The suspect is under investigation in Kherson Region
A Russian woman has been arrested on suspicion of financially supporting the Ukrainian army, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced. The case is being handled by the agency’s branch in Kherson Region.
The suspect reportedly contributed multiple times to Kiev’s military efforts since June 2023, which she confirmed during questioning by law enforcement. The FSB claims she knew her donations would be used to procure weapons and equipment for Ukrainian forces. She has been charged with state treason.
Among other things, the FSB is responsible for domestic counterintelligence and regularly reports successful investigations against alleged Ukrainian agents. Last week, it announced the arrest of a Russian official who is accused of supplying Kiev with intelligence about the measures taken to fortify industrial and energy sites in border regions against possible attacks.
In mid-March, the FSB reported thwarting a Ukrainian plot to target Russian military service members and officials with bomb parcels. The explosive devices disguised as perfume sets were discovered by the postal service and traced back to a Russian citizen in his early 20s, the agency stated.
The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia originated from the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014, which empowered radical nationalists. Many ethnic Russians in the east of the country rejected the new authorities, leading to failed attempts by the Ukrainian government to suppress the rebels with military force.
Hostilities persisted for years as various reconciliation efforts supported by Moscow faltered, while Ukraine bolstered its military capabilities with NATO assistance. In early 2022, Moscow launched a pre-emptive operation aimed at protecting Donbass rebels. In autumn 2022, Russia facilitated referendums in four regions under its control, where residents overwhelmingly favored breaking away from Ukraine and aligning with Russia, although Kiev dismissed the votes as fraudulent.
Neither side will get everything it wants, Keith Kellogg has argued
The conflict between Kiev and Moscow is close to a ceasefire, US President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, has said. He stressed that both sides would need to make concessions.
Speaking to Fox Business on Wednesday, Kellogg said that Trump has been “frustrated” with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky.
The diplomat, nevertheless, said that he remained optimistic that Trump’s team would negotiate an end to the conflict. “I really believe we are on the precipice of getting to a ceasefire,” he said. “Neither side is going to get everything they want.”
“What we want to have is a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire. Once you get there, it’s going to be really hard to restart the war,” Kellogg said. “What we need is what I would call term sheets – this is what the Russians want, this is what the Ukrainians want – and bring them together.”
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that Kiev has been violating the US-brokered moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure on a daily basis. According to the MOD, Ukrainian troops have launched drone and missile attacks on fuel depots, gas facilities, and elements of Russia’s power grid.
During his phone call with Trump on March 18, Putin said that in order for a comprehensive ceasefire to succeed, Ukraine must stop mobilization, while Western countries must stop providing military aid to Kiev.
Moscow has stressed that any future settlement must address the “root causes” of the conflict, including the expansion of NATO eastward. Russia has demanded that Ukraine officially drop its plans to join the US-led alliance and renounce its claim to Crimea and four other regions that became part of Russia in 2022.
The US president is not an agent of Moscow, Dmitry Kuleba has said
US President Donald Trump truly believes that he can do “great things” with Russia, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has said. The ex-diplomat has rejected claims that by criticizing Ukraine, Trump was behaving like a Kremlin asset.
Since his inauguration, Trump has reversed the policies of his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, and reopened direct negotiations with Moscow, fueling older speculations that a behind-the-scenes relationship existed between him and Russia.
“I will state an unpopular opinion. Trump isn’t receiving guidelines from the Kremlin in the morning,” Kuleba told the Ukrainian news website LIGA.net on Wednesday.
“At the same time, he is surrounded by people, and he believes that they and Russia can actually do a lot of good things together, and that he needs Russia. He doesn’t need Ukraine. It’s as simple as that. It’s the worldview he has,” he added.
Kuleba, who served as Ukraine’s top diplomat from 2020 to 2024, argued that “the media-active people in Trump’s entourage are pushing the narratives that we consider pro-Russian, and the Trump voters are eagerly spreading them on social media.”
“However, I don’t think that Trump is doing it because he is an agent [of Russia]. He sincerely believes in a worldview that is different from ours. We believe in one reality, and he believes in a different reality,” Kuleba said.
He went on to argue that Trump believes that leaders like presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China “command deep respect and the desire to do great things together.” Kuleba claimed that Trump likes Xi’s “style of governance” and that they “are on the same page, mentally.”
Trump labeled Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky a “dictator without elections” in February and blamed him for the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky responded by claiming that Trump was trapped in a “disinformation bubble.”
The US president has slapped levies on nearly all of America’s trading partners
US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs against many countries on Wednesday. The move is part of his much-touted ‘America First’ strategy aimed at boosting domestic production and fixing what the president calls unfair trade practices.
The new set of tariffs escalates the trade war Trump initiated earlier with China, Canada, and Mexico.
“The current global trading order allows those using unfair trade practices to get ahead, while those playing by the rules get left behind,” the White House said. “In 2024, our trade deficit in goods exceeded $1.2 trillion – an unsustainable crisis ignored by prior leadership.”
‘Liberation Day’
Trump framed his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs as a means to restore the balance of trade. He has frequently accused foreign states of abusing the openness of the US market and “ripping off” the American people.
“This is one of the most important days, in my opinion, in American history. It’s our declaration of economic independence,” Trump told reporters in the White House Rose Garden.
“We will supercharge our domestic industrial base. We will pry open foreign markets and break down foreign trade barriers, and ultimately, more production at home will mean stronger competition and lower prices for consumers,” he said.
Baseline tariff
The US will impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, which will take effect on April 5. The president has argued that the measure was necessary to protect American manufacturers.
‘Reciprocal’ duties
Additionally, Trump said he will slap dozens of nations with which the US has large trade deficits with “an individualized reciprocal higher tariff,” which will take effect on April 9. He described the countries hit by extra duties as the “worst offenders.”
The nations subjected to “reciprocal” tariffs include China (34%), India (26%), Japan (24%), South Korea (25%) and South Africa (30%).
Trump has imposed 20% duties on the goods from the EU, explaining that the bloc’s total levies on American goods amounted to 39% and that US companies were paying over $200 billion per year in value-added taxes in European countries.
“European Union, they’re very tough… They rip us off. It’s so sad to see. It’s so pathetic,” Trump said.
Auto tariffs to kick in
The US president confirmed that his 25% tariffs on cars and trucks will take effect on April 3, and the 25% duties on auto parts will kick in on May 3.
The tariffs will cover $600 billion worth of vehicles and parts imported annually, according to Reuters.
Markets shaken
The announcement shook the stock market, as futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.5%, while S&P 500 futures lost 3.6%, and Nasdaq-100 futures lost 4.5%, according to CNBC.
The shares of major US companies also took a hit. Apple, Nike, and Elon Musk’s Tesla each lost about 7%.
The US president is applying primitive tactics in both the economic and political issues he’s dealing with, Henry Johnston tells RT
US President Donald Trump’s tactics in both political and economic matters are very similar and are tantamount to using a sledgehammer for a problem that requires nuance, financial analyst Henry Johnston has told RT. On Wednesday, Trump announced a new round of sweeping tariffs on scores of trading partners, part of what he has branded his ‘Liberation Day’ plan.
“I think there’s a very interesting parallel between Trump’s approach to the Ukraine conflict and what he is doing economically. And that is that he is attempting to address very deep-seated, longstanding problems with rapid unilateral and aggressive measures,” the analyst told RT. “And in both cases, I think he’s going to encounter more of what we’re already seeing: his very primitive tactics are not getting to the root of the issue. The economic problems that he’s attempting to address are very deep-seated. They’ve been in play for half a century and they will not be addressed by a bludgeoning with tariffs.”
In his speech, Trump presented a detailed chart highlighting the reciprocal tariffs he is applying to different nations. “We will charge them approximately half of what they are and have been charging us,” Trump said of his reciprocal tariff plan. “So, the tariffs will be not a full reciprocal,” he added.
According to Johnston, there’s a perception in the White House that other nations take advantage of the US because American goods are not as welcome elsewhere, whereas the US has kept a relatively open market. “The trade balance certainly speaks for itself, but I think what’s important to understand here is that the US was a willing participant in this system. By using the dollar as the reserve currency and encouraging other countries to build up surpluses of dollars and then reinvest those in the US, in US Treasuries, it essentially allowed the US to finance domestic consumption without creating inflation,” the analyst explained to RT. “I think it’s not entirely in good faith to claim that the US is being abused, even where US goods don’t have the same access to other markets, because the system itself has been very beneficial to the United States.”
The plan has drawn swift backlash from US trading partners. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the EU has “a strong plan” in response. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, as cited by CCTV, that Beijing would “counterattack” if the US continues to engage in “blackmail.”
“And I think there’ll certainly be a lot of scrambling among American trade partners to respond to this,” Johnston told RT. “I think the European Union will see this as a hostile move, without question, I think it will be fairly painful for the EU. We could be seeing trade wars among allies.”
Since returning to office in January, Trump has imposed a series of tariffs targeting a wide range of imports – from sweeping duties on Chinese goods to non-compliant products from the EU, Canada, and Mexico, and also steel, aluminum, and most recently, foreign cars and critical auto parts.
Trump has particularly singled out the EU for what he calls unfair trade practices, including high tariffs on American goods and restrictive regulatory barriers that disadvantage US companies.
RIA Novosti has appealed the decision based on previous assurances that sanctions do not prohibit journalistic activities
The European Union has denied accreditation for this year to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing compliance with the bloc’s sanctions against the organization, the outlet reported on Wednesday.
The news agency cited a letter from the bloc’s accreditation committee informing it that while asset freezes and bans on economic resources do not directly prohibit journalistic activities, they do bar the indirect provision of economic support to sanctioned entities. This includes access to EU buildings and digital tools provided by European institutions, the letter reportedly added.
However, according to RIA Novosti, in practice, the lack of accreditation in the EU not only prevents access to media events, including those held via videoconference, but also hinders the timely receipt of materials intended for publication that are distributed to accredited journalists.
The news agency reported that it has filed an appeal with the accreditation committee, arguing that previous EU statements emphasized that restrictions would not impede journalistic work on EU territory. The agency referenced the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as the basis for its appeal.
The EU imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian media since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Outlets such as RT, Sputnik, and RIA Novosti have all been banned across the bloc, while their personnel have been targeted with sanctions.
On February 24, the European Council adopted its 16th sanctions package against Russia, which included a broadcasting ban on eight additional Russian media outlets, including Lenta.ru and the TV channel Zvezda.
In a statement accompanying the sanctions, the EU accused the listed outlets of being under “direct control of the Russian government and systematically disseminating disinformation and propaganda.” The EU has argued that such activities pose a threat to public order and security within the bloc.
Moscow has slammed the sanctions against Russian media, arguing that EU officials are afraid that people would see a viewpoint that differs from the Western mainstream narrative and would start drawing their own conclusions about current events.
The White House’s Liberation Day plan sets out broad, country-specific duties on US trading partners
US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new round of tariffs on Wednesday, as part of what he has branded his ‘Liberation Day’ plan, raising concerns about a potential global trade war.
Washington is introducing customs duties on all countries based on the principle of reciprocity, Trump has announced, calling it a day of economic independence for the United States.
The president confirmed that the 25% global tariffs on cars and trucks will take effect as scheduled on Thursday, while duties on imported automotive parts are set to take effect on May 3.
In his speech at the White House Rose Garden, Trump complained that “none of our companies are allowed to go into other countries.”
“That’s why, effective at midnight, we will impose a 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles,” he declared.
Trump claimed the reciprocal tariffs would usher in a “golden age” for the country, adding that “jobs and factories will come roaring back.”
According to a chart presented by Trump during his speech, the new tariffs will range from 10% to 50%, depending on the country. Washington will impose a 20% tariff on the EU, 34% levies on China, and 24% duties on Japan, among others.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 2, 2025
Trump said Washington would implement “kind” reciprocal tariffs on all countries amounting to “approximately half” of what those nations charge the US.
“We will supercharge our domestic industrial base” and “break down” trade barriers abroad, he vowed, noting that ultimately this would entail lower prices for consumers.
“Our country and its taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is NOT going to happen anymore,” Trump concluded, adding “We are finally putting America first.”
A new executive order is expected to sharply raise the minimum threshold for weapons sales that trigger a congressional review
US President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would significantly simplify the rules governing military equipment exports, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
The executive order, anticipated to be issued imminently, is likely to reflect legislation proposed by Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Waltz, last year during his tenure in the House of Representatives.
According to sources from both the arms industry and the government, the forthcoming order will resemble Waltz’s bill, which sought to amend the US Arms Export Control Act.
The proposed amendments aimed to raise the threshold for deals that trigger a congressional review – from $14 million to $23 million for arms transfers and from $50 million to $83 million for sales involving military equipment, upgrades, training, and related services.
Current rules already allow higher thresholds for NATO members and key US allies such as Japan, Israel, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. In those cases, the administration must notify Congress 15 days before a sale, compared to the 30-day notice period for other countries.
Trump has long criticized the bureaucratic hurdles surrounding foreign arms sales and frequently clashed with Congress during his first term over delays. In 2019, he bypassed a congressional review by declaring a national emergency tied to tensions with Iran, enabling him to fast-track over $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
The deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE had been stalled for months, largely due to congressional objections over the countries’ roles in Yemen’s aerial campaign and human rights concerns following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s consulate in Turkey.
The gaffe occurred during remarks by Andrey Sibiga on a potential agreement between Kiev and Washington
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga appeared to confuse Ukraine and the US while speaking on Tuesday about a potential agreement between the two countries on critical minerals.
Kiev and Washington have been in talks to finalize a deal that would grant the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, including rare-earth elements, in return for American military aid provided during the conflict with Moscow.
Speaking at a press briefing, Sibiga confirmed that a new round of consultations with the US on the draft agreement is already under way.
“The Ukrainian side is committed to concluding a document that would serve the national interests of both the United States and America,” Sibiga said in a video released by a Ukrainian news outlet.
The foreign minister did not correct himself and went on to say that the potential agreement, which envisions a continued presence of major US businesses in Ukraine, would contribute to the country’s broader security.
The arrangement was initially proposed by Vladimir Zelensky in his so-called ‘victory plan’ presented last year ahead of the US presidential election. Kiev aimed to secure continued US support against Russia by offering privileged access to mineral resources.
The two sides were expected to sign the agreement in late February, but the ceremony was derailed by a public clash between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, who accused the Ukrainian leader of ingratitude and reluctance to make a peace deal with Russia.
In addition, while Trump has portrayed the deal as a way for Ukraine to pay back past US assistance, Zelensky has insisted that Kiev owes Washington nothing.
According to media reports, the latest version of the deal includes significantly tougher terms for Ukraine. The US would reportedly recoup all aid provided to Ukraine since the 2022 escalation of the conflict with Russia, and would impose a 4% annual interest rate on the total before Kiev could access any of the profits from the joint extraction fund.
The US has allocated more than $123 billion in military and financial assistance to Ukraine since 2022, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute. Trump has claimed the true cost to the US has exceeded $300 billion.
Last week, Zelensky said the new framework differs significantly from what had been planned in February, though he did not dismiss the proposal outright.
Trump has warned that Zelensky would face “big problems” if he attempts to back out of the deal.
The Cold War never ended – it just moved to the Arctic and got nuclear
In late March, at the VI Arctic Forum held in Murmansk, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Moscow’s commitment to expanding its fleet of nuclear icebreakers.
“Russia already possesses the largest icebreaker fleet globally,” Putin noted. “We must further solidify our position by commissioning advanced icebreakers, particularly nuclear-powered vessels uniquely available to us.” He emphasized that “no other nation has a comparable fleet.”
But what exactly can Russia’s Arctic fleet accomplish?
A new generation
This Wednesday, the fourth nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220, the 'Yakutia', completed sea trials and departed for operations along the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
The 'Yakutia' ranks among the world’s most powerful nuclear icebreakers. The construction of Project 22220 icebreakers began in 2013, with plans to build at least seven ships. Three vessels – the 'Arktika', 'Siberia', and 'Ural' – have already entered service. The lead ship, the 'Arktika', was commissioned in 2020, becoming a flagship of Russia’s contemporary Arctic exploration efforts. It was followed by the 'Siberia' in 2021 and 'Ural' in 2022. Two additional ships, the 'Chukotka' and 'Kamchatka', are currently under construction, and the keel for a seventh vessel, the 'Sakhalin', will be laid later this year. These icebreakers are constructed at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg, funded by Rosatom’s Atomflot with state support.
Advanced nuclear icebreakers such as the 'Yakutia' are specifically engineered for harsh Arctic conditions, and are capable of breaking ice up to three meters thick. Their unique hull designs enhance maneuverability in extreme cold and dense ice environments. Equipped with two nuclear reactors generating a combined 60 megawatts, they can operate autonomously for several months.
Today, these vessels represent the most powerful and efficient icebreakers worldwide. Importantly, Russia has significantly reduced reliance on imported components, with domestically produced parts comprising 92% of each ship. Ultimately, Russia aims for complete self-sufficiency in producing all components for future nuclear icebreakers.
Project 22220 icebreakers are versatile, designed for both open ocean and river channel navigation. Their design integrates the strengths of previous-generation vessels, such as the ocean-going 'Arktika' and the river-focused 'Taimyr'. Adjustable ballast tanks can be filled with seawater to increase draft and enhance icebreaking capability.
'Yakutia'-class icebreakers are intended to replace older ships nearing the end of their operational lives. As the newer icebreakers enter service, older vessels such as the 'Taimyr', 'Vaigach', and 'Yamal' will eventually be decommissioned. While their operational lifespan has been extended until 2027, these aging icebreakers will ultimately be succeeded by more advanced and powerful vessels.
What’s at stake?
Currently, Russia’s Atomflot operates nine nuclear icebreakers: the nuclear-powered transport ship 'Sevmorput', two river-class icebreakers ('Taimyr' and 'Vaigach'), sea-class icebreakers such as the 'Yamal' and the Project 10521 “50 Years of Victory,” alongside the latest Project 22220 vessels.
These ships support Russia’s rapid Arctic development and establish navigable shipping routes from Murmansk to Kamchatka along the NSR.
Beyond nuclear icebreakers, Russia maintains conventional icebreakers and is constructing four non-nuclear, ice-class Project 23550 patrol vessels. This robust fleet significantly enhances Russia’s capabilities for year-round maritime navigation in the Arctic, securing conventional shipping and safeguarding national interests in the region.
Why the Arctic matters
The Arctic region holds vast reserves of natural resources – oil, gas, minerals, and fisheries – which could significantly impact the global economy. Additionally, it offers strategic advantages for developing transcontinental shipping routes. Russia’s Northern Sea Route could substantially shorten trade distances between Europe and Asia, connecting China, Japan, Europe, and the US East Coast. Nuclear icebreakers are essential for safely guiding vessels through Arctic ice.
Recently, the United States raised discussions regarding Greenland’s geopolitical status. Clearly, the US, having fallen behind in Arctic exploration, seeks solutions to regain influence. Greenland, an autonomous territory within Denmark, holds strategic importance in the Arctic. In a world increasingly driven by resource access and shipping lanes, major powers such as the US aim to strengthen their presence, particularly amid rising activity by Russia and China.
However, the US currently lacks a nuclear icebreaker fleet comparable to Russia’s and faces challenges even with conventional icebreakers, which severely limits its Arctic capabilities. Resolving Greenland’s status alone won’t overcome this strategic disadvantage. To effectively compete in the Arctic, the US would require substantial long-term investments to build an advanced icebreaker fleet, ensuring access to Arctic routes and resources.
Recognizing this, in 2020, the US announced plans to construct a new nuclear-powered icebreaker to strengthen its Arctic presence. Yet, while Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet is already operational, the US remains in the early planning stages.
Perhaps international cooperation offers a viable alternative, but such partnerships must be mutually beneficial. Is the US prepared for collaboration, and would Russia be interested? These remain critical questions for Arctic geopolitics.
New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker has given a marathon speech against the president’s policies on Capitol Hill
US Democratic Senator Cory Booker has broken the record for the longest speech in US Senate history, delivering a 25-hour, five-minute address denouncing Republican President Donald Trump’s policies. The speech began late Monday this week and ended on Tuesday night.
Booker took the floor saying he intended “to disrupt the normal business of the US Senate for as long as I am physically able” in protest of the Trump administration.
During the speech, he warned of a “grave and urgent” moment for America amid the “threats” coming from the president and the numerous executive orders he signed since taking office in January.
The senator condemned Trump’s government spending cuts, reduction of the federal workforce, trade tariffs, shifting foreign policy, proposals to annex Greenland and Canada, criticism of NATO, and his evolving stance on Russia.
“The Trump-Vance administration continues to plunge us into chaos,” Booker claimed.
His speech was reportedly seen as something like a call to arms for Democrats. The party does not hold a majority in either congressional chamber, and has been almost completely locked out of legislative power. Booker repeatedly called on both the Senate and ordinary Americans to resist Trump’s actions.
“These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate,” he said. “The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”
Booker, 55, is a former mayor of Newark, New Jersey and unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, currently serving his second term in the Senate. After the speech, he told reporters he had fasted for days and stopped drinking fluids the night before to prepare for the address.
The previous record for the longest Senate speech was set in 1957 by Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in an effort to block an early version of the US Civil Rights Act which outlawed segregation and racial discrimination.
Booker, one of five black senators currently serving, said he didn’t know if he could break the record, but “once we got closer, [it] became more and more important to me” – as it “really irked” him that the record was held by “someone who was trying to stop people like me from being in the Senate.”
The ruling comes amid the president’s push to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across federal agencies
A federal judge has halted an attempt by the administration of US President Donald Trump to fire intelligence officers who were involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
According to a court order issued on Monday, US District Judge Anthony J. Trenga granted a preliminary injunction that prohibits the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) from firing 19 workers who challenged their terminations.
The ruling comes amid the administration’s efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives across federal agencies. On January 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating the termination of all DEI-related offices and initiatives, arguing that the programs promote “illegal and immoral discrimination” and result in “public waste.”
In February, a group of career US intelligence staffers who had been assigned to DEI initiatives sued ODNI for placing them on administrative leave. The officers argued that they were being fired without sufficient cause, in violation of the agency’s legal obligations and their constitutional rights.
“The plaintiffs face termination without any suggestion of wrongdoing or poor performance,” Judge Trenga ruled, as quoted by Politico. He said the government must allow the 19 employees to seek reassignment or appeal their termination as set forth in employment rules governing their agencies.
The ruling is expected to apply to the other 39 CIA and ODNI personnel who did not join the suit but also face termination, Reuters noted.
The injunction is part of a series of legal challenges against Trump’s executive actions, spanning multiple policy areas, including immigration, civil rights, public health funding, and federal workforce regulations.
Courts have recently blocked funding freezes at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Education.
The recent funding cuts implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, are part of a broader initiative to reduce federal expenditures and dismantle DEI within federal agencies.
DEI principles in employment are aimed at promoting opportunities for all individuals, especially those from historically marginalized groups. Critics argue that hiring based on factors other than merit can lead to reverse discrimination and inefficiencies within organizations.
Washington’s rapprochement with Moscow could threaten the military bloc’s future, according to Western diplomats
European NATO members have raised concerns that Washington’s rapprochement with Moscow and the sidelining of the EU during talks could weaken the US-led military bloc, according to AFP, citing Western diplomats.
The US and Russia have held several high-level meetings in Saudi Arabia and Türkiye aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict and improving diplomatic ties, with another round of talks expected.
In a report published on Wednesday, unnamed NATO diplomats said signals from Washington that it may shift its forces away from Europe, combined with US President Donald Trump’s outreach to Russia, have sparked fears among member states.
“We know the direction: less US in the alliance,” one NATO diplomat told AFP. “Our interest is to keep the maximum US in the alliance.”
EU countries have been ramping up military expenditure and weapons production, driven by Trump’s demand to more than double NATO’s spending target to 5% of GDP.
“We always knew that the moment would come when America would sort of step back,” according to former NATO official Jamie Shea. The US should present a clear timeline if it plans to scale down its military presence in Europe, the diplomats reportedly said.
European NATO members see the ongoing US-Russia talks as a potentially fundamental threat to the bloc, according to AFP. For now, the diplomats hope Trump’s outreach to Moscow is a tactical move aimed at securing a deal to end the hostilities, the outlet added.
“If it is a strategic shift, then of course it’s a big problem,” one of the diplomats said. “The level of optimism is certainly dropping,” another added.
Trump recently commented that NATO expansion and its outreach to Ukraine during former US President Joe Biden’s time in the White House were among the factors that led to the conflict with Russia.
Moscow has condemned NATO’s expansion towards its borders, describing the bloc as a threat to national security. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have stressed that NATO’s push to include Ukraine was one of the root causes behind the escalation of the conflict in 2022.
Russia has also denied the claims of NATO member states that it intends to attack the military bloc. Putin has dismissed the speculation as “complete nonsense.”
Kiev has targeted energy facilities in Russia in violation of the US-brokered partial ceasefire, the military says
The Ukrainian military has launched new attacks on Russia’s energy facilities, despite claiming it complies with a US-brokered truce on such strikes, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
Two incidents have been registered in Russia’s Kursk Region, where Ukrainian drones targeted a substation and damaged a power line in the area, the military said. The attacks inflicted material damage and cut some 1,500 customers off the grid, it added.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces are systematically launching strikes with drones and artillery systems on Russian energy infrastructure against the backdrop of statements by various representatives of the Kiev regime, starting with [Vladimir] Zelensky, about compliance with restrictions on strikes on Russian energy facilities,” the ministry said.
Later in the day, Luganskgaz, an energy company operating in Russia’s Lugansk People's Republic, reported a Ukrainian drone attack on one of its facilities. The attack hit a gas distribution station, sparked a fire and disrupted supply to more than 11,000 customers, the company said in a statement. Gas supply has already been partially restored after the attack, it added.
Ukraine violates the US-brokered energy truce on a daily basis, the ministry claimed.
The partial ceasefire was proposed by US President Donald Trump during a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in March. The Russian leader accepted the proposal, immediately ordering the country’s troops to halt such attacks. At the time, the Russian military said it had to shoot down seven of its own kamikaze drones that were en route to Ukraine’s energy facilities when the order was issued.
Last week, Moscow revealed a comprehensive list of energy facilities subject to the 30-day truce. The agreement could be prolonged, Russia has noted, adding that if either party violates the deal, the other can consider itself free from any obligations.
Zelensky publicly backed the idea of the truce shortly after it was first announced, appearing to reiterate his commitment to the deal last week. However, the Ukrainian leader never publicly mentioned any specific orders to the country’s military despite hailing the truce as a purported “victory” for Kiev.
The US president has warned of restrictions if Moscow “is to blame” for a failed Ukraine ceasefire
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stressed that Russia continues to comply with a ceasefire agreed with the US on attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He declined to comment on Wednesday when asked about US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Russian oil, should the agreement collapse.
Trump said on Sunday he will sanction Russia if he considers it responsible for the failure of a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, stating that “there will be a 25% tariff on all [Russian] oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
During a phone call last month, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed a 30-day moratorium on strikes targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow has insisted that it has complied with the ceasefire, while reporting repeated Ukrainian breaches of the agreement.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Peskov said Russia maintains contact with the US and “addressed the topic yesterday.”
“The issue is highly complicated and requires considerable additional effort. Our dialogue with the American side is ongoing,” Peskov stated.
He reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to a political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
“The fact that Russia, in coordination with the American side, has declared its commitment to a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure is the clearest evidence of that,” Peskov said.
He stressed that Russia sees a clear lack of willingness from Ukraine to abide by the agreement.
“The Kiev regime is not observing the temporary moratorium and continues to launch daily strikes on our energy infrastructure,” the presidential spokesman said. “We will maintain our dialogue with the American side, patiently presenting the reality on the ground and Kiev’s refusal to pursue any meaningful steps toward peace.”
The energy truce was proposed by Trump on March 18 and supported by Putin, who immediately ordered a halt to such attacks by Russia. The Russian military reported that it had to shoot down seven of its own kamikaze drones en route to Ukrainian energy facilities in order to comply with the president’s directive.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky also publicly backed the idea of the truce shortly after it was first announced and appeared to reiterate his commitment to implement last week.
Moscow, however, accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire almost immediately, citing several breaches in the days that followed. Despite this, Russia has signaled its intent to uphold the partial truce, arguing that it serves as a step toward improving ties with the US.
The two-day exercise is aimed at deterring the self-governing island from pursuing separatism, according to Beijing.
The Chinese military has published several videos showcasing a two-day exercise carried out near the self-administered Chinese island of Taiwan earlier this week.
Launched by the Eastern Theater Command (ETC) of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday, the exercise, designated ‘Strait Thunder’, drew resources from multiple branches of the Chinese armed forces. Command spokesman Shi Yi stated that the maneuvers were focused on “identification and verification, warning and expulsion, and interception and detention” of various targets. He described the drills as designed to prepare for a potential blockade of Taiwan.
The PLA deployed the Shandong Aircraft Carrier Task Group for the exercise. The domestically produced flagship, commissioned in 2019, carries two dozen Shenyang J-15 naval fighter jets as its primary armament. These were showcased in a video released on Wednesday.
Another clip from the ETC depicted an early morning alert at military barracks, followed by the deployment of rocket launch systems for a live-fire drill. The video suggested that the weapons could be deployed to directly target Taiwan’s coastline in the event of an armed conflict.
Footage released on Tuesday also featured PLA Air Force aircraft participating in the drill.
Taiwan is governed by an administration rooted in nationalist forces that were defeated by the Communists during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. While Washington officially acknowledges Beijing’s sovereignty over the island, it has provided military support to Taipei. Beijing views such arms supplies as encouraging Taiwanese officials to pursue formal independence from China.
“’Taiwan independence’ and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang emphasized in a statement on Wednesday. “Pursuing ‘Taiwanese independence’ will only put Taiwan in a dangerous situation and plunge Taiwan compatriots into dire straits.”
Beijing seeks a peaceful reunification but has warned that it is willing to use force to counteract any separatist efforts. The Defense Ministry labeled the government of incumbent President Lai Ching-te as “crisis makers” and “troublemakers” in its remarks about the ‘Strait Thunder’ exercises.
Several Finnish citizens submitted a complaint to the court alleging that Helsinki is violating their fundamental rights
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has asked Finland to respond to claims that its border closure with Russia is violating the rights of its Russian-speaking residents, who have been unable to travel to their homeland for various purposes.
According to the court file released on Monday, the case was brought by nine Finnish nationals or residents of Russian origin who argue that the government’s repeated border closures, beginning in November 2023, disrupted key aspects of their personal lives, including access to family, religious freedom, and property.
Finland has been gradually toughening the border with its eastern neighbor following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Most of the restrictions, however, came in 2023 when Helsinki accused Moscow of deliberately diverting illegal migrants to the country, a claim Russia has denied.
Most of the claimants assert that the restrictions have deprived them of the opportunity to see their family members. One insisted that he had to quit his job in Russia, while two others pointed out that they were unable to visit their relatives’ graves several times a year as required by the Orthodox Christian faith. Another also said that she cannot collect her Russian pension due to the EU sanctions against Russian banks and border restrictions.
The ECHR made a formal request to the Finnish authorities whether the closure breached the claimants' right to private and family life. The court also queried whether those filing the claim had been denied access to justice after Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court dismissed their appeal in March 2024 on the grounds they lacked standing because the closures did not target them individually.
Despite the geopolitical tensions, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Tuesday that his country must “mentally prepare [itself] for the fact that relations [with Russia] will open up on a political level at some point.”“Nothing removes the fact that Russia is, and will always be, Finland’s neighbor – 1,350km of neighborly relations,” he added.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that Russia has “never had problems with Finland or Sweden,” but accused both countries – which joined NATO after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict – of “dragging” the bloc’s military infrastructure on to their territory. He reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s position that Russia remains open to normalizing relations with any state willing to do so.
The Indian army has claimed that its neighbours troops have opened fire “unprovoked” along the countries disputed border
The Indian Army on Wednesday said it had “responded effectively” after Pakistani troops crossed the Line of Control (LoC), a disputed border between the two nuclear armed nations, violating A long-standing ceasefire.
According to an army official quoted by Indian Express, the Indian military response came after a mine explosion near the border as Pakistani forces were carrying out intrusion across the LoC. “This was followed by unprovoked firing and ceasefire violation by the Pakistani army. Indian troops responded effectively in a controlled and calibrated manner,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said. He added that the situation is “under control and being closely monitored.”
Indian media outlets also reported, citing sources, that several Pakistani soldiers had been killed in the retaliatory fire by Indian Troops.
It is the first time in recent months that the Indian armed forces have confirmed the ceasefire violation by its neighbor, cording to India Today. Similar crossfire incidents were reported in the Krishna Ghati sector of the LOC, in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, February this year.
Bartwal, speaking to media, reiterated the Indian Army stance on the the importance of upholding the agreement reached by the two countries in February 2021 including “strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors.”
Acting on intelligence inputs, multiple surveillance cum ambushes were deployed in general area Panjtirthi, #Kathua by #IndianArmy, @JmuKmrPolice & CRPF. Suspicious movement was observed on the night of 31 March, leading to an exchange of fire. Search & Destroy… pic.twitter.com/3jhovKNFsM
— Rising Star Corps_IA (@RisingStarCorps) April 1, 2025
The Kashmir region has been a longstanding source of tension between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming sovereignty over the area. This dispute has persisted since India and Pakistan gained independence from British rule in 1947, and it remains a major point of contention between the two nuclear-armed nations.
This development precedes Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Jammu and Kashmir, set to take place next week. It also coincides with an ongoing operation by security forces against militants in the Kathua district in Jammu, which has been underway for several days, as per reports.
A recent encounter resulted in the deaths of two militants, with security forces continuing to search for three more in the dense forests in the nearby area. Multiple paramilitary forces have been deployed and the operation remains in progress, an ANI report said.
Islamabad has not officially reacted to the incident. In February this year, on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif called on India to engage in dialogue regarding Kashmir.
Margarita Simonyan says legal aid should be offered to those arrested for supporting Russia
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan has proposed an initiative to provide legal aid to people arrested abroad for supporting Russia and its values. Simonyan raised the idea at a roundtable in Moscow focused on fostering cultural ties between Russia and other Eurasian nations.
The meeting of the ‘Eurasia’ autonomous non-profit organization (ANO) on Tuesday was chaired by Russia’s top MP, Vyacheslav Volodin. The organization implements humanitarian projects aimed at preserving traditional values and promoting communication between people belonging to different cultures. Simonyan serves on the board of trustees.
In recent years, Moscow has denounced as politically motivated numerous foreign arrests of Russian nationals or those linked to the country.
The initiative proposed by Simonyan would address cases when people are “arrested wrongfully, unjustly, sometimes on fake charges.”
“When we see that someone has fallen out of favor, been outlawed or even ended up in prison because they share the same culture and history as us and makes that known loud and clear, it’s our duty to help them,” the RT editor-in-chief said.
In March, Moscow condemned as “biased” and “politically motivated” a life sentence issued by a Finnish court to Russian national Voislav Torden over his alleged involvement in fighting against Ukrainian forces in Donbass in 2014. Torden has maintained his innocence.
Last year, Russia accused the West of turning into a “neoliberal dictatorship” that is intolerant of any form of dissent, following the prosecution of journalist Svetlana Burtseva by EU member Estonia. According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the “fabricated criminal case” against Burtseva exposed the fact that Tallinn “is ready to commit any crime to settle scores with its opponents.”
In 2023, Marat Kasem, chief editor at Russian media outlet Sputnik, spent four months in a Latvian jail before being fined for allegedly aiding and abetting Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the charges against him as “fraudulent.” Kasem later fled Latvia after President Edgars Rinkevics suggested that prosecutors had treated him too leniently.
Russia currently provides legal aid to its citizens abroad through consular services, focusing primarily on notarial services, vital records registration, and assistance during emergencies.
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