Jim Heintz, The Associated Press

  • U.S. military convoy drives near the town of Qamishli, north Syria, Saturday, Oct. 26. 2019. (Baderkhan Ahmad/AP)
    Russia calls US move to protect Syrian oil ‘banditry’

    Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday harshly criticized the United States decision to send armored vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to protect oil fields, calling it “banditry.”

  • Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners freed by Russia greet them upon their arrival at Boryspil airport, outside Kyiv, on Saturday. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
    Russia and Ukraine swap prisoners

    Among those Russia returned was Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, whose conviction for preparing terrorist attacks was strongly denounced abroad, and 24 Ukrainian sailors taken with a ship Russian forces seized last year.

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, second left, greet each other prior to their talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, southern Russia, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Pompeo arrived in Russia for talks that are expected to focus on an array of issues including arms control and Iran. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
    At odds on many fronts, US and Russia hope for better ties

    Russia and the United States voiced hope Tuesday that badly strained relations could begin to improve despite wide differences on multiple fronts and deep mutual suspicion deepened by Russian meddling in American elections.

  • This undated photo provided by the Whelan family shows Paul Whelan in Iceland. Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran arrested in Russia on espionage charges, was visiting Moscow over the holidays to attend a wedding when he suddenly disappeared, his brother said Jan. 1. (Whelan Family via AP)
    Brother questions why Marine vet being held by Russia

    The brother of an American man being held in Moscow on suspicion of spying is raising the possibility that his sibling is being used as a pawn in a potential exchange for a Russian woman behind bars in the U.S.

  • National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks during an Oct. 3, 2018, news briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
    Bolton faces tense talks with Russia over nuclear treaty

    U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton faces two days of high-tension talks in Moscow beginning Monday after President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from a landmark nuclear weapons treaty.

  • Syrian rebel fighters prepare weapons in the Syrian village of al-Zakat in the northern countryside of Hama province on Sept. 17, 2018. Residents of Idlib province and surrounding areas have been bracing themselves for a Russian-backed government offensive on the country's largest remaining rebel-held zone. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)
    Russia, Turkey to create demilitarized zone for Syria’s Idlib

    The leaders of Russia and Turkey agreed Monday to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria’s Idlib region, the last major stronghold of anti-government rebels where fears had been running high of a devastating offensive by government forces.

  • A T-14 Armata tank rides through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2017. Russia marks the 72nd anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. / AFP PHOTO / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)
    On Victory Day, Putin calls for international unity

    Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday told the annual Victory Day parade on Red Square that the horrors of World War II demonstrate the necessity of countries working together to prevent war.

  • Russia, Turkey agree to support safe-zones in Syria

    The presidents of Russia and Turkey said on Wednesday they support the creation of safe-zones in war-torn Syria as a delegation of Syrian rebels walked out of cease-fire talks with the Damascus government underway in Kazakhstan, citing repeated violations of a similar truce agreed on in December.

  • Heavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine

    Freezing and nerve-shattered residents of an eastern Ukraine town battered by an upsurge in fighting between troops and Russia-backed rebels flocked to a humanitarian aid center Wednesday to receive food and warm up.