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Part of a welcome for the United States-Soviet commission on Korea on their arrival in Pyongyang on July 23, 1947, was this parade of Korean communists carrying huge portraits of Josef Stalin and Kim Il Sung. The commission visited Pyongyang, 165 miles north of Seoul, for the purpose of getting views of political groups on the prospecting.

Part of a welcome for the United States-Soviet commission on Korea on their arrival in Pyongyang on July 23, 1947, was this parade of Korean communists carrying huge portraits of Josef Stalin and Kim Il Sung. The commission visited Pyongyang, 165 miles north of Seoul, for the purpose of getting views of political groups on the prospecting. U.S. Army Signal Corps/AP hide caption

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U.S. Army Signal Corps/AP

Opinion

Opinion: Putin and Kim forge closer ties, resuscitating a defunct Stalinist alliance

As Russia's leader visits North Korea, Johns Hopkins professor Sergey Radchenko offers insights into the fascinating history of twists and turns in relations between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Putin basks in election win that was never in doubt even as Russians quietly protest

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking on a visit to his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow, Russia, early Monday. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP hide caption

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Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

World

Putin basks in election win that was never in doubt even as Russians quietly protest

Russian President Vladimir Putin will extend nearly a quarter century of rule for six more years after wrapping up an election that gave voters no real alternatives.

In a 4-hour press conference, a confident Putin vows the Ukraine war will go on

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his combined call-in-show and annual press conference, on Dec. 14, in Moscow, Russia. Contributor/Getty Images hide caption

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Contributor/Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

In a 4-hour press conference, a confident Putin vows the Ukraine war will go on

Russian President Vladimir Putin resumed his traditional year-end press conference, after canceling last year, when Russia was doing badly on the battlefield. He combined it with a call-in program.

In a 4-hour press conference, a confident Putin vows the Ukraine war will go on

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Russia responds to Zelenskyy's visit by accusing the U.S. of a proxy war in Ukraine

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Harris hold up a Ukrainian flag while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Congress on Wednesday evening. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

Russia responds to Zelenskyy's visit by accusing the U.S. of a proxy war in Ukraine

The Kremlin said Thursday that the U.S. is fighting a proxy war with Russia "to the last Ukrainian." The U.S. is supplying Ukraine with another $1.85 billion in aid and an advanced air defense system.

The pope makes his strongest plea yet for an end to Russia's war on Ukraine

Pope Francis waves during the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican on Sunday. He has appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, imploring him to "stop this spiral of violence and death" in Ukraine. The pontiff also called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to "be open" to serious peace proposals. Alessandra Tarantino/AP hide caption

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Alessandra Tarantino/AP

World

The pope makes his strongest plea yet for an end to Russia's war on Ukraine

Pope Francis asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop this spiral of violence and death" and called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to "be open" to serious peace proposals.

Putin's claim of fighting against Ukraine 'neo-Nazis' distorts history, scholars say

A mosaic panel depicts the liberation of Kyiv by Russia's Red Army in 1943 at Kievskaya metro station in Moscow. Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

Putin's claim of fighting against Ukraine 'neo-Nazis' distorts history, scholars say

Scholars dismiss the Russian leader's claims as a "mythical use of history." For one: Ukraine overwhelmingly elected a Jewish president, and has a relatively small right-wing movement.

The U.S. Climate Envoy Went To Moscow And Talked About More Than Climate

Kerry gets interviewed by NPR's Lucian Kim on Wednesday at Spaso House, the official Moscow residence of the U.S. ambassador to Russia. Stefan Mizha/U.S. Embassy Moscow Press Office hide caption

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Stefan Mizha/U.S. Embassy Moscow Press Office

World

The U.S. Climate Envoy Went To Moscow And Talked About More Than Climate

John Kerry, the former secretary of state and now President Biden's special envoy for climate, is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Moscow since Biden took office.

U.S. Ambassador To Russia Returns To Washington As Relations Sour Further

John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, speaks to the media last year in Moscow. In a statement Tuesday, Sullivan said it was important for him to speak directly to "my new colleagues in the Biden administration" about U.S.-Russia relations. Pavel Golovkin/AP hide caption

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Pavel Golovkin/AP

World

U.S. Ambassador To Russia Returns To Washington As Relations Sour Further

John Sullivan is returning for "consultations" after a new round of tit-for-tat sanctions between Moscow and Washington last week.

'It Takes One To Know One,' Putin Says After Biden Agrees Russian Leader Is 'A Killer'

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Thursday before a concert marking the seventh anniversary of the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The banner behind him reads, "Russia-Crimea-Sevastopol." Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik via AP hide caption

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Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik via AP

World

'It Takes One To Know One,' Putin Says After Biden Agrees Russian Leader Is 'A Killer'

President Biden answered in the affirmative when an interviewer asked if he thought the Kremlin leader was "a killer." The remark infuriated Putin and led Russia to summon its ambassador home.

Russian Power Plant Spills Thousands Of Tons Of Oil Into Arctic Region

Russian President Vladimir Putin, shown here earlier this month, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in a region of Siberia after more than 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled from a power plant storage facility and fouled waterways. Alexei Nikolsky/AP hide caption

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Alexei Nikolsky/AP

Environment

Russian Power Plant Spills Thousands Of Tons Of Oil Into Arctic Region

More than 20,000 tons spilled in a remote Arctic region, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to declare a state of emergency. The company says thawing permafrost may have caused the spill.

Putin Extends No-Work Order For Russia Until May Over COVID-19 Pandemic

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a cabinet meeting about the coronavirus via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. Putin said more than 20,000 Russians are waiting to come back home amid the pandemic. Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP hide caption

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Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP

Coronavirus Updates

Putin Extends No-Work Order For Russia Until May Over COVID-19 Pandemic

Russia reported a spike of 771 new coronavirus patients on Thursday, sharpening a dreaded upward curve in cases. It has now confirmed more than 3,500 coronavirus cases.

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