The Latest Breaking News from Russia

In Beijing, Spanish PM urges Xi to speak with Ukraine's Zelenskiy

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez encouraged Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to talk to the Ukrainian leadership and learn first-hand about Kyiv's peace formula to help bring an end to Russia's invasion.

Reuters · Mar 31, 2023

Embattled Macron Heads to China, Leaving Burning Paris Behind

French President Emmanuel Macron will head to China next week for a rare visit to the rising superpower, in an awkward balancing act between his global statesman ambitions and his struggle to contain embarrassing pension protests at home. The French leader, whose decision to ram much-disputed pension legislation through parliament…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 31, 2023

Kremlin: Foreign journalists can carry on working in Russia

The Kremlin said on Friday that all accredited foreign journalists could continue to work in Russia, a day after a Wall Street Journal reporter was remanded in custody on espionage charges brought by the FSB security agency.

Reuters · Mar 31, 2023

The arrest of an American journalist in Russia is awful. For me, it’s also painfully personal

‘Evan,’ I said out loud in my hotel room. In that moment, this news story moved out of the realm of professional dismay and into the intensely personal

The Guardian - US · Mar 31, 2023

Lukashenko: Russia could put intercontinental missiles in Belarus if necessary

President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that Russia, which has already decided to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, could if necessary put intercontinental nuclear missiles there too.

Reuters · Mar 31, 2023

Ukraine Says Athletes Not Allowed to Compete Against Russians in Paris Qualifiers

Ukrainian athletes will not be allowed to take part in qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympics if they have to compete against Russians, government minister Oleh Nemchinov said. Nemchinov, secretary of Ukraine's cabinet ministers, said the government's decision was adopted following a proposal by sports minister Vadym Huttsait and…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 31, 2023

U.N. human rights chief decries 'shockingly routine' abuses in Ukraine war

The United Nations Human Rights chief Volker Turk deplored on Friday how grave human rights violations were "shockingly routine" in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said the number of civilian casualties was far higher than official figures.

Reuters · Mar 31, 2023

Russia Might Put Strategic Nukes in Belarus, Leader Says

Russian strategic nuclear weapons might be deployed to Belarus along with part of Russia's tactical nuclear arsenal, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that his country intended to deploy tactical, comparatively short-range and small-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus. The strategic nuclear weapons such…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 31, 2023

Penny Wong voices ‘concern’ about US reporter’s Moscow arrest on spy charges

The White House has branded as absurd espionage charges against a Wall Street Journal reporter now being held in one of Russia's most infamous prisons.

The New Daily · Mar 31, 2023

Hasbulla explains why he pulled cat's ear after backlash to controversial video

Russian social media star Hasbulla has come under fire in recent days for a video posted to his social media in which he appeared to get aggressive with his pet cat

Daily Mirror · Mar 31, 2023