The Latest Breaking News from Russia

Why Vladimir Putin is so confident in his Ukraine strategy – he has a trump card in China

The Beijing Winter Olympics will be remembered not just for China’s efforts to impress the world amid criticisms of its human rights record. The games were also held against the backdrop of the most dramatic escalation of strategic tensions between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold…

The Conversation · Feb 21, 2022

Ukrainian soldiers report intensified front-line shelling, fear 'provocations'

(Refiles to fix spelling of dateline)

Reuters · Feb 21, 2022

Why is Putin obsessed with Ukraine?

WASHINGTON — A Russian invasion of Ukraine has appeared imminent for days, if not weeks, as anyone who has been paying attention to the news knows.

Los Angeles Times · Feb 21, 2022

Putin plans to recognise eastern Ukraine's breakaway regions - Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin told France's president and Germany's chancellor during phone calls on Monday that he planned to sign a decree recognising the two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent entities shortly, the Kremlin said.

Reuters · Feb 21, 2022

Ukraine Crisis Tests China-Russia Partnership

Russia’s military buildup along its border with Ukraine is testing the possibility of a Moscow-Beijing axis lining up against the US and its allies. Russian leader Vladimir Putin's meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing this month fed speculation that a new alliance could form between the two great…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 21, 2022

Germany's Scholz condemns Putin's threat to recognise Ukraine regions

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned remarks by President Vladimir Putin that Russia could recognise two Kremlin-backed breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent, his office said on Monday.

Reuters · Feb 21, 2022

EXPLAINER: Russia-backed rebels a thorn in Ukraine's side

Amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, tensions have spiked in the country’s east, where Ukrainian forces are locked in a long conflict with Russia-backed separatists

The Independent UK · Feb 21, 2022

Putin orders troops into eastern Ukraine on ‘peacekeeping duties’

Russian deployment follows decision to recognise territories in south-east will be viewed in Ukraine and by other western allies as an occupation

The Guardian - UK · Feb 21, 2022

No targets here, Ukraine pensioner laments after shelling hits front-line home

Valeriy, a Ukrainian pensioner living near front lines with Russian-backed separatists, says his village has been shelled three times within days despite having no possible targets except an old cargo truck. That makes him angry and fearful.

Reuters · Feb 21, 2022

Putin Mulls Recognizing Separatist Eastern Ukrainian Regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he will decide later Monday whether to recognize the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, a move that would ratchet up tensions with the West amid fears that Moscow could launch an invasion of Ukraine imminently. At the carefully orchestrated, pre-recorded meeting of the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 21, 2022