Russia - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Russia

The Israeli flag flies in front of the Israeli embassy in Berlin, on October 20, 2024. A Libyan suspected of planning an attack on the Israeli embassy in Berlin and links to the Islamic State (IS) group will appear before a judge on October 20, 2024, German prosecutors said. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Germany arrests Russian suspect over alleged plan to attack Israeli Embassy

On Thursday, a Russian national suspected of planning an attack on the Israeli Embassy was arrested by German authorities, and in a separate incident on Friday, a stabbing occurred at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds flowers next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they meet at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 30, 2020. (Photo by MAXIM SHEMETOV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MAXIM SHEMETOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Will US-Russia rapprochement increase odds of Israel striking Iran?

Israeli leaders hope the thaw in relations will lead Moscow to stem strategic cooperation with Tehran, leaving Iran vulnerable to an attack on its nuclear facilities after a US green light.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

TOPSHOT - (L to R) US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, the Russian president's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a meeting together at Riyadh's Diriyah Palace on February 18, 2025. Top US and Russian diplomats were meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks on res

US-Russia talks conclude in Saudi Arabia, most high-level meeting since 2023: What to know

The US State Department said one purpose of the talks was to “reestablish” bilateral relations with Russia as Saudi Arabia seeks to mediate between the two.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L)

Zelenskyy heads to Turkey to meet with Erdogan amid US-Russia talks

The Ukrainian president's visit to Turkey will coincide with US-Russia talks on a potential ceasefire.

Latest News

Analysis

France sees opening in Trump's USAID cuts to lead Syria humanitarian aid

France's President Emmanuel Macron (C), Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (R) and Syria's Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani pose for a group photograph during the International Conference on Syria at the Ministerial Conference Center, in Paris on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Israel wary as Russia-Iran ties deepen, possibly involving nuclear program

VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Gulf states reach out to new Syrian leaders ahead of Jordan talks: What we know

People chant slogans and wave flags in celebration after performing the first Friday prayer since the fall of the Assad regime at the Umayyad Mosque on Dec. 13, 2024 in Damascus, Syria.

Analysis

With leverage in Syria, can Russia's Putin broker Israel-Lebanon deal?

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky on Red Square on the National Unity Day in Moscow on November 4, 2024. (Photo by Mikhail TERESHCHENKO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MIKHAIL TERESHCHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attend a plenary session in the outreach/BRICS Plus format at the BRICS summit, Kazan, Oct. 24, 2024.

Analysis

Driven by geopolitics and trade, India-Saudi ties get boost from FM visit

Indian and Saudi foreign ministers discussed regional stability after Donald Trump's election and what his presidency might mean for foreign relations autonomy, trade and investment.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with the heads of leading media outlets from the BRICS member countries in the Moscow region, on Oct. 18, 2024.

Russia's BRICS summit: Gulf states seek influence as Iran, UAE debut as members

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince will not be in attendance but has sent his foreign minister. Expansion of the group and adoption of a new currency are on the three-day agenda.

United Arab Emirates

Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, shakes hands with Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Sept. 12, 2024.

Analysis

From Syria to Ukraine: What’s driving Moscow’s thinking on Israel-Iran conflict?

Russia is concerned about spillover from the Iran-Israel conflict into Syria but believes that the situation in the Middle East could bolster its war effort in Ukraine, experts told Al-Monitor.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik of Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 11, 2024.

Russia's Putin holds first meeting with Iran's Pezeshkian: What we know

The face-to-face in Turkmenistan between the Russian president and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, took place as Iran braces for a potential retaliatory strike from Israel.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (C) and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (2L) attend the first session of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Sept. 9, 2023.

Saudi crown prince meets Russia's Lavrov at GCC meetings in Riyadh

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of GCC ministerial meetings in Riyadh.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas meets with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Palestinian President Abbas meets Erdogan ahead of speech to Turkey's parliament

Abbas’ visit to Turkey comes at a critical time as it remains unclear how relations between the Palestinian Authority and its rival, Hamas, will evolve under Yahya Sinwar's leadership.

A man walks past the flowers laying in front of the representative office of Dagestan in Moscow on June 24, 2024, following terrorist attacks in Dagestan.

Attacks on churches, synagogues in Russia’s Dagestan: What we know

The incident follows a major ISIS attack in Moscow in March.

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) attends a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) in Moscow on June 11, 2024.

Putin meets Fidan, 'fully supports' Turkey’s aspirations in BRICS

The first bilateral meeting between Putin and Fidan saw the Russian leader embrace Ankara's interest in joining the BRICS as a counterweight to the West.

A view shows the burnt-out Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, on March 26, 2024.

From Russia to Iran and Turkey: Understanding rise, narrative of ISIS-K

The jihadi group has been raising its profile since the beginning of 2024 through suicide attacks in southern Iran in January and the armed attack on an Istanbul Roman Catholic church last month.

Cargo is unloaded from a Russian AN-124 cargo plane transporting parts of the S-400 air defense system from Russia, after it landed at Murted Airfield on July 12, 2019 in Ankara, Turkey.

Analysis

Four factors driving Turkey's calculus to trade Russian S-400s for US F-35

As its ties improve with Washington, the United States has offered Turkey an opening to return to the F-35 consortium — but only if it gives up its Russian S-400 systems.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

MAXIM SHEMETOV/AFP via Getty Images

Russia hosts Turkey's Fidan, presses for guarantees on grain deal

Turkey and Russia's foreign ministers haggled over a compromise for the revival of the Ukrainian grain deal ahead of the upcoming presidential summit next week.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visits the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine during his official visit in Kyiv, on August 25, 2023, the Independence Day of Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by GLEB GARANICH / POOL / AFP) (Photo by GLEB GARANICH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey’s Fidan to visit Russia as Ukraine's grain deal, Syria talks stall

Ankara’s efforts to revive the Black Sea grain deal and stalled high level talks between Ankara and Damascus are expected to be high on the agenda of the talks between top Russian and Turkish diplomats.