Leon Aron, who was born in Moscow and came to the United States as a refugee in 1978, is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He studies Russian domestic and foreign policy, U.S.-Russia relations, and the economic, social, and cultural aspects of Russia’s post-Soviet evolution. From 2014 to 2020, Dr. Aron was…

Tensions are rising between Russia and NATO countries as Moscow forms an Iskander missile brigade near Finland’s border. As a result, Poland is considering allowing NATO allies to deploy nuclear weapons to its soil in response to Russian threats on Monday, April 22. The Iskander-M ballistic missiles deployed in Russia’s border adjacent to Finland —…

The House passed a foreign aid package on Saturday, April 20, a victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., as he managed dissent within his own party and turned to Democratic colleagues for support. The $95 billion package, divided across four bills, supports Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, replenishes U.S. arms, and includes measures to seize Russian assets and…

The 12-person jury is set to hear opening statements in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial. Learn more about what is in the $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the House. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, April 22, 2024. Jury to hear opening statements in Trump’s first criminal trial…

Russia has reportedly used five of its new hypersonic Zircon missiles to target Kyiv since the beginning of 2024. Russia claims that these sea-based missiles, boasting a range of 625 miles and capable of traveling at nine times the speed of sound, are part of its family of “superweapons” aimed at penetrating the U.S. missile…

In recent months, the need for Ukrainian air defenses has grown more urgent. As U.S. aid is unable to pass through Congress, Ukraine’s European allies have been stepping up to provide what they can. Norway is now the latest nation to pledge F-16s to Ukraine, not only to defend Ukrainian airspace, but also for the…

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is moving forward with a vote on four separate foreign aid bills. Three of the bills would provide funding for Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific Region. The fourth bill contains Republican priorities like measures to allow the U.S. government to transfer seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction. The bill…

A recent report from Reuters has exposed a scheme between Russia and China involving copper, a metal expected to skyrocket in value and hit record highs next year. Once the Russian metal arrives, Chinese companies are shredding these copper rods down to disguise them as scrap. This is because of the difference in tariffs between…

Russian forces are applying a brutal tactic in their war on Ukraine. The tactic, “double tap,” includes an initial strike on a specific civilian target of some value, followed by a second strike intentionally designed to kill the emergency first responders, medical staff, firefighters, and other key personnel dispatched to the location of the first…

Leaders from the United States, Japan and the Philippines convened for their inaugural trilateral summit, marking a significant commitment to fostering a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region. They announced several initiatives to strengthen economic ties, technological advancements, and security collaborations. Notably they introduced the Luzon Economic Corridor aimed at enhancing connectivity and infrastructure in…