{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Russian diplomat says EU didn’t appropriately react to US-Denmark wiretapping scandal

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Sweden and Norway, Denmark’s neighbors, particularly did not announce expulsion of Danish diplomats or other measures and only "gently demanded" explanations from Copenhagen

MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. EU members cannot find a way to appropriately react to the bombshell reports that intelligence services of the US and Denmark wiretapped European politicians, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page on Wednesday.

"Sweden, Norway, France or Germany couldn’t help but notice that the American-Danish duet did something to them that is far from decent. But the offended countries haven’t come up with a way how to specifically formulate their complaint yet," she noted.

Zakharova emphasized that Sweden and Norway, Denmark’s neighbors, particularly did not announce expulsion of Danish diplomats or other measures and only "gently demanded" explanations from Copenhagen. "While there are no sanctions, embassy shutdowns or appeals with the UN Security Council. Nothing even close to it," the diplomat underlined.

On Sunday, the Suddeutsche Zeitung, the ARD and WDR, as well as a number of media in Denmark and Sweden reported that, in 2013, Danish intelligence assisted the US National Security Agency (NSA) in spying over European politicians. According to media reports, the intelligence used a facility located near Copenhagen for wiretapping. The NSA scandal kicked off back in 2013, when Der Spiegel published revelations of former CIA employee Edward Snowden. Since then, more and more details about the story emerged. As it turned out, the US intelligence had been spying over thousands of targets in Europe, wiretapping on German citizens and even tapping into German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone several times.

In 2014, the head of the Danish Defense Intelligence Service initiated a secret internal investigation regarding the NSA use of the XKeyscore Danish-American intelligence service, intended for observation of countries neighboring Denmark. The investigation, codenamed Dunhammer, was over in 2015, and its results were sent to the intelligence head. Five years later, an informant made it known to the Ministry of Defense top brass, after which Defense Minister Trine Bramsen dismissed a number of top intelligence officers.

Netanyahu discusses Iranian issue with Putin — PM’s office

According to the Kremlin press service, during the telephone conversation with Netanyahu, Putin emphasized Moscow’s willingness to engage in efforts to seek a negotiated resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue

Russia-EU economic relations unlikely to recover even within decade — economist

According to the economist, the Russian economy and budget system have already adapted to the severing of old ties

Nuclear powers UK, France risk provoking war with Russia — Szijjarto

"War fanaticism is rampant among Europe’s political leaders," the minister said

Medvedev bashes US general’s idiotic remarks about Kaliningrad’s air defenses

The Russian PM commented on media reports citing the commander of the US Air Forces in Europe on Pentagon's plans to ‘crack’ the air defenses in the Kaliningrad Region in case of Russia's aggression

EU is pursuing increasingly irresponsible policy — Chinese expert

Yan Xuetong further explained that EU member states are "considering the possibility of deploying troops in East Asia, yet they are unable to guarantee their own security"

Medvedev calls Oreshnik strike best way to deal with Ukrainian ‘lunatics’

He noted that "international relations have been in complete chaos since the beginning of the year"

US fighter jets deliver strikes against 35 Islamic State locations in Syria — Al Arabiya

According to the television channel, over 20 fighter jets struck terrorist locations in Syria firing some 90 high-precision missiles at IS targets

West deliberately wages war against Russia, using Ukraine as a cover — ex-defense chief

According to Vulin, the West fully controls what is happening, and the opinion of the Ukrainians themselves does not interest anyone

Russian air defenses shoot down seven Ukrainian drones in five hours

Four drones were shot down over the Belgorod Region and another three over the Kursk Region, Russia’s Defense Ministry said

EU preparing for possible direct confrontation with Trump — newspaper

European governments now understand the seriousness of Trump's threats and are "desperately looking for a plan to stop him"

Venezuelan authorities declare constancy of foreign policy — Russian envoy

"Venezuelans, in their contacts with us, confirmed their commitment to adhering to the provisions of this document and, in general, to the spirit and principles of our partnership," Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov said

Protesters rally near US Embassy in Bangkok calling for Venezuelan president's release

Alongside local residents, US citizens living in Thailand also took part in the protest

US officials have held preliminary discussions on possible strike on Iran — WSJ

The negotiations are in their early stages and are a standard part of any planning process, according to sources, according to the report

NATO stockpiles nukes near Russia's borders, preparing for offensive actions — expert

According to Alexander Stepanov, at the initial stage, it is possible that B61 thermonuclear bombs, which are currently deployed in Belgium and the Netherlands, will be shifted to Russia's borders

NATO may bolster presence in the Arctic to avert US-Denmark conflict

According to the newspaper, NATO ambassadors proposed increasing defense spending in the Arctic, deploying additional military equipment, and stepping up military exercises to show Donald Trump that the region is sufficiently secure

Ukraine, US to sign $800-bln post-conflict reconstruction deal in Davos

The loan will be provided within a decade

Fico calls for Kallas's removal as EU head of diplomacy

The EU is facing an unprecedented crisis, the Slovakia’s prime minister declared

No one knows what will happen to Cuba after US operation in Venezuela — Trump

The US leader also added that unlike Venezuela, Cuba does not have its own oil and other energy sources

Russian Armed Forces liberate five settlements over week — top brass

The battlegroup East continued to advance deep into enemy defenses

Moscow’s January 9 snowfall inks 146-year record — meteorologists

"The snowfall closes the top five for the entire period of meteorological observations," a source in the country’s Hydrometeorological Center said

Medvedev considers use of Russian flag by Marinera to be inappropriate

He emphasized that the seizure of the tanker by the Americans was "a clear violation of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea"

Europe’s wrong Ukraine policy leads to dead end, Swiss politician says

Guy Mettan pointed out that ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande had pretended to comply with the Minsk Agreements in order to cover up Ukraine’s rearmament and Kiev’s plans to take back control of Donetsk and Lugansk by force rather than through diplomacy

Lukashenko says there was collusion, betrayal in situation with Maduro's capture

The Belarusian leader also called for caution amid the events in the Bolivarian Republic

Russia maintains global leadership in Pacific salmon production

Russia is fully supplied with red fish and caviar, the agency added

Russia grateful to US for decision to release two Russians from Marinera crew — diplomat

According to Zakharova, the Russian side is urgently addressing issues related to the return of its freed citizens to their homeland

US striking Islamic State in Syria — Fox News

For the second time since December 19, 2025, the US military is launching airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria in retaliation for the killing of two National Guard soldiers and a translator, the presenter said on air

Early return of Crew-11 from ISS planned no earlier than January 14 — NASA

In this case, astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov will splash down off the coast of California on January 15

Ukraine loses about 1,330 troops in special military operation zone in past day

Units of Russia’s Battlegroup North hit the forces of two Ukrainian mechanized brigades and an assault regiment near Kondratovka, Miropolye, and Andreyevka in the Sumy Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Trump does not intend to pardon Maduro — NYT

The US President also made it clear that he has "no intention of pardoning" the other individuals

Potential EU sanctions on US companies unlikely to be effective — Russian senator

The Sunday Telegraph reported earlier that the EU was working on sanctions against American companies over US President Donald Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland

Russian forces hit Ukraine’s defense facility, energy sites used by Ukrainian army

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a total of 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 108,406 drones, 645 missile systems, 27,057 tanks

No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Russia-US talks on Ukraine experience difficulties, but they can be overcome — expert

Dmitry Suslov highlighted media reports about a potential meeting in Paris involving Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund

Greenland party leaders call on US to stop disrespecting island

The authors note that Greenland is a democracy and wishes to continue cooperation with both the United States and Western countries

Over 100 armed rioters detained in western Tehran — authorities

On December 29, 2025, merchants began staging protests in central Tehran over a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial

EU working on sanctions against US over Greenland plans — newspaper

The Sunday Telegraph points out that "a more extreme option could be to evict the US military from its bases in Europe, denying it a key staging post for operations in the Middle East and elsewhere"

Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir dies at 78

He succumbed to underlying lung issues, the family said

Iranian authorities ready to heed people’s demands, implement reforms — Pezeshkian

Iranian President asserted that the demonstrators are expressing their disagreement with the worsening economic situation, but they are not setting markets on fire or committing criminal acts

Damascus regards Kurdish drone strikes on Aleppo as terrorist attacks — MFA

"The Syrian Arab Republic calls on the international community to condemn these terrorist acts and support the efforts of the Syrian state in the fight against terrorism and in strengthening security and stability," the Foreign Ministry of the Syrian transitional government said

Danish PM shocked by Trump's, his administration's statements about Greenland — NYT

Trump has repeatedly stated the need for Greenland to join the United States

At least 200 rebel leaders detained in Iran — Tasnim

During the operations, a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, grenades, and Molotov cocktails were seized from the hiding places of the pogromists, the agency said

US tech billionaire Musk slams UK government as ‘fascist’

That is what he said in response to a previous media reports that more than 12,000 people were arrested in the UK for online comments

Ukraine loses around 1,090 troops across special op zone over past day — top brass

In the responsibility zone of the Battlegroup North, the Ukrainian military lost more than 130 soldiers and three cars

Use of phones is cause of tragedy in Makeyevka — Russian Defense Ministry

A commission investigating circumstances of the incident is working and required measures are being taken to exclude such tragedies in the future

Europe has no strategy to prevent possible takeover of Greenland by US — FT

European leadership circles are considering retaliatory measures, including closing US military bases or banning the purchase of US Treasury bonds

Air defenses down 33 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions in seven hours

On-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 33 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles between 9 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Moscow time (6 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. GMT)

Trump's portrait now on display at National Portrait Gallery in Washington

The black-and-white image depicts the US president standing in the Oval Office, leaning on a desk with both hands

Russian forces launch Oreshnik strike in response to Kiev's attack on Putin's residence

According to the ministry, "the strike goals were achieved"

US President Trump ponders several options regarding strikes on Iran — NYT

Donald Trump has not made a final decision, the New York Times daily reported

"Coalition of the Willing" won’t send troops to Ukraine, French politician says

Russia opposes the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine

NATO is 'now done' — Tucker Carlson on Greenland

According to him, "the whole illusion has shattered in the past four days"

Iran accuses Israel, US of organizing protests in country

The work of law enforcement agencies in the country is aimed at preventing such threats

Aeroflot to restore its Sheremetyevo flight schedule by 8 a.m. on January 11

Starting at 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (3:00 p.m. GMT) on January 10, Aeroflot plans to operate flights to and from Sheremetyevo Airport as scheduled, excluding flight cancellations for Saturday

Ukrainian drone attack leaves civilian injured in Zaporozhye Region

According to governor Yevgeny Balitsky, four deliberate attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces targeting populated areas were recorded in the past day

Russia calls on US to cease illegal activities against Marinera — MFA

The United States is required to ensure humane and dignified treatment of Russian citizens and not create obstacles to their speedy return to their homeland

Over 2,000 Belarusian servicemen take part in dealing with consequences of snowfall

The ministry noted that military personnel will continue assisting with recovery efforts for as long as necessary

Agonizing Kiev regime vents its anger on Russian civilians — MFA

Maria Zakharova called on international organizations to provide an impartial assessment of the terrorist assault carried out by the Ukrainian military against civilians in Russia’s regions

Trump says there will be no more oil or money going to Cuba

The US president also mentioned Venezuela, saying that the country "now has the United States of America" to protect it

Cuba is ready to defend its independence to last drop of blood — President Diaz-Canel

He further noted that the United States has no moral standing to criticize Cuba, as it often reduces human lives and international relations to mere commodities

China, South Africa will resist ‘the law of the jungle’, hegemony — Wang Yi

Wang Yi confirmed that Beijing will continue to work on eliminating tariffs on South African goods

Iranian police report stabilization following armed unrest

An official spokesperson for the Islamic Republic’s police Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi emphasized that "the situation in various cities across the country is calm"

Press review: Russia may revise Ukraine talks post attack and China launches Taiwan drills

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 30th

Paris declaration on Ukraine brings world closer to third world war — Ukrainian politician

This declaration, in his words, "means that there will be no peace and the conflict will never end"

Finnish politician backs Italian PM's stance on dialogue with Russia

Meloni earlier stated that the time had come for Europe to begin talks with Russia and voiced support for appointing a special representative for Ukraine

Putin's envoy reminds Kallas no defense system can stop Oreshnik

This is how Kirill Dmitriev commented on Kaja Kallas's statement about the Russian strike with the Oreshnik missile

Internet access in Iran restricted for over 60 hours — monitoring service

Internet access in Iran was restricted on the night of January 8, when rioters staged armed provocations across the country

Trump issues executive order to protect Venezuelan oil revenues from legal action

The proceeds from oil sales are sovereign property of the Venezuelan government held in custody in the United States, according to the document

Washington may lift more sanctions against Venezuela next week — US Treasury chief

Scott Bessent did not specify the exact dates

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Iran to retaliate against Israel, US if attacked, parliament speaker warns

US President Donald Trump announced Washington’s readiness to come to the "rescue" of Iranian protesters

European Commission considers Oreshnik's strike on Ukraine warning to EU, US — spokeswoman

Brussels intends to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine

Russian says warning systems failed during US strikes on Caracas

According to Ivan Pavlov, there is still silence on television

Female civilian dead as Ukrainian drones target Russian city of Voronezh

Doctors performed surgery on her but the injuries proved fatal, regional Governor Alexander Gusev said

Damage to Qatari embassy in Kiev result of Ukrainian air defense failure — Russian MFA

There were no designated military objectives near the Qatari diplomatic mission, the ministry noted

Finland withdraws from convention banning anti-personnel landmines — media

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have also announced their withdrawal from the convention earlier

Cuba denies US accusations of receiving compensation for security services

Havana also reiterated its right to import fuel from willing markets, free from interference or unilateral coercive measures imposed by the US, Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said

At least 25 law enforcement officers killed by rioters in Iran

Between January 3 and 9, Iranian authorities reported the deaths of more than 10 security personnel, including the Esfarayen city prosecutor

US President Trump instructs JSOC to draft Greenland invasion plan — UK daily

US president has repeatedly stated the need for Greenland to join the United States

European leaders lack expertise to make proper assessment of Ukraine crisis — Swiss MP

According to Mettan, today’s European leaders did not experience World War II and came of age only at the end of the Cold War

US wants Russia, China to stay away from Greenland — Trump

Donald Trump also expects Caracas to become its ally in the future

Vatican urges US to avoid military ops against Venezuela — media

According to the publication, Parolin told Burch that Maduro could receive asylum in Russia

Death toll from Kurdish shelling of Aleppo since Jan. 6 up to 23 — SANA

At least 104 people weere injured, according to the report

Nordic nations reject Trump’s claim of Russian threat facing Greenland — newspaper

"There are no ships, no submarines," a senior diplomat said

White House thinks Trump will preserve good relations with Putin, Xi, despite Venezuela

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the US leader is going to "enforce our policy that’s best for the United States of America"

Iranian authorities accuse external forces of turning peaceful protests into unrest

"Hands stained with blood of more than a thousand Iranians killed in the 12-day war" with Israel are visible in those riots, Hadi Tahan Nazif, spokesperson of Iran's Guardian Council, said

Finnish politician reveals Helsinki's secret plans to deploy nuclear weapons

According to him, some people in Finland feel like the country is at war with Russia

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

US government mulls holding nuclear test, but has no clear plan yet — energy secretary

Chris Wright also stressed that the US nuclear arsenal has to be meaningfully better than all of its foes in the world

High time for Europe to talk to Russia — Italian PM

However, she believes that the conditions for Russia's return to the G7 have not yet been met

Over $300 bln paid for Russian gas stolen by West from Russia - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister stressed that Russia has decided to switch to rubles in payments for its gas in order to stop "the shameless robbery" by the West

Russia opposes any Western military contingent in Ukraine — Medvedev

It’s been said a thousand times: Russia won’t accept any European or NATO troops in Ukraine, Medvedev wrote on X in English.

Russia, Venezuela maintain strategic partnership — ambassador

Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov emphasized that these relations of strategic partnership will continue in all areas

Iranian president calls on people to demonstrate to protest unrest

Masoud Pezeshkian extended condolences to the families of civilians who lost their lives and cautioned young people against involvement in terrorism

UN Security Council schedules Ukraine-themed meeting for January 12

The meeting will take place at 3:00 p.m. local time

Tehran rioters burn down 25 mosques, harm 26 banks, three medical centers — mayor

According to him, rioters harmed ten government buildings, 48 fire trucks, 42 buses and ambulances, as well as 24 apartments

Russian artillery forces wipe out over 110 Ukrainian targets in past week

An artillery battalion commander with the callsign Kulak said that battlegroup members particularly targeted engineering and special equipment used by the Ukrainian army to strengthen fortifications

US wants to have Greenland, will get it anyway — Trump

The US President believes that if Washington does not own the island, Russia or China will take it over

US to file criminal charges against Marinera ship crew — attorney general

The ship’s crew members undertook "frantic efforts to avoid apprehension" of the tanker, which reportedly was "responsible for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran," Pam Bondi said

Ukrainian lawmakers seek to abolish draft deferments for students over 25

According to head of the parliamentary Committee for Educational Affairs Sergey Babak, the average number of male students over the age of 25, which stood at about 30,000 before 2022, rose sharply to 250,000 by September 1, 2025

What Solzhenitsyn said about Putin, and vice versa

The prominent writer and historian, who was exiled to GULAG camp, was born on December 11, 1918

Situation in Venezuela stable, authorities maintaining order — Russian envoy

"The authorities confidently control public order," Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov added