Russian President Vladimir Putin

May 21, 2026 9:34 AM

Xi and Putin unite to criticise US, but fail to clinch big gas deal

China and Russia condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defence shield plans and Washington's "irresponsible" nuclear policy at a summit on Wednesday, a week after President Xi Jinping hosted Trump in Beijing. A joint statement issued after Xi's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin served to underline that, while the Chinese leader seeks stable and constructive relations with Trump, he differs fundamentally with him on key issues where China's position is closely al...

May 18, 2026 1:46 PM

Putin faces ‘very difficult choices’ in Ukraine as sanctions bite, Estonia’s spy chief says

Russian President Vladimir Putin has few good options in Ukraine with his armed forces unable to advance significantly on the battlefield while Western sanctions are chipping away at his resources, Estonia's foreign intelligence chief has said. Kaupo Rosin, a top spy on NATO's eastern flank, told Reuters Russia was losing more men than it was recruiting in the fifth year of its full-scale war, and that a general mobilisation would be deeply unpopular and potentially undermine stability. "All t...

May 13, 2026 12:08 PM

Russia’s Lavrov says ‘nothing is happening’ with US-Russia relations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that many positive things were being said about the enormous potential of U.S.-Russia relations, but that in reality "nothing is happening". After winning the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump re-established U.S. dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine though peace has so far proven elusive. Lavrov said that "good words" about cooperation on technology, energy and o...

May 8, 2026 2:08 PM

Russia and Ukraine fight on despite WW2 celebration ceasefire proposal

Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Friday of violating a unilateral two-day ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to cover the anniversary celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Four years since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two, Russia and Ukraine are still pummelling each other with missiles, drones and artillery. With no victory yet in sight for either side in a gruelling war of ...

April 22, 2026 3:11 PM

Ukraine has asked Turkey to host a Zelenskiy-Putin meeting, FM says

Ukraine has asked Turkey to host a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, its top diplomat said, as Kyiv seeks to reinvigorate stalling peace talks. "We asked the Turks about it, we asked some other capitals," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in comments to reporters on Tuesday that were cleared for release on Wednesday. He added that Ukraine would be ready to consider any place other than Belarus or Russia for a meeting with Putin, which Zelensk...

April 10, 2026 12:22 PM

Russia’s Putin announces Orthodox Easter ceasefire, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy agrees

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a 32-hour ceasefire over a two-day period for Orthodox Easter and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv would abide by the measure. The ceasefire for Orthodox Easter celebrations on Sunday coincides with a pause in U.S.-led efforts to clinch a settlement to the four-year-old conflict amid hostilities in Iran and the broader Middle East. Putin's announcement was similar to a 30-hour ceasefire he ordered last year. Each sid...

April 8, 2026 12:43 PM

Vance says EU is meddling in Hungary’s election as he backs Orban in Budapest

U.S. Vice President JD Vance lashed out on Tuesday at what he called "disgraceful" European Union interference in Hungary's election, even as he openly endorsed Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of both President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, days before the vote. Vance's visit to Budapest came ahead of Sunday's election, which independent public opinion polls show Orban is likely to lose. The trip - and the rare endorsement by a sitting U.S. official - underscored ...

March 24, 2026 9:46 AM

Kim Jong Un says North Korea’s nuclear status is irreversible, threatens South

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would permanently strengthen its nuclear forces and treat South Korea as its most hostile state, as he set out policy priorities in a speech to parliament, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday. Kim said Pyongyang's status as a nuclear-armed state was irreversible and expanding a "self-defensive nuclear deterrent" was essential to national security, regional stability and economic development. He rejected the idea that nuclear disarmament could b...

March 10, 2026 10:38 AM

Oil falls as Trump predicts Middle East de-escalation

Oil prices fell on Tuesday after hitting an over three-year high in the prior session as U.S. President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to global oil supplies. Brent futures LCOc1 fell $4.17, or 4.2%, to $94.79 a barrel at 0345 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was down $3.81, or 4%, to $90.96 a barrel. Both the contracts fell as much as 11% earlier before paring some losses. Oil surged past $1...

March 2, 2026 10:27 PM

Russia’s Putin, Saudi crown prince discuss Iran escalation risks

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed risks of escalation around Iran in a phone call with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, the Kremlin said in a statement. "Both sides expressed serious concern about the real risks of the conflict spreading, which has already affected the territories of a number of Arab countries and could have catastrophic consequences," the Kremlin said. Putin told Mohammed bin Salman that there is an urgent need to resolve this "extremely dan...