Contents tagged with USA

  • Congress adopts ban on providing funds for bilateral military cooperation with Russia

    The US House of Representatives adopted a draft defense budget for 2017. The document, published on the Congress’s website, establishes a ban on providing funds for bilateral military cooperation between the US and Russia.

    In particular, the document states that it is prohibited to allocate funds for military cooperation between the two countries unless the Pentagon can assure Congress that Russia "has stopped the occupation of the territory of Ukraine and its aggressive actions that threaten …

  • Poland to purchase 70 long-range JASSM-ER cruise missiles

    On 28 November, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the U.S. Congress on the pending sale of 70 Lockheed Martin AGM-158B JASSM-ERs (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles Extended Range) missiles to Poland. The estimated cost of delivery is $200 million. The delivery will also include several training missiles, as well as training missile guidance and training systems.

    The JASSM-ER missiles will be integrated into the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft of the …

  • US Congresses passes bill restricting the movement of Russian diplomats in the country

    The US House of Representatives passed a bill that restricts the movement of Russian diplomats in the country.

    The author of the initiative is the chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Devin Nunes. It has been reported that 371 congressmen voted in favor of this bill, and 35 voted against it.

    According to the bill, "Accredited diplomatic and consular personnel of the Russian Federation in the United States will not be allowed to travel further than 25 …

  • US Congress passes bill on combating Russia's interference throughout the world

    The US House of Representatives approved a bill of directions concerning American Intelligence activity with the aim of resisting Moscow’s political interference throughout the world. On Wednesday, November 30th, 390 representatives voted in favor of the adoption of a document that defines national security threats, and about 30 voted against it.

    The bill contains a proposal to create an inter-ministerial committee, whose task will be to deter Russian attempts to "exert hidden influence on …

  • Russian MFA: Moscow has discussed Syria with 'those who will influence Washington' during Trump's presidency

    The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Ryabkov, has said that Moscow discusses the Syrian issue with those who will influence Washington during the course of the leadership of the new Presidential Administration of the United States.

    “We discuss the Syrian issue because it is a key issue with those who will probably influence Washington under the leadership of a new administration. However, this doesn’t mean that those people are from the inner circle of the President- …

  • Estonian President: Trump should support the Baltic States

    According to the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, the stability of Estonia is a prerequisite for the stability of all countries of the North Atlantic alliance.

    "We have been helping to strengthen security in other world regions – in Afghanistan, Iraq, and today in Lebanon together with our Finnish partners, as part of UN missions all over the world for the last 20 years. We contributed to the security system based on shared values. And, we believe, it is absolutely clear – if there are …

  • CIA Director blamed Assad and Russia for civilian deaths in Syria

    The director of the CIA, John Brennan, said in a BBC interview that the US should continue to assist the moderate Syrian opposition, which opposes government troops, the Iranian and Russian militaries, and Lebanese militants of the Hezbollah movement. In his opinion, Russia plays a key role in the Syrian conflict, however, he is not certain that Moscow will negotiate and make concessions. The head of the CIA believes that the Kremlin is pursuing a strategy of delaying negotiations in an effort …

  • Kerry: The US prevented the Kremlin from 'reaching Kyiv'

    As the US Secretary of State, John Kerry stated during the conference “Women's Foreign Policy Group”, it was US support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia that prevented the Kremlin from "reaching Kyiv." Further, the US Embassy in Ukraine quoted Kerry’s Statement on its Facebook page according to which Kerry argued that, "We are unwavering in support of a democratic Ukraine, and those who complain, have to look at the reality: our sanctions, our involvement, our support of Ukraine …

  • US Congress will provide $350 million for military assistance to Ukraine

    The U.S. Congress intends to allocate $350 million in the next fiscal year for military assistance to Ukraine. This amount has already been incorporated into the draft defense budget, as reported to TASS on Tuesday by a representative of the Armed Services Committee.

    "$350 million has been allocated for Ukraine. These funds could be used to provide military assistance," he said. At the same time, the representative of the committee stated that the decision on how to use these funds will be …

  • The Pentagon reiterated that it has no intention of cooperating with Russia in the fight against terrorists in Syria

    The press secretary of the US Department of Defense, Peter Cook, stated at the regular briefing for journalists that the United States has no intention of cooperating with Russia in airstrikes on terrorist positions in Syria. “Currently, we have no intention to cooperate with Russia in this direction,” Peter Cook noted, speaking about joint airstrikes on militants.

    Representatives of the US administration previously stated that such operations are impossible after the suspension of agreements …