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Ben Tavener

@bbcbentavener.bsky.social
2K followers 190 following 197 posts

Senior journalist, BBC News Moscow bureau

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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
- Russia remains fully open to peace talks; - Zelensky should strike deal now as his position will only grow weaker as Russian forces advance
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Kremlin spokesman responds to reports of US-Russian draft peace deal plan for Ukraine: - No change to Russia’s position as at Alaska summit; - Russia has not received anything officially; - US-Russian contacts continue, but no substantive discussions on a peace plan yet;
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
This followed earlier comments by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who told journalists there had been “no novations” in addition to what had been discussed in Alaska earlier this year.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Russia’s foreign ministry cited by TASS as saying “no information from the US has been received” regarding reports the White House has devised a new peace plan on Ukraine.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Dmitry Peskov added there was nothing in testing the Burevestnik (storm petrel) missile that should strain relations with Washington and that Russia was merely “ensuring its own security” given the “militarisation”, “hysteria” and “aggressive russophobia” it sees in Europe.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
“Despite our openness with the US, Russia - and the Russian president - will be guided primarily by its own national interests,” says the Kremlin after criticism from Donald Trump that Moscow should end the Ukraine war instead of testing nuclear-powered cruise missiles.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
BREAKING: Kremlin issues warning that if US supplies Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, this will signal a “serious new spiral of tension that would demand an adequate response from Russia”, but adds no “single magic weapon” can change the situation on the front line for Kyiv.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 185 prisoners of war from each side, the Russian defence ministry says, adding this was in line with agreements the sides reached during direct peace talks in Istanbul on 23 July. It also says Ukraine returned 20 civilians to Russia.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Multiple reports of air defences engaging drones in Moscow and Moscow region. Officials say at least 9 intercepted (they only report successful downings). Blasts heard even in central districts of Russian capital. No reports atow of major damage or casualties.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
In more bizarre #Intervision developments, Russia’s entry Shaman addresses the audience after his act and says he asks the jury to disregard his performance and not assign him a score - the “rules of hospitality” dictate “I have no right to lay claim to victory”, he says.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
No politics in #Intervision! First a lengthy video message from President Vladimir Putin and then an interview with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the *first* act!
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
The statement continues: “The United States remains a full-fledged participant of Intervision and will be represented in the international jury”. Vassy told the BBC her withdrawal was due to an “unforeseen emergency”.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
#Intervision says the US entry, Australian-Greek singer Vassy, withdrew “for reasons beyond the control of the organizers and the US delegation, caused by unprecedented political pressure from the Government of Australia”.
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Reposted by Ben Tavener
Steve Rosenberg @bbcstever.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Born behind the Iron Curtain, it's back. The Intervision Song Contest has been brought back to life by the Kremlin. My piece for BBC News about politics and pop. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Intervision 2025 - Russia hosts Putin's answer to Eurovision
Putin resurrects a Soviet-era global song contest, to distract from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
The original US entry, B.Howard, pulled out earlier this week - he told the BBC he withdrew due to “family issues”. The original US jury member also pulled out of Intervision.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
BREAKING: The replacement US entry for #Intervision, Australian-Greek singer Vassy, tells the BBC she has also withdrawn from the revived Soviet-era song contest last minute “due to an unforeseen emergency” and won’t be performing.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
“Here we go” with what exactly? Phase 2 (1?) of sanctions against Russia? Another deadline? Another taco?
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
BREAKING: Russian defence ministry says “no targets on Polish territory were planned”, that drones used only have max range of 700km and that it’s “prepared to discuss topic with Polish defence ministry”. Not exactly a full-throated denial.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Our recent BBC News piece from Vladivostok on how Russia’s war on Ukraine affects people across the country, even here – 7,000km from the front line. youtu.be/48ai8F70R94
youtu.be
Russia: the mood 4,000 miles from Moscow
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
BREAKING: Kremlin refuses to be drawn on situation with drones in Poland - which Ukraine/EU/Nato say were Russian - saying it’s up to Russian Defence Ministry to comment. But adds that “the EU/Nato leaderships accuse Russia of provocations every day, usually without any argument”.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Xi shows Trump who holds the cards as he sets up meeting with Kim and Putin
The leaders of North Korea and Russia will attend China's military parade next week - a win for Xi.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, is to be summoned by the Foreign Office after major strikes on Kyiv overnight which killed at least 15 people. Meanwhile, the Kremlin says it only strikes military and military-related targets and is still interested in peace talks...
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Russia’s economy expected to grow by at least 1.5% this year, according to Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
WOAH. Sergei Markov – a high-profile pro-Kremlin political commentator, former advisor to and vocal supporter of President Putin and his “special military operation” in Ukraine – has been designated a “foreign agent”. Markov says he thinks it’s a mistake...
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Russia says its online public services platform #Gosuslugi has been coming under DDoS attack from abroad for the last few hours. Officially “all attacks are being successfully repelled” but Downdetector reporting a lot of complaints from people who can’t access the service.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
This appears to contradict what the White House previously said on the matter - that plans were underway. Lavrov also told NBC that President Zelensky had said “no to everything” when presented with a number of principles necessary for progress on the peace deal.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
“Putin is ready to meet Zelensky when the agenda [is] ready for a summit. And this agenda is not ready at all,” says Russian FM Sergei Lavrov. “President Trump suggested, after Anchorage, several points which we share and on some of them, we agreed... to show some flexibility.”
nbcnews.com
Russian FM Lavrov says no Putin-Zelenskyy meeting is planned, despite WH claims
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says, “Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy when the agenda would be ready for a summit,” but adds that Moscow do...
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Russia is reviving a Soviet-era Eastern Bloc answer to #Eurovision. In September, entries from some 20 countries - from China to Colombia - will take part in #Intervision (Интервидение). Earlier this year the US said it’d join in, as Trump wooed Putin (& vice versa), and now we know who…
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
No comment from the Kremlin, however, on possible trilateral Trump-Putin-Zelensky talks.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
BREAKING: Trump-Putin meeting agreed to take place “in the next few days”, working timeframe next week, preparations begin, location to be announced “a little later” – Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov quoted by Russian state media
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
BREAKING: Putin-Witkoff talks conclude after approx 3 hours – Russian media citing Kremlin
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
BREAKING: US envoy Steve Witkoff meeting Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
– via Russian agencies quoting Kremlin
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
BREAKING: Vladimir Putin meets US envoy Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Russian media showing Steve Witkoff’s motorcade going into the Kremlin:
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, is in Moscow – seen here strolling in Zaryadye Park next to the Kremlin alongside Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
“[Putin] does not want to anger Trump, and he realises that he may be spurning a chance to improve relations with Washington and the West, but his war goals take precedence...” www.reuters.com/world/europe...
reuters.com
Exclusive: Putin doubts potency of Trump's ultimatum to end the war, sources say
Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to bow to a sanctions ultimatum expiring this Friday from U.S. President Donald Trump, and retains the goal of capturing four regions of Ukraine in their entirety, sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Kremlin “does not rule out” a meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Putin this week – after Donald Trump said they could hold talks on Wednesday or Thursday.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
MORE: Donald Trump says he is setting Vladimir Putin a new deadline of “10 to 12 days” from today to end the Ukraine war.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
BREAKING: Donald Trump says he is “very disappointed” in President Putin and that he will “reduce the 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number” on his recent ultimatum over a Ukraine peace deal.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Aeroflot attack // Hacking groups Silent Crow and Belarusian Cyber Partisans are claiming to be behind an attack on Aeroflot’s computer systems that has led to nearly 50 flights being cancelled to/from Moscow. Aeroflot shares are currently down 3%.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
An AN-24 Angara Airlines passenger plane with 49 people on board, including 6 crew members and 5 children, has crashed in Russia’s far-eastern Amur region. The wreckage was located around 15km from Tynda airport. There appear to be no survivors. LATEST: www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Wreckage found after plane carrying 48 people goes down in Russian far east
The Angara airlines An-24 plane had disappeared from radar as it approached an airport in Amur region.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Kremlin says it’s “hard to see” how a Putin-Zelensky meeting could take place before the end of August, within Donald Trump’s 50-day deadline for peace deal, as Ukraine proposed at yesterday’s brief talks in Istanbul – RIA
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
On last night’s brief Russia-Ukraine talks... Russia, Ukraine discuss more POW swaps; no deal on ceasefire or leaders' meeting. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
reuters.com
Russia, Ukraine discuss more POW swaps; no deal on ceasefire or leaders' meeting
Russia and Ukraine discussed further prisoner swaps on Wednesday at a brief session of peace talks in Istanbul, but the sides remained far apart on ceasefire terms and a possible meeting of their leaders.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul ahead of third round of direct talks with Ukraine — Flightradar24 data, Russian news agencies
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Kremlin says the draft memoranda exchanged in second round are focus of this round, as well as discussions on POW swaps and repatriations. The talks process should culminate in a leaders’ meeting, but a lot of groundwork needs to be done first, Dmitry Peskov said.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
BREAKING: Kremlin confirms a Russian delegation has left for Istanbul ahead of a third round of direct Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for Wednesday evening.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
BREAKING: Russian delegation heading to Istanbul for Ukraine talks – TASS and Interfax
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Still no Kremlin confirmation on dates for 3rd round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul. Reports suggested they would happen this week. Dmitry Peskov also cautioned against expecting “miraculous breakthroughs”, and made clear a Putin-Zelensky meeting was not on the cards yet.
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Ben Tavener @bbcbentavener.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Kremlin says Russia is in favour of a third round of direct talks with Ukraine taking place – as reports swirl they could happen this week – but says Moscow and Kyiv’s positions are currently “diametrically opposed” and that there’s “much work” to be done.
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