At the start of the war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to occupy Kyiv’s government quarters and assassinate the Ukrainian president, Ukrainian intelligence and security officials allege. When Mr. Putin needed more soldiers on fast-crumbling front lines, the warlord rounded up thousands of men, sometimes forcibly, and sent them in, … Read more
China’s leader Xi Jinping has in recent months tried to put public distance between Beijing and Moscow as Russia has suffered defeats in its war on Ukraine. Behind the diplomatic appearances, however, Mr. Xi is deepening his long-term bet on Russia.
KHERSON, Ukraine—Kyiv’s military demolished a hotel complex hosting dozens of Russian military personnel overnight with U.S.-supplied long-range artillery, while more Russian drone strikes continued to destroy Ukraine’s electricity grid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 1.5 million people in Ukraine’s southern Odessa region were left without power after strikes late Saturday. Only critical infrastructure was connected … Read more
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Saudi leaders Thursday at the start of a multiday state visit, as the oil-rich desert kingdom strengthens ties with U.S. rivals amid doubts about Washington’s commitment to the Middle East. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who runs the kingdom’s daily affairs, greeted the Chinese leader with a … Read more
German authorities on Wednesday said they had dismantled a domestic far-right terrorist cell inspired by the QAnon conspiracy on suspicion of planning to overthrow the government. Of the 25 people arrested in the early hours of the day, 22 are suspected of conspiring to foment a coup, the country’s federal prosecutor said. Their alleged plans … Read more
OPEC+ said Sunday it would keep output steady ahead of a momentous week in global energy markets, as wealthy nations impose a price cap on Moscow’s petroleum exports, the European Union launches a ban on Russian oil and Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits Saudi Arabia. The decision on Sunday allows the Organization of the Petroleum … Read more
MYKOLAIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian officials said Sunday that they had managed to restore most of the electricity to the capital city of Kyiv, even as Russian strikes hit cities across southern Ukraine and intense fighting continued in the country’s eastern Donetsk region. Even though parts of Ukraine’s electricity grid have been hobbled by Russian strikes over the … Read more
Talking turkey is a pastime in the halls of government around the world. Yet what to call Turkey, the country, is something many can’t agree on. In April, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked the international community to recognize his nation by its traditional name, spelled “Türkiye” and pronounced Tour-key-yeh. A name flap His government … Read more
BEIJING—Protests are erupting in major cities in China over President Xi Jinping’s zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19, an unusual show of defiance in the country as the economic and social costs from snap lockdowns and other strict restrictions escalate. Demonstrations occurred throughout the weekend in Beijing, Shanghai and the eastern city of Nanjing, according to witness … Read more
KHERSON, Ukraine—Residents of the southern city of Kherson told of torture and killing by Russian soldiers during Moscow’s nine-month occupation of the Ukrainian city, while world leaders grappled with the fallout of a missile crash in neighboring Poland during a wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine. Russia unleashed one of the biggest barrages of the … Read more