Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the highest-level talks between the rival powers in nearly a year as they see if they can make headway on a raft of disagreements from Venezuela to Iran to arms control.

Pompeo will visit Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi less than two weeks after President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-will-meet-putin-xi-at-g20-summit-in-japan-says-well-be-very-fruitfull-meeting-218514">Donald Trump voiced optimism</a> about improving relations with Moscow during a more than one-hour telephone conversation with the Russian leader.

The renewed diplomacy followed the long-awaited report in the United States by investigator Robert Mueller which found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election but that the Trump campaign did not collude with Moscow, partially lifting a cloud that had hung over the mogul-turned-president for two years.

Pompeo is the highest-ranking US official to see Putin since July when Trump met him in Helsinki and stunned the US political class by appearing to accept the Russian leader's statement at face value that he did not meddle in the US election.

Trump on Monday announced that he expected a "very fruitful meeting" with Putin and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan, only for Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to deny Washington had requested such a meeting and say there were "no agreements so far."

Trump's enthusiasm for courting Putin has little support in Washington, even within his own administration, which has kept up a campaign of pressure including sanctions on Russia over alleged election meddling and Moscow's support for armed separatists in Ukraine.

Pompeo, despite his close relationship with Trump, left little doubt on where he stood in remarks Saturday in California.

Addressing the conservative Claremont Institute, Pompeo said that US policymakers in recent decades had "drifted from realism" and chastised them for believing that "enfolding the likes of China and Russia into a so-called rules-based international order would hasten their domestic evolution towards democracy."

"But we can see now 30 years on, after the end of the Cold War, that the Putin regime slays dissidents in cold blood and invades its neighbours," Pompeo said, three days before he sees the Russian president.

'Frank' talks on Iran

Pompeo cancelled a stop in Moscow scheduled Monday to meet with European foreign ministers in Brussels, who have been uncomfortable with the hawkish direction of the United States, especially on Iran.

The United States has pulled out of a nuclear deal backed by the Europeans, Russia and China and instead has slapped sweeping sanctions on Iran in an all-out effort to curb Tehran's regional clout.

In recent days the United States has ramped up the pressure by deploying to the region an aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable bombers, warning vaguely of imminent threats from Iran, which UN inspectors say is complying with the 2015 accord.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would have a "frank conversation" with Pompeo on Iran on Tuesday, saying he expected the top US diplomat was pressuring the Europeans to reject Iranian overtures for relief from US sanctions.

"We will try to clarify with Pompeo how the Americans plan to get out of this crisis, which was created by their unilateral decisions," Lavrov told reporters as he met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Sochi on Monday.

Both the United States and Russia hope to make some progress on arms control, with Moscow seeking a five-year extension of the New START treaty, which caps the number of nuclear warheads well below Cold War limits and is set to expire in 2021.

"As before, we are ready to discuss this topic with the Americans," Lavrov said.

But negotiations could be tough, with Trump calling for the treaty to be expanded to include a rising China.

The Trump administration earlier this year pulled out of another key arms control agreement, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, with NATO allies saying a new Russian missile system was in violation.

Seeking stability

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov voiced hope that Pompeo's visit would build on the telephone call with Trump and "somewhat stabilise" the relationship.

But he acknowledged that talks could be "very difficult" on Venezuela.

"The positions of the two sides are diametrically opposed, but we should still use the opportunity to let our position be known to the US administration," the Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.

The United States has been trying for more than three months to topple President Nicolas Maduro, a leftist firebrand whose re-election was widely criticised for irregularities, and Pompeo has repeatedly blamed Russia for giving him a lifeline.

Trump, however, contradicted Pompeo after his phone call with Putin, saying the Russian president assured him that Moscow is not involved in Venezuela.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the highest-level talks between the rival powers in nearly a year as they see if they can make headway on a raft of disagreements from Venezuela to Iran to arms control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the highest-level talks between the rival powers in nearly a year as they see if they can make headway on a raft of disagreements from Venezuela to Iran to arms control. Pompeo will visit Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi less than two weeks after President Donald Trump voiced optimism about improving relations with Moscow during a more than one-hour telephone conversation with the Russian leader. The renewed diplomacy followed the long-awaited report in the United States by investigator Robert Mueller which found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election but that the Trump campaign did not collude with Moscow, partially lifting a cloud that had hung over the mogul-turned-president for two years. Pompeo is the highest-ranking US official to see Putin since July when Trump met him in Helsinki and stunned the US political class by appearing to accept the Russian leader's statement at face value that he did not meddle in the US election. Trump on Monday announced that he expected a "very fruitful meeting" with Putin and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan, only for Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to deny Washington had requested such a meeting and say there were "no agreements so far." Trump's enthusiasm for courting Putin has little support in Washington, even within his own administration, which has kept up a campaign of pressure including sanctions on Russia over alleged election meddling and Moscow's support for armed separatists in Ukraine. Pompeo, despite his close relationship with Trump, left little doubt on where he stood in remarks Saturday in California. Addressing the conservative Claremont Institute, Pompeo said that US policymakers in recent decades had "drifted from realism" and chastised them for believing that "enfolding the likes of China and Russia into a so-called rules-based international order would hasten their domestic evolution towards democracy." "But we can see now 30 years on, after the end of the Cold War, that the Putin regime slays dissidents in cold blood and invades its neighbours," Pompeo said, three days before he sees the Russian president. 'Frank' talks on Iran Pompeo cancelled a stop in Moscow scheduled Monday to meet with European foreign ministers in Brussels, who have been uncomfortable with the hawkish direction of the United States, especially on Iran. The United States has pulled out of a nuclear deal backed by the Europeans, Russia and China and instead has slapped sweeping sanctions on Iran in an all-out effort to curb Tehran's regional clout. In recent days the United States has ramped up the pressure by deploying to the region an aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable bombers, warning vaguely of imminent threats from Iran, which UN inspectors say is complying with the 2015 accord. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would have a "frank conversation" with Pompeo on Iran on Tuesday, saying he expected the top US diplomat was pressuring the Europeans to reject Iranian overtures for relief from US sanctions. "We will try to clarify with Pompeo how the Americans plan to get out of this crisis, which was created by their unilateral decisions," Lavrov told reporters as he met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Sochi on Monday. Both the United States and Russia hope to make some progress on arms control, with Moscow seeking a five-year extension of the New START treaty, which caps the number of nuclear warheads well below Cold War limits and is set to expire in 2021. "As before, we are ready to discuss this topic with the Americans," Lavrov said. But negotiations could be tough, with Trump calling for the treaty to be expanded to include a rising China. The Trump administration earlier this year pulled out of another key arms control agreement, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, with NATO allies saying a new Russian missile system was in violation. Seeking stability Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov voiced hope that Pompeo's visit would build on the telephone call with Trump and "somewhat stabilise" the relationship. But he acknowledged that talks could be "very difficult" on Venezuela. "The positions of the two sides are diametrically opposed, but we should still use the opportunity to let our position be known to the US administration," the Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying. The United States has been trying for more than three months to topple President Nicolas Maduro, a leftist firebrand whose re-election was widely criticised for irregularities, and Pompeo has repeatedly blamed Russia for giving him a lifeline. Trump, however, contradicted Pompeo after his phone call with Putin, saying the Russian president assured him that Moscow is not involved in Venezuela.

US, Russia test tense ties as Mike Pompeo visits Russian President Vladimir Putin

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is heading to Russia with an unusual and thankless task -- standing firm against the rival power even as his boss, President Donald Trump, reaches out to reconcile.

Pompeo will meet Tuesday with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, in the highest-level US engagement with the Russian leader since a July summit in Helsinki after which Trump faced wide scorn at home for his trustful embrace of the Russian leader.&nbsp;

The top US diplomat's trip comes less than two months after Special Counsel Robert Mueller wound up an investigation that found that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election -- but that the Trump campaign did not collude with Moscow.

After spending the first two years of his presidency under the cloud of Mueller's probe, Trump chatted for more than an hour by telephone with Putin on May 3, in what he hailed as a "very positive" conversation.

Trump said that Putin had assured him that Russia was not involved in Venezuela -- directly contradicting Pompeo and other top officials who for weeks have demanded that Moscow stop backing leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington is trying to topple.

Venezuela is only one of a slew of issues where the United States and Russia have clashed.

Others include the Syrian war, arms control commitments and the conflict in Ukraine, where Western powers have been attempting for five years to little avail to end Moscow's support for armed separatists.

Jonathan Katz, a former US official focused on Central and Eastern Europe, believed that Russia was looking to see if the end of Mueller's probe would allow a new beginning with Trump, whom Putin supported over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"I think this is Moscow testing whether there is a new modus operandi in Washington, (after) the release of the Mueller report," said Katz, now a senior fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Despite heading the US government, Trump is a major outlier in Washington, with virtually all senior administration officials including Pompeo and lawmakers across party lines advocating a harder stance on Russia, including sanctions over election interference and its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine.

For Pompeo, "it's incredibly difficult because the interlocutors on the other side don't know who speaks for the United States," Katz said.

Progress sought on arms control

A State Department official said Pompeo, who will also meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the second time in as many weeks, would push for progress in particular in one area -- arms control.

The New START treaty, which caps the number of nuclear warheads well below Cold War limits, is set to expire in 2021 and Trump has called for a broader successor that will include a rising China.

Even Pompeo has acknowledged that those goals may be too optimistic. Another key accord, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, just collapsed, with the United States pulling out over charges that a new Russian missile system violated it.

Despite deep rifts on many hotspots, the State Department official said that Russia and the United States, if not seeing eye-to-eye, had developed "constructive" relationships on Afghanistan and North Korea.

"It is in our interest to have a better relationship with Russia," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

"Where we have concerns, we're going to raise them directly, narrow those differences and find areas where we can cooperate to protect and advance our interests."

But Victoria Nuland, who championed a tough line on Russia as an assistant secretary of state during Barack Obama's administration, voiced doubt on whether hopes for a better relationship could be realized under Putin's increasingly autocratic rule.

She said that a "lack of leadership, unity and consistency" in the United States was the greatest challenge to countering a resurgent Russia.

"What we don't know, and what we have to continue to test, is whether Russian President Putin truly wants to improve relations," she recently testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"It may well be that his psychology and leadership model are too dependent on an enemy abroad to change course -- and we have to steel ourselves for what may be a very long game that outlasts Putin."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is heading to Russia with an unusual and thankless task -- standing firm against the rival power even as his boss, President Donald Trump, reaches out to reconcile.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is heading to Russia with an unusual and thankless task -- standing firm against the rival power even as his boss, President Donald Trump, reaches out to reconcile. Pompeo will meet Tuesday with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, in the highest-level US engagement with the Russian leader since a July summit in Helsinki after which Trump faced wide scorn at home for his trustful embrace of the Russian leader. The top US diplomat's trip comes less than two months after Special Counsel Robert Mueller wound up an investigation that found that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election -- but that the Trump campaign did not collude with Moscow. After spending the first two years of his presidency under the cloud of Mueller's probe, Trump chatted for more than an hour by telephone with Putin on May 3, in what he hailed as a "very positive" conversation. Trump said that Putin had assured him that Russia was not involved in Venezuela -- directly contradicting Pompeo and other top officials who for weeks have demanded that Moscow stop backing leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington is trying to topple. Venezuela is only one of a slew of issues where the United States and Russia have clashed. Others include the Syrian war, arms control commitments and the conflict in Ukraine, where Western powers have been attempting for five years to little avail to end Moscow's support for armed separatists. Jonathan Katz, a former US official focused on Central and Eastern Europe, believed that Russia was looking to see if the end of Mueller's probe would allow a new beginning with Trump, whom Putin supported over Hillary Clinton in 2016. "I think this is Moscow testing whether there is a new modus operandi in Washington, (after) the release of the Mueller report," said Katz, now a senior fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States. Despite heading the US government, Trump is a major outlier in Washington, with virtually all senior administration officials including Pompeo and lawmakers across party lines advocating a harder stance on Russia, including sanctions over election interference and its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. For Pompeo, "it's incredibly difficult because the interlocutors on the other side don't know who speaks for the United States," Katz said. Progress sought on arms control A State Department official said Pompeo, who will also meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the second time in as many weeks, would push for progress in particular in one area -- arms control. The New START treaty, which caps the number of nuclear warheads well below Cold War limits, is set to expire in 2021 and Trump has called for a broader successor that will include a rising China. Even Pompeo has acknowledged that those goals may be too optimistic. Another key accord, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, just collapsed, with the United States pulling out over charges that a new Russian missile system violated it. Despite deep rifts on many hotspots, the State Department official said that Russia and the United States, if not seeing eye-to-eye, had developed "constructive" relationships on Afghanistan and North Korea. "It is in our interest to have a better relationship with Russia," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "Where we have concerns, we're going to raise them directly, narrow those differences and find areas where we can cooperate to protect and advance our interests." But Victoria Nuland, who championed a tough line on Russia as an assistant secretary of state during Barack Obama's administration, voiced doubt on whether hopes for a better relationship could be realized under Putin's increasingly autocratic rule. She said that a "lack of leadership, unity and consistency" in the United States was the greatest challenge to countering a resurgent Russia. "What we don't know, and what we have to continue to test, is whether Russian President Putin truly wants to improve relations," she recently testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "It may well be that his psychology and leadership model are too dependent on an enemy abroad to change course -- and we have to steel ourselves for what may be a very long game that outlasts Putin."

Mike Pompeo heads to Russia as US diplomacy turns schizophrenic

The US on Monday said it planned to beef up its Arctic presence to keep<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-increasing-influence-in-cuba-stirs-ghost-of-cold-war-215866"> Russia's and China's</a> "aggressive behaviour" in check in the resource-rich region.

"The region has become an arena of global power and competition" owing to vast reserves of oil, gas, minerals and fish stocks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in a speech in Rovaniemi, northern Finland.

"Just because the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/polar-bear-invasion-how-climate-change-is-forcing-them-to-change-their-hunting-habits-197555">Arctic is a place of wilderness</a> does not mean it should become a place of lawlessness," he said.

Speaking on the eve of a meeting of the eight members of the Arctic Council, Pompeo took on Beijing and Moscow.

"China's pattern of aggressive behaviour elsewhere will inform how it treats the Arctic," he said.

He warned against scenarios whereby nations become ensnared by debt and corruption, of low-quality investments, militarisation and uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources, all of which he said were potential effects of allowing rising Chinese influence.

"Do we want the Arctic Ocean to transform into a new South China Sea, fraught with militarisation and competing territorial claims?", he said.

While the US and Russia are members of the Arctic Council, China holds only observer status in the cooperation body. Noting that China's most northern tip was 900 miles (1,450 kilometres) from the Arctic, Pompeo swatted down Beijing's attempts to style itself as a "near Arctic state".

"There are only Arctic States and Non-Arctic States. No third category exists, and claiming otherwise entitles China to exactly nothing," he said.

Beijing has invested massively in the region -&nbsp;almost $90 billion between 2012 and 2017, according to Pompeo -- and intends to fully benefit from the advantages of the Northern Sea Route.

The shipping channel, which drastically cuts sailing times between the Pacific and Atlantic by passing north of Russia, is increasingly usable as the ice melts.

China and Russia would like to make the Northern Sea Route a part of the New Silk Road project, a vast Chinese investment programme which several countries, especially the US, see as an attempt to gain control.

Gao Feng, China's special representative for Arctic affairs, reacted by saying; "He said ... It's a competition of powers. OK, competition? Let's see ... Who can get more friends".

In his speech, Pompeo also denounced Russia's "provocative actions", accusing Moscow of wanting to remilitarise the region. 
"Russia is already leaving snow prints in the form of army boots," he said. Under President Vladimir Putin, Moscow has beefed up its military presence in the region, reopening several bases that were abandoned after the fall of the USSR.

The virulence of Pompeo's remarks was noteworthy given the fact he made them just minutes before a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, amid rising US-Russian tensions over Venezuela, among other things.

The two smiled and shook hands in front of the assembled media, but refused to answer questions on the nature of their talks. 
Pompeo later told reporters that he had spoken to Lavrov about Russian interference in US elections, telling the Russian foreign minister that "It's not appropriate. To stifle rival ambitions in the Arctic, the US is "hosting military exercises, strengthening our force presence, rebuilding our icebreaker fleet, (and) expanding Coast Guard funding," Pompeo said.

At Congress' request, the Pentagon is to present a new defence strategy for the Arctic by June 1. Hundreds of US Marines already rotate through Norway to carry out cold climate training, and US planes have returned to Iceland's Keflavik airbase, which they left in 2006.

Meanwhile, Pompeo also reiterated US claims to be "the world's leader in caring for the environment," saying it would take the lead in the Arctic as well.

US carbon dioxide emissions are "on track to drop by nearly half by 2025, the best of any Arctic country," he said.

Asked in the plane carrying him to Rovaniemi about the apparent contradiction between the US commitment to protect the Arctic and President Donald Trump's pledge to leave the Paris climate accord, Pompeo said the accord, signed in 2015, had proven its "ineffectiveness".

The US on Monday said it planned to beef up its Arctic presence to keep Russia's and China's "aggressive behaviour" in check in the resource-rich region. "The region has become an arena of global power and competition" owing to vast reserves of oil, gas, minerals and fish stocks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in a speech in Rovaniemi, northern Finland.

The US on Monday said it planned to beef up its Arctic presence to keep Russia's and China's "aggressive behaviour" in check in the resource-rich region. "The region has become an arena of global power and competition" owing to vast reserves of oil, gas, minerals and fish stocks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in a speech in Rovaniemi, northern Finland. "Just because the Arctic is a place of wilderness does not mean it should become a place of lawlessness," he said. Speaking on the eve of a meeting of the eight members of the Arctic Council, Pompeo took on Beijing and Moscow. "China's pattern of aggressive behaviour elsewhere will inform how it treats the Arctic," he said. He warned against scenarios whereby nations become ensnared by debt and corruption, of low-quality investments, militarisation and uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources, all of which he said were potential effects of allowing rising Chinese influence. "Do we want the Arctic Ocean to transform into a new South China Sea, fraught with militarisation and competing territorial claims?", he said. While the US and Russia are members of the Arctic Council, China holds only observer status in the cooperation body. Noting that China's most northern tip was 900 miles (1,450 kilometres) from the Arctic, Pompeo swatted down Beijing's attempts to style itself as a "near Arctic state". "There are only Arctic States and Non-Arctic States. No third category exists, and claiming otherwise entitles China to exactly nothing," he said. Beijing has invested massively in the region - almost $90 billion between 2012 and 2017, according to Pompeo -- and intends to fully benefit from the advantages of the Northern Sea Route. The shipping channel, which drastically cuts sailing times between the Pacific and Atlantic by passing north of Russia, is increasingly usable as the ice melts. China and Russia would like to make the Northern Sea Route a part of the New Silk Road project, a vast Chinese investment programme which several countries, especially the US, see as an attempt to gain control. Gao Feng, China's special representative for Arctic affairs, reacted by saying; "He said ... It's a competition of powers. OK, competition? Let's see ... Who can get more friends". In his speech, Pompeo also denounced Russia's "provocative actions", accusing Moscow of wanting to remilitarise the region. "Russia is already leaving snow prints in the form of army boots," he said. Under President Vladimir Putin, Moscow has beefed up its military presence in the region, reopening several bases that were abandoned after the fall of the USSR. The virulence of Pompeo's remarks was noteworthy given the fact he made them just minutes before a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, amid rising US-Russian tensions over Venezuela, among other things. The two smiled and shook hands in front of the assembled media, but refused to answer questions on the nature of their talks. Pompeo later told reporters that he had spoken to Lavrov about Russian interference in US elections, telling the Russian foreign minister that "It's not appropriate. To stifle rival ambitions in the Arctic, the US is "hosting military exercises, strengthening our force presence, rebuilding our icebreaker fleet, (and) expanding Coast Guard funding," Pompeo said. At Congress' request, the Pentagon is to present a new defence strategy for the Arctic by June 1. Hundreds of US Marines already rotate through Norway to carry out cold climate training, and US planes have returned to Iceland's Keflavik airbase, which they left in 2006. Meanwhile, Pompeo also reiterated US claims to be "the world's leader in caring for the environment," saying it would take the lead in the Arctic as well. US carbon dioxide emissions are "on track to drop by nearly half by 2025, the best of any Arctic country," he said. Asked in the plane carrying him to Rovaniemi about the apparent contradiction between the US commitment to protect the Arctic and President Donald Trump's pledge to leave the Paris climate accord, Pompeo said the accord, signed in 2015, had proven its "ineffectiveness".

China's pattern of aggressive behaviour elsewhere informs how it treats the Arctic: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-accuses-venezuelas-us-backed-opposition-leader-juan-guaido-of-fuelling-conflict-215063">Sergei Lavrov</a> traded accusations in a phone call Wednesday that the other power was destabilising Venezuela after an aborted military uprising.

With the United States pushing to topple President Nicolas Maduro, Pompeo charged that Russia and Cuba were instrumental in keeping the leftist firebrand in power.

Pompeo "stressed that the intervention by Russia and Cuba is destabilizing for Venezuela and for the US-Russia bilateral relationship," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

Pompeo "urged Russia to cease support for Nicolas Maduro and join other nations, including the overwhelming majority of countries in the Western Hemisphere, who seek a better future for the Venezuelan people," she said in a statement.

But Lavrov denounced Washington's "destructive influence" in its support for opposition leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-will-opposition-leader-guaido-topple-venezuelas-president-maduro-215049">Juan Guaido</a>, who on Tuesday claimed the backing of members of the armed forces in a short-lived attempt to wrest control from Maduro.

"Washington's interference in Venezuelan affairs is a flagrant violation of international law," the Russian foreign ministry quoted Lavrov as saying in the call.

Lavrov took aim at President Donald Trump's assertions, made again Wednesday by Pompeo, that the United States is prepared to use force if necessary.

"The pursuit of these aggressive steps is fraught with consequences," Lavrov said, adding that "only the Venezuelan people have the right to decide their destiny."

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The United States is among more than 50 countries, including most Latin American and European powers, that recognize Guaido as interim president.

Maduro was elected last year in an election widely criticized as fraudulent and has presided over a crumbling economy, with millions fleeing Venezuela faced with a shortage of basic goods.

Russia and China provide crucial diplomatic support, with Moscow also offering military technical assistance and Beijing providing vital credit as it buys Venezuela's oil.

The Trump administration has also warned Cuba, a longtime foe of the United States, to stop backing Maduro by allegedly deploying thousands of troops to back up Venezuelan security forces.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traded accusations in a phone call Wednesday that the other power was destabilising Venezuela after an aborted military uprising.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traded accusations in a phone call Wednesday that the other power was destabilising Venezuela after an aborted military uprising. With the United States pushing to topple President Nicolas Maduro, Pompeo charged that Russia and Cuba were instrumental in keeping the leftist firebrand in power. Pompeo "stressed that the intervention by Russia and Cuba is destabilizing for Venezuela and for the US-Russia bilateral relationship," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. Pompeo "urged Russia to cease support for Nicolas Maduro and join other nations, including the overwhelming majority of countries in the Western Hemisphere, who seek a better future for the Venezuelan people," she said in a statement. But Lavrov denounced Washington's "destructive influence" in its support for opposition leader Juan Guaido, who on Tuesday claimed the backing of members of the armed forces in a short-lived attempt to wrest control from Maduro. "Washington's interference in Venezuelan affairs is a flagrant violation of international law," the Russian foreign ministry quoted Lavrov as saying in the call. Lavrov took aim at President Donald Trump's assertions, made again Wednesday by Pompeo, that the United States is prepared to use force if necessary. "The pursuit of these aggressive steps is fraught with consequences," Lavrov said, adding that "only the Venezuelan people have the right to decide their destiny." × The United States is among more than 50 countries, including most Latin American and European powers, that recognize Guaido as interim president. Maduro was elected last year in an election widely criticized as fraudulent and has presided over a crumbling economy, with millions fleeing Venezuela faced with a shortage of basic goods. Russia and China provide crucial diplomatic support, with Moscow also offering military technical assistance and Beijing providing vital credit as it buys Venezuela's oil. The Trump administration has also warned Cuba, a longtime foe of the United States, to stop backing Maduro by allegedly deploying thousands of troops to back up Venezuelan security forces.

US state secretary Pompeo, Russian foreign minister Lavrov trade accusations on Venezuela in phone call

US-Russia collusion probe is end, BARR founds no proof

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow will take comprehensive measures to ensure its security if the United States leaves the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-exit-inf-treaty-in-six-months-in-response-to-us-pull-out-russian-foreign-minister-lavrov-195687">Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces</a> (INF) Treaty.

Ryabkov said at a press conference that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-withdraw-from-inf-missile-treaty-unless-russia-complies-trump-194448">Russia is open to dialogue</a> concerning the INF Treaty if the US will return to complying with the treaty.

He said that on February 2nd, the Russian embassy in Washington received a note from the US Department of State with official notification about the US leaving the treaty.

In a response note on February 4, the Russian foreign ministry said that Moscow would suspend its obligations under the treaty "for the period before the United States returns to strict compliance with the treaty or until its termination," according to Ryabkov.

He then recalled that to save the INF Treaty, Russia has done its utmost to engage the US in conversation and offering concrete initiatives to find a solution.

However, Ryabkov said all Russia's efforts were ignored or blocked by the United States.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced last week that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty, citing Russia's violation of the deal, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Moscow.

Pompeo's announcement, made nearly 60 days after Washington threatened to quit the historic INF Treaty, will start a six-month countdown period, which will lead to a permanent exit from the pact inked in 1987 between the US and the then-Soviet Union.

The INF Treaty marked the first-ever pact reached by Washington and Moscow on nuclear disarmament and a major step forward in restricting the arms race.

However, the two sides have accused each other of violating the arms control agreement in recent years amid increasing tensions.

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow will take comprehensive measures to ensure its security if the United States leaves the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow will take comprehensive measures to ensure its security if the United States leaves the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Ryabkov said at a press conference that Russia is open to dialogue concerning the INF Treaty if the US will return to complying with the treaty. He said that on February 2nd, the Russian embassy in Washington received a note from the US Department of State with official notification about the US leaving the treaty. In a response note on February 4, the Russian foreign ministry said that Moscow would suspend its obligations under the treaty "for the period before the United States returns to strict compliance with the treaty or until its termination," according to Ryabkov. He then recalled that to save the INF Treaty, Russia has done its utmost to engage the US in conversation and offering concrete initiatives to find a solution. However, Ryabkov said all Russia's efforts were ignored or blocked by the United States. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced last week that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty, citing Russia's violation of the deal, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Moscow. Pompeo's announcement, made nearly 60 days after Washington threatened to quit the historic INF Treaty, will start a six-month countdown period, which will lead to a permanent exit from the pact inked in 1987 between the US and the then-Soviet Union. The INF Treaty marked the first-ever pact reached by Washington and Moscow on nuclear disarmament and a major step forward in restricting the arms race. However, the two sides have accused each other of violating the arms control agreement in recent years amid increasing tensions.

Will take measures to ensure security if US leaves INF missile treaty: Russia

Russia will exit the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-withdraw-from-inf-missile-treaty-unless-russia-complies-trump-194448"> Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF)</a> Treaty in six months as part of a symmetrical response to the US pull out, the Interfax news agency cited Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Wednesday in Turkmenistan.

The US had announced its decision to withdraw from the decades-long landmark <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/inf-treaty-with-russia-has-been-invalidated-germany-194404">nuclear arms control pact </a>with Russia on Friday.

In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on the following day that Russia will suspend its participation in the INF Treaty, and will not initiate any further treaty-related international negotiations.

The treaty was signed in 1987 between the former Soviet Union and the United States, marking the first-ever pact reached by the United States and Russia on nuclear disarmament and a major step forward in restricting the arms race.

Meanwhile, Representatives present at the regular session of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday called for continued implementation of the INF Treaty for international cooperation and security, from which the United States is withdrawing.

At the session, the participants expressed concern over the U.S. withdrawal from the treaty and called on all countries to earnestly safeguard the multilateral disarmament negotiating system in the context of the deteriorating global security environment.

The US&nbsp;disarmament ambassador stressed that the United States had to start the withdrawal process because of what he called Russia's long-term violation of the INF Treaty.

The Russian representative emphasised that although the US had begun the process of withdrawing from the treaty, Russia would not deploy medium- or long-range missiles in Europe and elsewhere. 
&nbsp;

Russia will exit the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in six months as part of a symmetrical response to the US pull out, the Interfax news agency cited Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Wednesday in Turkmenistan.

Russia will exit the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in six months as part of a symmetrical response to the US pull out, the Interfax news agency cited Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Wednesday in Turkmenistan. The US had announced its decision to withdraw from the decades-long landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia on Friday. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on the following day that Russia will suspend its participation in the INF Treaty, and will not initiate any further treaty-related international negotiations. The treaty was signed in 1987 between the former Soviet Union and the United States, marking the first-ever pact reached by the United States and Russia on nuclear disarmament and a major step forward in restricting the arms race. Meanwhile, Representatives present at the regular session of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday called for continued implementation of the INF Treaty for international cooperation and security, from which the United States is withdrawing. At the session, the participants expressed concern over the U.S. withdrawal from the treaty and called on all countries to earnestly safeguard the multilateral disarmament negotiating system in the context of the deteriorating global security environment. The US disarmament ambassador stressed that the United States had to start the withdrawal process because of what he called Russia's long-term violation of the INF Treaty. The Russian representative emphasised that although the US had begun the process of withdrawing from the treaty, Russia would not deploy medium- or long-range missiles in Europe and elsewhere.

Russia to exit INF treaty in six months in response to US pullout: Russian foreign minister Lavrov

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/a-nuclear-treaty-between-russia-and-the-us-is-falling-apart-can-it-be-saved-195585">Russia</a> would be prepared to consider new proposals from the United States to replace a suspended Cold War-era nuclear pact with a broader treaty that includes more countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday.

Russia suspended the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty at the weekend after Washington announced it would withdraw in six months unless Russia ends what it says are violations of the pact, allegations rejected by Moscow.

The 1987 treaty eliminated the medium-range missile arsenals of the world's two biggest nuclear powers but leaves other countries free to produce and deploy them.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said last week he would like to hold talks aimed at creating a new arms control treaty.

"We, of course, saw the reference in president Trump's statement to the possibility of a new treaty that could be signed in a beautiful room and that this treaty should also include other countries as its participants," Ryabkov said.

"We look forward to this proposal being made concrete and put on paper or by other means..." Ryabkov said at a news conference in Moscow.

Ryabkov said the United States had not sent Moscow any concrete proposals for a new pact.

&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Russia would be prepared to consider new proposals from the United States to replace a suspended Cold War-era nuclear pact with a broader treaty that includes more countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday.

Russia would be prepared to consider new proposals from the United States to replace a suspended Cold War-era nuclear pact with a broader treaty that includes more countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday. Russia suspended the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty at the weekend after Washington announced it would withdraw in six months unless Russia ends what it says are violations of the pact, allegations rejected by Moscow. The 1987 treaty eliminated the medium-range missile arsenals of the world's two biggest nuclear powers but leaves other countries free to produce and deploy them. US President Donald Trump said last week he would like to hold talks aimed at creating a new arms control treaty. "We, of course, saw the reference in president Trump's statement to the possibility of a new treaty that could be signed in a beautiful room and that this treaty should also include other countries as its participants," Ryabkov said. "We look forward to this proposal being made concrete and put on paper or by other means..." Ryabkov said at a news conference in Moscow. Ryabkov said the United States had not sent Moscow any concrete proposals for a new pact.

Open to US proposals for new nuclear treaty: Russia

Russia has developed the Poseidon, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-withdraw-from-inf-missile-treaty-unless-russia-complies-trump-194448">an unmanned underwater vehicle </a>(UUV) which can penetrate any submarine warfare countermeasures and other enemy defence systems due to a fully autonomous control system, news agency TASS reported.

The report said the Poseidon has "intellectual and propulsion capabilities that will make the vehicle invincible and make sure that it hits the target.” The UAV will be carried by a nuclear submarine. The drone can dive 1km into the water, it added.

The drone possesses thermonuclear warheads.

The drone is still undergoing " sea trials". In a report last year named US Nuclear Posture Review, the US military had said Russia was developing a "new intercontinental, nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous torpedo".

In March last year, President Putin during an address in Parliament had said that Russia was developing a "nuclear-propelled, nuclear-capable underwater drone." The latest Russian weapons is reportedly meant as a "last resort" strike and will function as a nuclear deterrent.

A report had said earlier that Russia is set to produce at least 30 Poseidon UAVs. It is likely to be commissioned in the Russian navy late next year. The Poseidon, designated &nbsp;Kanyon or Status 6 by the US military was accidentally leaked" by Russian state television in 2015.

According to the leaked information, the Poseidon's range was 6,200 miles with a top speed of 64 miles an hour.

A Tass source had said last year that the UUV has been fitted with a nuclear reactor in its hull.

Russia has developed the Poseidon, an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) which can penetrate any submarine warfare countermeasures and other enemy defence systems due to a fully autonomous control system, news agency TASS reported.

Russia has developed the Poseidon, an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) which can penetrate any submarine warfare countermeasures and other enemy defence systems due to a fully autonomous control system, news agency TASS reported. The report said the Poseidon has "intellectual and propulsion capabilities that will make the vehicle invincible and make sure that it hits the target.” The UAV will be carried by a nuclear submarine. The drone can dive 1km into the water, it added. The drone possesses thermonuclear warheads. The drone is still undergoing " sea trials". In a report last year named US Nuclear Posture Review, the US military had said Russia was developing a "new intercontinental, nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous torpedo". In March last year, President Putin during an address in Parliament had said that Russia was developing a "nuclear-propelled, nuclear-capable underwater drone." The latest Russian weapons is reportedly meant as a "last resort" strike and will function as a nuclear deterrent. A report had said earlier that Russia is set to produce at least 30 Poseidon UAVs. It is likely to be commissioned in the Russian navy late next year. The Poseidon, designated Kanyon or Status 6 by the US military was accidentally leaked" by Russian state television in 2015. According to the leaked information, the Poseidon's range was 6,200 miles with a top speed of 64 miles an hour. A Tass source had said last year that the UUV has been fitted with a nuclear reactor in its hull.

Russia has developed nuclear-tipped unmanned drone Poseidon: Report

The week that was, in pictures

Germany said on Friday that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-range-of-disputed-missile-is-allowed-under-inf-treaty-192316">Russia had "de facto invalidated"</a> a landmark cold war missile reduction treaty which the US is poised to abandon, with Europe anxious at the prospect of a new arms race.

A US deadline for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-withdrawal-from-inf-treaty-very-dangerous-step-russia-172712">Russia to come back into compliance</a> with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty expires on Saturday but secretary of state Mike Pompeo will reportedly announce the pullout as early as Friday.

Western capitals say a new Russian medium-range missile system breaches the terms of the 1987 treaty and puts European cities at risk.

Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister who has shuttled between Moscow and Washington in recent weeks trying to save the INF treaty, said Russia was still in breach.

"We must note that the INF treaty has been violated by the Russian side and that the appeals of the last 60 days for more transparency and more information have come to nothing," Maas said as he arrived for talks with fellow EU foreign ministers in Bucharest.

"A treaty to which two contracting states belong and which has been violated by one side has de facto been invalidated".

The INF treaty, signed by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and ended a dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of a new arms race if the treaty collapses - a prospect that has alarmed some European nations.

Hungary's foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said history had taught his country "a very clear lesson".

"This clear lesson is whenever there was a conflict between east and west, we central Europeans always lost," he said.

"We as Hungary I don't think we have too much leverage in this issue. We can just cross fingers for a more pragmatic cooperation between east and west."

Pompeo announced in December that the US would start the six-month process to quit the INF if Russia did not withdraw its 9M729 missile system by February 2, using the period to start work on new missiles.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said military commanders will begin preparing for "a world without an INF treaty" but insisted the alliance was still committed to arms reduction.

Russia insists the missile system complies with the treaty, and displayed it to foreign military officials and media last week in a bid to allay concerns.

Germany said on Friday that Russia had "de facto invalidated" a landmark cold war missile reduction treaty which the US is poised to abandon, with Europe anxious at the prospect of a new arms race.

Germany said on Friday that Russia had "de facto invalidated" a landmark cold war missile reduction treaty which the US is poised to abandon, with Europe anxious at the prospect of a new arms race. A US deadline for Russia to come back into compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty expires on Saturday but secretary of state Mike Pompeo will reportedly announce the pullout as early as Friday. Western capitals say a new Russian medium-range missile system breaches the terms of the 1987 treaty and puts European cities at risk. Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister who has shuttled between Moscow and Washington in recent weeks trying to save the INF treaty, said Russia was still in breach. "We must note that the INF treaty has been violated by the Russian side and that the appeals of the last 60 days for more transparency and more information have come to nothing," Maas said as he arrived for talks with fellow EU foreign ministers in Bucharest. "A treaty to which two contracting states belong and which has been violated by one side has de facto been invalidated". The INF treaty, signed by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and ended a dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of a new arms race if the treaty collapses - a prospect that has alarmed some European nations. Hungary's foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said history had taught his country "a very clear lesson". "This clear lesson is whenever there was a conflict between east and west, we central Europeans always lost," he said. "We as Hungary I don't think we have too much leverage in this issue. We can just cross fingers for a more pragmatic cooperation between east and west." Pompeo announced in December that the US would start the six-month process to quit the INF if Russia did not withdraw its 9M729 missile system by February 2, using the period to start work on new missiles. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said military commanders will begin preparing for "a world without an INF treaty" but insisted the alliance was still committed to arms reduction. Russia insists the missile system complies with the treaty, and displayed it to foreign military officials and media last week in a bid to allay concerns.

INF treaty with Russia has been invalidated: Germany

The United States has delivered Russia a 60-day ultimatum on Tuesday to come “clean” about what Washington says is a violation of the 1987 nuclear arms control treaty, saying it would be forced to start a six-month process of withdrawal if nothing changes.&nbsp;

In response, Putin, in televised comments, accused the United States of blaming Russia for violations as a pretext for Washington to exit the pact. A tripolar world is in the offing or appears to have already crystallised as the 21st century meanders on. The nature of this sparring suggests that some kind or sort of a putative confrontation is welling up between the United States and Russia.&nbsp;

Whether or not, this particular spat denotes into something ungainly might be beside the point. But, what can be culled from it is that world politics is or actually has moved beyond the post-cold war “unipolarity”. We might be witnessing the emergence or even crystallisation of a tripolar international system. (Polarity is a term that denotes the number of “poles” or power centres in the international system).

The United States, Russia and China appear to be the main contenders and competitors in the emerging international politics and the international system. The tripolar world that is emerging is unlike the system structure of bipolarity that was the defining feature of world politics after World War 3. This time around then instead of the two poles, the former Soviet Union and the United States which, obiter dictum, accorded some degree of stability to the system, there are three poles.

But, this is not the whole “ story” or picture.

&nbsp;The interesting feature of the tripolar system is the different trajectories of the three contenders and the structural context. Consider China first. The country “emerged” after its historic 1978 reforms which entailed a comprehensive modernisation of its economy, opening up to the world, ensconcing the country in the sinews of globalisation but, at the same time, retaining its political system and ideology thereof. All this laid the basis of China’s military modernisation and putative Great Power status.

Russia, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, has been on a revanchist course. It has employed hybrid techniques to what it thinks is reclaiming its erstwhile Great Power status. The country, akin to a judo player, is punching above its weight with great success.

The United States, albeit still a power to reckon with, having a lead in almost all indices of power is in relative decline. And, with an “insurgent” in the White House, in the form of Donald Trump, who is upending the rules, norms and regimes of the post war liberal order, the country thinks that by being pugnacious, it can rejig world politics and international relations to its advantage.

This is the structural context and nature of international relations in the second decade of the 21st century.

The question now is: how will tripolarity pan out? Will there be great power conflict and war? Or, can countervailing factors dampen and ameliorate this potential conflict?

As the spat between the United States and Russia suggests, there might accrue militarisation of foreign policies of major states. This means military build-ups, intense security dilemmas and arms races. The world then might be armed to the teeth, so to speak. That there would be tension is the axiomatic corollary that flows from militarisation of world politics. Various flashpoints in the world, the Middle East, the Koreas and even South Asia would then become more visible and significant in the foreign policies of the troika of Russia, the United States and China. (The site of jostling, jockeying and contention would also include the Indian Ocean Region(IoR).

All in all, the world will be a more tense and fraught place with the likelihood of a major military confrontation looking on the horizon. Will or can there be redemption? Perhaps.

But, this would lie in the return of vigorous and astute diplomacy. However, a more important countervailing force to intense and militarised conflict would be “complex interdependence”, that is, the thick flows and webs of crisscrossing commercial and capital flows that would enmesh countries in a paradigm, coming out or opting out of which would be to the detriment of each. &nbsp;As of now, however, it would appear that complex interdependence is waning or even dissipating. The challenge then for diplomacy and statecraft is to build and weave together this paradigm together, for peace within and without. The world and its people do not need a conflagration that is either an echo of 1914 or 1945, albeit in a permutation and combination that is far deadlier. Let sobriety, proportion and peace prevail!

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

The United States has delivered Russia a 60-day ultimatum on Tuesday to come “clean” about what Washington says is a violation of the 1987 nuclear arms control treaty, saying it would be forced to start a six-month process of withdrawal if nothing changes.

The United States has delivered Russia a 60-day ultimatum on Tuesday to come “clean” about what Washington says is a violation of the 1987 nuclear arms control treaty, saying it would be forced to start a six-month process of withdrawal if nothing changes. In response, Putin, in televised comments, accused the United States of blaming Russia for violations as a pretext for Washington to exit the pact. A tripolar world is in the offing or appears to have already crystallised as the 21st century meanders on. The nature of this sparring suggests that some kind or sort of a putative confrontation is welling up between the United States and Russia. Whether or not, this particular spat denotes into something ungainly might be beside the point. But, what can be culled from it is that world politics is or actually has moved beyond the post-cold war “unipolarity”. We might be witnessing the emergence or even crystallisation of a tripolar international system. (Polarity is a term that denotes the number of “poles” or power centres in the international system). The United States, Russia and China appear to be the main contenders and competitors in the emerging international politics and the international system. The tripolar world that is emerging is unlike the system structure of bipolarity that was the defining feature of world politics after World War 3. This time around then instead of the two poles, the former Soviet Union and the United States which, obiter dictum, accorded some degree of stability to the system, there are three poles. But, this is not the whole “ story” or picture. The interesting feature of the tripolar system is the different trajectories of the three contenders and the structural context. Consider China first. The country “emerged” after its historic 1978 reforms which entailed a comprehensive modernisation of its economy, opening up to the world, ensconcing the country in the sinews of globalisation but, at the same time, retaining its political system and ideology thereof. All this laid the basis of China’s military modernisation and putative Great Power status. Russia, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, has been on a revanchist course. It has employed hybrid techniques to what it thinks is reclaiming its erstwhile Great Power status. The country, akin to a judo player, is punching above its weight with great success. The United States, albeit still a power to reckon with, having a lead in almost all indices of power is in relative decline. And, with an “insurgent” in the White House, in the form of Donald Trump, who is upending the rules, norms and regimes of the post war liberal order, the country thinks that by being pugnacious, it can rejig world politics and international relations to its advantage. This is the structural context and nature of international relations in the second decade of the 21st century. The question now is: how will tripolarity pan out? Will there be great power conflict and war? Or, can countervailing factors dampen and ameliorate this potential conflict? As the spat between the United States and Russia suggests, there might accrue militarisation of foreign policies of major states. This means military build-ups, intense security dilemmas and arms races. The world then might be armed to the teeth, so to speak. That there would be tension is the axiomatic corollary that flows from militarisation of world politics. Various flashpoints in the world, the Middle East, the Koreas and even South Asia would then become more visible and significant in the foreign policies of the troika of Russia, the United States and China. (The site of jostling, jockeying and contention would also include the Indian Ocean Region(IoR). All in all, the world will be a more tense and fraught place with the likelihood of a major military confrontation looking on the horizon. Will or can there be redemption? Perhaps. But, this would lie in the return of vigorous and astute diplomacy. However, a more important countervailing force to intense and militarised conflict would be “complex interdependence”, that is, the thick flows and webs of crisscrossing commercial and capital flows that would enmesh countries in a paradigm, coming out or opting out of which would be to the detriment of each. As of now, however, it would appear that complex interdependence is waning or even dissipating. The challenge then for diplomacy and statecraft is to build and weave together this paradigm together, for peace within and without. The world and its people do not need a conflagration that is either an echo of 1914 or 1945, albeit in a permutation and combination that is far deadlier. Let sobriety, proportion and peace prevail! (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A Tripolar world portends a new Cold War

NATO countries began its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-military-exercise-in-norway-nato-chief-says-hope-russia-will-avoid-dangerous-behavior-173367">military exercise, Trident Juncture 18</a>, in Norway close to the Russian border amid tensions between the US and Russia over President Trump's decision to pull out of the NFT.

As many as 31 countries including Finland and Sweden are taking part in the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War involving over 50,000 troops. The US has committed the highest number of troops numbering 9,000 and has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

Russia termed the latest exercise an activity which "comes across as provocative, even if you try to justify it as being of a purely defensive nature." &nbsp;

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had said earlier that Europe's security environment had significantly deteriorated in recent years, while asserting that, "Trident Juncture sends a clear message to our nations and to any potential adversary."&nbsp;

"NATO does not seek confrontation but we stand ready to defend all allies against any threat," the NATO chief added.

The mega military drill is reportedly taking place 198 kilometres away from Norway's border to Russia in the far north.

Meanwhile, head of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command said "any fears on the part of the Russian Federation are unfounded," adding,"we defend, we deter, we don't take somebody else's territory. That's not our intent and they are not the focal point of this exercise."

Last month, Russia had conducted a military exercise, Vostok-2018, along with Chinese and Mongolian troops along China's border which involved over 300,000 troops.

Russian foreign ministry had said last month that NATO countries were increasing their military presence in the region, "near Russia's borders". "Such irresponsible actions are bound to lead to a destabilisation of the political situation in the North, to heighten tensions," the foreign ministry spokesman had said.

The military drill in Norway will continue from October 25th to November 7th.

NATO countries began its military exercise, Trident Juncture 18, in Norway close to the Russian border amid tensions between the US and Russia over President Trump's decision to pull out of the NFT.

NATO countries began its military exercise, Trident Juncture 18, in Norway close to the Russian border amid tensions between the US and Russia over President Trump's decision to pull out of the NFT. As many as 31 countries including Finland and Sweden are taking part in the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War involving over 50,000 troops. The US has committed the highest number of troops numbering 9,000 and has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Russia termed the latest exercise an activity which "comes across as provocative, even if you try to justify it as being of a purely defensive nature." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had said earlier that Europe's security environment had significantly deteriorated in recent years, while asserting that, "Trident Juncture sends a clear message to our nations and to any potential adversary." "NATO does not seek confrontation but we stand ready to defend all allies against any threat," the NATO chief added. The mega military drill is reportedly taking place 198 kilometres away from Norway's border to Russia in the far north. Meanwhile, head of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command said "any fears on the part of the Russian Federation are unfounded," adding,"we defend, we deter, we don't take somebody else's territory. That's not our intent and they are not the focal point of this exercise." Last month, Russia had conducted a military exercise, Vostok-2018, along with Chinese and Mongolian troops along China's border which involved over 300,000 troops. Russian foreign ministry had said last month that NATO countries were increasing their military presence in the region, "near Russia's borders". "Such irresponsible actions are bound to lead to a destabilisation of the political situation in the North, to heighten tensions," the foreign ministry spokesman had said. The military drill in Norway will continue from October 25th to November 7th.

NATO begins military excercise in Norway amid US-Russia row over Nuclear Forces Treaty

The United States' statement on its intention to withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty received criticism from Russian officials on Sunday.

Russian Deputy foreign minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-trump-pulls-out-of-nuclear-treaty-russia-says-it-will-retaliate-172639">Sergei Ryabkov said that the</a> US withdrawal from the INF Treaty would be a very dangerous step, and condemned by the international community.

He said that the US has unilaterally pulled out of a series of international agreements and mechanisms, including the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. The country's international policies have aroused growing international opposition, he added.

In the case of US withdrawal this time, Russia will take measures, including military measures to respond, according to Ryabkov.

Head of the Russian Federation Council's International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev said that the INF Treaty stipulates a unilateral pullout is only possible under "exceptional circumstances" with their substantiation within six months.

Kosachev warned that Washington's possible withdrawal from the treaty might cause its Western allies to take the same path, which could trigger a war.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, said the statement from the US again shows its intention to start an arms race. If the US persists in the withdrawal from the treaty, it will totally destroy the arms control and nuclear non-proliferation mechanism.

Yuri Shvytkin, deputy head of State Duma's Defense Committee, said the US words and deeds are based on double standards; Russia has been fulfilling its due responsibilities under the INF treaty. It is the United States that is doing everything possible to violently undermine this treaty and to blame Russia.

Russian daily newspaper Kommersant also pointed out on Sunday that if the US leaves the INF treaty, the rest of the world may see a new wave of missile research and development, and the US may also deploy intermediate-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, which means an intensified arms race and geopolitical game between major powers, as well as an undermined stability of the global security structure.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington will withdraw from the INF Treaty because Russia is violating the terms of the agreement.

The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 by then Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev and former US President Ronald Reagan to ban the development, deployment and testing of ground-launched ballistic or cruise missiles with ranges between 483 and 5,472 km.

The United States has first accused Russia of violating the conditions of the INF Treaty in July 2014. Moscow denied the allegations, calling them part of an anti-Russian campaign launched by Washington over the Ukrainian crisis. Since then, Moscow and Washington have repeatedly accused each other of violating the treaty.

The United States' statement on its intention to withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty received criticism from Russian officials on Sunday.

The United States' statement on its intention to withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty received criticism from Russian officials on Sunday. Russian Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty would be a very dangerous step, and condemned by the international community. He said that the US has unilaterally pulled out of a series of international agreements and mechanisms, including the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. The country's international policies have aroused growing international opposition, he added. In the case of US withdrawal this time, Russia will take measures, including military measures to respond, according to Ryabkov. Head of the Russian Federation Council's International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev said that the INF Treaty stipulates a unilateral pullout is only possible under "exceptional circumstances" with their substantiation within six months. Kosachev warned that Washington's possible withdrawal from the treaty might cause its Western allies to take the same path, which could trigger a war. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, said the statement from the US again shows its intention to start an arms race. If the US persists in the withdrawal from the treaty, it will totally destroy the arms control and nuclear non-proliferation mechanism. Yuri Shvytkin, deputy head of State Duma's Defense Committee, said the US words and deeds are based on double standards; Russia has been fulfilling its due responsibilities under the INF treaty. It is the United States that is doing everything possible to violently undermine this treaty and to blame Russia. Russian daily newspaper Kommersant also pointed out on Sunday that if the US leaves the INF treaty, the rest of the world may see a new wave of missile research and development, and the US may also deploy intermediate-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, which means an intensified arms race and geopolitical game between major powers, as well as an undermined stability of the global security structure. US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington will withdraw from the INF Treaty because Russia is violating the terms of the agreement. The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 by then Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev and former US President Ronald Reagan to ban the development, deployment and testing of ground-launched ballistic or cruise missiles with ranges between 483 and 5,472 km. The United States has first accused Russia of violating the conditions of the INF Treaty in July 2014. Moscow denied the allegations, calling them part of an anti-Russian campaign launched by Washington over the Ukrainian crisis. Since then, Moscow and Washington have repeatedly accused each other of violating the treaty.

US withdrawal from INF Treaty very dangerous step: Russia

Working with countries like India, Russia, and China is a good, not bad thing, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.

He was responding to criticism of his desire to improve the relationship with Moscow.

&quot;Working with countries, whether it&#39;s Russia or China or India, or any of the countries that surround this world and encompass this world, is a very good thing. That&#39;s not a bad thing,&quot; he told reporters at a joint White House news conference with Prime Minister, Norway, Erna Solberg.

Trump said he was for strongest military, massive oil and gas and a lot of energy. &quot;Putin (Russian President Vladimir Putin) can&#39;t love that,&quot; he added.

Trump said it was &quot;very much better&quot; having to do with North Korea where the US currently has a problem.

&quot;That should have never been my problem. It should have been a problem solved many years ago when it was much less dangerous. But it was given to him, along with a big mess of other things,&quot; he noted.

He blamed former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, his presidential rival in 2016 elections, saying she &quot;was not was not for a strong military&quot;.

&quot;Hillary, my opponent, was for windmills, and she was for other types of energy that don&#39;t have the same capacities at this moment certainly,&quot; he said.

Trump said it was a &quot;lot better&quot; to work with other countries.

&quot;We&#39;re working with China on North Korea. We&#39;re working with various other countries, and I think we&#39;re doing very well. We had a great talk, as you know and as you reported.

&quot;We had a great talk this morning with President Moon (of South Korea), and I think that a lot of good things are happening. We&#39;re going to see what happens,&quot; the US president said.

Solberg said Norway has a &quot;very good&quot; relationship with Russia.

&quot;As a neighbouring country we do day-to-day work on things that we have to solve for the people and the economic activity that is in that area, which is a fragile area for the whole world,&quot; she said.

Norway share border with Russia.

Responding to a question on allegations of Russian interference in elections in European countries, Solberg said her government has found no such evidence in Norway.

&quot;I think that it&#39;s up to every political system and countries to scrutinise and discuss their own political agenda in their countries. And I respect that very much and that this is an issue for American politics,&quot; she said.

The US president was responding to criticism of his desire to improve relationship with Moscow

Working with countries like India, Russia, and China is a good, not bad thing, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday. He was responding to criticism of his desire to improve the relationship with Moscow. "Working with countries, whether it's Russia or China or India, or any of the countries that surround this world and encompass this world, is a very good thing. That's not a bad thing," he told reporters at a joint White House news conference with Prime Minister, Norway, Erna Solberg. Trump said he was for strongest military, massive oil and gas and a lot of energy. "Putin (Russian President Vladimir Putin) can't love that," he added. Trump said it was "very much better" having to do with North Korea where the US currently has a problem. "That should have never been my problem. It should have been a problem solved many years ago when it was much less dangerous. But it was given to him, along with a big mess of other things," he noted. He blamed former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, his presidential rival in 2016 elections, saying she "was not was not for a strong military". "Hillary, my opponent, was for windmills, and she was for other types of energy that don't have the same capacities at this moment certainly," he said. Trump said it was a "lot better" to work with other countries. "We're working with China on North Korea. We're working with various other countries, and I think we're doing very well. We had a great talk, as you know and as you reported. "We had a great talk this morning with President Moon (of South Korea), and I think that a lot of good things are happening. We're going to see what happens," the US president said. Solberg said Norway has a "very good" relationship with Russia. "As a neighbouring country we do day-to-day work on things that we have to solve for the people and the economic activity that is in that area, which is a fragile area for the whole world," she said. Norway share border with Russia. Responding to a question on allegations of Russian interference in elections in European countries, Solberg said her government has found no such evidence in Norway. "I think that it's up to every political system and countries to scrutinise and discuss their own political agenda in their countries. And I respect that very much and that this is an issue for American politics," she said.

Working with countries like India a good thing, says Donald Trump

After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly indicated a shift in&nbsp;his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US&nbsp;relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance.

Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a &quot;grand champion&quot; of currency manipulation. Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia.

But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats.

&quot;I said it was obsolete. It&#39;s no longer obsolete,&quot; Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The apparent reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure US&nbsp;allies in Europe who were rattled by Trump&#39;s overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the president&#39;s talk of &quot;bonding&quot; with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where US&nbsp;allies are fearful of a rising China.

&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;claims US-Russia relations are at&nbsp;&quot;all time low&quot;&nbsp;

Trump&#39;s U-turn&nbsp;in&nbsp;foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, whose former publication <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/21/fbi-probing-breitbart-infowars-in-russian-influence-investigation/">Breitbart News</a> is&nbsp;under FBI investigation for links to Russia.

Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

&quot;If he says great things about me, I&#39;m going to say great things about him,&quot; Trump said last September.

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U.S. President Donald Trump voiced caution on his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he would wait and see about future ties with Moscow (Reuters)
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On Wednesday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia&#39;s support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

&quot;We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia,&quot; said Trump, who ordered the firing of US&nbsp;cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week after Putin-backed Assad was&nbsp;suspected of using&nbsp;poison gas against civilians in Syria&#39;s civil war.

While many are focused on Trump&#39;s claim that US-Russia relations are at a low, he also said in the very same press conference, &quot;It would be wonderful...if Nato and our country could get along with Russia.&quot;

The Trump administration itself is currently under FBI investigation for its links to Russia, and for its possible role in working with Moscow&#39;s effort to interfere in the 2016 US election to benefit Trump.

&nbsp;

China reversal

While criticising Russia on Wednesday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese president&#39;s visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks.

Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted &quot;difficult&quot; discussions on trade.

The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office.

Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra was a vow to keep America safe and build up the US&nbsp;military.

&nbsp;

Another reversal: Distancing himself from his own administration, again

In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump offered only lukewarm support for Bannon.

&ldquo;I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late. I had already beaten all the senators and governors, and I didn&#39;t know Steve. I&#39;m my own strategist, and it&#39;s not like I was going to change strategies because I was facing&nbsp;crooked Hillary,&rdquo; Trump said.

The claim that he didn&#39;t know Steve Bannon until the 2016 is false, the same <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/us/politics/trump-steven-bannon-fox-business-news-interview.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reports.

&nbsp;

Critics have pointed out that the Trump administration&nbsp;made similar distancing statements with&nbsp;former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and former National Security adviser Michael Flynn.&nbsp;

White House S<a href="http://fortune.com/2017/03/22/paul-manafort-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/" target="_blank">pokesman </a>Sean Spicer said that Flynn was only a &quot;campaign volunteer&quot;.&nbsp;Michael Flynn&nbsp;was forced to resign on February&nbsp;13 for contacts with Russia&#39;s ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, contacts which he misled the Vice President about.

In another&nbsp;example, a few weeks ago Spicer said&nbsp;that in the 2016 election campaign Manafort only played &quot;a very limited role for a very limited time&quot;. Manafort worked on the campaign for five months, during a crucial time, and was the campaign manager for three of those months, <a href="http://fortune.com/2017/03/22/paul-manafort-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/" target="_blank">Fortune </a>reports.&nbsp;

He only resigned after a barrage of negative press after it came to light that he received millions of dollars in undisclosed payments from the party of the Russia-backed Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovich.

Hours ago Manafort&#39;s&nbsp;spokesman said he is planning to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent,<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/12/paul-manafort-foreign-agent-trump-russia" target="_blank"> The Guardian</a> reports. He denies any impropriety.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

These drastic reversals come as the Trump administration faces more pressure under the ongoing investigation for their links to Russia

After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly indicated a shift in his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance. Trump, who ran for the White House on a pledge to shake up the status quo in Washington, repeatedly lashed out at China during the campaign, accusing Beijing of being a "grand champion" of currency manipulation. Candidate Trump also dismissed the NATO military alliance as obsolete and said he hoped to build warmer ties with Russia. But at a White House news conference and in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, he offered starkly different views on those issues, saying his relationship with Moscow was souring while ties with Beijing were improving. He also lavished praise on NATO, saying it was adapting to changing global threats. "I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said as he stood at a news conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in the White House East Room on Wednesday. The apparent reversals on Russia and NATO could reassure US allies in Europe who were rattled by Trump's overtures toward Moscow during the campaign. But the president's talk of "bonding" with Chinese President Xi Jinping could sow confusion in Asia, where US allies are fearful of a rising China. Trump claims US-Russia relations are at "all time low" Trump's U-turn in foreign policy came amid infighting within his administration that has lately seen a decline in the influence of political operatives, mainly his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, whose former publication Breitbart News is under FBI investigation for links to Russia. Six months ago, candidate Trump suggested he was eager for an alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him," Trump said last September. U.S. President Donald Trump voiced caution on his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he would wait and see about future ties with Moscow (Reuters) × On Wednesday, however, Trump said he had growing concerns about Russia's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We may be at an all-time low in terms of a relationship with Russia," said Trump, who ordered the firing of US cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week after Putin-backed Assad was suspected of using poison gas against civilians in Syria's civil war. While many are focused on Trump's claim that US-Russia relations are at a low, he also said in the very same press conference, "It would be wonderful...if Nato and our country could get along with Russia." The Trump administration itself is currently under FBI investigation for its links to Russia, and for its possible role in working with Moscow's effort to interfere in the 2016 US election to benefit Trump. China reversal While criticising Russia on Wednesday, Trump said he and Xi had bonded during the Chinese president's visit to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they dined together with their wives and held talks. Ahead of that visit, Trump had predicted "difficult" discussions on trade. The improving ties with Beijing were underscored when Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Wednesday that he would not declare China a currency manipulator as he had pledged to do on his first day in office. Trump, a former real estate developer, took office in January as a government novice whose foreign policy mantra was a vow to keep America safe and build up the US military. Another reversal: Distancing himself from his own administration, again In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump offered only lukewarm support for Bannon. “I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late. I had already beaten all the senators and governors, and I didn't know Steve. I'm my own strategist, and it's not like I was going to change strategies because I was facing crooked Hillary,” Trump said. The claim that he didn't know Steve Bannon until the 2016 is false, the same New York Times reports. Critics have pointed out that the Trump administration made similar distancing statements with former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and former National Security adviser Michael Flynn. White House Spokesman Sean Spicer said that Flynn was only a "campaign volunteer". Michael Flynn was forced to resign on February 13 for contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, contacts which he misled the Vice President about. In another example, a few weeks ago Spicer said that in the 2016 election campaign Manafort only played "a very limited role for a very limited time". Manafort worked on the campaign for five months, during a crucial time, and was the campaign manager for three of those months, Fortune reports. He only resigned after a barrage of negative press after it came to light that he received millions of dollars in undisclosed payments from the party of the Russia-backed Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovich. Hours ago Manafort's spokesman said he is planning to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent, The Guardian reports. He denies any impropriety. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

In abrupt shift, Trump appears to sour on Russia but warm to China and NATO

The US&nbsp;position on Syria remains a mystery to Moscow and Washington&#39;s rhetoric tends to be primitive and loutish, Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Wednesday.

Ryabkov&#39;s remarks were released minutes before US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the highest level representative of the Trump administration to visit Russia, was due to start talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Reuters reports.

Ryabkov said that at the talks Russia expected to discuss no-fly zones in Syria, and that North Korea and Ukraine would also be on the agenda.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Lavrov&nbsp;on Wednesday that he wanted to use talks in Moscow to understand why Russia and Washington had sharp differences and find a way to bridge those differences.

&nbsp;

Ultimatums

Moscow said Wednesday, prior to the meeting, that it was useless to give Russia an ultimatum, in response to the United States&#39; top diplomat urging it to stop supporting the Syrian government regime. 
 
&quot;It seems to me that everyone has already understood that it is useless to travel to us with ultimatums, it is simply counterproductive,&quot; said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. 
 
It was uncertain whether Tillerson would be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as it was not part of the agenda but the Kremlin had not ruled out the possibility. 
 
Tillerson&#39;s Moscow visit made him the first senior American official to visit Russia since US President Donald Trump came to power. 
 
In a statement published on the Department of State&#39;s website, Tillerson suggested Russia choose between supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and an alliance with the West. 
 
&quot;Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia&#39;s interest, or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?&quot; Tillerson said ahead of his trip to Moscow. 
 
Since a suspected chemical attack on April&nbsp;4 in the northern Syrian province of Idlib, the US has accused Russia of being morally responsible for the deaths of almost 100 Syrian civilians. 
 
The US last week launched air strikes on a regime airbase in response to the alleged chemical attack.

(Agencies)

Moscow said it was useless to give Russia an ultimatum between supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or allying with the West

The US position on Syria remains a mystery to Moscow and Washington's rhetoric tends to be primitive and loutish, Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Wednesday. Ryabkov's remarks were released minutes before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the highest level representative of the Trump administration to visit Russia, was due to start talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Reuters reports. Ryabkov said that at the talks Russia expected to discuss no-fly zones in Syria, and that North Korea and Ukraine would also be on the agenda. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Lavrov on Wednesday that he wanted to use talks in Moscow to understand why Russia and Washington had sharp differences and find a way to bridge those differences. Ultimatums Moscow said Wednesday, prior to the meeting, that it was useless to give Russia an ultimatum, in response to the United States' top diplomat urging it to stop supporting the Syrian government regime. "It seems to me that everyone has already understood that it is useless to travel to us with ultimatums, it is simply counterproductive," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. It was uncertain whether Tillerson would be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as it was not part of the agenda but the Kremlin had not ruled out the possibility. Tillerson's Moscow visit made him the first senior American official to visit Russia since US President Donald Trump came to power. In a statement published on the Department of State's website, Tillerson suggested Russia choose between supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and an alliance with the West. "Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia's interest, or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?" Tillerson said ahead of his trip to Moscow. Since a suspected chemical attack on April 4 in the northern Syrian province of Idlib, the US has accused Russia of being morally responsible for the deaths of almost 100 Syrian civilians. The US last week launched air strikes on a regime airbase in response to the alleged chemical attack. (Agencies)

Moscow says US position on Syria remains a 'mystery', rhetoric tends to be 'primitive', 'loutish'

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