EU leaders have threatened Russia with sanctions, which could include visa bans, asset freezes and various economic restrictions unless it engages in direct talks with the coup-appointed Ukrainian government. As a first step, the EU has halted G8 summit preparations and visa-free talks with Russia. The European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, on Thursday warned that if Moscow does not manage... 

Despite the fact that the weakening of the ruble has been predicted since late 2013, the rapid devaluation of the Russian currency is now associated with political instability in Ukraine. Pravda.Ru asked experts whether the Ukrainian revolution and instability adversely affected the ruble and whether we should fear further deterioration of the situation in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the year... 

A Russian official says potential sanctions by Washington against Moscow would lead to the “crash” of the US financial system and end its global financial domination. Kremlin economic aide Sergei Glazyev said on Tuesday that Russia will reduce its economic dependency on the United States if Washington decides to impose sanctions against Moscow over the issue of Ukraine. “We would find a way... 

Russian-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom has threatened to disrupt gas supplies to Europe following warnings by John Kerry and others that harsh economic sanctions could be imposed on Moscow, as the Ukraine crisis threatens to spiral into a trade war. “Simmering political tensions in Ukraine, that are aggravated by inadequate economic conditions, may cause disruptions of gas supplies to Europe,”... 

The US has suspended forthcoming trade and investment talks with Russia over situation in Ukraine, according to a US official. In addition, the Pentagon announced that the US has also suspended all joint “military engagements” with Russia. “We have suspended upcoming bilateral trade and investment engagement with the government of Russia that were part of a move toward deeper commercial... 

The United States has warned Russia that it would hold the Kremlin “directly responsible” if it has threatened use of force against Ukrainian military. “Reports of an ultimatum, if true, constitute a dangerous escalation of the situation for which we would hold Russia directly responsible,” US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday. She made the warning after reports said Moscow... 

US President Barack Obama has threatened Russia with sanctions as tensions between the two countries heats up over Ukraine. “The strong condemnation that Russian has received around the world indicates the degree to which Russia is on the wrong side of history,” Obama told reporters on Monday. “There are two paths that Russia can take at this point. Actions on the ground in Crimea are deeply... 

The US Secretary of State spoke today of the unacceptability of invading a sovereign country on phony pretexts in order to assert one’s own interests in the 21st century. But no, he was not speaking about the United States, as one might have thought. “You just don’t invade another country on phony pretext in order to assert your interests,” John Kerry said during an interview with NBC’s... 

On Sunday Republicans mounted attacks against President Obama over what they consider his inappropriate response to the crisis in Ukraine. Rep. Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told Fox News Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russians have “been running circles around us.” “Putin is playing chess, and I think we are playing marbles — and I don’t think... 

American exceptionalism has gone into overdrive with stern warnings from US President Barack Obama to Russia to respect Ukrainian sovereignty and to not destabilize the region. By “American exceptionalism” we mean Washington’s seemingly unlimited capacity for exceptional arrogance and double think. Obama has not yet accused Russia outright of “military invasion” in the... 

The Ukrainian army has been put on a combat alert as the interim president says any Russia’s military intervention will lead to a war in the crisis-hit country. Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr Turchynov made the announcement on Saturday after meeting with the country’s security and defense chiefs. Turchynov warned Russia against military intervention, saying such a move could lead to a... 

Russia’s Federation Council has unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin’s request to use Russian military forces in Ukraine. The move is aimed to settle the turmoil in the split country. The upper house of the Russian parliament has voted in favor of sending troops to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which would ensure peace and order in the region “until the socio-political situation... 

Shortly after the US warned Russia over its “provocative actions” with regard Ukraine… *KERRY: RUSSIA MILITARY MOVE ON UKRAINE WOULD BE GRAVE MISTAKE RiaNovosti reports defense minister Sergei Shoigu saying Russia plans “to expand permanent military presence outside its borders by placing military bases in a number of foreign countries,” including Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua,... 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an urgent drill to test the combat readiness of the country’s armed forces across western Russia, including the border area towards Ukraine, as if what Russia did to Ukraine in the 30’s during the Holodomor, plus Soviet occupation until 1991 wasn’t enough for the poor Ukrainians. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Putin ordered... 

A militant fires towards government forces during clashes in Sheikh Najar area of the Syrian city of Aleppo. Russia has raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s plans to provide the militants in Syria with advanced arms. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it is worried about reports that Riyadh is seeking to arm the foreign-backed militants in Syria with man-portable...