Russia, Syria, Lebanon blast Trump’s Golan Heights recognition
Russia, Syria, and Lebanon on Monday criticized the United States for recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.
Russia
Russian military planes carrying troops and Moscow defense official land in Venezuela
Two Russian air force planes arrived in Venezuela over the weekend, carrying about 100 troops and nearly 40 tons of cargo.
Mueller report summary released, showing no proof Trump team conspired with Russia
Attorney General William Barr on Sunday released the “principal conclusions” of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s completed Russia probe in a bombshell four-page letter to Capitol Hill lawmakers, which stated definitively that Mueller did not establish evidence that President Trump’s team or any associates of the Trump campaign had conspired with Russia to sway the 2016 election — ‘despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign.’
Mueller report is blow to U.S. Democrats’ plans to probe Trump
Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s conclusion that U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign did not collude with Russia in the 2016 election is a serious blow to Democrats who had hoped Mueller’s report would boost their own wide-ranging probes into Trump’s business dealings.
U.S. Concerned Sale of American Warplanes to Turkey Could Boost Russian Intel Ops
The Pentagon is urging caution surrounding a contested military deal with Turkey that would see it purchase several American-made F-35 warplanes that U.S. officials fear could be exploited for intelligence purposes by Russia, which has parallel military deals with Turkey.
Syria, Russia and Iran condemn US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan
Syria and its allies Russia and Iran on Friday condemned US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which the Jewish state captured from its northern neighbor in the 1967 Six Day War.
Putin Kicks Off Massive New Gas Field in Russia’s Arctic
President Vladimir Putin has kicked off the full-scale development of one of Russia’s largest proven gas fields in the Yamal peninsula, the Kremlin reported on Wednesday.
Putin Signs ‘Fake News,’ ‘Internet Insults’ Bills Into Law
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial set of bills that make it a crime to ‘disrespect’ the state and spread ‘fake news’ online, Russian media reported on Monday.
Construction of new Iranian nuclear plants going well, atomic chief says
Construction of two new nuclear plants in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only current working nuclear power station, is on schedule and going to plan, the Islamic Republic’s atomic chief said on Monday.
Pentagon Wants to Test A Space-Based Weapon in 2023
Defense officials want to test a neutral particle-beam in orbit in fiscal 2023 as part of a ramped-up effort to explore various types of space-based weaponry. They’ve asked for $304 million in the 2020 budget to develop such beams, more powerful lasers, and other new tech for next-generation missile defense. Such weapons are needed, they say, to counter new missiles from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. But just figuring out what might work is a difficult technical challenge.
US, Russia to hold talks on Venezuela in Rome
U.S. and Russian officials are meeting in Rome this week to discuss the crisis in Venezuela.
Iran Building Two New Nuclear Plants
Iranian leaders announced on Monday the construction of two new nuclear plants, and it remains unclear if the Trump administration views this as crossing a red line since its abandonment of the landmark nuclear deal, which included provisions permitting Iran to work on heavy water nuclear reactors that could provide a plutonium-based pathway to a bomb.
Russia Vows To Respond To Fresh EU Sanctions
The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced Moscow will respond to fresh sanction action by the European Union.
With 420-0 vote, House calls for release of Mueller report
The House voted unanimously Thursday on a resolution that urges special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia report to be made public.
Turkey says it is discussing Syria offensive with Russia, U.S.
Turkey is discussing with Russia and the United States a potential military offensive in a region of northeast Syria controlled by Kurdish fighters, a Turkish defense official was cited as saying by state media on Tuesday.
Russian defense ministry boasts about revived military power
Russia’s defense minister says the military has commissioned more than 1,000 new aircraft and thousands of tanks in the past few years.
Russian FM: Once INF Treaty Is Gone, We Can Deploy Missiles Wherever the US Does
Russia reserves the right to deploy missiles in any part of the world in response to new U.S. missile deployments once the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty is terminated, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.
Erdogan Says No Intention Of Backing Out Of S-400 Missile Deal With Russia
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country is determined to go through with a deal to purchase S-400 missile-defense systems from Russia, despite opposition from Washington.
Top US general in Europe seeks more troops, warships to counter Russia
The top U.S. military commander in Europe warned Tuesday of a growing Russian threat and is calling for more troops, warships and aircraft, saying he’s ‘not comfortable yet with the deterrent posture’ of the American troop presence.
Russian military, modernizing quickly, plans to sell missile system to Turkey: U.S. commander
A top U.S. commander has warned that Russia’s military is modernizing quickly, and that a possible weapons deal with Turkey could put the United States in danger.