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Kremlin Says Dialogue with US on Nuclear Arms Control is Essential

A view shows the Moscow City business center behind the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows the Moscow City business center behind the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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Kremlin Says Dialogue with US on Nuclear Arms Control is Essential

A view shows the Moscow City business center behind the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows the Moscow City business center behind the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2025. (Reuters)

The Kremlin said on Friday that it was essential to engage in a dialogue with the United States on nuclear arms control after President Donald Trump made a broad call for the world's nuclear powers to ditch their weapons.

Trump, who has pledged to make denuclearization a goal in his second term, said on Thursday "it would be great if everybody got rid of their nuclear weapons", Reuters said.

Russia and the United States hold by far the largest nuclear weapons arsenals in the world, followed by China.

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, which caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the US and Russia can deploy, is due to run out in February 2026.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any arms dialogue with Washington must also take into account European nuclear arsenals.

He said this had taken on greater salience after French President Emmanuel Macron floated the idea on Wednesday of placing European allies under the protection of France's nuclear arsenal.

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World

US Sanctions Iranian Officials Over Protest Crackdown

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent watches as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent watches as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
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US Sanctions Iranian Officials Over Protest Crackdown

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent watches as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent watches as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP)

The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on Iranian security officials and financial networks, accusing them of orchestrating a violent crackdown on peaceful protests and laundering billions in oil revenues.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the measures in the wake of the biggest anti-government protests in the history of the republic, although the demonstrations appear to have diminished over the last few days in the face of repression and an almost week-long internet blackout.

"The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice," Bessent said in a statement, adding that the action was taken at President Donald Trump's direction.

Among those sanctioned is Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme Council for National Security, whom Washington accused of coordinating the crackdown and calling for force against protesters.

Four regional commanders of Iran's Law Enforcement Forces and Revolutionary Guard were also sanctioned for their roles in the crackdown in Lorestan and Fars provinces.

Security forces in Fars "have killed countless peaceful demonstrators" with hospitals "so inundated with gunshot wound patients that no other types of patients can be admitted," the Treasury said.

The Treasury additionally designated 18 individuals and entities accused of operating "shadow banking" networks that launder proceeds from Iranian oil sales through front companies in the UAE, Singapore and Britain.

These networks funnel billions of dollars annually using cover companies and exchange houses, as Iranian citizens face economic hardship, according to the Treasury.

The sanctions freeze any US assets of those designated and prohibit Americans from doing business with them. Foreign financial institutions risk secondary sanctions for transactions with the designated entities.

The action builds on the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. In 2025, the Treasury sanctioned more than 875 persons, vessels and aircraft as part of this effort, it said.

World

Russia Destroys Large Energy Facility in Kharkiv, Mayor Says

Ukrainian rescuers clear the rubble at the site of a heavily damaged Nova Poshta postal company terminal following an air attack in Novyi Korotych, Kharkiv region, on January 13, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)
Ukrainian rescuers clear the rubble at the site of a heavily damaged Nova Poshta postal company terminal following an air attack in Novyi Korotych, Kharkiv region, on January 13, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)
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Russia Destroys Large Energy Facility in Kharkiv, Mayor Says

Ukrainian rescuers clear the rubble at the site of a heavily damaged Nova Poshta postal company terminal following an air attack in Novyi Korotych, Kharkiv region, on January 13, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)
Ukrainian rescuers clear the rubble at the site of a heavily damaged Nova Poshta postal company terminal following an air attack in Novyi Korotych, Kharkiv region, on January 13, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)

Russian forces have destroyed a large energy facility in Ukraine's second-biggest city Kharkiv, the mayor said on Thursday, the latest target of a winter air campaign by Moscow that has plunged millions of Ukrainians into darkness and cold.

Russia has attacked the power grid and other energy facilities while pressing a battlefield offensive that has left Kyiv on the back ‌foot as ‌it faces US pressure ‌to ⁠secure peace.

Ihor ‌Terekhov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, did not specify what sort of facility had been hit, but said emergency crews were on the scene and working around the clock.

Kharkiv, just 25 km from the Russian border, has ⁠been regularly targeted by drones, missiles and glide bombs throughout ‌the war, which enters its ‍fifth year next ‍month.

Regional governor Oleh Synehubov said officials ‍were still trying to assess the extent of damage from Thursday's attack.

Power outages and cuts to heating and water in major cities have worsened over the past week as Ukraine struggles with a cold snap that has overwhelmed the ⁠already hobbled energy system.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Thursday that around 300 apartment buildings in the Ukrainian capital remain without heat after a January 9 attack knocked out heating to half the city's high-rises.

Russia has also stepped up attacks on ports in Ukraine's southern Odesa region. A missile strike on Thursday injured one person and damaged shipping containers in the ‌city of Chornomorsk, said deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba.

World

Kremlin Says US Has Not Responded to Its Nuclear Arms Control Offer

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
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Kremlin Says US Has Not Responded to Its Nuclear Arms Control Offer

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL

The Kremlin said on Thursday that the United States had not responded to President Vladimir Putin's proposal to informally extend for ‌a year ‌the ‌provisions of ⁠the last ‌remaining nuclear arms pact between Moscow and Washington, the New START treaty, which is ⁠due to expire ‌in three weeks.

Kremlin spokesman ‍Dmitry ‍Peskov was responding ‍to a question about comments made by US President Donald Trump, who has said that he ⁠instead wants a more ambitious nuclear arms control treaty which includes China - something Beijing has so far shown no interest in.