Free Republic

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent rival teams to Washington for talks with the Trump administration as ceasefire negotiations for the war in Ukraine are underway, according to an independent investigative Russian news outlet. On Thursday, Kirill Dmitriev, a businessman and Putin's investment envoy, announced that he is in Washington this week to hold talks with U.S. officials. The official, who runs Russia's sovereign wealth fund, is meeting Trump ally Steve Witkoff at Putin's request, he said. Putin also gave the go-ahead for another rival team to engage in talks with Washington, news site Agentstvo reported on Thursday. The two teams...

Ukraine's military reportedly launched a new offensive in Russia's Kursk region, according to multiple Russian military bloggers on Thursday. Kyiv officials have not yet confirmed a new major operation in the region as of press time.

A Russian nuclear icebreaker has been damaged in a collision with a cargo ship in the Arctic Circle, according to Russian media. The 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory) icebreaker was attempting to free the freighter Yamal Krechet from ice which was preventing it from reaching the port of Sabetta, in the Kara Sea, according to an expert. Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for comment via email. Why It Matters The 50 Let Pobedy nuclear icebreaker is one of only two remaining vessels in the first-generation Arktika-class still in service, according...

Russia has provided North Korea with air defense missiles and military equipment in exchange for sending thousands of troops to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to South Korea's national security adviser. Shin Wonsik revealed on Friday during a broadcast on SBS TV that Russia has supplied North Korea with advanced military technologies to enhance the regime's defense capabilities, particularly around the capital, Pyongyang.

Any decision to send North Korean troops to Russia would be in line with international law, Pyongyang has said amid reports that its soldiers could reach the front lines of the war in Ukraine as early as this weekend. This is a developing story.

Russian State TV recently broadcasted a segment of a talk show during which the hosts discussed the potential of Alaska joining Russia. In the show, the host makes a joke saying: "Do you know what they call Alaska? Ice Crimea." He then adds that Alaska will "one day return to its native shores." The hosts are referencing the fact that Alaska once "belonged" to Russia, before being sold to the United States in 1866. This echoes rhetoric used in the war in Ukraine, that Ukraine "belonged" to Russia, and therefore should rejoin its so-called native land.

Donald Trump has cast doubt over whether as U.S. president he would defend Taiwan if China were to invade the self-governed island Beijing views as part of its territory. "Taiwan is 9,500 miles away," the former president told Bloomberg, "it's 68 miles away from China." China's long-ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as its own but has never ruled there since coming to power in Beijing in 1949. Taipei rejects its neighbor's assertions. The GOP nominee for the U.S. presidential election appeared to suggest that Taiwan should pay the U.S. for protection, telling the outlet: "I don't think we're any different...

aiwan underscored its own "red line" on Wednesday after its defense minister said Taiwanese forces wouldn't be moved by China's military maneuvers around the island. Taiwan underscored its own "red line" on Wednesday after its defense minister said Taiwanese forces wouldn't be moved by China's military maneuvers around the island. Taiwan’s defense minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, then intelligence chief, attends a press conference on August 2, 2019, in Taipei, Taiwan. Chiu told the island’s lawmakers on October 5, 2022, that Taiwanese forces would counterattack if China’s aircraft crossed Taiwan’s “red line.” Taiwan’s defense minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, then intelligence chief, attends a...