December 20, 2015 Obama warns sanctions against Russia are 'teed up' as tension builds in Ukraine President Obama said Thursday that new sanctions targeting Russia are "teed up" in the wake of a fresh warning by the Russian foreign minister that attacks on Russian interests in Ukraine would bring a firm response.
December 20, 2015 Obama calls for peaceful end to China-Japan island dispute President Obama says he wants to see a dispute between China and Japan over islands in the East China Sea resolved peacefully.
December 20, 2015 Hillary Clinton calls for tighter sanctions on Russia Hillary Clinton said Wednesday she believes the outcome of the standoff in Ukraine will be a bad one for Russia.
December 20, 2015 Obama says US-Japan treaty applies to disputed Senkaku Islands ahead of visit President Barack Obama confirmed Wednesday that America's mutual security treaty with Japan applies to the islands at the center of a territorial dispute between China and Japan.
December 20, 2015 Biden pledges support in meeting with Ukrainian leaders Vice President Joe Biden is paying a visit to Ukraine's acting president in a high-level show of U.S. support for the embattled government.
December 20, 2015 Biden to push for peace agreement during Ukraine visit as tensions rise Vice President Joe Biden on Monday launched a high-profile visit to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to Ukraine and push for urgent implementation of an international agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions even as violence continues.
December 20, 2015 Congressmen make bipartisan call for more Russia sanctions amid deadly Ukraine violence A Democrat and Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee agreed Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ignored U.S. and European pleas to withdraw military troops from Ukraine and called for tougher economic sanctions, following a deadly shootout this weekend.
December 20, 2015 Russia blocks US from treaty-approved spy flights The Russian government this week canceled a planned U.S. surveillance flight over Russian territory in a bid to limit spying on massed troops facing off against Ukraine and Eastern Europe, according to U.S. officials.
December 20, 2015 Administration reportedly holding back on non-lethal aid to Ukraine The Obama administration reportedly is withholding even non-lethal military aid to Ukraine for fear it could further inflame tensions -- despite already intensifying clashes between the country's government and pro-Russia militiamen.
December 20, 2015 Russia test new missile amid growing tensions over Ukraine The SS-27 Mod 2 is Russia’s newest ICBM and has been touted by Russian officials as designed specifically to defeat U.S. missile defenses.