The US military, which abandoned its bases in Syria when Turkey’s “Operation Peace Spring” began, has started to return and has already retaken six military bases in north-eastern Syria, the Anadolu news agency reports. The American military contingent is being reinforced in the region bordering with Turkey and Iraq and in regions with oil fields.

In the Al-Hasakah Governorate in north-eastern Syria, US troops hold five bases and outposts, and are setting up two outposts in the town of …

Vladimir Tsemakh, a suspect in the case surrounding the Malaysia Airlines flight that was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, has submitted a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Ukraine and the Netherlands based on the actions of these countries’ law enforcement agencies.

“I have submitted a complaint to the ECHR in Tsemakh’s interests. I don’t have more information yet, we are awaiting further developments,” said his attorney, Anatoly Kucherena, as cited by the …

On December 18, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Valery Gerasimov, met with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of the US Army Mark A. Milley in Bern, RIA Novosti reported, citing Russian Defense Ministry.

The military commanders of the two countries discussed strategic stability, the situation in Syria and other regions, as well as measures to prevent incidents during military activities of the parties.

"The meeting was constructive," reports …

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke against the sanctions that the United States intends to impose on the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, reports Focus.de news outlet.

Merkel said she sees no other solution to this issue than to discuss sanctions.

"I would like to note that negotiations on a gas contract with Ukraine are continuing," said Merkel.

The United States is trying to increase pressure on Germany by imposing sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project.

On December 17, the US …

An article has appeared in the Chinese press which claims that the companies Tianjiao Aviation Industry Investment Co (Skyrizon Aircraft) and Xinwei Group (both Chinese) will be acquiring a controlling package of shares in the Ukrainian engine manufacturer Motor Sich.

The deal will involve a package of shares worth around $250 million, the amount that the Chinese firms will “invest” in the factory over the next two years.

Initially Ukraine did not comment on such statements published in the …

Belarus has signed an agreement to borrow 3.5 billion yuan (around $500 million) from China, announced the Belarusian Finance Ministry.

The 5-year loan will be provided by the Shanghai branch of the China Development Bank. The loan is not tied to any particular project, and can be used for general purposes, including the servicing of government debt, supporting Belarus’s foreign currency reserves, and facilitating the development of bilateral trade.

This is an “unprecedented” deal for Belarus, …

During a briefing with military attaches from foreign countries, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov said that Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets have passed the second stage of tests in Syria, reports the newspaper of the Russian Defense Ministry Krasnaya Zvezda.

"Tests of the fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft are continuing. They were re-tested in Syria, and all the planned tasks have been completed," said Chief of the General Staff.

He noted that …

In Crimea, between the towns of Foros and Yalta, construction work is underway on state dachas (“country homes”) number 6 and 8, which are now called “Putin’s dachas”, the Russian news outlet Proekt reports.

According to the Russian journalists, over the last few years, a six-meter stone wall has been erected around the dachas, with surveillance cameras, and the area on Crimea’s southern coast where the cottages are situated is guarded by armed men.

The most unusual object in the area is a …