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Ukraine war

Ukraine war
Russian forces invaded Ukraine in late February 2022, turning Moscow into a global pariah in the worlds of finance, diplomacy, sports and culture, as the West punished it with sanctions. President Vladimir Putin called Russia’s actions - which have triggered the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II - a “special military operation”. Nuclear-armed Russia has warned of consequences if Nato interferes in Ukraine, while strategic ally China urges a peaceful, diplomatic solution.
(From left to right) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019. Photo: SPUTNIK / AFP
Diplomacy

Opinion | How Asia can benefit from a Russia-India-China dialogue revival

Far from acting as another bloc, such a grouping could help ensure that regional competition is managed rather than reproduced.

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Donald Trump

Trump urges Russia to make deal with Ukraine after meeting Zelensky at G7

Russia

Belarusian leader tells Russia, Ukraine to make ‘compromises’ and end war

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Britain

UK charges Indian captain of suspected Russian shadow tanker seized in Channel

Ajay Pant is alleged to have contravened sanctions by supplying or delivering ‘prohibited oil / oil products from Russia to a third country’.

The CMR Smyrtos sailing under a false Cameroonian flag in the English Channel off the coast of the UK. Photo: Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) / AFP
Ukraine

Zelensky proposes meeting Putin in US after Russian leader ‘ignores’ G7 invite

Ukrainian leader said he made the proposal in a call with Trump, suggesting Putin would find the offer of a US meeting ‘harder to refuse’.

China-EU relations

EU says China trained Russian troops as bloc weighs tougher stance on Beijing

Kallas cites verified reports of Chinese training for Russian forces as Brussels weighs sanctions and new trade measures.

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Ukraine

Russia’s major barrage on Ukraine kills 11, damages Unesco heritage site

Kyiv City Military Administration head claims Russia is deliberately targeting civilian structures.

Smoke and fire rise from the Dormition Cathedral in the Orthodox complex of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra following a Russian missile strike on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Putin and Zelensky hold calls with Trump as US president marks 80th birthday

Trump said ending the Ukraine war could open the door to a ‘new quality of US-Russian relations’, according to a Russian presidential aide.

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Switzerland

Thousands hold G7 protest in Geneva as world leaders prepare for France summit

Roughly 7,000 protesters clashed with police, set a car on fire and smashed the windows of a bank in the Swiss city on Sunday.

Britain

British commandos board Russian shadow fleet tanker, Zelensky grateful

The UK has sanctioned almost 600 Russian oil tankers, as part of Western governments’ efforts to disrupt revenue that funds Russia’s war in Ukraine.

UK Royal Marine Commandos board the ship Smyrtos off the south coast of England, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
North Korea

As I see it | Kim Jong-un turns out to be the cleverest of them all

As others exert geopolitical influence based on economic or military might, North Korea’s leader has turned a weaker hand to his advantage.

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President Xi Jinping (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un applaud during an artistic performance at the Pyongyang Gymnasium on June 8. Photo: Xinhua via AP
Singapore

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong to visit Russia, first since Ukraine war sanctions

Ties between Singapore and Russia nosedived after the city state imposed sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Asean

As Putin courts Southeast Asia, does ‘Russia need Asean more’?

Southeast Asia needs energy. Russia needs friends. Next week’s summit in Kazan could offer opportunities for both sides.

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China-North Korea relations

Xi Jinping arrives in a North Korea armed with advanced warships and AI drones

Could Xi’s visit indirectly advance North Korea’s military build-up as Pyongyang strengthens ties with Beijing and Moscow?

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the destroyer Choe Hyon on May 7 to review its manoeuvrability. Photo: AP
Britain

European powers back Zelensky’s call for summit with Putin

UK, France and Germany endorse face-to-face ceasefire talks, but the Kremlin has so far ruled out a meeting.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Photo: Reuters
Armenia

Armenia sets course towards West as Pashinyan secures election win

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gets a third consecutive term following a general election.

Ukraine

Ukrainian drones target St Petersburg after Putin rejects Zelensky’s offer

St Petersburg residents told to remain at home as the attack underscores Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.

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Vladimir Putin

Putin says no reason to meet Ukraine’s Zelensky, calls his letter ‘rude’

In his message, Zelensky said Russians had grown tired of Ukraine missile and drone attacks and economic hardship and were ready for peace.

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A participant watches a broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech on a screen during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday. Photo: AP
Russia

UK’s Keir Starmer says Russia could attack Nato within 4 years

His comments echo similar time frames expressed by other European leaders and Nato chief Mark Rutte.

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Vladimir Putin

Putin says Trump ideas could bring peace in Ukraine, urges Kyiv to compromise

Zelensky, meanwhile, proposed face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to the Russian leader.

War and conflict

Opinion | Asia has to learn the lessons of war while it still can

The time to learn is before the fire reaches the house. Every war forces us to ask: if this logic came to our region, what would we do?

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
European Union

Ukraine, Hungary agree on minority rights, paving way for EU accession talks

The long-running dispute had strained ties between Budapest and Kyiv and complicated Hungary’s support for Ukraine’s EU ambitions.

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Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar attends a press conference in Paris, France, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
European Union

Ukraine drone strikes causing ‘panic’ for Kremlin, EU’s Kallas says

Russia is increasing attacks on civilians because it doesn’t know how to respond to attacks deep in its territory, the top EU diplomat says.

Russia

Ukraine drones target St Petersburg as ‘Russia’s Davos’ opens

Black smoke rises over major fuel terminal as city hosts Vladimir Putin’s global economic summit.

Ukraine

Major Russian air attack on Ukrainian cities kills at least 23, wounds dozens

Ukraine says Russia ⁠launched more than 650 drones and 70 missiles overnight, mainly targeting Kyiv.

The boom of explosions echoed through most of the night and into the early morning in Kyiv. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia

Why oil-hungry Asia ignores risks linked to Russia’s ‘dark fleet’

Asia prioritises fuel needs over security risks from Russian oil to survive the energy crisis, despite sanctions and diplomatic dilemmas.

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Russia’s “shadow fleet” vessels wait in the unofficial anchorage area in the Gulf of Finland near Vaindloo, Estonia, on April 10. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Trump ‘personally called for China’s help’ to end Ukraine war in summit with Xi

Washington is also not happy about Beijing’s rare earth controls, according to people familiar with the talks.

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Russia

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Kyiv denies being behind the attack, calling the Russian claims ‘yet another propaganda ploy’.

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