Russia

Rubio says US does not dispute Navalny poisoning assessment by Europeans

The Russian government, has repeatedly denied any responsibility for Navalny's death while he was held in an Arctic penal colony and dismissed the latest allegations as "a Western propaganda hoax."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a joint press conference with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico (not pictured), in Bratislava, Slovakia, Sunday, February 15, 2026.
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas speaks during the last day of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, February 15, 2026.

Kallas: Member states not prepared to give Ukraine concrete accession date

U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein (C) appears in court where he pleaded guilty to two prostitution charges in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2008. Picture taken July 30, 2008.

Epstein pushed for Trump ‘war council’ during Russia probe, stayed in touch with Tom Barrack

A soldier stands guard as the air and missile defense group displays the HQ-22A missile defense systems during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025.

China expanding its secret nuclear-linked sites, satellite images show - NYT


China, Russia, Iran start 'BRICS Plus' naval exercises in South African waters

BRICS Plus is an expansion of a geopolitical bloc originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - and seen by members as a counterweight to the US.

A Russian vessel arrives at the Simon's Town Naval base ahead of the BRICS Plus countries which include China, Russia and Iran for a joint naval exercises in South Africa's, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 9, 2026.

What is the Oreshnik missile that Russia fired at Ukraine?

The Russian military said it fired the Oreshnik in response to what Moscow says was an attempted Ukrainian drone attack late last year on one of Putin's residences in Novgorod

Service members take part in what Russian Defence Ministry says is the deployment of the Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile system in Belarus, at an unidetified location in this still image from video released December 30, 2025.

Maduro's downfall: Was the US capture of Maduro legal?

In this week's The Deep Dive, Jacob Laznik analyzes the unprecedented US capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

A government supporter gestures as he participates in a march calling for the release of Venezuela’s ousted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, after they were captured in a U.S. operation in the capital on January 3, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 7, 2026.

Zelensky says US security guarantees document set to be finalized with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a security guarantee between the United States and Ukraine is "essentially ready for finalization."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with his Cypriot counterpart at the presidential palace in Nicosia on January 7, 2026.

Animated Putin joins talking cat, dog for New Year's message in popular Russian cartoon

Residents of Prostokvashino, the fictional village that gives the show its name, are stunned when the animated version of the Kremlin leader, flanked by Sharik the dog and Matroskin the cat.

An image depicts the characters of Russian children's cartoon Prostokvashino, Sharik the dog and Matroskin the cat, and the animated version of Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering a New Year message to the nation in Moscow's Red Square, in the undated footage released December 26, 2025.

US, with help of UK, seizes Venezuela-linked oil tanker sailing under Russian flag

The tanker, previously known as the Bella-1, was originally bound for Venezuela before it turned around last month after encountering the US Coast Guard.

The vessel tanker formerly known as Bella 1, now the Marinera, at Singapore Strait, after US  officials say the US Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, in this picture taken from social media on March 18, 2025.

Trump discusses acquiring Greenland, says US military action not ruled out

US officials said discussions are underway in the Oval Office on acquiring Greenland, with the White House saying military force remains an option.

US President Donald Trump addresses House Republicans at their annual issues conference retreat, at the Kennedy Center, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors, in Washington, DC, US January 6, 2026.

Putin establishes Soviet genocide memorial day, erasing Jewish victims of Nazis

The bill - and subsequent reporting - speaks extensively about the "genocide" of Soviet prisoners, the concentration camps, and the extermination camps, without mentioning Jewish victims.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Kazbek Kokov, head of the North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria, in Moscow, Russia December 16, 2025.

Russia welcomes Venezuela's interim president, says Venezuela should determine own destiny

Moscow's foreign ministry said in a statement that it welcomed the Venezuelan authorities' efforts to protect their sovereignty and national interests.

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez presents the government's 2026 budget proposal to the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to approve spending of some $19.9 billion, in Caracas, Venezuela December 4, 2025.

Maduro’s fall shows how US power is reshaping Latin America’s future - opinion

Nicolas Maduro’s capture shows Trump’s bold Latin America policy, raising the stakes for regional stability.

VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENT Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores attend a year-end salutation to military forces in La Guaira, Venezuela December 28, 2025.