Putin’s and Xi’s sunk costs Why Trump’s Venezuela oil gambit could be bad news for Russia and China — Meduza

    After U.S. President Donald Trump’s operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last Saturday, Washington quickly began demanding access to the country’s oil market for U.S. companies. Whether this pressure will deliver concrete results remains unclear. But one thing is certain: America’s new assertiveness has already reshaped expectations — and not in favor of Beijing or Moscow. Trump’s Venezuela gamble threatens…

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    Children and pregnant woman among those injured in deadly Russian attack targeting all of Kyiv’s districts — Meduza

    Children and pregnant woman among those injured in deadly Russian attack targeting all of Kyiv’s districts — Meduza

    Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone attacks on Kyiv in months on Thursday night, Ukrainian authorities said, triggering fires and damage across the capital. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said that the attack caused fires in several high-rise apartment buildings across the city. At least five people were reportedly killed. According to Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, at least 27…

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    ‘A fair balance must be restored’ Putin blames the West for Russia’s war in Ukraine and hints at progress in talks with Trump at China-led SCO summit

    ‘A fair balance must be restored’ Putin blames the West for Russia’s war in Ukraine and hints at progress in talks with Trump at China-led SCO summit

    Speaking at a summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin on Monday, Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to reiterate his claim that Western countries and NATO are responsible for Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. He then went on to suggest that his recent talks with U.S. President Donald Trump could help bring about a peace…

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    ‘It’s slow because he cares’ Belarusian president claims Putin’s humanitarian restraint in Ukraine limits Russia’s advance — Meduza

    ‘It’s slow because he cares’ Belarusian president claims Putin’s humanitarian restraint in Ukraine limits Russia’s advance — Meduza

    On Friday, Vladimir Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, at a remote monastery in Russia’s northern Karelia region. After a religious service, the two presidents sat down on a bench outside and fielded questions from reporters, focusing on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the lack of progress on negotiating a ceasefire. Putin and Lukashenko also commented on anti-corruption politics in Ukraine and the recent U.S.–E.U. trade agreement. Meduza…

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