Moscow ends Syrian aid corridor and may block renewal of Black Sea grain deal Russian President Vladimir Putin seems willing to break with agreements such as the grain deal, diplomats and analysts say. Photo: Alexander Kazakov/Kremlin/Associated Press By Jared Malsin and William Mauldin July 16, 2023 12:01 am ET Russia is poised to end its cooperation at the United Nations in key humanitarian areas as the Kremlin faces a difficult fight in Ukraine and is eager to shore up support at home amid recent domestic instability, Western officials said. In recent weeks, Russia has pushed for the removal of a U.N. peacekeeping mission from Mali, blocked a critical U.N. aid supply line for Syria, and is now threatening to end an agreement that allowed Uk

Britain’s lighthouses are being transformedWatch the sweep of history along the coastlineThis week our cover leader explores the fallout of the Wagner Group’s extraordinary march on Moscow. To discover why we chose to portray Putin as a cracked façade, rather than atop a skeletal horse, watch the inside story of The Economist cover.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, left, with Russian President Vladimir Putin [File: Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik Kremlin/Pool Photo via AP]Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, two days after a Russian militia group rebelled against Moscow. “The call dealt with discussing bilateral relations between the two countries, in addition to discussing the latest regional and international developments and developments in the Russian Federation,” Qatar’s state news agency QNA reported on Monday. Sheikh Tamim “affirmed Qatar’s position of calling for resolving differences through dialogue and diplomatic means” and called for a “need to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders”, the news agency said. Qatar is among several Arab countries that have been largely neutral over Russia’s 16-month full-scale war on neighbouring Ukraine. For its part,

2023.04.17 02:01Russian President Vladimir Putin met China’s Defence Minister Li Shangfu in Moscow on Sunday and hailed military cooperation between the two nations, which have declared a “no limits” partnership.Footage of the meeting posted by the Kremlin showed Putin shaking hands with Li and then sitting down at a table. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was also present.“Development of relations between our two nations is going well in all areas – in the economy, social, cultural and educational sectors, and in military departments,” Putin said in opening remarks.Beijing had announced Li’s visit to Moscow last week, saying he would meet defence officials, but made no mention of a meeting with Putin.Chinese President Xi Jinping travelled to Moscow last month for meetings with Putin. Russia and China have moved to further strengthen their economic, political and military ties since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.Ukrainian forces are finding