What Putin’s war in Ukraine means for Russian elections this week
Russia has been facing mounting casualties and ‘net-zero’ territorial gains since March this year as the public votes this week, Maira Butt reports
Vladimir Putin — page 7
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Von der Leyen pitches European Security Council in response to Trump and Putin
"This is even more urgent now, given the nature and scale of the risks at play," says European Commission president.
To understand the threat to our real democracy, watch Putin's fake one | Rafael Behr
As Russians vote this weekend, remember that Britain is not immune to the cynical tactics and corrosion of trust that keep him in power Millions of people will participate in elections in Russia this weekend and a new parliament will be chosen, but not necessarily in that order. The purpose of the exercise is to maintain Vladimir Putin’s authority over the political process, which means United Russia, the president’s party, will retain control of the Duma. That much is settled before the polls open, although the scale of the government’s victory won’t be declared until the votes are counted. A portion of seats is available for other “systemic parties” that function as Kremlin licensed-opposition, padding out the pretence of pluralism. They serve as a pressure valves for public frustration and parliamentary proxies when rival factions within the ruling elite want to nudge Kremlin policy in one direction or another. Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
The Guardian•Rafael Behr16 Sept
Zelenskyy accuses Putin of lying to Trump officials amid peace talks
Zelenskyy's claims highlight deep-seated mistrust, complicating peace efforts and prolonging geopolitical instability in Eastern Europe.
CryptoBriefing•Estefano Gomez16 Sept
Zelenskyy says "of course" Putin is lying to Trump officials
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sat down for an exclusive interview with CBS News' Aiden Stretch about what he said were recent Russian plots to assassinate him. Zelenskyy also discussed President Trump's new demand that Ukraine stop attacking Russian energy targets to help gas prices in the U.S.
With Putin overextended in Ukraine, Armenia is turning away from Russia
Every day Ukraine keeps fighting, Russian influence grows weaker in the countries of the ex-USSR that Moscow refers to as the “near abroad.” Nowhere is this Russian retreat clearer than in Armenia, writes Joseph Epstein.
Atlantic Council•Joseph Epstein15 Sept
Viral Putin, Modi and Xi selfie at BRICS summit is AI-generated
A viral selfie allegedly showing Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi and other leaders together at the BRICS summit in New Delhi is AI-generated. A SynthID watermark shows it was created using OpenAI tools, while several leaders pictured, including Brazil’s Lula and Turkey’s Erdogan, did not attend. Another AI selfie features former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in 2024. Both images were widely shared online, including by official embassy accounts. Vedika Bahl fact-checks.
Blanche dismisses concerns about Trump Jr’s wedding gift from Putin ally
Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed concerns over a wedding gift to Donald Trump Jr. from an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this year. “The president’s son has said that he’s a very close friend, and that he accepted a gift in the weekend of his wedding,” Blanche told reporters at the White House…
The Hill•Julia Manchester15 Sept
‘Putin looking to see how far he can push NATO’
NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight, officials said Tuesday. Separately, Denmark said that one of its air force helicopters was fired on with flares as it was carrying out surveillance of a Russian frigate in the Baltic Sea. France 24’s Philip Turle takes a look at what Moscow’s motives might be for this seeming increase in incidents inside NATO and EU territory.
NHL star Ovechkin backs Putin’s party in campaign video ahead of elections
Ovechkin's endorsement may bolster United Russia's domestic appeal, potentially influencing election outcomes amid geopolitical tensions.
CryptoBriefing•Estefano Gomez15 Sept
NHL star Ovechkin appears in campaign video for Putin’s party
Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin appeared in a political ad this week for the ruling United Russia Party, a group aligned with President Vladimir Putin. The 40-year-old Capitals captain was spotted in the background of the video which promoted the United Russia Party ahead of Russia’s parliamentary election. He stood alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei…
The Hill•Mira Bhakta15 Sept
Ukraine hit record number of Putin’s refineries, as Trump pleads for energy ceasefire (Ukraine Battlefield update, Day 1,664)
Ukraine is also keen for a deal to spare its own power plants and ports, but Putin shows no sign of stopping his energy strikes in the run-up to winter.
Ovechkin still backing Putin party in parliamentary vote
Ice hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin has lent Vladimir Putin's party a helping hand in its parliamentary election campaign. It's in keeping with a pattern of support by an athlete who claims not to be political.
Deutsche Welle15 Sept
Ocasio-Cortez on Trump Jr. wedding: ‘They’re selling out every single person in this country’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Monday that the Trump administration is “selling out” every American when discussing a Russian oligarch’s involvement in Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. The lawmaker was asked what she made of Trump Jr.’s wedding in May being partially funded by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who is linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.…
The Hill•Mira Bhakta15 Sept
Kim Jong Un says he will continue to back Putin’s ‘sacred war’ on Ukraine
North Korea dictator was responding to a message of gratitude from the Kremlin for the troops he has already committed to the invasion
Putin delays summit over Ukrainian drone threat: FT
The summit delay highlights escalating security concerns, impacting diplomatic engagements and increasing uncertainty in geopolitical relations.
CryptoBriefing•Estefano Gomez15 Sept
Vladimir Putin moves summit over Ukrainian drone threat
Russian president has avoided Black Sea coast for nearly a year
NHL star Alex Ovechkin appears in campaign ad for pro-Putin United Russia party
Capitals star is long-time supporter of Russian leader Ovechkin is NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer , has appeared in a campaign ad for the United Russia party, which supports Vladimir Putin, as he prepares for the new hockey season. The Russian business newspaper Vedomosti published images of the Washington Capitals star alongside pro-Putin figures such as Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, the leading parliamentary candidate on United Russia’s list, and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the propaganda network RT. Continue reading...
The Guardian•Robert Mackey and Tom Lutz15 Sept
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Poland scrambles jets as Putin attacks Kyiv with jet-powered drones
Major Russian attack comes as Nato fighter jet shot down a drone in Lithuania shortly after midnight
Russian businessman bankrolls Donald Trump Jr’s Bahamas wedding after-party
President’s son and his wife confirm Umar Kremlev, who is reportedly close to Vladimir Putin, paid for part of celebration