Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on his re-election Saturday, calling for deeper ties between Moscow and Tehran. In a telegram to Rouhani, Putin “confirmed the readiness to continue active joint work to further develop the Russian-Iranian cooperation partnership,” the Kremlin …
Read More »Putin ready to help Americans to ‘investigate’ Trump
Putin ‘ready to provide recording’ of Lavrov-Trump exchange Sochi, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow could provide a recording of a controversial exchange between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US President Donald Trump that has plunged the White House into turmoil. His comments were …
Read More »Cyberattacks: Putin points finger at US
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The world’s biggest ransomware attack levelled off on Monday after wreaking havoc in 150 countries, but Russian President Vladimir Putin called it payback for the US intelligence services. Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer Brad Smith has said the US National Security Agency developed …
Read More »Trump to have a chat with Putin today
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump will speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by telephone Tuesday, the White House said in a statement. There was no indication about the topics of discussion for the two leaders. The call was scheduled for 12:30 pm (1630 GMT). Trump …
Read More »Putin also congratulates Erdogan over referendum win
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday congratulated Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for winning a referendum on enhancing his powers, the Kremlin and Turkish state media said. Putin telephoned Erdogan to congratulate him over the win of the ‘Yes’ vote in Sunday’s poll, the state-run …
Read More »Tensions build up between US, Russia over Syria strikes
Tensions are ratcheting up between the United States on one hand and Russia, Iran on the other; nations allied to Syria which was struck by US cruise missiles. US president Donald Trump ordered the airstrikes after the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its opponents-killing about 80 people, including children, …
Read More »Putin says climate change not caused by emissions
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said climate change was unstoppable and not caused by human activity as he urged countries to adapt to global warming. One day after visiting the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Arctic, Putin claimed that icebergs had been melting …
Read More »Spy fiction? Byzantine Russia tale envelops Washington
Washington, United States | AFP | Secret meetings, phone taps, Russian oil money and mysterious intelligence dossiers: the swirling scandal over Donald Trump’s ties to Moscow has all the makings of a classic spy novel — whose ending has yet to be written. But the maelstrom engulfing Washington over Russia’s …
Read More »CIA chief warns Trump on pro-Russia remarks
CIA chief urges Trump to temper impulses amid Russia claims Washington, United States | AFP | Allegations of Russian interference in US politics cast a shadow over inaugural preparations on Sunday, with the CIA chief warning that President-elect Donald Trump must tamp down his shoot-from-the-hip style to protect national security. …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Putin takes lead in Syria peace after battlefield wins
Moscow, Russia | AFP | After turning the tide on the ground in Syria with his country’s military might, Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to cement his authority by forging an unlikely peace deal. The Kremlin strongman on Thursday announced a new truce and talks between Damascus and rebel …
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