China and Russia “cannot be moved away” from one another, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, in their first phone call since US President Donald Trump upended American foreign policy with a sweeping pivot toward Moscow as he pushes for peace in Ukraine.

Trump’s animus toward Zelensky dates to his first term and the extortionate “perfect” 2019 phone call that led to Trump’s first impeachment. Explaining Trump’s unseemly infatuation with Putin is more challenging.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on rare earth metals production via a video link from his residence outside Moscow, Russia, Feb 24, 2025. [Photo/Agencies] MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that developing the rare earth metals industry is a strategic priority that will enhance Russia's global competitiveness,

Europe's participation in Ukraine peace talks will be needed but Moscow first wants to build trust with Washington, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, while suggesting that a deal to end the conflict may still be far off.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday backed a suggestion by US counterpart Donald Trump for Russia, the United States and China to all cut their defence budgets in half