EU agrees to extend sanctions against Russia
The European Union agreed Thursday to extend sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
Russia
India, China and Russia Refrain From Recognizing East Jerusalem as Capital of Palestine in Joint Statement
Foreign ministers from India, Russia and China notably refrained from recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine at their annual meeting in New Delhi this week – seven days after the US recognized the holy city as the capital of Israel.
Hamas will reverse Trump’s Jerusalem move, leader tells Gaza rally
Tens of thousands of Palestinians including hundreds of gunmen rallied in Gaza on Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of Hamas’s founding and its chief vowed to reverse US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
US jets fire warning flares as Russian planes enters Syria buffer zone
Two US fighter jets on Wednesday fired warning flares after two Russian jets entered a buffer zone intended to keep Russian and US-led coalition forces operating over Syria apart.
Russia not withdrawing forces from Syria, Pentagon says
The United States said on Tuesday it has not observed any meaningful withdrawal of Russian combat forces from Syria, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement on Monday of a significant pullout.
Putin visits Egypt in sign of closer ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Egypt on Monday, where he signed a deal to advance plans for a nuclear reactor but disappointed his hosts by delaying the resumption of direct flights that were suspended after the 2015 bombing of a Russian passenger plane.
Putin declares victory against ‘terrorists’ in Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory against ‘terrorists’ in Syria on Monday during a surprise visit to a Russian military base in the county, where he also announced a partial pullout of Russian troops.
Europe, Arabs to unite against Israel at UN Security Council
European countries, Egypt and Russia are slated to rail against US President Donald Trump’s declaration that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, when the United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the matter in New York on Friday.
Vladimir Putin announces plan to run for re-election in 2018
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday that he will officially run for office again in 2018, debunking questions and theories surrounding his delayed official announcement.
Trey Gowdy ‘surprised’ Trump Jr. interview spent 7 hours focusing on Trump Tower meeting, ‘nothing illegal or improper’ gleaned
Rep. Trey Gowdy said he was “surprised” that the House Intelligence Committee interview with Donald Trump Jr. on Wednesday spent seven hours focusing on the brief meeting that took place in Trump Tower last summer between Trump campaign members and Russian officials.
Russia Banned from 2018 Winter Olympics
The International Olympic Committee banned Russia on Tuesday from competing as a country in the upcoming Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, but said that individual Russians could compete as an ‘Olympic Athlete from Russia.’
Putin Vows to Rebuild Christian Syria, Restoring Churches and Bringing Refugees Home
Russia will help rebuild Christian churches in Syria and establish peace in historically Christian regions of the war-torn country, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed on Monday during a meeting with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church.
South Korea, U.S. launch air drills amid North Korean warnings of nuclear war
The United States and South Korea went ahead with large-scale joint aerial drills on Monday, a move North Korea had said would push the Korean peninsula to ‘the brink of nuclear war’, ignoring calls from Russia and China to call them off.
Trump reignites feud with FBI after Flynn’s guilty plea in Russia probe
President Trump is renewing his feud with former FBI Director James B. Comey as House Republicans consider holding his successor, Christopher Wray, in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over records related to the Russia probe that secured its first high-profile conviction Friday.
Flynn pleads guilty to lying to FBI, vows to cooperate in Mueller’s Russia probe
Former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty Friday to making false statements to FBI agents, admitting that he lied to investigators when he said he didn’t ask Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. to limit Moscow’s reaction to U.S. sanctions during the presidential transition.
Mueller Removed Top FBI Agent in Russia Probe Over Possible Anti-Trump Texts
Special counsel Robert Mueller this summer removed a top FBI agent from the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election after the Justice Department’s inspector general began investigating whether the agent sent text messages critical of President Donald Trump, according to a new report.
U.S. talks with Russia about military partnership in Afghanistan War
Top U.S. military commanders and diplomats are weighing a proposed strategy shift in the Afghanistan War centered on expanded military collaboration with Russia.
Russia calls on US, South Korea not to hold military drills in December
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called on North Korea on Wednesday to stop its missile and nuclear tests and for the United States and South Korea not to hold military drills in December as it would ‘inflame an already explosive situation.’
Russian fighter makes ‘unsafe’ interception of U.S. Navy plane over Black Sea
A Russian fighter jet flew within 50 feet of an American reconnaissance plane in an ‘unsafe’ maneuver that caused ‘violent turbulence’ for the U.S. aircraft, the military said late Monday.
Russia seeks two-day ceasefire in Damascus suburb; dozens killed by air strikes
Russia proposed a two-day ceasefire on Monday in the last major rebel stronghold near the Syrian capital Damascus, where warplanes killed at least 41 people in two days of air strikes as Russian-backed government forces tried to capture the area.