Sergei Lavrov has steered Russia’s diplomacy since 2004, shaping ties with the West and balancing Moscow’s strategy amid Ukraine and global tensions.
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have mediated two days of Russia–Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi focused on post‑war European security, prisoner swaps and ceasefire monitoring. Moscow and Kyiv have remained far apart on territorial demands. European governments are pressing to join future rounds; the Kremlin has not committed to their inclusion.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has flown to Moscow for undisclosed talks with Russian intelligence officials. The Kremlin has said President Vladimir Putin was briefed but did not meet Ratcliffe. U.S. officials and the CIA have declined to comment. Washington told Kyiv in advance and asked Ukraine to pause strikes on parts of Russia while the delegation was in the capital.
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
Russia has announced the closure of Goethe-Institut centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, following Germany’s decision to shut a Russian cultural center in Berlin after a drone incident near Leipzig/Halle. Moscow says Berlin’s move ends their shared cultural presence and escalates tensions as the EU considers further sanctions.
Russia has instructed Germany to cease operations at its consulate in St. Petersburg by Sept. 18 in retaliation for Berlin’s closure of Russian diplomatic sites. Moscow says Berlin provoked the escalation after an alleged drone attack on Leipzig–Halle Airport, while Germany accuses Moscow of aggression and planting evidence. The move widens a diplomatic rift between Moscow and Berlin.
Ovechkin has participated in a campaign video for United Russia, sparking backlash as Russia’s parliamentary elections unfold. Capitals say he is Russian and not in politics, while critics call for accountability as international responses mount and questions about the player’s influence in Washington grow.
The Moscow Times reports that Russian grain exports face substantial disruption after drone and missile strikes damage key terminals in the Azov-Black Sea basin. Three of nine major terminals have suffered serious damage, idling about 53 million tons of capacity while Russia seeks alternative routes through Baltic and Arctic ports. Conditions threaten domestic inventories and could push up global prices.
Russian presidential decrees have placed the Russian operations of several Western retailers and food companies under temporary administration, transferring control to newly registered or Kremlin‑linked firms. The moves follow earlier 2023 seizures and are taking place as Moscow and Berlin exchange diplomatic and security accusations, putting German firms such as Metro and Globus at risk.
EU countries reach a compromise to extend sanctions on nearly 3,000 individuals and entities for three years while delisting Russian-Uzbek tycoon Alisher Usmanov and Russian-Israeli Mikhail Fridman from the bloc’s sanctions list. Latvia abstains, prompting tensions with Kyiv; France and Luxembourg argued for delisting on national-security grounds linked to a prisoner-release context.
Leaders are invited to a December G20 summit in Miami, with Putin potentially attending. Rubio says the invitation aims to foster dialogue, while Moscow signals consideration. Reactions from Europe warn of risks to peacemaking amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Danish Defence Intelligence Service has warned of a low but growing risk that Russia could carry out limited attacks on Ukraine support infrastructure or stage small incursions into NATO-bordering states. The agency sees hybrid warfare intensifying, with potential cyber and sabotage campaigns and high casualties in worst cases. This follows a string of European security alerts and a Polish incident at a Starlink site.
Poland reports a Russian helicopter briefly violated its airspace, prompting fighter jets to scramble. European leaders warn of heightened hybrid threats as Moscow denies plans for a direct attack, while Moscow weighs a possible restart of peace talks amid Ukrainian strikes.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul has met Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, the first bilateral talks since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Wadephul has urged Russia to abandon escalation, pressed for a ceasefire and a Black Sea grain deal; Lavrov has said he heard "nothing new."
Ukrainian cities face renewed attacks as Moscow escalates strikes across Kyiv and other regions. Civilian casualties are reported, and residents brace for a harsher winter while international talks show little progress.
The Kremlin has issued a fourth decree this year increasing Russia’s armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 active troops. Kyiv and Western observers view the move as part of a protracted war, with concerns about renewed mobilization and continuing aggression in Ukraine.
The latest on a claimed energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine: Kyiv says it would sign on if Moscow agrees; Moscow has not confirmed, while Trump’s announcement has sparked cautious optimism and scepticism about enforcement as concerns over energy facilities continue.
Russia and Iran are expanding their strategic partnership to influence Middle East security and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Lavrov’s visit follows Putin’s signals of mediation, with both countries seeking to shape regional order amid US-Israel actions against Iran.
Zelensky and US envoys are in Oslo with Finnish President Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Støre to push for a constructive diplomatic path amid strained US-Ukraine ties. Talks focus on early-warning intelligence, Starlink access, and Patriot missiles as Washington weighs its broader role in ending the Ukraine conflict.
Clashes between Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional forces have forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee across the border into Kenya’s Marsabit County. Humanitarian agencies have reported up to 50,000 crossings, mostly women and children. Aid groups and Kenyan authorities are scaling emergency assistance as local leaders warn host communities are stretched.
Ukraine has sustained offensive operations with strong battlefield momentum. Finnish President Stubb and Norwegian PM Stoere have engaged Putin directly to press for de-escalation and peace talks, while European allies pledge additional support to Kyiv. Abu Dhabi is the planned venue for U.S.-mediated talks, with Ukraine seeking broader European involvement.
A localized six‑day ceasefire around Russian‑held Oleshky has allowed joint Russian‑Ukrainian teams to deliver food and medicine and to offer evacuations. About 2,000 people remained in Oleshky; convoys have moved hundreds toward Russian territory and southern Russia’s Anapa before planned flights to Belarus and onward to northern Ukraine. Fighting has continued elsewhere.
Finland and Norway have spoken with Putin about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stressing de-escalation and direct discussions. The call aims to influence future negotiations and is linked to Abu Dhabi talks, with both leaders stressing that Ukraine’s security guarantees and frontlines remain central to any peace process.
Mediators report ongoing talks between Iran and the United States to end the war, with Tehran demanding immediate end to the Strait of Hormuz blockade and the US lifting sanctions. Qatar and other regional actors coordinate efforts, while potential drafts circulate. Diplomatic activity follows regional de-escalation talks and limited military actions in the Strait.
The US has cancelled the traditional group photograph at the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta after several European countries, the UK, Australia and others refused to be photographed with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has opened talks urging cooperation on trade, energy and food-security threats as divisions threaten a joint communique.
Japan-Tokyo is confronting Moscow over Russia’s order placing four JTI subsidiaries under temporary administration. Tokyo has protested and is evaluating options as Russia ties asset seizures to its foreign policy leverage. The moves come amid Japan-Russia tensions over Ukraine, the Kuril Islands dispute, and a Japanese journalist’s detention in Russia.
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have met Vladimir Putin in Moscow after U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi and have briefed Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin. Washington has proposed that European representatives join the next round of negotiations; the Kremlin has not committed and says it will assess Europe’s intentions and readiness to contribute to a settlement.