Russia

Axios reports: The U.S. expects Ukraine’s response Wednesday to a peace framework that includes U.S. recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and unofficial recognition of Russian control of nearly all areas occupied since the 2022 invasion, sources with direct knowledge of the proposal tell Axios. The one-page document the U.S. presented Ukrainian officials in Paris last week describes this …

CNN reports: The Trump administration is ready to recognize Russian control of Crimea as part of the US proposal to drive an end to the war with Ukraine, an official familiar with the framework told CNN on Friday. Crimea, southern Ukraine, has been under Russian occupation since it was illegally annexed in 2014. Four other Ukrainian regions – Donetsk and …

The Washington Post reports: Trump is ready to “move on” from peace talks between Ukraine and Russia if there is no progress “within days,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Friday. “The president has spent 87 days at the highest level of his government repeatedly taking efforts to bring this war to an end,” said Rubio. “We are now …

The New York Times reports: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his aides shut down a State Department office on Wednesday that tracks and counters global disinformation from foreign actors, including the governments of China, Russia and Iran, U.S. officials said. The closing of the office, the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub, had been in the works for …

Axios reports: President Trump’s diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia and is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin on Friday, according to a source familiar with the trip and FlightRadar data. This will be the third meeting between Witkoff and Putin as Trump pushes for a ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump has become frustrated that …

The Associated Press reports: The Ukrainian soldiers clambered from the ruined house at gunpoint — one with arms raised in surrender to the Russian troops — and lay face-down in the early spring grass. Two drones — one Ukrainian and one Russian — recorded the scene from high above the southern Ukrainian village of Piatykhatky. The Associated Press managed to …

ABC News reports: Foreign adversaries including Russia and China are targeting government workers who have been laid off amid the Trump administration’s attempt to downsize to recruit as spies, according to new intelligence. “New intelligence indicates agents from China, Russia, and other countries have set their sights on recently fired probationary workers, or those with security clearances, hoping to obtain …

GOP Rep. Don Bacon writes for the New York Times: Three years on, the war for Ukraine continues to burn, consuming lives and the wealth of nations. The diplomatic rupture last month in the Oval Office beamed live around the world ignited a fierce debate about America’s allies, enemies and interests in the 21st century. Now, Vladimir Putin is dragging …

Politico reports: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday did not rule out allowing Russian banks to rejoin the SWIFT international payment messaging system as negotiations continue on an end to the war in Ukraine. But the White House would need backing from Europe to restart it. “There would be a long discussion about many things in terms of the proper …

Forbes reports: The Trump administration’s envoy handling the Russia-Ukraine conflict downplayed concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday—suggesting the Kremlin leader doesn’t want to “take all of Europe” and isn’t a “tyrant”—as the White House gears up for talks. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said he takes the Russian president “at his word” when it comes to trusting Putin doesn’t …

The Washington Post reports: When Vladimir Putin heard Donald Trump had been shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania last year, the Russian president said he went to his local church, met with his priest and prayed, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday in an interview with Tucker Carlson. Putin, according to Witkoff’s conversation with the man, …

Reuters reports: Several U.S. national security agencies have halted work on a coordinated effort to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks, easing pressure on Moscow as the Trump Administration pushes Russia to end its war in Ukraine. Regular meetings between the National Security Council and European national security officials have gone unscheduled, and the NSC has also stopped formally coordinating …

Via press release from the White House: Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. The blood and treasure that both Ukraine …

Semafor reports: The Trump administration is considering recognizing Ukraine’s Crimea region as Russian territory as part of any future agreement to end Moscow’s war on Kyiv, according to two people familiar with the matter. Administration officials have also discussed the possibility of having the US urge the United Nations to do the same, according to both people. Such a request …

The New York Times reports: The Justice Department has informed European officials that the United States is withdrawing from a multinational group created to investigate leaders responsible for the invasion of Ukraine, including President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, according to a letter sent to members of the organization on Monday. The decision to withdraw from the International Center for …

Reuters reports: U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and discuss ending the war in Ukraine, after positive talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Moscow. “I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One during …

The Guardian reports: After voluntarily fighting in Ukraine to defend it from Russia’s invasion, and as the White House halts Ukrainian military aid, JD Vance’s first cousin has called the vice-president and Donald Trump “useful idiots” to the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin. “Donald Trump and my cousin clearly believe they can placate Vladimir Putin,” Nate Vance said. Nate Vance continued: …

Axios reports: A Russian disinformation effort that flooded the web with false claims and propaganda continues to impact the output of major AI chatbots, according to a new report from NewsGuard, shared first with Axios. The study, which expands on initial findings from last year, comes amid reports that the U.S. is pausing its efforts to counter Russian cyber activities. …

Newsweek reports: Buvaisar Saitiev, a three-time Russian Olympic freestyle wrestling champion who later became a member of President Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party, was reportedly found dead after falling from a window. Since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, a series of mysterious deaths have claimed the lives of prominent Russian figures, including tycoons, businessmen and …

“Zelensky for some reason wants this war to keep going. He’s been brainwashed by the globalist socialists. President Trump is tired of people dying and our America taxpayer dollars going over there. Zelenskyy’s gonna play hardball, but you know what? He’s not even in the game. It’s gonna be Putin and President Trump and the people on our side that …