21 Sep, 2025 04:43

Top Russian Orthodox cleric honors ‘martyr’ Charlie Kirk

Metropolitan Tikhon has said the assassinated US activist inspired many young Christians to stand up for their beliefs

Charlie Kirk’s life inspired Christians to stand up for their beliefs, an influential Russian Orthodox bishop has said.

Kirk, a popular US conservative podcaster and organizer, was assassinated by a sniper on September 10 while speaking at a university in Utah.The murder has prompted tributes from public figures at home and abroad.

Metropolitan Tikhon, who leads the diocese of Simferopol and Crimea and is reportedly close to President Vladimir Putin,said that Kirk’s convictions and his “martyric death” resonate with many Russians despite differences in faith.

In an op-ed published on the Russian Orthodox Church’s website on Saturday, the high-ranking bishop ==praised the activist for bravely engaging with people who disagreed with him and for continuing to “call things by their proper names,”even when it was dangerous.••

While cautioning that Russians should not blindly “imitate the West” and its preaching traditions, Tikhon arguedthat “the example and astonishing success of Charlie Kirk”demonstrates “what is truly effective in missionary work.”

“Charlie had the intelligence and tact to respect the intellect of his young interlocutors, to speak with them seriously, as equals, without descending into clownery,” Tikhon explained, adding “Charlie Kirk spoke, first and foremost, about what he truly believed. His sincere passion, integrity, and conviction were contagious to young people and compelled them to think. That is precisely why he was both loved and hated, but he left no one indifferent.”He asserted that Kirk’s life journey evokes “the deepest respect.”

Kirk co-founded the nonprofit Turning Point USA when he was just 18. He gained prominence by touring college campuses and debating students. Many of his clashes with left-leaning opponents went viral on social media. Kirk was widely credited with popularizing conservatism among young people and playing a role in helping President Donald Trump win a second term in 2024.

https://www.rt.com/news/624999-top-russian-orthodox-cleric-honors/

21 Sep, 2025 02:58

Trump issues threat to Afghanistan over Bagram air base

The US president said “bad things” will happen if the Taliban doesn’t surrender the key airfield

US President Donald Trump has threatened unspecified reprisals if the Taliban government in Afghanistan fails to hand over Bagram Air Base.

American troops hastily evacuated the base in July 2021, a month before Taliban fighters seized Kabul, toppling the UN-backed government and ending the 20-year US occupation of the country.

Trump said earlier that he is seeking to reestablish control over the airfield, which he has described as being close to China’s nuclear facilities.

“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

The Taliban has ruled out the return of American forces, whileChina backed Afghanistan’s sovereignty and accused Washington of “stirring up tension and confrontation in the region.”

Although Trump negotiated the withdrawal of his country’s troops during his first term, he went on to blame the collapse of the UN-recognized government and rapid Taliban takeover on former US President Joe Biden, calling the chaotic departure of the last American soldiers “a disgrace.”

Originally built by the Soviet Union, the Bagram airfield was modernized and expanded during the US occupation, serving as America’s largest outpost in Afghanistan. Trump has repeatedly claimed that China is secretly using the base, a charge denied by both Beijing and the Taliban.

https://www.rt.com/news/624998-trump-threat-taliban-afghanistan/

20 Sep, 2025 20:13

Brit spooks turn to dark web to cultivate Russia spy network

MI6 has said it has drawn inspiration from a CIA campaign previously ridiculed by Moscow

The UK Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6, has launched a portal on the dark web in a bid to attract potential spies in foreign countries, with a particular focus on Russia.Dubbed ‘Silent Courier’, the initiative is aimed at people with “access to sensitive information” on terrorism or foreign intelligence activities, according to the British government.

The scheme was officially presented by the agency’s outgoing chief, Sir Richard Moore, in his final public speech, given in Istanbul on Friday. The British government also published a statement on the plan earlier the same day.

London touted its portal as a “secure messaging platform” that would allow would-be spies and defectors to contact British intelligence through “harnessing the anonymity of the dark web.”

Instructions on accessing the webpage were published by MI6 on its official YouTube channel alongside a cinematic clip advertising the initiative. The video also notably featured texts in Russianwhile depicting what MI6 called “fictional brave individuals” that contacted the spy agency via the new portal.

Russia was also the only nation mentioned by name in the government statement announcing the UK push to find “potential new agents”.

According to the statement, MI6 took inspiration from a similar advertising campaign run by the CIA in 2023, which also had a particular focus on Russia. At the time,the scheme relying on “Hollywood-quality” videos sparked incredulity in Moscow and even parody videoscreated by Russia’s own foreign intelligence agency – the SVR.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also statedlast year the CIA was recruiting on the wrong social media platform, since X has been blocked in Russia.

In May, the Washington Post reported that theCIA was struggling to recruit new informants and spies abroad.

YouTube, which is now used by MI6,has been slowed down or ‘throttled’ in the country for non-compliance with Russian laws.

Moscow has also previously saidit has long been aware of MI6 covert operations against Russia, as well as the agency’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict, which was openly admitted by Moore last year.

https://www.rt.com/news/624973-uk-spies-dark-web-russia/

Why did they even announce it, doesn’t seem like spycraft. Its like the agents spying on 8kun.

19 Sep, 2025 21:04

Kremlin replies after Trump says ‘Putin let me down’

The US president has been quite “emotional” about the status of Ukraine talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

The “emotional” attitude of US President Donald Trump to the Ukraine peace process is “completely understandable,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

The US leader has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the state of the process lately, admitting that he had previously believed Ukraine “would be easiest” to resolve given his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He’s really let me down,” Trump said on Thursday.

Asked for comment on Trump’s remarks, Peskov signaled thatMoscow understands his frustration, given the US president’s personal investment in trying to settle the hostilities.

“We assume that the US and President Trump personally maintain their political will and intention to continue their efforts to facilitate a settlement in Ukraine. Therefore, of course, President Trump is quite emotional, so to speak, about this issue. This is completely understandable,” Peskov told reporters on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov touched upon Trump’s remarks in an interview with Russia’s Channel One,suggesting his disappointment stems from his business-like approach to politics. The US president is “a man of action, deals, and business, as he himself constantly emphasizes,” Russia’s top diplomat said.

“When President Trump says he’s disappointed… it’s partially explained by the fact that he wants quick solutions,” Lavrov stated. “In some areas, this may work; in others, it’s unlikely.”

In recent weeks, the US president voiced his displeasure with the lack of progress in negotiations, threatening new sanctions on Russia. In the past few days, he has repeatedly reaffirmed his willingness to impose more restrictions on Moscow, but urged Washington’s European partners to halt their purchases of Russian oil first.

“I’m willing to do other things, but not when the people that I’m fighting for are buying oil from Russia,” Trump said on Thursday.

https://www.rt.com/russia/624936-trump-ukraine-frustration-understandable/

(I can’t tell if this is mocking Trump or empathetic to his frustration.)

19 Sep, 2025 19:31

Moscow rejects media claims it capitalized on Kirk murder

The Russian Foreign Ministry has asked why the Washington Post never alleged Biden exploited George Floyd’s death for political gain

Moscow has dismissed claims by the Washington Post that it has exploited the murder of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk for political purposes. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman MariaZakharova has suggested that the Western press is guilty of applying double standards.

Kirk, a co-founder of the conservative activist group, Turning Point USA, and a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, was fatally shot while speaking to students at Utah Valley University on September 10.

The Post published an article on Thursday that alleged “Russia moved to amplify online conspiracy theories about Charlie Kirk’s killing just hours after it happened” in order to incite violence.

Zakharova responded on her Telegram channel on Friday: “I’d like to ask this media outlet whether it published a similar report on how theUS under [President Joe] Biden used the death of George Floyd for propaganda purposes.”

Floyd, who was black, died while being detained by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 2020.Democrats were quick to characterize his death as an example of police brutality and racismin the US, while conservatives offered alternative versions as to what caused Floyd's death.

The incident gave a fresh impetus to the Black Lives Matter movement, and accentuated the divide between the right and the left.

The Russian Embassy in Washington also dismissed the newspaper’s claims.

”We consider it unacceptable that this tragedy is being used as a pretext to fuel anti-Russian hysteria,” the diplomatic mission stated.

Earlier this week, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray told reporters that according to the suspected shooter’s mother, Tyler Robinson had drifted to the left politically over the past year. The official also said Robinson was in a romantic relationship with a transgender person.

In the wake of the assassination, President Trump has claimed that the media andleft-wing politicians bear partial responsibility for the violent act, citing dehumanizing rhetoric toward conservatives.

https://www.rt.com/russia/624932-moscow-responds-us-media-claims-kirk-murder/

19 Sep, 2025 21:07

Trump won’t impose terms on Russia and Ukraine – envoy

The US president will try to bring both sides together to negotiate a settlement to the conflict, US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has said

US President Donald Trump will not force any conditions on either Moscow or Kiev to resume peace negotiations, Washington’s ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has stated.

Appearing on Fox Business on Friday, the envoy said that the US president will, nevertheless, continue to push for a settlement in the Ukraine conflict.

”President Trump is going to continue to find the leverage and to find the conditions where he can bring both sides and mediate a resolution… [but] he’s not going to set the conditions,” Whitaker said.

“Both sides are going to have to agree to a peace deal,” he added.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump stated that, while possible, a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky would be hard to arrange because “they hate each other” intensely.

The US president also predicted that if the two met, he would “have to do all the talking.”

In an interview to TASS on Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister SergeyRyabkov described the US’ position on the Ukraine conflict under the Trump administration as one coming “from common sense.”

He also accused European NATO nations of attempting to obstruct Washington’s peace efforts.

In stark contrast to his predecessor, Joe Biden, Trump has actively engaged in dialogue with Russia ever since he assumed office in January. Last month, he held a summit with Putin in Alaska. The US president subsequently pledged to arrange negotiations between Putin and Zelensky.

Earlier this month, the Russian president said he was willing to sit down with Zelensky, suggesting Moscow as a potential venue.

Zelensky stated that he was also ready for such a meeting “without any kind of conditions,”however, he rejected the idea of holding talks in the Russian capital.

Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, of which there have been three rounds to date, had been “paused” for now.

https://www.rt.com/news/624934-us-nato-envoy-trump-wont-set-conditions-ukraine-talks/

20 Sep, 2025 00:35

US ‘making money’ from Ukraine conflict – Trump

The hostilities are being “funded by NATO,” the American president said

US President Donald Trump has said that his country is profiting from the Ukraine conflict,contrasting his approach with the unconditional military aid provided to Kiev by the previous administration.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump praised the deal he signed in July under which the US sells weapons to fellow NATO members, which then deliver them to Ukraine.

“We’re not spending any more on the war. You know, we’re being paid for everything we’ve sent, unlike Biden. He gave them $350 billion, and it was shocking,” Trump said, stressing that “the war is being funded by NATO.”

“In fact, I don’t want to make money on that war, but we are actually making money on that war because they are buying our equipment, as you know,” the president added.

Trump has frequently criticized former US President Joe Biden for approving large military aid packages for Kiev and described Vladimir Zelensky as “the greatest salesman on earth.”He also insisted that NATO members in Europe should bear the primary burden of supporting Ukraine.

The US president reopened direct negotiations with Russia earlier this yearbut recently acknowledged that mediating an end to the conflict has been more difficult than he initially anticipated.

Moscow has maintained that no amount of Western weapons could deter its army from victory, arguing that the NATO countries are de facto participants in the conflict.

https://www.rt.com/news/624938-trump-making-money-ukraine/

20 Sep, 2025 16:08

EU state to place extra taxes on Russian-language books

The move comes amid broader Latvian government policies targeting the Russian-speaking minority

Latvia is planning to increase the value-added tax (VAT) for books, textbooks, press, and other publications printed in Russian,among several other languages, according to a draft budget proposal submitted to the government by the country’s Finance Ministry.

Along with its Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia has adopted a more confrontational stance toward Moscow since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022.Latvian authorities have tightened language laws and imposed restrictions targeting the country’s Russian-speaking minority, which makes up nearly a quarter of the country’s population.

The new measure, set to take effect in 2026, raises VAT from 5% to 21% on printed and digital books, newspapers, magazines, bulletins, news agency publications, and online media not published in Latvian or in the official languages of the EU, candidate states, or members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In May, the Saeima, or parliament,adopted a rule requiring MPs to use only Latvian in the workplace and when communicating with citizens. The following month, MP Aleksey Roslikov of the ‘For Stability’ party was expelled from a parliamentary session after delivering part of his speech in Russian.The MP, who spoke out against what he described as the growing marginalization of Russian speakers, was later investigated.

Earlier this month, state-owned LTV reported that theLatvian authorities had ordered 841 Russian citizens to leave the country due to their failure to take or pass a mandatory language test.

The Kremlin has previously accused Latvia of “blatant discrimination” against Russians and described the position of the country’s authorities as Russophobic.

In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new language policy aimed at supporting the use of Russian both within the country and abroad. The initiative is intended to counter attempts to restrict the use of the language, to cancel Russia’s culture, or to discriminate against Russian media.

https://www.rt.com/russia/624960-latvia-tax-russian-language-books/

(It’s not that easy to learn another language as adults. Don’t they have non discrimination laws in the EU?)

19 Sep, 2025 04:16

Moscow rules out visa restrictions for EU citizens

Russia seeks to build bridges, not tear them down, the Foreign Ministry has said

Moscow has no plans to restrict visas for EU citizens, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

She made the comments after reports that the EU is considering limiting visas for Russian tourists as part of its 19th sanctions package against Moscow.

“We have no plans to close the border to European citizens or to restrict their visits in any way.We believe that human contacts, tourism, business, and humanitarian ties must be maintained. Our country seeks to build bridges between people despite efforts within the EU to tear them down,” Zakharova said at her regular Thursday briefing.

“Such discriminatory measures are yet another element of the hybrid warfare waged by Brussels and of the cancel culture aimed at everything Russian,”she added.

In 2022, the EU suspended a deal that had simplified visa procedures for Russians and had cut application fees, citing the Ukraine conflict. Moscow suspended the same arrangement the following year.

Several EU members, including Estonia and Finland, have called for a full ban on Russian tourists, describing them as potential security threats. One of the proponents of the ban is former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who now serves as the EU’s top diplomat.

https://www.rt.com/russia/624896-russia-no-eu-visas-restriction/

18 Sep, 2025 23:12

Putin reveals number of troops engaged in Ukraine conflict

Some 700,000 are currently at the front, the Russian president said

Nearly half of Moscow’s active-duty personnel are currently engaged in the conflict with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

The president made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with leaders of parliamentary groups. He revealed the figure while discussingthe ‘Time of Heroes’ program, which aims to train veterans for public service.

“More than 700,000 troops are stationed along the line of contact, so we have to select from among them.We need to choose those who are willing and suited to this line of work,” Putin said.

Moscow rarely provides updates on the exact number of troops involved in the conflict. The previous estimate came from Putin in January 2024, when he said about 600,000 soldiers were in the combat zone.

Russia increased the size of its standing army last September to nearly 2.4 million, including 1.5 million active-duty personnel. It remains unclear to what extent the nominal ranks are currently filled.

Ukraine had around 900,000 active-duty personnel as of early this year, according to Vladimir Zelensky.

Kiev has struggled to replenish its forces as the Russian army has steadily gained ground in Donbass and eastern Ukraine.

In spring 2025, Russia fully expelled Ukrainian soldiers from the Kursk region, which they had invaded in August 2024.

https://www.rt.com/russia/624894-putin-names-number-of-troops/

18 Sep, 2025 20:23

Baltic parliament defies president

Lawmakers in Estonia have again passed a controversial church bill twice rejected by Alar Karis as unconstitutional

Estonia’s parliament has passed a controversiallaw aimed at the country’s largest Christian denomination, ignoring repeated objections from President Alar Karis.

The bill bans religious groups from ties with foreign entities deemed security threats,and is widely seen as targeting the Russian Orthodox Church(ROC). Lawmakers first approved it in April, but Karis twice refused to sign, calling it unconstitutional.

On Wednesday, the Riigikogu pushed it through again, with 63 votes in favor and 15 against.Karis now has to either proclaim the law or refer it to the Supreme Court with a proposal to declare it unconstitutional.

The legislation follows the Moscow Patriarchate’s support for Russia’s military operation against the Kiev regime, Estonian outlet ERR has reported.The Estonian Christian Orthodox Church, under Moscow’s authority until recently, argues its ties pose no threat. Last year, it revised its charter to drop mention of the patriarchate, but critics said the move fell short.

Former Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets, who initiated the bill,had threatened to shut down monasteries that refused to cut ties and to classify the ROC as a terrorist organization.

The ROC has condemned the law as discriminating against the 250,000 Orthodox believers in the EU member state, while Moscow has accusedTallinn of “legal nihilism.”Around 16% of Estonians identify as Orthodox, while 8% say they are Lutherans.Russian speakers make up about 27% of the population.

https://www.rt.com/russia/624890-estonia-orthodox-church-law/

EU leaders are satanic and hateful.

20 Sep, 2025 17:19

Moscow mocks Lithuania’s defense chief

Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has called for shooting down Russian jets

Lithuanian Defense Minister DovileSakaliene should return to her professional field of legal psychology due to her phobia of Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS on Saturday.

Zakharova ridiculed Sakaliene’s suggestion that Russian jets near NATO borders should be shot down following claims that three MiG-31s violated Estonian airspace – allegations Moscow has denied.

“The psychology major demonstrated expertise in addressing her own phobias.We wish the ‘Master of Legal Psychology’ success working in her own field,”Zakharova said, referring to the Lithuanian official’s degree.

According to Sakaliene, three Russian jets “tested” NATO’s north-east border earlier this week.

“We need to mean business. PS. Türkiye set an example 10 years ago. Some food for thought,”she wrote on X on Friday.

In 2015, Ankara shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber taking part in anti-terrorist operations in Syria, claiming it violated Turkish airspace. The Russian Defense Ministry denied the allegations, accusing Turkish jets of invading Syrian airspace and ambushing the Su-24.

Relations between Moscow and the NATO country plunged to an unprecedented low following the incident. Russia retaliated with an embargo on Turkish imports and the tourist industry.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent an apology letter in 2016.

https://www.rt.com/russia/624959-moscow-career-change-lithuanian-mod/

21 Sep, 2025 12:50

Brussels bureaucrats are running around like panicked chickens – Orban

Hungary’s PM took a dig at EU leaders for mismanaging the economy and leading the bloc into decline

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has slammed Brussels, accusing theEU leadership of mismanaging key areas such as the economy, immigration, and security.

In a critical speech at Digital Civic Circles, a network of digital groups promoting conservative values in Hungary, he claimed the bloc was on the brink of collapse due to the failures of its current leaders.

The prime minister painted a stark picture of “mountains of debt, crowds of migrants, street violence, the increasingly dark shadow of war, mass layoffs, skyrocketing utility costs, impoverished households, and Brussels bureaucrats running aroundlike panicked chickens,” on Saturday while describing the EU’s troubles.

According to Orban, the EU has fallen short of establishing itself as a credible global power.Instead of rising to meet these challenges, the bloc has become a symbol of weakness, indecision, and internal chaos, he said.

He criticized what he called the “tragic” trade deal with the US signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding that theEU’s green policies are “killing European industry.” Energy prices, Orban noted,are “three to four times higher” than in the US, while countries like France are edging toward unsustainable debt levels.

“Europe, as we knew and loved it, is over,”Orban warned. “If we deny this, we lose time. If we say it out loud, we gain time.”

The politician contrasted Budapest’s own approach with that of Brussels,pointing to stricter migration controls, a family policy tied to employment, and a tax system that, he said, supports jobseekers.

Orban’s criticism, while sharply worded, taps into broader concerns which have been echoed by economists and analysts. Experts from the International Monetary Fund and other institutionshave warned that the EU risks long-term stagnation.

The IMF projects euro-area growth at just 0.8% in 2025 and 1.2% in 2026,while public debt remains near 90% of GDPand deficits continue to exceed 3%, well above pre-pandemic levels.

https://www.rt.com/news/625003-brussels-bureaucrats-panicked-chickens-orban/

21 Sep, 2025 13:35

UK, Canada and Australia officially recognize State of Palestine

France plans to acknowledge the country’s sovereignty at next week’s UN General Assembly

The UK, Canada and Australia have formally recognized the State of Palestine. The move comes as more than 140 world leaders are preparing to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly summit in New York next week, which will be dominated by questions regarding the region.

Canada was the first of these countries to officially recognize Palestine on Sunday, with Prime MinisterMark Carney announcing that Ottawa “recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the state of Palestine and the State of Israel.”

The move was shortly followed by similar announcements from Australia and the UK.

“Australia's recognition of Palestine today, alongsideCanada and the United Kingdom, is part of a co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution, starting with a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages taken in the atrocities of October 7, 2023,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said in a joint statement.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the decision is intended to “revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution,” adding “I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country, that the United Kingdom formally recognizes the state of Palestine,” in a video statement posted on social media.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

https://www.rt.com/news/625009-uk-canada-australia-recognize-palestine/

20 Sep, 2025 21:15

Oxford and Cambridge slide in UK university rankings – The Times

The institutions have failed to rank among the top 3 in the newspaper’s higher education guide for the first time

Oxford and Cambridge are no longer among Britain's top three universities, according to a ranking published by The Times.

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guideranks institutions based on teaching quality, student experience and graduate prospects.

For the first time in the guide’s 32-year history, the UK’s two oldest and historically most prestigious universities were unable to place among the top three andhave slid down to tie in fourth place, the newspaper wrote on Friday.

The London School of Economics took first place for the second consecutive year, with St. Andrews ranking second and Durham University finishing third.

Despite slipping in the overall rankings, Cambridge continued to dominate in individual subjects, topping 14 subject tables, it added.

Oxford was named medical school of the year for 2026, according to The Times.

The institution has faced a scandal in recent days after the incoming president of its debating club, George Abaraonye, celebrated conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on social media.

The Oxford Union debate society condemned his words, stressing that they do not represent its views, and expressed condolences to Kirk’s wife and two children. Enough members of the club have supported a no-confidence motion to remove the president-elect, according to The Telegraph.

https://www.rt.com/news/624984-oxford-cambridge-rankings-down/