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All About Change

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Chris Nowinski - Protecting Athletes from Head Injuries & Preventing CTE 27:58

20 hours ago27:58

27:58

Chris Nowinski is a former football player at Harvard University and professional wrestler with WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment. After enduring a career-ending head injury, Chris has dedicated his professional life to serving patients and families affected by brain trauma, particularly Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that develops after repeated head injuries. Jay and Chris discuss the state of head injuries in American athletics, the difference between advocating for head safety at youth and professional levels, Chris’ newest research, and much more. Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (00:50) changes in the culture around concussions in the past two decades (02:39) padded helmet technology (03:55) concussion reporting in the NFL (10:35) Chris’ career path and concussion history (14:52) connecting with activists who haven’t themselves suffered a traumatic brain injury (17:42) SHAAKE - a new sign to identify concussions (20:53) Unions can help players advocate for safety policies (23:10) final thoughts and goodbye For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation Stay in touch: X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/…

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Every day we bring you the most important news and feature stories from hundreds of sources in Russia and across the former Soviet Union.

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68 episodes

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Every day we bring you the most important news and feature stories from hundreds of sources in Russia and across the former Soviet Union.

… continue reading

68 episodes

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1
Trump administration pauses all military aid to Ukraine, media reports

2 hours ago

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U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a pause to all military aid to Ukraine until he determines that Ukrainian leaders have demonstrated a commitment to peace talks, Bloomberg reported on Monday evening, citing an unnamed senior Defense Department official. The decision comes after Trump and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance clashed with President Volodymyr Zelensky in a meeting on Friday, resulting in the Ukrainian leader leaving the White House without signing a proposed minerals deal with the United States. The official told Bloomberg that all U.S. military equipment not currently in Ukraine would be paused, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships, and equipment awaiting transit in Poland. The decision was also reported by Washington Post national security reporter John Hudson, who cited two U.S. officials. “The president has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well,” a White House official told The Post. “We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” According to The Post, the decision was made at a White House meeting on Monday that included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Citing an unnamed administration official, The New York Times reported that Trump’s directive temporarily suspends all military aid to Ukraine effective immediately, affecting “hundreds of millions of dollars in arms and ammunition in the pipelines and on order.” According to The Times , the order also halts aid through the the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a dedicated fund that allows Kyiv to purchase new military equipment directly from U.S. companies. This is a developing story. READ MORE ABOUT U.S. AID TO UKRAINE Trump is threatening to cut off U.S. military aid to Kyiv. How long can Ukraine last without American weapons?…

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Trump says Ukraine minerals deal not dead, but Zelensky ‘should be more appreciative’

5 hours ago

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Washington’s proposed minerals deal with Ukraine is still on the table, U.S. President Donald Trump said during a press briefing Monday afternoon. Taking questions from reporters after delivering an investment announcement , Trump commented on a variety of issues in U.S.-Ukrainian relations in the wake of a heated Oval Office meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky last Friday. Asked whether the Ukraine minerals deal “is dead,” Trump said, “No, I don’t think so” and promised to clarify the situation during his joint address to Congress on Tuesday. “Well, I’ll let you know. We’re making a speech — you probably heard about it — tomorrow night, so I’ll let you know tomorrow night. But no, I don’t think so. I think, look, it’s a great deal for us,” he said. Asked what Zelensky would need to do to restart negotiations, Trump said the Ukrainian leader “should be more appreciative.” I just think he should be more appreciative, because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin. We’ve given them much more than Europe, and Europe should have given more than us because, as you know, that’s right there. Evading a question about reports that he’s considering canceling U.S. military aid to Ukraine, Trump made another comment on Zelensky’s earlier statement that the end of the war is still “very far away.” I want to see it end fast. I don’t want to see this go on for years and years. Now, President Zelensky supposedly made a statement today in AP [...] He said he thinks the war’s going to go on for a long time. And he better not be right about that, that’s all I’m saying. Asked a second time if he had made a decision on suspending military aid to Ukraine, Trump said, “I haven’t even talked about that right now. I mean, right now, we’ll see what happens.” In response to a question about whether he would ease sanctions on Russia in the event of a peace deal, Trump replied that the U.S. is “going to make deals with everybody” to end the war, including European countries. READ MORE ABOUT U.S. AID TO UKRAINE Trump is threatening to cut off U.S. military aid to Kyiv. How long can Ukraine last without American weapons?…

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White House orders plan for possible sanctions relief for Russia — Reuters

7 hours ago

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The U.S. is working on a plan that would ease sanctions against Russia, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a U.S. official and another source. The White House has asked the State Department and the Treasury Department to make a list of sanctions that could be lifted so that U.S. officials could discuss them with Russian representatives as part of talks to improve relations, the agency reported. According to the sources, U.S. sanctions offices are drafting a proposal that would lift restrictions from specific organizations and individuals, including some Russian businessmen. The sources also noted that the Trump administration asked the State and Treasury departments to draft a sanctions relief plan before the president extended sanctions against Russia for an additional year last week. Lifting some sanctions would require approval from Congress, a former Treasury Department official told Reuters.…

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Over 30 Kursk region residents return to Russia from Ukraine

8 hours ago

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Thirty-three civilians from Ukrainian-controlled areas of Russia’s Kursk region who had been taken to Ukraine have now returned to Russia, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said. Moskalkova credited the evacuation to efforts by the Red Cross and the Belarusian authorities. Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor of the Kursk region, said the group included “many” elderly people and four children. Nine of the returnees, he added, required emergency hospitalization. This is the second time in six months that Russian officials have reported the return of Kursk region residents taken to Ukraine. In November, 46 people were brought back to Russia. Estimates suggest that between 2,000 and 3,000 people remain in areas of the Kursk region under Ukrainian control. The total number relocated to Ukraine is unclear; the Ukrainian military typically evacuates those who request it for safety reasons. Evacuated to Ukraine ‘My mindset is totally different’ Photos and stories of Russians evacuated to Ukraine after the Sudzha school strike…

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Trump is threatening to cut off U.S. military aid to Kyiv. How long can Ukraine last without American weapons?

9 hours ago

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A worker moves artillery shells during the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Thursday, April 13, 2023. “You gotta be more thankful,” Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a heated exchange in the Oval Office last Friday. What was meant to be a signing ceremony for a minerals agreement quickly devolved as Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance berated Zelensky for supposedly “gambling with World War III” and accused him of being “disrespectful” — all while talking over him when he tried to respond. Just hours later, U.S. media reported that Trump was considering cutting off all military aid to Ukraine. As Kyiv braces for the potential loss of a critical source of its military support, the independent outlet iStories examined just how long can Ukraine can hold out without American weapons. Meduza shares an English-language version of their findings. In terms of financial support, the United States has been one of Kyiv’s leading allies since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to calculations by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, total U.S. assistance has reached 114 billion euros (about $119 billion), while European countries have collectively provided 132 billion euros (about $138 billion). Military aid follows a different breakdown. A Western official told The Wall Street Journal that Ukraine now produces or purchases 55 percent of its weaponry, with the U.S. supplying about 20 percent and Europe around 25 percent. The Kiel Institute reports that since the full-scale war began, the U.S. has provided 64 billion euros (about $66.9 billion) in military aid, while European contributions total 62 billion euros (about $64.8 billion). The Pentagon’s own estimate is similar, putting U.S. military support at $65.9 billion. Financially, Europe could step in to fill the gap if U.S. aid were to stop — provided there is the political will to do so, says François Heisbourg from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. But funding is only part of the equation. Some of the U.S.-supplied weapons systems are critical for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, and replacing them would be difficult, if not impossible, experts warn. These systems are either produced in limited quantities in Europe or not manufactured there at all. An ambush ‘You’re gambling with World War III!’ Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting What Ukraine stands to lose Air defense missiles Ukraine’s military would be unable to replenish its stock of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems, which can shoot down Russian ballistic missiles and Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. These munitions are produced exclusively in the United States. As The Wall Street Journal notes , a shortage would quickly force Ukraine to make difficult choices about which sites to defend and which to leave exposed to Russian strikes. Rockets and missiles for MLRS Ukraine would also lose access to guided rockets and missiles for its multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) — both tracked MLRS and wheeled HIMARS units. The U.S. supplies the Ukrainian military with two types of these munitions: GMLRS, which has a range of up to 90 kilometers (about 55 miles), and ATACMS, which can reach 300 kilometers (more than180 miles). While Europe has provided SCALP and Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which are launched from aircraft, their numbers are not enough to fully replace U.S.-supplied long-range rocket systems. Without precision-guided, long-range artillery, Ukraine would lose the ability to strike Russian weapons depots, command centers, airfields, and training grounds. These strikes have been key to disrupting Russian logistics and supply chains — forcing Russian forces, for example, to relocate air bases farther from the front lines. “The Europeans have other air defense and [multiple-launch rocket systems] capabilities, but ours are the best, are already fielded in large quantities, and just need the munitions resupply and maintenance,” a former U.S. government official told The Washington Post. “European industry can’t create new/more on a dime.” Ukrainian forces have already learned to operate and maintain these systems without American assistance, military analyst Ian Matveev noted. The only challenge, he said, could be certain types of repairs. Intelligence support The U.S. government is also considering cutting off not just weapons deliveries but also intelligence-sharing with Ukraine’s armed forces, the New York Times reported . How Ukraine would compensate for this loss remains unclear. The United States far surpasses European countries in satellite surveillance and other intelligence-gathering capabilities, BBC reports . The aftermath In Fox News interview after Oval Office disaster, Zelensky thanks America repeatedly for support and stresses historical moment for U.S.-Ukrainian partnership What Ukraine can (probably) replace Starlink Along with intelligence support, the U.S. could also cut off Ukraine’s military from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communications system. But Defense Minister Rustem Umerov recently said that Ukrainians are working on an alternative and that “there’s already a solution.” “From the very beginning, it was clear what an unstable partner we were dealing with. All the military understood that it was wrong to rely on military communications built on commercial infrastructure owned by another country, which is beyond our control,” said Ukrainian electronic warfare specialist Serhii Beskrestnov. According to him, the Ukrainian military has been working on alternative communications for some time, so while losing Starlink would be painful, it would not be catastrophic. Ukraine’s armed forces have already faced disruptions in access to Starlink — for example, during operations in Russia’s Kursk region. According to Politico, the E.U. is also working on a potential solution involving Govsatcom, an E.U.-wide network of government satellite systems set to go fully operational by the end of this year. Ammunition A year ago, as Congress stalled on approving a $60-billion aid package for Ukraine, one of the biggest challenges on the front lines was a shortage of artillery shells. From the start of the full-scale war through September 2024, the U.S. supplied Ukraine with about three million shells. European stockpiles, however, were depleted within the war’s first few months, and ramping up production proved difficult. That has begun to change. In 2024, European countries produced 1.4 million shells and plan to increase output to 2 million in 2025. Meanwhile, Ukraine itself manufactured 2.5 million artillery and mortar shells between January and November 2024, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Tanks and Infantry Fighting Vehicles Since the start of the war, the U.S. has delivered 21 Abrams tanks and more than 300 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, according to a Pentagon report from late January. The Abrams could potentially be replaced with German-made Leopard 2 tanks. In 2023, Ukraine received around 70 Leopard 2s, and European armies collectively have about 2,000 of them. Ukraine also continues to rely on Soviet-era tanks, both from its own reserves and those supplied by allies. As for infantry fighting vehicles, by December 2023, Ukraine had received at least 140 German Marder IFVs, with another 20 expected in the first half of 2025. protests in support of Ukraine ‘My father died. I have to be thankful?’ Ukraine supporters across Europe and the U.S. take to the streets to protest Trump’s treatment of Zelensky How long can Ukraine keep fighting? Estimates vary, but assessments suggest that without U.S. military aid, Ukraine could hold its current frontline positions for six months to a year. However, former senior Pentagon official Celeste Wallander notes that the delivery of U.S. weapons already approved under President Joe Biden’s administration would be a key factor in this. Weapons shipments from the United States to Ukraine follow three main channels: Presidential drawdowns: The fastest option, where weapons are pulled directly from U.S. stockpiles and quickly sent to Ukraine. The Pentagon estimates that $3.85 billion worth of equipment can still be delivered through this process. New Pentagon contracts: The slowest channel, in which weapons are ordered and manufactured specifically for Ukraine. Some of these deliveries are scheduled through 2026. Direct Ukrainian purchases: Ukraine uses U.S. funding to buy American-made weapons. The last of these orders is expected to be fulfilled within six months. Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s censorship with the truth. Donate today . The challenge now is that President Trump could halt deliveries through any of these channels — even canceling Pentagon contracts or redirecting ships carrying weapons, a U.S. foreign policy expert told iStories on condition of anonymity. “The freeze on federal grants and international aid has shown that what was once considered borderline illegal is now entirely possible,” the expert said. A Washington Post source confirmed that billions of dollars’ worth of weapons already prepared for shipment could be blocked from reaching Ukraine. Indeed, Trump is reportedly meeting with his advisors on March 3 to discuss canceling aid already approved and paid for under the Biden administration. “Would the loss of U.S. aid make the situation more difficult for Ukrainian forces? Yes. Would it lead to total collapse in six months? No,” said a former Ukrainian military officer and open-source intelligence analyst who uses the pseudonym Tatarigami. “It would mean more Ukrainian soldiers and civilians killed, especially as air defense stocks deplete, but on the battlefield, there would be no sudden collapse.” The minerals deal Trump and Zelensky were supposed to sign a ‘big’ minerals deal. Here’s what’s in it for Washington — and for Ukraine.…

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Trump blasts Zelensky for saying end of war is far away, calling it ‘the worst statement’ he could have made

9 hours ago

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U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out in a social media post on Monday in response to Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement that the end of the war is “still very, very far away.” Calling it “the worst statement” the Ukrainian president could have made, Trump wrote on Truth Social: This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer! It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking? Attached to the post was a screenshot of a March 3 headline from the Associated Press reading, “Ukraine’s Zelensky says end of war with Russia is ‘very, very far away.’” In the article , the agency quotes Zelensky as saying that he expects to continue receiving support from the U.S. despite last week’s verbal clash with Trump at the White House. “I think our relationship (with the U.S.) will continue, because it’s more than an occasional relationship,” Zelensky reportedly told the AP. Read about the Oval Office clash ‘You’re gambling with World War III!’ Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting…

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Civilians under siege. As Russian forces advance on Ukraine’s Pokrovsk, a mayor’s appeal to Zelensky draws a rebuke from the local military administration

13 hours ago

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The Russian military continues its offensive near Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Russian troops have advanced east of the city, while Ukrainian forces have managed to halt their progress to the south and west of Pokrovsk. On the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Pokrovsk Mayor Ruslan Trebushkin released a video urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “make peace and let people live.” In response, Pokrovsk’s military administration asserted that the civilian mayor has no authority until martial law and stated that it is “doing everything possible to bring victory closer.” Despite relentless shelling, civilians remain in the city — as of January 2025, approximately 7,200 people were still living in Pokrovsk. Civilians receive humanitarian aid on the outskirts of Pokrovsk. February 17, 2025. The aftermath of a Russian missile strike on an administrative building in Pokrovsk. February 17, 2025. Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s censorship with the truth. Donate today . A cultural center building in the town of Bilytske, near Pokrovsk, that was hit by a Russian strike on February 24, 2025. Pokrovsk residents walk past the administrative building damaged by a Russian missile strike. February 17, 2025. Forty-seven-year-old Tetiana and her father, 73-year-old Volodymyr, wait to be evacuated in the village of Chernihivka near Pokrovsk. February 24, 2025. A resident of the town of Rodynske near Pokrovsk hands out religious pamphlets on an empty street. February 24, 2025. Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery near Pokrovsk. February 26, 2025. Ukrainian medical workers treat injured soldiers near Pokrovsk. February 19, 2025.…

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Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers reportedly killed and nearly 100 wounded by Russian strike on training ground in Dnipropetrovsk region

14 hours ago

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Russian forces struck a Ukrainian military training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region on Saturday, killing and injuring soldiers from one of Ukraine’s Ground Forces units, according to an official statement the Ukrainian army published on Monday. The official number of casualties has not been confirmed, but Ukrainian media reports suggest that dozens of soldiers were killed and around 100 wounded. Here’s what we know so far about the strike. Russian forces launched a missile strike on a Ukrainian military training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region on March 1, killing and wounding soldiers from one of Ukraine’s Ground Forces units, according to a statement published by the Ukrainian military branch on March 3. The exact number of casualties has not been officially disclosed. However, Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources, reported that “several dozen soldiers were killed and up to a hundred wounded.” Suspilne also cited sources saying a “large number” of wounded soldiers had been taken to hospitals in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi said an investigation is underway, with an independent review involving military counterintelligence. “Everyone who made decisions that day, and everyone who failed to make them in time, will be held accountable,” he said. Ukrainian lawmaker Mariana Bezuhla and several Ukrainian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces struck the training ground while soldiers were assembled in formation. Drapatyi did not confirm this directly but said he would push for “the harshest punishment” for those who “drag soldiers into outdated procedures, neglecting their safety.” On the evening of March 1, Russia’s Defense Ministry published a video on Telegram claiming it showed an Iskander-M missile strike on the Novomoskovsk military training ground near the village of Cherkaske in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where troops from Ukraine’s 157th Mechanized Brigade were stationed. Geolocation analysis confirms the footage does show the training ground near Cherkaske. Numerous tents are visible in the video, with soldiers seen running from at least one just before the strike. Several explosions resembling the detonation of cluster munitions from Iskander missile warheads can be seen. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that up to 150 Ukrainian soldiers, including as many as 30 foreign instructors, were killed in the strike. However, there is no independent confirmation of these figures. Ukrainian military drone specialist Serhii Beskrestnov (also known as “Flash”) commented on the incident in a Telegram post , saying that a Russian Orlan reconnaissance drone, which flew over the training ground before the strike, “did not prompt the responsible officials to take the necessary security measures.” Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation announced that an investigation has been launched “into the deaths and injuries of Ukrainian servicemen as a result of the Russian missile strike on a training ground in Dnipropetrovsk region” under the charge of negligence in military service. Additionally, prosecutors told Suspilne that an investigation is also underway under the charge of encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability.…

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‘My father died. I have to be thankful?’. Ukraine supporters across Europe and the U.S. take to the streets to protest Trump’s treatment of Zelensky

15 hours ago

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Protesters took to the streets around the world this weekend after talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ended in a heated confrontation on Friday. What was meant to be the signing of a mineral resources agreement instead turned into a shouting match involving Trump, Zelensky, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance as the two American leaders accused the Ukrainian president of failing to show sufficient gratitude for Washington’s aid to his war-torn country. The deal’s ultimately went unsigned, and Trump reportedly asked Zelensky to leave the White House, casting doubt on the future of U.S. support for Ukraine. Meduza shares photos from demonstrations across Europe and the United States, where thousands gathered to show solidarity with Ukraine. Kraków, Poland. March 1, 2025. Kraków Kraków Kraków Times Square, New York City, United States. March 1, 2025. Times Square Protesters outside an office of Elon Musk’s company SpaceX in Hawthorne, California The Kremlin crushed Meduza’s business model and wiped out our ad revenue. We’ve been blocked and outlawed in Russia, where donating to us or even sharing our posts is a crime. But we’re still here — bringing independent journalism to millions of our readers inside Russia and around the world. Meduza’s survival is under threat — again. Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze has slashed funding for international groups backing press freedom. Meduza was hurt too. It’s yet another blow in our ongoing struggle to survive. You could be our lifeline. Please, help Meduza survive with a small recurring donation. Los Angeles, California, United States. March 1, 2025. Hawthorne, California Hawthorne, California Westfield, Vermont, where hundreds gathered on March 1 to protest against U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who visited the state for a ski trip. The protest had been planned before Zelensky’s visit to Washington, but many participants said they decided to join after the Trump–Zelensky meeting at the White House. Boston. March 1, 2025. Demonstrators gather on London’s Downing Street ahead of a summit of European leaders on March 2 London London. March 2, 2025 Protesters outside the building of the U.S. Mission to the E.U. in Brussels demand that Washington continue providing military and financial aid to Ukraine. March 2, 2025. Members of Russia’s exiled opposition gather in Berlin to protest against Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. March 1, 2025. Berlin, Germany. March 1, 2025. A pro-Ukraine protest in Milan, Italy. March 2, 2025. A protest outside of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, organized by members of the American community in Ukraine Aftermath of the Zelensky–Trump meeting In Fox News interview after Oval Office disaster, Zelensky thanks America repeatedly for support and stresses historical moment for U.S.-Ukrainian partnership…

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Zelensky still open to minerals deal with U.S. but stands firm against Trump’s demands for an apology — BBC

19 hours ago

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While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was prepared to meet one of President Donald Trump’s demands by signing a minerals agreement granting the United States access to Ukraine’s resources, he would not apologize to the U.S. president, BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg reported after speaking with Zelensky alongside other British journalists at London’s Stansted Airport on the evening of March 2. “He [said he] would not apologize to Trump or express regret for anything that happened in the Oval Office, which at the moment, the U.S. president’s camp is repeatedly calling for,” Kuenssberg reported. Zelensky told journalists he had traveled a long way to visit the White House, calling the trip a sign of respect. He added that he would never “insult anybody” and said the meeting had ultimately served neither side’s interests. According to Kuenssberg, Zelensky was deliberate in his wording and spoke only in Ukrainian. He was not openly critical of Trump and “suggested tensions would pass.” after the ambush In Fox News interview after Oval Office disaster, Zelensky thanks America repeatedly for support and stresses historical moment for U.S.-Ukrainian partnership…

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‘The president of Ukraine will not be chosen in Lindsey Graham’s house’: Zelensky responds to U.S. senator’s call for him to resign after Trump meeting

19 hours ago

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U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime advocate for continued aid from Washington to Ukraine, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s February 28 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House “an utter disaster” and urged Zelensky to resign. Speaking to Fox News immediately after the talks, Graham said he was “proud” of Trump and questioned whether Americans would be able to “do business” with Zelensky again. “He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change,” Graham said. The call was echoed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who told NBC News on Sunday that Zelensky “needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country [Ukraine] to do that.” Trump’s national security adviser Mark Waltz told CNN that the U.S. needs a Ukrainian leader “who can deal with us, ultimately deal with the Russians, and end this war.” Commenting on calls for his resignation, Zelensky responded : “I can give [Lindsay Graham] citizenship of Ukraine and he will become a citizen of our country. And then his voice will start to gain weight. […] The president of Ukraine will not be chosen in Lindsey Graham’s house but in Ukraine.” “To change me, it will not be easy because it is not enough to simply hold elections. You would need to prevent me from participating. And it will be a bit more difficult,” Zelensky added. He also reiterated his recent statement that he is ready to step down as president if Ukraine is admitted to NATO. Read more about Zelensky’s White House visit ‘You’re gambling with World War III!’ Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting…

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Preparations for a Putin-Trump meeting may be expedited — CNN

20 hours ago

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Moscow expects that talks on restoring U.S.-Russia relations will continue and even accelerate in the coming weeks. According to CNN, private discussions are also underway to expedite preparations for a meeting between the two countries’ presidents. The first round of negotiations between Moscow and Washington took place on February 18 in Saudi Arabia. CNN reports that another round is already being organized and is also expected to be held in a Gulf state. Russian officials believe that as tensions grow between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will be overshadowed by discussions of potential economic agreements between Washington and Moscow, CNN reports. Trump spoke by phone with President Vladimir Putin on February 12, marking the first direct conversation between the presidents of the United States and Russia since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump later said they had agreed to “work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations.” An ambush ‘You’re gambling with World War III!’ Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting…

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U.K. and France propose Ukraine peace plan including one-month partial ceasefire and eventual peacekeeping forces

20 hours ago

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French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled details of a peace plan developed jointly by France and the U.K. for resolving the war in Ukraine. In an interview with Le Figaro published Sunday, Macron outlined the plan, which proposes a one-month partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that would exclude ground combat operations. “In the event of a ceasefire, it would be very difficult to monitor whether hostilities along the front line are actually being observed,” Macron explained. He said the partial ceasefire would apply to air and naval attacks, including strikes on energy infrastructure. The second part of the plan envisions European countries sending a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine, but only at a later stage. “There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks. The question is how we use this time to try to achieve a ceasefire and negotiations, which will take several weeks, and then, once peace is signed, deployment [of troops],” Macron said. During a visit to London this weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was asked by journalists whether he was aware of the plan. “I’m aware of everything,” he replied. In the same interview, Macron also stressed the need for France and other European countries to increase their defense spending. “Over the past three years, the Russians have been spending 10 percent of their GDP on defense. Therefore, we need to prepare for the future by setting a target of 3 percent or 3.5 percent of GDP. This is far from the two percent that France barely managed to reach, and which many European countries have yet to approach,” he said. A rocky road to peace Trump and Zelensky exchange social media posts after Oval Office shouting match. Trump bars Ukrainian president from White House until he’s ‘ready for peace,’ while Zelensky thanks POTUS for visit. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says Trump and Vance not ‘smacking this bastard Zelensky’ was a ‘miracle of restraint’ in heated Oval Office meeting ‘You’re gambling with World War III!’ Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting Trump’s ‘illegal’ ceasefire plan Both Moscow and Kyiv insist that their constitutions prohibit the concessions needed for the imminent peace promised by Washington…

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In Fox News interview after Oval Office disaster, Zelensky thanks America repeatedly for support and stresses historical moment for U.S.-Ukrainian partnership

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In an interview with Bret Baier of Fox News on Friday evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly thanked the American people and the White House leadership for the nation’s strong partnership with Ukraine. Zelensky stayed on message throughout the conversation in an apparent effort to repair his administration’s relationship with President Trump, who ambushed the Ukrainian leader hours earlier in the Oval Office, ridiculing Zelensky for supposedly pursuing war against Russia. . @BretBaier "Do you think your relationship with President Trump can be salvaged." Zelenskyy: "Yes, of course." pic.twitter.com/ArX0Hilx1M — Ryan Schmelz (@RyanSchmelzFOX) February 28, 2025 “Nobody wants to finish [this war] more than [Ukrainians]. […] We have to be on the same side. I hope the president is on the same side as us,” Zelensky told Baier. When asked if he thinks he owes Trump an apology, Zelensky said, “I respect the president and the American people,” and argued that some matters should be discussed “outside the media” in private. When asked if he was told to limit his Oval Office remarks to a U.S.-Ukrainian minerals deal that was supposed to be signed after Friday’s meeting, Zelensky said he felt compelled to share his thoughts with Trump about Vladimir Putin’s lack of trustworthiness when the subject of a ceasefire came up. “[My people] just want to hear that Americans will remain on our side.” Zelensky said he cannot change his constituents’ attitudes about Russians after three years of war and countless atrocities. Asked if he’ll ever accept a peace deal with Russia, Zelensky said, “It’s about a just and lasting peace.” The Ukrainian president also raised Kyiv’s request for security guarantees, saying, “We are ready for peace, but we have to be in a strong position. […] We want peace. That’s why I’m in the United States.” He argued that the minerals deal contains “infrastructure” for security guarantees. Zelensky also cautioned that he cannot end the war with a wave of his hand: “Nobody [in Ukraine] will stop. Because everyone is afraid that Putin will come back tomorrow” if the settlement isn’t lasting. Background ‘You’re gambling with World War III!’ Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting When asked if he believes Ukraine could hold off Russia without continued U.S. support, Zelensky told Baier: “It will be difficult without your support. But we can’t lose our values, our people, our freedom. […] Russians came to our houses, they killed so many people. [We’re] just going to forget it? No.” At several moments throughout the interview, Zelensky mentioned Ukraine’s European allies, saying that Kyiv seeks better coordination between European and American policies. Baier cited comments earlier on Friday by Senator Lindsey Graham, who suggested that Zelensky’s resignation might be necessary to repair Washington’s relationship with Kyiv. Zelensky said he appreciates his relationship with Graham but does not intend to step down as Ukraine’s president: “This decision can only be made by the people of Ukraine.” Near the end of the interview, President Zelensky appeared to tear up when discussing Ukrainian struggles throughout the war. He consulted an off-screen interpreter twice for clarifications on questions: one about whether he regrets Friday’s argument happening in public (“Yes, I think it was not good”) and another about his hopes for salvaging his relationship with Donald Trump (“Yes, of course, because it’s a relationship or more than two presidents but of two people”). “I want him to be more at our side,” Zelensky explained, after describing Trump’s negotiating philosophy as seeking to be “in the middle” between Ukraine and Russia.…

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In latest White House bid to ‘normalize’ ties with Moscow, Defense Secretary Hegseth halts U.S. Cyber Command’s Russia planning — The Record

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Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the United States Cyber Command to halt any planning of actions against Russia, including offensive digital operations, three sources have told The Record . Hegseth reportedly gave the order to Cyber Command chief General Timothy Haugh, who then relayed it to his subordinates. The sources noted that the order does not apply to the National Security Agency, which Timothy Haugh also heads, nor to its signals intelligence operations targeting Russia. “The order does not apply to the National Security Agency, which Haugh also leads, or its signals intelligence work targeting Russia,” The Record reported, adding that Hegseth’s order “could derail some of the command’s most high-profile missions involving a top U.S. digital adversary, including in Ukraine.” From Meduza’s vault (published in 2018) What is the GRU? Who gets recruited to be a spy? Why are they exposed so often? Here are the most important things you should know about Russia’s intelligence community…

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says Trump and Vance not ‘smacking this bastard Zelensky’ was a ‘miracle of restraint’ in heated Oval Office meeting

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Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has responded to a heated exchange on Friday in the Oval Office between the Ukrainian and American presidents that ended with Volodymyr Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a planned agreement on shared mineral rights: I think Zelensky’s BIGGEST lie, among all his lies, was his statement at the White House that the Kyiv regime was left alone, without support, in 2022. How Trump and Vance managed to restrain themselves and not smack this bastard — it’s a miracle of self-control. Earlier in the day, Kirill Dmitriev, chief of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a lead negotiator in U.S.-Russian talks that took place earlier this month in Saudi Arabia, called the Oval Office argument “ historic .” Further reading Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance becomes a literal shouting match…

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U.S. State Department is ending support for rebuilding Ukraine’s energy grid — NBC News

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Following a heated exchange in the Oval Office on Friday with America’s president and vice president that ended with Volodymyr Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a planned agreement on shared mineral rights, NBC News reported that the U.S. State Department has terminated a U.S. Agency for International Development initiative that “invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore Ukraine’s energy grid from attacks by the Russian military.” Citing two USAID officials working on the agency’s Ukraine mission, NBC News warned that the cutbacks could “significantly undercut this administration’s abilities to negotiate on the ceasefire” and signal Washington’s indifference to American investments in Ukraine. In Russia, state officials have welcomed the Trump administration’s campaign to dissolve the USAID program. Earlier this month, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin proposed that Russian politicians, human rights advocates, and public figures who have received funding from the U.S. government should “publicly confess and repent on Red Square.” More from Friday’s fallout Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance becomes a literal shouting match…

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Trump and Zelensky exchange social media posts after Oval Office shouting match. Trump bars Ukrainian president from White House until he’s ‘ready for peace,’ while Zelensky thanks POTUS for visit.

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Following a heated exchange in the Oval Office on Friday with America’s president and vice president that ended with Volodymyr Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a planned agreement on shared mineral rights, Ukraine’s president tweeted a thank you message without acknowledging the argument. “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit,” wrote Zelensky, not commenting on his early exit from the White House or the explosive shouting match that preceded it. “Thank you, POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.” Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS , Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that. — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 28, 2025 Zelensky later quote-tweeted the same message — “Thank you for your support” — to various world leaders who wrote to him after the Oval Office argument, including European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and others. In a post on social media after the meeting, Trump declared, “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”…

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Lead Russian negotiator welcomes Trump’s Oval Office argument with Zelensky. ‘Historic,’ says Kirill Dmitriev.

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Kirill Dmitriev, chief of Russia's sovereign wealth fund and a lead negotiator in U.S.-Russian talks that took place earlier this month in Saudi Arabia, has commented on Friday’s Oval Office argument between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Trump administration. “Historic,” Dmitriev tweeted after the diplomatic scandal, sharing a video of the heated exchange. Shortly thereafter, he also retweeted Elon Musk’s post with the same footage and the message, “Watch this carefully. Very important.” Historic. https://t.co/mfsftGUKe9 — Kirill A. Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) February 28, 2025 Background ‘He had a lot to do with this’ Who is Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian ‘interlocutor’ Trump’s envoy mentioned when he returned from Moscow this week?…

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Journalists report Russian state media correspondent was let into Trump-Zelensky press conference, but White House says he was removed

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Multiple journalists reported seeing the White House “let” a correspondent from the Russian state media agency TASS into the Oval Office to cover U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s joint press conference on Friday. Andrew Feinberg, a correspondent for The Independent, later wrote on X that a White House official had said that TASS was “not on the approved list” for the press conference. “As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the [White House Press Secretary],” the official reportedly said. UPDATE from a @WhiteHouse official: “TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool. As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the @PressSec . He is not on the approved list for the press conference.” — Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) February 28, 2025 Read more about the press conference Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance becomes a literal shouting match…

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‘You’re gambling with World War III!’. Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on February 28, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky got into a shouting match in the Oval Office on Friday during a meeting meant to showcase a new agreement between Washington and Kyiv on American access to mineral rights in Ukraine. Meduza has transcribed the most heated moment of the exchange below. Update: In a post on social media after the meeting, Trump declared, “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.” Journalists at Reuters reported that Zelensky left the White House early, and the White House later confirmed that he did not sign the minerals agreement with the U.S. After the meeting, Zelensky tweeted a thank you message without acknowledging the argument, writing, “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you, POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.” Vice President Vance: I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country. President Zelensky: Yes, but if you are not strong... Vice President Vance: Mr. President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the President for trying to bring an end to this conflict. President Zelensky: Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have? Vice President Vance: I have been to... President Zelensky: Come once. Vice President Vance: I have actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree that you've had problems bringing people into your military? President Zelensky: We have problems. Vice President Vance: And do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country? President Zelensky: A lot of questions. Let's start from the beginning. Vice President Vance: Sure. President Zelensky: First of all, during the war, everybody has problems. Even you. But you have nice ocean and don't feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless… President Trump: You don't know that. President Zelensky: God bless… God bless… You will not have the war. President Trump: You don’t know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. President Zelensky: I'm not telling you. President Trump: Because you're in no position to dictate that. Remember this. President Zelensky: I'm not dictating. President Trump: You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel. We're going to feel very good. President Zelensky: You will feel influence. I'm telling you. President Trump: We're going to feel very good and very strong. President Zelensky: You will feel influence. President Trump: We’re going to feel very good. President Zelensky: You're going to feel influence. President Trump: You’re, right now, not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position. President Zelensky: From the very beginning of the war. President Trump: And [Vice President Vance] happens to be right about it. President Zelensky: From the very beginning of the war, Mr. President, I was— President Trump: You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards. President Zelensky: I'm not playing cards. President Trump: Right now, you don't — yeah, you're playing cards. President Zelensky: I'm very serious, Mr. President. President Trump: You're playing cards. President Zelensky: I'm very serious. President Trump: You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. President Zelensky: What do you think about…? President Trump: You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III! And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country. It's back to you. President Zelensky: I'm with all respect to your party. President Trump: Far more than a lot of people said they should have. Vice President Vance: Have you said thank you once? President Zelensky: A lot of times. Vice President Vance: No. President Zelensky: Even today. Even today. Vice President Vance: You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the [Democratic Party] opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the President who’s trying to save your country! President Zelensky: Please, do you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war in— President Trump: He's not speaking loudly. He's not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble. President Zelensky: Can I answer? President Trump: No, no. You've done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble. President Zelensky: I know. President Trump: You're not winning. President Zelensky: I know. President Trump: You're not winning this. President Zelensky: I know. President Trump: You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us! President Zelensky: We are staying, Mr. President, we are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war, we've been alone. And we are thankful. I said thanks in this Cabinet. President Trump: You haven't been alone. You haven't been alone. President Zelensky: And not only in this Cabinet. President Trump: We gave you — through this stupid President — $350 billion. President Zelensky: You voted for your President. President Trump: We gave you military equipment. President Zelensky: You voted for your President. President Trump: And you men are brave, but they had to use our military equipment. President Zelensky: What about your President? President Trump: If you didn't have our military equipment… President Zelensky: You invited me to speak. You invited me to speak. President Trump: If you didn't have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks. Okay? President Zelensky: In three days. I heard it from Putin. In three days. This is something you— President Trump: Maybe less. President Zelensky: In two weeks. Of course, yes. President Trump: It's going to be a very hard thing to do business like this, I tell you. Vice President Vance: Again, if you just say “thank you”… President Zelensky: I said a lot of times to [the] American people! Vice President Vance: Except that there are disagreements. And let's go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you're wrong. We know you're wrong. President Trump: But, you see, I think it's good for the American people to see what's going on. I think it's very important. That's why I kept this story so long. You have to be thankful. You don't have the cards. President Zelensky: I’m thankful. President Trump: You’re buried there! You’re … people are dying. President Zelensky: I can tell you. I know. Don’t, don’t, please, Mr. President… President Trump: You're running low on soldiers. Listen, you're running low on soldiers. It would be a damn good thing if… and then you tell us [in a mocking voice], "I don't want a ceasefire. I don't want a ceasefire. I want to go, and I want this." Look, if you could get a ceasefire right now, I'd tell you: You take it so the bullets stop flying, and you're men stop getting killed. President Zelensky: Of course, we want to stop the war. President Trump: But you're saying you don't want a ceasefire? I want a ceasefire. Because you’ll get a ceasefire faster than an agreement. President Zelensky: What I said to you was with guarantees. President Zelensky: Ask our people about a ceasefire, [ask] what they think. It doesn’t matter for you what— President Trump: That wasn’t with me. That was a guy named Biden who was not a smart person. That was with Obama. President Zelensky: It was your President... President Trump: Excuse me. That was with Obama, who gave you sheets, and I gave you javelins. I gave you the javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets. In fact, the statement is, “Obama gave sheets, and Trump gave javelins." You gotta be more thankful because, let me tell you, you don't have the cards. With us, you have the cards. But without us, you don't have any cards.…

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Russian police make arrests at memorials on tenth anniversary of Boris Nemtsov’s murder

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Police in cities across Russia arrested multiple people on Thursday at memorials marking the tenth anniversary of Boris Nemtsov’s assassination. In Moscow, residents paid tribute to the late opposition figure at a makeshift memorial maintained by volunteers on Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge, the site near the Kremlin where Nemtsov was shot dead on February 27, 2015. Others lay flowers outside of Nemtsov’s home. The British, French, Italian, German, and E.U. ambassadors to Moscow also visited Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge to pay their respects. Eyewitnesses reported the presence of police and municipal workers, who discarded flowers and pictures left at the memorial site throughout the day. Police even shut down pedestrian access to the bridge in the evening, citing a “special operation,” while municipal workers dismantled a memorial plaque dedicated to Nemtsov. Shortly after, someone wrote the late politician’s name in its place. Activists managed to hold a moment of silence at 11:30 p.m. In St. Petersburg, the local Yabloko party office hosted a Nemtsov photo exhibition and activists organized a screening of the documentary The Man Who Was Too Free. According to OVD-Info , police arrested people paying tribute to Nemtsov in Moscow, Barnaul, Ufa, and other Russian cities throughout the day on Thursday. At least three journalists from RusNews were among the detained, all of whom were later released without charges. OVD-Info also reported that police arrested minors at memorial events in the cities of Yekaterinburg and Kazan. The head of the Yabloko party’s Yekaterinburg youth branch, Ivan Lukin, was arrested after laying flowers at the city’s monument to the Decembrists. He was later released without charges. A teenager arrested in Kazan was also released, but authorities charged his mother with a misdemeanor for “neglecting parental duties.” Three activists arrested and held overnight in Kazan also face misdemeanor charges of violating protest regulations. Municipal workers in Moscow continued to remove flowers from Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge overnight on Friday. However, efforts to partially restore the makeshift memorial to Nemtsov continued during the day. READ MORE ABOUT BORIS NEMTSOV ‘He couldn’t be bought. So they killed him.’ Vladimir Kara-Murza reflects on the tenth anniversary of his mentor Boris Nemtsov’s assassination ‘It’s not our war — it’s Putin’s war’ What would Boris Nemtsov say about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? We don’t have to wonder.…

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‘No war but class war!’. How a group of communists in Novosibirsk has leveraged Soviet nostalgia to speak out publicly against the invasion of Ukraine

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For the past three years, the Russian authorities have worked to purge the country’s political arena of anyone who opposes the full-scale war against Ukraine. Nonetheless, a small but determined group of leftist activists in Novosibirsk continues to speak out against the invasion and the system that enabled it. Breaking with Russia’s mainstream communist parties, which have largely sided with the Kremlin, these activists organize street protests, run a YouTube channel, and challenge Moscow’s official narrative. Journalists from the independent outlet 7x7 recently profiled Novosibirsk’s anti-war communists. Meduza shares a translation of their report. Against the bourgeoisie and against the war On November 7, 2024, communists in Novosibirsk marked the anniversary of Russia’s October Revolution with two very different messages. Some railed against the West, accusing it of wanting to seize Russia’s “natural resources.” Others spoke out against the war in Ukraine and the system that started it. The first group, members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) led by former Novosibirsk Mayor Anatoly Lokot, marched down the city’s main street, Krasny Prospekt. They gathered near the opera house, behind the 20-foot statue of Lenin — a popular site for both opposition and pro-government rallies alike. “The imperialist West has united, baring its fangs to take our fields and our natural resources,” Lokot declared at the rally. “And we have three steadfast allies: Belarus, socialist China, and socialist Korea!” Meanwhile, 800 meters away near the Globus Theater, another leftist group was gathering. Organizers Oleg Metzler and Sergey Krupenko only secured official approval for the location on their second attempt. The theater site is known as a spot for political outsiders; officials often assign it for opposition events, as it draws less attention than the Lenin monument. The state of Russia’s exiled opposition ‘Nothing good will come of this’ Three years into the full-scale war, Russia’s exiled opposition is in crisis — leaving anti-war Russians feeling disillusioned and unrepresented No more than 30 people attended the Globus Theater rally. Organizer Sergey Krupenko spoke about the legacy of the USSR — its celebrated films, its purported racial equality, and the Novosibirsk metro. He also criticized the nearby KPRF rally, accusing the party of aligning with United Russia and sacrificing lives for the interests of the ruling class. Krupenko condemned the current government’s actions as a “bloody scheme” and rejected the “bourgeois Russian authorities” and their policies. For him and his supporters, the capitalist system has become synonymous with war. The rally lasted about an hour. Though neither Krupenko nor his fellow speakers explicitly called the war in Ukraine a war, their speeches were unmistakably anti-war. Sergey Krupenko and Oleg Metzler have long been known in Novosibirsk’s communist circles, but they gained broader recognition among like-minded activists from other regions in 2022. The Kremlin crushed Meduza’s business model and wiped out our ad revenue. We’ve been blocked and outlawed in Russia, where donating to us or even sharing our posts is a crime. But we’re still here — bringing independent journalism to millions of our readers inside Russia and around the world. Meduza’s survival is under threat — again. Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze has slashed funding for international groups backing press freedom. Meduza was hurt too. It’s yet another blow in our ongoing struggle to survive. You could be our lifeline. Please, help Meduza survive with a small recurring donation. “I first heard about Metzler and Krupenko in the spring of 2022,” recalled Dmitry Cherny, a representative of the Moscow branch of the United Communist Party — Internationalists (OKP-Internationalists). “Of course, I was thrilled to realize we weren’t alone in our views — that the process of communists breaking away from the chauvinistic central committees had gained momentum across the country. And the incredibly brave Krupenko, amid all this wartime censorship, really blew up the Internet, as they say — at least within the leftist community.” Krupenko and Metzler used to be members of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RKRP). In 2019, they launched a YouTube channel called “Red Turn,” which became the main media platform of their political movement. In 2022, the central committee of the RKRP supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Metzler, Krupenko, and several of their comrades took the opposite stance, left the RKRP, and formed a new group — the Russian Communist Party (Internationalists) . As of this article’s publication, their Telegram channel had 4,500 subscribers. Metzler and Krupenko retained control of the “Red Turn” YouTube channel. How anti-war Russians oppose the war from Japan ‘You chose to come here, so behave yourselves’ How anti-war Russians in Japan navigate exile, activism, and cultural differences Who are Metsler and Krupenko? At the November 7, 2024 rally, Oleg Metzler accused the KPRF — which he described as “social-chauvinists” — and other establishment parties of “parasitizing on Stalin.” According to him, they portray Stalin as a statesman and patriot, much like Vladimir Putin. Ironically, Metzler himself was part of a group of people advocating for a Stalin monument in Novosibirsk in 2017. Using donated funds, sculptor Pavel Markov created a bust of Stalin, which remained in Metzler’s home for several years. In 2019, an initiative group handed the bust over to the KPRF, and they installed it outside the regional committee’s building. Metzler, now 35, graduated from the Novosibirsk State Academy of Geodesy in 2014. He’s been politically active since the age of 19 , working with the Russian Communist Youth League (RKSM) and the Vanguard of Red Youth (AKM). He’s helped organize numerous protests in Novosibirsk, including demonstrations against rising utility rates in 2017 and against raising the country’s pension age in 2018. In December 2019, Metzler co-organized at least two protests against public transportation fare hikes as part of the “Stop the Tariff!” coalition. In 2020, he ran for Novosibirsk City Council but was unsuccessful. Metzler’s ally Sergey Krupenko is 63. In 2005, he ran as an independent candidate for the City Council, and from 2013, he served as the secretary of the Novosibirsk regional committee of the leftist political party “Red Front” ( dissolved by court order in 2020). He was also the chairman of the “Sober City” center in Novosibirsk, which was disbanded on July 31, 2024. Through “Sober City,” Krupenko promoted a healthy lifestyle — organizing themed lessons in schools, protests at the zoo calling for alcohol sales bans, and advocating for the return of 1980s anti-alcohol laws. Like Metzler, Krupenko opposed raising the pension age and criticized the government’s inaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2011, Krupenko was among the activists who rallied in support of Libya’s independence and Muammar Gaddafi. Explaining his participation, he said : “Russia took the wrong position by severing ties with Libya, essentially siding with NATO and the U.S.” A closer look at the Russian flag Tricolor How Russia’s flag went from a patriotic banner to a symbol of war How much influence do they have? One of Metzler and Krupenko’s main tools is their YouTube channel, which they use to unite and mobilize their supporters. Their videos cover a wide range of topics, from analyzing Russia’s political regime to debating whether communists and liberals can find common ground. They also focus on international protests, like those in France, and often livestream their own rallies. Beyond politics, “Red Turn” addresses social issues. In July 2024, Metzler reported on residents of a private-sector neighborhood in central Novosibirsk whose homes were damaged by the construction of a nearby residential complex. The construction company, VerbaKapital, offered financial compensation, but the amount was insufficient for purchasing equivalent housing. As of this article’s publication, “Red Turn” had 21,000 subscribers, with most videos gathering around 1,000 views. Their most popular videos reached between 40,000 and 60,000 views. Metzler and Krupenko aren’t the only left-wing figures in Russia who opposed the war in Ukraine and left their party over it. After the central committee of the United Communist Party (OKP) supported the war, some members broke away and formed a new group: the OKP-Internationalists. Dmitry Cherny, a publicist and representative of the OKP-Internationalists, noted that while ideological disagreements had long existed within communist parties, members often remained united despite those differences: The party splits weren’t purely ideological. There were disputes about elections. Many believed that participating was pointless — if you’re a real opposition candidate aiming to defeat capitalism, you have no chance of winning. So, many of us chose a different path — raising awareness, reaching like-minded people who hadn’t heard of us yet, and explaining why capitalism isn’t the best path. This is exactly what Metzler and Krupenko are doing: building horizontal connections and helping people make sense of what’s happening because our ultimate goal is to move away from capitalism in Russia. After the war in Ukraine began, Metzler and Krupenko continued their activism. Metzler staged a series of picket protests in support of emergency medical workers and joined a rally against YouTube restrictions. The Novosibirsk mayor’s office twice refused to approve the demonstration, so the activists held an unofficial gathering in a public park. This was one of the few public protests in Russia against YouTube slowdowns. The two also held a rally against war and capitalism with the lengthy slogan: “Peace to the peoples! Yes to workers’ solidarity! No to fascism! No to capitalism! No war but class war!” The rally took place near the building of the former city airport — a remote location chosen to avoid the need for mayoral approval. At a May Day rally in 2022, police detained Metzler and Krupenko, though they were not fined. A year later, however, Krupenko was fined 40,000 rubles for “discrediting the army” after police found a video in which he challenged the propagandist claim that Ukraine was committing genocide against Donbas residents. Despite their activism, Metzler and Krupenko often avoid overt anti-war messaging, framing their rallies around significant dates for the leftist movement. Anti-war slogans had appeared at leftist events even before the full-scale war in Ukraine began, and according to Dmitry Loboyko, a political scientist and head of the Center for Regional Studies, this strategy helps them avoid political repression. “Paradoxically, their status as communists — even those not endorsed by the presidential administration — still offers them some degree of immunity in the public sphere,” Loboyko said. “This is likely why Metzler and Krupenko have managed to get approval for events that effectively became anti-war protests, thanks to their ‘camouflage’ as traditional communist rhetoric.” Metzler and Krupenko’s activism demonstrates how classic leftist rhetoric can adapt to current events and stand in contrast to the official line of the KPRF, Russia’s largest communist party, which has failed to challenge Putin’s government. The presence of politicians who continue to speak out against the war helps spread anti-war views among audiences that liberal politicians and activists often fail to reach. “The concept of an ‘imperialist war’ fits naturally into leftist discourse, allowing them to articulate protest in a language distinct from Western-centric liberal criticism,” Loboyko explained. “Moreover, their use of Soviet symbols and appeals to ‘authentic Leninism’ challenge the state’s monopoly on the Soviet legacy. In a country where the government heavily exploits Soviet nostalgia, this kind of ‘reclaiming’ of the symbolic field has real potential.” However, the influence of this group remains limited by its small numbers — rallies organized by the Russian Communist Party (Internationalists) typically draw no more than 30 people. While this is significant for Novosibirsk, it remains insufficient to establish a meaningful political force even at the regional level. Moreover, leftist ideas have limited appeal among young people. Loboyko noted that while elements of leftist critique, particularly those focused on socioeconomic issues, resonate with younger audiences, they often reject communist ideology as a whole. Many in the younger generation remain indifferent to political ideologies, viewing them as outdated constructs. “Small groups like the Russian Communist Party (Internationalists) in Novosibirsk are unlikely to become major political players,” Loboyko concluded. “But they play an important role in maintaining an alternative discourse. Their potential lies not so much in their ability to mobilize the masses but in preserving an ideological and discursive alternative — which, in the context of Russia’s increasingly monopolized public space, is a political act in itself.” A Novosibirsk draftee’s story ‘I’m not afraid of prison — I’m afraid I won’t make it there alive’ How a Russian draftee, tortured by his commander, fled the army and continues to evade capture…

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Trump and Zelensky were supposed to sign a ‘big’ minerals deal. Here’s what’s in it for Washington — and for Ukraine.

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What happened? On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to meet in Washington for their first face-to-face talks after a heated public dispute. The rift was sparked by U.S.-Russia negotiations that excluded Kyiv and fueled by Zelensky’s refusal to sign the initial version of a U.S.-proposed natural resources agreement. Trump has made clear that he intends to reverse what he sees as his predecessor’s mistakes, including ending unconditional U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine. Instead, he has pushed for a deal granting American investors access to Ukraine’s natural resources — a concept Zelensky himself suggested in late 2024. However, Kyiv was unprepared for the scale of Trump’s demands. Initially, Ukraine welcomed Washington’s interest in its rare earth metal deposits, but the proposed agreement revealed U.S. demands for $500 billion in compensation. The deal would have given the U.S. a share not only in rare earth revenues but also in other natural resources and infrastructure revenues, including port operations. As The Telegraph reported , Washington’s demands appeared even harsher than the post-WWII reparations imposed on Germany and Japan. Why $500 billion? Washington demands access to Ukraine’s natural resources. Trump says America stands to gain $500 billion, but there’s reason to doubt his math. Zelensky refused to sign the agreement under such conditions, leading to tense exchanges with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and nearly derailing a meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance. In response, Trump, lashed out with insults and threats , insisting Ukraine owed the U.S. at least $350 billion for past military and financial aid. Kyiv maintains that the true value of U.S. assistance is closer to $100 billion ( a much more accurate figure) — and since it was provided as grants, Ukraine has no debt to repay. Zelensky has reiterated that Kyiv is willing to sign a resource deal as a token of appreciation, but only if it is mutually beneficial and includes clear security guarantees for Ukraine. The standoff resulted in a compromise agreement titled the “Bilateral Agreement Establishing Terms and Conditions for a Reconstruction Investment Fund.” Published by the Financial Times on February 26, the 11-point document is intentionally vague, avoiding hard commitments from either side. And while Kyiv successfully pushed back against the $500 billion demand, the final text makes no mention of concrete U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. Did the U.S. and Ukraine reach any concrete agreements? Yes — one key agreement involves how revenue from the “future monetization” of Ukraine’s natural resources will be shared. Ukraine has agreed to contribute 50 percent of these revenues to a joint “Reconstruction Investment Fund.” The funds could later be reinvested into Ukraine’s economy — not just in mineral extraction but also in other sectors that will require substantial financing during the post-war recovery. Will the money go toward Ukraine’s recovery? The document doesn’t provide a definitive answer. It states that the fund will accumulate and reinvest revenues “at least annually in Ukraine to promote the safety, security, and prosperity of [the country].” What remains unclear is whether all of these funds will be directed toward Ukraine’s economy or if a portion could end up in the U.S. budget. A final “Fund Agreement” — which both sides hope to sign once the deal’s details are settled — will reportedly clarify “future distributions.” For now, however, that question remains unresolved. Who will manage the fund? The fund will be jointly owned and managed by the United States and Ukraine, though the specifics — such as ownership distribution and management structure — will be determined later in the separate “Fund Agreement.” This provision marks a negotiating win for Zelensky’s team, as Washington had initially pushed for full U.S. ownership and sole decision-making authority in early drafts of the deal. Instead, the final document states that the “maximum percentage of [U.S.] ownership of the Fund’s equity and financial interests” will be set to “the extent permissible under applicable United States laws.” This phrasing may be related to legal limits on American entities that could, in theory, operate such an investment fund. For example, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) — a government agency that invests in hundreds of global infrastructure projects, including rare earth mineral exploration — is legally prohibited from holding more than a 30 percent equity stake in any project, as noted by the Financial Times. Another key provision already included in the agreement states that neither the U.S. nor Ukraine can make any transactions involving their share of the fund without the other party’s consent. What’s actually included in the deal? It’s not just about rare earth metals, is it? No, it’s broader than that — but there’s still no definitive list of resources. The agreement specifically mentions “deposits of minerals, hydrocarbons, oil, natural gas, and other extractable materials.” Based on an assessment of Ukraine’s resource potential, this could include lithium, graphite, titanium, cobalt, and certain rare earth elements, along with oil, gas, and coal. Beyond raw materials, the fund will also generate revenue from natural resource infrastructure, such as LNG terminals and ports. A key condition already outlined in the agreement states that any assets included must be “directly or indirectly” owned by the Ukrainian government. more about rare earth metals in Ukraine Trump wants to trade U.S. aid to Ukraine for rare earth metals. Is it a good deal for Kyiv? At the same time, Kyiv secured a major carve-out: resource deposits that already generate revenue through taxes, royalties, or licensing fees are excluded from the agreement. This suggests that state-owned companies like Ukrnafta and Naftogaz, which together posted around $850 million in profits in the first half of 2024, likely won’t be required to share proceeds from their currently developed reserves with the U.S. On the surface, these terms seem favorable to Ukraine. But they also make the deal less attractive . Many of Ukraine’s resource deposits remain underexplored, and developing them could take years. Without proven reserves, attracting outside investment will be difficult. And from what’s known so far, the fund will essentially start from scratch — unless the U.S. provides some form of advance funding. Then there’s the war. Many of the fund’s potential assets are in Russian-occupied territories. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is already courting the Trump administration with the prospect of jointly developing Russia’s rare earth metal reserves. It’s also possible he’s hinting at the exploitation of Ukraine’s Donbas deposits, which Russian forces seized after 2022. What about the security guarantees Zelensky is pushing for? The agreement contains just one sentence on the issue: The Government of the United States of America supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace. Participants [in the agreement] will seek to identify any necessary steps to protect mutual investments, as defined in the Fund Agreement. On February 26, Zelensky admitted this was the bare minimum he was willing to accept. He also acknowledged that the agreement fell short of the security guarantees Kyiv had originally sought. Still, officials from Zelensky’s team told the Financial Times they remain hopeful that Trump’s stance could shift and that U.S. arms deliveries might continue if relations improve after the resource deal is signed. Dealing with Trump ‘Ukraine will not accept any ultimatums’ Top Zelensky advisor Mykhailo Podolyak explains the art of dealing with Trump’s White House…

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As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, occupied cities in the Donetsk region lie in ruins

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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered its fourth year this week. As of this writing, some of the most intense battles are taking place in the country’s eastern Donetsk region, where fighting has been ongoing since 2014. Russia’s full-scale war has wiped many settlements in the region practically off the map. Be that as it may, every time Moscow’s forces occupy a Ukrainian town or village, Russian officials announce that it’s been “liberated.” Meduza shares snapshots of occupied cities in the Donetsk region that now lie in ruins. Russian troops captured the city of Marinka in the Donetsk region in December 2023. According to Ukraine’s 2001 census, Marinka was once home to more than 10,000 people. In the fall of 2022, Ukraine’s National Police announced that no civilians remained there. February 24, 2025. Marinka. February 24, 2025. Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s censorship with the truth. Donate today . The Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in Marinka. February 24, 2025. The Iverskiy Monastery in Donetsk. The damage to the walls is from the battle for the Donetsk Airport in 2014. Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Donetsk has been under constant shelling. February 25, 2025. The battle for Pokrovsk has been ongoing since last August. As of the end of February, Russian forces had failed to capture the city. This photo shows a section of the front near Pokrovsk under the control of Russian troops. February 18, 2025. Before the full-scale war, Pokrovsk was a major coal mining city once home to around 68,000 people. Its last mine shut down due to fighting in the area at the end of December 2024. February 6, 2025. Russian troops captured Avdiivka last February. Before the war, the city was home to more than 37,000 people. February 16, 2025. Avdiivka. February 16, 2025. Pokrovsk. February 18, 2025. Avdiivka. February 8, 2025. More than 16,000 people used to live in Krasnohorivka. Russian troops captured the city in September 2024. The photo above was taken on February 5, 2025. Donetsk. February 11, 2025. READ MEDUZA’S COMBAT MAP ANALYSIS Enter year four Russian forces are still struggling to dislodge Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region — and may now try to encircle them…

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Russia says U.S. has approved its new nominee for ambassador to Washington

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The U.S. has given Moscow its approval to appoint Alexander Darchiyev as the next Russian Ambassador to Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. U.S. officials gave an official note of approval during talks between the two countries in Istanbul on Thursday, the ministry said. "His departure for his post in Washington is expected soon," the statement added. Russian’s previous ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, ended his term in October 2024. He had led the Russian Embassy in Washington since August 2017.…

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Russia says it proposed resuming direct flights with U.S.

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At the U.S.-Russia talks in Istanbul on February 27, Russian representatives proposed restoring direct flights between the two countries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. “The American side was invited to consider the possibility of restoring direct air service,” the ministry said. According to the statement, the meeting involved a “substantive” discussion of “ways to overcome numerous ‘irritants’ inherited from the previous U.S. administrations.” The two sides reportedly agreed on “joint steps to ensure the unhindered financing of the activities of the diplomatic missions of Russia and the U.S. on a reciprocal basis and to create proper conditions for diplomats to fulfill their official duties.” “Issues related to Russia’s diplomatic property in the U.S. were also raised in the context of returning six real estate properties that were unlawfully seized between 2016 and 2018. The importance of achieving practical results aimed at creating conditions for improving bilateral relations in the interests of the peoples of our countries was particularly emphasized,” the ministry added. The Istanbul meeting U.S.-Russia talks in Istanbul were ‘constructive,’ says State Department Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul for talks with U.S. on embassy operations Russian foreign minister announces new Russia-U.S. talks in Istanbul on February 27…

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With Trump and the Kremlin cozying up, could McDonald’s, Apple, and Coca-Cola return to Russia?

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What happened? As the Kremlin cultivates closer ties with the Trump administration, Russian authorities — along with pro-government media and state-aligned “experts” — have begun seriously discussing the possible return of foreign companies that exited after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. On February 25, Vedomosti, citing a Finance Ministry representative, reported that any business seeking to resume operations in Russia would need approval from the government commission on foreign investment. This body currently reviews individual applications from companies looking to exit the Russian market, and the same bureaucratic process will reportedly apply to those hoping to return. The procedure is outlined in two decrees issued by President Vladimir Putin, which require that any transactions involving companies from “unfriendly” countries be conducted under special conditions and remain subject to oversight by the government and Russia’s Central Bank. Are any deals already in the works? If they are, nothing has been made public yet. The only indirect indication of a potential return by a major Western brand has come from Renault CEO Luca de Meo. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, he said that if the right opportunity arose, the automaker — which sold its stake in AvtoVAZ for a symbolic sum in 2022 and wrote off 2.2 billion euros after leaving Russia — would “try to grasp it.” However, he was quick to clarify that this was just one possible scenario and not something he was seriously considering at the moment. On February 12, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, citing sources, reported that another automaker, Hyundai, was also exploring a return to Russia. Days later, the company denied having any such plans. Beyond these isolated cases, any reports of foreign businesses coming back can safely be categorized as rumors, largely fueled by pro-government media: On February 15, the Telegram channel Mash, citing unnamed sources, claimed that representatives of Inditex (the parent company of Zara, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, and other brands) were laying the groundwork for a return. On February 16, Russian political scientist Vadim Siprov told the state-owned newspaper Argumenty i Fakty that the first wave of returning brands could include major U.S. companies such as “PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Apple, Microsoft, Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, and possibly Ford, oilfield service firms, and grain traders.” He also predicted that Visa and MasterCard payment systems would resume operations soon and that McDonald’s signs could be popping up by the end of 2025. On February 17, the Telegram channel Shot reported that Japanese retailer Uniqlo had allegedly sent a message to former Russian employees about the possibility of “returning to work.” On February 18, Mash, again without citing credible sources, claimed that The Coca-Cola Company was preparing a large-scale comeback. Finally, on February 19, the same outlet reported that Starbucks was looking to return and was even prepared to buy back its former locations from “Stars Coffee” (the Russian rebrand) for $270 million. It’s important to emphasize that none of the companies mentioned have made any official or indirect statements about re-entering the Russian market. Even Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged this. Unlike previous waves of speculation — such as in 2024, when The Coca-Cola Company filed trademark applications with Rospatent, Russia’s patent and trademark agency, likely to protect its brands in Russia — this latest surge of rumors appears to be driven solely by the foreign policy agenda set by the Russian authorities. What’s this agenda? At its core, it’s about strengthening ties with Donald Trump’s administration. On February 18, Russian and U.S. delegations held their first round of bilateral talks in Riyadh. Just three days later, Vladimir Putin instructed the government to “regulate the return of those who want to come back to our market.” But officials have made no promises that businesses from “unfriendly” countries can expect a smooth return. First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov stated that Russia will only allow back companies it sees as beneficial. He added that those who left will face the same level of scrutiny as when they exited in 2022: “We will assess each case individually, and if cooperation is in our interest, we will find solutions.” He also pointed out that some deals involving the sale of Russian assets by Western firms included buyback options, but so far, “no one has even tentatively raised the issue of returning.” Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov struck a similar tone: “We’re not welcoming anyone with open arms. There will be a price to pay for past behavior. When the appropriate directive comes, we will prepare our position.” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that Western companies shouldn’t be outright discouraged from returning but should only be allowed back into sectors where their presence wouldn’t pose economic risks — “in case someone suddenly wakes up on the wrong side of the bed again.” Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov admitted that no formal requests for reentry had been made but insisted there was clear “testing of the waters in the media space.” He stressed that Russian authorities are intent on protecting investments in import substitution. “That’s why we’ll approach this on a case-by-case basis,” he said. All of these are broad policy statements that fit within the framework being developed by the Finance Ministry for the return of foreign companies. However, some government officials have taken a more hardline stance toward potential market participants from "unfriendly" countries. Are foreign businesses being intimidated? You could say that — at least in some cases. For example: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned “prodigal brands” that they would be held accountable for statements made by political figures in their home countries. Companies, she said, would “feel the consequences” for remarks that question the outcome of World War II or “tarnish the memory of our heroes of the Special Military Operation .” First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said that foreign retail chains — such as clothing brands — could be required to establish a presence in annexed Ukrainian territories as a condition for returning to the Russian market. Sergey Boyarsky, chairman of the State Duma’s Information Policy Committee, called for “active repentance” from Meta. In practice, this appears to at least mean opening a full-fledged office in Russia and complying with the country’s restrictive laws. Without that, Boyarsky insisted, even if Western sanctions were lifted, Facebook and Instagram would not be unblocked. Google is another highly unlikely candidate for a swift return. The company’s court-ordered debt to Russian state media channels blocked on YouTube has ballooned to an astronomical sum — nearly three duodecillion rubles (a number with 39 zeros). Lawyers involved in the case acknowledge that even “all the assets on planet Earth” wouldn’t be enough to cover it. Still, Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma’s Information Policy Committee, maintains that Google would only be allowed back on the Russian market if it meets the plaintiffs’ unrealistic demands. Apple, too, is facing financial penalties in Russia. According to Mash, the iPhone maker could be forced to pay at least 40 million rubles (over $450,000) in lawsuits over allegedly defective products. As for Visa and Mastercard, Vadim Siprov may have speculated about their return, but this remains impossible as long as Western sanctions against Russia’s National Payment Card System (NSPK) are in place. Russian law requires all domestic transactions to be processed through NSPK, as Dmitry Pyanov, a top executive at Russian bank VTB, has noted . And these are far from the only threats and demands being directed at foreign businesses. That said, not everyone in the Russian establishment is taking such a hardline stance. Who’s striking a more conciliatory tone? One example is Boris Titov, Russia’s presidential envoy for relations with international organizations on sustainable development. Following the Russian-American talks in Riyadh, he suggested that the next steps could include gradually unfreezing company assets and allowing Western brands to return: Banks and businesses will stop overreacting and imposing restrictions on themselves and others, even when no direct sanctions apply. We expect to see the unfreezing of accounts belonging to non-sanctioned companies and the return of Western brands to Russia. A similar tone is coming from Kirill Dmitriev, the head Russia’s Direct Investment Fund and a key participant in the negotiations with the U.S. In recent weeks, Dmitriev has strengthened his political standing, and in talks with Trump administration officials, he claimed that American companies had lost an estimated $324 billion in missed profits by leaving Russia. The message is clear — come back and start making money here again. Who is Kirill Dmitriev? ‘He had a lot to do with this’ Who is Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian ‘interlocutor’ Trump’s envoy mentioned when he returned from Moscow this week? Will the messaging work? It’s entirely possible. While Donald Trump stated on February 26 that sanctions against Russia would remain in place until a peace deal is signed with Ukraine, Washington and Moscow are already discussing economic cooperation — at least when it comes to mineral exploration and Arctic trade routes. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is openly courting American investors with the prospect of jointly developing Russia’s rare earth metal deposits. Any truce in Ukraine, no matter how fragile, could quickly open the door to expanded economic and trade ties between the U.S. and Russia. And among foreign businesses, American companies that pulled out of Russia may be the first to get the green light to return — beating out their other “unfriendly” competitors. What about the complicated procedures mentioned by the Finance Ministry? We don’t yet know how Russian authorities plan to welcome back American companies. As Denis Arkhipov, managing partner at the Moscow office of the law firm EPAM, told Vedomosti, returning businesses will likely face stricter investment requirements, including setting up local production and transferring proprietary technology. They will also have to navigate legal hurdles, such as securing government approval for changes in ownership stakes involving “unfriendly” foreign investors and complying with domestic restrictions on transactions with foreign entities. As The Bell noted , these rules require companies to operate through special “C” type bank accounts, where all profits from Russian operations must be held, and prohibit Western non-residents from transferring funds abroad. On top of that, foreign businesses will have to weigh the increased risk of nationalization, a tool the Russian government has increasingly used — even against enterprises owned by foreign investors. Nationalization in Russia A new wave of nationalization How the Russian authorities are seizing private assets, one court ruling at a time Have many foreign companies actually left Russia? It hasn’t been in the news much lately. The process has largely stalled in recent months. And as of mid-2024, fewer than half of the foreign businesses that were operating in Russia before February 24, 2022, had left or shut down — roughly 1,600 companies had exited, while 2,200 remained. By spring of last year, their collective losses from this decision had exceeded $100 billion — a significant sum, but still well below the $300 billion estimate voiced by Kirill Dmitriev. Still, for many, a return to Russia remains an attractive prospect. When and under what conditions that might happen remains unclear, and we’re unlikely to know more until at least the active phase of the war in Ukraine comes to an end.…

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Russia strikes energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region in major assault

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Russian forces carried out a “massive strike” on the energy system of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on the evening of February 27, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said . He did not specify which facilities were hit. “Ukraine’s air defense forces are operating in an enhanced mode to protect the region. All relevant services are working to mitigate the consequences,” he said. Earlier that evening, Syniehubov reported that at least 12 Russian drones had targeted Kharkiv and its surrounding areas. Three people were injured , he said.…

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Zelensky to meet with European leaders in London to discuss possible security guarantees

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with more than a dozen European leaders in London on March 2 to discuss security guarantees Europe could provide Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire, Bloomberg reported on Friday. During the summit, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to update their counterparts on their recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. Starmer has invited the leaders of Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa are also expected to take part. Read more about possible security guarantees for Ukraine The U.S. and Ukraine have finalized a natural resources deal. Here are its key terms. ‘Ukraine will not accept any ultimatums’ Top Zelensky advisor Mykhailo Podolyak explains the art of dealing with Trump’s White House ‘Weakness leads to war’ The U.K. says it’s ready to send troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire deal. What would this actually entail?…

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