Russia News
Explore in-depth coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine, its global influence, and how American policymakers respond. The Daily Signal provides news and perspective on this critical issue.
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opinion
Russian Actions in Belarus Are Cause for Concern
Russian actions in Belarus, an Eastern European country slightly smaller than the state of Kansas, are causing concern among neighboring countries. Russia is planning massive joint military exercises next month in both Belarus and Russia, and is even constructing a nuclear reactor in the country, close to the Belarus-Lithuania border. A former Soviet nation, Belarus… -
opinion
The Other Russia Story We Need to Talk About Is Adoption
The Russian government uses orphans as political pawns. The story of thousands of innocent Russian children in need of adoption has been lost amid the daily flood of news about Russia and the hyped-up debate over whether “adoption” is some kind of code for “sanctions” when it comes to high-level Russian-American meetings. We shouldn’t miss… -
news
Trump Reluctantly Signs Russia Sanctions Bill
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping sanctions bill Wednesday that is intended to punish Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. In doing so, Trump criticized the legislation as “seriously flawed—particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch’s authority to negotiate.” “Congress could not even negotiate a health care bill after seven years of talking…. -
opinion
Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Would Embolden Russia, Put European Stability at Risk
The proposed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, which will run alongside the existing Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea in northern Europe, would directly connect Russia and Germany by bypassing several other European countries. This pipeline would only make Europe more dependent on Russian gas and more vulnerable to Moscow’s energy blackmail. The… -
opinion
Yes, the Left Really Is a Greater Threat to the West Than Russia
Bret Stephens devoted his New York Times column last week to admonishing me for my tweet from two weeks ago and critiquing my follow-up column last week explaining the tweet. The tweet reads, “The news media in the West pose a far greater danger to Western civilization than Russia does.” The news media in the… -
opinion
Returning Seized Compounds to Russia Would Be a Mistake
In May, media reports indicated the Trump administration was considering returning two compounds—one in Maryland and one in New York—to Russia. Those compounds were seized by the Obama administration last December in response to Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Last week, in an interview with CNN, a senior White House official again raised… -
news
Lawmakers Cite Evidence Russia ‘Colludes’ With US Green Groups to Block Fracking
Forget about allegations of Russian interference in U.S. presidential elections for a moment, or even “collusion” between Russian officials and Trump campaign operatives. “If successful, an anti-fracking campaign deprives Americans of affordable, dependable energy.”–@NiconomistLoris The real action is in the European and U.S. energy markets, according to a letter from two Texas congressmen to Treasury… -
news
Reagan Scholar: Trump Should Hold Russia Accountable for Plot to Kill Pope
A scholar of Ronald Reagan’s presidency says that by publicizing Moscow’s role in the 1981 attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II, he hopes to prompt President Donald Trump to hold Russia accountable for what has been called “the crime of the century.” Paul Kengor, a professor of political science at Grove City College, writes… -
news
Gingrich on Russian Investigation: ‘The Fix Is In’
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich is deeply concerned about Robert Mueller’s ability to lead a nonpartisan, unbiased investigation, he said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller News Foundation. “The fix is in,” Gingrich said. “This is the establishment counterattacking legally when they lost politically.” Gingrich is specifically concerned about the fact that employees at… -
news
7 Takeaways From Jeff Sessions’ Senate Testimony on the Russia Probe
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in testimony before a Senate committee, called it “an appalling and detestable lie” for Democrats to suggest he would collude with Russians to undermine the U.S. presidential election. “I did not recuse myself from defending my honor against scurrilous and false allegations,” @USAGSessions says. Sessions himself frequently stirred up Democrats on… -
news
Trump’s Move to Deter Russian Aggression
KYIV, Ukraine—On Tuesday, President Donald Trump presented a budget request to Congress that would boost spending for an Obama-era buildup of U.S. military forces in Europe meant to deter Russia from military provocations and show NATO and its European partners that the U.S. is committed to their defense. “Such a request is more reassuring for… -
opinion
Trump Is Not Pro-Russia, Despite What the Media Says
Politically, no story is hotter than the one about President Donald Trump and the Russians. Last week’s appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the election keeps the story alive. But abroad, Trump hasn’t helped the Russians. In fact, he’s opposed them. Like many Americans, I completely rejected candidate Trump’s praise for… -
opinion
This Little-Known US Ally Could Be Pivotal on Russia, China Policy
As the U.S. grapples with many complex challenges to its interests in the vast region of Eurasia, one country should attract Washington’s particular attention. Kazakhstan, the world’s ninth-largest country by land mass, sits right in the heart of Eurasia on what is best described as a convergence of global challenges and strategic opportunities for the… -
news
In France’s Presidential Election, the Intersecting Consequences of Islamist Terrorism and Russian Aggression
KYIV, Ukraine—Europe’s two greatest security challenges, Islamist terrorism and Russian military aggression, have cast a shadow over the French presidential election. Authorities in Paris reported a possible terrorist attack on the Champs-Elysees on Thursday night, throwing the election a last-minute curveball—potentially to the benefit of the far-right National Front party’s candidate, Marine Le Pen. The… -
opinion
As Russia Flexes Muscles in Afghanistan, US Must Not Cede Influence
Russia is seeking to gain diplomatic leverage in Afghanistan by hosting a regional meeting next month with governments that have a stake in Kabul’s future. The U.S. should avoid attending the meeting and instead develop its own plan for driving regional economic and political initiatives that aim to promote peaceful cooperation among Afghanistan and surrounding… -
opinion
Why US-Russia Cyber Cooperation Is So Problematic
The Russian government is a notoriously bad actor in cyberspace, but this hasn’t stopped it from advocating greater cyber cooperation abroad. Last year, the United States agreed to resume the 2013 discussions on cyber cooperation that were halted after Russia invaded Crimea. Russian connections to the recent breaches of the Democratic National Committee and Yahoo show… -
opinion
Trump Administration Sends Strong Signal to Russia by Indicting Hackers
Of all the security threats facing the U.S. today, cyber threats are among the most pernicious. Thankfully, the administration is taking some concrete steps to confront them. Last week, the Justice Department indicted four individuals on charges relating back to the 2016 hack into Yahoo’s network that compromised at least 500 million user accounts. Of… -
news
Government Watchdog Questions Sessions’ Need for Recusal From Russian Probe
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Thursday he would recuse himself from any Justice Department investigation that relates to the 2016 presidential campaign. “He should only recuse himself from the investigation of illegal leaks,” @TomFitton says. “My staff recommended recusal. They said since I had involvement in this campaign, I should not be involved in any…