Tag: Russia

Russian diamond giant to review production after accident

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russian diamond giant Alrosa will review its annual production plan after an accident at a key mine, the company said Sunday as a search went on for eight missing workers. “A review of the company’s production parameters will be conducted by August 19… as a result of the accident,” Alrosa president Sergei Ivanov said, in remarks distributed by the company. On Friday water broke into the Mir mine in the Sakha […]

Russia’s diamond giant says mine flooded with 150 inside

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s diamond giant Alrosa said Friday that one of its mines in eastern Siberia has suffered flooding with around 150 miners inside. Alrosa, Russia’s largest diamond producer, said in a statement on its website that water had broken through into the mine at around 4:30 pm (0730 GMT), while there were “more than 100 people” inside. The company later increased the figure to 148 in statements to Russian news wires. It […]

US ‘reviewing options’ after Putin orders embassy cuts

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Washington is reviewing its options after the Kremlin ordered it to shrink its diplomatic mission in Russia, and President Donald Trump still intends to sign new sanctions into law. Questioned by reporters Monday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders had only a low-key response to President Vladimir Putin’s extraordinary demand that the embassy cut its local and American staff by 755. A State Department official has anonymously called the weekend’s […]

Russian decision on embassy staff ‘regrettable:’ US official

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States decries as “regrettable” Russia’s decision to cut 755 diplomatic staff, and is now weighing its options, a State Department official said Sunday. “This is a regrettable and uncalled for act,” the official said. “We are assessing the impact of such a limitation and how we will respond to it.” © Agence France-Presse

US to cut 755 US diplomatic staff in Russia, says Putin

by Maria PANINA Agence France Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said the United States would have to cut 755 diplomatic staff in Russia and warned of a prolonged gridlock in its ties after the US Congress backed new sanctions against the Kremlin. Putin added bluntly that Russia was able to raise the stakes with America even further, although he hoped this would be unnecessary. On Friday, the Russian foreign ministry […]

Russia orders US to cut diplomats in response to sanctions

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s foreign ministry on Friday announced counter measures in response to tough new sanctions proposed by the United States, ordering Washington to reduce its diplomatic staff. Moscow ordered the US to reduce its diplomatic presence in Russia to 455 diplomats and staff and also barred it from using a Moscow summer house and storage facility. The ministry said that this was in response to the passing of a new bill on […]

Russia ready to work with non-NATO states that border the Baltic – Putin

SAVONLINNA, Finland (Reuters) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (July 27) that Russia was ready to cooperate with neutral countries that bordered the Baltic Sea like Finland which is not part of the NATO military alliance. Speaking on an official visit to Finland, Putin said an ongoing joint naval exercise with China in the Baltic Sea was a threat to nobody. Putin, speaking at a news conference with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, […]

US Senate passes Russia sanctions, sends bill to Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States Senate on Thursday passed bipartisan sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea, sending the package to President Donald Trump, who must decide whether to accept the tough approach to Moscow or veto the measure. The sanctions, which were approved on a 98-2 Senate vote and overwhelmingly passed the House on Tuesday, are sure to antagonize the Kremlin as well as European nations fearing their companies will be […]

Moscow, EU hit out at US after lawmakers’ vote for new Russia sanctions

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Moscow and the European Union hit out at the United States on Wednesday after an overwhelming vote by the House of Representatives to impose new sanctions on Russia left President Donald Trump facing a tough call. The package, which targets Russia, Iran and North Korea, “tightens the screws on our most dangerous adversaries in order to keep Americans safe,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said after it passed on Tuesday by 419 votes to three. […]

Russia says US sanctions vote ‘step towards destroying’ better ties

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — An overwhelming vote by the United States House of Representatives to slap tough new sanctions on Moscow is a “serious step” towards wrecking chances of improving ties, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Wednesday. “The authors and sponsors of this bill are taking a very serious step towards destroying the possibilities for normalizing relations with Russia,” Sergei Ryabkov told state-run TASS news agency. © Agence France-Presse

Russia deploys forces to police Syria safe zones

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia has deployed military police to monitor two safe zones being established in Syria, it was announced on Monday, with officials touting it as a new era of United States cooperation. Senior commander Sergei Rudskoi said Russian forces had set up checkpoints and observation posts around a zone in the south-west and in another covering Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus. The two areas are part of a broader Moscow-backed plan to create […]

Russia backs bill to strip ‘terrorists’ of citizenship

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russian MPs on Wednesday passed a law to strip naturalized citizens of passports for offenses classed as “terrorism” following a deadly April suicide bombing in the Saint Petersburg metro. The lower house of parliament passed the bill in its final third reading. It now goes through the senate and to President Vladimir Putin for a final signature. Putin called for such a law after the April 3 attack in the […]