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West slaps crippling sanctions on Russian oil trade
An escalation of Western sanctions against Russia reached a new threshold this week as the European Union approved its 19th sanctions package and the United States Treasury Department unveiled measures targeting Moscow's oil revenues. The coordinated actions represent an attempt to restrict the financial flows supporting Russia's war machine in Ukraine, signalling Western frustration with what officials describe as the Kremlin's unwillingness to pursue peace negotiations.Road to escalationThe road to this point has been marked by incremental pressure that has intensified since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier sanctions packages targeted Russian banks, oligarchs, and conventional oil exports, but they often contained carve-outs designed to protect European energy security. Russia exploited these gaps, continuing to fund its military operations through energy sales whilst showing limited commitment to diplomatic resolution. Recent months have witnessed what Western officials characterise as deliberate Russian obstruction of peace efforts. Despite various diplomatic overtures, Moscow has maintained territorial demands whilst continuing military operations across Ukraine. This intrans
Russia
Trump shifts towards Putin, after heated Zelenskyy talks
United States President Donald Trump is seemingly shifting his support away from Ukraine, towards Russia, after heated talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting between the Presidents took place last Friday at the White House, with the possibility of the U.S. supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine on the table to discuss. However, the meeting did not head in the productive direction that was hoped for, with the talks reportedly ending in shouting and demands from Trump for Ukraine to cede up territory to try and appease Russia and end the fighting. These demands from Putin were delivered to Trump on a lengthy phone call the day before, during which the Russian president said they would “destroy” Ukraine if the demands to give up the Donbas region were not met. Donbas is currently under majority Russian occupation as a result of the war. “It’s cut up right now, I think 78% of the land is already taken by Russia,” Trump said to reporters outside Air Force One on Sunday. “They should stop right now at the battle lines…go home, stop killing people and be done.” He also took to Truth Social, where he described the meeting with Zelenskyy as “very interesting, and cordial” and that he had told both leader
Russia
Trump and Putin to meet in Hungary to discuss Ukraine
United States President Donald Trump has said that he has had a talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the pair have agreed to meet to discuss the war in Ukraine. The meeting will take place in Budapest, Hungary, but a date has not yet been set. Trump added in a post on Truth Social that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other ‘High Level Advisors’ will also meet next week with their Russian counterparts, laying out the foundation for the Hungary summit. The call between the Presidents came just one day before the White House was set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for meetings with Trump, to discuss further support in the war with Russia. “President Zelenskyy and I will be meeting tomorrow, in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more,” Trump wrote in the Truth Social post. “I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation.”
Russia
Trump: Russia must agree to peace in '10 or 12 days'
United States President Donald Trump has set a deadline of “10 or 12 days” for Russia to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine, before the U.S. adds further sanctions on Russia. Russian and Ukrainian officials have held several rounds of talks in 2025, including agreeing to a prisoner exchange last week, but reported no progress towards a ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not attended these negotiations. “I’m going to make a new deadline of about 10, 10 or 12 days from today,” Trump said. “There’s no reason in waiting. There’s no reason in waiting. It’s 50 days. I want to be generous, but we just don’t see any progress being made.” “Trump's playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10,” wrote Putin advisor and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on X. “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.” Trump had said earlier this month that he would impose tariffs of up to 100% on Russia’s trading partners if it did not end its invasion of Ukraine within 50 days. He also said last week that he was considering adding secondary sanctions before the 50-day deadline ended, which would target countries purchasing oil from Russia. U
Russia
Minister Starovoit fired by Putin, found dead in car
Just hours after being sacked from his post by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, transport minister Roman Starovoit (Роман Владимирович Старовойт) has been found dead in his Tesla in Odintsovo near Moscow, with the pro-government newspaper Izvestia claiming the fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted. While investigative teams from Russia's Main Investigative Directorate are working to determine the exact circumstances, some media outlets speculate that the former minister shot himself using an honorary pistol found alongside his body. However, there have been conflicting reports about the timing of his death, with Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, stating only that it occurred "quite some time ago," without elaborating further. Sanctioned by Ukraine and Western countries for his role in the war against Ukraine, Starovoit (pictured above), had served as governor of Russia's Kursk Oblast before being appointed transport minister in May 2024. The Kremlin provided no official reason for Starovoit’s sacking after barely a year in the job. However, political analysts and Russian state media believe his sacking may be connected with an investigation into corruption in the Kursk region that occur

Russia
'On the table': Russia vows revenge after Ukraine strike
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to take revenge on Ukraine after its massive drone strike on Moscow’s war machinery, according to United States President Donald Trump. On Truth Social, Trump revealed that he had a lengthy conversation with Putin over the phone regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. “It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,” he posted. “President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.” Russian officials have declined to confirm this, but Moscow said that military options are "on the table” for its response. This was Trump’s and Putin’s first meeting since Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web, which targeted scores of Moscow’s nuclear capable long-range bombers at sites deep inside Russia. It also came after a second round of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul which ended without a breakthrough earlier this week.
Russia
Zelensky urges Putin to call ceasefire in negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face to discuss a ceasefire. This comes not long after United States President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to urge the Ukrainian President to agree to talks with Putin. “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH,” Trump posted. “Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.” In response, Zelensky said he was looking to negotiate while in Turkey and hopes that Putin is ready to come up with a long-term solution to the war. “We are ready to talk, to end this war. Thursday. Türkiye. President Trump has expressed support. All the leaders support this,” he said on X. He said that the killings need to stop and that Russia has to end the war. “A full and unconditional ceasefire, one that lasts long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy, could significantly bring peace closer,” he said. “Ukrainian forces will be ready to respond symmetrically — to ensure fairness. We have repeatedly heard from our partners that they are prepared to strengthen sanctio
Russia
Moscow summit: Putin, Xi set to sign 'series of deals'
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are set to strengthen their strategic partnership during a three-day visit to Moscow for Victory Day celebrations. The Kremlin has confirmed that Xi will visit between 7-11 May. During this visit, the two leaders will sign a series of bilateral agreements aimed at deepening economic and political cooperation between Russia and China. This visit underscores the growing alignment between the two nations, particularly in response to Western sanctions and geopolitical tensions. China and Russia have expanded their collaboration since the Ukraine war, with Beijing providing economic and technological support to Moscow. Western governments have accused China of supplying weapons components to Russia, though Beijing denied direct military involvement. Despite this, Xi has maintained a cautious stance, warning Putin against nuclear weapons while bolstering trade and diplomatic ties. The agreements signed during this visit are expected to further solidify their partnership, particularly in sectors such as energy and infrastructure. Putin has proposed a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine from 8-10 May to coincide with Victory Day celebrations. This is dismissed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Russia
Russian State TV revels in Trump's worldwide tariffs
Trump has become the butt of the joke on Russian State TV, with the hosts commending Trump's tariffs. During a broadcast of The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, hosts marvelled at the “buffoonery” of the Trump administration's tariffs, which excluded Russia, and its disruption to the global economy. Political scientist Dmitry Kulikov said that Trump wants to “break everything”. “This is the Swan Lake; Trump is playing the Black Swan,” he said. “It looks like the end of the global system is coming, the global system that is about fifty years old.” When analysing the impacts Trump’s decisions could have on the price of American goods, Kulikov expressed shock at the administration's plans to revitalise the U.S. economy by bringing back manufacturing, which could take years or decades, especially without immigrants willing to take low paying jobs. “The price of goods will certainly go up in the United States,” Kulikov predicted. “The old political and economic global system is practically dead.” Host Vladimir Solovyov echoed these statements, joking that a monument should be built in Trump’s honour. “This was a major blow to the system of capitalism,” he said. “We have to award him something, a monument of