Moscow holds emergency talks with US over fighting in Donbass as Ukraine says NATO exercises will train troops for war with Russia

Amid fears of worsening clashes in eastern Ukraine, Russian and American diplomats have held unscheduled bilateral talks in an effort to forestall an all-out conflict, which Moscow has warned could spell disaster for the region. … Read More >Moscow holds emergency talks with US over fighting in Donbass as Ukraine says NATO exercises will train troops for war with Russia

Russia to investigate after reports from self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic claim Ukrainian army killed young boy with bomb

Russia’s Investigative Committee has said it will look into reports that Ukraine violated the ceasefire in the non-recognized Donetsk People’s Republic, after claims that a five-year-old boy was killed by shelling last Friday. … Read More >Russia to investigate after reports from self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic claim Ukrainian army killed young boy with bomb

Russian Pacific Sea frigate hits land target with Kalibr missile as country’s navy undergoes extensive modernization (VIDEO)

A warship from Russia’s Pacific Fleet has launched its first-ever Kalibr cruise missile at a ground target. The ‘Marshal Shaposhnikov’ destroyer fired the rocket from the Sea of Japan at Cape Syurkum in the Far East. … Read More >Russian Pacific Sea frigate hits land target with Kalibr missile as country’s navy undergoes extensive modernization (VIDEO)

Moscow pledges retaliation to US & UK plans for rocket deployment in range of Russia’s borders, sparking new missile crisis fears

Russia would be forced to defend itself if Western nations go through with plans to station short- and long-range missiles in Europe, a Moscow diplomat has warned, insisting they could be used to target the country’s air defenses. … Read More >Moscow pledges retaliation to US & UK plans for rocket deployment in range of Russia’s borders, sparking new missile crisis fears

US foreign policy undermining reliability of dollar, Russia warns, as Moscow contemplates new rival to Western payment systems

A top Russian diplomat has warned that the US dollar is becoming an increasingly risky currency on which to base global financial transactions, because Washington is linking its currency more and more to its foreign policy aims. … Read More >US foreign policy undermining reliability of dollar, Russia warns, as Moscow contemplates new rival to Western payment systems

Vladimir Putin signs law enabling him to serve two more terms as Russian president, could potentially stay in office until 2036

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill which allows him to run for a fifth term as the country’s head of state in 2024. Under the previous legislation, he would have had to leave the Kremlin at the next election. … Read More >Vladimir Putin signs law enabling him to serve two more terms as Russian president, could potentially stay in office until 2036

Russian opposition figure Navalny sent to prison medical ward after inspections find symptoms of respiratory infection

Jailed Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny has been transferred to a prison medical unit after showing symptoms of an acute respiratory infection, including a high temperature, according to the Federal Penitentiary Service. … Read More >Russian opposition figure Navalny sent to prison medical ward after inspections find symptoms of respiratory infection

48% of Russians support opposition figure Alexey Navalny’s 2.5-year jail sentence, just 29% say it was unfair, new poll reveals

Almost half of Russians think the decision of a Moscow court in February to sentence opposition figure Alexey Navalny to over two and a half years behind bars is fair, with fewer than a third disagreeing with the judgment. … Read More >48% of Russians support opposition figure Alexey Navalny’s 2.5-year jail sentence, just 29% say it was unfair, new poll reveals

Iran hails ‘constructive’ nuclear deal talks but dismisses offer of $1bn asset release to halt uranium enrichment

Iran has rejected US proposals to suspend its 20% uranium enrichment in return for unfreezing $1 billion of its assets, Tehran’s chief negotiator has said, after a first round of talks to reinstate the 2015 nuclear deal. … Read More >Iran hails ‘constructive’ nuclear deal talks but dismisses offer of $1bn asset release to halt uranium enrichment

‘Opportunity should not be wasted’: Iran envoy urges US follow through on Biden pledge as indirect nuclear deal talks kick off

Indirect talks have begun in Vienna between Iran and the US in an attempt to restart the 2015 nuclear deal and find a mutually agreeable path forward after months of increased tensions between the two states. … Read More >‘Opportunity should not be wasted’: Iran envoy urges US follow through on Biden pledge as indirect nuclear deal talks kick off