Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the bilateral relations with Russia in a New Year’s message to President Vladimir Putin, saying the two set new trade records and stepped up their game in the fields of energy and space. Beijing remains committed to the long-standing friendship and “win-win cooperation” with Russia, …
Read More »War or uneasy peace? What 2022 heralds for US-China relations
As 2021 comes to a close and Joe Biden edges towards one year in office, there’s one thing clear already: contrary to hopes and wishes, there’s been no reversal in the confrontational foreign policy the Trump administration set towards China, even if it has been less erratic in its presentation. …
Read More »‘State sponsor of terrorism’ threat will undermine relations with US – top Russian senator
“This initiative will undermine dialogue between Russia and the US if it’s adopted,” Sergey Tsekov, who sits in the upper house of Russia’s parliament, told RIA Novosti on Thursday. “It is characteristic of a certain strand of the American political elite.” Tsekov, a member of the ruling United Russia party, claimed …
Read More »Finnish leader explains what’s important in relations with Russia
“With the Russians, the most important thing is not to undermine relations and not to ignore them,” the Finnish leader explained in an interview published by The Sunday Times over the weekend. He gave the example of the former mayor of the Finnish city of Turku, who, he said, met …
Read More »China’s Xi outlines vision for relations with US in 1st virtual sit-down with Biden
The two leaders sat down for virtual talks on Monday to discuss a range of issues, with both Xi and Biden opening the meeting on a cordial note. Calling his US counterpart an “old friend,” Xi argued that a “healthy and stable” relationship is needed to address global challenges like …
Read More »It’s up to Washington to rescue rock bottom relations with Russia, Moscow insists after US envoy visit
In a statement issued on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said there were hopes to rescue struggling bilateral ties after US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland visited Moscow last month for talks. According to Zakharova, Nuland has a “specific task” to solve the impasse over travel permits, which …
Read More »Top Russian security chief met with CIA director Burns amid worsening relations
The brief statement, issued by the National Security Council to the media on Tuesday, mentioned neither any details from the meeting, nor when it exactly took place. A short photoshoot at the start of the meeting showed the two security officials greet each other with a nod of the head. …
Read More »IDF strike on AP tower during Gaza conflict was ‘self-inflicted public relations terror attack,’ former Israeli general says
The 12-story Al-Jalaa tower in Gaza City was brought down on May 15 during an 11-day flare-up between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the building that housed the offices of US news agency AP, Al Jazeera and other international media had been …
Read More »Strained relations between US & Russia could soon be on mend, Moscow says, despite key meeting with Biden’s envoy breaking down
On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the US had “taken stock” of a number of outstanding issues between Russia and the US, and that there was now an understanding of the stickiest issues hindering the countries’ bilateral relations. “Of course, no one expected that some enchanting event would …
Read More »Taliban calls for improved ‘diplomatic relations’ with US after ‘candid talks’ in Doha, welcomes humanitarian aid
In a statement released in the wake of two-day talks with US officials in Doha, Qatar, the Taliban said that the US promised to “give humanitarian assistance to Afghans” and “provide facilities for other humanitarian organizations to deliver aid.” While saying that it “welcomes” the aid, the Taliban stressed that …
Read More »