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In an interview with Bret Baier of Fox News on Friday evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly thanked the American people and the White House leadership for the nation’s strong partnership with Ukraine. Zelensky stayed on message throughout the conversation in an apparent effort to repair his administration’s relationship with President Trump, who ambushed the Ukrainian leader hours earlier in the Oval Office, ridiculing Zelensky for supposedly pursuing war against Russia. . @BretBaier "Do you think your relationship with President Trump can be salvaged." Zelenskyy: "Yes, of course." pic.twitter.com/ArX0Hilx1M — Ryan Schmelz (@RyanSchmelzFOX) February 28, 2025 “Nobody wants to finish [this war] more than [Ukrainians]. […] We have to be on the same side. I hope the president is on the same side as us,” Zelensky told Baier. When asked if he thinks he owes Trump an apology, Zelensky said, “I respect the president and the American people,” and argued that some matters should be discussed “outside the media” in private. When asked if he was told to limit his Oval Office remarks to a U.S.-Ukrainian minerals deal that was supposed to be signed after Friday’s meeting, Zelensky said he felt compelled to share his thoughts with Trump about Vladimir Putin’s lack of trustworthiness when the subject of a ceasefire came up. “[My people] just want to hear that Americans will remain on our side.” Zelensky said he cannot change his constituents’ attitudes about Russians after three years of war and countless atrocities. Asked if he’ll ever accept a peace deal with Russia, Zelensky said, “It’s about a just and lasting peace.” The Ukrainian president also raised Kyiv’s request for security guarantees, saying, “We are ready for peace, but we have to be in a strong position. […] We want peace. That’s why I’m in the United States.” He argued that the minerals deal contains “infrastructure” for security guarantees. Zelensky also cautioned that he cannot end the war with a wave of his hand: “Nobody [in Ukraine] will stop. Because everyone is afraid that Putin will come back tomorrow” if the settlement isn’t lasting. Background ‘You’re gambling with World War III!’ Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting When asked if he believes Ukraine could hold off Russia without continued U.S. support, Zelensky told Baier: “It will be difficult without your support. But we can’t lose our values, our people, our freedom. […] Russians came to our houses, they killed so many people. [We’re] just going to forget it? No.” At several moments throughout the interview, Zelensky mentioned Ukraine’s European allies, saying that Kyiv seeks better coordination between European and American policies. Baier cited comments earlier on Friday by Senator Lindsey Graham, who suggested that Zelensky’s resignation might be necessary to repair Washington’s relationship with Kyiv. Zelensky said he appreciates his relationship with Graham but does not intend to step down as Ukraine’s president: “This decision can only be made by the people of Ukraine.” Near the end of the interview, President Zelensky appeared to tear up when discussing Ukrainian struggles throughout the war. He consulted an off-screen interpreter twice for clarifications on questions: one about whether he regrets Friday’s argument happening in public (“Yes, I think it was not good”) and another about his hopes for salvaging his relationship with Donald Trump (“Yes, of course, because it’s a relationship or more than two presidents but of two people”). “I want him to be more at our side,” Zelensky explained, after describing Trump’s negotiating philosophy as seeking to be “in the middle” between Ukraine and Russia.…

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In latest White House bid to ‘normalize’ ties with Moscow, Defense Secretary Hegseth halts U.S. Cyber Command’s Russia planning — The Record

9 hours ago

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Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the United States Cyber Command to halt any planning of actions against Russia, including offensive digital operations, three sources have told The Record . Hegseth reportedly gave the order to Cyber Command chief General Timothy Haugh, who then relayed it to his subordinates. The sources noted that the order does not apply to the National Security Agency, which Timothy Haugh also heads, nor to its signals intelligence operations targeting Russia. “The order does not apply to the National Security Agency, which Haugh also leads, or its signals intelligence work targeting Russia,” The Record reported, adding that Hegseth’s order “could derail some of the command’s most high-profile missions involving a top U.S. digital adversary, including in Ukraine.” From Meduza’s vault (published in 2018) What is the GRU? Who gets recruited to be a spy? Why are they exposed so often? Here are the most important things you should know about Russia’s intelligence community…

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says Trump and Vance not ‘smacking this bastard Zelensky’ was a ‘miracle of restraint’ in heated Oval Office meeting

10 hours ago

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Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has responded to a heated exchange on Friday in the Oval Office between the Ukrainian and American presidents that ended with Volodymyr Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a planned agreement on shared mineral rights: I think Zelensky’s BIGGEST lie, among all his lies, was his statement at the White House that the Kyiv regime was left alone, without support, in 2022. How Trump and Vance managed to restrain themselves and not smack this bastard — it’s a miracle of self-control. Earlier in the day, Kirill Dmitriev, chief of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a lead negotiator in U.S.-Russian talks that took place earlier this month in Saudi Arabia, called the Oval Office argument “ historic .” Further reading Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance becomes a literal shouting match…

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U.S. State Department is ending support for rebuilding Ukraine’s energy grid — NBC News

10 hours ago

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Following a heated exchange in the Oval Office on Friday with America’s president and vice president that ended with Volodymyr Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a planned agreement on shared mineral rights, NBC News reported that the U.S. State Department has terminated a U.S. Agency for International Development initiative that “invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore Ukraine’s energy grid from attacks by the Russian military.” Citing two USAID officials working on the agency’s Ukraine mission, NBC News warned that the cutbacks could “significantly undercut this administration’s abilities to negotiate on the ceasefire” and signal Washington’s indifference to American investments in Ukraine. In Russia, state officials have welcomed the Trump administration’s campaign to dissolve the USAID program. Earlier this month, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin proposed that Russian politicians, human rights advocates, and public figures who have received funding from the U.S. government should “publicly confess and repent on Red Square.” More from Friday’s fallout Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance becomes a literal shouting match…

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Trump and Zelensky exchange social media posts after Oval Office shouting match. Trump bars Ukrainian president from White House until he’s ‘ready for peace,’ while Zelensky thanks POTUS for visit.

11 hours ago

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Following a heated exchange in the Oval Office on Friday with America’s president and vice president that ended with Volodymyr Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a planned agreement on shared mineral rights, Ukraine’s president tweeted a thank you message without acknowledging the argument. “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit,” wrote Zelensky, not commenting on his early exit from the White House or the explosive shouting match that preceded it. “Thank you, POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.” Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS , Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that. — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 28, 2025 Zelensky later quote-tweeted the same message — “Thank you for your support” — to various world leaders who wrote to him after the Oval Office argument, including European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and others. In a post on social media after the meeting, Trump declared, “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”…

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Lead Russian negotiator welcomes Trump’s Oval Office argument with Zelensky. ‘Historic,’ says Kirill Dmitriev.

11 hours ago

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Kirill Dmitriev, chief of Russia's sovereign wealth fund and a lead negotiator in U.S.-Russian talks that took place earlier this month in Saudi Arabia, has commented on Friday’s Oval Office argument between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Trump administration. “Historic,” Dmitriev tweeted after the diplomatic scandal, sharing a video of the heated exchange. Shortly thereafter, he also retweeted Elon Musk’s post with the same footage and the message, “Watch this carefully. Very important.” Historic. https://t.co/mfsftGUKe9 — Kirill A. Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) February 28, 2025 Background ‘He had a lot to do with this’ Who is Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian ‘interlocutor’ Trump’s envoy mentioned when he returned from Moscow this week?…

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Journalists report Russian state media correspondent was let into Trump-Zelensky press conference, but White House says he was removed

12 hours ago

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Multiple journalists reported seeing the White House “let” a correspondent from the Russian state media agency TASS into the Oval Office to cover U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s joint press conference on Friday. Andrew Feinberg, a correspondent for The Independent, later wrote on X that a White House official had said that TASS was “not on the approved list” for the press conference. “As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the [White House Press Secretary],” the official reportedly said. UPDATE from a @WhiteHouse official: “TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool. As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the @PressSec . He is not on the approved list for the press conference.” — Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) February 28, 2025 Read more about the press conference Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance becomes a literal shouting match…

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‘You’re gambling with World War III!’. Trump and Vance ambush Zelensky in shouting Oval Office meeting

12 hours ago

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on February 28, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky got into a shouting match in the Oval Office on Friday during a meeting meant to showcase a new agreement between Washington and Kyiv on American access to mineral rights in Ukraine. Meduza has transcribed the most heated moment of the exchange below. Update: In a post on social media after the meeting, Trump declared, “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.” Journalists at Reuters reported that Zelensky left the White House early, and the White House later confirmed that he did not sign the minerals agreement with the U.S. After the meeting, Zelensky tweeted a thank you message without acknowledging the argument, writing, “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you, POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.” Vice President Vance: I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country. President Zelensky: Yes, but if you are not strong... Vice President Vance: Mr. President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the President for trying to bring an end to this conflict. President Zelensky: Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have? Vice President Vance: I have been to... President Zelensky: Come once. Vice President Vance: I have actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree that you've had problems bringing people into your military? President Zelensky: We have problems. Vice President Vance: And do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country? President Zelensky: A lot of questions. Let's start from the beginning. Vice President Vance: Sure. President Zelensky: First of all, during the war, everybody has problems. Even you. But you have nice ocean and don't feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless… President Trump: You don't know that. President Zelensky: God bless… God bless… You will not have the war. President Trump: You don’t know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. President Zelensky: I'm not telling you. President Trump: Because you're in no position to dictate that. Remember this. President Zelensky: I'm not dictating. President Trump: You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel. We're going to feel very good. President Zelensky: You will feel influence. I'm telling you. President Trump: We're going to feel very good and very strong. President Zelensky: You will feel influence. President Trump: We’re going to feel very good. President Zelensky: You're going to feel influence. President Trump: You’re, right now, not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position. President Zelensky: From the very beginning of the war. President Trump: And [Vice President Vance] happens to be right about it. President Zelensky: From the very beginning of the war, Mr. President, I was— President Trump: You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards. President Zelensky: I'm not playing cards. President Trump: Right now, you don't — yeah, you're playing cards. President Zelensky: I'm very serious, Mr. President. President Trump: You're playing cards. President Zelensky: I'm very serious. President Trump: You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. President Zelensky: What do you think about…? President Trump: You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III! And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country. It's back to you. President Zelensky: I'm with all respect to your party. President Trump: Far more than a lot of people said they should have. Vice President Vance: Have you said thank you once? President Zelensky: A lot of times. Vice President Vance: No. President Zelensky: Even today. Even today. Vice President Vance: You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the [Democratic Party] opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the President who’s trying to save your country! President Zelensky: Please, do you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war in— President Trump: He's not speaking loudly. He's not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble. President Zelensky: Can I answer? President Trump: No, no. You've done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble. President Zelensky: I know. President Trump: You're not winning. President Zelensky: I know. President Trump: You're not winning this. President Zelensky: I know. President Trump: You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us! President Zelensky: We are staying, Mr. President, we are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war, we've been alone. And we are thankful. I said thanks in this Cabinet. President Trump: You haven't been alone. You haven't been alone. President Zelensky: And not only in this Cabinet. President Trump: We gave you — through this stupid President — $350 billion. President Zelensky: You voted for your President. President Trump: We gave you military equipment. President Zelensky: You voted for your President. President Trump: And you men are brave, but they had to use our military equipment. President Zelensky: What about your President? President Trump: If you didn't have our military equipment… President Zelensky: You invited me to speak. You invited me to speak. President Trump: If you didn't have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks. Okay? President Zelensky: In three days. I heard it from Putin. In three days. This is something you— President Trump: Maybe less. President Zelensky: In two weeks. Of course, yes. President Trump: It's going to be a very hard thing to do business like this, I tell you. Vice President Vance: Again, if you just say “thank you”… President Zelensky: I said a lot of times to [the] American people! Vice President Vance: Except that there are disagreements. And let's go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you're wrong. We know you're wrong. President Trump: But, you see, I think it's good for the American people to see what's going on. I think it's very important. That's why I kept this story so long. You have to be thankful. You don't have the cards. President Zelensky: I’m thankful. President Trump: You’re buried there! You’re … people are dying. President Zelensky: I can tell you. I know. Don’t, don’t, please, Mr. President… President Trump: You're running low on soldiers. Listen, you're running low on soldiers. It would be a damn good thing if… and then you tell us [in a mocking voice], "I don't want a ceasefire. I don't want a ceasefire. I want to go, and I want this." Look, if you could get a ceasefire right now, I'd tell you: You take it so the bullets stop flying, and you're men stop getting killed. President Zelensky: Of course, we want to stop the war. President Trump: But you're saying you don't want a ceasefire? I want a ceasefire. Because you’ll get a ceasefire faster than an agreement. President Zelensky: What I said to you was with guarantees. President Zelensky: Ask our people about a ceasefire, [ask] what they think. It doesn’t matter for you what— President Trump: That wasn’t with me. That was a guy named Biden who was not a smart person. That was with Obama. President Zelensky: It was your President... President Trump: Excuse me. That was with Obama, who gave you sheets, and I gave you javelins. I gave you the javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets. In fact, the statement is, “Obama gave sheets, and Trump gave javelins." You gotta be more thankful because, let me tell you, you don't have the cards. With us, you have the cards. But without us, you don't have any cards.…

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Russian police make arrests at memorials on tenth anniversary of Boris Nemtsov’s murder

12 hours ago

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Police in cities across Russia arrested multiple people on Thursday at memorials marking the tenth anniversary of Boris Nemtsov’s assassination. In Moscow, residents paid tribute to the late opposition figure at a makeshift memorial maintained by volunteers on Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge, the site near the Kremlin where Nemtsov was shot dead on February 27, 2015. Others lay flowers outside of Nemtsov’s home. The British, French, Italian, German, and E.U. ambassadors to Moscow also visited Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge to pay their respects. Eyewitnesses reported the presence of police and municipal workers, who discarded flowers and pictures left at the memorial site throughout the day. Police even shut down pedestrian access to the bridge in the evening, citing a “special operation,” while municipal workers dismantled a memorial plaque dedicated to Nemtsov. Shortly after, someone wrote the late politician’s name in its place. Activists managed to hold a moment of silence at 11:30 p.m. In St. Petersburg, the local Yabloko party office hosted a Nemtsov photo exhibition and activists organized a screening of the documentary The Man Who Was Too Free. According to OVD-Info , police arrested people paying tribute to Nemtsov in Moscow, Barnaul, Ufa, and other Russian cities throughout the day on Thursday. At least three journalists from RusNews were among the detained, all of whom were later released without charges. OVD-Info also reported that police arrested minors at memorial events in the cities of Yekaterinburg and Kazan. The head of the Yabloko party’s Yekaterinburg youth branch, Ivan Lukin, was arrested after laying flowers at the city’s monument to the Decembrists. He was later released without charges. A teenager arrested in Kazan was also released, but authorities charged his mother with a misdemeanor for “neglecting parental duties.” Three activists arrested and held overnight in Kazan also face misdemeanor charges of violating protest regulations. Municipal workers in Moscow continued to remove flowers from Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge overnight on Friday. However, efforts to partially restore the makeshift memorial to Nemtsov continued during the day. READ MORE ABOUT BORIS NEMTSOV ‘He couldn’t be bought. So they killed him.’ Vladimir Kara-Murza reflects on the tenth anniversary of his mentor Boris Nemtsov’s assassination ‘It’s not our war — it’s Putin’s war’ What would Boris Nemtsov say about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? We don’t have to wonder.…

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‘No war but class war!’. How a group of communists in Novosibirsk has leveraged Soviet nostalgia to speak out publicly against the invasion of Ukraine

14 hours ago

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For the past three years, the Russian authorities have worked to purge the country’s political arena of anyone who opposes the full-scale war against Ukraine. Nonetheless, a small but determined group of leftist activists in Novosibirsk continues to speak out against the invasion and the system that enabled it. Breaking with Russia’s mainstream communist parties, which have largely sided with the Kremlin, these activists organize street protests, run a YouTube channel, and challenge Moscow’s official narrative. Journalists from the independent outlet 7x7 recently profiled Novosibirsk’s anti-war communists. Meduza shares a translation of their report. Against the bourgeoisie and against the war On November 7, 2024, communists in Novosibirsk marked the anniversary of Russia’s October Revolution with two very different messages. Some railed against the West, accusing it of wanting to seize Russia’s “natural resources.” Others spoke out against the war in Ukraine and the system that started it. The first group, members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) led by former Novosibirsk Mayor Anatoly Lokot, marched down the city’s main street, Krasny Prospekt. They gathered near the opera house, behind the 20-foot statue of Lenin — a popular site for both opposition and pro-government rallies alike. “The imperialist West has united, baring its fangs to take our fields and our natural resources,” Lokot declared at the rally. “And we have three steadfast allies: Belarus, socialist China, and socialist Korea!” Meanwhile, 800 meters away near the Globus Theater, another leftist group was gathering. Organizers Oleg Metzler and Sergey Krupenko only secured official approval for the location on their second attempt. The theater site is known as a spot for political outsiders; officials often assign it for opposition events, as it draws less attention than the Lenin monument. The state of Russia’s exiled opposition ‘Nothing good will come of this’ Three years into the full-scale war, Russia’s exiled opposition is in crisis — leaving anti-war Russians feeling disillusioned and unrepresented No more than 30 people attended the Globus Theater rally. Organizer Sergey Krupenko spoke about the legacy of the USSR — its celebrated films, its purported racial equality, and the Novosibirsk metro. He also criticized the nearby KPRF rally, accusing the party of aligning with United Russia and sacrificing lives for the interests of the ruling class. Krupenko condemned the current government’s actions as a “bloody scheme” and rejected the “bourgeois Russian authorities” and their policies. For him and his supporters, the capitalist system has become synonymous with war. The rally lasted about an hour. Though neither Krupenko nor his fellow speakers explicitly called the war in Ukraine a war, their speeches were unmistakably anti-war. Sergey Krupenko and Oleg Metzler have long been known in Novosibirsk’s communist circles, but they gained broader recognition among like-minded activists from other regions in 2022. The Kremlin crushed Meduza’s business model and wiped out our ad revenue. We’ve been blocked and outlawed in Russia, where donating to us or even sharing our posts is a crime. But we’re still here — bringing independent journalism to millions of our readers inside Russia and around the world. Meduza’s survival is under threat — again. Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze has slashed funding for international groups backing press freedom. Meduza was hurt too. It’s yet another blow in our ongoing struggle to survive. You could be our lifeline. Please, help Meduza survive with a small recurring donation. “I first heard about Metzler and Krupenko in the spring of 2022,” recalled Dmitry Cherny, a representative of the Moscow branch of the United Communist Party — Internationalists (OKP-Internationalists). “Of course, I was thrilled to realize we weren’t alone in our views — that the process of communists breaking away from the chauvinistic central committees had gained momentum across the country. And the incredibly brave Krupenko, amid all this wartime censorship, really blew up the Internet, as they say — at least within the leftist community.” Krupenko and Metzler used to be members of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RKRP). In 2019, they launched a YouTube channel called “Red Turn,” which became the main media platform of their political movement. In 2022, the central committee of the RKRP supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Metzler, Krupenko, and several of their comrades took the opposite stance, left the RKRP, and formed a new group — the Russian Communist Party (Internationalists) . As of this article’s publication, their Telegram channel had 4,500 subscribers. Metzler and Krupenko retained control of the “Red Turn” YouTube channel. How anti-war Russians oppose the war from Japan ‘You chose to come here, so behave yourselves’ How anti-war Russians in Japan navigate exile, activism, and cultural differences Who are Metsler and Krupenko? At the November 7, 2024 rally, Oleg Metzler accused the KPRF — which he described as “social-chauvinists” — and other establishment parties of “parasitizing on Stalin.” According to him, they portray Stalin as a statesman and patriot, much like Vladimir Putin. Ironically, Metzler himself was part of a group of people advocating for a Stalin monument in Novosibirsk in 2017. Using donated funds, sculptor Pavel Markov created a bust of Stalin, which remained in Metzler’s home for several years. In 2019, an initiative group handed the bust over to the KPRF, and they installed it outside the regional committee’s building. Metzler, now 35, graduated from the Novosibirsk State Academy of Geodesy in 2014. He’s been politically active since the age of 19 , working with the Russian Communist Youth League (RKSM) and the Vanguard of Red Youth (AKM). He’s helped organize numerous protests in Novosibirsk, including demonstrations against rising utility rates in 2017 and against raising the country’s pension age in 2018. In December 2019, Metzler co-organized at least two protests against public transportation fare hikes as part of the “Stop the Tariff!” coalition. In 2020, he ran for Novosibirsk City Council but was unsuccessful. Metzler’s ally Sergey Krupenko is 63. In 2005, he ran as an independent candidate for the City Council, and from 2013, he served as the secretary of the Novosibirsk regional committee of the leftist political party “Red Front” ( dissolved by court order in 2020). He was also the chairman of the “Sober City” center in Novosibirsk, which was disbanded on July 31, 2024. Through “Sober City,” Krupenko promoted a healthy lifestyle — organizing themed lessons in schools, protests at the zoo calling for alcohol sales bans, and advocating for the return of 1980s anti-alcohol laws. Like Metzler, Krupenko opposed raising the pension age and criticized the government’s inaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2011, Krupenko was among the activists who rallied in support of Libya’s independence and Muammar Gaddafi. Explaining his participation, he said : “Russia took the wrong position by severing ties with Libya, essentially siding with NATO and the U.S.” A closer look at the Russian flag Tricolor How Russia’s flag went from a patriotic banner to a symbol of war How much influence do they have? One of Metzler and Krupenko’s main tools is their YouTube channel, which they use to unite and mobilize their supporters. Their videos cover a wide range of topics, from analyzing Russia’s political regime to debating whether communists and liberals can find common ground. They also focus on international protests, like those in France, and often livestream their own rallies. Beyond politics, “Red Turn” addresses social issues. In July 2024, Metzler reported on residents of a private-sector neighborhood in central Novosibirsk whose homes were damaged by the construction of a nearby residential complex. The construction company, VerbaKapital, offered financial compensation, but the amount was insufficient for purchasing equivalent housing. As of this article’s publication, “Red Turn” had 21,000 subscribers, with most videos gathering around 1,000 views. Their most popular videos reached between 40,000 and 60,000 views. Metzler and Krupenko aren’t the only left-wing figures in Russia who opposed the war in Ukraine and left their party over it. After the central committee of the United Communist Party (OKP) supported the war, some members broke away and formed a new group: the OKP-Internationalists. Dmitry Cherny, a publicist and representative of the OKP-Internationalists, noted that while ideological disagreements had long existed within communist parties, members often remained united despite those differences: The party splits weren’t purely ideological. There were disputes about elections. Many believed that participating was pointless — if you’re a real opposition candidate aiming to defeat capitalism, you have no chance of winning. So, many of us chose a different path — raising awareness, reaching like-minded people who hadn’t heard of us yet, and explaining why capitalism isn’t the best path. This is exactly what Metzler and Krupenko are doing: building horizontal connections and helping people make sense of what’s happening because our ultimate goal is to move away from capitalism in Russia. After the war in Ukraine began, Metzler and Krupenko continued their activism. Metzler staged a series of picket protests in support of emergency medical workers and joined a rally against YouTube restrictions. The Novosibirsk mayor’s office twice refused to approve the demonstration, so the activists held an unofficial gathering in a public park. This was one of the few public protests in Russia against YouTube slowdowns. The two also held a rally against war and capitalism with the lengthy slogan: “Peace to the peoples! Yes to workers’ solidarity! No to fascism! No to capitalism! No war but class war!” The rally took place near the building of the former city airport — a remote location chosen to avoid the need for mayoral approval. At a May Day rally in 2022, police detained Metzler and Krupenko, though they were not fined. A year later, however, Krupenko was fined 40,000 rubles for “discrediting the army” after police found a video in which he challenged the propagandist claim that Ukraine was committing genocide against Donbas residents. Despite their activism, Metzler and Krupenko often avoid overt anti-war messaging, framing their rallies around significant dates for the leftist movement. Anti-war slogans had appeared at leftist events even before the full-scale war in Ukraine began, and according to Dmitry Loboyko, a political scientist and head of the Center for Regional Studies, this strategy helps them avoid political repression. “Paradoxically, their status as communists — even those not endorsed by the presidential administration — still offers them some degree of immunity in the public sphere,” Loboyko said. “This is likely why Metzler and Krupenko have managed to get approval for events that effectively became anti-war protests, thanks to their ‘camouflage’ as traditional communist rhetoric.” Metzler and Krupenko’s activism demonstrates how classic leftist rhetoric can adapt to current events and stand in contrast to the official line of the KPRF, Russia’s largest communist party, which has failed to challenge Putin’s government. The presence of politicians who continue to speak out against the war helps spread anti-war views among audiences that liberal politicians and activists often fail to reach. “The concept of an ‘imperialist war’ fits naturally into leftist discourse, allowing them to articulate protest in a language distinct from Western-centric liberal criticism,” Loboyko explained. “Moreover, their use of Soviet symbols and appeals to ‘authentic Leninism’ challenge the state’s monopoly on the Soviet legacy. In a country where the government heavily exploits Soviet nostalgia, this kind of ‘reclaiming’ of the symbolic field has real potential.” However, the influence of this group remains limited by its small numbers — rallies organized by the Russian Communist Party (Internationalists) typically draw no more than 30 people. While this is significant for Novosibirsk, it remains insufficient to establish a meaningful political force even at the regional level. Moreover, leftist ideas have limited appeal among young people. Loboyko noted that while elements of leftist critique, particularly those focused on socioeconomic issues, resonate with younger audiences, they often reject communist ideology as a whole. Many in the younger generation remain indifferent to political ideologies, viewing them as outdated constructs. “Small groups like the Russian Communist Party (Internationalists) in Novosibirsk are unlikely to become major political players,” Loboyko concluded. “But they play an important role in maintaining an alternative discourse. Their potential lies not so much in their ability to mobilize the masses but in preserving an ideological and discursive alternative — which, in the context of Russia’s increasingly monopolized public space, is a political act in itself.” A Novosibirsk draftee’s story ‘I’m not afraid of prison — I’m afraid I won’t make it there alive’ How a Russian draftee, tortured by his commander, fled the army and continues to evade capture…

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Trump and Zelensky were supposed to sign a ‘big’ minerals deal. Here’s what’s in it for Washington — and for Ukraine.

15 hours ago

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What happened? On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to meet in Washington for their first face-to-face talks after a heated public dispute. The rift was sparked by U.S.-Russia negotiations that excluded Kyiv and fueled by Zelensky’s refusal to sign the initial version of a U.S.-proposed natural resources agreement. Trump has made clear that he intends to reverse what he sees as his predecessor’s mistakes, including ending unconditional U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine. Instead, he has pushed for a deal granting American investors access to Ukraine’s natural resources — a concept Zelensky himself suggested in late 2024. However, Kyiv was unprepared for the scale of Trump’s demands. Initially, Ukraine welcomed Washington’s interest in its rare earth metal deposits, but the proposed agreement revealed U.S. demands for $500 billion in compensation. The deal would have given the U.S. a share not only in rare earth revenues but also in other natural resources and infrastructure revenues, including port operations. As The Telegraph reported , Washington’s demands appeared even harsher than the post-WWII reparations imposed on Germany and Japan. Why $500 billion? Washington demands access to Ukraine’s natural resources. Trump says America stands to gain $500 billion, but there’s reason to doubt his math. Zelensky refused to sign the agreement under such conditions, leading to tense exchanges with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and nearly derailing a meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance. In response, Trump, lashed out with insults and threats , insisting Ukraine owed the U.S. at least $350 billion for past military and financial aid. Kyiv maintains that the true value of U.S. assistance is closer to $100 billion ( a much more accurate figure) — and since it was provided as grants, Ukraine has no debt to repay. Zelensky has reiterated that Kyiv is willing to sign a resource deal as a token of appreciation, but only if it is mutually beneficial and includes clear security guarantees for Ukraine. The standoff resulted in a compromise agreement titled the “Bilateral Agreement Establishing Terms and Conditions for a Reconstruction Investment Fund.” Published by the Financial Times on February 26, the 11-point document is intentionally vague, avoiding hard commitments from either side. And while Kyiv successfully pushed back against the $500 billion demand, the final text makes no mention of concrete U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. Did the U.S. and Ukraine reach any concrete agreements? Yes — one key agreement involves how revenue from the “future monetization” of Ukraine’s natural resources will be shared. Ukraine has agreed to contribute 50 percent of these revenues to a joint “Reconstruction Investment Fund.” The funds could later be reinvested into Ukraine’s economy — not just in mineral extraction but also in other sectors that will require substantial financing during the post-war recovery. Will the money go toward Ukraine’s recovery? The document doesn’t provide a definitive answer. It states that the fund will accumulate and reinvest revenues “at least annually in Ukraine to promote the safety, security, and prosperity of [the country].” What remains unclear is whether all of these funds will be directed toward Ukraine’s economy or if a portion could end up in the U.S. budget. A final “Fund Agreement” — which both sides hope to sign once the deal’s details are settled — will reportedly clarify “future distributions.” For now, however, that question remains unresolved. Who will manage the fund? The fund will be jointly owned and managed by the United States and Ukraine, though the specifics — such as ownership distribution and management structure — will be determined later in the separate “Fund Agreement.” This provision marks a negotiating win for Zelensky’s team, as Washington had initially pushed for full U.S. ownership and sole decision-making authority in early drafts of the deal. Instead, the final document states that the “maximum percentage of [U.S.] ownership of the Fund’s equity and financial interests” will be set to “the extent permissible under applicable United States laws.” This phrasing may be related to legal limits on American entities that could, in theory, operate such an investment fund. For example, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) — a government agency that invests in hundreds of global infrastructure projects, including rare earth mineral exploration — is legally prohibited from holding more than a 30 percent equity stake in any project, as noted by the Financial Times. Another key provision already included in the agreement states that neither the U.S. nor Ukraine can make any transactions involving their share of the fund without the other party’s consent. What’s actually included in the deal? It’s not just about rare earth metals, is it? No, it’s broader than that — but there’s still no definitive list of resources. The agreement specifically mentions “deposits of minerals, hydrocarbons, oil, natural gas, and other extractable materials.” Based on an assessment of Ukraine’s resource potential, this could include lithium, graphite, titanium, cobalt, and certain rare earth elements, along with oil, gas, and coal. Beyond raw materials, the fund will also generate revenue from natural resource infrastructure, such as LNG terminals and ports. A key condition already outlined in the agreement states that any assets included must be “directly or indirectly” owned by the Ukrainian government. more about rare earth metals in Ukraine Trump wants to trade U.S. aid to Ukraine for rare earth metals. Is it a good deal for Kyiv? At the same time, Kyiv secured a major carve-out: resource deposits that already generate revenue through taxes, royalties, or licensing fees are excluded from the agreement. This suggests that state-owned companies like Ukrnafta and Naftogaz, which together posted around $850 million in profits in the first half of 2024, likely won’t be required to share proceeds from their currently developed reserves with the U.S. On the surface, these terms seem favorable to Ukraine. But they also make the deal less attractive . Many of Ukraine’s resource deposits remain underexplored, and developing them could take years. Without proven reserves, attracting outside investment will be difficult. And from what’s known so far, the fund will essentially start from scratch — unless the U.S. provides some form of advance funding. Then there’s the war. Many of the fund’s potential assets are in Russian-occupied territories. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is already courting the Trump administration with the prospect of jointly developing Russia’s rare earth metal reserves. It’s also possible he’s hinting at the exploitation of Ukraine’s Donbas deposits, which Russian forces seized after 2022. What about the security guarantees Zelensky is pushing for? The agreement contains just one sentence on the issue: The Government of the United States of America supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace. Participants [in the agreement] will seek to identify any necessary steps to protect mutual investments, as defined in the Fund Agreement. On February 26, Zelensky admitted this was the bare minimum he was willing to accept. He also acknowledged that the agreement fell short of the security guarantees Kyiv had originally sought. Still, officials from Zelensky’s team told the Financial Times they remain hopeful that Trump’s stance could shift and that U.S. arms deliveries might continue if relations improve after the resource deal is signed. Dealing with Trump ‘Ukraine will not accept any ultimatums’ Top Zelensky advisor Mykhailo Podolyak explains the art of dealing with Trump’s White House…

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As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, occupied cities in the Donetsk region lie in ruins

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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered its fourth year this week. As of this writing, some of the most intense battles are taking place in the country’s eastern Donetsk region, where fighting has been ongoing since 2014. Russia’s full-scale war has wiped many settlements in the region practically off the map. Be that as it may, every time Moscow’s forces occupy a Ukrainian town or village, Russian officials announce that it’s been “liberated.” Meduza shares snapshots of occupied cities in the Donetsk region that now lie in ruins. Russian troops captured the city of Marinka in the Donetsk region in December 2023. According to Ukraine’s 2001 census, Marinka was once home to more than 10,000 people. In the fall of 2022, Ukraine’s National Police announced that no civilians remained there. February 24, 2025. Marinka. February 24, 2025. Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s censorship with the truth. Donate today . The Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in Marinka. February 24, 2025. The Iverskiy Monastery in Donetsk. The damage to the walls is from the battle for the Donetsk Airport in 2014. Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Donetsk has been under constant shelling. February 25, 2025. The battle for Pokrovsk has been ongoing since last August. As of the end of February, Russian forces had failed to capture the city. This photo shows a section of the front near Pokrovsk under the control of Russian troops. February 18, 2025. Before the full-scale war, Pokrovsk was a major coal mining city once home to around 68,000 people. Its last mine shut down due to fighting in the area at the end of December 2024. February 6, 2025. Russian troops captured Avdiivka last February. Before the war, the city was home to more than 37,000 people. February 16, 2025. Avdiivka. February 16, 2025. Pokrovsk. February 18, 2025. Avdiivka. February 8, 2025. More than 16,000 people used to live in Krasnohorivka. Russian troops captured the city in September 2024. The photo above was taken on February 5, 2025. Donetsk. February 11, 2025. READ MEDUZA’S COMBAT MAP ANALYSIS Enter year four Russian forces are still struggling to dislodge Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region — and may now try to encircle them…

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Russia says U.S. has approved its new nominee for ambassador to Washington

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The U.S. has given Moscow its approval to appoint Alexander Darchiyev as the next Russian Ambassador to Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. U.S. officials gave an official note of approval during talks between the two countries in Istanbul on Thursday, the ministry said. "His departure for his post in Washington is expected soon," the statement added. Russian’s previous ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, ended his term in October 2024. He had led the Russian Embassy in Washington since August 2017.…

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Russia says it proposed resuming direct flights with U.S.

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At the U.S.-Russia talks in Istanbul on February 27, Russian representatives proposed restoring direct flights between the two countries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. “The American side was invited to consider the possibility of restoring direct air service,” the ministry said. According to the statement, the meeting involved a “substantive” discussion of “ways to overcome numerous ‘irritants’ inherited from the previous U.S. administrations.” The two sides reportedly agreed on “joint steps to ensure the unhindered financing of the activities of the diplomatic missions of Russia and the U.S. on a reciprocal basis and to create proper conditions for diplomats to fulfill their official duties.” “Issues related to Russia’s diplomatic property in the U.S. were also raised in the context of returning six real estate properties that were unlawfully seized between 2016 and 2018. The importance of achieving practical results aimed at creating conditions for improving bilateral relations in the interests of the peoples of our countries was particularly emphasized,” the ministry added. The Istanbul meeting U.S.-Russia talks in Istanbul were ‘constructive,’ says State Department Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul for talks with U.S. on embassy operations Russian foreign minister announces new Russia-U.S. talks in Istanbul on February 27…

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With Trump and the Kremlin cozying up, could McDonald’s, Apple, and Coca-Cola return to Russia?

19 hours ago