Free Republic

The leaders of four European countries, Ukraine, and the United States are urging Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire to initiate peace talks. Dmitry Medvedev has already responded to the politicians in a vulgar manner. -snip- "Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk were supposed to discuss peace in Kiev. Instead, they are blurting out threats against Russia. Either a truce for the respite of Banderite hordes or new sanctions. You think that’s smart, eh? Shove these peace plans up your pangender ar**s!" Medvedev wrote on the X platform.

Iran is preparing to deliver in the near future launchers for short-range ballistic missiles that the U.S. said Tehran sent to Russia last year for use against Ukraine, according to two Western security officials and a regional official. The delivery of the Fath-360 launchers - if it occurs - would help support Russia's grinding assault on its neighbor and reaffirm the deepening security ties between Moscow and Tehran. With a 75-mile (120-km) range, the Fath-360 would give Moscow's forces a new weapon to fire at Ukrainian frontline troops, nearby military targets, and population centers close to the border with Russia,...

A possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in mid-May in Saudi Arabia is not on the schedule, US President Donald Trump told journalists. Asked at a news conference in the White House whether a meeting with Putin was possible later in the month in Saudi Arabia, Trump replied: "I don't think so, but we're having very good conversations. Very, very good," News.Az reports, citing TASS.

The Embassy in Kyiv says it has received information concerning a potentially significant air attack that may occur at any time over the next several days. Developing.

The United States and its European allies are finalising a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that if refused would see them jointly impose new sanctions on Russia, a French diplomatic source said on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump called on Thursday for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, warning that Washington and its partners would impose further sanctions if the ceasefire was not respected. Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies and sweeping tariffs, saying they harm multilateralism as he met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow. -snip- "The latest decisions by the U.S. president to unilaterally put tariffs on trade with all countries in the world undermine the great idea of free trade and strengthening multilateralism," Lula said during a bilateral meeting with Putin. The leftist leader said he intends to strengthen Brazil's strategic partnership with Russia, citing "political, commercial, cultural, scientific and technological interests" as he sees room to increase trade.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping sat for one-on-one talks over tea on Thursday as they continued meetings in Moscow. The Kremlin released a video of Putin serving the drink to Xi after wider talks with their delegations.

President Trump again pushed for a 30-day cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine Thursday after speaking by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, promising to “stay committed to securing Peace” after earlier threatening to walk away from talks between the warring nations. “Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue,” Trump, 78, posted to Truth Social. “The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations.” “If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions,” he added. Zelensky,...

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Russian leader Vladimir Putin that his country will stand with Moscow against “unilateralism and hegemonic bullying” during a visit to the country to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. -snip- “In the face of the international counter-current of unilateralism and hegemonic bullying behaviour, China will work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities of major world powers,” Xi told Putin. -snip- Xi said that China and Russia would jointly defend the “correct view” of the history of WWII, protect the “authority and status” of the United Nations, and defend the...

At the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa is attending the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. On May 8, 2025, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin held an official meeting. At the Meeting, on behalf of the State, Government, and people of Mongolia, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa extended congratulations to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the people of the Russian Federation on the historic occasion of the 80th anniversary of the...

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday their two countries should be "friends of steel", as they pledged to raise cooperation to a new level and "decisively" counter the influence of the United States. At talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders cast themselves as defenders of a new world order no longer dominated by the U.S. In a lengthy joint statement, they said they would deepen relations in all areas, including military ties, and "strengthen coordination in order to decisively counter Washington's course of 'dual containment' of Russia and China". -snip- Xi, whose country is currently...

A full rehearsal for the Moscow Victory Day Parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945 – 2025) took place at Red Square on May 7. The Việt Nam People’s Army (VPA) contingent was also among the several foreign armed forces invited by the Russian Government to take part in this famous parade. This is a major event honouring the historic victory of the then Soviet Union, affirming the indomitable will and solidarity of the Soviet people and progressive forces worldwide in the fight against fascism. The organising committee commended the VPA...

Russia will restrict internet access across several regions, including Moscow, during its May 9 Victory Day celebrations this year, as the Kremlin imposes ever-tighter controls over its population. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that mobile internet restrictions would be in place in several regions while foreign leaders are in Moscow for the celebrations marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II. Peskov said the restrictions are because Russia has "dangerous neighbors." "These are not disruptions, but restrictions for obvious reasons," he said. "We want the glorious Victory Day to be celebrated at the appropriate level."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping called President Donald Trump's plan for a "Golden Dome" air defense system "deeply destabilizing," after in-person talks between the two leaders. Trump's vision for the Golden Dome is that the military will create a multi-layered defense shield that would be able to protect the continental United States to deter and even intercept any aerial attack against the homeland. "The recently announced large-scale program 'Golden (Iron) Dome for America' is also deeply destabilizing in nature," a joint statement from Xi and Putin said.

Putin and Xi say they 'intend' to play a role in US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for formal talks on Thursday for the first time since President Donald Trump exacerbated the U.S.-China trade war last month. In a statement at the top of the meeting, Xi pledged to stand by his anti-Western ally against "power politics" and "bullying on the international stage." "Eighty years ago, the peoples of China and Russia made tremendous sacrifices to secure a great victory, contributing an indelible chapter to the cause of world peace and human progress,"...

Russia and China warned on Wednesday that Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Iron Dome for America” missile defense system would destabilize global security and turn outer space into a new arena for armed confrontation. “The recently announced large-scale ‘Golden (Iron) Dome for America’ program is deeply destabilizing,” the two sides said in a joint statement during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow. The U.S. plan “explicitly provides for a significant strengthening of the arsenal for conducting combat operations in space,” it added. -snip- Moscow and Beijing claimed nuclear states must “reject Cold War mentality” and avoid seeking military...