Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Russia’s global leadership rating fell from 33 percent to 21 percent since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to a report published Tuesday by Gallup, which conducted surveys in 137 countries. “Approval of Russia dropped in virtually every region of the world,” the report said.
- In a speech Monday at the U.N. Security Council in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov squared off against the United States and its allies, warning that their aggression and bullying have brought the world to a “dangerous threshold.”
- At the same forum, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of the U.N. Charter and international law.
- If Russia wins and Ukraine falls, central Europe “may well be next,” wrote the leaders of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
More live updates here.
- Russia’s global leadership rating fell from 33 percent to 21 percent since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to a report published Tuesday by Gallup, which conducted surveys in 137 countries. “Approval of Russia dropped in virtually every region of the world,” the report said.
- In a speech Monday at the U.N. Security Council in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov squared off against the United States and its allies, warning that their aggression and bullying have brought the world to a “dangerous threshold.”
- At the same forum, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of the U.N. Charter and international law.
- If Russia wins and Ukraine falls, central Europe “may well be next,” wrote the leaders of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
More live updates here.
Exclusive: Wagner Group surges in Africa as U.S. influence fades, leak reveals
The Wagner Group is moving aggressively to establish a “confederation” of anti-Western states in Africa as the Russian mercenaries foment instability while using their paramilitary and disinformation capabilities to bolster Moscow’s allies, according to leaked secret U.S. intelligence documents.
The rapid expansion of Russia’s influence in Africa has been a source of growing alarm to U.S. intelligence and military officials, prompting a push over the past year to find ways to hit Wagner’s network of bases and business fronts with strikes, sanctions and cyber operations, according to the documents.
At a time when Wagner leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin has been preoccupied with Kremlin infighting over the paramilitary group’s deepening involvement in the war in Ukraine, U.S. officials depict Wagner’s expanding global footprint as a potential vulnerability.
Read the full story here.
The Wagner Group is moving aggressively to establish a “confederation” of anti-Western states in Africa as the Russian mercenaries foment instability while using their paramilitary and disinformation capabilities to bolster Moscow’s allies, according to leaked secret U.S. intelligence documents.
The rapid expansion of Russia’s influence in Africa has been a source of growing alarm to U.S. intelligence and military officials, prompting a push over the past year to find ways to hit Wagner’s network of bases and business fronts with strikes, sanctions and cyber operations, according to the documents.
At a time when Wagner leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin has been preoccupied with Kremlin infighting over the paramilitary group’s deepening involvement in the war in Ukraine, U.S. officials depict Wagner’s expanding global footprint as a potential vulnerability.
Read the full story here.
Russia’s Lavrov spars with Western officials at U.N.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov squared off against the United States and its allies at the U.N. Security Council on Monday, warning that their aggression and bullying have brought the world to a “dangerous threshold.”
Russia, which this month holds the rotating council presidency, called the meeting on “Defense of the Principles of the U.N. Charter” in an apparent attempt to switch the global narrative from criticism of its invasion of Ukraine — which the West has said is a gross violation of international law — to charges that the United States is making all the rules at the expense of other nations.
The session was a prominent appearance for Lavrov, who appeared at U.N. headquarters in New York, his first visit to the United States since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began 14 months ago.
Read the full story here.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov squared off against the United States and its allies at the U.N. Security Council on Monday, warning that their aggression and bullying have brought the world to a “dangerous threshold.”
Russia, which this month holds the rotating council presidency, called the meeting on “Defense of the Principles of the U.N. Charter” in an apparent attempt to switch the global narrative from criticism of its invasion of Ukraine — which the West has said is a gross violation of international law — to charges that the United States is making all the rules at the expense of other nations.
The session was a prominent appearance for Lavrov, who appeared at U.N. headquarters in New York, his first visit to the United States since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began 14 months ago.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Approval of Russia’s global leadership abilities plummeted from 33 percent to 21 percent since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to “Rating World Leaders,” a report published Tuesday by Gallup, which conducted surveys in 137 countries.
- As Washington ramped up its military, financial and diplomatic support for Kyiv, approval of U.S. leadership rose dramatically among Ukrainians, up 29 percentage points from the previous year to reach 66 percent.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States and its allies of bringing the world to a “dangerous threshold.”
- Paul Whelan’s sister demanded that the Kremlin free her brother.
- If Russia wins and Ukraine falls, Central Europe “may well be next,” wrote the leaders of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
- Sweden is expelling five Russian diplomats, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
More live updates here.
- Approval of Russia’s global leadership abilities plummeted from 33 percent to 21 percent since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to “Rating World Leaders,” a report published Tuesday by Gallup, which conducted surveys in 137 countries.
- As Washington ramped up its military, financial and diplomatic support for Kyiv, approval of U.S. leadership rose dramatically among Ukrainians, up 29 percentage points from the previous year to reach 66 percent.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States and its allies of bringing the world to a “dangerous threshold.”
- Paul Whelan’s sister demanded that the Kremlin free her brother.
- If Russia wins and Ukraine falls, Central Europe “may well be next,” wrote the leaders of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
- Sweden is expelling five Russian diplomats, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- President Zelensky accused Russia of attacking a residential neighborhood and museum in Kupiansk, the latest deadly missile strike on a civilian target.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West of causing the deadlock over the Black Sea grain deal. He also alluded to the possibility of a prisoner swap for two Americans, Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who are detained in Russia.
- President Putin signed a decree to place Russian assets from what he described as “unfriendly countries” under administrative receivership, the state media outlet Tass reported.
- A former Wagner Group commander who is seeking asylum in Norway has pleaded guilty to charges related to a fight outside a bar in the capital, Oslo.
More live updates here.
- President Zelensky accused Russia of attacking a residential neighborhood and museum in Kupiansk, the latest deadly missile strike on a civilian target.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West of causing the deadlock over the Black Sea grain deal. He also alluded to the possibility of a prisoner swap for two Americans, Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who are detained in Russia.
- President Putin signed a decree to place Russian assets from what he described as “unfriendly countries” under administrative receivership, the state media outlet Tass reported.
- A former Wagner Group commander who is seeking asylum in Norway has pleaded guilty to charges related to a fight outside a bar in the capital, Oslo.
More live updates here.
China’s and Ukraine’s leaders spoke by phone for first time since Russia invaded Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time since the war began, calling the phone call “long and meaningful” but giving few details. “I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations,” Zelensky tweeted.
Last month, Xi made a grand state visit to Russia in a show of strength, highlighting Beijing’s bid for global leadership. It came shortly after an arrest warrant was issued from the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky, who has been visited by numerous world leaders in Kyiv, has said he has invited Xi to visit Ukraine.
Beijing has positioned itself as neutral in the conflict and recently released a 12-point proposal for ending the war.
More live updates here.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time since the war began, calling the phone call “long and meaningful” but giving few details. “I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations,” Zelensky tweeted.
Last month, Xi made a grand state visit to Russia in a show of strength, highlighting Beijing’s bid for global leadership. It came shortly after an arrest warrant was issued from the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky, who has been visited by numerous world leaders in Kyiv, has said he has invited Xi to visit Ukraine.
Beijing has positioned itself as neutral in the conflict and recently released a 12-point proposal for ending the war.
More live updates here.
Ukrainian President Zelensky held ‘meaningful’ call with China’s Xi Jinping
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and China’s Xi Jinping spoke by phone Wednesday — their first conversation since Russia invaded Ukraine 14 months ago and a signal that Beijing may be angling to play a mediatory role.
China will send a special representative to Ukraine and other countries to hold talks with all parties on resolving the “crisis,” Xi told Zelensky, according to the Chinese readout of the call.
“Amid the current rise of reasonable thinking and voices from all sides, we should seize the opportunity to build up favorable conditions for a political settlement of the crisis,” Xi told Zelensky, according to the Chinese summary.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and China’s Xi Jinping spoke by phone Wednesday — their first conversation since Russia invaded Ukraine 14 months ago and a signal that Beijing may be angling to play a mediatory role.
China will send a special representative to Ukraine and other countries to hold talks with all parties on resolving the “crisis,” Xi told Zelensky, according to the Chinese readout of the call.
“Amid the current rise of reasonable thinking and voices from all sides, we should seize the opportunity to build up favorable conditions for a political settlement of the crisis,” Xi told Zelensky, according to the Chinese summary.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time since the war began, calling the phone call “long and meaningful” but giving few details.
- German and British warplanes intercepted three Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, German air force officials tweeted Wednesday.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West of causing a deadlock over the Black Sea grain deal.
- Lavrov also alluded to the possibility of a prisoner swap for two Americans, Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who are detained in Russia.
- Ukraine is working with the FBI to collect evidence of war crimes, FBI special agent Alex Kobzanets told a conference.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time since the war began, calling the phone call “long and meaningful” but giving few details.
- German and British warplanes intercepted three Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, German air force officials tweeted Wednesday.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West of causing a deadlock over the Black Sea grain deal.
- Lavrov also alluded to the possibility of a prisoner swap for two Americans, Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who are detained in Russia.
- Ukraine is working with the FBI to collect evidence of war crimes, FBI special agent Alex Kobzanets told a conference.
More live updates here.
Russia can fund war in Ukraine for another year despite sanctions, leaked document says
U.S. intelligence holds that Russia will be able to fund the war in Ukraine for at least another year, even under the heavy and increasing weight of unprecedented sanctions, according to leaked U.S. military documents.
The previously unreported documents provide a rare glimpse into Washington’s understanding of the effectiveness of its own economic measures, and of the tenor of the response they have met in Russia, where U.S. intelligence finds that senior officials, agencies and the staff of oligarchs are fretting over the painful disruptions — and adapting to them.
While some of Russia’s economic elites might not agree with the country’s course in Ukraine, and sanctions have hurt their businesses, they are unlikely to withdraw support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an assessment that appears to date from early March.
Read more here.
U.S. intelligence holds that Russia will be able to fund the war in Ukraine for at least another year, even under the heavy and increasing weight of unprecedented sanctions, according to leaked U.S. military documents.
The previously unreported documents provide a rare glimpse into Washington’s understanding of the effectiveness of its own economic measures, and of the tenor of the response they have met in Russia, where U.S. intelligence finds that senior officials, agencies and the staff of oligarchs are fretting over the painful disruptions — and adapting to them.
While some of Russia’s economic elites might not agree with the country’s course in Ukraine, and sanctions have hurt their businesses, they are unlikely to withdraw support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an assessment that appears to date from early March.
Read more here.
Russia needs more troops but is wary of public anger, leaked documents say
Russian officials are scrambling to enlist hundreds of thousands more troops for the war in Ukraine without angering the general public, but recruitment plans being pushed by military leaders are raising alarm among other government officials worried about an increasingly critical labor shortage in the civilian workforce, according to classified U.S. intelligence documents obtained by The Post.
In mid-February, President Vladimir Putin “reportedly backed” his military’s proposal to “quietly recruit” 400,000 additional troops throughout 2023 for the war in Ukraine, according to one intelligence document, part of a trove of classified information allegedly leaked on the Discord gaming platform.
Read the full story here.
Russian officials are scrambling to enlist hundreds of thousands more troops for the war in Ukraine without angering the general public, but recruitment plans being pushed by military leaders are raising alarm among other government officials worried about an increasingly critical labor shortage in the civilian workforce, according to classified U.S. intelligence documents obtained by The Post.
In mid-February, President Vladimir Putin “reportedly backed” his military’s proposal to “quietly recruit” 400,000 additional troops throughout 2023 for the war in Ukraine, according to one intelligence document, part of a trove of classified information allegedly leaked on the Discord gaming platform.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine’s Azov brigade races to rebuild ahead of fateful fight
KYIV, Ukraine — The Azov brigade, hailed by Ukrainians for its tenacity during Russia’s siege of Mariupol, is scrambling to rebuild from heavy combat losses as it seeks to play a muscular role in Ukraine’s next major assault.
The high-profile unit is hoping to recruit 6,500 new fighters who will provide restored combat heft even as its leaders push for the return of more than 1,000 brigade troops who remain in Russia as prisoners of war.
“We are ready to liberate territory,” Maj. Bohdan “Tavr” Krotevych, who is the brigade’s interim commander and is leading the rebuilding effort after his release from Russian captivity in the fall, said in an interview.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — The Azov brigade, hailed by Ukrainians for its tenacity during Russia’s siege of Mariupol, is scrambling to rebuild from heavy combat losses as it seeks to play a muscular role in Ukraine’s next major assault.
The high-profile unit is hoping to recruit 6,500 new fighters who will provide restored combat heft even as its leaders push for the return of more than 1,000 brigade troops who remain in Russia as prisoners of war.
“We are ready to liberate territory,” Maj. Bohdan “Tavr” Krotevych, who is the brigade’s interim commander and is leading the rebuilding effort after his release from Russian captivity in the fall, said in an interview.
Read the full story here.
U.S. asks Brazil to extradite alleged Russian spy who posed as student
The United States has asked Brazil to extradite an alleged Russian spy charged last month by the Justice Department with posing as a foreign student in Washington while carrying out espionage operations against the West, according to U.S. and Brazilian officials.
The extradition request filed Tuesday represents an extraordinary attempt by the United States to take custody of a Russian operative held overseas while Moscow is pursuing its own effort to secure his release.
The alleged spy, a Russian citizen named Sergey Cherkasov, is serving a 15-year prison sentence in Brazil for document fraud related to his fake identity. Russia has denied that Cherkasov is a secret agent and instead filed its own extradition request accusing him of being a heroin trafficker — a claim that U.S. and Brazilian officials regard as a transparent ruse.
Read the full story here.
The United States has asked Brazil to extradite an alleged Russian spy charged last month by the Justice Department with posing as a foreign student in Washington while carrying out espionage operations against the West, according to U.S. and Brazilian officials.
The extradition request filed Tuesday represents an extraordinary attempt by the United States to take custody of a Russian operative held overseas while Moscow is pursuing its own effort to secure his release.
The alleged spy, a Russian citizen named Sergey Cherkasov, is serving a 15-year prison sentence in Brazil for document fraud related to his fake identity. Russia has denied that Cherkasov is a secret agent and instead filed its own extradition request accusing him of being a heroin trafficker — a claim that U.S. and Brazilian officials regard as a transparent ruse.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- A Russian missile attack overnight on the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv killed at least one person and injured 23 others, including children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday.
- In Moscow, the Kremlin welcomed the first phone call between Zelensky and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, since the war began.
- Brittney Griner on Thursday held her first news conference since being released from a Russian prison in December, by turns tearful and upbeat as she spoke of her experience and her return to professional basketball.
- Russia rejected a U.S. consular request to visit detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich on May 11, its Foreign Ministry said, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
- NATO has delivered 98 percent of “combat vehicles” promised to Ukraine, according to Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s secretary general.
More live updates here.
- A Russian missile attack overnight on the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv killed at least one person and injured 23 others, including children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday.
- In Moscow, the Kremlin welcomed the first phone call between Zelensky and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, since the war began.
- Brittney Griner on Thursday held her first news conference since being released from a Russian prison in December, by turns tearful and upbeat as she spoke of her experience and her return to professional basketball.
- Russia rejected a U.S. consular request to visit detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich on May 11, its Foreign Ministry said, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
- NATO has delivered 98 percent of “combat vehicles” promised to Ukraine, according to Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s secretary general.
More live updates here.
At least 5 killed as Russia stages attacks in Dnipro and Uman
- Air alarms blared throughout Ukraine early Friday, from the capital, Kyiv, to areas closer to the front line, according to Ukrainian officials. At least two civilians — a 3-year-old child and a young woman — were killed in the city of Dnipro, its Ukrainian mayor said. Three other people were killed in the central city of Uman, the regional governor said.
- Eleven missiles and two drones flying toward Kyiv were shot down. There were no details on what had been struck in the capital or of any damage and casualties. Air alerts were lifted in Kyiv, officials said about 6 a.m. local time. Dnipro, Kremenchuk and Poltava in central Ukraine and Mykolaiv in the south also reported explosions, according to Reuters.
- Ukrainian forces intercepted 21 of 23 Russian cruise missiles, Ukraine’s top general said.
Follow our live coverage here.
- Air alarms blared throughout Ukraine early Friday, from the capital, Kyiv, to areas closer to the front line, according to Ukrainian officials. At least two civilians — a 3-year-old child and a young woman — were killed in the city of Dnipro, its Ukrainian mayor said. Three other people were killed in the central city of Uman, the regional governor said.
- Eleven missiles and two drones flying toward Kyiv were shot down. There were no details on what had been struck in the capital or of any damage and casualties. Air alerts were lifted in Kyiv, officials said about 6 a.m. local time. Dnipro, Kremenchuk and Poltava in central Ukraine and Mykolaiv in the south also reported explosions, according to Reuters.
- Ukrainian forces intercepted 21 of 23 Russian cruise missiles, Ukraine’s top general said.
Follow our live coverage here.
Pace of U.S. tank delivery to Ukraine draws fire in Senate
President Biden and his senior military advisers were rebuked Thursday by senators exasperated by what they claimed is the glacial pace at which his administration is moving to supply Abrams tanks to Ukraine, whose leaders say they need such weapons for a highly anticipated counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory.
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Angus King (I-Maine) directed their frustration at Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who as the head of the U.S. European Command oversees much of the Pentagon’s effort to train and equip Ukraine’s army. King told the general he is worried that Ukraine will not have enough firepower to counter Russian troops this summer and that the American tanks should be staged in Poland now so Ukrainian forces can use them as soon as they complete a training course expected to begin next month under the supervision of U.S. soldiers in Germany.
Read the full story here.
President Biden and his senior military advisers were rebuked Thursday by senators exasperated by what they claimed is the glacial pace at which his administration is moving to supply Abrams tanks to Ukraine, whose leaders say they need such weapons for a highly anticipated counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory.
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Angus King (I-Maine) directed their frustration at Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who as the head of the U.S. European Command oversees much of the Pentagon’s effort to train and equip Ukraine’s army. King told the general he is worried that Ukraine will not have enough firepower to counter Russian troops this summer and that the American tanks should be staged in Poland now so Ukrainian forces can use them as soon as they complete a training course expected to begin next month under the supervision of U.S. soldiers in Germany.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Russian attacks hit cities around Ukraine, killing at least 22 people, officials said early Friday. In Kyiv, authorities said the capital came under the first missile attack since early March.
- “This Russian terror must face a fair response from Ukraine and the world,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram after the strikes. “And it will.”
- The European Commission reached a deal with five E.U. countries over Ukrainian produce imports, the commission’s executive vice president, Valdis Dombrovskis, announced Friday.
- The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and other entities for their role in the “wrongful detention” of Americans.
More live updates here.
- Russian attacks hit cities around Ukraine, killing at least 22 people, officials said early Friday. In Kyiv, authorities said the capital came under the first missile attack since early March.
- “This Russian terror must face a fair response from Ukraine and the world,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram after the strikes. “And it will.”
- The European Commission reached a deal with five E.U. countries over Ukrainian produce imports, the commission’s executive vice president, Valdis Dombrovskis, announced Friday.
- The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and other entities for their role in the “wrongful detention” of Americans.
More live updates here.
Here's the latest on Ukraine:
- The dead in Uman include four children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Friday. He also thanked the military for shooting down 21 of the 23 missiles that Kyiv says Moscow’s forces launched.
- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said the world must ensure the invasion of Ukraine cannot succeed, in a Friday speech at Harvard University.
- Bakhmut and Maryinka remain at the center of hostilities, Ukraine’s military said early Saturday. Russian forces are on the defensive in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, it said.
- Five E.U. states and the European Commission reached a deal on Ukrainian produce imports, the commission’s executive vice president, Valdis Dombrovskis, said Friday.
More live updates here.
- The dead in Uman include four children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Friday. He also thanked the military for shooting down 21 of the 23 missiles that Kyiv says Moscow’s forces launched.
- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said the world must ensure the invasion of Ukraine cannot succeed, in a Friday speech at Harvard University.
- Bakhmut and Maryinka remain at the center of hostilities, Ukraine’s military said early Saturday. Russian forces are on the defensive in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, it said.
- Five E.U. states and the European Commission reached a deal on Ukrainian produce imports, the commission’s executive vice president, Valdis Dombrovskis, said Friday.
More live updates here.