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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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… -
news
Why Russian Military Aggression Has Backfired on Moscow
KYIV, Ukraine—The Kremlin's strategy of military aggression in Ukraine and Eastern Europe has backfired, spurring former Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries to become a de facto anti-Moscow military bloc, while NATO rearms and reinforces its eastern flank. Altogether, Eastern Europe has become the most rapidly militarizing region on earth, which is not to Moscow’s advantage…. -
opinion
What’s Wrong in Our Arms Treaty With Russia
Some media outlets reported last week that President Donald Trump called the Obama administration’s New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, with Russia a “bad deal.” Well, Trump is right: New START is advantageous to the Russians and does not advance U.S. national security interests. Because of the way the treaty limits were negotiated,… -
opinion
Obama’s Actions Against Russia Are ‘Too Little, Too Late’
President Barack Obama on Thursday took steps to retaliate against Russia for what he called “aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at our election.” Obama’s actions include sanctioning Russian intelligence agencies and individuals as well as expelling 35 Russian government officials from the United States. “These actions follow repeated private and public… -
opinion
Foiled Coup Plot in US-Allied Montenegro Has Russia’s Fingerprints All Over It
A recently foiled coup plot in the small but geographically important Balkan nation of Montenegro underscores the lengths to which Russia will go to undermine democracy and exert its influence in the region. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful many Americans have heard about it. Montenegro held parliamentary elections on Oct. 16. The party of then-Prime Minister Milo… -
news
Ted Kennedy Made Secret Overtures to Russia to Prevent Ronald Reagan’s Re-Election
Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy had “selfish political and ideological motives” when he made secret overtures to the Soviet Union’s spy agency during the Cold War to thwart then-President Ronald Reagan’s re-election, a Reagan biographer said in an interview with The Daily Signal. When they came to light years later, Kennedy’s secret contacts with the Russians… -
news
Key Questions About Russia’s Alleged Hacking of the US Election
A Central Intelligence Agency report that Russian operatives intervened in the U.S. election to help President-elect Donald Trump win has roiled Capitol Hill, producing a bipartisan call for congressional investigations. But there is skepticism within the U.S. government, particularly at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, that the evidence definitively proves that the Russians had the… -
opinion
Russia’s Ban on LinkedIn Reflects Global Decline of Internet Freedom
The decision by a Russian court earlier this month to shut down the professional social network LinkedIn came right on cue. The court ruling coincided with the publication of “Freedom on the Net 2016,” an annual report on internet freedom published by the human rights organization Freedom House. As noted in the report, freedom on… -
news
Eastern Europe Arms Itself Against Russian Military Aggression
KYIV, Ukraine—Countries across Eastern Europe are militarizing to defend themselves from Russia, underscoring how Kremlin brinkmanship could spark a regional conflict. “If you’re in Estonia, or Latvia, and Russia’s sitting there on your border, it’s scary,” Jill Russell, teaching fellow in the Defense Studies Department at King’s College London, told The Daily Signal. “And those… -
opinion
Russia’s Missile Deployment Adds to NATO’s Worries in the Baltic
In an extremely worrying development for NATO, Russia earlier this month deployed several nuclear-capable Iskander mobile ballistic missile launchers in the Kaliningrad region. The location is a small Russian enclave on the Baltic between Poland and Lithuania that is home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet and several major military installations. The deployment is widely seen as… -
opinion
Russia’s Information Warfare Continues
Speculation about Russian interference in the upcoming U.S. presidential election is flowing fast in the U.S. media. Russia was widely believed to be responsible for embarrassing email hacks at the Democratic National Convention. Speculation abounds in the media that the Russian government might try to throw the U.S. election this way or that with a… -
opinion
Report Confirms Russia’s Responsibility for Shooting Down Malaysian Airliner
In interim findings, a team of investigators says Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired from an area controlled by Russian-backed fighters in eastern Ukraine. The team, comprised of investigators from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine, is conducting a criminal investigation into the downing of MH17 on July 17, 2014, which killed all 298… -
opinion
Sweden’s Smart Move to Return Troops to an Island Eyed by Russia
Sweden’s decision to reintroduce permanent troops to the island province of Gotland is wise in light of recent Russian aggression. Swedish soldiers exercising on Gotland received an order Sept. 14 not to leave. The 150 troops will remain on the island until mid-2017, when a planned permanent unit should be fully established there. Sweden, which…