December 20, 2015 Kerry points at Hamas in Israel kidnappings that include teen with US citizenship The Obama administration on Sunday joined Israel in implicating the militant group Hamas in connection with the kidnapping of three Israeli teens and called the move a “despicable terrorist act.”
December 20, 2015 Kerry: ‘Baloney’ that releasing Taliban detainees too risky to US troops Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday the Taliban detainees released in a prison swap for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could indeed return to terrorism but largely dismissed the argument that the deal will put U.S. troops further at risk.
December 20, 2015 Hagel, Rice praise Bergdahl recovery mission, soldier's parents speak out The parents of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl -- the American who was released this weekend after being held for five years by the Taliban -- urged their son Sunday to take his time to recover and thanked everybody, from people in their home state of Idaho to American and Qatari officials, for helping return their son.
December 20, 2015 Kerry: Russia pledges to respect Ukraine's borders U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday he has been assured by Russia that it will respect the sovereignty of Ukraine and that military exercises near its borders are not a prelude to military invention by Moscow.
December 20, 2015 US warns Russia on war games as tensions mount in Ukraine's Crimea The United States on Wednesday warned Russia against a military intervention in Ukraine, saying such a move would be a "grave mistake," as troops in western Russia were placed on high alert for massive new war games in the area, including near the Russian-Ukrainian border.
December 20, 2015 Obama to urge Israel's Netanyahu to accept Kerry's Mideast peace framework, report says President Obama will reportedly urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a framework for peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians when Netanyahu visits the White House next week.
December 20, 2015 Lawmakers urge Obama, Latin American leaders to boost efforts to curb Venezuela violence Members of Congress are calling on the Obama administration, and Latin American leaders, to escalate efforts to quell the violence and political unrest in Venezuela amid a bloody crackdown by the sitting government.
December 20, 2015 Kerry sees Russia, China agreeing on UN resolution on Syria as possible turning point Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday hailed the U.N. Security Council uniting for the first time on a resolution regarding Syria's humanitarian crisis, calling it a potential “hinge point” in ending that country’s deadly, 3-year-long civil war.
December 20, 2015 Kerry pledges security help to Tunisia in battle against terrorists The United States wants to encourage the democratic transition in Tunisia, which ousted its longtime dictator in January 2011 and sparked wider revolts that toppled leaders in Egypt, Libya and Yemen.
December 20, 2015 Kerry accuses Syrian leader of stonewalling peace talks U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Russia to help bring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the negotiating table Monday and claimed that the Syrian leader was not making a good faith effort to find a peaceful end to the country's ongoing civil war.