amid the four-year conflict.
A major oil refinery south of Moscow will be offline for at least six months following extensive damage from Ukrainian drone attacks this month, complicating Russian efforts to address fuel shortages. The attacks come as Putin signals readiness for peace talks with Ukraine.
Russia continues incremental territorial gains in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, though experts dispute the significance of its progress. Meanwhile, President Trump offered a more positive assessment of Ukraine's performance, and analysts point to mounting costs for Russia's war effort and internal pressures on Putin's system.
Russia is pushing Belarus to take a more active role in the Ukraine conflict, while the Kremlin accuses Kyiv of threatening Belarusian sovereignty after Ukraine demanded removal of signal relay stations used to guide Russian attacks. The developments come as Putin claims readiness for peace talks following Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Austria's current chancellor called for Europe to engage in dialogue with Putin, while former chancellor Sebastian Kurz's AI and cyberdefense company Dream raised $260 million in a funding round that valued the firm at $3 billion.
Robert Kuzovkov (also known as Semyon Skrepetsky), a 44-year-old exiled Russian artist who openly criticized Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was shot and killed in Biała Podlaska, Poland. Two Belarusian men have been detained in connection with the killing.
French President Emmanuel Macron was caught on a live microphone at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump had been "difficult." European leaders at the summit also urged Trump to host talks between Zelensky and Putin to break the deadlock over ending the Ukraine war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky each spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday as he turned 80. The conversations focused on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Trump reportedly telling Putin he was prepared to help resolve the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that escalating Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries, fuel depots, and infrastructure are impacting Russia's economy and society, while new polling shows Russian citizens increasingly critical of his economic policies amid ongoing sanctions and military pressures.
Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated the central bank may cut interest rates at next week's meeting, while praising absent central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina. The announcement comes as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine reaches 1,569 days, now exceeding the length of World War I.
Germany, France, and the UK have backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for direct ceasefire talks with Russia, with European leaders signaling readiness to take a leading role in negotiations with Vladimir Putin in coordination with the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that he met with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in Kyiv, where he asked the former Chelsea FC owner to convey messages to the Kremlin regarding prospects for direct peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin.
Leaders of Ukraine, the UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement outlining five conditions that must be met to achieve a 'just and lasting peace' to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The statement emerged from bilateral talks held in London on June 7, 2026.
Ukraine conducted extensive drone strikes targeting military facilities near St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, including a naval base in Kronstadt. The attack, involving hundreds of drones reaching up to 1,000 kilometers into Russian territory, coincided with the final day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Armenians voted in parliamentary elections on June 7, 2026, with exit polls showing the pro-EU ruling party in the lead as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government seeks to loosen ties with Moscow and deepen cooperation with the West despite mounting Russian pressure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's open letter request for direct talks on the four-year conflict, saying he sees no point in such a meeting. Ukrainian officials indicated the letter was aimed at a broader audience including Putin's inner circle and the Russian public.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare public letter on Thursday, proposing a full ceasefire and negotiations in a neutral country. The Kremlin responded by saying Zelenskyy could meet Putin in Moscow "any time."
Ukrainian drones attacked an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, setting it ablaze during the city's annual economic forum promoted by President Putin. In response, Putin announced Russia will bolster its air defenses to counter the escalating Ukrainian drone attacks that have reached deep inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian drones attacked an oil terminal and warship in St. Petersburg early Wednesday morning, hours before Russia's flagship international economic forum began in the city. The strikes on Putin's hometown appeared timed to embarrass the Kremlin during the high-profile event designed to attract foreign investment.
Senior Russian government officials have warned President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine war spending is unsustainable, marking the most serious internal division since the 2022 invasion, as Moscow hosts its fifth wartime economic conference while struggling to develop a growth strategy amid ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China to meet with President Xi Jinping on May 19-20, just days after former President Trump held a summit in Beijing. The timing of the consecutive high-level meetings underscores China's diplomatic positioning between Russia and the United States.
Russia's parliament has passed legislation that would allow President Putin to authorize military operations in foreign countries, raising concerns among NATO allies about potential testing of the alliance's commitment to collective defense.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the test launch of the new Sarmat strategic nuclear missile, describing it as 'the most powerful in the world.' State TV broadcast footage of the test conducted by Strategic Missile Forces commander Sergei Karakayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a significantly reduced Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2026, coinciding with a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The downsized event reflects security concerns and marks a notable departure from previous years' celebrations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Saturday that he believes the Ukraine conflict is nearing its conclusion, speaking to reporters hours after presiding over Moscow's most scaled-back Victory Day parade in years. Putin also indicated willingness to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a third country.
European Union officials are preparing for possible negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the Kremlin responded that Putin is ready to talk with Europeans but will not initiate contact first.
Russia declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine for May 8-9 during Victory Day commemorations, while threatening massive missile strikes if violated. Ukraine's Zelensky accused Putin of 'utter cynicism' after Russia hit energy plants following ceasefire claims.
Russia's Defense Ministry announced, that the May 9 Victory Day parade will proceed without tanks, missiles, or any military equipment due to "the current operational situation"; the first time since 2008 that military hardware will be absent from Red Square. Analysts say the omission signals battlefield equipment strain and weakens the propaganda value of Putin's most important national showcase.
Russian President Putin warned President Trump in a 90-minute call, that resuming military operations against Iran; especially a ground invasion, would be "dangerous and unacceptable" with "extremely damaging consequences for the entire international community". Putin offered to help secure Iran's enriched uranium as part of a deal, which Trump rebuffed, telling the Russian leader he would "much rather" have him focus on ending the war in Ukraine.
Iran's Mahan Air operated the first Tehran-Moscow flight, resuming the route after a 60-day suspension caused by the US-Israeli war; the same day Iran's Foreign Minister returned from meeting Putin in Russia to discuss the conflict. Airport authorities announced further route restorations to Bangkok, Istanbul, Beijing and other destinations in the coming days.
