Energy crunch and inflationary fears loom over EU finance talks Hello, this is Mared Gwyn holding the newsletter pen in Brussels. This morning: Eurozone finance ministers gather amid mounting economic pressures, and EU ambassadors make another push to break the Russia sanctions deadlock. Euronews · Sep 18
Russia adapts a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught of Ukraine Russia is leveraging repurposed training missiles, namely RM48Us, to ramp up its aerial assault strategy. Comprising over half of the recent missile launches, these less precise munitions aim to exhaust Ukraine's nearly depleted stock of Patriot interceptors. By employing this tactic, Russia seeks to preserve its more accurate weapons for… The Economic Times · Sep 18
Revealed: how Russia uses mobile ‘super-app’ Max to spy on its citizens Research shows tens of millions of people are being forced to use platform that amounts to ‘backdoor’ on their device The Guardian - UK · Sep 18
Russia votes in parliamentary election as war in Ukraine drags on Polls opened in Russia's Far East on Friday as the country began three days of voting for its parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin's main party, United Russia, is poised to keep its grip on power alongside other parties aligned with President… France 24 · Sep 18
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kremlin vows response after Ukrainian drone strikes during Putin’s sham election Russia turns away independent European observers as critics say election does not tolerate genuine dissent The Independent UK · Sep 18
UN Security Council fails to adopt US-backed Iran sanctions resolution after Russia and China vetoes The proposal, which the United States had drafted to extend the UN expert panel’s mandate for a year was defeated by a vote of 11-2, with Somalia and Pakistan abstaining because of the Russian and Chinese vetoes. Euronews · Sep 18
Putin’s war economy is under strain. One thing is keeping it afloat The frictions in Russia’s wartime economy are growing The Independent UK · Sep 18
UNGA 2026: Trump’s Iran war, Ukraine, Gaza and AI to dominate world leaders’ New York summit World leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly as wars in Iran, Ukraine and Sudan, the Gaza conflict and rapidly advancing artificial intelligence dominate the agenda. US President Donald Trump’s war against Iran is expected to shape discussions, while leaders also confront climate risks and the UN’s… The Economic Times · Sep 18
Raja Krishnamoorthi only Indian-American lawmaker to vote for Russia sanctions bill Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi was the only one among the six Indian-American House members to vote for the Russia sanctions bill, breaking with fellow Democrats. The bill, which passed 262-159, proposes 100% tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, potentially affecting India and China. The Economic Times · Sep 18
Russia targets Kyiv with new missile attack The Ukrainian capital Kyiv again came under fire from Russian missiles on Friday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, with witnesses confirming they could hear explosions in the capital. Earlier, Moscow struck four Ukrainian cargo vessels in the Black Sea, Russian state media said. The latest attacks unfolded as Russians headed to… France 24 · Sep 18
Russia, China veto US push to extend UN panel mandate monitoring Iran sanctions Russia has argued that the return of the sanctions was legally invalid. Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the US resolution "was deeply flawed and did not have any legal basis". He said Moscow and Beijing had warned Washington against putting the resolution to a vote, arguing that doing so… The Times of India · Sep 18
Russians go to polls against backdrop of Ukraine war and Putin’s tightening grip President’s United Russia party faces no meaningful opposition after liberal anti-war party barred from ballot The Guardian - UK · Sep 18
Ukraine war briefing: Poland’s Tusk heads to Kyiv after warning of Russian strikes on Ukrainian allies Donald Tusk says Moscow will not enter peace talks without Ukraine’s ‘total capitulation’ and will try to inflict a ‘tragically critical’ winter. What we know on day 1,668 The Guardian - AU · Sep 18
The Economic Times · Sep 18 Russians begin voting in controlled election as war drags Russia began voting Friday in a three-day parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The 450-seat State Duma vote is being closely watched by the Kremlin for signs of public support and war fatigue, amid tight political controls and limited anti-war opposition.
The Conversation · Sep 18 Russia’s parliamentary elections will not be a referendum on the Ukraine war – or anything, really Russia is not a democracy. However, Russia does have elections – many of them, in fact.
The Independent UK · Sep 17 Poland warns Russia is planning drone or rocket strikes on NATO territory Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warns that Russia is planning hybrid strikes with drones and rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine
Evening Standard · Sep 17 Fresh US sanctions against Russia a ‘potential game-changer’, says Miliband The goal of the legislation is to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow, but will depend on enforcement by the White House.
The Times of India · Sep 17 Russia kicks off voting in first parliamentary election since Ukraine war began Russians began voting on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election that will determine all 450 seats in the State Duma (lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia), the first such election since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Independent UK · Sep 17 Russia and China veto US proposal for UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions on Iran Russia and China have vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have authorized U.N. experts to keep monitoring sanctions that were reimposed against Iran over its nuclear program
Euronews · Sep 17 Tusk: intelligence sees Russian plan for drone strikes on Poland, allies Prime Minister Donald Tusk outlined in the Sejm the "most likely" scenario for the months ahead, warning of serious events and hybrid attacks on Poland and other Ukraine backers.
Latin Times · Sep 17 Is Russia Guiding Iran's Missiles? The Satellite Trail Ukraine, Reuters and Washington Are All Tracing Ukrainian intelligence, Reuters and Trump's own team clash over whether Russian satellites help Iran target US troops in the Gulf. Here's what's verified.
International Business Times · Sep 17 Congress Passes Economic Sanctions Against Russia. Critics Say It Will Broaden Trump Tariff Powers. Democratic Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal cosponsored the bill and said that it had "scorching sanctions."
France 24 · Sep 17 The Ceuta effect: how far will Europe's anti-migrant backlash go? As the United States threatens Europe with more tariffs and eyes Greenland, Russia tests the continent’s resolve over Ukraine and the planet overheats, where do citizens feel the biggest threat is coming from? In her Wednesday state of the Union speech, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen went…
Reason · Sep 17 Seven Federal Judges From Minnesota Talk To The N.Y. Times About Trump Administration “It’s the rule of law. If you don’t have it, you have either anarchy or you have authoritarianism. You have Russia or you have China or you have North Korea.”