The wartime crackdown has all but destroyed the once-vibrant stand-up comedy scene, but some persevere and live in fear of going viral and being denounced.

Putin’s hard-line approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict doesn’t fit with the White House’s desire for a quick solution.

Plans for security guarantees for Ukraine appear to be triggering unease in Moscow, which repeated objections to any role for forces from NATO countries.

Plans for security guarantees for Ukraine appear to be triggering unease in Moscow, which repeated objections to any role for forces from NATO countries.

The proposal for security guarantees for Ukraine appears to be triggering unease in Moscow, which repeated objections to any role for forces from NATO countries.

The proposal for security guarantees for Ukraine appears to be triggering unease in Moscow, which repeated objections to any role for forces from NATO countries.

Zelensky and the European leaders are expected to push Trump on the nature of the security guarantees to protect Ukraine from future Russian attacks.

Zelensky described the strikes as “cynical” attacks ahead of the key White House meeting that could decide the future of Ukraine.

The Russian attacks came even as special envoy Steve Witkoff presented the Alaska summit as a “breakthrough” by winning Russia’s agreement to “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine.

In President Donald Trump’s warm red-carpet greeting at the Alaska summit, Russians saw an opening to pull America away from its traditional allies in Europe.

In President Donald Trump’s warm red-carpet greeting at the Alaska summit, Russians saw an opening to pull America away from its traditional allies in Europe.

In President Donald Trump’s warm red-carpet greeting at the Alaska summit, Russians saw an opening to pull America away from its traditional allies in Europe.

The Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin represents a return to great-power politics in which big countries call the shots.

The Kremlin said a one-on-one meeting was being planned, but White House officials said that decisions had not yet been made.

The Kremlin said a one-on-one meeting was being planned but a White House official said Trump would meet only if Putin also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Kremlin confirmed a meeting would take place between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump but said it was at Washington’s request, contradicting the White House.

The Kremlin confirmed a meeting would take place between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump but said it was at Washington’s request, contradicting the White House.

It was unclear whether Putin offered Trump any concessions in exchange for a meeting. But it would be a significant win for Putin after weeks of Trump’s verbal attacks.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire deal in Ukraine before Friday.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire deal in Ukraine before Friday.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire deal in Ukraine before Friday.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire deal in Ukraine before Friday.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire deal in Ukraine before Friday.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if fighting in Ukraine doesn’t stop before Friday.

The first official statement from the Kremlin about Trump’s move seemed to distance Russian President Vladimir Putin from Dmitry Medvedev’s inflammatory comments.

Acute water shortages in occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, and angry residents’ appeals for help, contradict propaganda suggesting life is pleasant under Russian control.