Displaying items by tag: War

A quiet yet courageous resistance is growing among evangelical leaders in Russia who are risking their freedom to oppose the war in Ukraine. Bishop Albert Ratkin, pastor of Word of Life Church near Moscow, has been labelled a 'foreign agent' by the Kremlin and has had his church raided. Despite the risks, Ratkin continues to speak publicly against the war, declaring that Christians must not support violence. Other pastors, such as Nikolay Romanyuk and Yuri Sipko, have faced imprisonment, persecution, or have fled the country entirely. Romanyuk is currently facing prison for urging Christians not to enlist, while Sipko fled to Germany after authorities called his sermons 'enemy propaganda’. Pastor Andre Furmanov helps church members obtain military exemptions but avoids public protests to avoid jeopardizing lives. These men represent a small group of faithful believers whose conscience, shaped by the gospel, compels them to stand for peace and truth. Despite repression and persecution, they remain committed to proclaiming Christ’s message of love and justice.

Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 new troops between April and July, targeting citizens aged 18 to 30. The spring draft is part of Russia’s biannual conscription cycle; the previous autumn round brought in 133,000 recruits. The decree also confirms that those whose conscripted service has ended will be discharged. Last year, Russia raised the conscription age limit from 27 to 30, and now maintains a military force of approximately 2.4 million, with 1.5 million on active duty. Despite increasing manpower, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll. Western and Ukrainian estimates suggest over 768,000 Russian troops have been lost—killed, wounded, missing, or captured—since the invasion began in 2022. November 2023 marked a grim record with over 2,000 casualties in a single day. Ukraine, too, has suffered significant losses; Volodymyr Zelensky has recently acknowledged over 43,000 soldiers killed. The drawn-out conflict remains costly and unresolved, as both nations brace for further battles.

Russia and Ukraine have reached separate agreements with the USA on a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, following peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Though indirect, the negotiations resulted in a promise to halt attacks on energy infrastructure and reopen critical trade routes.  Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move but said it was too early to gauge its effectiveness. The Kremlin, however, tied the ceasefire to the lifting of sanctions on its food and fertiliser sectors, demanding restored access to financial systems and agricultural trade tools. The USA acknowledged it would support restoring Russia’s global market access in these areas, prompting Zelensky to criticise the move as a concession. Ukraine warned that any expansion of Russian naval activity beyond agreed zones would violate the ceasefire and justify defensive action. It is also calling for increased US support and sanctions if Russia fails to honour its commitments. Even as the negotiators were meeting, a Russian missile hit a hospital, injuring dozens: see Breaking news: France and the UK are at the forefront of a united European message of support for Ukraine: see

Vladimir Putin has agreed to a thirty-day pause in strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a phone call with Donald Trump. The two leaders spoke for 90 minutes as the Trump administration works toward ending the conflict that began with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, Putin refused the broader ceasefire which the USA has proposed. Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the energy-targeting pause but insisted that Ukraine should be involved in future negotiations. Putin also demanded a halt to Western military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine before agreeing to any long-term deal. Zelensky rejected this, calling it an attempt to weaken Ukraine. The White House announced that peace negotiations would begin in the Middle East, with talks including a potential Black Sea ceasefire; Putin has agreed to further discussions on these terms. One immediate result of the phone call has been a major exchange of prisoners: see

US officials have arrived in Moscow to discuss a proposed thirty-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Special envoy Steve Witkoff hopes to persuade Russia to agree to the deal, which Ukraine accepted earlier this week after talks in Jeddah. The Kremlin confirmed discussions were planned but gave no details. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that the ceasefire decision now rests with Russia, while Donald Trump warned of financial consequences if Russia rejects peace. Meanwhile, Russia claims to have recaptured 86% of the Kursk region, which Ukraine invaded last year. Vladimir Putin, visiting the area, has reportedly ordered a full military push to reclaim all lost territory. Events this week show a remarkably swift turnaround from a week ago: see

Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly halted, at least partially, intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move that could severely impact Kyiv’s defence against Russia. National security adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed a pause is in place, suggesting it might be lifted if Ukraine takes steps toward negotiations. The intelligence freeze follows a suspension of US weapons deliveries, aimed at pressuring Ukraine into a peace deal. Volodymyr Zelensky has signaled a willingness to negotiate, and renewed talks between US and Ukrainian officials are expected soon. However, critics warn that cutting intelligence and military aid ‘pretty much guarantees a Russian victory without there needing to be a peace deal’. Meanwhile, concerns remain over whether the administration or Elon Musk will continue allowing Starlink, a vital communication tool for Ukraine. Some US military and intelligence officers feel that ‘we are abandoning our allies on the battlefield’.

Donald Trump is to meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on 28 February to sign a preliminary agreement on sharing Ukraine’s mineral resources. While Trump touts the deal as a way for the USA to recoup aid given to Ukraine, Zelensky is seeking broader agreements, including security guarantees. However, Trump has ruled out significant US commitments and dismissed Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, saying European nations should bear more responsibility for Ukraine’s security. He also suggested a ceasefire deal was near, with European peacekeepers stationed in Ukraine - an idea Russia opposes. The mineral deal remains vague, but Ukraine hopes it will bring investment for reconstruction. There are warnings that Ukraine first needs to address its problem of unexploded landmines before striking a deal: a quarter of the country is estimated to be contaminated with them. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered the USA access to minerals from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. In an earlier development, the USA voted against a UN vote condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: see

US secretary of state Pete Hegseth has defended Donald Trump’s push for peace talks on Russia’s war in Ukraine, insisting it was not a betrayal of Kyiv. Speaking before a NATO meeting in Brussels, Hegseth emphasised the need for a negotiated peace but called Ukraine’s demands - restoring pre-2014 borders and NATO membership - ‘unrealistic’. Trump later confirmed he had spoken with Vladimir Putin, agreeing to initiate negotiations without prioritising territorial concerns or Ukraine’s NATO bid. European leaders voiced concern, fearing premature concessions could embolden Russia. Hegseth asked NATO allies to ramp up defence spending to 5%, a target the US itself does not reach. Volodymyr Zelensky, after speaking with Trump, reiterated his commitment to securing peace while ensuring Ukraine’s security. Questions remain over whether Moscow will accept a deal that meets Kyiv’s conditions. Trump’s advisers are set to meet Zelensky at the Munich security conference to discuss next steps.

Olaf Scholz has criticised Donald Trump’s proposal to make US military aid for Ukraine conditional on access to the country’s rare earth resources, calling it ‘selfish and self-centred’. A Ukrainian source has said that resource-sharing had already been included in Volodymyr Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’, which has been presented to foreign leaders, including Trump. The future of US aid to Ukraine remains uncertain, with military assistance continuing but non-military aid programs frozen under the new administration. Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest military donor; however, Scholz has blocked proposed additional security assistance worth €3 billion unless it is covered by new government borrowing. He has also resisted sending Taurus cruise missiles, citing escalation concerns. As Ukraine seeks continued support, Western nations face internal debates over military aid, economic interests, and the war’s broader implications.

North Korean soldiers are reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, employing brutal, near-suicidal tactics. Western intelligence estimates up to 12,000 North Koreans have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region since November, with 4,000 killed or injured. Ukrainian special forces describe the troops as relentless, often refusing to surrender and committing suicide with grenades to avoid capture. They are using strange warfare strategies, removing body armour for speed, executing frontal assaults, and even using fellow soldiers as bait to target attack drones. They leave behind propaganda-filled notes pledging loyalty to Kim Jong Un and condemning Ukraine. Despite extensive military training, they are struggling with modern warfare, particularly drone technology, leading to high casualties.