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Russian forces invaded Ukraine in late February 2022, turning Moscow into a global pariah in the worlds of finance, diplomacy, sports and culture, as the West punished it with sanctions. President Vladimir Putin called Russia’s actions - which have triggered the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II - a “special military operation”. Nuclear-armed Russia has warned of consequences if Nato interferes in Ukraine, while strategic ally China urges a peaceful, diplomatic solution.
In wide-ranging London talk, Hungary’s trade and foreign affairs chief explains why Western sanctions against Russia have badly backfired.
Chinese president did not avoid difficult questions from his French and EU counterparts, and visits to Serbia and Hungary reinforced established ties.
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Talks on trade imbalances and Ukraine war await Chinese president as he first heads to France in pursuit of ‘pragmatic’ European policy, then Serbia and Hungary, before returning to host Vladimir Putin.
Beijing visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken keeps talks open between the two superpowers with the Ukraine war, Russian relations and Mideast conflict looming large.
- A day of pomp and talks ends with a salvo aimed squarely at American efforts to divide the world into blocs
- The two leaders offer each other support on core issues amid questions about just how far their ‘no-limits’ ties can go
Was it guitar-hero time? Or a tone-deaf attempt at wartime solidarity? US Secretary of State Antony Blinken garnered some mixed reviews in the Ukrainian capital after busting out his ’80s-rock chops at a Kyiv bar.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was being treated in intensive care after he was shot five times in what the government called a politically motivated assassination attempt.
The leader was due to visit Spain and Portugal, but the visits are on hold as Kyiv faces what analysts describe as one of its most perilous moments in the war.
Blinken’s unannounced trip to Kyiv comes just weeks after US Congress finally approved a US$61 billion financial aid package for Ukraine after months of political wrangling.
Andrei Belousov, Russia’s new defence minister, has three great passions – art, the state and President Vladimir Putin.
The project is inspired by Ukraine’s ‘swarming wolf packs’ which have decimated Russia’s Black Sea fleet but state broadcaster CCTV insists it could not happen to the PLA.
Finance deals made through smaller Chinese banks would help ‘resolve the threat of secondary sanctions’, according to fresh findings by a Renmin University institute.
“A Summer in the Red Scarf” tells the love story between two teen boys at a Soviet pioneer camp. Despite its success, the book’s authors were forced to flee Russia amid a crackdown on LGBTQ propaganda.
Russia’s defence ministry on Sunday claimed its troops had made deeper advances in the Kharkiv border region, ‘liberating’ a total of nine settlements over the weekend.
Lack of a level playing field is underlying issue of overcapacity, Berlin’s representative in Beijing said, in a wide-ranging interview.
Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a civilian economist as his surprise new defence minister in an attempt to gird Russia for economic war by trying to better utilise the defence budget and harness greater innovation to win in Ukraine.
Moscow is making small advances in an area it was pushed back from in 2022, pressing its advantage amid delays in Western aid.
Envoy who visited Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE said to have encountered general agreement with Beijing’s push for restraint and direct dialogue.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a “fierce battle” was under way after Moscow launched a surprise new offensive on Friday morning.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin was reappointed as head of the country’s government on Friday.
Eric Garcetti defends India’s role as check against China, pointing out its early TikTok ban and loss of soldiers along the disputed border.
Head of State Protection Department was dismissed after two of his officers were detained for allegedly passing secret information to Russia’s FSB security service.
New designation of relationship brings diplomatic ties to highest level, underscored by 17 agreements signed between the two sides.
Russian president uses to speech to warn that his nuclear forces were ‘always’ on alert and that Russia would not tolerate any threats from the West.
The May 9 parade marks the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and has become one of Russia’s most important public holidays.
Russia’s new development on the Kuril Islands aims to ‘punish’ Japan for supporting international sanctions and providing aid to Ukraine, analysts say.
Democrats joined Republicans in a 359-43 vote, avoiding a replay of the chaos in October when predecessor Kevin McCarthy was removed from the role.
Long-opposed to the measure and having criticised Moscow’s mobilisation of prisoners to fill its ranks, Kyiv has recently U-turned amid fresh Russian advances on the battlefield.
With China’s ties to Russia under stronger scrutiny from the West, banks are keeping a closer eye on transactions with links to Moscow – and China’s exporters are concerned their bottom line will suffer.
The political philosopher was reminded of Russia’s imperialist history, with one user asking for the return of territory taken from China in the 19th century.
First visit by Chinese president to Europe in over five years is highlighting the pivotal role Beijing’s ties with Moscow play in Europe’s relationship with China.
