Russia News

January 22, 2019

Kuril islands: strategic chain at heart of Russia-Japan dispute

Called the Kurils by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan, a string of volcanic islands are at the heart of a feud between the two countries that has prevented them signing a formal World War II peace treaty. Talks…

January 22, 2019

Putin, Abe hold summit to break island impasse

Russia and Japan’s leaders meet for talks in Moscow Tuesday over the disputed island chain that has long prevented a peace treaty to end World War II. But recent rhetoric has dampened hopes of a breakthrough. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo…

January 21, 2019

No trouble with Russia gas to Europe this winter: EU

The EU on Monday proposed a new contract for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine from 2020, while anticipating no problems with supplies this winter. European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said ministers would meet again in May to…

January 21, 2019

EU sanctions Russia military intel chief over Skripal

The European Union slapped sanctions on the two most senior officers in Russian military intelligence Monday and identified the two agents accused by Britain of carrying out a chemical attack. Along with the measures against the four GRU officers, EU…

January 21, 2019

Ten people dead after fire on two vessels off Crimea

Ten people died off Russia-annexed Crimea in the Black Sea on Monday after a fire engulfed gas tankers sailing under the flag of Tanzania, authorities said. “There are 10 dead,” Alexei Kravchenko, spokesman for Russia’s Federal Agency for Maritime and…

January 21, 2019

Russia threatens ‘retaliatory measures’ over EU sanctions

Russia on Monday threatened retaliation after the European Union slapped sanctions on Russian military intelligence chiefs over the nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain. “We reserve the right to take retaliatory measures over this unfriendly…

January 21, 2019

NATO, Russia to hold talks amid missile treaty crisis

NATO and Russian officials will hold talks this week, the alliance said Monday, with the future of a key Cold War era arms treaty hanging by a thread. Diplomats said the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty will be on the…

January 21, 2019

Russian watchdog launches ‘administrative proceedings’ against Facebook, Twitter

Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor launched “administrative proceedings” Monday against US social media giants Facebook and Twitter, accusing them of not complying with Russian law, news agencies reported. “Today, Roskomnadzor begins administrative proceedings against both companies (Facebook and Twitter),” the watchdog’s…

January 21, 2019

Kremlin says peace talks with Japan a ‘drawn out’ process

The Kremlin on Monday dampened expectations of any breakthrough at the upcoming summit between the leaders of Russia and Japan, saying striking a peace deal would be a very “drawn out” process. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister…