Russia
Trump says U.S. will resume sending weapons to Ukraine after pausing last week
With Russian attacks escalating, Ukraine is dependent on air defense systems and munitions supplied by western allies to protect Ukrainian cities.
Russia pummels Kyiv with drones and missiles, killing at least 15
The attacks was one of the largest on Ukraine's capital in months. It came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared for the G7 summit in Canada, where he is pushing for stronger sanctions on Russia.
Russia launches massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, killing 3 in Kyiv
President Trump said the Russian leader Vladimir Putin had warned that he would retaliate for a covert Ukrainian attack in Russia last weekend that destroyed dozens of Russian bombers.
Trump says it may be better to let Ukraine, Russia ‘fight for a while’
In an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Trump likened the war between Russia and Ukraine to a fight between two children who hate each other.
A new satellite TV channel allows Alexei Navalny’s videos to reach Russian audiences
The Russia's Future channel, launched by Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya and Reporters Without Borders, began broadcasting Wednesday, on what would have been the late Russian activist's 49th birthday.
Britain gets a defense boost aimed at sending a message to Russia, and to Trump
Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukraine destroys Russian bombers with shocking barrage of drones ahead of peace talks
Officials from Russia and Ukraine are meeting in Istanbul today for the latest round of peace talks. Both countries are trying to get the upper hand militarily ahead of possible negotiations.
A video of the French president’s wife shoving him went viral. Here’s why it matters
Macron said that the video depicts the couple "joking" and dismissed it as part of a disinformation campaign. Experts say Russian accounts are trying to undermine his image as a strong advocate for the West.
Trump calls Putin ‘absolutely crazy’ following Russia’s latest barrage on Ukraine
Trump's remarks were a rare rebuke of the Russian president and followed a storm of drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities on Sunday evening.
Inside Ukraine’s last maternity ward in a region surrounded by Russian forces
NPR visits a hospital in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, in a town where many residents have fled but some young couples are holding on and hoping to raise their children one day in peace.
Ukraine and Russia begin the largest prisoner-of-war exchange since the invasion
Ukraine and Russia have begun the exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war, the largest such swap since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy arrives in Turkey for talks with Russia, without Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Turkey for direct talks with Russia. But the Kremlin sent a lower-level delegation that doesn't include President Vladimir Putin.
As Russia and Ukraine prepare for possible direct talks, cue President Trump
There are lots of unknowns ahead of potential direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.
Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet him in Turkey ‘personally’ for ceasefire talks
Ukraine and European allies had demanded Russia accept a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday before holding talks, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations instead.
Ukraine’s allies push for 30-day ceasefire starting Monday
U.K. Prime Minister says Europe and the U.S. are "calling out" Putin, by proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday.
How this teen fled Russian occupation to become an unassuming hero in Ukraine
An 18-year-old from Russian-occupied Luhansk tells NPR how and why he escaped to Kyiv.
Word of the Week: Crimea’s tumultuous history shrouds the origin of its very name
At the northern end of the Black Sea, Crimea sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, having been at various times in its long history either coveted, conquered or controlled by various powers.
Putin declares a 3-day ceasefire for May’s WWII anniversary. Ukraine says why wait?
Russia declared a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine starting May 8 for the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Ukraine called for an immediate, 30-day truce instead.
Ukrainian families divided by Russian occupation hang on and hope to be reunited
Ukrainians displaced by Russian occupation are helping the war effort — and longing for the homes they fled and the loved ones they left behind.
Trump meets Zelenskyy during visit to Pope Francis’ funeral
The White House says it will release more details of the meeting, which it described as "a very productive discussion."
Trump has his old friend Steve Witkoff leading his toughest diplomatic talks
President Trump has put Steve Witkoff — a friend from New York's real estate world — in charge of delicate talks on the war in Ukraine, Iran's nuclear ambitions and the conflict in Gaza.
Russia launches airstrikes on Kyiv as Trump pushes for Kremlin-favored peace deal
The Ukrainian military says Russia launched at least 215 drones and missiles at Ukraine, most aimed at the capital.
Officials from U.S., Europe meet in London for Ukraine peace talks
The U.S. is showing signs that it is increasingly willing to withdraw from a peace process that has grown more complex in recent months.
Putin calls an Easter ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds of POWs
The Russian president announced a temporary ceasefire, citing humanitarian reasons, as Russia and Ukraine swapped hundreds of captured soldiers.
Trump may abandon Ukraine peace talks ‘within days,’ Rubio warns
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the U.S. would walk away from efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine if progress isn't made within days.
‘It’s a fight for freedom.’ Ukraine backers call for continued arms support 1 year into war
A group of supporters gathered at Railroad Park in Birmingham to draw attention to human rights violations in the country and call for continued arms support from the U.S.
‘We got our miracle’: Freed Americans back home in Alabama
Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh had gone missing June 9 in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine while while fighting with Ukrainian forces against Russia.
Russian separatists release 2 U.S. veterans as part of a prisoner exchange
Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh went missing in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine near the Russian border June 9. They had traveled to Ukraine on their own and became friends because both are from Alabama.
Biden visits Alabama Lockheed plant as weapons stockpile strained
President Joe Biden credited the assembly line workers at a Javelin missile plant in Troy for doing lifesaving work in building the antitank weapons that are being sent to Ukraine.
Record-high gas prices are cutting into Alabama drivers’ budgets. Here’s how they’re coping
The added expense affects people in Alabama’s Black Belt differently, including road trippers, commuters and even those who can’t drive.
Why Gulf South oil producers can’t protect the region from rising gas prices
Experts say activating unused oil wells could temper the rising costs of gas, but consumers should not expect prices to get anywhere near their COVID low.
Birmingham leaders say decision to ban Russian athletes from the World Games ‘a show of solidarity’
The World Games ban was in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week.
