April 22, 2026

Russia Watch

Ukraine peace talks stall as Russia begins its spring offensive– www.euronews.com

pgnewser March 24, 2026 0

Blurb:

After a few rounds of trilateral talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia, the diplomatic process aimed at putting an end to Moscow’s full-scale invasion has largely stalled with no clear progress in sight.

Kyiv’s delegation returned from two days of meetings in Miami with few tangible results, following what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as a discussion over “the key points, opportunities and challenges”.

“The most important thing is to work out security guarantees in such a way that they bring us closer to ending the war. Security is the key to peace.”

Russia Sends Oil and Gas Tankers to Crisis-Hit Cuba, Defying U.S. Blockade – FT– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser March 19, 2026 2

Blurb:

Russia has dispatched two tankers carrying oil and gas to Cuba as the island grapples with a deepening energy crisis exacerbated by a U.S. oil blockade, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.

The ships would be providing the Caribbean island nation with its first energy shipments in three months. Fuel shortages have pushed Cuba into one of its most severe economic crises in decades, with widespread blackouts and disruptions to basic services.

The Hong Kong-flagged tanker Sea Horse, which is believed to be loaded with around 27,000 tons of gas, is expected to arrive in Cuba in the coming days after diverting its course last month, Samir Madani, co-founder of maritime intelligence company TankerTrackers, told the FT.

A second vessel, the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, is carrying between 725,000 and 728,000 barrels of oil and is due to reach Cuba in early April, he said.

Soaring Russia and Iran threat as UK minister issues chilling ‘danger’ warning– www.mirror.co.uk

pgnewser March 19, 2026 0

Blurb:

British Defence Minister Al Carns has warned “we live in very dangerous times” with soaring threats from Russia and the Middle East stretching from the “high north” to Iran. The alarm follows more than two weeks of the US-Israeli war on Iran, during which British troops have fought off drone and missile threats from Iran and its proxies.

Senior western officials have confirmed European militaries are increasingly concerned about the Strait and demands by America for countries such as the UK to become involved. A UK refusal to send ships to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz has caused huge tension from US President Donald Trump towards UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Starmer says ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine amid Iran war during Zelenskyy visit– www.euronews.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Tuesday for talks on peace and sanctions on Russia.

The meeting comes at a time when the Iran war has revived Russia’s ailing economy through increased oil revenue, robbed US-brokered talks to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine of momentum and could soon limit Kyiv’s access to vital Western air defence systems that are needed in the Middle East.

“We can’t lose focus on what’s going on in Ukraine and the need for our support,” Starmer said alongside Zelenskyy for talks at 10 Downing Street, which NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also attended.

“Putin can’t be the one who benefits from the conflict in Iran, whether that’s oil prices or the dropping of sanctions,” Starmer said. “It is really important we keep our resolve in relation to supporting Ukraine, doing everything we can to weaken the hand of Putin.”

Ukraine, Russia Trade Haymakers as U.S. Hopes Ceasefire Talks Resume

pgnewser March 12, 2026 1

The U.S. is hoping to restart ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine next week, but the appeal is set against aggressive moves by both Russia and Ukraine against one another. Ukraine, for instance, is now adding armed ground robots to its military operations, while Russia just dropped a 500-pound bomb on Ukraine. The front line has nominally moved, though both sides claim to have made recent advances.

Blurb:

Russia and Ukraine both claim front line progress with US-brokered peace talks on hold – euronews.com

Four people were killed and at least 16 others injured after a Russian aerial attack struck the centre of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration Vadym Filashkin said on Tuesday.

Russia also launched drones at three other Ukrainian cities overnight, wounding at least 17 people, emergency services reported.

In Dnipro in central Ukraine, 10 people were injured as a result of a Russian attack, which damaged a residential block, a city administrative building and private homes.

Putin likely helping Iran with drones, UK defence secretary says | World News– news.sky.com

pgnewser March 12, 2026 0

Blurb:

Vladimir Putin’s “hidden hand” is likely helping Iran respond to Donald Trump’s war, the UK defence secretary has said, as it emerged that Iranian-linked drones hit a base in Iraq where some British troops are located.

They were not hurt.

John Healey said attacks by Iranian forces against targets across the Middle East “have the hallmarks” of how Russian troops operate in their war against Ukraine.

U.S. Proposed Ukraine-Russia Talks Next Week – Zelensky– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser March 11, 2026 2

Blurb:

The United States has proposed another round of Russia-Ukraine talks next week, mediated by Washington, on ending four years of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday.

Two rounds of trilateral talks failed to reach a breakthrough to end Europe’s worst conflict since World War II, launched by Moscow in 2022.

Zelensky said in an audio message sent to reporters, including AFP, that talks — initially planned for last week in the United Arab Emirates — had been postponed until next week by the U.S.

Russia Gave Iran Info To Help Target U.S. Military– trendingpoliticsnews.com

pgnewser March 9, 2026 0

Blurb:

Russia has reportedly provided Iran with information that could help the regime target U.S. military assets across the Middle East, a development that adds a dangerous new layer to a war that is already widening by the day.

U.S. intelligence officials believe Moscow passed along information that could be used against American warships, aircraft and other military positions in the region. The officials told The Associated Press there is no indication Russia is directly ordering Tehran how to use the information, but the disclosure still marks the clearest sign yet that Moscow may be trying to assist Iran as the conflict intensifies.

The report lands as U.S. and Israeli forces continue pounding Iranian targets and as Tehran keeps launching retaliatory attacks against American positions and U.S. partners in the Gulf.

The White House believes the United States is “well on its way” toward controlling Iranian airspace and expects its core military objectives could be completed within four to six weeks. President Donald Trump has also taken a harder public line, demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as the campaign moves deeper into its second week.

Putin willing to accept Ukraine’s security deal, Zelensky claims in peace breakthrough to finally end war– www.thesun.co.uk

pgnewser March 2, 2026 0

Blurb:

VLADIMIR Putin is reportedly willing to accept a deal on Ukraine, according to a senior aide to President Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov made the surprise claim during an interview on Ukrainian television.

Ukraine’s Chief of Staff has claimed Vladimir Putin may finally be willing to accept a peace dealCredit: AFP
Zelensky has maintained his demand for security guarantees throughout negotiationsCredit: AFP
Both countries have continued to exchange missile blows, targeting key infrastructureCredit: Getty

“At the last talks, the Russian side said, for example, that they would accept the security guarantees offered to Ukraine by the United States,” he said.

The Kremlin has not confirmed the remarks.

If accurate, they would represent the most significant shift in negotiations since the conflict began four years ago.

It remains unclear what form those US security guarantees would take.

Croatia says it can meet oil demand for both Slovakia and Hungary, Ukraine reportedly will reopen Druzhba pipeline today– rmx.news

pgnewser February 26, 2026 0

Blurb:

The crude oil shipment destined for MOL Group is already being loaded at the state-owned Janaf’s Omišalj terminal, the Croatian oil company announced on Wednesday, per a report from HVG. According to the statement, this will not be the only shipment, as seven more tankers will arrive by the beginning of April.

Janaf emphasized in its statement that it is not Russian crude oil that is being supplied to Hungarians, and yet, the company is ready to meet the entire annual demand of refineries in both Slovakia and Hungary.

Ukraine war negotiators meet in Geneva as Trump pushes for quick wrap-up to peace deal– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser February 26, 2026 0

Blurb:

TRUMP AND ZELENSKY SPEAK: A day after President Donald Trump publicly ignored the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and barely mentioned the war in his State of the Union address, the president resumed his pressure campaign to convince Volodymyr Zelensky he has little choice but to make a quick deal to end the war before things get worse.

“I just spoke with @POTUS Donald Trump,” Zelensky posted on X yesterday after a phone call with Trump, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. “I thanked them for all their work and for their active involvement in the negotiations and the efforts to end the war.”

In the 30-minute call, Trump told Zelensky he wants to see an end to the war “as soon as possible,” Axios reported, citing “a Ukrainian official and two other sources with knowledge of the call.”

Putin blasts Ukraine with 500-bomb attack in defiance of US calls for war to end– www.mirror.co.uk

pgnewser February 26, 2026 0

Blurb:

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a ruthless attack order in the face of peace efforts(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia launched a mass overnight onslaught of almost 500 bombs on Ukraine injuring at least 26 people – as the Kremlin dampened peace talk hopes.

At least 420 deadly drones and dozens of missiles were used in the attack, plus anti-ship , ballistic and cruise weapons , many of which were aimed at Kyiv and seven other regions.

‘Slovakia is not a servant of Ukraine’ — Fico threatens to halt emergency electricity supplies to Kyiv– rmx.news

pgnewser February 24, 2026 0

Blurb:

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced he will ask the Slovak Electricity Transmission System (SEPS) to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine in retaliation for Kyiv’s refusal to resume Russian crude oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline.

In a video message posted on social media on Sunday, Fico said he would visit SEPS on Monday to request the suspension of electricity deliveries, further increasing tensions between so-called “dissenting” member states like Slovakia and Hungary, and the European Commission.

“If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tells us to buy gas and oil elsewhere than in Russia — even though it is more difficult and expensive, which costs us a lot of money — then we have the right to respond,” Fico told followers.

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Conducts Military Exercises With China, Russia– gellerreport.com

pgnewser February 18, 2026 1

Blurb:

 

After reports of Iranian missile fire in the most strategically important shipping lane in the Persian Gulf, Tehran announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to all maritime traffic for several hours due to a “Smart Control” exercise conducted by the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps…. At the same time, Russia, China and Iran deployed naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz for joint maneuvers, Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev said Tuesday. It was not immediately clear whether the Russian and Chinese ships had already joined the ongoing Iranian drill or were expected to participate in the coming days (Israel Hayom).

Russia launches 400 drones and 29 missiles at Ukraine hours before peace talks in Geneva – Europe live | Europe– www.theguardian.com

pgnewser February 17, 2026 0

Blurb:

EU confirms hopes to adopt new sanctions against Russia by 24 February

The European Commission is just giving its daily midday press briefing, and it has confirmed plans to adopt the new, 20th, round of sanctions against Russia by 24 February, the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion on Ukraine.

Foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said:

“We keep on working on measures to deprive Russia of the funds, goods and technologies sustaining its war against Ukraine.

This indeed includes the 20th package that you have mentioned, and indeed we aim to adopt it … by 24 February, as the High Representative [Kaja Kallas] mentioned at the last foreign affairs council. Member states are discussing it.”

Ukraine’s Zelensky Says He Met with Democrat Senators to Discuss ‘Pressure’ on Russia– slaynews.com

pgnewser February 17, 2026 0

Blurb:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that he met with Democrat senators to discuss plans for ramping up “pressure” on Russia.

Zelensky confirmed that he met with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

The meeting highlights the continued efforts from Democrats to influence Ukrainian leadership as the war with Russia drags on.

In a video included in a post on X, Blumenthal can be heard greeting Zelensky and expressing interest in further cooperation.

California’s War on ICE Unmasking Law Crushed by Clinton Judge

pgnewser February 11, 2026 1

After California Governor Gavin Newsome (D) signed an illegal law forcing ICE agents to be unmasked to make it easier for his army of antifa revolutionaries to hunt and murder them, he was immediately shut down by Clinton-appointed U.S. District Judge Christian Snyder. The so-called “No Secret Police” act aims to help the DNC’s secret and street police, ANTIFA, enforce their unconstitutional laws. The judge says the law unfairly discriminates against Federal officers.

The judge did not address the underlying insurrectionist spirit behind the violent law. Attorney General Pam Bondi said of the ruling, “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties. California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents.”

Blurb:

A federal judge in Los Angeles has issued a preliminary injunction against a California law that sought to prohibit federal immigration agents from wearing masks during enforcement operations.

U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, ruled Monday that the “No Secret Police Act” (Senate Bill 627) violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by discriminating against federal officers.

The law, which was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom this past September, banned most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while on duty, with the stated aim of preventing “secret police” tactics and promoting accountability. It initially exempted state and local officers and applied primarily to federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Ukraine Defends Church Law, Says It’s About Separation From Moscow – Not Shutting Churches– www.cbn.com

pgnewser February 11, 2026 0

Blurb:

WASHINGTON – This month marks four years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Casualties are on track to exceed two million this year, two-thirds of them from Russia.

Kyiv warns that the fight to regain control isn’t limited to the battlefield. It’s also playing out through Moscow’s ties to a branch of the Orthodox Church, which the Ukrainian government is now moving to sever.

“The activity of (the) Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate is not prohibited in Ukraine,” explained Viktor Yelenskyy, who oversees religious affairs for the government.

“(The) Ukrainian government asked (the) Ukrai

Legislator says Ukraine will not announce election this month – World– tass.com

pgnewser February 11, 2026 0

Blurb:

MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. No presidential election will be announced in Ukraine on February 24 as an election campaign can only be initiated at least six months after martial law is lifted, said Olga Aivazovskaya from a parliamentary group working toward an election.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Financial Times reported, citing sources, that Ukraine plans to hold a presidential election and a referendum on a peace deal with Russia by May 15. According to the British paper, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky may make an announcement as early as February 24.

“Team work on drafting laws to hold the first post-war election is ongoing, and it is understood that at least six months must pass after martial law is lifted before an election campaign can begin,” she wrote on Facebook (banned in Russia, owned by Meta, a corporation recognized as extremist in Russia).

Zelenskyy warns Ukrainians losing faith in diplomacy after Russian strikes kill four – Europe live | Europe– www.theguardian.com

pgnewser February 11, 2026 0

Blurb:

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that “as long as Russia continues to kill people and destroy our infrastructure, there will not be sufficient public trust in active diplomacy.”

“This is important for all of Ukraine’s partners – in the United States and Europe – to understand,” he said.

He said that “security issues are the key priority right now,” as Ukraine faces continuing attacks, including on civilian population and energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s Energy Ceasefire Lasts a Couple of Hours

pgnewser February 5, 2026 0

A few hours after President Donald J Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, Putin appears to have launched a massive attack using drones and ballistic missiles targeting the Kyiv energy infrastructure. This comes ahead of a scheduled new round of U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi that have begun this week.

Blurb:

It appears Putin has not kept his word.

President Trump on Friday announced, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin agreed not to target Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, and energy infrastructure for the next week, but the Russian President has appeared to disregard the agreement.

Reports have surfaced that Russian ballistic missiles and drones have hit key energy infrastructure in Kyiv and its surrounding area.

Here’s a video of some of the damage: