What is the history of Russia?

Answer: Russia is the largest country in the world. Russia's capital was previously St. Petersburg until Moscow officially took over as the capital in 1918. The country is rich in natural resources that significantly contribute to its economy, including oil, natural gas, coal, timber, and metals like gold and iron. The Russian Federation consists of 85 federal entities, including republics, territories, and regions, all governed by the central government, which primarily operates out of the Moscow Kremlin.

Answer: The current president of Russia is Vladimir Putin, who has served for 21 non-consecutive years. After his career as a KGB agent, Putin took office in 2000.

Answer: Russia is closely tied to North Korea, Iran and Belarus in terms of formal military alliances. It also has many strategic partners regarding military and oil capabilities, including China, Syria, India, Serbia and other nations worldwide.

Answer: On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two eastern Ukrainian breakaway regions, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, prompting the first round of NATO sanctions against Russia and raising concerns about an imminent invasion. Undeterred by Western threats, Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine three days later, aiming for the "demilitarization and denazification" of the country. Explosions were soon heard in major Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa, and reports quickly emerged of Russian troops landing in the crucial coastal city of Mariupol, with large units advancing toward the capital.

Heavy fighting erupted across Ukraine, eventually reaching Kyiv, as the Russian air force continued to bombard major cities and key infrastructure. Despite expectations that the Ukrainian military would quickly succumb to the pressure, the country's resistance proved more formidable than anticipated. The United States has spent billions of dollars to support Ukraine since the war began in 2022. Efforts to end the conflict have included meetings between U.S. leaders and Russian and Ukrainian officials, although the war continues into its fourth year.