Features

Why Is Saudi Arabia Hosting U.S.-Russia Talks? And Why Now?

Saudi Arabia is hosting talks between Russia and the United States to end the war in Ukraine. Experts see the event as part of Riyadh’s effort to assume a central role in international diplomacy.

What To Watch As U.S.-Russia Talks Begin Over Ukraine War

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are meeting in Riyadh for high-stakes talks that could shape the end of the war in Ukraine and remake ties between Moscow and Washignton. Here’s what to watch.

After Munich Conference, Zelenskyy And Allies Enter Uncharted Waters

Trump's conversation with Putin set the stage for this year's Munich conference. It raised concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump would take a much more transactional approach to negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin-Favored Candidate Faces Runoff in Georgia's Abkhazia 

In the February 15 snap presidential election in Abkhazia, a Russian-backed breakaway region of Georgia, every candidate aligned themselves with Russia in rhetoric.

A Year After Navalny's Death In Prison, His Associates Struggle On Abroad

A year after prominent Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny’s suspicious death in an Arctic prison, his associates are struggling for relevance amid Russia’s war on Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin’s still-spiraling clampdown on dissent inside the country they've been forced to leave.      

Can Israel Destroy Iran's Nuclear Program?

With Tehran resisting talks with the United States, Israel is said to be planning an attack on Iran’s nuclear program. Israel has shown it can penetrate deep inside Iranian territory, but the jury is out on whether it can destroy its nuclear program on its own.

Iranian Government Shut Out Of Munich Security Conference

The Farda Briefing: Energy-Rich Iran Can't Keep The Lights On

This week's Farda Briefing looks at Iran's continuing struggle with blackouts and how it is frustrating a public already at its limit.

Zelenskyy Says He Will 'Meet With Only One Russian: Putin'

The much-anticipated Munich Security Conference (MSC) kicked off on February 14 amid swirling snowfall and intense speculation about whether it will lead to a diplomatic breakthrough that can chart a course to ending Russia’s war on Ukraine. 

Spain Uncovers Tons Of Chemicals Destined For Russia, RFE/RL Learns

A shipment of 13,000 tons of chemicals bound for Russia that Spain seized last year included a restricted solvent that plays a key role in weapons production for the Kremlin’s war machine, an RFE/RL investigation has found.

For The EU, A Trump White House Is A Lurch Into New Territory

Tariffs. Tech regulation. Green investment. Defense spending. Right-wing populism. Expect plenty of turbulence between the United States and the European Union on these issues and others in the coming years.