Section: San Francisco Chronicle (USA)
Moscow: ‘No illusions’ about quickly restoring ties with US
MOSCOW (AP) — Moscow has “no illusions” about a quick thaw under President Donald Trump, but is ready to take its share of efforts needed to improve the strained ties with the United States, Russia’s foreign minister said Wednesday. After a brief period of warmer ties, tensions flared up again and ties eventually plunged to...
Vandals paint Nazi graffiti at Polish graves in Ukraine
Bykivnia is a burial place for victims of the Soviet secret police, including some Poles, who were executed in the 1920s-1940s. Poland and Ukraine have friendly ties, but some in Poland harbor bitter memories about the killings of up to 100,000 Poles by Ukrainian nationalists in 1943-1944 in Volyn and the eastern Galicia regions, which are now...
NATO, Pentagon chiefs discuss military budgets, terrorism
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO’s chief and new U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis have discussed military spending and combating terrorism, the source of criticism of the alliance by President Donald Trump. The U.S. spends more on its armed forces than the other 27 NATO member states combined. Many are increasing their budgets, mostly out of...
Russian political elites revel in Trump’s inauguration
Trump’s promises to fix ravaged relations with Moscow have elated Russia’s political elite following spiraling tensions with Washington over the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. elections. A hundred Trump sympathizers, nationalist activists and spin doctors gathered at a hipster party...
Russian business world hopes for relief from Trump
Russian magnates and American investors alike are anticipating a Trump administration that removes punishing sanctions, frees up access to capital and encourages U.S. businesses pursuing profits in Russia’s vast market — regardless of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policies. With relations at a post-Cold War low, the Kremlin is...
Ukraine files case against Russia at UN’s highest court
An international criminal probe concluded last year that a missile that destroyed the Malaysian passenger jet over Ukraine in 2014 and killed all 298 people aboard was fired from rebel-controlled territory by a mobile launcher trucked in from Russia and hastily returned there. In the case announced Tuesday by the International Court of Justice,...
Putin: Obama’s govt is working hard to undermine Trump
Asked about an unsubstantiated dossier outlining unverified claims that Trump engaged in sexual activities with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel, Putin dismissed it as “fake” and “nonsense” and said it was part of efforts by Obama’s administration to “undermine the legitimacy of the president-elect” despite...
Ukraine files case against Russia at UN’s highest court
In the case announced Tuesday by the International Court of Justice, Ukraine accused Moscow of “intervening militarily in Ukraine, financing acts of terrorism, and violating the human rights of millions of Ukraine’s citizens.” An international criminal probe concluded last year that a missile that destroyed the Malaysian...
Russia hopes for pragmatic dialogue with US under Trump
MOSCOW (AP) — Moscow hopes for better relations with the United States based on respect for mutual interests once Donald Trump takes office, in contrast with the “messianic” approach of the outgoing administration that has ravaged ties, Russia’s foreign minister said Tuesday. “The capital was just two or three weeks from...
Biden: Trump should retain sanctions on Russia
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, on a last foreign trip before leaving office, has met with Ukraine’s president and called on the impending Donald Trump administration to retain Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia. Biden’s comments Monday at a briefing with President Petro Poroshenko came after Trump indicated...
