Russia

Crooks & Liars reports: This good Christian family that fled the United States to escape ‘teh gays’ is about to get some harsh lessons in how the world really works, especially the Russian world, their new home. Derek Huffman convinced himself that by signing his one-year contract, he’d somehow be able to use his welding skills to avoid the fighting in …

CBS News reports: Russia has rejected President Trump’s “ultimatum” for Moscow to sign a ceasefire deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days on Tuesday as “unacceptable,” calling for continued negotiations and insisting that the invasion ordered by President Vladimir Putin would continue until its goals are achieved. In response to President Trump’s threat to impose 100% secondary …

“Look, it’s clear from what the president himself has said, although he wouldn’t put it this way, that he got played by Putin and it dragged on for months. And he was being jollied along under the impression that Putin had obviously given him, that Putin wanted to end the war and was prepared to negotiate from where we are. …

The New York Times reports: President Trump said the United States would impose “very severe tariffs​” on Russia if there was no peace deal with Ukraine in 50 days. He said there would be “secondary tariffs” at about 100 percent. Mr. Trump’s remarks came as he met with NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, at the White House; Mr. Rutte has …

“A turning point regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is coming. For months, President Trump has tried to entice Putin to the peace table. He’s put tariffs against countries that allow fentanyl to come in our country. Other bad behavior. He’s left the door open regarding Russia. That door is about to close. “Dick [Blumenthal] and I have got 85 co-sponsors …

CNN reports: Donald Trump told a private gathering of donors last year that he once sought to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking Ukraine by threatening to “bomb the shit out of Moscow” in retaliation, according to audio provided to CNN. “With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the shit out of Moscow. …

Politico Europe reports: Russia’s former Transport Minister Roman Starovoit who was fired by President Vladimir Putin has shot himself dead, Russian authorities said Monday. According to Kremlin-controlled media, Starovoit was found dead with a gunshot wound in Odintsovo near Moscow. Officials said they believe it was a suicide. The Kremlin published a decree earlier Monday saying that Putin had fired …

NBC News reports: The Defense Department held up a shipment of U.S. weapons for Ukraine this week over what officials said were concerns about its low stockpiles. But an analysis by senior military officers found that the aid package would not jeopardize the American military’s own ammunition supplies, according to three U.S. officials. The move to halt the weapons shipment …

Newsweek reports: A senior Ukrainian lawmaker who nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize has withdrawn it, as peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow slip under the radar and the president keeps his sights fixed on the Middle East. Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign committee, told Newsweek on Tuesday he had “lost any sort …

The Washington Post reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday condemned the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran ahead of a meeting with Iran’s top diplomat, describing the strikes as “absolutely unprovoked,” but he has so far stopped short of any more concrete measures to assist Russia’s regional ally. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Moscow on Monday to …

The Associated Press reports: Russia is ready to help Iran in various ways, depending on what Tehran requests, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday. “Everything depends on what Iran needs,” Peskov said in response to a question at a briefing. “We have offered our mediation efforts. This is concrete.” Peskov added that Russia has openly declared its stance on the …

Washington DC’s NBC affiliate reports: The parade will include thousands of troops marching in formation, wearing uniforms representing every U.S. conflict dating back to the Revolutionary War. Each war will be represented by 60 troops in period costume, followed by 400 troops from that same unit in their modern-day battle dress uniforms. More than 100 military vehicles are expected to …

Newsweek reports: A Russian official said that the nation could offer American billionaire Elon Musk political asylum over his fierce dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. president and the world’s richest man have had a dramatic fallout, leaving many wondering what will come of the relationship. Dmitry Novikov [photo], first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on …

“I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. “It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President …

The Telegraph reports: A senior official who dismantled the US government’s Russian disinformation unit is married to a Russian woman with links to the Kremlin, The Telegraph can reveal. Darren Beattie has provoked alarm within the State Department since being appointed in February for his ardent pro-Russian views. He has been noted for his focus on destroying the agency tasked with …

CNN reports: President Donald Trump could move ahead with new sanctions on Russia in the coming days as he vents frustration at Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aerial assault on Ukraine over the weekend, according to people familiar with the matter. Options were drawn up in the past several weeks to apply new measures punishing Moscow, but so far …

From the Wall Street Journal editorial board: Mr. Trump may be the only person in the world still surprised by how Mr. Putin is behaving. The Russian is the same man he’s been for two decades, bent on reconstituting as much of the old Soviet empire as he can get away with. Ukraine is his obsession. He’s not going to …

NBC News reports: Germany’s chancellor said Monday that his government will lift all range restrictions on weapons it sends to Ukraine, meaning that all of Kyiv’s major western allies have now relaxed red lines on the use of their weapons inside Russia to fight Moscow’s offensive. The decision from Chancellor Friedrich Merz comes as Europe seeks to bolster Kyiv’s war …

The Independent reports: Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is calling on President Donald Trump to sanction Russia after the Kremlin launched a massive drone and missile attack against Ukraine over the weekend. A fed-up Grassley demanded on his X account Monday that Trump to take punitive action against Russian President Vladimir Putin for his continued aggression in Ukraine. “I’ve had enuf …

The Hill reports: The Kremlin on Monday responded to President Trump’s criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing “emotional overload” at this “very important moment.” “We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov when asked about Trump’s remarks, according to Reuters. “Of …