The talks in Geneva, Switzerland, were expected to focus on Ukrainian-held territory in the east that Russia wants to control as the price of peace. Kyiv has said that demand is a nonstarter.

Russia's economy is hanging between stagnation and decline, and ordinary Russians are beginning to feel the pinch.

The humble cucumber, a favourite in Russian salads and meals, is the latest staple to suddenly skyrocket in price, angering consumers and stirring up politicians and regulators keen to tamp down any popular discontent at a time of war.

Russia and Belarus will have a combined 10 para athletes at next month's Milano Cortina Paralympics , the International Paralympic Committee said in a statement on Tuesday.

Russia's time as a Paralympic pariah is ending, as the International Paralympic Committee announced the move Tuesday.

Mourners in Moscow have marked two years since Russian opposition leder Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison, as a new European analysis fuels claims he was killed by poisoning.

Due to Meta’s unwillingness to comply with Russian law, such a decision was indeed made and implemented,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

However, the flow of Irish and EU components has continued. Trade data covering the period January 2024 to March 2025 shows Russian companies imported 140 shipments of TE Connectivity-made products, weighing 8.5 tonnes, which are covered by the EU trade ban.