Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing protests and EU criticism for the first time since Russia invaded, over changes to national anti-corruption agencies.

Republican leaders said they were ready to vote as soon as this month on punishing penalties against Moscow but have paused after President Trump threatened to act unilaterally within weeks.

Russia is set to spend 6.3% of its GDP on defense this year — a post-Cold War high.

Vasily Astrov, expert on the Russian economy at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, told Newsweek that "inflation has really subsided markedly over the past few months. The outcome of this policy has been a marked cooling of domestic demand, with the welcome side effect of rapid disinflation.

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused Italy of discrimination and said it had caved into anti-Russian lobbying after a planned classical music concert by high-profile Russian conductor Valery Gergiev was cancelled.

Tulsi Gabbard released a memorandum and files regarding the intelligence community's assessment of Russia's actions during the 2016 election.

Russia's Murmansk region, close to NATO member Finland, hosts several naval and airbases, and is home to a significant chunk of Moscow's submarine fleet.

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

U.S. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of "treason" on Tuesday, accusing him, without providing evidence, of leading an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign.

Russia has advanced around Pokrovsk for many months, but has so far failed to entirely encircle or seize control of the city.