President Vladimir V. Putin has long operated within the confines of a tight security bubble, which became even tighter and more isolating during the coronavirus pandemic. The sprawling red fortress of the Kremlin, which Russian officials claimed was the target of a Ukrainian drone attack on Wednesday, contains both the president’s official residence and his […]
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Secret ‘Mission’ for Peace in Ukraine May Show Limits of Pope’s Influence
ROME — A secret mission revealed days ago by Pope Francis to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine is so secret that Russia and Ukraine claim to know nothing about it. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it had no idea what the pope was talking about. “Ukraine doesn’t know about it,” Ukraine’s ambassador to […]
The ‘Peace Dividend’ Is Over in Europe. Now Come the Hard Tradeoffs.
In the 30 years since the Iron Curtain came crashing down, trillions of dollars that had been dedicated to Cold War armies and weapons systems were gradually diverted to health care, housing and schools. That era — when security took a back seat to trade and economic growth — abruptly ended with Russia’s invasion of […]
Russia Claims Ukrainian Drones Targeted Putin: Live Updates
Aging European weapons factories could receive a boost of 500 million euros ($551 million) under a new plan announced by the European Union on Wednesday that would upgrade and expand production and, potentially, speed more ammunition to Ukraine. The proposal largely seeks to ramp up weapons production for European militaries for years to come. But […]
Zelensky Is Expected to Meet With Nordic Leaders in Helsinki
HELSINKI — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was expected to pay an official visit to Finland on Wednesday, the office of the Finnish president said in a statement. Mr. Zelensky was invited to hold talks in Helsinki with Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö, on “Ukraine’s defense struggle and Finland’s support for Ukraine,” among other matters, the […]
Russia Ramps Up Pressure on Civilians in Occupied Ukraine
Russia is ramping up pressure on civilians in occupied parts of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, whose forces have stepped up their assaults behind enemy lines ahead of a widely expected counteroffensive. The assault could prove a critical opportunity after 14 months of war, not just for Ukraine to regain territory but also for it […]
New York Times’s Publisher Warns of Risks to Press Freedom and Democracy
A.G. Sulzberger, the publisher of The New York Times, warned on Tuesday that “when the free press erodes, democratic erosion almost always follows,” delivering a call to protect journalists as fatal attacks on reporters have increased — especially in the war in Ukraine. In remarks at a United Nations event honoring the 30th anniversary of […]
Russia Tightens Restrictions in Occupied Regions of Ukraine: Live News
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, has been detained in Russia for more than a month on charges of espionage that the U.S. rejects.Credit…Alexander Zemlianichenko/Associated Press A.G. Sulzberger, the publisher of The New York Times, warned on Tuesday that “when the free press erodes, democratic erosion almost always follows.” He spoke at a United […]
U.S. Says 100,000 Russian Casualties in Ukraine in Past 5 Months
At least 100,000 Russian fighters have been killed or wounded in Ukraine in just the past five months, the White House said on Monday, offering the latest estimate of the vast human toll of President Vladimir V. Putin’s invasion. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the figure included 20,000 Russian fighters […]
Anger Over Pensions Law Fuels May Day Protests in France
French workers headed to the streets across the country on Monday, as the annual May Day demonstrations in France coincided with smoldering anger over an unpopular pension overhaul that President Emmanuel Macron pushed through last month. From Le Havre in the north to Marseille in the south, tens of thousands of people had taken to […]