Contents tagged with Kremlin
-
Ukraine warns of Russian propaganda push as Kremlin plans to declare 'victory' over Ukraine and NATO
Russian propagandists have been instructed by the Kremlin to advance narratives about Russia's victory in the war against Ukraine by the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion—February 24, 2025, reports the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
"Moreover, these plans may also include mentioning 'Russia's victory over NATO,' as for a long time, Moscow propaganda has depicted the war against Ukraine as a war with the Alliance," notes the Ukrainian …
-
Russia seeks sanctions relief and asset recovery in U.S. talks
Among the conditions for ending the war and restoring peace in Ukraine, Russia has demanded that the U.S. lift the freeze on its state assets and soften sanctions. The Moscow Times reports, citing a diplomatic source familiar with the Riyadh meeting, that Moscow is pushing for access to approximately $6 billion—part of the Central Bank's reserves invested in dollar assets prior to the war's onset. Western nations have sanctioned a total of $300 billion of the Central Bank's reserves, with …
-
High-stakes diplomacy: Russia-U.S. talks in Riyadh seek resolution to Ukraine conflict
Russian and American officials are gearing up to orchestrate a summit between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, a prospect that could mark a significant diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Another critical subject on the agenda, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, is the restoration of the full spectrum of relations.
The delegations from both Russia and the United States are scheduled to meet on February 18 in Saudi Arabia to lay the groundwork for the …
-
Russian bot network 'Doppelgänger' floods Western media with misinformation amid Ukraine aid freeze
In a bid to sway public opinion, the Kremlin-linked bot network 'Doppelgänger' has begun disseminating pseudo-journalistic articles advocating for a recent decision by the new U.S. President Donald Trump to freeze aid programs for Ukraine.
The propaganda push contends that Europe, too, should stop assisting Kyiv.
The articles have surfaced on clone websites of notable outlets like Germany's Der Spiegel and France's Le Parisien, claiming to represent the voices of the German and French …
-
Russia's hidden financial crisis: military spending pushing economy to the brink
Amidst an aura of apparent stability lies a significant financial crisis in the Russian economy, largely driven by massive military expenditures, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reports.
As the war with Ukraine continues, along with an increase in the military budget to 8% of GDP, Russia's official state deficit in 2024 hit just 1.9%. However, the newspaper notes this figure conceals a sharp rise in corporate debt, fuelled through commercial banks under Kremlin directives.
Since the …
-
Russia's diplomatic blunders: downing of Azerbaijani passenger plane deepens Kremlin's isolation
In a striking example of the Kremlin's unfolding foreign policy, Russia finds itself increasingly surrounded by hostile states, even alienating those who once sought dialogue.
The self-styled "grand" strategy continues to baffle observers, as nations that were once neutral or friendly turn away, driven by its own diplomatic blunders. The latest episode sees a dramatic downturn in relations with Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev, demanding acknowledgment and apologies for a downed Azerbaijani …
-
Russia rejects ceasefire talks with Ukraine, demands legal guarantees amid diplomatic standoff
Russia has firmly dismissed the notion of a ceasefire with Ukraine, labeling it a "road to nowhere". Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has critiqued Western discussions around a ceasefire, arguing that they serve only to "pump Ukraine with weapons" rather than foster genuine peace talks. Lavrov asserts that Russia requires concrete agreements, distinctly separating themselves from what he describes as "empty talks."
At a recent press conference in Moscow, Lavrov reiterated Russia's …
-
Former Russian executives sentenced in secret bunker embezzlement case
In a high-stakes case involving allegations of corruption and fraud, the Second Western District Military Court has announced sentences for those implicated in the embezzlement scandal surrounding secret underground bunker construction for the Ministry of Defense. According to TASS, former deputy director of LLC "Atlas," Dmitry Pipko, and former general director of LLC "M-Stroy," Andrey Epifantsev, received sentences of seven years and three years in a general regime penal colony, with fines of …
-
Kremlin: Russia dismisses truce with Ukraine, open to peace talks under Moscow's conditions
In a recent briefing held on Friday, December 13, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the possibility of a truce with Ukraine, acknowledging for the first time that European troops might be deployed in Ukraine. According to Peskov, Russia is seeking not just a ceasefire, but peace that will follow the fulfillment of all Moscow's conditions.
When asked about the idea of sending a European contingent to Ukraine to uphold a potential ceasefire, Peskov stated, "All of this can and should …
-
Russia considers declaring Santa Claus ‘a foreign agent’ to protect traditional values
In a move that could see Santa Claus banned in Russia, the beloved Christmas figure is being criticized for allegedly undermining "traditional Russian values." Vitaly Borodin, head of the Federal Project on Security and Anti-Corruption, has filed a request with the Russian Prosecutor General's Office to classify the Santa Claus brand as a foreign agent, according to a report by Shot.
Borodin argues that the image of Santa Claus is being used by several foreign companies, including Father …
