Russia and China deepened their “no limits” friendship, but Vladimir Putin didn’t get everything he wanted, underscoring his junior status in the partnership.

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.