The misconception that Russian soldiers are forced to fight against their will in Ukraine is one that reaches even into the highest echelons of the U.S. government. Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly lamented the deaths of soldiers on both sides,

Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that Moscow has no intention to end the Russia-Ukraine war and has continued terrorising our people with airstrikes despite an unconditional ceasefire offer from Kyiv.

Ukraine launched a drone strike on Russia’s Orenburg gas plant, damaging parts of it. There was no casualties reported as Moscow claimed to have downed 45 Ukrainian drones .

But reporting on Russia is tricky. Since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 authorities have become more repressive, with more than 20,000 people jailed for criticising the war, according to the independent monitoring group OVD-Info.

The government in Tbilisi is friendly to Moscow. It is being challenged by protesters who want closer ties to the West. A look at Europe’s most flammable tinder box.

The Swan Lake Cooperative was created by exiled rapper Noize MC, whose real name is Ivan Alexeyev. The 40-year-old has been openly critical of Putin, and left Russia for Lithuania shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine. The banned song has been used to criticise Putin and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“Budapest is essentially the only place in Europe today where such a meeting could be held, primarily because Hungary is almost the only pro-peace country,” Orbán said. “For three years, we have been the only country that has consistently, openly, loudly and actively advocated for peace.”

Ukraine has reacted with fury after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) voted on Saturday to lift the suspension on Russia and Belarus, allowing athletes from both countries to compete under their own flags. Russia and its ally Belarus were ...