Russian economy recession warnings 'greatly exaggerated,' Putin claims, denies war in Ukraine 'killing' growth
The statement comes after warnings from his own officials about stagnation and looming recession.
Vladimir Putin
'Absolutely insane' — Zelensky condemns Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast amid Moscow's maximalist demands
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia's attempts to advance in Sumy Oblast, as Moscow intensifies its maximalist rhetoric.
Ukraine war latest: Kyiv calls on West to isolate Moscow after Putin claims 'all of Ukraine' belongs to Russia
Key developments on June 20: * "All of Ukraine is ours" — Putin on Russia's territorial ambitions in Ukraine * Ukraine, Russia carry out 2nd prisoner swap this week under Istanbul deal * "Massive" Russian drone attacks on residential buildings in Odesa kill 1, injure 14 * Ukraine imposes new sanctions on Russian, Chinese, Belarusian
'All of Ukraine is ours' — Putin on Russia's territorial ambitions in Ukraine
Editor's Note: This story was updated with comments from Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Russian President Vladimir Putin said "all of Ukraine" belonged to Russia in a speech on June 20 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, amid increasingly aggressive official statements about Moscow's final territorial ambitions in Ukraine. Putin's
Russia would react 'very negatively' to Iran leader's assassination, Kremlin says
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that any attempt at regime change in Tehran or threats to its leadership would "open Pandora's box," deepening instability across the Middle East and beyond.
Russia says South Africa invited Putin to G20 summit despite ICC arrest warrant
South Africa is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and a signatory to the Rome Statute, meaning it is obliged to arrest Vladimir Putin if he enters the country.
Putin-Trump meeting currently not on the table, Kremlin says
"Until the necessary 'homework' is done to remove the irritants in our relations with the United States, it makes no sense to organize a meeting," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Putin, Xi to agree to meet in China as they sneer at G7 summit fractures
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed their upcoming meeting and noted the supposed "rough edges" that emerged among G7 leaders during the recent summit, said Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, on June 19.
Putin says he's ready to meet Zelensky if West 'stops pushing' Ukraine to fight
Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine "as soon as possible," preferably through peaceful means, and is ready to continue negotiations — provided that Kyiv and its Western allies are willing to engage, Vladimir Putin said.
Kremlin hardliners 'in shock' after Operation Spiderweb, tell Putin to declare all-out war in Ukraine, Telegraph reports
Russia’s hardline nationalist elite reportedly argues that only a formal war declaration would permit true escalation—full-scale mobilisation, regular missile strikes, and potentially the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
Ukraine war latest: 'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer
Key developments on June 18: * 'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer * Ukraine kills collaborator tied to POW torture in occupied Berdiansk, intelligence source claims * Zelensky may reportedly skip NATO summit over uncertainty about Trump's attendance * Ukraine dismisses Russia's 'absurd' ceasefire condition
'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer
"I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
'Spit in the face' — Zelensky condemns Russia's mass attack, dismisses idea of Putin as peacemaker
"This is Russia's spit in the face of everything the international community is trying to do to stop this war ... At the same time as Putin tries to portray himself as a mediator for the Middle East. The level of cynicism is staggering."
Trump says he's 'open to' Putin mediating between Israel, Iran
"Yeah, I would be open to it," U.S. President Donald Trump said. "He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation. This is something I believe is going to get resolved."
High stakes, low resolve: What Ukraine can expect from the upcoming G7 summit
As world leaders prepare to gather in the remote community of Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit on June 15-17, Russia's war in Ukraine once again holds center stage — but views on how to address the three-year conflict diverge sharply. In the five months
Putin, Trump hold phone call, discuss Ukraine, Middle East conflict
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call on June 14 in which the two leaders discussed Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Trump gave Putin a ‘two-week’ deadline to consider peace in Ukraine. Instead, Russia just launched more drones.
A "two week" deadline imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to see if Russia is serious about peace in Ukraine has come and gone, with Moscow's escalation of attacks on civilians during this period failing to draw the slightest condemnation from the White House. "We're going to find out
Without a hint of irony, Putin offers condolences for 'civilian casualties' in Iran, condemns Israel's 'violations' of UN Charter
The conversations took place just hours after Russia launched its own missile and drone assault on Ukraine.
Amid Moscow's war in Ukraine, Trump wonders why 'everybody hates' Russia
"He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) fought with us in World War II… and now everybody hates Russia and loves Germany and Japan. It's a strange world," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
Putin announces creation of separate drone branch in Russian military
"We have accumulated a great deal of experience to create this branch of the armed forces," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 1 million, Putin's war economy heads toward breaking point
Russian losses in Ukraine hit a massive, and grim milestone on June 12 — 1 million Russian soldiers killed or wounded during the 39-month-long full-scale war, according to figures from Kyiv. Although hugely symbolic, the number is unlikely to prompt a change in tactics from Moscow as it gears up for
Russia boasts world's top nuclear force, must improve ground forces, Putin claims
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Moscow possesses the world's most advanced nuclear systems but must strengthen its ground forces.
Putin’s suspected daughter found working in anti-war galleries in Paris
Nastya Rodionova, a Russian writer and artist who has been based in Paris since 2022, had only met gallery manager Luiza Rozova in passing at events before she learned who the 22-year-old’s parents were. Described by a number of people as a “very nice and well-mannered girl,” Rozova is
America’s weak strongman
Over the past two months, financial investors have hit upon a new trading strategy, based on a simple rule: TACO — Trump Always Chickens Out. America’s president threatens to slap massive import tariffs on friends and foes alike, or to remove the Federal Reserve chair, only to back down when
What Russia's 1 million casualties mean for Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent's Chris York sits down with George Barros, team lead for the Russia and Ukraine portfolio at the Institute for the Study of War, to discuss what Russia’s approaching one million casualties mean for its war effort in Ukraine. They explore how the Kremlin might generate more forces — and what impact this could have on Russia’s economy.
Exiled Russian scholar on why Dugin is no philosopher, and Russia no defender of ‘traditional values’
In recent years, the Kremlin has sought to cast Russia as a bastion of so-called traditional values, positioning itself in stark contrast to what it describes as the morally decaying West. Yet beneath this veneer, a more complex reality persists. As exiled Russian philosopher Alexey Zhavoronkov told the Kyiv Independent,
Putin approves new naval strategy as Russia seeks to restore maritime power
Since September 2022, Ukraine has used naval kamikaze drones to target the Russian Black Sea Fleet, destroying several vessels. The latest strike sank a Mangust-class patrol boat off the coast of occupied Crimea using a domestically produced Magura drone.
'Putin is a murderer' — Zelensky rejects Trump's claim that Russia, Ukraine are like 'kids'
"We are not kids with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin at the playground in the park," Zelensky said, as quoted by the TV network. "He is a murderer who came to this park to kill the kids."
Russia's response to Operation Spiderweb is likely 'not going to be pretty,' Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump warned on June 5 that Russia's response to Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb is likely "not going to be pretty," following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day prior.
'Time to put an end to insanity of war,' Brazil's Lula told Putin, calls for restraint following Operation Spiderweb
"I said (to Putin) it's time to open our eyes and to put an end to the insanity of war, which destroys everything and builds nothing," Brazilian President Lula da Silva told reporters during a visit to France.
Putin stays silent on Ukraine’s drone attack that hit 41 Russian bombers, caused $7 billion in damage
On June 4, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the incident, saying Putin had been informed about the strike and that Russia’s Investigative Committee had launched a probe.
Putin 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's attack on Russian bombers, Trump says after call with Kremlin chief
Trump said he spoke to Putin over the phone for an hour and 15 minutes on June 4 and that it was "a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace."
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