The Latest Breaking News from Russia

Until recently, the so-called Operation Plan Germany was classified. It is now clear that in the event of an armed conflict, Germany would serve as a key hub for NATO defence, in an approach reminiscent of the Cold War era.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has resigned as a lawmaker

UN special rapporteur on human rights says the ban is ‘an unnecessary and disproportionate restriction’ on fundamental human rights

Prime minister says proposal violates international law and would destabilise financial markets

The Ukrainian president’s ‘right-hand man’ Yermak says he’s fully cooperating as the probe continues

Hopes to secure a reparations loan for Ukraine have been dashed after the Belgian prime minister blasted the proposal as "fundamentally wrong" and called on the EU to raise fresh debt instead of touching the Russian assets.

EU ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová calls on the European Union to find an agreement to use the Russian frozen assets to finance Ukraine's war effort. In a strongly worded letter sent overnight, Belgian PM De Wever pushed back against the plan citing "unequivocal risks" for his country.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is visiting Moscow for energy talks with Vladimir Putin

In today’s newsletter: After nearly four years of war, Ukraine is confronting deep fatigue, dwindling strategic options and fresh US pressure to accept terms that many see as a surrender in all but name