• The US freezes Open Skies Treaty with Russia

    Paragraph 1242 of the Defense Bill, approved by the US Congress and signed by President Donald Trump, stipulates the refusal to allocate money for financing the Open Skies Treaty.  

    It is indicated in the Defense Bill that the funds cannot be used in 2019 to carry out observation flights. It is noted that the restriction can be lifted if the US president presents the corresponding committee of the Congress a certificate confirming the fulfillment of the agreement terms by Russia.

    The document …

  • US court refuses to dismiss the case against company owned by Putin's associate

    On Monday, the District Court of Columbia (DC) refused to dismiss the case against the Russian company Concord Management and Consulting, which is accused of financing a propaganda operation designed to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in favour of Donald Trump. The court considered that the special prosecutor Robert Muller did not exceed his power. Concord Management and Consulting petitioned for the closure of the case, insisting that the special prosecutor Müller was …

  • Merkel to discuss Ukraine and Nord Stream 2 with Putin in Germany

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Schloss Meseberg on August 18, the federal government announced. Merkel will discuss “current foreign policy issues” with Putin, including the Syrian conflict, the situation in eastern Ukraine, and issues in the energy sector, particularly the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will transport gas directly from Russia to Germany.

    “Next Saturday, on August 18, the chancellor and government representatives will …

  • Iran introduces next generation ballistic missile

    On Monday, August 13th, the Iranian military introduced a ballistic missile of a new generation named Fateh. “Nothing will stop this missile,” reports the Tasnim agency, quoting the Iranian Minister of Defense Amir Khatami.

    Khatami noted that the new short-range ballistic missile was “100 percent manufactured in Iran.” The missile’s technical specifications are not disclosed, but, according to the head of the Ministry of Defense, the missile has “maneuverability” and “high targeting accuracy.” …

  • Kremlin: Russia might stop using US dollars in oil trade

    Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov did not rule out the possibility of using national currencies instead of the US dollar, he said on Sunday, August 12 on Russian TV. "We should build our policy considering the possible risks that arise from the actions of our American partners,” he stressed.

    The First Deputy Prime Minister also said that Moscow has significantly reduced investments in American assets and gold and foreign currency reserves and will continue this policy in the future. At …