West Must Be Prepared For War With Russia, NATO Official Warns Ahead Of Major Military Drills (www.rferl.org)
Russian Parliament To Consider Seizing Property Of Citizens Who Criticize War (www.rferl.org)
The head of Russia’s parliament said he plans to submit legislation next week that would allow the state to seize the property of “scoundrels” who criticize the war in Ukraine....
Russia Overtakes Saudi Arabia To Become Largest Supplier Of Oil To China (www.rferl.org)
Russia last year overtook Saudi Arabia to become the largest supplier of oil to China, Reuters reported, citing Chinese import data....
Iranian Authorities Seize Sakharov Prize Awarded To Honor Mahsa Amini, Rights Groups Say (www.rferl.org)
Iranian authorities have seized the prestigious Sakharov Prize that was awarded by the European Parliament to honor Mahsa Amini, whose September 2022 death in custody sparked nationwide anti-government protests and who came to symbolize battle for human rights for Iranian women....
Ukraine Awaits Delivery Of First F-16 Jets In Coming Days As Kyiv Seeks To Counter Russian Air Superiority (www.rferl.org)
KYIV – Ukraine will likely receive it first shipment of advanced F-16s in the next few days, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a phone call as Kyiv seeks to disrupt Russia’s air superiority over Ukrainian skies amid continued battles on December 23 in the east and south of the country....
'A Spectacle, A Farce, A Rigged Clown Show': Russia Watches As Putin Cruises Toward A Fifth Term (www.rferl.org)
With all political opposition eliminated and Russia firmly in the grip of what analysts call “mature authoritarianism,” the country prepares for a March presidential vote devoid of competition and, if the Kremlin has its way, ushers Vladimir Putin into another six-year term without surprises.
