A big blow to Russia and EU relations, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow is now ready to serve ties with the European Union if the block hits Russia with painful economic sanctions.

Russia slams possible EU sanctions

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny returns to Moscow court for trial on slander charges. He was jailed for almost three years and his arrest sparked protests across Russia.

Kremlin critic Navalny returns to Moscow court for trial on slander charges

The European Union's Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said that his visit to Moscow last week showed that Russia is heading down an authoritarian route, and warned that it could face new sanctions over the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell sends a stern warning to Russia

Russia has expelled yet another diplomat -- this time, from Albania, in a tit-for-tat move.

This expulsion came after one of its own embassy workers was ordered to leave the Balkan state for alleged repeat violations of coronavirus rules.

To this end, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had declared Jonida Drogu, the first secretary of the Albanian embassy in Moscow, persona non grata. She was given 72 hours to leave the country.

The decision was made in response to Albania expelling the first secretary of the Russian embassy in Tirana "under a completely contrived pretext," the statement added.

The Albanian government declared Aleksei Krivosheev “persona non grata” and required him to leave the country within 72 hours, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on January 21, citing "repeated" violations of pandemic restrictions by the diplomat since April, 2020.

The government, however, wished for friendly relations with the Russian Federation to be strengthened.

Moscow, in response, said Albania's decision was a "provocation with the aim of gaining political points" and accused Tirana of "playing along with anti-Russian forces in the West".&nbsp;

Last week, Moscow announced the expulsion of three diplomats from EU members Germany, Sweden and Poland for allegedly taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration in support of Kremlin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny.

Russia has expelled a number of diplomats -- mostly in response to the removal of its own officials -- as its relations with the West have soured following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-uk-and-us-to-speak-with-navalny-after-expulsion-of-diplomats-in-russia-362178">Also read |&nbsp;EU, UK and US to speak with Navalny after expulsion of diplomats in Russia</a>

Russia has expelled yet another diplomat -- this time, from Albania, in a tit-for-tat move. This expulsion came after one of its own embassy workers was ordered to leave the Balkan state for alleged repeat violations of coronavirus rules.

Russia has expelled yet another diplomat -- this time, from Albania, in a tit-for-tat move. This expulsion came after one of its own embassy workers was ordered to leave the Balkan state for alleged repeat violations of coronavirus rules. To this end, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had declared Jonida Drogu, the first secretary of the Albanian embassy in Moscow, persona non grata. She was given 72 hours to leave the country. The decision was made in response to Albania expelling the first secretary of the Russian embassy in Tirana "under a completely contrived pretext," the statement added. The Albanian government declared Aleksei Krivosheev “persona non grata” and required him to leave the country within 72 hours, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on January 21, citing "repeated" violations of pandemic restrictions by the diplomat since April, 2020. The government, however, wished for friendly relations with the Russian Federation to be strengthened. Moscow, in response, said Albania's decision was a "provocation with the aim of gaining political points" and accused Tirana of "playing along with anti-Russian forces in the West". Last week, Moscow announced the expulsion of three diplomats from EU members Germany, Sweden and Poland for allegedly taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration in support of Kremlin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny. Russia has expelled a number of diplomats -- mostly in response to the removal of its own officials -- as its relations with the West have soured following the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Also read | EU, UK and US to speak with Navalny after expulsion of diplomats in Russia

Russia gives it back to Albania, expels its diplomat

Support is growing for Yuliya Navalny, the woman now called the first lady of the opposition party in Russia. Yulia Navalny's husband has been jailed for 2 years. Yulia who duned a red jumper has seen crying as the Moscow court pronounced Alexy Navalny's sentence. Alexy Navalny told his wife not to be sad as everything just be fine. His words are now trending on social media.

Netizens in Russia voice support for Yuliya Navalny after Alexy Navalny's arrest

Russian Opposition leader Alexy Navalny's arrest has gathered criticism from around the World. On his trip to Moscow EU's top diplomat, Josep Borell said that Russia and EU's ties are all-time low after Alexy Navalny's arrest.

World condemns Russian opposition leader Alexy Navalny's arrest

A Russian court jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Tuesday (February 2), ignoring the West in a ruling the opposition politician blamed on President Vladimir Putin's personal hatred and fear of him.

Audio of Navalny's speech calling Putin 'the Underwear Poisoner' before being jailed

Russia accused the West on Wednesday of descending into hysteria over the jailing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, and the Kremlin said police had been right to use force to break up protests over his imprisonment.

WION Dispatch: Russia accuses West, says, "West descending into Hysteria"

Russian Kremlin Critic Alexey Navalny has been sent to prison for three and a half years. A Moscow court found him guilty of violating the terms of his probation while he was in Germany recovering from a poisoning attack.

Moscow: Navalny's supporters take to streets after he sentenced to jail

A Russian court jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny on Tuesday, ignoring the opposition politician who was blamed for his personal hatred and fear of the ruling Vladimir Putin.

WION Dispatch: Will Alexey Navalny's arrest 'ignite' further protest?

Navalny, who has accused the Russian president and his allies of stealing billions, was jailed for violating parole from a 2014 sentence for embezzlement in a case he has said was politically motivated.

Navalny claims the due process was 'crudely violated'

Russian Kremlin Critic Alexei Navalny has been sent to prison for three and a half years. A Moscow court found him guilty of violating the terms of his probation while he was in Germany recovering from a poisoning attack.

Moscow court sends Alexei Navalny to prison for 3.5 years

Russian police detained people and used force to break up a rally in St Petersburg on Sunday (January 23) as protesters demanded the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, whose wife was among those detained.

Russia: Police detains over 200 protesters at pro-Navalny rally in St Petersburg

President Vladimir Putin would respond in kind if the new U.S. administration showed a willingness to talk, a Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday, while also accusing Washington of meddling in mass protests in support of detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Kremlin accuses US of meddling in affairs, but says ready to talk

Russian police detained more than 3,000 people and used force to break up rallies across Russia as tens of thousands of protesters ignored the extreme cold and police warnings to demand the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Russian police officers beat protesters at opposition rally

A protest is unfolding in Russia, the demanding release of the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Moscow and other 100 cities protest against President Putin's order to arrest 44 years old Alexei Navalny.

Pro-Navalny Protest in Moscow and other 100 cities of Russia

The United States has strongly condemned Russia's use of 'harsh tactics' against protesters and journalists demanding the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

US, EU condemns Russia's crackdown on protesters & journalists

Police detained over 1,000 people and used force to break up rallies around Russia on Saturday as tens of thousands of protesters demanded the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, whose wife was among those detained.

Hundreds arrested during protests in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Police arrest over 1,000 people at Russia protests backing jailed Kremlin foe Navalny

Detained Kremlin Critic Alexey Navalny supporters are staging protests across Russia to force his release.

Navalny supporters stage protest against his arrest & Prez Putin

Russian medics in Moscow's hospital number 67 have applied breathing techniques from Chinese martial arts to help Covid-19 patients in recovery. Patients practice Tai Chi on the territory of the Krylatskoye Ice Palace, which was converted into a temporary hospital for people suffering from the coronavirus disease.

Russian patients practice Chinese martial art to recover from COVID

The Kremlin on Friday welcomed the stated intention of US President Joe Biden to extend the New START arms control treaty with Russia, but said that Moscow wanted to see concrete proposals from Washington.

The White House said on Thursday that Biden would seek a five-year extension of the arms control treaty that is due to expire in early February, in one of the first major foreign policy decisions of the new administration.

To this end, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow stands for extending the pact and that it was important to see the detail of the US proposal. The Trump administration had sought to attach conditions to any renewal, something Moscow rejected.

“We can only welcome political will to extend the document," Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “But all will depend on the details of the proposal."

The treaty, signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads. It expires on February 5.

Russia has long proposed to prolong the pact without any conditions or changes, but Trump’s administration waited until last year to start talks and made the extension contingent on a set of demands. The talks stalled, and months of bargaining have failed to narrow differences.

“Certain conditions for the extension have been put forward, and some of them have been absolutely unacceptable for us, so let's see first what the US is offering," Peskov said.

Biden indicated during the campaign that he favoured the preservation of the New START treaty, which was negotiated during his tenure as US vice president.

The talks on the treaty’s extension also were clouded by tensions between Russia and the United States, which have been fuelled by Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and other irritants.

Despite the extension proposal, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden remains committed to holding Russia “to account for its reckless and adversarial actions," such as its alleged involvement in the Solar Winds hacking event, 2020 election interference, the chemical poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the widely reported allegations that Russia may have offered bounties to the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Peskov has, meanwhile, reaffirmed Russia’s denial of involvement in any such activities. 
&nbsp;

The Kremlin on Friday welcomed the stated intention of US President Joe Biden to extend the New START arms control treaty with Russia, but said that Moscow wanted to see concrete proposals from Washington.

The Kremlin on Friday welcomed the stated intention of US President Joe Biden to extend the New START arms control treaty with Russia, but said that Moscow wanted to see concrete proposals from Washington. The White House said on Thursday that Biden would seek a five-year extension of the arms control treaty that is due to expire in early February, in one of the first major foreign policy decisions of the new administration. To this end, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow stands for extending the pact and that it was important to see the detail of the US proposal. The Trump administration had sought to attach conditions to any renewal, something Moscow rejected. “We can only welcome political will to extend the document," Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “But all will depend on the details of the proposal." The treaty, signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads. It expires on February 5. Russia has long proposed to prolong the pact without any conditions or changes, but Trump’s administration waited until last year to start talks and made the extension contingent on a set of demands. The talks stalled, and months of bargaining have failed to narrow differences. “Certain conditions for the extension have been put forward, and some of them have been absolutely unacceptable for us, so let's see first what the US is offering," Peskov said. Biden indicated during the campaign that he favoured the preservation of the New START treaty, which was negotiated during his tenure as US vice president. The talks on the treaty’s extension also were clouded by tensions between Russia and the United States, which have been fuelled by Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and other irritants. Despite the extension proposal, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden remains committed to holding Russia “to account for its reckless and adversarial actions," such as its alleged involvement in the Solar Winds hacking event, 2020 election interference, the chemical poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the widely reported allegations that Russia may have offered bounties to the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. Peskov has, meanwhile, reaffirmed Russia’s denial of involvement in any such activities.

Russia welcomes US President Joe Biden's proposal to extend nuclear treaty

A Russian court has ordered opposition leader Alexey Navalny to be kept in custody until February 15. Meanwhile, after the court's orders, Navalny put out a video message and urged his supporters to hit the streets and not remain silent.

Opposition leader Navalny urges his supporters to hit the streets

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