Paul Sonne

After Almost Losing Trump, Putin Gets His Ideal Summit

Excellent analysis by @paulsonne.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/w...

After Almost Losing Trump, Putin Gets His Ideal Summit

A few thoughts on Putin’s very good week, for @paulsonne.bsky.social @nytimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/w...

Secret Russian Intelligence Document Shows Deep Suspicion of China

NEW: Putin is embracing China more than ever. His intelligence service is suspicious. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/w...

How We Obtained and Vetted a Russian Intelligence Document

The document also shows the Russians have penetrated WeChat, and that Putin approved a new counterintelligence program to fend off the Chinese called 'Entente-4' days before the invasion of Ukraine.

W/ @paulsonne.bsky.social, Anton Troianovski, Aaron Krolik, and others.

Finnish Leader Warns Russia: ‘You Don’t Play With President Trump’ President Alexander Stubb of Finland, who has become an interlocutor in peace talks, says in an interview he doesn’t want Ukraine to suffer the same fate his country once endured.

President Alexander Stubb of Finland, who has emerged as a prominent voice of Europe’s smaller nations on Russia’s war against Ukraine, says in an interview he doesn’t want Ukraine to suffer the same fate his country once endured.

Its Journalism Challenged Autocrats. Trump Wants to Silence It. Journalists at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who have been imprisoned for their work are dismayed by the effort to close the outlet.

Imagine learning from a prison in Belarus that Elon Musk is shutting down the U.S. media outlet where your work covering an authoritarian government landed you in jail for three years. Meet Andrei Kuznechyk: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/w...

In Call With Trump, Putin Concedes Little on Ukraine Although much of what Vladimir V. Putin agreed to during his call with President Trump was spun as a concession, the Russian leader stuck to the positions he has long held.

One thing was clear after yesterday’s call between Putin and Trump: Putin didn’t cede any ground apart from something the Kremlin already saw as advantageous. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/w...

The phone call between Putin and Trump has ended. Everyone now waiting on a statement from the White House (or on Truth Social).

U.S. to Withdraw From Group Investigating Responsibility for Ukraine Invasion The decision is the latest indication of the Trump administration’s move away from holding President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia accountable for crimes committed against Ukrainians.

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/u...

Europe Prepares to Face Russia as Trump’s America Steps Back Europeans are debating additional funding and contemplating troops in Ukraine as American support appears ever more at risk.

To break from US and defend the Baltics, Europe would need minimum “1,400 tanks, 2,000 infantry fighting vehicles and 700 artillery pieces. This is more combat power than currently exists in the French, German, Italian and British land forces combined.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/w...

3 Years Into Russia-Ukraine War, Trump Ushers in New World for Putin (Gift Article) Fresh possibilities have emerged for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia with a change of power in Washington.

It has been three years to the day since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. With Trump ushering in a new world, the Russian leader has reached his “moment of truth.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/w...

Even in Death, Navalny Is Seen by the Kremlin as an Enduring Threat (Gift Article) Russian authorities have zealously prosecuted people with links to Aleksei A. Navalny’s organization inside Russia in the year since he died.

Russian authorities are still zealously prosecuting people with even faint links to Navalny a year after his death, showing how much the Kremlin still fears his followers. by @paulsonne.bsky.social @nataliyavasilyeva.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/w...

Trump Elevates Kremlin Talking Points, a Familiar Pattern From His First Term President Trump’s description of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine as a “Dictator without Elections” echoes the Kremlin’s messaging.

For eight months, Vladimir Putin was pressing an obscure legalistic argument about Zelensky’s illegitimacy. Then, on Wednesday, it came from Donald Trump. Welcome to the new (old) world. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/w...

Putin Has Long Wanted More Power in Europe. Trump Could Grant It. Remarks by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are fueling concerns that the U.S. will move away from Europe and align with Moscow.

18 years ago, in Munich, Putin demanded rolled back American influence in Europe and a world order better suited to Moscow. Now he might have an American president willing to give it to him. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/w...

A Quick, Quiet Trip to Belarus Signals a Turn in U.S. Policy After years of the U.S. trying to isolate Russia’s closest ally, a meeting with Belarus’s president points to better relations, raising hopes of loosening his repression and his embrace of Moscow.

Trump team seeking a grand bargain in which Lukashenko's Belarus would release a slew of political prisoners and the US would ease sanctions on Belarusian banks and exports of potash. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/w...

Even in Death, Navalny Is Seen by the Kremlin as an Enduring Threat Russian authorities have zealously prosecuted people with links to Aleksei A. Navalny’s organization inside Russia in the year since he died.

They showed up at his apartment to arrest him. His crime: donating $30 to Aleksei Navalny‘s anti-corruption group three years prior. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/w...

Even in Death, Navalny Is Seen by the Kremlin as an Enduring Threat Russian authorities have zealously prosecuted people with links to Aleksei A. Navalny’s organization inside Russia in the year since he died.

Even in death, the Kremlin sees Navalny as an enduring threat. How journalists, lawyers and everyday Russians have been prosecuted for links to him in the past year: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/w...

Who Is Marc Fogel? The American Teacher Caught in a Global Power Struggle. (Gift Article) Mr. Fogel, who had lived and taught in many countries, including Russia for nine years, spent 3 ½ years in Russian custody for having cannabis for medical use, and is in poor health.

"This was definitely a setup." The story of Marc Fogel and his imprisonment in Russia. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/w...

As Elon Musk Dismantles USAID, Foreign Leaders Rejoice Leaders in Russia, Hungary and El Salvador welcomed the Trump administration’s assault on U.S.A.I.D., which many authoritarians have seen as a threat.

From Moscow to Budapest, Tehran to San Salvador, leaders with an authoritarian bent are praising Elon Musk’s dismantling of USAID, long a thorn in their side for promoting democracy and rule of law. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/w...