the Kremlin

President Trump says he will not impose new sanctions on Russia, refusing to follow legislation passed overwhelmingly by Congress that required punitive measures over Moscow's interference in the 2016 election and other actions. The decision means the administration is effectively waiving the congressional mandate, drawing criticism from lawmakers who backed the sanctions and renewing questions about his stance toward the Kremlin.

France carried out a missile test that prompted a strong rebuke from Moscow, with Russian officials denouncing the launch amid already strained relations between Paris and the Kremlin. The test has drawn wide international attention given heightened tensions over nuclear signaling between NATO members and Russia.

Reports say Russian and US officials have discussed bringing in an American investor to buy and restart the Nord Stream gas pipelines, halted since the 2022 explosions. Kirill Dmitriev suggested the pipeline's operations could resume, while the Kremlin said it expects objectivity from the trial of those accused of the sabotage. The pipeline's fate remains tied to broader talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

Commentary is circulating that the Kremlin is pursuing several simultaneous bets in its war against Ukraine: that Russia can outlast Ukraine in a prolonged war of attrition, that high oil prices will keep funding the war effort, and that sustained missile strikes can exploit gaps in Ukrainian air defenses. The analysis suggests Moscow also expects growing political and economic strain in the West and in Ukraine to weaken resolve over time.

The European Union is preparing measures to help Ukrainian defenders counter the effects of Elon Musk's limits on Starlink speeds, which Kyiv Post characterizes as favoring the Kremlin. The plan follows complaints that throttled satellite internet coverage hampers Ukrainian battlefield communications, with the EU moving to provide alternative assistance to offset the impact.

Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready for negotiations on Ukraine, but only taking into account Russian interests, according to Interfax. The statement comes as international pressure mounts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and reactions in Russia and abroad are focused on what conditions Moscow expects and whether serious talks are realistically possible.

The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian diesel has started entering global markets again. The announcement suggests a resumption of exports after a period of restriction, with potential implications for global fuel prices and supply. Observers are watching how the shipments will affect diesel markets and Western sanctions enforcement.

The Kremlin is publicly denying certain claims while, critics argue, establishing its own narrative of facts in their place. The phrase captures a familiar pattern in Russian official communication: rejection of allegations alongside messaging designed to shape public perception. Beyond the headline itself, no further details are available about which specific statements or events are involved.

A Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian tech company Yandex set off a wave of viral claims that the attack had destroyed a Russian bot farm producing pro-Kremlin propaganda and far-right content for audiences in the US, Germany and the UK. Reporting found the story was not true: the strike did not wipe out any disinformation operation. The episode is being discussed as a case study in how readily audiences accept conspiracy-flavored rumors that fit their existing beliefs about Russian influence campaigns.

A major Russian business association has put forward a proposal to eliminate tax breaks for small businesses, according to Meduza. The proposal would change how small firms are taxed in Russia, and analysts suggest the Kremlin might be willing to accept it, possibly to shore up budget revenues amid heavy war-related spending. The debate is drawing attention because it signals shifting policy toward Russia's small business sector.

Reports are circulating that Donald Trump has waived sanctions on Russia, a move that would mark a significant shift in US policy toward Moscow. The claim is drawing strong reaction, with critics warning it could weaken pressure on the Kremlin while supporters argue it may open the door to improved relations. Details about the scope of the waiver remain limited.

A Russian court has found Mikhail Khodorkovsky guilty for publications posted on foreign websites, sentencing him in absentia. Khodorkovsky, the former Yukos oil chief who has lived abroad since 2013 and is a prominent Kremlin critic, was convicted in a case that has drawn attention to Moscow's widening crackdown on criticism voiced from outside the country.

Ukraine struck a Yandex data center in Vladimir, Russia, and Russian bot traffic has since dropped to nearly zero, according to widely shared reports. The claim suggests much of the country's automated online activity was routed through that single facility, prompting discussion about the scale of coordinated pro-Kremlin messaging networks and the vulnerability of Russian internet infrastructure.

Ukraine's security services say they have taken down a Russian-operated bot farm that was flooding social media with pro-MAGA and pro-Kremlin messaging aimed at American audiences. The operation, announced by Ukrainian authorities, highlights ongoing efforts by Moscow to influence US political discourse through networks of fake accounts spreading coordinated propaganda.

Alexey Repik, head of the Russian business association Delovaya Rossiya, said President Vladimir Putin "fantastically commands the material" on industry-specific topics. The remarks came after discussions with the president on sectoral issues, and highlight the close dialogue between Russian business circles and the Kremlin. Repik's comments drew attention as businesses assess the government's handling of economic and industrial policy.

Reports focus on President Trump's decision to waive certain new sanctions on Russia and what it could mean for Ukraine. Analysts are weighing whether the move eases pressure on Moscow at a sensitive point in the war and how it may affect Western support for Kyiv. Critics see it as a concession to the Kremlin, while supporters frame it as pragmatic diplomacy.

Debate is growing over the real status of Russia's Poseidon, the nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed underwater drone announced by the Kremlin. Analysts question whether the weapon is a genuine strategic breakthrough capable of carrying out its claimed mission, or largely a propaganda instrument designed to signal power. Public discussion focuses on its technical readiness, testing record and the gap between announced capabilities and verified deployment.

Russian officials say the Kremlin will not provide Kyiv with a 'respite' in the fighting that would allow Ukraine to hold presidential elections. The statement, reported by Radio Svoboda, underlines Moscow's position amid ongoing talks about a possible ceasefire. Commenters in Russia are debating what the refusal means for prospects of any truce and for Ukraine's suspended electoral schedule under martial law.

Ukraine has used a domestically produced tactical ballistic missile for the first time, President Zelensky said, with reports naming the system 'Pelikan'. The announcement comes amid a wider flurry of missile activity: North Korea launched ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, prompting South Korean forces to heighten combat readiness, and the Kremlin commented on France's test launch of a nuclear-capable missile.

The Kremlin has set out what it expects from court proceedings related to the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, the underwater conduits linking Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea that were damaged in explosions in September 2022. The statement is drawing attention in Russia, where the pipelines' destruction remains a highly charged topic and coverage of legal moves around the case is being closely followed.

Russian journalist Alexander Nevzorov has been added to the register of terrorists and extremists maintained by Russia's financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring, according to Interfax. Nevzorov, a longtime TV presenter who left Russia and has been an outspoken critic of the war in Ukraine, already faced criminal charges in Russia. The designation means his accounts can be frozen and further restricts any activity linked to him in Russia. Reaction online is focused on the escalating crackdown on independent journalists.

Donald Trump has defended his decision to waive new sanctions on Russia, describing it as a 'very good decision' and doubling down despite criticism. The move comes amid ongoing debate in Washington over US policy toward Moscow and how hard to press the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine.

A Russian fashion designer has given an interview to the Kyiv Post under the striking headline 'I'm a Russian Fashion Designer – Vladimir Putin Is Terrified of Me'. The claim suggests she positions herself as a vocal critic of the Kremlin whose work or statements have unsettled the Russian leadership. Details of her identity and the basis for the claim remain limited in the coverage so far.

President Trump has proposed economic relief measures for Russia, framing the offer as a step toward ending Moscow's isolation if the Kremlin reciprocates with concessions, reportedly including progress on ending the war in Ukraine. The proposal signals a willingness to ease sanctions or restore economic ties, and is drawing attention to how far Washington might go to lure Russia back toward negotiations.