US Russia

India gets deep discounts on Russian crude and its exports of petroleum products to China have increased

The deal expired on Thursday, raising the possibility that US and Russia could potentially pursue new nuclear weapons unhindered by any diplomatic agreement while geopolitical tensions rise

The Kremlin on Thursday said it regretted the expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, while US President Donald Trump declared he was against keeping its limits and wants a better deal. The pact's termination left no caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century, fuelling fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race. Russian President Vladimir Putin last year declared his readiness to stick to the treaty's limits for another year if Washington followed suit, but Trump has ignored the offer and argued that he wants China to be a part of a new pact, something Beijing has rebuffed. "Rather than extend NEW START (A badly negotiated deal by the United States that, aside from everything else, is being grossly violated), we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernised Treaty that can last long into the future," Trump posted on his Truth Social network. Putin discussed the ..

The US and Russia agreed on Thursday to reestablish high-level military dialogue for the first time in more than four years in another sign of warming relations between the two countries since President Donald Trump returned to office and sought to end the war in Ukraine. High-level military communication was suspended in late 2021, as tension between Moscow and Washington rose ahead of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump then campaigned for a second term on promises that he would swiftly end the fighting. Many of his proposals for peace have heavily favoured the Kremlin, including requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. The restored communication channel "will provide a consistent military-to-military contact as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace," the US European Command said in a statement. The agreement emerged from a meeting between senior Russian and American military officials in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The New START treaty, which set limits on each side's missiles, launchers and strategic warheads, is the last in a series of nuclear agreements dating back more than half a century to the Cold War

The US, Ukraine and Russia will hold their first trilateral meeting in the UAE, as efforts to end the Ukraine war intensify following talks between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Commenting on Denmark's treatment of Greenland, Putin said Denmark has treated Greenland like a colony for many years and has often been harsh towards it

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said any decision on joining the Board of Peace led by the US to oversee the Gaza ceasefire plan will be taken after consultations with Moscow's strategic partners. "Regarding our participation in the 'Peace Board', the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to study the documents received by us, consult with our strategic partners on this matter, and only then will we be able to respond to the invitation extended to us," Putin said in his televised opening remarks at the national Security Council meeting late Wednesday night. "We have always supported and continue to support any efforts aimed at strengthening international stability. We also acknowledge the current US administration's contribution to the search for a solution to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin said, thanking US President Trump for the invitation. The Board of Peace led by Trump was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire ...

The country imported about 1.3 million barrels a day of Russian crude in December, according to data from ship-tracking firms Vortexa Ltd. and Kpler

Russia's Foreign Ministry has said the US threats to strike Iran are categorically unacceptable. The ministry on Tuesday warned in a statement that any such strikes would have disastrous consequences for the situation in the Middle East and global security. It also criticised what it called brazen attempts to blackmail Iran's foreign partners by raising trade tariffs. The statement noted that the protests in Iran had been triggered by social and economic problems resulting from Western sanctions. It also denounced hostile external forces for trying to exploit the resulting growing social tension to destabilise and destroy the Iranian state and charged that specially trained and armed provocateurs acting on instructions from abroad sought to provoke violence. The ministry voiced hope that the situation in Iran will gradually stabilize and advised Russian citizens in the Islamic Republic not to visit crowded places.

As Donald Trump revives calls for US control of Greenland, Nato faces rare internal strain. Here's how the alliance was born, how its role evolved, and why allies are alarmed

Trump warned that if the US did not act to secure Greenland, geopolitical rivals Russia and China could establish influence or a presence on the island, threatening US strategic interests

In order to avoid tracking, many of these ships turn off their automatic identification system, disappearing from standard maritime monitoring

Russia has strongly condemned the US seizure of an oil tanker, heralding a new chill in relations between Moscow and Washington that could spread to other areas and affect President Donald Trump's efforts to persuade Russia to end its nearly four-year war in Ukraine. The seizure Wednesday of the Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic "can only lead to a further escalation of military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region, as well as a visible lowering of the threshold for the use of force' against peaceful shipping, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn't yet commented on the seizure of the tanker and has remained silent about the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicols Maduro, which his diplomats have denounced as a blatant act of aggression. But while the Russian president has avoided any criticism of Trump, the seizure of the tanker by the US military represents a new challenge for the Kremlin. Hawkish commentators in Moscow .

Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump has greenlit a bipartisan bill that would let the US impose steep duties on countries buying Russian oil, complicating India-US trade talks

The operation was confirmed by the US military's European Command in a series of posts on X, which said the seizure formed part of Washington's broader action against sanctioned vessels

Russia is alarmed by US seizures of tankers that carry illicit Russian oil, which helps fund its economy

India's imports of Russian crude are likely to dip below 1 million barrels per day ‌as New Delhi seeks to clinch a trade deal ​with Washington

Ukraine's allies are meeting on Tuesday in Paris for key talks that could help determine the country's security after a potential ceasefire with Russia. But prospects for progress are uncertain with the Trump administration's focus shifting to Venezuela. Before the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed optimism about the latest gathering of so-called coalition of the willing nations. For months, they have been exploring how to deter any future Russian aggression should it agree to stop fighting Ukraine. In a December 31 address, Macron said that allies would make concrete commitments at the summit to protect Ukraine and ensure a just and lasting peace." Macron's office said on Tuesday's meeting will gather an unprecedented number of officials attending in person, with 35 participants, including 27 heads of state and government. The US will be represented by President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared ...

India seeks weekly data on Russian and US oil buys as crude imports from Moscow may fall below 1 million bpd amid sensitive trade talks with Washington