Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) on Friday ripped President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., for letting a Russian oligarch with ties to the Kremlin pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance his wedding after-party in the Bahamas this year. Curtis called the generous gift “corruption,” and pledged to say more about it in coming days.…
The Hill•Alexander Bolton18 Sept
The Kremlin is once again seeking to undermine confidence in American democracy with online influence campaigns, U.S. officials said.
The New York Times•Dustin Volz, Julian E. Barnes and Steven Lee Myers18 Sept
Russia seizes Nestle and Auchan assets under Putin decree, placing operations under Moscow-based management firm in retaliation against European
CryptoBriefing•Editorial Team18 Sept
For the Kremlin, the giant Vostok Oil project in the frigid Far North is crucial to two goals: bolstering Russia’s presence in the Arctic and keeping production of the key export commodity going as reserves in more accessible parts of the country are depleted. It’s also a case study of how a huge, state-run corporation like Rosneft -- headed by Igor Sechin, a longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin -- goes about putting such an enterprise in place amid increasingly tight Western sanctions over Russia’s war on Ukraine, an RFE/RL…
The Swiss maker of KitKats and Nescafé said it was assessing the situation after the Kremlin issued a presidential decree.
The New York Times•Jenny Gross and Paul Sonne18 Sept
Kremlin calls UK's support for Ukraine an endorsement of 'terrorism' after recent escalation in weapons supply.
Al Jazeera18 Sept
Russia and Ukraine traded strikes overnight as Russians prepared to vote in parliamentary elections in which the Kremlin's main party, United Russia, is poised to keep its grip on power, with the only party that criticised the war was removed from the ballot.
Russians on Friday began three days of voting in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election, which features virtually no opposition and is all but certain to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance. France 24's Douglas Herbert takes a closer look.
Nestlé is assessing its options after Russia placed the Swiss food giant’s local assets under temporary external administration.
Nestle said today it was weighing all options to protect its rights after the Kremlin's decision to take control of the Swiss food maker's Russian business, the latest move against a Western company since the war in Ukraine began.
Russians on Friday began three days of voting in the country's first wartime parliamentary election, which features virtually no opposition and is all but certain to secure the Kremlin's political dominance.
Voting got underway on Friday in a tightly controlled three-day parliamentary election in Russia which President Vladimir Putin has framed as a barometer of support for Russia's war in Ukraine. It is the first parliamentary election since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, and most anti-war candidates have been excluded from the ballot.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday to transfer assets of Swiss food giant Nestle and three French groups to a company called LEV Management. Most Western companies quickly sold their Russian operations and holdings after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Kremlin has since made it difficult for firms to leave the country.
The risk of a protest vote was too high at the Duma elections so a pre-election crackdown was carried out.
Al Jazeera18 Sept
Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes at Chatham House. According to Roos, Russia’s parliamentary election is revealing because of what the electoral process can still tell us about the political system Vladimir Putin has constructed. In the absence of any meaningful competition, and anti-war opposition excluded, Roos argues that the most revealing signals may lie elsewhere: in turnout, the timing of voting, the performance of the remaining parties, and the Kremlin’s effort to frame participation itself as evidence of national unity.
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 Vladimir Putin, as the only party that criticised the war was removed from the ballot.
President’s United Russia party faces no meaningful opposition after liberal anti-war party barred from ballot Russians are going to the polls to elect a new State Duma in a tightly controlled vote stripped of meaningful competition and with little doubt about the result. Vladimir Putin’s United Russia is expected to extend the grip on parliament it has held for 23 years, alongside a handful of nominal opposition parties that reliably vote with the Kremlin on the issues that matter. The three-day vote begins on Friday, with results expected after polls close on Sunday. Continue reading...
The Guardian•Pjotr Sauer18 Sept
The recent escalation in Russian gray zone aggression across Europe has sparked a lively debate over how far the Kremlin may be prepared to go, but a Russian attack on the Baltic states remains unlikely, writes James Rice.
Atlantic Council•James Rice17 Sept
US sanctions may hinder diplomatic progress, reducing the likelihood of a near-term resolution in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
CryptoBriefing•Estefano Gomez17 Sept
Fuel shortages, drone strikes and mobilization rumors are fueling anxiety and war fatigue in Russia. As support for peace talks grows among Russians, the Kremlin is watching closely ahead of parliamentary elections.
Deutsche Welle17 Sept