Fred Weir

1 month ago | csmonitor.com | Fred Weir

Voice of America started programming in Russian in 1947 at the start of the Cold War, and from the very beginning the Soviets sought to silence it. Authorities made elaborate efforts to jam the signals of foreign radio stations like VOA that broadcast news happening both inside and outside the USSR. In the era of Vladimir Putin, VOA came under attack again. In 2014, Kremlin authorities labeled it a “foreign agent” spreading propaganda aimed at undermining the Russian state.

1 month ago | csmonitor.com | Fred Weir

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is ready in principle to accept Donald Trump’s idea of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but that the devil is in the details and that more work is needed to craft an acceptable deal. Mr. Putin met Mr. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in the Kremlin Thursday night, but neither side had anything to say when they emerged.

1 month ago | csmonitor.com | Fred Weir

A couple of years ago, Arend Feenstra and his wife, Anneesa, were unhappy with their lives in northern Saskatchewan. Mr. Feenstra says that it was getting increasingly difficult in Canada to make a living as a farmer, with costs going up and too many middlemen between field and grocery store partaking of the profits. Moreover, they were fed up with what they describe as “woke” culture, particularly the defense of LGBTQ+ and trans causes, which he claims is ubiquitous in Canada.

1 month ago | csmonitor.com | Fred Weir

President Donald Trump’s rapid about-face on relations with Russia, Europe, and Ukraine has shocked foreign policy-makers around the world. And the Kremlin seems as surprised as everyone else. Now, say Russian analysts, the midnight oil is likely burning in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s office as his team tries to figure out the best way to exploit the many opportunities that have opened up.

2 months ago | csmonitor.com | Fred Weir

In less than a week, the U.S.-Russia relationship has shot from a vacuum to full engagement, with teams led by their respective Foreign Ministers meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday. Their goal? To prepare an agenda for a face-to-face summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, who could meet before the end of this month. For the moment, the two sides appear to be on the same page.