Russia News

January 17, 2019

House Republicans join rebuke of Trump for easing Russia sanctions

More than 130 US House Republicans joined Democrats Thursday in opposing the easing of sanctions against an ally of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, dealing a rebuke to President Donald Trump’s administration. The Democratic-controlled chamber overwhelmingly voted 362 to 53 approving the…

January 17, 2019

Trump vows to boost America’s missile defense

President Donald Trump vowed Thursday to boost America’s missile defense systems, including by investing in technology to protect against the growing threat of hypersonic weapons and cruise missiles. Speaking at the Pentagon, Trump unveiled the Missile Defense Review, a long-awaited…

January 17, 2019

Russian MPs prolong payments freeze to European rights body

Russia’s parliament voted Thursday against sending delegates or paying contributions to the Council of Europe, increasing the risk of ultimate exclusion from the rights body and the European Court of Human Rights. The lower house of parliament, the State Duma,…

January 17, 2019

Putin calls for stable Balkans during Serbia visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for stability in the Balkans during a pageantry-filled visit to Serbia, a key Moscow ally. After arriving to a rousing red-carpet welcome in Belgrade, Putin said he would back efforts to maintain calm…

January 17, 2019

Russia detains model claiming Trump secrets

Russia on Thursday detained a Belarusian model who claimed she had evidence of Russian efforts to help Donald Trump win office, witnesses told AFP. Anastasia Vashukevich, known by her pen-name Nastya Rybka, was held for questioning at a Moscow airport…

January 17, 2019

Russian, Israeli military officials meet over Syria

Israeli military officials concluded a series of talks with their Russian counterparts on Thursday aimed at improving coordination in war-torn Syria, the army said. The two sides discussed “promoting and improving the mechanism to prevent friction between the two militaries…

January 17, 2019

EU to sanction Salisbury chemical attack suspects

The EU is to slap sanctions on two suspected Russian agents accused of carrying out a deadly nerve agent attack in the British city of Salisbury, officials told AFP Thursday. Foreign ministers from the bloc will formally sign off on…

January 17, 2019

Putin receives five-star welcome in Serbia

Ceremonial canons fired and church bells pealed in Belgrade on Thursday as President Vladimir Putin arrived to a rousing welcome in Serbia, a key Moscow ally, where he will confer Russia’s top award to his counterpart. Tens of thousands of…

January 17, 2019

Facebook closes hundreds of ‘inauthentic’ Russia-linked pages

Facebook announced Thursday that it has removed more than 500 pages, groups and accounts originating in Russia for engaging in what the social network called “coordinated inauthentic behavior.” The California-based social media giant said they were part of two separate…