Putin sees no need for nuclear weapons to win in Ukraine. But he's also keeping his options open
Russian President Vladimir Putin's message to NATO was simple and stark: Don’t go too far in providing military support for Ukraine, or you’ll risk a conflict that could quickly turn into a nuclear one.
Hungary's Orbán arrives in Moscow for talks with Putin, a rare visit from a European leader
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare visit to Russia by a European leader since it invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.
Leaders of Russia and China to meet in Central Asian summit in a show of deepening cooperation
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Thursday for the second time in as many months as they travel to Kazakhstan for a session of an international group founded to counter Western alliances.
Russia presses its offensive in Ukraine and issues new threats as the West tries to blunt the push
Slowly but steadily this summer, Russian troops are forging through Ukraine’s outgunned and undermanned defenses along the front line of the battlefield in a relentless onslaught, prompting the West to push for new weapons and strategies to shore up Kyiv.
French far-right leader Bardella seeks to reassure voters, EU partners on economic, foreign policies
French far-right leader Jordan Bardella has sought to reassure French voters, European partners and international observers that his potential government would lead “realistic” economic policies and “not weaken” France’s voice abroad.
Russian region of Dagestan holds a day of mourning after attacks kill 19 people
Russia’s southern region of Dagestan is holding the first of three days of mourning following a rampage by Islamic militants that killed 19 people, most of them police, and attacked houses of worship in apparently coordinated assaults in two cities.
Change in wind direction prompts worry about more North Korean trash balloon launches toward South
South Korea is monitoring an expected change in the wind direction on Monday that could allow North Korea to send more trash-carrying balloons across their heavily armed border, in their latest bout of tit-for-tat psychological warfare.
With its new pact with North Korea, Russia raises the stakes with the West over Ukraine
Behind the pageantry of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea, a strong signal came through: In the spiraling confrontation with the U.S. and its allies over Ukraine, the Russian leader is willing to challenge Western interests like never before.
US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as a show of force against nuclear-armed North Korea
A nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in South Korea for a three-way exercise involving Japan as they step up military training to cope with North Korean threats, which have escalated following a security pact with Russia.
South Korean activists say they flew anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border
A South Korean activist group says it again flew large balloons carrying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets toward North Korea, adding to a campaign that aggravated animosities between the rivals and prompted a resumption of Cold War-style psychological warfare along their border.
Putin in Vietnam, seeking to strengthen ties in Southeast Asia while Russia's isolation deepens
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Vietnam to strengthen ties with its longtime partner in Southeast Asia at a time when Moscow is facing growing international isolation because of its military actions in Ukraine.
North Korea says deal between Putin and Kim requires immediate military assistance in event of war
North Korea's state media say the new agreement between Russia and North Korea reached by their leaders requires the countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of war.
Japan, New Zealand agree on intel sharing pact amid growing regional security concerns
Japan and New Zealand have agreed in principle on an intelligence sharing pact as their leaders shared concern about the increasingly challenging security environment in the region, including closer ties between Russia and North Korea.
Kim and Putin meet in Pyongyang as worries are raised about North Korea's and Russia's military ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are meeting in Pyongyang as they seek to expand their economic and military cooperation and display a united front against Washington.
Record number of NATO allies expected to hit defense spending target amid war in Ukraine
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says a record more than 20 NATO member nations are expected to hit the Western military alliance’s defense spending target this year as the war in Ukraine drives worldwide concerns.
80 countries at Swiss conference agree Ukraine's territorial integrity must be basis of any peace
Eighty countries have jointly called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war, though some key developing nations at a Swiss conference did not join in.
Italian Premier Meloni describes Putin's cease-fire offer for Ukraine as 'propaganda'
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has dismissed a cease-fire offer for Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin as “propaganda” as she wraps up a Group of Seven summit that saw a deal reached for a $50 billion loan to Ukraine.
World leaders meet in Switzerland to discuss a Ukraine peace roadmap. Russia is notably absent
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicts that “history being made" at the Swiss-hosted conference that aims to plot out the first steps toward peace in Ukraine, even though experts and critics say no major breakthroughs are expected because Russia isn't attending.
Harris stepping in for Biden at Ukraine summit as she takes growing role in heat of 2024 campaign
It’s Vice President Kamala Harris, not President Joe Biden, who will join world leaders in Switzerland on Saturday and meet with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss his vision for ending the grinding war launched by Russia.
Putin pledges a cease-fire in Ukraine if Kyiv withdraws from occupied regions and drops NATO bid
Russian President Vladimir Putin is promising to “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four occupied Ukrainian regions and renounced plans to join NATO.
US widens sanctions on Russia to discourage countries such as China from doing business with Moscow
The United States widened its sanctions against Russia Wednesday as G7 leaders prepared to gather in Italy for a summit where top priorities will be boosting support for Ukraine and grinding down Russia’s war machine.
Russian warships will arrive in Havana next week, say Cuban officials citing 'friendly relations'
Four Russian ships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will arrive in Havana next week, Cuban officials said Thursday, citing “historically friendly relations” between both nations and as tensions escalate over Western military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Zelenskyy in Philippines to promote peace summit he says China and Russia are trying to undermine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the Philippines on a rare Asian trip to urge regional leaders to attend a Swiss-organized peace summit on the war in Ukraine that he accuses Russia, with China’s help, of trying to undermine.
Blinken assails Russian misinformation after hinting US may allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is assailing Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting the Biden administration may allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia.
Russia to build a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbekistan leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev have held talks and signed a number of agreements aimed at deepening bilateral relations, including one that envisions Moscow building a small nuclear power plant in the Central Asian country.
Taiwan’s foreign minister says China and Russia are supporting each other's ‘expansionism’
Russia and China helped each other expand their territorial reach, and democracies must push back against authoritarian states that threaten their rights and sovereignty, Taiwan’s outgoing foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Putin concludes a trip to China by emphasizing its strategic and personal ties to Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin is concluding a two-day visit to China by emphasizing the countries' strategic ties as well as his own personal relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as they seek to present an alternative to U.S. global influence.
ICC prosecutor faces demand for action against Israeli leaders and Russian attack over Putin warrant
The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor is facing demands for speedy action against Israeli leaders, and a blistering Russian attack over the ICC’s arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin stemming from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
A Kremlin shake-up of Russia's Defense Ministry comes at a key moment in the Ukraine war
Over the weekend, President Vladimir Putin replaced Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu — the longest serving member of his Cabinet at 11 1/2 years — in a rare Kremlin shake-up that came even as a Russian offensive in Ukraine is making gains.
Trump-affiliated group releases new national security book outlining possible second-term approach
A research group that's trying to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration if the former president wins in November is out with a new policy book that aims to articulate an “America First” national security agenda.
Russia celebrates victory in World War II as Putin accuses the West of fueling global conflicts
Russia wrapped itself in patriotic pageantry for Victory Day, as President Vladimir Putin celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II by hailing his forces in Ukraine and blasting the West for fueling conflicts around the world.