Vladimir Putin

Xi Jinping Calls for "World Peace" in His New Year's Message to Vladimir Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to promote "world peace" in a New Year's message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, state media reported on Tuesday. "No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain steadfast in further comprehensively deepening reform... and promoting world peace and development," Xi said, ...

Moscow Opposes NATO and EU Troop Deployment to Ukraine

Russia is against the deployment of Western peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of any settlement to end the nearly three-year conflict, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said. Talk of the possible stationing of foreign troops in Ukraine to enforce any peace deal is circulating in Western capitals, with French President Emmanuel Macron and ...

Azerbaijan Accuses Russia of Trying to Hide Causes of Plane Crash

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday demanded that Russia admit that it fired at an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet before it crashed, accusing Moscow of initially trying to cover up the cause of the fatal disaster. Aliyev made the accusation in an interview to state media at Baku airport four days after the AZAL Embraer 190 plane ...

Putin Denies Responsibility, Offers Apology to Azerbaijan After Fatal Plane Crash

Russian leader Vladimir Putin told his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, on Saturday that Russian air defense systems were active when an Azerbaijani Airlines plane attempted to land in Grozny before it crashed, according to the Kremlin. Putin called Aliyev as speculation grew that Russian air defense may have accidentally shot down the ...

Russia's Shadow Looms Over Estonian Border Town

In heavy snowfall and high winds, around 200 people wearing rain ponchos and fur hoods queued in the Estonian border town of Narva to cross into neighboring Russia. Arriving at the crossing in taxis or buses, some dragged suitcases through thick snow, and others walked up and joined the line with just a single plastic shopping bag. Checks have ...

Can Bashar al-Assad Be Judged for His Crimes?

War crimes, crimes against humanity, the use of chemical weapons against civilians… The accusations directed at former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad raise pressing questions, particularly following the fall of his regime on December 8: can he be brought to justice? If so, through what legal mechanisms? And what about the status he enjoys in ...

One Killed as Russian Missile Strikes Hit Ukraine Capital

One person was reported killed on Friday in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where AFP staff saw smoke rise over parts of the city after a series of explosions. "According to preliminary reports, one person was killed," the head of the city's military administration, Sergiy Popko, said on Telegram. Popko said Russian forces ...

Putin’s Open Invitation: “Ready to Meet Trump Anytime”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the fall of ex-Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was not a "defeat" for Russia, claiming Moscow had achieved its goals in the country. Assad fled to Moscow earlier this month after a shock rebel advance ended half a century of rule by the Assad family, marked by repression and allegations of vast ...

Trump’s Shadow Looms Over EU Summit as Ukraine Appeals for Unity

Donald Trump loomed large over EU leaders Thursday at their last summit before he reclaims power in the United States, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying only transatlantic unity can "save" Ukraine. The upheaval in Syria after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, and how to deal with the new leadership, was also high-up on the agenda of the ...

After Assad’s Fall, Erdogan Enjoys Moment ‘In the Sun'

After backing the rebels who overthrew Bashar al-Assad and brokering a key Horn of Africa peace deal, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan has boosted his international standing, leaving him well-placed to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, analysts say. Although Turkey was not directly involved in the Syrian strongman's overthrow, it has long ...

Russia Vows Retaliation After Ukraine Strikes Military Airfield

Russia on Wednesday vowed retribution against Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of firing Western-supplied missiles on a military airfield in its southern Rostov region. President Vladimir Putin has previously threatened to launch a hypersonic ballistic missile at the centre of Kyiv if Ukraine did not halt its attacks on Russian territory using US-supplied ...

Global Reactions to Assad's Fall: World Powers Call for Stability

World powers vowed to work for stability in Syria and the surrounding region after Islamist-led rebels on Sunday toppled its longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. Here is a round-up of key reactions: High alert: Russia Assad's ally Moscow said Russian troops in Syria were on high alert but that the rebels had "guaranteed" the security ...