American-Russian alliance. Ukraine denies reports of missile cooperation with U.S.

Ukraine denies reports of missile cooperation with U.S.

11:39 AM (MSK) January 31, 2007

Ukraine's defense minister did not discuss possible cooperation with the United States in missile technologies and anti-missile defense systems, the ministry said Tuesday. Some media sources published statements earlier made by Sergei Markov, the director of Moscow's Political Research Institute, saying Ukraine's defense minister had approached the United States to discuss possible missile cooperation.

"The statement does not correspond to reality," the ministry said. "There were no statements on behalf of Defense Minister Anatoly Hrytsenko on initiatives for cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the sphere of missile technologies and anti missile defense systems."

Ukraine's prime minister, speaking at a news conference in the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv, said the United States had never proposed that Ukraine deploy an anti-missile defense system on its territory.

"I haven't heard of such an issue. As far as I know, it doesn't exist," Viktor Yanukovych said.

Washington officially proposed placing a radar network in the Czech Republic two weeks ago, and announced plans last week to start formal talks with Poland on the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems on its territory.

10:37 AM (MSK) February 3, 2012

UN diplomats fail to agree on Syria, leaving talks in limbo

Diplomats failed Thursday to reach agreement on a U.N. resolution aimed at ending the bloodshed in Syria, leaving discussions in limbo pending consultations with their home governments.

10:32 AM (MSK) February 3, 2012

At Moscow Rally, Fighting the Cold and the Kremlin

Like most of those bold enough to have tried a winter assault on the Kremlin, the leaders of Russia 's budding protest movement will face a challenge at its next rally that is perhaps far greater than any government force: the weather.

10:19 AM (MSK) February 3, 2012

U.S. Ends Ban on Aid to Uzbekistan

The Obama administration waived a ban on military assistance to Uzbekistan in a move to bolster ties with a nation that is part of a vital supply line to Afghanistan, but was cut off from aid because of alleged human-rights violations.

02:49 PM (MSK) February 2, 2012

Putin Concedes He May Not Win in 1st Round

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday acknowledged that he may not win the presidency in the first round of voting, though he also said that a second round of voting would lead to political turbulence.

02:38 PM (MSK) February 2, 2012

Russia Joins OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, Bans Bribes Abroad

Russia's president signed into law a ban on bribing foreign officials, marking a major step in the country's efforts to stamp out corruption.

02:16 PM (MSK) February 2, 2012

Putin says he may face runoff in Russia's election

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he could face a runoff in the March presidential vote, his first acknowledgement that he may fail to muster enough support for an outright victory.

02:13 PM (MSK) February 1, 2012

Clinton Snubbed by Russian Counterpart

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is a hard man to reach these days-especially if you're Hillary Clinton.

01:44 PM (MSK) February 1, 2012

Russia Faces Heat Over Syria

Top Arab and Western diplomats on Tuesday delivered stinging appeals for a swift end to Syria's deepening bloodshed, a procession of entreaties aimed at an audience that was unnamed but broadly understood-Russia.

01:53 PM (MSK) January 31, 2012

Russia Says Syria Has Agreed to Talks

Russia announced on Monday that it had convinced Bashar al-Assad 's government in Syria to start informal negotiations in Moscow with representatives of the opposition in an effort to end a bloody uprising that has left thousands dead.

12:08 PM (MSK) January 31, 2012

Russia's Syrian Power Play

Russia has been steadfast in its diplomatic support for the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even as Assad becomes ever more isolated within the Arab League and the international community.

Geopolitics

Vladimir Putin's new campaign strategy: Vilify the United States

Joel Brinkley

Listening to Vladimir Putin trying to salvage his career as his base of support seems to be crumbling around him, the Russian prime minister sounds more and more like all of those Arab dictators just before their own people turned on them in angry revolt.

'Stability is something that can only be achieved through hard work, by being open to change and ready for long-overdue, well-planned and well-calculated reforms,' Putin declared in an online campaign essay this month.

So said Syrian President Bashar Assad almost exactly a year ago, just before his own country dissolved into protest, chaos and slaughter.

Security

Vladimir Putin's new campaign strategy: Vilify the United States

Joel Brinkley

So said Syrian President Bashar Assad almost exactly a year ago, just before his own country dissolved into protest, chaos and slaughter.

Business

Russian GDP: celebrate cautiously

Keyur Patel

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Russia released a preliminary estimate for 2011 GDP growth on Tuesday - and at 4.3 per cent, it looks pretty healthy. The figure crept ahead of analyst expectations, buoyed by a strong recovery in consumer demand over the year, while 2010 growth was revised upwards, also to 4.3 per cent. Renaissance Capital was cautiously bullish, calling the forecast 'reason for a (modest) celebration'.

::News

Ukraine denies reports of missile cooperation with U.S.