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Xi, Putin hail ties as 'stabilising' force in chaotic world
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin emphasized the crucial role of China-Russia relations in maintaining global peace and stability.
Xi says China hopes Europe will return to peace soon and that China will play a constructive role
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing amid Russia's offensive in Ukraine. The leaders discussed strengthening their nations' partnership and signed agreements. Putin praised China's infrastructure initiative while pledging collaboration in global affairs. The visit highlights their close ties amidst geopolitical tensions and military cooperation.
Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin hail ties as 'stabilising' force in chaotic world
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met in Beijing to strengthen their nations' relationship, with Putin seeking Chinese support for his war in Ukraine. Xi emphasized the importance of the China-Russia partnership for global peace and justice, while Putin highlighted their role in maintaining stability in the international arena. Despite economic challenges due to Western sanctions, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties.
Slovakia PM Robert Fico shot, fighting 'life-threatening' injuries
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times after a cabinet meeting, sustaining life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to the hospital, and his condition was described as critical. The attack was condemned by EU leaders. Fico, a populist leader, has been accused of being Kremlin-friendly and has been prime minister since last year. The suspected gunman has been detained by the police.
Peter Pellegrini wins Slovakia presidential election
Pellegrini wins Slovakia's presidential election, focusing on peace amidst Ukraine war debate. Fico's ally, he vows to maintain strong EU ties. Analysts speculate potential Orban-like shift in Slovak politics.
View: In the court of Ra-Ra-Tsar Putin
Putin is now the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Joseph Stalin. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that death and disappearance of dissidents and critics have been part of everyday life in Vladimir's Russia. Kremlin's control over media and judiciary is textbook, and the president has gained both fans and detractors through his authoritarian, strongman appeal.
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Western leaders dismiss Putin's 'illegal' poll victory
Russian President Vladimir Putin's victory was praised by his allies, while Western leaders criticized the election as undemocratic with no real opposition.
What to know about Russia’s presidential election, set to give Putin another six-year term
The upcoming election in Russia is expected to solidify President Vladimir Putin's hold on power until 2030. Opposition figures are either imprisoned or exiled, independent media has been blocked, and the Kremlin maintains strict control over the political system. Despite concerns of fairness, the election will provide insight into Russia's actions, including its invasion of Ukraine. Putin, seeking a fifth term, faces little competition on the ballot, but the fractured opposition sees the election as an opportunity to express discontent.
Over 300 detained in Russia as country mourns the death of Alexei Navalny, Putin's fiercest foe
Over 300 people were detained in Russia while honoring opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison. World leaders, including US President Joe Biden, blame Putin for Navalny's death, calling it a reflection of his character. Navalny's widow made a dramatic appearance at the Munich Security Conference, holding Putin and his government responsible. Protests worldwide demand justice for Navalny, with demonstrations in Berlin and Bucharest and a petition in Finland to rename a park in his honor.
Here's what to know about Sweden's bumpy road toward NATO membership
After over 200 years of neutrality, Sweden's bid to join NATO gains momentum, with Turkey's parliamentary approval. The shift comes post-Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompting Sweden and Finland to seek security guarantees. Turkey's conditions, including a stance on perceived threats, caused delays, and Hungary remains the final hurdle. Sweden's inclusion would strategically surround the Baltic Sea with NATO allies, enhancing regional defense. Russia reacts negatively, warning of unspecified countermeasures, as both Sweden and Finland anticipate increased risks of Russian interference.
PM Modi, Russian President Putin discuss Ukraine, wish each other well in elections
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call on Monday to discuss various matters, including Ukraine, as well as extending their best wishes for upcoming elections. The Kremlin, in a statement posted on their website, mentioned that the two leaders expressed their interest in further strengthening the mutually beneficial bilateral relations between Russia and India.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy says Russia can be stopped but Kyiv badly needs more air defense systems
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visiting Lithuania, stated that Ukraine has demonstrated the ability to stop Russia's military, despite intensified missile and drone attacks. Zelenskyy emphasized the need to bolster air defenses and replenish ammunition supplies as long-range strikes become prominent. Facing depleted stockpiles, Ukraine seeks modern air defense systems and plans to accelerate its domestic defense industry. Zelenskyy's Baltic tour aims to garner support against Russia's forces. Lithuania pledged support, providing ammunition, generators, and detonation systems, while discussions on joint arms production agreements are underway.
Curtain call: From 'Friends' star Matthew Perry to Lisa Marie Presley, influential people who passed away in '23
A list of celebs who left us in 2023.
Putin visits 'dear friend' Xi in show of no-limits partnership
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip aims to highlight the strong partnership between the two countries. This is Putin's first official trip outside of the former Soviet Union since an arrest warrant was issued for him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March. However, neither China nor Kyrgyzstan, where Putin visited earlier this month, are members of the ICC. The meeting comes as Western countries criticize China's partnership with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Putin begins visit in China underscoring ties amid Ukraine war and Israeli-Palestinian conflict
China has sought to balance its ties with Israel against its relations with Iran and Syria, two countries that are strongly backed by Russia and with which China has forged ties for economic reasons as well as to challenge Washington's influence in the Middle East. Putin's plane was met by an honour guard as the Russian leader began his visit that is also a show of support for Chinese leader Xi Jinping's signature 'Belt and Road' initiative to build infrastructure and expand China's overseas influence.
Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing underscores China's economic and diplomatic support for Russia
The Russian leader will be among the highest profile guests at a gathering marking the 10th anniversary of Xi's announcement of the BRI policy, which has laden countries such as Zambia and Sri Lanka with heavy debt after they signed contracts with Chinese companies to build roads, airports and other public works they could not otherwise afford.
Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov in China ahead of Putin visit
Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Beijing, Moscow's foreign ministry said Monday, ahead of an expected visit by President Vladimir Putin. The foreign ministry said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that Lavrov was in the Chinese capital as part of a Russian delegation. bur-oho/ssy
Putin, Kim gifted each other rifles, Putin to visit North Korea
The Russian president, who has sought to strengthen alliances with other hardline leaders ostracised by the West, met with Kim on Wednesday amid speculation they would agree on an arms deal.
Arms deal on the agenda at Kim Jong Un's potential meeting with Putin in Russia?
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet soon to discuss potential arms deals, indicating closer ties between the two countries. Russia, facing isolation over the Ukraine war, sees value in North Korea, while North Korea benefits from Moscow's need for allies. North Korea has historically relied on Soviet aid, but relations have improved recently, with Russia opposing new sanctions on North Korea and publicly supporting Moscow's actions in Ukraine. Economic ties have also strengthened, with the resumption of train travel and oil exports between the two countries.
Russian mercenaries gather at funeral of Prigozhin's logistics chief
A Russian Orthodox priest said prayers and swung a censer before Chekalov's coffin as family, friends and former colleagues, some holding bunches of flowers, bade farewell, Reuters video showed. Some, including women and children in sunglasses, came forward to kiss his coffin. Unidentified mourners at the funeral ordered a Reuters videographer and photographer to stop filming.
Russians who fled mobilisation cautiously return home
Ivan Nesterov, a well-built fitness trainer, came back to Russia six months after fleeing the mobilisation that propped up Russian forces fighting in Ukraine last fall. Like Nesterov, some of the hundreds of thousands of Russian men who left the country to avoid being sent to the front lines have returned, despite the lingering threat of a new draft.
Russia and North Korea forge closer ties amid shared isolation
North Korea was heavily reliant on Soviet aid for decades, and when the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, it contributed to a deadly famine in the North. Pyongyang's leaders have tended to try to use Beijing and Moscow to balance each other. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un initially had a relatively cool relationship with Russia and China, which both joined the United States in imposing strict sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear tests. After his country's last nuclear test in 2017, Kim took steps to repair ties.
Yellen is visiting India yet again to promote closer ties and tackle global economic problems
U.S. Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, is set to meet finance ministers from the Group of 20 countries in India, following a trip to Beijing. Yellen's main objectives during her visit include pressing for debt restructuring in developing countries, pushing for modernisation of global development banks to focus more on climate change, and deepening the US-India relationship.
Xi urges Shanghai alliance to 'safeguard regional peace'
Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and called for efforts to safeguard regional peace and ensure common security. Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke at the meeting. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted the summit, made remarks criticizing countries that use cross-border terrorism as a policy instrument.
Who is Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin?
Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as “Putin's chef” for his Kremlin catering contracts, has admitted to founding private military group the Wagner Group in 2014. The group has participated in conflicts throughout the Middle East, Africa and Ukraine. Prigozhin publicly feuded with Russia’s Ministry of Defence after criticising military plans and ammunition supply levels, most notably breaking taboos by swearing at top brass.
In Russia, the talk is of 'war' - even from Vladimir Putin
That remark was shown by Rossiya state television's most important Sunday slot. Kremlin correspondent Pavel Zarubin told viewers that Putin was devoting significant amounts of time to the conflict behind the scenes. The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian-backed separatist forces fighting Ukraine's armed forces.
'Russia open for negotiation': Putin tells Xi on Ukraine peace plan
Putin made the remarks on Monday in response to China's "plan settle ongoing Ukraine crisis". The plan aimed to "end the Russia-Ukraine war" was released by China in February. However, the US has warned it could be a "stalling tactic", the BBC reported.
'Dear friends' Xi and Putin meet in Moscow as Ukraine war rages
Xi was the first leader to meet the Russian president since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him on Friday over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia during its year-old invasion of Ukraine.
Xi, Putin hail ties ahead of 'journey of peace' to Moscow
China has sought to portray itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine war, and its foreign ministry said last week that Beijing would "play a constructive role in promoting peace talks" between Kyiv and Moscow. Putin welcomed Beijing's moves on Ukraine as being indicative of a willingness to play a "constructive role" in ending the conflict, while saying Chinese-Russian relations were "at the highest point".
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