Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is the world’s largest country by land area, stretching across Eastern Europe and northern Asia. Its capital city is Moscow. Russia is a nuclear superpower with major influence in global energy markets, military affairs, and international politics. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has remained central to global geopolitical tensions, especially under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin.
In a clarifying statement today, President Zelensky insisted that no national elections will be held until a formal ceasefire is in place. He rejected rumors that Kyiv was being pressured by the U.S. to vote during active hostilities.
Assessments from Western intelligence suggest Russia sustained 9,000 more battlefield losses than it could replace in January. This gap is being hailed by Kyiv as a sign of progress in their strategy of attrition.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced a state visit to Washington later this month. He intends to sign a reciprocal tariff deal and attend the inaugural "Board of Peace" summit hosted by the U.S. administration.
A second round of U.S.-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine has begun in Abu Dhabi, with American, Ukrainian and Russian delegations meeting to push forward negotiations despite continued fighting and deep disagreements.
Russia has launched renewed large-scale missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, knocking out power in major cities and leaving thousands without heat during a brutal winter.
