Vladimir Putin

How Assad balances competing interests of Russia and Iran in Syria

Faultlines have emerged between the Syrian regime's allies Moscow and Tehran as their economic interests have begun to clash in the region. Can Assad maintain ties with both sides while accumulating a massive war debt?

Moscow court orders jailed actor's release after solidarity campaign

Actor Pavel Ustinov was this week sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for violence against police at an opposition protest, despite insisting he was merely a passerby.

Leverage for a long shot in Afghanistan

There is more to the scuppering of peace talks between the Taliban and the US than just continued fighting between the two sides.

The fresh round of Astana talks, explained

Russia, Iran and Turkey have agreed on crucial issues including the PKK terror group's Syrian wing, YPG's, presence in the northeastern part of the country, where Ankara plans to launch a military operation soon.

The Great Game over the Arctic: Geopolitics from the North Pole to Syria

US-Russia missile sabre-rattling in the Arctic sends threatening political messages but the bigger threat is its lasting environmental damage.

Netanyahu flies to Russia after threatening war in Gaza

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu threatens war in blockaded Gaza before flying to Russia to discuss Israeli freedom of action in Syria with President Vladimir Putin.

Kremlin suffers losses in Moscow city vote after protests

Kremlin-backed candidates previously held 38 of the Moscow assembly's 45 seats, but after voting that figure is down to 25. Analysts describe the local vote as a test ahead of parliamentary elections due in 2021.

Russia, Ukraine swap prisoners in landmark 'first step' to ease tensions

Russia and Ukraine conducted a major prisoner exchange that freed 35 people detained in each country and flew them to the other, a deal that could help advance Russia-Ukraine relations and end five years of fighting in Ukraine's east.

In pictures: Putin meets Modi in Russia, Qatar unveils World Cup 2022 logo

Here are the photos making the news during the past few days. They show Vladimir Putin meeting Narendra Modi, Britain's PM Johnson after suffering a major parliamentary defeat over Brexit, and a joyous Grigor Dimitrov after defeating Roger Federer.

Russian opposition holds new protest march

Demonstrations have been held on an almost weekly basis since July after authorities denied most opposition candidates registration in the elections for city parliament next Sunday.

Turkey mulls purchase of Russian warplanes

Ankara and Moscow are discussing the deliveries of Russian-made fighter jets to Turkey.

Assad regime's attack on Idlib could have a massive humanitarian fallout

In the last four months, the regime’s offensive has already killed at least 700 people and many more lives are at risk, according to experts.