https://www.rferl.org/z/645 The latest news from RFE/RL's broadcast region. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/645 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Tue, 19 May 2026 04:15:05 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The US Treasury Department has extended for another 30 days a sanctions waiver allowing at-risk countries to purchase Russian oil shipments at sea, as supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continue to roil global energy markets. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-renews-russian-oil-waiver-iran-conflict-energy-markets/33759619.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-renews-russian-oil-waiver-iran-conflict-energy-markets/33759619.html Mon, 18 May 2026 20:01:02 +0200 NewsIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html Mon, 18 May 2026 06:00:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Three people have been reported dead as Russia's Moscow region faced the largest Ukrainian assault in over a year on May 17. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drone-attack-moscow-russia/33758725.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drone-attack-moscow-russia/33758725.html Sun, 17 May 2026 10:22:41 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The Trump administration has allowed a controversial waiver on sanctions targeting Russian seaborne oil to expire, reimposing restrictions that had temporarily enabled countries such as India to continue purchasing Russian crude despite Western efforts to curb Moscow’s wartime revenues. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-seaborne-oil-waiver-iran-energy-war/33758687.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-seaborne-oil-waiver-iran-energy-war/33758687.html Sun, 17 May 2026 09:07:28 +0200 IranNewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Representative Brian Mast told RFE/RL during a Council on Foreign Relations event that he believes Europe should take greater responsibility for supporting Ukraine because the war is "in their backyard." https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-military-aid-us-congress/33758257.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-military-aid-us-congress/33758257.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:57:57 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute focusing on national security and transatlantic relations, told RFE/RL in an interview that Iran appears to be borrowing directly from Russia’s negotiation strategy. https://www.rferl.org/a/coffey-hudson-iran-kremlin-negotiation-russia/33757144.html https://www.rferl.org/a/coffey-hudson-iran-kremlin-negotiation-russia/33757144.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:35:24 +0200 IranNewsRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Nina Litvinova, a prominent Russian human rights activist and dissident whose suicide was reported recently by Russian media, left a note blaming President Vladimir Putin for her death, according to her cousin. https://www.rferl.org/a/nina-litvinova-suicide-note-putin/33757694.html https://www.rferl.org/a/nina-litvinova-suicide-note-putin/33757694.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:13:36 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Stories A senior US State Department official warned that Russia is likely to reposition forces toward NATO’s eastern flank once the war in Ukraine ends, raising concerns that the Baltic states could face intensified military and hybrid pressure from Moscow in the years ahead. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-nato-baltic-ukraine-war-eastern-flank/33757418.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-nato-baltic-ukraine-war-eastern-flank/33757418.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:11:38 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Rescue crews searched through the rubble after Russian forces hit a Kyiv apartment building in an attack that killed at least 24 people, and US President Donald Trump suggested the strike could set back peace efforts. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-apartment-building-russia-strike/33757413.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-apartment-building-russia-strike/33757413.html Fri, 15 May 2026 02:31:33 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The United States has announced an additional $1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance for UN-led relief operations worldwide, including continued support for Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-un-aid-global-ukraine/33757137.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-un-aid-global-ukraine/33757137.html Thu, 14 May 2026 22:57:31 +0200 NewsUkraineThe Rundown Stories A Ukrainian court ordered Andriy Yermak jailed as part of a luxury real estate scandal, setting bail at $3 million for the man who was once President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's most influential adviser. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-yermak-corruption-trial-bail/33756626.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-yermak-corruption-trial-bail/33756626.html Thu, 14 May 2026 09:45:18 +0200 NewsUkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's former chief of staff and a suspect in a major corruption scandal, Andriy Yermak, have consulted a fortune-teller when deciding on top government appointments, an anti-graft agency prosecutor said. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskyy-yermak-corruption-fortune-teller/33756160.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskyy-yermak-corruption-fortune-teller/33756160.html Wed, 13 May 2026 20:27:09 +0200 NewsUkraineThe Rundown Stories Trade tensions, Taiwan, and rare earth exports are expected to dominate talks, even as the war in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz raise the stakes for the Beijing summit. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-taiwan-energy-oil-minerals/33756013.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-taiwan-energy-oil-minerals/33756013.html Wed, 13 May 2026 14:43:15 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineChina The brother of imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi says doctors cannot yet offer a definitive prognosis on her condition, days after Iranian authorities released her on bail amid a health crisis that her family says nearly killed her. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-narges-mohammadi-hospital-tehran/33755284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-narges-mohammadi-hospital-tehran/33755284.html Tue, 12 May 2026 17:14:40 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Ukraine's anti-corruption prosecutor will seek the detention of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's former chief of staff Andriy Yermak pending further investigation in a graft case that has rocked Kyiv as the country battles against the full-scale Russian invasion, now in its fifth year. https://www.rferl.org/a/yermak-zelenskyy-suspicion-ukraine-investigation/33754687.html https://www.rferl.org/a/yermak-zelenskyy-suspicion-ukraine-investigation/33754687.html Mon, 11 May 2026 23:58:47 +0200 NewsUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Former senior US diplomat Gordon Gray, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs under President George W. Bush, says indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are likely to continue despite what he described as significant pain and pressure on both sides. https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html Mon, 11 May 2026 09:52:53 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US President Donald Trump described the cease-fire with Iran as being on "life support," adding he is considering restarting naval escorts -- dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom -- through the Strait of Hormuz amid a continuing a deadlock over how to bring the conflict to an end. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East A Russian drone hit a high-rise residential building in Ukraine's second-largest city, authorities said, injuring at least five people and straining a three-day cease-fire timed for Victory Day celebrations. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-war-cease-fire/33753723.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-war-cease-fire/33753723.html Sun, 10 May 2026 09:49:17 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iranian media said Tehran has sent its response to the latest US peace proposal, but the country's officials have maintained belligerent stance toward the United States. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-rubio-irgc-war-negotiations/33753414.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-rubio-irgc-war-negotiations/33753414.html Sun, 10 May 2026 01:30:02 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Iran blamed the United States for a recent escalation of skirmishes in the Persian Gulf as Washington awaits a response from Tehran over the latest proposal to end their war. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-peace-proposal-response/33752830.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-peace-proposal-response/33752830.html Sat, 09 May 2026 14:57:25 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories