Moscow, Russia | AFP | The Kremlin on Friday distanced itself from the controversy over Russia-linked Facebook ads which may have influenced last year’s US election, saying Moscow had nothing to do with them. “We don’t know who places ads on Facebook and how,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told …
Read More »Russia ‘concerned’ by escalation of Korea tensions after Trump, Kim exchange: Kremlin
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia is “deeply concerned” by the escalation of tensions over North Korea, the Kremlin said on Friday, after US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un exchanged stinging barbs. “Moscow is deeply concerned by an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula related to …
Read More »China, Russia urge end to North Korea vicious cycle
New York, United States | AFP | The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers called for a peaceful end to the “vicious cycle” on the Korean peninsula as they met in New York for the UN General Assembly, Beijing said Tuesday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergei …
Read More »Russia launches war games on NATO’s eastern flank
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia On Thursday began major joint military exercises with Belarus along the European Union’s eastern flank — a show of strength that has rattled nervous NATO members. Named Zapad-2017 (West-2017), the manoeuvres, scheduled to last until September 20, are taking place on the territory of …
Read More »World Cup trophy starts tour in Moscow
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The World Cup trophy tour began a worldwide tour in Moscow on Saturday at a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. Ten months before the 2018 World Cup kicks off there, the ceremony took place at Luzhniki stadium, which has …
Read More »Putin warns of ‘global catastrophe’ in N.Korea impasse
Xiamen, China | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday of a global “catastrophe” unless a diplomatic solution over North Korea is reached, saying imposing further sanctions on Pyongyang would be useless. Putin’s comments, following an international summit in China, came after the United States called for the “strongest …
Read More »Alarming West, Turkey nudges closer to Russia arms deal
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Turkey and Russia are inching towards an accord for the first major Turkish weapons purchase from Moscow, troubling Ankara’s allies in NATO even though the deal may not ultimately materialise. According to Turkish and Russian officials, all preparations have been made for the purchase of a …
Read More »Furious Moscow demands swift return of closed US facilities
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia on Sunday demanded the US rethink its shuttering of Moscow’s diplomatic premises, insisting Washington bore sole responsibility for worsening ties after the “hostile act”. “We consider what has happened as an openly hostile act and a gross violation of international law by Washington,” the foreign …
Read More »Russia says US plans to search its San Francisco consulate
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia said on Friday the FBI planned to carry out a search of its San Francisco consulate, which Washington has ordered closed along with two other facilities as part of a diplomatic slugging match between the two powers. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the …
Read More »Bid for UN vote on Mali sanctions gains momentum
United Nations, United States | AFP | A bid for a UN Security Council vote early next week on a French-sponsored resolution that would set up a sanctions regime for Mali gained momentum Friday despite resistance from some countries, diplomats said. Russia and Ethiopia have voiced reservations over the proposal, raising …
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