Category Archives: Russia

Even Donald Trump’s Former Vice-President Says He’s Got It Wrong On Ukraine

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Donald Trump’s former vice-president has slammed his decision to waive sanctions against Russia as the war in Ukraine goes on.

Mike Pence said the move “is decidedly not in the national interests of the United States and should be reversed”.

The US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act last month, and it was then signed into law by Trump himself.

It gave the president the power to impose extensive new tariffs and sanctions on Russia and countries that buy energy products and other critical exports from the country as its war on Ukraine continues.

But Trump announced he was blocking the new sanctions just two days before they were due to come into force.

In a post on X, Pence – who has become a fierce critic of Trump – condemned the move.

He said: “President Trump’s decision to waive sanctions against Russia as Putin continues his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine dishonors the legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Graham and is decidedly not in the national interests of the United States and should be reversed.

“Putin is a war criminal and only understands strength. Waiving Graham Act sanctions on Russia signals weakness at a moment that demands American strength.

“Now is the time to stand strong against Russian aggression, just as we did during the years of the first Trump Administration.”

Pence said that if Ukraine won the war, it “would be a victory for freedom and is squarely in the national interests of the United States”.

He added: “If Putin overruns Ukraine, I have no doubt it will only be a matter of time until Russia’s military crosses a border that our troops will have to deal with him.

“For the cause of freedom, for America’s national security and that of our allies including Ukraine, President Trump should restore sanctions under the Graham Act immediately, rescind the diesel deal with Russia and rally our allies to ensure Ukraine has the military support it needs to repel and defeat this Russian invasion once and for all.”

Trump has faced accusations that he limited Ukraine’s access to the Starshield network which helps to protect the country from Russian attacks.

The president has also called for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced while agreeing a sanctions-busting deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel.

Critics have said that is a desperate attempt to bring down pump prices for American motorists ahead of next month’s midterm elections, which Trump’s Republican Party is expected to lose heavily.

Former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind described Trump’s behaviour as “repulsive” and “a disgrace”.

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MI5 Chief Slaps Down Burnham For Reviving Question Over Russian Interference In Brexit

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The chief of MI5 has urged Andy Burnham to stop talking about Russia’s attempted interference in the Brexit referendum.

Head of the security services Ken McCallum spoke out just days after the prime minister raised the issue on the Rest Is Politics podcast.

In remarks that led to a fresh political row, the PM said: “I asked the question coming to Downing Street, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia?

“And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.”

Just a day later, 10 Downing Street was forced to admit that the Russian interference had made no difference to the Leave vote.

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage called Burnham a “liar” over the remarks while the Tories’s shadow communities secretary Katie Lam accused the PM of peddling “conspiracy theories”.

McCallum did confirm that Russia had tried to influence the outcome of the referendum – but said raising the issue a decade later was counter-productive.

In his annual speech outlining the security threats facing the UK, he said Moscow had spread Eurosceptic content via Kremlin-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik, and by using social media troll accounts.

However, the spy chief said there was a significant difference between “what may have been attempted and what actually resulted”.

He said that any Russian impact on the campaign would have been marginal at best – and expressed concern about letting this debate rage once again.

He said: “There is a really important difference between interference attempted and outcome swayed.

“It’s quite important to focus on the difference between what may have been attempted and what actually resulted.”

“It is up to us how far we allow our adversaries to divide us,” he continued.

“I’m a little bit worried that if we all stay in this debate for another few days, the Russian trolls who didn’t appear to do all that much at various points over the years, they’ll be delighted they are front page news once again despite the comparative unimpressed-ness of what they do at all points along the journey.

“I’m a little bit interested that we don’t play into our adversaries’ hands by making these trolls look ten feet tall. That is not our experience here.”

McCallum also described Russia as “aggressor number one as Putin’s Kremlin continues to lash out at the UK and its allies”.

He said Moscow was attempting to intimidate Britain for its support over Ukraine.

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‘What A Shame!’ Trump Laments Decline Of Russia’s Oil Industry Amid Putin’s War

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Donald Trump appears to be concerned about Ukraine’s ongoing attacks on Russia’s oil refineries – even though Kyiv is only retaliating again Moscow’s aggression.

Vladimir Putin is expected to “intensify” attacks on the Ukrainian capital after Ukrainians forces tried to “disrupt” Russian elections by firing drones at the Moscow region over the weekend while the public were voting.

It comes more than four and a half years after the Kremlin invaded Ukraine in a land grab, triggering a long and bloody war as Kyiv consistently pushes back.

Putin continues to illegally occupy a fifth of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.

Ukrainian allies in Europe have been weaning themselves off Russia’s cheap energy experts to punish the Kremlin for its violence.

But the US president, who caused global oil prices to rise after his war against Iran triggered the effective closure of a major shipping lane, seemed to blame Ukraine for the decline of Russia’s own fossil fuel industry.

“Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine,” he wrote on his social media platform TruthSocial.

“A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission.

“This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended.

“The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month. What a shame! President DJT”

President Donald Trump reacts during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Donald Trump reacts during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

via Associated Press

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit back at Trump’s statement.

He wrote on X that the war must end, adding: “Every new week of this war, let alone every new year, adds more and more problems.

“ From the very first minute, Ukraine has sought peace. We have already made dozens of diplomatic proposals on how to end this war with dignity, guarantee security, and prevent new Russian invasions.

“Right now, there is a dialogue with President Trump and America.

“There are also ideas on the table for bringing peace closer, starting with strong de-escalation steps.

“Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part. Solutions are possible.”

He continued: “We are ready to work on this, and we will discuss it with our partners on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I thank everyone who is helping! It will no longer be the case that only the country under attack suffers. The nature of war is now such that the aggressor will suffer as well. Technology makes this possible.

“The strength of countries’ leadership can – and must – deliver de-escalation, security, and peace. Thank you!”

The elections – widely disregarded as a sham vote to bolster Putin’s authoritarian rule – already appear to cement the Kremlin’s dominance over the country amid speculation Russia may need to call up more reserves for the war effort.

Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump at the United Nations’ General Assembly on Tuesday.

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‘Absolutely Vile’: Donald Trump Slammed For Urging Ukraine To Ease Up On Russian Attacks

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Donald Trump has been slammed after he told Ukraine to ease up on bombing Russia because it is harming the world economy.

The US president said America had told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia”.

“Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel,” he said while attending the Irish Open golf championship at the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare.

“This isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine. We spoke to Mr Zelenskyy about it. There are plenty of other targets.

“Don’t hit diesel fuel because that’s hurting the world. We don’t want him to hit diesel fuel. He’s hitting diesel refineries.”

Online critics accused Trump of doing the Kremlin’s bidding – and ignoring the impact of his decision to go to war in Iran on global oil prices because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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Diane Abbott Dubbed ‘Putin’s Useful Idiot’ For Claiming Russian Threat Is ‘Nato Fiction’

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Diane Abbott has been dubbed “Putin’s useful idiot” after she downplayed the threat posed to the West by Russia.

The veteran Labour MP said it was “a Nato fiction” being used to justify a boost in defence spending, which she opposes.

Her comments come just a month after it emerged she had previously described the war in Ukraine as “a Nato campaign against Russia”.

Andy Burnham has insisted that the UK will hit Nato’s target of spending 3.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2035.

In a post on X, Abbott said: “The imminent threat from Russia is a Nato fiction to justify their complete capitulation to Trump’s demands for more military spending. The increase should not go ahead.”

Her comments sparked an angry backlash from politicians and pro-Ukraine campaigners.

A spokesman for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Those views are reprehensible. Ukraine is an innocent party in this. Everyone should be foursquare behind Ukraine and against Russian aggression.”

Posting on X, Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty said Abbott was “playing the role of Putin’s useful idiot”.

“To rail against increased defence spending by claiming the threat Russia pose is ‘a Nato fiction’ shows she is dangerously out of touch,” he said.

“Over four years into the war in Ukraine, and with escalating sub-threshold activity, we are agreed that increasing defence spending is a matter of national security. It beggars belief that a senior Labour politician could be so naïve.”

The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign said: “There are legitimate debates to be had about defence spending.

“Denying the Russian regime is a threat to democracy all over the world is not legitimate, particularly when the speaker describes Russia’s war on Ukraine as ‘the Nato campaign against Russia’.”

Abbott, the longest serving female MP in the Commons, lost the Labour whip last year after she argued in a letter to The Observer in 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller communities experience prejudice rather than racism.

She got the whip back after Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister in July.

A No.10 spokesman said: “As the PM said yesterday, the UK stands in full solidarity with Germany following Russia’s egregious and reckless attack in Leipzig.

“Our commitment to supporting Ukraine from Russia’s illegal invasion is ironclad.”

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Putin Aide Claims He ‘Feels Sorry’ For The UK After Russian Embassy’s Threats

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A top aide to Vladimir Putin has bizarrely declared he “feels sorry” for the UK after Britain was threatened by the Russian Embassy in London over its support for Ukraine.

Moscow’s representatives in the UK warned of the “consequences” following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in recent Ukrainian attacks in Russia.

The embassy claimed Britain was “deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis,” and said the “deeper its involvement in the conflict… the higher the price it will pay”.

UK prime minister Andy Burnham remained unperturbed by the threats on Tuesday, telling reporters that the UK was “providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict, by previous prime ministers – it remains the case with me”.

Asked about the spat with the UK on Wednesday, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov tried to deliver yet another threat as he again suggested Britain is directly involved in the war.

He told the media: “I feel sorry for the United Kingdom, if it is going to stand with Ukraine until the very end.

“As for the substance of our Embassy’s comment, it means only one thing: President Vladimir Putin has warned of our right to act in any area of the world’s oceans, should anyone encroach on our interests or our property.

“We have exactly the same right to regard the proudly announced direct involvement of British missile forces in strikes against the Russian Federation as participation in the war. With all the consequences that entails.”

His remarks come after a former deputy foreign minister of Russia told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that many in Moscow interpret the recent strikes from Ukraine as proof the UK is “part of the war”.

“The situation now is very dangerous, because the tension of conflict in Ukraine really is increasing,” Andrei Federov added. “The coming couple of months will face this tension, this escalation which can bring us to totally different situation unlike ever before.”

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Putin ‘Physically Afraid Of His Own Army’ Returning Home If He Does Not Secure A Ukraine Victory

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Vladimir Putin fears his own soldiers returning home if Russia does not manage to secure a victory against Ukraine, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian president claimed his Russian counterpart is “physically afraid of his own army” in a new post on X after the largest Ukrainian attack on Moscow since the start of the war in February 2022.

It comes amid reports Donald Trump may be looking to adopt a harder approach against Putin once again following a friendly G7 summit earlier this week.

Writing on X, Zelenskyy said: “There’s no doubt that Putin fears the return of his army home.

“That is why he is so afraid of the war ending without victory.

“And there will be no victory. He is physically afraid of his own army.”

The Russian president has repeatedly dragged his feet over peace negotiations to end his land grab in Ukraine, even when Trump forced Kyiv into making major concessions to the aggressor.

Now the US president has signalled that he will increase sanctions on the Russian oil trade again, a move which will hit the country’s economy.

That’s terrible news for Putin, who has forced his army on in Ukraine despite accumulating more than 1.2 million casualties – many more than Ukraine has endured.

Zelenskyy also said: “That is why, if there is no ceasefire backed by specific security guarantees, he will return to war. And this time, others may be the ones under attack.”

“Today, Ukraine is de facto the second army of Nato – one that is not inferior to the second army in the world,” he added.

“And that is why Nato needs us – specifically us – de jure. This is already a fact recognised by all leaders.

“Putin will remain in the Kremlin until his death, and he has one goal: the restoration of the Soviet Union.

“Without Ukraine, this is impossible, and that is why things are so difficult for us.”

Speaking after meeting senior EU leaders in Brussels, Zelenskyy said the bloc was looking to step up sanctions on Russia again.

He said: “Putin doesn’t want to stop, and all his talk about seeking peace is nothing but lies. All partners, all Europeans, feel this. But everyone is confident that together we will stop him.”

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Ukrainian MP Calls Out ‘Moment Of Weakness’ From UK Over Russian Sanctions

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A Ukrainian MP has called out the UK for its “moment of weakness” after the government decided to continue allowing the import of Russian oil products.

Labour triggered intense backlash this week after it declared it was pushing back plans to close a loophole in its sanctions against Moscow.

The government unveiled a set of temporary licences which will allow diesel and jet fuel – refined in third countries but made from Russian oil – into the country.

Ministers insist the ban will come in eventually, but chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones refused to give any indication of a timeline when speaking to Sky News.

Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik said the announcement came as a “surprise” to her, and described it as a “point of weakness”.

“At first it was a surprise because the United Kingdom is one of the countries that first has been our strongest partner, but also a country where all the parties are supportive of Ukraine, on different levels,” she told Sky News.

“So to hear that there was this like moment of weakness, a point of weakness was surprising. And I believe this is what was discussed between the [Ukrainian] president and the prime minister.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer spoke on the phone on Wednesday evening.

She continued: “But let me tell you this, no matter what happens, Russia is always laughing that Europe is paying for the war from both pockets, from one supporting Ukraine and from another one paying for Russian gas and oil.

“Is it worthy of continuing doing that? Because it is definitely worthy of supporting Ukraine. And we really hope that all our partners, all European countries, will every day go away from purchasing Russian gas and oil rather than trying to move back a little bit.”

Jones tried to clear up some of the confusion around the controversial decision on Sunday, saying it was “totally wrong” to say the decision stemmed from concerns around jet fuel shortages linked to the war in Iran.

He said: “No, that’s totally wrong. Totally wrong.

“One of my jobs in the Cabinet Office is to chair contingency planning, and I’ve been spending many hours doing that in relation to the impact of the Middle East on the UK.”

Jones said the UK has other sources from around the world to rely on.

However, the decision still stunned shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel.

She said: “When the government says they’re introducing new sanctions, they might be introducing them – but there’s no framework for that. There’s no date coming forward. And in the meantime, they’re now allowing and enabling Russian imported oil to come into the United Kingdom.

“So they’ve contradicted themselves. And clearly that is not helpful when it comes to the Ukraine conflict at all.”

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Donald Trump Once Again Sides With Vladimir Putin Over The Ukraine War

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Donald Trump has once again sided with Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war – and appeared to take another sly dig at Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The US president insisted Russia’s leader “was ready to make a deal a while ago” to end the conflict.

But in an apparent reference to Zelenskyy, he claimed “some people made it difficult for him”.

His comments, in the Oval Office on Wednesday, came as the deadlock in the war continues more than four years after Putin started it by ordering his troops to invade Uklraine.

Repeated attempts by Trump to end the conflict have failed after Ukraine rejected Russian demands to hand over territory which they have failed to take by force.

Speaking about his most recent phone conversation with the Russian president, Trump said: “I said before you help me I want to end your war. We had a good talk, I’ve known him a long time.

“I think he was ready to make a deal a while ago. I think some people made it difficult for him to make a deal.”

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Trump says he had a “good talk” with war criminal Vladimir Putin, who he claims wants to end the war:

“He was ready to make a deal a while ago but some people made it difficult for him to make a deal.”

By “some people,” Trump likely refers to President Zelenskyy, who refused to… pic.twitter.com/NVfx1o9OrA

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 29, 2026

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Trump says he had a “good talk” with war criminal Vladimir Putin, who he claims wants to end the war:

“He was ready to make a deal a while ago but some people made it difficult for him to make a deal.”

By “some people,” Trump likely refers to President Zelenskyy, who refused to… pic.twitter.com/NVfx1o9OrA

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 29, 2026

Trump has regularly repeated Kremlin talking points about the war since being re-elected president in 2024.

Most notably, he has claimed that Ukraine, rather than Russia, actually started the conflict.

Speaking last year, the president said: “Russia is a powerful military nation.

“You know, whether people like it or not, it’s a powerful nation. It’s a much bigger nation. You don’t do that. You don’t take on a nation that’s 10 times your size.”

He also said Ukraine provoked the war by trying to get too close to Nato and the West.

“It was always a no-no, you could not. Russia said, ‘We don’t want the so-called opponent or the enemy,’ let’s use that term, ‘We don’t want them on our border.’ And they were right.”

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