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Ukraine

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia, gaining independence from the Soviet Union and declaring neutrality in 1991. In February 2022, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine under the auspices of a "special military operation" to "de-nazify" the country. The move turned Moscow into a global pariah, and the Ukrainian army - backed financially and militarily by the US and western European countries - continues to fight off the invading forces. Nuclear-armed Russia has warned of consequences if Nato interferes in the war, while strategic ally China urges a peaceful, diplomatic solution.

Capital

Kyiv

Head of State

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Head of Government

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal

US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address was the longest to the Congress. Photo: AP

US-China relations

5 top takeaways from Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address

In a speech that runs nearly two hours, Trump casts himself as a global peacemaker and touts his economic credentials.

25 Feb 2026 - 12:50PMvideocam

European Union

Opinion | EU has a key role to play in the new world order in the making

25 Feb 2026 - 5:30AM

Ukraine war

Russia accuses Ukraine of seeking nuclear arms with help from UK and France

25 Feb 2026 - 2:14AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Ukraine urges China to play ‘critical’ role for peace as war enters fifth year

Top Ukrainian envoy urges Beijing to ‘walk this last mile together’ on anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

24 Feb 2026 - 10:00PM

A person walks through a makeshift memorial to fallen soldiers in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday, as the conflict with Russia reaches its four-year mark. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

4 years into Ukraine conflict, Zelensky says Putin ‘did not win this war’

The president said Kyiv wanted ‘lasting peace’ and any truce agreement ‘must not simply be signed, it must be accepted by Ukrainians’.

24 Feb 2026 - 8:41PM

Ukraine war

Where Ukraine and Russia stand as war enters fifth year

Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

24 Feb 2026 - 3:19PM

Singapore

Singapore warns ‘action will be taken’ against citizens fighting in foreign wars

National Security Minister K Shanmugam says any Singaporean found fighting abroad will be detained by the Internal Security Department.

24 Feb 2026 - 1:11PM

Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam speaks at a summit in Singapore on July 9, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Russia

Assailant kills police officer and himself in blast near Moscow railway station

The attacker approached a patrol car downtown before detonating his device.

24 Feb 2026 - 9:46AM

China-Germany relations

‘China shock’ hangs over German leader Merz’s first visit to Beijing

Chancellor must strike a balance between those wanting a toned-down Brussels trade policy and those backing tougher action against Beijing.

23 Feb 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

The Netherlands

New Dutch government under centrist Jetten takes power

Jetten pulled off a stunning election win in October to dethrone the far-right party led by firebrand politician Geert Wilders.

23 Feb 2026 - 6:20PM

Ministers of the new three-party minority government pose with King Willem-Alexander (middle right, Prime Minster Rob Jetten (middle left) and Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgöz (front row right) on the steps of Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

Zelensky says he believes Putin has started World War III

Ukrainian leader says his country was preventing it from becoming a ‘broad full-scale third world war’.

23 Feb 2026 - 3:10PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘has already begun’ World War III. Photo: AFP

South Korea

South Korea protests Russian embassy ‘Victory’ banner as key war date looms

South Korea formally protests display in the heart of its capital as the Ukraine-Russia war enters its fifth year.

23 Feb 2026 - 5:30PMvideocam

Ukraine war

‘Brutal terrorist act’: twin blasts rock western Ukrainian city

A police officer was killed, 25 other people were wounded in bomb explosions in Lviv.

23 Feb 2026 - 11:47AM

Hungary

Hungary spoils EU attempt at Russia sanctions package over oil flows

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains close ties with the Kremlin, has long argued that Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for his economy.

22 Feb 2026 - 10:19PM

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban as he arrives to attend the European Council meeting in Brussels on December 18 last year. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Russian barrage strikes Ukrainian infrastructure as war drags on

Kyiv has faced waves of overnight strikes in recent weeks as Moscow has intensified its winter assaults.

22 Feb 2026 - 6:08PM

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of an interview with journalists in Kyiv on Friday. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

5 European nations to make drones by tapping Ukraine’s war experience

The initiative by France, Poland, Germany, the UK and Italy comes after a spate of violations of Europe’s airspace involving rogue drones.

21 Feb 2026 - 5:31PM

North Korea

Where is Kim Ju-ae? Succession question hangs over North Korea’s ruling congress

With Kim Jong-un set to outline his end-of-decade vision, the notable absence of his teenage daughter raises fresh succession questions.

21 Feb 2026 - 2:01PM

Ukraine war

10 arrested over Russian plot to kill top Ukrainian officials

Moscow promised to pay the assassins up to US$100,000, depending on the notoriety and influence of the potential victim, prosecutor says.

20 Feb 2026 - 6:58PM

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska pay tribute to those killed during the Euromaidan protests in 2014 in Kyiv on Friday. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service / AFP

North Korea

North Korea’s Kim opens rare party congress with pledge to fix economy

North Korea’s economy has been languishing under heavy Western sanctions that aim to choke off funding for its nuclear weapons programme.

20 Feb 2026 - 6:28PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Over 1,000 Kenyans recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine war: report

Russian embassy denied Moscow’s involvement in illegally recruiting, though it said ‌foreign citizens could voluntarily join its forces.

20 Feb 2026 - 2:44PM

Ukraine war

Ukraine war talks in Geneva wrap up in 2 hours with no sign of breakthrough

Neither side revealed what they discussed or whether any agreement had been reached, but both said the discussions had been ‘difficult’.

18 Feb 2026 - 7:45PMvideocam

Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky (centre) leaves after the second round of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday. Photo:AFP

Ukraine war

Zelensky says Trump’s peace demands focused only on Ukraine ‘not fair’

The president said Ukrainians ‘can’t understand why’ they would be asked to cede additional land to Russia.

18 Feb 2026 - 10:44AMvideocam

A Ukrainian soldier fires at a Russian drone at an undisclosed location near Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region, on Tuesday. Photo: the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanised Brigade/AFP

Ukraine war

Ukraine and Russia meet in Geneva as Trump piles new pressure on Kyiv

Zelensky urged allies to press Russia for a ‘real and just’ ⁠peace deal via tougher sanctions and weapons supplies to his country.

18 Feb 2026 - 2:30AM

Italy

‘I have to be worried’: Ukraine’s Olympic sign bearer was a Russian woman

Disguised in dark glasses and a silver puffer jacket, Anastasia Kucherova says she wept silently as Ukraine got a standing ovation.

17 Feb 2026 - 2:01PM

Japan

Russia emerges as unlikely growth market for Japan tourism as China pulls back

New visa centres in Moscow and St Petersburg reflect a sharp rise in Russian demand as Chinese arrivals fall amid diplomatic tensions.

17 Feb 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

Foreign tourists wearing Japanese traditional kimono clothes pose for a photograph near Sensoji temple at Asakusa district, a popular sightseeing spot in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

North Korea

‘Heroic era’: why North Korea’s Kim is lauding Ukraine war sacrifices

The new homes for families of fallen soldiers are part of a push to showcase tangible achievements before the party congress, analysts say.

17 Feb 2026 - 8:00AM

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre, right) and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, touring Saeppyol Street, a new housing district in Pyongyang dedicated to the families of fallen soldiers, on Sunday. Photo; EPA/KCNA

Indonesia

Crude business for Indonesia amid West’s squeeze on Russian oil

Analysts say Indonesia’s energy demand could draw scrutiny as Moscow seeks new buyers, potentially complicating US trade talks.

16 Feb 2026 - 2:58PMvideocam

Munich Security Conference

In Munich, US urges ‘collective strength’ among allies to deter China

Washington and its Indo-Pacific and European allies emphasise need for cooperation to counter Beijing’s military build-up.

16 Feb 2026 - 6:00AM

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Ukraine

5 top takeaways from Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address

In a speech that runs nearly two hours, Trump casts himself as a global peacemaker and touts his economic credentials.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | EU has a key role to play in the new world order in the making

Russia accuses Ukraine of seeking nuclear arms with help from UK and France

Ukraine urges China to play ‘critical’ role for peace as war enters fifth year

Top Ukrainian envoy urges Beijing to ‘walk this last mile together’ on anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

4 years into Ukraine conflict, Zelensky says Putin ‘did not win this war’

The president said Kyiv wanted ‘lasting peace’ and any truce agreement ‘must not simply be signed, it must be accepted by Ukrainians’.

Where Ukraine and Russia stand as war enters fifth year

Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

Singapore warns ‘action will be taken’ against citizens fighting in foreign wars

National Security Minister K Shanmugam says any Singaporean found fighting abroad will be detained by the Internal Security Department.

Assailant kills police officer and himself in blast near Moscow railway station

The attacker approached a patrol car downtown before detonating his device.

‘China shock’ hangs over German leader Merz’s first visit to Beijing

Chancellor must strike a balance between those wanting a toned-down Brussels trade policy and those backing tougher action against Beijing.

New Dutch government under centrist Jetten takes power

Jetten pulled off a stunning election win in October to dethrone the far-right party led by firebrand politician Geert Wilders.

Zelensky says he believes Putin has started World War III

Ukrainian leader says his country was preventing it from becoming a ‘broad full-scale third world war’.

South Korea protests Russian embassy ‘Victory’ banner as key war date looms

South Korea formally protests display in the heart of its capital as the Ukraine-Russia war enters its fifth year.

‘Brutal terrorist act’: twin blasts rock western Ukrainian city

A police officer was killed, 25 other people were wounded in bomb explosions in Lviv.

Hungary spoils EU attempt at Russia sanctions package over oil flows

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains close ties with the Kremlin, has long argued that Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for his economy.

Russian barrage strikes Ukrainian infrastructure as war drags on

Kyiv has faced waves of overnight strikes in recent weeks as Moscow has intensified its winter assaults.

5 European nations to make drones by tapping Ukraine’s war experience

The initiative by France, Poland, Germany, the UK and Italy comes after a spate of violations of Europe’s airspace involving rogue drones.

Where is Kim Ju-ae? Succession question hangs over North Korea’s ruling congress

With Kim Jong-un set to outline his end-of-decade vision, the notable absence of his teenage daughter raises fresh succession questions.

10 arrested over Russian plot to kill top Ukrainian officials

Moscow promised to pay the assassins up to US$100,000, depending on the notoriety and influence of the potential victim, prosecutor says.

North Korea’s Kim opens rare party congress with pledge to fix economy

North Korea’s economy has been languishing under heavy Western sanctions that aim to choke off funding for its nuclear weapons programme.

Over 1,000 Kenyans recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine war: report

Russian embassy denied Moscow’s involvement in illegally recruiting, though it said ‌foreign citizens could voluntarily join its forces.

Ukraine war talks in Geneva wrap up in 2 hours with no sign of breakthrough

Neither side revealed what they discussed or whether any agreement had been reached, but both said the discussions had been ‘difficult’.

Zelensky says Trump’s peace demands focused only on Ukraine ‘not fair’

The president said Ukrainians ‘can’t understand why’ they would be asked to cede additional land to Russia.

Ukraine and Russia meet in Geneva as Trump piles new pressure on Kyiv

Zelensky urged allies to press Russia for a ‘real and just’ ⁠peace deal via tougher sanctions and weapons supplies to his country.

‘I have to be worried’: Ukraine’s Olympic sign bearer was a Russian woman

Disguised in dark glasses and a silver puffer jacket, Anastasia Kucherova says she wept silently as Ukraine got a standing ovation.

Russia emerges as unlikely growth market for Japan tourism as China pulls back

New visa centres in Moscow and St Petersburg reflect a sharp rise in Russian demand as Chinese arrivals fall amid diplomatic tensions.

‘Heroic era’: why North Korea’s Kim is lauding Ukraine war sacrifices

The new homes for families of fallen soldiers are part of a push to showcase tangible achievements before the party congress, analysts say.

Crude business for Indonesia amid West’s squeeze on Russian oil

Analysts say Indonesia’s energy demand could draw scrutiny as Moscow seeks new buyers, potentially complicating US trade talks.

In Munich, US urges ‘collective strength’ among allies to deter China

Washington and its Indo-Pacific and European allies emphasise need for cooperation to counter Beijing’s military build-up.

Opinion | EU has a key role to play in the new world order in the making