TOPIC

/ location

Russia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Russia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Moscow

Head of State

President Vladimir Putin

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin

last updated:

6 January, 2025

A Gazprom Neft oil refinery in Omsk, Russia. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

US imposes new Russia sanctions, hoping to reduce oil sales to China, India

Sweeping measures target every stage of Russian energy production and distribution chain but will they deter Moscow’s biggest customers?

3 hours agovideocam

Ukraine war

Ukraine steps up campaign to stop young men fleeing military draft

10 Jan 2025 - 9:36PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Why Putin cares about Trump’s Greenland threats

10 Jan 2025 - 9:30PM

Donald Trump

Trump says Putin ‘wants to meet ... we are setting it up’

US president-elect says have to get the Ukraine-Russia war over with, calls it ‘a bloody mess’.

10 Jan 2025 - 1:46PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-President Donald Trump in 2019. File photo: AP

North Korea

Will North Korea deploy up to 100,000 troops to help Russia’s war in Ukraine?

Pyongyang might have acquired advanced missile technology from Moscow in exchange for its involvement in the war, analysts say.

10 Jan 2025 - 8:00AM

Germany

Germany charges 3 with spying on naval tech for China

They allegedly gathered information on boat engines, sonar, drones and other technologies and illegally exported specialised lasers to China.

10 Jan 2025 - 2:30AM

Donald Trump

Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda shifts towards imperialist rhetoric

Trump’s rhetoric, reminiscent of 19th-century colonialism, has alarmed allies and emboldened adversaries, raising concerns about the potential for conflict.

10 Jan 2025 - 1:33AMvideocam

Donald Trump’s second term sees a shift from ‘America First’ to imperialist rhetoric, eyeing Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal, alarming allies. Photo: TNS

China-Russia relations

Can China’s consumers bear a glut of phoney Russian goods?

Spurred by stronger trade relations, stores selling Russian products have popped up in China – but many are doubting their authenticity.

9 Jan 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

North Korea

US: Ukraine battles prepare North Korea for war in Asia

Pyongyang’s troops are gaining experience and Russian equipment that could be used against neighbouring countries, US envoy tells the UN

9 Jan 2025 - 3:15PM

Ukraine war

Ukraine fighting helps North Korea prepare to wage war in Asia, US warns

Pyongyang’s troops are gaining experience and Russian equipment that could be used against neighbouring countries, a US envoy told the UN.

9 Jan 2025 - 6:49AMvideocam

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets soldiers during a visit to a training base in North Korea in March 2024. Photo: KCNA via AP

US-China relations

US urged to bolster Global South ties to counter China-Russia partnership

Washington must build up relations with ‘global swing states’ and offer a more ‘affirmative and assertive’ trade policy, say authors.

9 Jan 2025 - 6:26AMvideocam

China’s President Xi Jinping and then US president Donald Trump meet in Beijing during Trump’s first term in office. Photo: Abaca Press/TNS

War and conflict

Finland bars tanker suspected of cutting Baltic Sea cables from sailing

The Eagle S, thought to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” was detained in December following suspected sabotage.

8 Jan 2025 - 7:26PM

Diplomacy

Opinion | Spurned by the West, Russia ally Belarus is extravagantly courting China

Sanctioned by the West and unsure of Russia’s support, Belarus is banking on economic ties with China as Lukashenko plans pre-election visit.

8 Jan 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Ukraine hits oil depot used by Russia’s air force, amid Kursk new offensive

The apparent escalation comes as both sides fight to improve their battlefield positions before Trump returns to the White House.

8 Jan 2025 - 5:55PMvideocam

A destroyed Russian tank sits on a roadside near the town of Sudzha, in the Kursk region, in August 2024. Photo: AP

Nato

Swedish navy recovers anchor of tanker suspected of Baltic Sea cable damage

An inquiry is being held into oil tanker’s possible involvement in suspected sabotage of maritime energy and communication cables.

8 Jan 2025 - 8:18AM

The oil tanker Eagle S is suspected of belonging to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, and playing a role in the sabotage of a Baltic undersea cable. Photo: AFP

War and conflict

Opinion | China can help Syria transform from conflict corridor to bridge of commerce

An inclusive, tolerant Syria and a China-led grand coalition to rebuild and revive the economy could see regional strife give way to prosperity.

7 Jan 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

North Korea

Opinion | China-North Korea relations start the new year on a new low

Between Kim’s outpourings to Putin and hardly a mention of Xi’s greeting is a message: North Korea cares little about saving face over relations with Beijing.

7 Jan 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

Middle East

Opinion | Syria a chance for Middle East to shape its own, better future

The stability of Syria, at the heart of the Middle East, is in the interests of all. It is time for regional actors, not external ones, to lead the change.

7 Jan 2025 - 5:32AMvideocam

Syrian leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani waits to welcome a Ukrainian delegation in Damascus, Syria, on December 30. The world has been beating a path to his door. Photo: Reuters

Indonesia

Indonesia admitted as full Brics member, Brazil confirms

Indonesia’s candidacy was endorsed by Brics leaders in August 2023, but it only opted to formally join after Prabowo Subianto took office.

7 Jan 2025 - 8:07AM

France

Macron affirms Trump has ‘solid ally’ in France, urges realism from Ukraine over territory

President Emmanuel Macron outlined France’s foreign policy for the coming year.

7 Jan 2025 - 11:43AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russia says it captures ‘important logistics hub’ in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian forces did not confirm the claim, saying only that Russia was “conducting assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove”.

6 Jan 2025 - 5:41PM

A central street covered in debris from destroyed residential buildings after Russian bombing in Kurakhove, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on November 7, 2024. Photo: AP

Germany

Germany’s Scholz outraged over ‘indecent’ Moscow visit speculation

CDU lawmaker claimed that the chancellor would go to Moscow or meet with Vladimir Putin before Germany’s elections.

6 Jan 2025 - 1:25PM

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Ukraine to ask allies for boost to air defences at Germany meeting, Zelensky says

Ukrainian PM said dozens of partner countries will take part in meeting of the Ramstein group in Germany this week.

6 Jan 2025 - 12:46AM

Ukraine

Ukraine launches new attack in Kursk region of western Russia

Andriy Yermak, head of President Zelensky’s office, said there was ‘good news’ from Kursk, adding: ‘Russia is getting what it deserves’.

6 Jan 2025 - 3:46AMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Swiss stance on Russia may boost family office business in Hong Kong: minister

Switzerland’s neutral image affected by Russia-Ukraine war, treasury secretary Christopher Hui says.

5 Jan 2025 - 10:36PM

Switzerland’s political neutrality has been called into question after the country opted to join other Western nations in sanctioning Russia. Photo: Getty Images

Austria

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to quit as coalition talks collapse

Collapse underlines difficulty of forming governments in European countries where far-right on rise but parties refuse to partner with them.

5 Jan 2025 - 6:33AM

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday said he will resign. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

Zelensky reports heavy Russian, North Korean troop losses in Russia’s Kursk

‘The Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroops. This is significant,’ Zelensky said.

5 Jan 2025 - 6:52AMvideocam

Vladimir Putin

Crimean officials declare emergency as oil spill reaches Sevastopol

Russian-appointed officials in Crimea announced an emergency on Saturday, as oil was detected on the shores of the peninsula’s largest city.

4 Jan 2025 - 10:01PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW