https://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 06:42:52 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As Moscow increasingly invokes the “spirit of Anchorage” to claim a framework for ending the war in Ukraine already exists, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has flatly pushed back, opening a fierce diplomatic battle over what actually occurred during last year’s high-stakes summit. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-rubio-lavrov-alaska-russia-ukraine/33789730.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-rubio-lavrov-alaska-russia-ukraine/33789730.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 01:03:19 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Moscow is building a new missile defense complex near a research institute linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughter, in what appears to be the latest effort to bolster the capital's defenses against potential Ukrainian missile attacks. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-moscow-putin-daughter-air-defense-ukraine-war/33789715.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-moscow-putin-daughter-air-defense-ukraine-war/33789715.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:12:04 +0200 RussiaNewsUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The debate over Iran's potential agreement with the United States has spilled beyond the country's political class and into the religious establishments and street gatherings that have long served as the Islamic republic's most loyal base of support. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-eulogists-deal-us-hardliners-split/33789530.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-eulogists-deal-us-hardliners-split/33789530.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 19:03:28 +0200 IranFeaturesNuclear TalksThe Rundown Stories Consumers in Iran report they are struggling to afford a staple foodstuff: bread. One listener to RFE/RL's Radio Farda calls prices "horrific," while a baker explains he is trying to shield his customers from his own rocketing expenses for rent and utilities. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-inflation-consumer-price-war-us-israel/33789622.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-inflation-consumer-price-war-us-israel/33789622.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:31:56 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosEconomyThe Rundown Stories A veteran of Russia’s war against Ukraine sparked a stir with a viral video post, demanding a meeting with President Vladimir Putin and warning of a rebellion – before retracting the threat. The episode highlighted growing tensions over a war estimated to have killed half a million Russian soldiers. https://www.rferl.org/a/war-viral-post-putin-rebellion-threat-ukraine/33789561.html https://www.rferl.org/a/war-viral-post-putin-rebellion-threat-ukraine/33789561.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:36:14 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 03:10:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories The doubling of bread prices in Iran is yet another indicator of the deteriorating state of the economy as ordinary Iranians describe cutting meat, skipping meals out, and struggling to buy their children toys. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-economy-poor-us-war/33788675.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bread-economy-poor-us-war/33788675.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 01:00:23 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko once predicted a quick Russian victory in Ukraine. Now, after Zelenskyy delivered an ultimatum to switch off signal repeaters in Belarus for Moscow's drones, he is walking a fine line aimed at making sure his country doesn’t get dragged into that war. https://www.rferl.org/a/belarusian-leader-tempers-war-rhetoric-after-zelenskyy-ultimatum/33788859.html https://www.rferl.org/a/belarusian-leader-tempers-war-rhetoric-after-zelenskyy-ultimatum/33788859.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:49:48 +0200 VideosBelarusVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up a three-day swing through the Persian Gulf on June 25 with messages aimed at reassuring Washington's allies in the region, reaffirming an intention to pursue diplomacy with Iran, and insisting on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-tour-iran-hormuz-us-allies/33788814.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-tour-iran-hormuz-us-allies/33788814.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:05:23 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Stories Amid an ongoing row between Washington and Tehran over whether international monitors can verify Iranian compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation commitments, former officials have told RFE/RL that the scale, scope, and degree of access are crucial to the success of inspections. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-verification-nuclear-iaea/33788603.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-verification-nuclear-iaea/33788603.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:25:20 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East In the 1990s, US and Russian scientists pulled off the ultimate nuclear magic trick: "downblending" weapons-grade uranium so it could never be used in a bomb. Now, the US and Iran are trying to repeat history. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nuclear-weapons/33787735.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nuclear-weapons/33787735.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:38:40 +0200 VideosIranThe Rundown Stories - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a new round of US-Iran technical negotiations will resume in Switzerland at the end of June, as he wrapped the second day of a high-stakes Persian Gulf tour aimed at calming regional concerns over Washington’s tentative accord with Tehran. https://www.rferl.org/a/ubio-gulf-allies-iran-talks-switzerland/33788076.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ubio-gulf-allies-iran-talks-switzerland/33788076.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:14:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian film artists are determined to build back the loss of 100,000 costumes, used in dozens of historic films, that burned in a Russian air attack on the Dovzhenko National Film Studios on June 15. Current Time's Yulia Zhukova spoke with studio staff about their commitment to cinema heritage. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-film-studios-dovzhenko-russia-strike-costume-fire-archive/33787995.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-film-studios-dovzhenko-russia-strike-costume-fire-archive/33787995.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:41:03 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories More than half of Russia’s 83 regions are struggling with gasoline shortages, due overwhelmingly to Ukrainian drone strikes. Local authorities are imposing daily limits or other restrictions. Officials are trying to ward off panic buying. It’s turning into a serious headache for the Kremlin. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-oil-refinery-fuel-shortages-kremlin/33787903.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-oil-refinery-fuel-shortages-kremlin/33787903.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:00:18 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iran has pushed back against US claims that any frozen Iranian assets released under a framework deal would be used to buy American agricultural products but stopped short of ruling it out, as the proposal sparked a sharp backlash from the country’s hard-liners. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-assets-us-agriculture-farmers-food-backlash/33787940.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-assets-us-agriculture-farmers-food-backlash/33787940.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:47:57 +0200 IranNewsNuclear TalksThe Rundown Headline A Ukrainian photojournalist captured life near the front lines as the Russian invasion into eastern Ukraine persists despite Kyiv's successful drone strikes deep inside Russia. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-invasion-ukraine-evacuations-photographer-witness/33787789.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-invasion-ukraine-evacuations-photographer-witness/33787789.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:31:46 +0200 Russia Invades UkraineFeaturesUkrainePhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories The Taliban’s morality police have intensified the enforcement of the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, in western Afghanistan. In the city of Herat, women told RFE/RL that the Taliban routinely stops and inspects women in the streets. https://www.rferl.org/a/hijab-herat-afghanistan-taliban-morality-police/33787173.html https://www.rferl.org/a/hijab-herat-afghanistan-taliban-morality-police/33787173.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:16:32 +0200 AfghanistanFeaturesThe Rundown Stories A star of the rave scene in post-Soviet St. Petersburg, Gavriil Frolov dropped out of sight, adopted a new name, and became a monk. Now, he’s at the center of a deal that handed a billion-dollar ice hockey arena in Putin’s hometown to the Russian gas giant Gazprom, RFE/RL has found. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ice-hockey-arena-putin-petersburg/33787105.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ice-hockey-arena-putin-petersburg/33787105.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:44:39 +0200 RussiaFeaturesSystema: Investigating RussiaThe Rundown Stories Russia is reportedly developing new military infrastructure near its border with NATO member Finland that will be able to house thousands of Russian soldiers. The new base lies some 170 kilometers from Russia's frontier with NATO. https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-s-north-watches-russia-s-new-garrisons-with-growing-concern/33787218.html https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-s-north-watches-russia-s-new-garrisons-with-growing-concern/33787218.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:44:20 +0200 VideosRussiaVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories At the start of a Gulf tour, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to assure regional allies that a framework cease-fire agreement with Iran will take their security concerns into account. https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-tour-iran-ceasefire/33787271.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-tour-iran-ceasefire/33787271.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:11:31 +0200 Iran