Putin hails Elon Musk’s ‘genius’ amid plans for Russian version of Starlink

By: Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor

28 October 2026 at 21:32

Russia plans to build own version of US billionaire’s satellite communications to help attack Ukraine

Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk’s genius and said he was in touch with Starlink’s controlling shareholder as Russia develops its own satellite communications for its military to use against Ukraine.

The Russian president, speaking at a summit with African leaders in Moscow, was comparing the Earth-orbiting network built by Musk’s SpaceX with Russia’s gradual efforts to build its own Rassvet constellation.

European Leaders Split Over Phone Call to Putin

NYT > Top Stories

By: Jeffrey Gettleman · Paul Sonne and Jeanna Smialek

27 October 2026 at 23:49

The diplomatic outreach was part of an effort to push talks to end the war in Ukraine, though it was not welcomed by all European leaders.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Moscow on Friday.

Trump Explores Lifting Sanctions on Russia’s Flagship Investment Fund

NYT > Top Stories

By: Anton Troianovski

27 October 2026 at 20:30

The move would be the latest U.S. concession to Moscow as President Trump pursues economic incentives he hopes will secure an end to war in Ukraine.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s envoys, with Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, in Moscow last month.

Oleshky truce appears to hold as two European leaders have ‘frank’ call with Putin

World news | The Guardian

By: Luke Harding and Pjotr Sauer

27 October 2026 at 20:43

Frontline near Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine quiet for first time in years ahead of planned evacuation

A local ceasefire in a southern Ukrainian city under Russian occupation appeared to be holding on Tuesday, with both sides ceasing drone attacks ahead of an apparent evacuation of about 2,000 trapped and desperate civilians.

The temporary truce began at 3am in Russian-controlled Oleshky. The city sits on the Dnipro River and is about 3 miles (5km) from Kherson, a larger city on the opposite bank. Ukrainian troops recaptured Kherson in autumn 2022.

In U.S. Gas Talks With Kremlin, Hidden Financing for Alaska Project Emerges

NYT > Top Stories

By: Anton Troianovski and Eric Lipton

24 October 2026 at 16:20

Interviews and documents show a Russian energy giant secretly funded a U.S. firm. The deal has been discussed in talks to end the war in Ukraine.

Oil drilling rigs in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The Polar LNG plan called for the company to tap into the giant load of natural gas available in the state’s northern reaches.

The Kremlin says a first tanker of Russian diesel sets sail for the U.S. despite Ukraine's protests

PBS News Hour - The Latest

By: Associated Press

23 October 2026 at 16:52

A first tanker carrying Russian diesel to the United States under a new import agreement has set sail, the Kremlin said Friday, two weeks after President Donald Trump said he struck a deal with President Vladimir Putin despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

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