France squashed Trump-Putin meeting in Paris, Kremlin says
A top Kremlin foreign affairs aide says the French government requested that President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump back away from plans to meet during their Paris visit.
Russia
US hopes Russia will continue to let Israel hit Iranian assets in Syria
Washington will focus on pressuring Iran financially and contesting its activities in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, where the Islamic republic enjoys broad influence, the U.S. envoy to Syria said Wednesday, adding that Tehran should eventually withdraw all Iran-commanded forces from Syria.
Syrian officer: Russia’s S-300 system minimizes success of Israeli strike
The deployment of Russia’s advanced S-300 anti-aircraft systems to Syria has minimized the chances of successful Israeli air strikes, a senior Syrian officer said Thursday.
Dems plan to bring in Mueller for televised hearings if Trump fires him
Top Democrats in the House are reportedly planning to invite Robert Mueller to testify on Capitol Hill in televised hearings if President Trump takes action to fire the special counsel and shut down the Russia investigation.
U.S. sanctions Russians over Crimea ties
The Trump administration placed a new round of sanctions against 12 Russian individuals and businesses.
Russia asks U.N. Security Council to discuss North Korea sanctions Thursday
Russia has asked the United Nations Security Council to discuss North Korea sanctions on Thursday, diplomats said, a move that comes after a planned meeting between top U.S. and North Korean officials in New York this week was postponed.
Israel, Greece drill air forces as Syria builds up arms
Following the delivery of advanced Russian air defense systems to Syria, the Israeli Air Force held joint drills with the Hellenic Air Force in Greece over the last 12 days, as part of the growing defense cooperation between the two countries.
French president Macron revives idea of ‘true European’ army outside NATO
French President Emmanuel Macron is once again stoking debate over the need for a Europe-wide military force to defend against an increasingly aggressive Russia, a force that critics fear could undercut and compete with the transatlantic NATO alliance.
Trump, Putin to meet at G-20 summit this month
President Trump said he’ll probably meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month at the Group of 20 nations summit in Argentina.
Democrats to bedevil Trump with probes, subpoenas if midterms go their way
They may have trouble legislating, but congressional Democrats are already drawing up plans for investigating if they score big gains in the midterm elections Tuesday.
Senior official: Israel has attacked Syria since Russian spy plane downed
Israel has attacked targets in Syria since the downing of the Russian intelligence plane on September 18, a senior Israeli official said on Monday.
Russian minister warns Europe over US exit from nuclear pact
Russia’s defense minister has urged Europe to consider what impact Washington’s intended withdrawal from a key nuclear arms pact would have on its security.
Kremlin accuses U.S. of drone attack on Russian air base in Syria
Russia’s deputy defense minister Aleksandr Fomin accused a US airplane of manually controlling 13 drones that attempted to attack Russia’s Khmeimim air base in Syria. The surprising allegations were made at a plenary session of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Thursday. A Russian diplomatic source elaborated on the comments, alleging that some Syrian militants in Idlib are being used by the US to create instability in northern Syria.
Russia seeks UN support for missile treaty US opposes
Russia is trying to get the U.N. General Assembly to adopt a resolution supporting a landmark missile treaty following President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. is withdrawing from the pact.
Russia said demanding more notice before Israeli strikes in Syria
Russia is demanding Israel give it more advanced notice before carrying out airstrikes on targets in Syria, Israeli television reported Wednesday, as newly published satellite photographs purported to show the deployment of four advanced Russian anti-aircraft batteries near a suspected Syrian chemical weapons site.
Trump and Putin plan Paris meeting
US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin plan to meet in Paris next month, amid a continuing dispute over a key nuclear arms treaty.
Russia supports Syria, Iran ramps up support to Hezbollah
Iran reportedly delivered GPS components to Hezbollah in Lebanon that will allow the group to transform rudimentary projectiles into precision-guided missiles, thereby increasing the threat to Israel. Western intelligence services believe Tehran has shifted its strategy by increasingly shipping weaponry directly to its proxy in Beirut, with a view to evading Israeli air strikes.
Report: Russia transfers upgraded S-300 missile batteries to Syria
Moscow has transferred three advanced S-300PM anti-aircraft batteries to the Syrian regime, Russian news outlet Izvestia reported on Friday.
Trump confirms U.S. to abandon nuclear arms treaty with Russia
President Donald Trump on Saturday said the United States will pull out of a decades-long nuclear deal signed between Washington and Moscow during the Cold War.
Russians ‘will go to heaven’ in event of nuclear war: Putin
Russians will ‘go to heaven’ as martyrs in the event of nuclear war because Moscow will only ever use nuclear weapons in retaliation, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.