December 27, 2025 – Russia Headlines

Story gist: WSJ reported U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, December 28, in Florida. Zelenskyy stated an agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. is almost ready.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza emphasizes Zelenskyy’s claim that a Ukraine-U.S. agreement is ‘almost ready,’ focusing on positive progress. Center BBC frames the meeting as a ‘sign of significant progress’ with factual details on date and location. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting any conservative perspective on implications for U.S. aid or negotiations.

Story gist: A child suffered a laryngeal burn after consuming an ‘Aloe Vera’ drink purchased from Magnit supermarket. Rospotrebnadzor suspended sales of 138,000 units of the drink, and the ‘Honest Sign’ system blocked its distribution.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, omitting any perspective on consumer safety or corporate accountability. Center outlets (Interfax) emphasize Rospotrebnadzor’s government suspension of sales, focusing on regulatory intervention. Right-leaning outlets highlight the ‘Honest Sign’ system’s blockage, stressing traceability technology over state action.

Story gist: Moscow City Court sentenced a former Russian Foreign Ministry employee to 12 years in prison on state treason charges.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Novaya Gazeta Europe emphasize specifics of passing secret data to the CIA and specify ‘colony’ imprisonment, adding espionage details. Center outlets like Interfax report neutrally, mirroring the court title without elaboration. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting any perspective that might stress national security vindication or government firmness against betrayal.

Story gist: Russian stock markets concluded trading sessions without the anticipated New Year’s rally, as reported by Finam.Ru.

Bias summary: No left- or right-leaning outlets covered the story, leaving progressive optimism or conservative market resilience perspectives absent. Center outlet Finam.Ru framed it negatively with ‘Left without a New Year’s rally,’ emphasizing disappointment and omission of potential positive preparations noted in the main title.

Story gist: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree designating 2026 as the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Tatyana Golikova and Sergei Kirienko will head the organizing committee.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provided no coverage, absenting any critical or oppositional perspective. Center sources like Vedomosti emphasize bureaucratic details, naming Golikova and Kirienko as committee heads. Right-leaning outlets like Агентство городских новостей spotlight Putin’s decree-signing action, framing it as a direct presidential initiative.