| CONCISE | Brief caught working with Russia and its allies before start of election |
| EASTERNBLOC | Informally, Russia and its allies, especially during the Cold War |
| IRAN | Country in discussion with Russia and European nations about resuming talks on its nuclear program. (4) |
| OPERATIONDESERTSHIELD | Codename for operations by the US and allies before the combat stage of the Gulf War |
| HOHENLINDEN | Battle of ?, 1800 conflict of the French Revolutionary Wars that took place east of Munich and resulted in victory for France over Austria and its allies |
| NOMINEE | Candidate has no source of wealth before start of election (7) |
| SLEAZE | Zeal's unusual before start of election - MPs should avoid it (6) |
| PEEVE | Irritate Kamala Harris, say, on retirement before start of election (5) |
| CASTASIDE | Get rid of scoundrel controlling secret police before start of elections (4,5) |
| LENDLEASE | US system of support for UK and its allies in WWII (4-5) |
| CONJUROR | Entertainer caught working with one on panel (8) |
| CONFECTIONERY | Candy caught working with ferocity travelling around Newcastle area (13) |
| THEWESTEND | NATO and its allies stop where Sunset Boulevard could be seen (3,4,3) |
| EASTERN | The term used for the Soviet Union and its allies during the Cold War, ... bloc |
| CONRAD | Caught working with radical novelist (6) |
| WEST | America and its allies, popularly |
| AWARE | Knowing of a fight prior to start of election (5) |
| BERKELEY | Times must cover Angela losing head with start of election (8) |
| LAVA | Termination of conflict with Russia a hot issue (4) |
| VOLGA | Raised in Gulag, lovage with a flower synonymous with Russia (5) |
