Tag: Kremlin

Trump and the Kremlin: the Largely Blackboard

By Nina Bachkatov

On 20 January, from their respective capitals, President Putin and President Zelensky congratulated President Trump on his inauguration. Both spoke of peace, albeit with differing qualifications: for the Ukrainian leader, a “just peace”; for the Russian, a “lasting peace”. Trump envisions dialogue between Washington and Moscow—not Kyiv and Brussels—as central to his approach. The new president views himself as a peacemaker, pointing to his success in pressuring the Israeli prime minister to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas as evidence that similar pressure on Zelensky could yield results. This is reflected in Putin’s remark that their dialogue should aim to “prevent a Third World War”.

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Assad In Moscow, the Unwanted Guest

By Nina Bachkatov

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his annual televised Q&A session on 19 December, acknowledged that he had yet to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but planned to do so soon. Putin dismissed speculation that the fall of the Assad regime represented a defeat for Russia or the loss of its military foothold on the Mediterranean. He conceded that the sudden collapse of Damascus without a fight had taken Russia by surprise but pointedly noted that this was true for all, including those preparing to engage not with a “democratic opposition” but with a group classified as a terrorist organisation.

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Brussels, emphasising that only unified action by the EU, NATO, and the US could ensure Ukraine achieves “peace through strength.” His rhetoric reflected concerns over the EU’s ability to act decisively and the unpredictability of former US President Donald Trump, who could influence NATO and exert pressure on EU members through tariffs.

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The Kremlin challenged in a Moscow suburb

Two weeks after the March 22 attack in Moscow, the official inquiry has yet to reach a conclusion. What is certain is that the assailants killed more than 143 people, either by shooting them at point-blank range or engulfing them in the fire they ignited. Four men have been brought before the court, their arrests shrouded in conflicting circumstances. In images captured within the tribunal, they appeared severely beaten, with one in a semi-comatose state. This unsettling scene not only raises questions about the methods of the Russian police but also suggests political motives in circulating such a degrading portrayal.

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