Page 8 - Russia

A START for multilateralism: Nuclear proliferation needs a global treaty

The US and Russia currently account for 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons. But there are now a total of nine nuclear-armed states, which collectively account for 12,241 warheads as of January 2025

Best of BS Opinion: Trade deals a positive, but more reforms required

Today's Best of BS Opinion explores India's trade deals, RBI's stance amid base-year revisions, co-operatives' regulatory dilemma, equity market challenges, and Russia's wilderness in history

The Oak And The Larch: Russian history through a prism of woods and trees

A new book traces how Russia's forests shaped its history, literature and power - from religious exiles and empire-building to gulags, nationalism and climate change

Ukraine imposes sanctions on foreign suppliers for Russian missiles

"Producing this weaponry would be impossible without critical foreign components, which the Russians continue to obtain by circumventing sanctions," Zelenskiy said on X

Power cuts, uncertainty hit Ukraine businesses amid Russian attacks

It is pre-dawn in the historic Podil district of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and warm light from the Spelta bakery-bistro's window pierces the darkness outside. On a wooden surface dusted with flour, the baker Oleksandr Kutsenko skilfully divides and shapes soft, damp pieces of dough. As he shoves the first loaves into the oven, a sweet, delicate aroma of fresh bread fills the space. Seconds later, the lights go out, the ovens switch off, and darkness envelops the room. Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator, and the power kicks back in. It's a pattern that will be repeated many times as the business struggles to keep working through the power outages caused by Russia's bombing campaign on Ukraine's energy grid. "It's now more than impossible to imagine a Ukrainian business operating without a generator," said Olha Hrynchuk, the co-founder and head baker of Spelta. The cost of purchasing and operating generators to overcome ..

4 Indian students among several injured in stabbing attack in Russia

At least six people, including four Indians students, were injured on Saturday in a stabbing attack at a university in Russia's Bashkortostan Republic, media reports and the Indian mission here said. According to preliminary reports, a teenager armed with a knife entered a dormitory of the State Medical University in Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic. He attacked the students living there and stabbed several of them, the Interior Ministry said. "The attacker resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. Furthermore, the suspect also inflicted bodily harm on himself," Interior Ministry spokesperson Maj General Irina Volk was quoted as saying by RTVI.com webportal. Calling it an "unfortunate incident", the Indian Embassy here said, "Several persons including four Indian students have been injured." The Embassy said it is in touch with the authorities, and officials from the Consulate in Kazan are en route to Ufa to provide assistance to the injured students. In a

US has asked Ukraine, Russia to reach war deal by June, says Zelenskyy

The US has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach an agreement to end the nearly four-year war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters. If the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both sides to meet it, he added. "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule," Zelenskyy said, speaking to reporters on Friday. Zelenskyy's comments were embargoed until Saturday morning. "And they say that they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything to end the war. And they want a clear schedule of all events," he said.

Russia turns to India, Sri Lanka to tackle labour shortage amid crisis

The total number of work permits given to foreigners rose to more than 240,000 in 2025, the highest since at least 2017, statistics from the Ministry of Internal Affairs show

EU recommends service ban for Russian oil exports in new sanctions package

EU proposes full ban on maritime services for Russian oil exports, targeting Moscow's energy revenues and stepping up pressure to push Russia into peace talks

Trump seeks new nuclear arms treaty with Russia as New START expires

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

Russia regrets expiry of nuclear arms pact with US as Trump seeks new deal

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 ..

US, Russia agree to restore high-level military dialogue after 4 year gap

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.

Russian oil tankers position close to India amid lack of clarity on US FTA

Officials of Indian refiners evaluating Russian crude alongside other grades from Brazil, Angola and UAE

US, Russia near deal to extend new START nuclear arms treaty: Report

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

US, Russia agree to restart military dialogue after Ukraine negotiations

The US and Russia have agreed to reestablish high level military-to-military dialogue following a meeting between senior Russian and American military officials in Abu Dhabi, the United States European Command said in a statement. The agreement was reached following meetings in Abu Dhabi between Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, Commander of US European Command -- also NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe -- and senior Russian and Ukrainian military officials, the statement said. Grynkewich was in the capital of the United Arab Emirates for talks between American, Russian and Ukrainian officials on ending the war in Ukraine. The channel "will provide a consistent military-to-military contact as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace," the statement said High level military communication was suspended in 2021, just before Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin says Russia will uphold nuclear stability after New START expires

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the New START treaty, which set limits on each side's missiles, launchers and strategic warheads, would lapse at the end of Thursday

Russia, Ukraine hold second day of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi

Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv on Thursday held a second day of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on ending their war amid an escalation in Russia's winter attacks on Ukraine's power grid and after a sharp rise last year in Ukrainian civilians killed in the fighting. "We are working in the same formats as yesterday: trilateral consultations, group work, and further synchronisation of positions," said Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council chief, who was present at the meeting. The delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were joined in the capital of the United Arab Emirates by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to Umerov. They were also at last month's talks in the same place as the Trump administration tries to steer the two countries toward a settlement. General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, was also present at the talks, according to a spokesman for the general who spo

Russia, Ukraine envoys meet in Abu Dhabi for 2 days of US-brokered talks

Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for another round of US-brokered talks on ending the almost four-year war, as a Russian attack using cluster munitions killed seven people at a market in Ukraine. The delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were joined in the capital of the United Arab Emirates by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council chief who attended the meeting. "The discussions were substantive and productive, focusing on concrete steps and practical solutions," Umerov said on social media as the first of two days of talks wrapped up. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a breakthrough in the talks may not come for a while but the Trump administration has made great progress on negotiations over the past year. "That's the good news," Rubio told reporters Wednesday. "The bad news is that the items that remain are the most diffic

Russia, Ukraine envoys meet in Abu Dhabi as US pushes peace efforts

Envoys from Russia and Ukraine met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for another round of US-brokered talks on ending the almost four-year war, a Ukrainian negotiator said. The delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were joined in the United Arab Emirates by US officials, Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council chief, who was present at the meeting, said on social media. Umerov said the planned two-day negotiations started with all three delegations present, after which negotiators were to break into groups according to topics and then meet as a full group again at the end. The American team was due to include special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who also attended last month's meeting, according to the White House. The current talks also coincide with the expiry of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States on Thursday. Trump and Putin could extend the terms of the treaty or renegotiate its ...