Tag: Vladimir Putin

With US focused on vote, Russia takes advantage in Syria

by Ivan Couronne / Dave Clark WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — With Barack Obama’s presidency coming to a close and US policy for Syria at an impasse, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has stepped up efforts to secure its ally Bashar al-Assad in power. US officials fear the Kremlin is racing to consolidate its gains in Syria before a new, possibly tougher administration takes charge, but there is little sign of a clear new policy emerging. On […]

Clinton hammers ‘dangerous’ Trump after Putin praise

by Jerome CARTILLIER with Michael MATHES in Washington CHARLOTTE, United States (AFP) — Hillary Clinton portrayed herself Thursday as a steely stateswoman ready to fend off the dangers facing the United States, as she denounced Republican rival Donald Trump as “unpatriotic” and unfit to lead. With just 61 days before America chooses a new commander in chief, the Democrat went on the offensive highlighting the risk of electing a political novice who praises Russia’s leader […]

Obama says Trump not qualified to be president

VIENTIANE, Laos (AFP) — Outgoing President Barack Obama condemned Donald Trump as unsuitable to be commander-in-chief Thursday, after the Republican nominee blasted US military brass and praised Vladimir Putin. “I don’t think the guy’s qualified to be president of the United States, and every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed,” Obama said in unusually caustic language while overseas. Obama, who was in Laos for a summit with South East Asia leaders and his final […]

Syria talks intrude as G20 tackles global economy

by Sarah STEWART HANGZHOU, China (AFP) — G20 leaders met Monday under pressure to reboot the world economy, but a stumbling push for a Syria ceasefire and Asia’s heated territorial disputes intruded on the summit in Hangzhou. There had been hopes of a breakthrough in stemming the Syria conflict after the US said it was close to a deal with Russia. But frantic diplomacy ended in failure, with Moscow accused of backtracking. A US official […]

Obama meets Putin on G20 sidelines: White House

HANGZHOU, China (AFP) — Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin met Monday on the margins of the G20 summit in China, the White House said, hours after their diplomats failed to reach a deal on Syria. “The President is taking part in a pull-aside with President Putin of Russia,” said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price. “We expect to provide additional details of their discussion later today.” © 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

G20 offers Putin one more stab at Obama on Syria, Ukraine

by Maria PANINA MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The G20 summit starting in China on Sunday gives Russian President Vladimir Putin one more chance to try to strongarm US leader Barack Obama over Syria and Ukraine as their fraught relationship nears an end. In recent years the two world leaders have barely been able to hide their disdain for each other as ties between Washington and Moscow fell to their lowest level since the Cold War […]

Putin hints at war in Ukraine but may be seeking diplomatic edge

  (REUTERS)   Ukraine says it thinks Vladimir Putin is planning a new invasion, and it’s not hard to see why: the Russian leader has built up troops on its border and resumed the hostile rhetoric that preceded his annexation of Crimea two years ago. But despite appearances, some experts say Putin is more likely seeking advantage through diplomacy than on the battlefield, at least this time around. “It’s about sanctions,” Andrey Kortunov, director general of […]

Clinton, Trump spar over Islamic State claim, economy

by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Hillary Clinton admonished Donald Trump on Thursday for claiming she and President Barack Obama were the founders of the Islamic State group, as the White House rivals also clashed on plans to improve the US economy. “No, Barack Obama is not the founder of ISIS,” Clinton tweeted as she accused her 2016 election rival of a “smear” against the president. “Anyone willing to sink so low, so […]

Obama: not confident U.S. can trust Russia’s Putin in Syria

  VIRGINIA, United States (Reuters) — U.S. President Barack Obama said Russia’s and Syria’s most recent actions have raised doubts about their commitment to a pause in the conflict Syria, where the United States is exploring options to cooperate with Russia militarily to defeat Islamic State. “I’m not confident that we can trust the Russians or Vladimir Putin, which is why we have to test whether or not we can get an actual cessation of […]

Putin says accepts U.S. is sole superpower, dilutes Trump praise

  (REUTERS) President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he accepted the United States was probably still the world’s sole superpower and he was ready to work with whoever won the presidency, but didn’t want to be told how to live by Americans. Putin’s comments follow a rocky period in U.S.-Russia relations, which have been undermined by disagreements over issues such as Ukraine and Syria. Putin reiterated criticism of what he said was the misguided role […]

Russia to halt free-trade agreements with Ukraine in 2016

Russia will cease free-trade agreements with Ukraine within the Commonwealth of Independent States framework on Jan 1, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an annual conference in Moscow on Thursday. Putin expressed regret over the deterioration of Russia-Ukraine economic and trade relations. He said that Russia was not imposing sanctions against Ukraine but adopting a system favorable to the Russian business industry. Therefore, Ukraine would no longer enjoy any preferential treatment. “In practice, it […]

Putin says United States will never ‘subdue’ Russia

(Reuters) – The United States wants to subdue Moscow, but will never succeed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. “They do not want to humiliate us, they want to subdue us, solve their problems at our expense,” Putin said at the end of a four-hour meeting with his core support group, the People’s Front. “No one in history ever managed to achieve this with Russia, and no one ever will,” he said, triggering a wave […]