Charles Maynes

Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was one of those released from a Belarusian prison after more than three years. The released American has not been named publicly.

President Trump says he will meet President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, after phone calls with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to start peace negotiations.

Alexander Lukashenko expected to win election for 7th time in a row in Belarus, with little opposition.

A decades-long Russian-Ukrainian transit gas deal to Europe ended on Jan. 1. For now, the most acute effects are being felt in a region called Transnistria, on the eastern edge of Moldova.

Political uncertainty has gripped the former Soviet republic of Georgia. The Georgian government - after years of trying to join the European Union — decided to suspend that effort.

Putin said the new missile, called "Oreshnik," Russian for "hazel," used a nonnuclear warhead and was in response to Ukraine firing longer-range missiles into Russia with NATO's help.

Ukraine has fired ATACMS into Russia, marking the first attack using the U.S.-made long-range missiles in 1,000 days of war.

President Biden's decision to let Ukraine use long-range missiles against Russia could escalate the war. But this may also make it easier for his successor to negotiate a peace deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, saying he is ready to engage with the United States.

The world is reacting to former President Trump's election victory. In Russia, analysts are thinking about how it might affect U.S. military aid to Ukraine.