Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)
Pence says US backs Georgia in NATO over Russian objection
TBILISI, Georgia — Vice President Mike Pence said the U.S. “strongly” supports Georgia’s ambition of joining NATO, even as Russia remains hostile to the military alliance expanding its influence in Moscow’s former Soviet backyard. “We see Georgia as a key strategic partner and stand by your territorial integrity and your aspirations...
Pence pledges support for Georgia, condemns Russian moves
The bill underwent revisions to address concerns voiced by American oil and natural gas companies that sanctions specific to Russia’s energy sector could backfire on them to Moscow’s benefit. U.S. lawmakers said they also made adjustments so the sanctions on Russia’s energy sector didn’t undercut the ability of U.S. allies...
Russia urges US to fix ties as it cuts US diplomatic staff
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said it will take time for the U.S. to recover from what he called “political schizophrenia,” but he added that Russia wants constructive cooperation with Washington. Peskov’s statement followed televised comments Sunday by Putin, who said the U.S. would have to cut 755 of its embassy and...
US-Russia ties at new low with expulsions of diplomats
MOSCOW (AP) — With a sweeping cut in the number of U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has raised the stakes further in an escalating rift with the United States. In December 2016, following allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election, President Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian...
Romanian official: Russian deputy PM tried to flout EU ban
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s foreign minister says Russia’s deputy prime minister “deliberately” tried to enter Romanian airspace despite knowing he is on a list of officials banned from the European Union. Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said Monday in a televised interview: “In my opinion, it was a...
Analysis: Trump gets a major bill, and it’s Russia sanctions
WASHINGTON (AP) — The most consequential piece of legislation that the Republican-led Congress has delivered to President Donald Trump after seven months is a new package of financial penalties against Russia that he didn’t want to sign into law. But he’s going to. He would have faced a political firestorm if he rejected the...
Romania blocks Russian deputy PM from entering EU airspace
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin had to scrap a trip to Moldova on Friday after his plane was barred from entering Romanian and Hungarian airspace. Rogozin said, in comments to Russian news agencies, that he and other Russian officials were traveling on a commercial flight to the Moldovan capital of Chisinau when the...
Russia orders cut in US diplomats in reaction to sanctions
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday ordered a reduction in the number of U.S. diplomats in Russia and said it was closing down a U.S. recreation retreat in response to fresh sanctions against Russia. The U.S. Senate approved a new package of stiff financial sanctions Friday against Russia, Iran and North Korea and sent it to...
Sanctions bill hits hurdle in Senate over NKorea penalties
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new package of financial sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea has a hit a snag in the Senate, where the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee has objected to the House’s decision to include penalties targeting Pyongyang in the legislation. The penalties on Moscow are for its meddling in the presidential...
Germany, France, Russia, Ukraine vow to implement peace plan
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s office said that French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call Monday and vowed to help implement the peace deal they had brokered. …read more Source: San Francisco...
