December 20, 2015 US, allies sideline Russia from G8; Moscow shrugs off summit snub The U.S. and its allies announced Monday that they would, for now, exclude Russia from the G8 and boycott a planned summit in Sochi in retaliation over its Crimea takeover -- though Russia's government shrugged off the latest efforts to isolate the country.
December 20, 2015 US races to close spying gaps after Russia's Crimea moves elude them U.S. military satellites spied Russian troops amassing within striking distance of Crimea last month. But intelligence analysts were surprised because they hadn't intercepted any telltale communications where Russian leaders, military commanders or soldiers discussed plans to invade.
December 20, 2015 Romney: Obama 'naive,' lacked judgment regarding Ukraine, Putin Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Sunday accused President Obama of being “naïve” about Russian President Vladimir Putin's agenda and said he lacked the foresight to have prevented Putin from taking over a Ukraine peninsula.
December 20, 2015 GOP, Democrats spar over Obama's foreign policy, amid new fears of Putin takeovers Top Democrats and Republicans squared off Sunday over President Obama’s foreign policy, in the aftermath of Russia taking over part of Ukraine and amid new fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin is just getting started.
December 20, 2015 Carter criticizes drone use, domestic spying under Obama Former President Jimmy Carter on Sunday criticized the Obama administration’s surveillance efforts, saying the country’s use of drones has been “abused” and that he communicates by mail with foreign leaders for fear his electronic correspondences are being watched.
December 20, 2015 Putin stokes, taps Russians' resentment of America and the West Among ethnic Russians, and in the heart of the former Soviet Union, a palpable anti-American sentiment is discernible -- and it is, to some extent, the product of determined efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin apparatus he controls.
December 20, 2015 Tit for Tat: Russia hits US officials with sanctions, as Obama expands penalties The Russian government slapped sanctions on top U.S. officials on Thursday, moments after President Obama imposed penalties on 20 Russians inside and outside the government -- as diplomatic efforts over Ukraine unraveled into a long-distance tit for tat.
December 20, 2015 Russia warns West it may change stance on Iran, in retaliation over sanctions Russia reportedly is prepared to change its stand on Iran nuclear talks in a high-stakes gamble to counter expanded sanctions by the United States and the European Union over Crimea.
December 20, 2015 Republican lawmakers call for tougher sanctions against Russia Republicans on Capitol Hill Tuesday voiced frustration over President Obama’s handling of the crisis in Ukraine, criticizing his second round of sanctions against those in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle as too weak.
December 20, 2015 US suspends diplomatic relations with Syria A senior State Department official says the Syrian government has been told it must immediately suspend its diplomatic and consular missions in the United States.