Russian President Vladimir Putin played ice hockey in the Red Square alongside the Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and legendary hockey players on December 25.

Vladimir Putin plays ice hockey in Red Square

Russia Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is to decide on Thursday whether to appeal against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-imposes-four-year-ban-on-russia-over-doping-data-manipulation-267195">four-year ban imposed</a> on Russia’s participation in all major sporting events including Tokyo 2020 after World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ruled to punish the country for manipulating laboratory data on December 9.&nbsp;

The Supervisory board of RUSADA is to hold a meeting and is expected to formally reject the prohibition as it was earlier denounced by Russia’s leadership including President Vladimir Putin as being “politically motivated” and contradictory to the Olympic Charter.&nbsp;

The formal rejection could lead to an appeal against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/britains-aggar-quits-wada-role-over-russia-scandal-268028">WADA’s decision</a> at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.&nbsp;

RUSADA supervisory board chairman Alexander Ivlev is expected to announce the decision at 1000 GMT.

WADA’s executive committee unanimously issued a ban against Russia after its Compliance Review Committee (CRC) called for the proposed sanctions in a 26-page report declaring RUSADA to be non-compliant after the data handed over by the tainted Moscow laboratory was found to be "neither complete nor fully authentic".

The historical data which was handed over to WADA in January was found to have “several aggravating features” as hundreds of analytical findings had been removed and raw data and PDF files were found to be deleted.&nbsp;

Russia is currently facing a four-year ban on participation in international sporting events. Russian athletes and their personnel support are only to be allowed to participate if they can prove that they are not associated with the Russian doping scandal, even then they will not be allowed to represent the Russian Federation.

Russia is also not be allowed to host or bid to host any major sporting events. If Russia had already won a bid, the hosting rights are to be transferred to another country unless "it is legally or practically impossible to do so." The ban has threatened Saint Petersburg's staging of three games and a quarter-final for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/euro-2020-qualifiers-with-20-out-of-24-berths-filled-england-france-italy-top-their-groups-263461">Euro 2020</a>.

The expected announcement os RUSADA is to coincide with Putin’s annual marathon press conference where he is also set to restate his stance on the issue.&nbsp;

Russia Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is to decide on Thursday whether to appeal against the four-year ban imposed on Russia’s participation in all major sporting events including Tokyo 2020 after World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ruled to punish the country for manipulating laboratory data on December 9.

Russia Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is to decide on Thursday whether to appeal against the four-year ban imposed on Russia’s participation in all major sporting events including Tokyo 2020 after World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ruled to punish the country for manipulating laboratory data on December 9. The Supervisory board of RUSADA is to hold a meeting and is expected to formally reject the prohibition as it was earlier denounced by Russia’s leadership including President Vladimir Putin as being “politically motivated” and contradictory to the Olympic Charter. The formal rejection could lead to an appeal against WADA’s decision at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. RUSADA supervisory board chairman Alexander Ivlev is expected to announce the decision at 1000 GMT. WADA’s executive committee unanimously issued a ban against Russia after its Compliance Review Committee (CRC) called for the proposed sanctions in a 26-page report declaring RUSADA to be non-compliant after the data handed over by the tainted Moscow laboratory was found to be "neither complete nor fully authentic". The historical data which was handed over to WADA in January was found to have “several aggravating features” as hundreds of analytical findings had been removed and raw data and PDF files were found to be deleted. Russia is currently facing a four-year ban on participation in international sporting events. Russian athletes and their personnel support are only to be allowed to participate if they can prove that they are not associated with the Russian doping scandal, even then they will not be allowed to represent the Russian Federation. Russia is also not be allowed to host or bid to host any major sporting events. If Russia had already won a bid, the hosting rights are to be transferred to another country unless "it is legally or practically impossible to do so." The ban has threatened Saint Petersburg's staging of three games and a quarter-final for Euro 2020. The expected announcement os RUSADA is to coincide with Putin’s annual marathon press conference where he is also set to restate his stance on the issue.

Russia to announce decision on appeal against WADA's doping ban today

The Kremlin on Wednesday said&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;regrets a proposed<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-seeks-russia-ban-over-doping-data-manipulation-264626"> four-year blanket ban</a> for the country's athletes over doping but will remain open to&nbsp;cooperation.

"This is definitely concerning information. We regret this," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

In the Kremlin's first reaction to anti-doping watchdog WADA's compliance review committee's recommendations issued Monday, he stressed that Moscow was open to cooperation with international authorities&nbsp;

"You know the Russian sporting authorities have been, are and will remain as open as possible to cooperation and collaboration with the international sporting community and also with WADA," he said.

If WADA chiefs adopt the review committee's recommendations,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;faces exclusion from key sporting events including the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/with-eight-months-from-tokyo-2020-venue-preparations-enter-final-stretch-263688">2020 Tokyo Olympics</a>.

The doping scandal has tainted&nbsp;Russia's sporting reputation for the last five years, after revelations of large-scale state-sponsored doping aimed at improving&nbsp;Russia's medal performance at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Monday's call from the World Anti-Doping Agency's review panel came after Russian authorities were accused of falsifying laboratory data related to the country's doping scandal, which were handed over to investigators in January.

Peskov said news of the possible ban was "far from joyful for us," but Moscow would await the final decision on the proposed ban by WADA's executive committee on December 9 before making an assessment.

Concerning the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/russian-sports-minister-denies-doping-data-was-falsified-260570">tainted data</a>, Peskov insisted&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;had provided "detailed explanations" to WADA of the inconsistencies it found.

The Kremlin on Wednesday said Russia regrets a proposed four-year blanket ban for the country's athletes over doping but will remain open to cooperation. "This is definitely concerning information.

The Kremlin on Wednesday said Russia regrets a proposed four-year blanket ban for the country's athletes over doping but will remain open to cooperation. "This is definitely concerning information. We regret this," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. In the Kremlin's first reaction to anti-doping watchdog WADA's compliance review committee's recommendations issued Monday, he stressed that Moscow was open to cooperation with international authorities "You know the Russian sporting authorities have been, are and will remain as open as possible to cooperation and collaboration with the international sporting community and also with WADA," he said. If WADA chiefs adopt the review committee's recommendations, Russia faces exclusion from key sporting events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The doping scandal has tainted Russia's sporting reputation for the last five years, after revelations of large-scale state-sponsored doping aimed at improving Russia's medal performance at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Monday's call from the World Anti-Doping Agency's review panel came after Russian authorities were accused of falsifying laboratory data related to the country's doping scandal, which were handed over to investigators in January. Peskov said news of the possible ban was "far from joyful for us," but Moscow would await the final decision on the proposed ban by WADA's executive committee on December 9 before making an assessment. Concerning the tainted data, Peskov insisted Russia had provided "detailed explanations" to WADA of the inconsistencies it found.

Kremlin says Russia remains 'open to cooperation' on doping after proposed WADA ban

The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a four-way international summit in Paris on December&nbsp;9, an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The French presidency said on Friday that the leaders of France, Germany, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-it-will-return-captured-naval-ships-to-ukraine-on-monday-262777">Russia and Ukraine</a> would take part. But until Monday the Kremlin had failed to publicly confirm its attendance.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Putin would attend, but declined to discuss what Moscow's expectations for the event were.

Meanwhile, Russian news agencies in Sunday announced that Russia will return three captured naval ships to Ukraine and is moving them to a handover location agreed with Kiev.

A Reuters reporter in Crimea, which Russian annexed from Ukraine in 2014, earlier on Sunday saw coastguard boats pulling the three vessels through the Kerch Strait towards the Black Sea where they could potentially be handed over to Ukraine.

Ukraine has been pushing for their return as a goodwill gesture from Moscow ahead of a possible four-way peace summit on eastern Ukraine next month.

More than 13,000 people have been killed in the more than five-year-old conflict in east Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow`s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which prompted Western sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the conflict.

The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a four-way international summit in Paris on December 9, an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a four-way international summit in Paris on December 9, an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The French presidency said on Friday that the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine would take part. But until Monday the Kremlin had failed to publicly confirm its attendance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Putin would attend, but declined to discuss what Moscow's expectations for the event were. Meanwhile, Russian news agencies in Sunday announced that Russia will return three captured naval ships to Ukraine and is moving them to a handover location agreed with Kiev. A Reuters reporter in Crimea, which Russian annexed from Ukraine in 2014, earlier on Sunday saw coastguard boats pulling the three vessels through the Kerch Strait towards the Black Sea where they could potentially be handed over to Ukraine. Ukraine has been pushing for their return as a goodwill gesture from Moscow ahead of a possible four-way peace summit on eastern Ukraine next month. More than 13,000 people have been killed in the more than five-year-old conflict in east Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces. Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow`s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which prompted Western sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the conflict.

Russia confirms Putin to take part in Ukrainian peace summit in Paris

Turkey-Russia begin joint patrolling across Northern Syria

Moscow has sent an S-400 missile system battalion and a Pantsir anti-aircraft gun and missile system to Belgrade for their first joint drills in Serbia, the defence ministry said.

The systems will be deployed at Batajnica base, outside the capital, as part of the exercises that will take place on October 23-29, a statement said.

It is the first time that the S-400 and Pantsir systems will appear in military drills outside Russia, it said.

Russian and Serbian air defence units will jointly perform various tasks including detecting and destroying "the entire spectrum of air targets of the enemy force".

The drills come after the first phase of the first joint Russian-Serbian air defense exercises, Slavic Shield-2019, took place in the southern Russian region of Astrakhan in September.

Serbia is Moscow's key ally on the edge of Europe and Russian President Vladimir Putin received a rock-star welcome when he travelled to the country in January.

Although Serbia aspires to join the European Union, it has kept close ties with Russia, a historical "Orthodox big brother" whose people also share Slavic origins.

Moscow has sent an S-400 missile system battalion and a Pantsir anti-aircraft gun and missile system to Belgrade for their first joint drills in Serbia, the defence ministry said.

Moscow has sent an S-400 missile system battalion and a Pantsir anti-aircraft gun and missile system to Belgrade for their first joint drills in Serbia, the defence ministry said. The systems will be deployed at Batajnica base, outside the capital, as part of the exercises that will take place on October 23-29, a statement said. It is the first time that the S-400 and Pantsir systems will appear in military drills outside Russia, it said. Russian and Serbian air defence units will jointly perform various tasks including detecting and destroying "the entire spectrum of air targets of the enemy force". The drills come after the first phase of the first joint Russian-Serbian air defense exercises, Slavic Shield-2019, took place in the southern Russian region of Astrakhan in September. Serbia is Moscow's key ally on the edge of Europe and Russian President Vladimir Putin received a rock-star welcome when he travelled to the country in January. Although Serbia aspires to join the European Union, it has kept close ties with Russia, a historical "Orthodox big brother" whose people also share Slavic origins.

Russia sends S-400 system to Serbia for drills

The leaders of Ethiopia and Egypt met on the sidelines of Russia's Africa summit on Thursday to discuss a disputed Nile dam that has seen tensions flare, a diplomatic source told AFP.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi "delivered a message" to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about Addis Ababa's soon-to-be-finished dam on the Blue Nile, the Egyptian diplomatic source said.

The meeting lasted around 45 minutes and took place "in a positive atmosphere," the source added, without providing details.&nbsp;

Egypt fears that the building of the dam, a $4 billion project begun in 2012, will reduce the flow of the Nile, on which it depends for 90 per cent of its water supply.

Discussions between the two countries and with Sudan, through which the river also passes, have been blocked for nine years.

Russia, which is hosting a two-day Africa Summit in its Black Sea resort of Sochi in an attempt to revive its Soviet-era influence on the continent, has said it is ready to play a role in resolving the conflict.

"The dam... was discussed during (Russian President Vladimir Putin's) meeting with the President of Egypt, and during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Putin told the two leaders they should take advantage of their presence in Sochi to "directly discuss (their) concerns" and that he also offered "his assistance", Peskov said.

In early October, negotiations in Khartoum resulted in a "stalemate", according to Cairo, which has since sought international mediation.&nbsp;

Ethiopia has rejected the claim, calling it "an unwarranted denial of the progress" made during the negotiations.

Analysts fear the three Nile basin countries could be drawn into conflict if the dispute is not resolved before the dam goes into operation late next year. 
&nbsp;

The leaders of Ethiopia and Egypt met on the sidelines of Russia's Africa summit on Thursday to discuss a disputed Nile dam that has seen tensions flare, a diplomatic source told AFP.

The leaders of Ethiopia and Egypt met on the sidelines of Russia's Africa summit on Thursday to discuss a disputed Nile dam that has seen tensions flare, a diplomatic source told AFP. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi "delivered a message" to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about Addis Ababa's soon-to-be-finished dam on the Blue Nile, the Egyptian diplomatic source said. The meeting lasted around 45 minutes and took place "in a positive atmosphere," the source added, without providing details. Egypt fears that the building of the dam, a $4 billion project begun in 2012, will reduce the flow of the Nile, on which it depends for 90 per cent of its water supply. Discussions between the two countries and with Sudan, through which the river also passes, have been blocked for nine years. Russia, which is hosting a two-day Africa Summit in its Black Sea resort of Sochi in an attempt to revive its Soviet-era influence on the continent, has said it is ready to play a role in resolving the conflict. "The dam... was discussed during (Russian President Vladimir Putin's) meeting with the President of Egypt, and during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Putin told the two leaders they should take advantage of their presence in Sochi to "directly discuss (their) concerns" and that he also offered "his assistance", Peskov said. In early October, negotiations in Khartoum resulted in a "stalemate", according to Cairo, which has since sought international mediation. Ethiopia has rejected the claim, calling it "an unwarranted denial of the progress" made during the negotiations. Analysts fear the three Nile basin countries could be drawn into conflict if the dispute is not resolved before the dam goes into operation late next year.

Egypt, Ethiopia leaders discuss Nile dam in Russia

One of the major issues that define US President Donald Trump's time in the White House is - the looming shadow of Russia.

Did Russia install a yes-man at the White House? Is Trump deciding in favour of Kremlin?

This particular doubt seems more and more legitimate when one looks at US foreign policy in West Asia, especially Syria.

Because Russia has gained from strength to strength in the region since the Syrian crisis.&nbsp;

on WION edit, we will explore the changing political dynamics in West Asia.

Eight years ago, the US entered Syria without an invitation.

The stated mission was to fight the ISIS. First, the US supplied arms to the rebels of free Syria army. In 2014, the Pentagon even trained the rebels to fight ISIS.

But the real motive of the US was to gain influence in oil-rich Syria. That aspect came out in the open with the covert program 'Timber Sycamore'.

So what did this covert project aim to do?

Again, this is a weapons supply and training initiative. But the motto was to fight the Russian forces that backed the Bashar-al-Assad government 
. 
After Trump became president, this project was cancelled.

Now, Trump's sudden and dangerous decision to withdraw the US troops from Syria has pushed the country to the brink of a serious crisis.

Besides, the decision makes Russia the biggest power centre in the country. As we speak - Turkey is invading Syria and US president has threatened some 'friendly' sanctions on Ankara.

Yes, we are not living in the era of the cold war. But if this battle for influence in West Asia is viewed from a historical perspective, then right now, it looks like a game&nbsp;set and match for Moscow.

And it's not only Syria, Russia's influence in Iraq has also risen by leaps and bounds in the last few years.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, Iraq sought to improve co-operation with Moscow in 'all fields'.

Yes, the US still retains considerable hold over Iraq, but Russia is ahead in the battle for influence thanks to the backdoor entry in this power game through Iran.

And interestingly, the long arm of Russia extends to both Iran and Saudi Arabia - the arch-rivals.

The simple fact of the matter is - if there is a country that is inevitable for West Asia, that country is Russia.

And Putin uses this power in his well-crafted hegemony of the OPEC- the oil cartel.

Russia, without being a member of OPEC, controls the production levels and, as a consequence, prices. The last couple of OPEC meetings are a testimony to Russia's absolute dominance. The OPEC wasn't able to decide on production levels until Russia participated.

Besides controlling oil markets, Russia wants to dominate West Asia's defence market too.

In essence, Russia's president is the de-facto power centre in West Asia. And Vladimir Putin only has his American counterparts - Bush, Obama and now Trump to thank. 
 
 
(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

One of the major issues that define US President Donald Trump's time in the White House is - the looming shadow of Russia. Did Russia install a yes-man at the White House?

One of the major issues that define US President Donald Trump's time in the White House is - the looming shadow of Russia. Did Russia install a yes-man at the White House? Is Trump deciding in favour of Kremlin? This particular doubt seems more and more legitimate when one looks at US foreign policy in West Asia, especially Syria. Because Russia has gained from strength to strength in the region since the Syrian crisis. on WION edit, we will explore the changing political dynamics in West Asia. Eight years ago, the US entered Syria without an invitation. The stated mission was to fight the ISIS. First, the US supplied arms to the rebels of free Syria army. In 2014, the Pentagon even trained the rebels to fight ISIS. But the real motive of the US was to gain influence in oil-rich Syria. That aspect came out in the open with the covert program 'Timber Sycamore'. So what did this covert project aim to do? Again, this is a weapons supply and training initiative. But the motto was to fight the Russian forces that backed the Bashar-al-Assad government . After Trump became president, this project was cancelled. Now, Trump's sudden and dangerous decision to withdraw the US troops from Syria has pushed the country to the brink of a serious crisis. Besides, the decision makes Russia the biggest power centre in the country. As we speak - Turkey is invading Syria and US president has threatened some 'friendly' sanctions on Ankara. Yes, we are not living in the era of the cold war. But if this battle for influence in West Asia is viewed from a historical perspective, then right now, it looks like a game set and match for Moscow. And it's not only Syria, Russia's influence in Iraq has also risen by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Earlier this year, Iraq sought to improve co-operation with Moscow in 'all fields'. Yes, the US still retains considerable hold over Iraq, but Russia is ahead in the battle for influence thanks to the backdoor entry in this power game through Iran. And interestingly, the long arm of Russia extends to both Iran and Saudi Arabia - the arch-rivals. The simple fact of the matter is - if there is a country that is inevitable for West Asia, that country is Russia. And Putin uses this power in his well-crafted hegemony of the OPEC- the oil cartel. Russia, without being a member of OPEC, controls the production levels and, as a consequence, prices. The last couple of OPEC meetings are a testimony to Russia's absolute dominance. The OPEC wasn't able to decide on production levels until Russia participated. Besides controlling oil markets, Russia wants to dominate West Asia's defence market too. In essence, Russia's president is the de-facto power centre in West Asia. And Vladimir Putin only has his American counterparts - Bush, Obama and now Trump to thank. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Changing political dynamics in West Asia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday aimed teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, telling an energy forum that he did not share the excitement about her United Nations speech last month.

The 16-year-old Swede electrified the U.N. summit in New York when she denounced world leaders for failing to tackle climate change, unleashing the outrage felt by millions of her peers by demanding, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-dare-you-greta-thunberg-asks-world-leaders-at-un-251559">"How dare you?"</a>.

Putin, chairing a session at an energy forum in Moscow, said,&nbsp;"I may disappoint you but I don't share the common excitement about the speech by Greta Thunberg."

"No one has explained to Greta that the modern world is complex and different and ... people in Africa or many Asian countries want to live at the same wealth level as in Sweden."

US President Donald Trump mocked Thunberg and Canadian Member of Parliament Maxime Bernier called her alarmist and mentally unstable. Thunberg said their mockery of children showed her message had become <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-movement-now-too-loud-to-handle-for-trump-and-critics-says-greta-thunberg-252545">"too loud to handle".</a>

Putin said young people who paid attention to environmental issues should be supported, adding,&nbsp;"But when someone is using children and teenagers in personal interests, it only deserves to be condemned.

"I'm sure that Greta is a kind and very sincere girl. But adults must do everything not to bring teenagers and children into some extreme situations."

Inspired by Thunberg's solitary weekly protest outside the Swedish parliament a year ago, millions of people have poured onto the streets around the globe to demand governments take emergency action on climate change.

Thunberg told the U.N. conference, "This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you?."

"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words," she said.

Earlier this week, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament, the Duma, invited Thunberg to Russia to deliver a speech.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday aimed teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, telling an energy forum that he did not share the excitement about her United Nations speech last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday aimed teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, telling an energy forum that he did not share the excitement about her United Nations speech last month. The 16-year-old Swede electrified the U.N. summit in New York when she denounced world leaders for failing to tackle climate change, unleashing the outrage felt by millions of her peers by demanding, "How dare you?". Putin, chairing a session at an energy forum in Moscow, said, "I may disappoint you but I don't share the common excitement about the speech by Greta Thunberg." "No one has explained to Greta that the modern world is complex and different and ... people in Africa or many Asian countries want to live at the same wealth level as in Sweden." US President Donald Trump mocked Thunberg and Canadian Member of Parliament Maxime Bernier called her alarmist and mentally unstable. Thunberg said their mockery of children showed her message had become "too loud to handle". Putin said young people who paid attention to environmental issues should be supported, adding, "But when someone is using children and teenagers in personal interests, it only deserves to be condemned. "I'm sure that Greta is a kind and very sincere girl. But adults must do everything not to bring teenagers and children into some extreme situations." Inspired by Thunberg's solitary weekly protest outside the Swedish parliament a year ago, millions of people have poured onto the streets around the globe to demand governments take emergency action on climate change. Thunberg told the U.N. conference, "This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you?." "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words," she said. Earlier this week, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament, the Duma, invited Thunberg to Russia to deliver a speech.

I don't share excitement about Greta Thunberg's U.N. speech: Russian President Vladimir putin

US agents extracted a high-level Russian government source who had confirmed Vladimir Putin's direct role in interfering in the 2016 US presidential election, US media reported late Monday.

The source, who had been providing information for decades, had access to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-president-putin-hold-bilateral-talks-in-vladivostok-exchange-several-mous-247560">Putin</a> and had sent pictures of high-level documents on the Russian leader's desk, CNN reported.

The network said the spy was pulled out of Russia in 2017 due to concerns that President Donald Trump and his cabinet could expose the asset due to repeated mishandling of classified intelligence.

The CIA refuted this. Brittany Bramell, the agency's director of public affairs, told CNN&nbsp;"Misguided speculation that the President's handling of our nation's most sensitive intelligence which he has access to each and every day drove an alleged exfiltration operation is inaccurate."

The agency offered to extract the source in late 2016 but the informant initially refused, citing family issues, the New York Times reported.

This prompted fears that the informant had become a double agent, but months later the source relented, the Times added.

The unnamed individual was key in providing information that led US intelligence to conclude Putin directly orchestrated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-expect-more-responsible-attitude-putin-to-russian-space-officials-248076">Russian</a> interference in favor of Trump and against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, the Times said.

The informant was also directly linked Putin to the hacking of the Democratic National Committee, resulting in the release of a flood of embarrassing messages, the newspaper reported.

According to the Times, the agent was the CIA's most valuable Russian asset.

The extraction has "effectively blinded" American intelligence to the Kremlin's inner workings during the 2018 US midterm election, the Times report said, as well as the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

US agents extracted a high-level Russian government source who had confirmed Vladimir Putin's direct role in interfering in the 2016 US presidential election, US media reported late Monday.

US agents extracted a high-level Russian government source who had confirmed Vladimir Putin's direct role in interfering in the 2016 US presidential election, US media reported late Monday. The source, who had been providing information for decades, had access to Putin and had sent pictures of high-level documents on the Russian leader's desk, CNN reported. The network said the spy was pulled out of Russia in 2017 due to concerns that President Donald Trump and his cabinet could expose the asset due to repeated mishandling of classified intelligence. The CIA refuted this. Brittany Bramell, the agency's director of public affairs, told CNN "Misguided speculation that the President's handling of our nation's most sensitive intelligence which he has access to each and every day drove an alleged exfiltration operation is inaccurate." The agency offered to extract the source in late 2016 but the informant initially refused, citing family issues, the New York Times reported. This prompted fears that the informant had become a double agent, but months later the source relented, the Times added. The unnamed individual was key in providing information that led US intelligence to conclude Putin directly orchestrated Russian interference in favor of Trump and against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, the Times said. The informant was also directly linked Putin to the hacking of the Democratic National Committee, resulting in the release of a flood of embarrassing messages, the newspaper reported. According to the Times, the agent was the CIA's most valuable Russian asset. The extraction has "effectively blinded" American intelligence to the Kremlin's inner workings during the 2018 US midterm election, the Times report said, as well as the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

US extracted spy that confirmed Putin role in 2016 US vote: Reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin's rumoured lover reportedly gave birth to twin boys here earlier this month.&nbsp;

Former Olympic gold medalist and rhythmic gymnast, Alina Kabaeva, 36, has long been rumoured to be in a relationship with Putin, New York Post reports.

A Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets reported that Kabaeva was the reason why the entire VIP floor of the Kulakov Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology was cleared this month. However, the brief story about the births was eventually taken down.

The Daily Mail quoted an investigative journalist, a source familiar with the Russian intelligence, who also claimed that Kabaeva had allegedly given birth to two boys. He further said that a doctor from Italy helped with the C-section delivery.

Kabaeva became a model after leaving the competitive sport and was a Russian lawmaker until 2014. She now heads the National Media Group.

Nicknamed "the secret first lady," Kabaeva, three decades younger than Putin, was rumoured in 2008 to have given birth to a daughter at a private Swiss clinic, according to Voice of America. But then, as now, Kremlin once again denied reports of the births.

Meanwhile, Putin, who guards his private life fiercely - possibly a habit from his days as a KGB agent - has long denied his relationship with Kabaeva. But reports on Kabaeva, an Uzbek by birth, have continued amid accusations by Putin loyalists that they are being encouraged by Ukrainian enemies of the Russian leader.

In 2013, Putin announced the end of his 30-year marriage to wife Lyudmila Shkrebneva, with whom he has two grown-up daughters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's rumoured lover reportedly gave birth to twin boys here earlier this month. Former Olympic gold medalist and rhythmic gymnast, Alina Kabaeva, 36, has long been rumoured to be in a relationship with Putin, New York Post reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's rumoured lover reportedly gave birth to twin boys here earlier this month. Former Olympic gold medalist and rhythmic gymnast, Alina Kabaeva, 36, has long been rumoured to be in a relationship with Putin, New York Post reports. A Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets reported that Kabaeva was the reason why the entire VIP floor of the Kulakov Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology was cleared this month. However, the brief story about the births was eventually taken down. The Daily Mail quoted an investigative journalist, a source familiar with the Russian intelligence, who also claimed that Kabaeva had allegedly given birth to two boys. He further said that a doctor from Italy helped with the C-section delivery. Kabaeva became a model after leaving the competitive sport and was a Russian lawmaker until 2014. She now heads the National Media Group. Nicknamed "the secret first lady," Kabaeva, three decades younger than Putin, was rumoured in 2008 to have given birth to a daughter at a private Swiss clinic, according to Voice of America. But then, as now, Kremlin once again denied reports of the births. Meanwhile, Putin, who guards his private life fiercely - possibly a habit from his days as a KGB agent - has long denied his relationship with Kabaeva. But reports on Kabaeva, an Uzbek by birth, have continued amid accusations by Putin loyalists that they are being encouraged by Ukrainian enemies of the Russian leader. In 2013, Putin announced the end of his 30-year marriage to wife Lyudmila Shkrebneva, with whom he has two grown-up daughters.

Vladmir Putin's alleged lover Alina Kabaeva gives birth to twin boys

Russia should encourage its Venezuelan ally President<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/nicolas-maduro-addresses-venezuela-214926&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi97M38pPrhAhUMq48KHWEWAeMQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3P3cf_5kSplCYEuDk7HsE5"> Nicolas Maduro</a> to avoid violence amid a street revolt aimed at ousting him, the US representative on the crisis said Tuesday.

"The Russians have been playing a very unhelpful role," envoy Elliott Abrams told reporters.

"It would be helpful if they would make a call for no violence because one of the things we have seen in a few cases today is violence on the part of the Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, innocent civilians," he said.

Russia earlier accused <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-will-opposition-leader-guaido-topple-venezuelas-president-maduro-215049&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjy5-rfpPrhAhXT7HMBHZZXADQQFjACegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3GKUTFhtxtPhRF7Pi9FyAh">Juan Guaido</a>, recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as interim president, of fueling conflict and urged negotiations, an option Washington has rejected.

Abrams said he had exchanged messages with Guaido at around 1800 GMT on Tuesday and that the opposition leader appeared to be "buoyant and determined."

The US envoy also questioned why Maduro had not been seen in public throughout the tumultuous day.

"Normally one would view that as a sign that he is unsure of the support that he has, as he ought to be," Abrams said, while adding that the situation across Venezuela was "confused."

Russia should encourage its Venezuelan ally President Nicolas Maduro to avoid violence amid a street revolt aimed at ousting him, the US representative on the crisis said Tuesday.

Russia should encourage its Venezuelan ally President Nicolas Maduro to avoid violence amid a street revolt aimed at ousting him, the US representative on the crisis said Tuesday. "The Russians have been playing a very unhelpful role," envoy Elliott Abrams told reporters. "It would be helpful if they would make a call for no violence because one of the things we have seen in a few cases today is violence on the part of the Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, innocent civilians," he said. Russia earlier accused Juan Guaido, recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as interim president, of fueling conflict and urged negotiations, an option Washington has rejected. Abrams said he had exchanged messages with Guaido at around 1800 GMT on Tuesday and that the opposition leader appeared to be "buoyant and determined." The US envoy also questioned why Maduro had not been seen in public throughout the tumultuous day. "Normally one would view that as a sign that he is unsure of the support that he has, as he ought to be," Abrams said, while adding that the situation across Venezuela was "confused."

Russia should press Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro to avoid violence: US envoy

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an urgent meeting for Thursday afternoon (local time) to address the situation in Eastern Ukraine.

The development comes in the backdrop of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-eases-citizenship-rules-in-east-ukraine-213296&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj25oSvluvhAhUq4XMBHWYoBGYQFjAAegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0C05FmWHBgcc6Oq6zhnHGY">Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree</a> on Wednesday that would grant individuals residing in certain districts of eastern Ukraine the right to apply for Russian citizenship using a simplified procedure.

Following the announcement, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko had said that he would ask the UN Security Council to halt Russia from enacting the decree, according to DW news agency.

The decree was signed 24 hours after Ukraine`s election commission officially declared Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the winner of the country`s recently held presidential elections.

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an urgent meeting for Thursday afternoon (local time) to address the situation in Eastern Ukraine. The development comes in the backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree on Wednesday that would grant individuals residing in certain districts of eastern Ukraine the right to apply for Russian citizenship using a simplified procedure.

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an urgent meeting for Thursday afternoon (local time) to address the situation in Eastern Ukraine. The development comes in the backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree on Wednesday that would grant individuals residing in certain districts of eastern Ukraine the right to apply for Russian citizenship using a simplified procedure. Following the announcement, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko had said that he would ask the UN Security Council to halt Russia from enacting the decree, according to DW news agency. The decree was signed 24 hours after Ukraine`s election commission officially declared Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the winner of the country`s recently held presidential elections.

UNSC schedules urgent meeting to address situation in eastern Ukraine

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-four-time-president-and-global-influencer-185673">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> on Wednesday hailed final tests of a hypersonic missile, which he earlier said would render existing missile defence systems obsolete.&nbsp;

"On my instructions, the Ministry of Defence prepared and conducted a final test of this system. This has just been completed with absolute success," Putin said during a televised meeting with members of the government.

"Russia has a new type of strategic weapon," he said, adding that the intercontinental "Avangard" system would be ready for use from 2019.&nbsp;

The Kremlin told Russian news agencies the test had taken place in far eastern Kamchatka while Putin was at the national defence control centre.

Putin unveiled features of the Avangard during his annual address in March, which he said would be part of a new generation of "invincible" weaponry.

The hypersonic missile could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down, meaning it could breach defence systems, he said at the time.&nbsp;

The final test comes after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-say-trump-plunging-country-into-chaos-with-multiple-crises-186247">US President Donald Trump</a> announced plans to pull out of a key Cold War-era nuclear weapons pact, the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

Putin has laid out plans to develop missiles banned under the deal if the United States abandons it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hailed final tests of a hypersonic missile, which he earlier said would render existing missile defence systems obsolete.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hailed final tests of a hypersonic missile, which he earlier said would render existing missile defence systems obsolete. "On my instructions, the Ministry of Defence prepared and conducted a final test of this system. This has just been completed with absolute success," Putin said during a televised meeting with members of the government. "Russia has a new type of strategic weapon," he said, adding that the intercontinental "Avangard" system would be ready for use from 2019. The Kremlin told Russian news agencies the test had taken place in far eastern Kamchatka while Putin was at the national defence control centre. Putin unveiled features of the Avangard during his annual address in March, which he said would be part of a new generation of "invincible" weaponry. The hypersonic missile could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down, meaning it could breach defence systems, he said at the time. The final test comes after US President Donald Trump announced plans to pull out of a key Cold War-era nuclear weapons pact, the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Putin has laid out plans to develop missiles banned under the deal if the United States abandons it.

Putin hails 'successful' test of new hypersonic missile

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-west-trying-to-hold-back-powerful-russia-185542">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> remains a formidable force in world politics. He started as a low-level KGB spy and rose to the upper echelon of power winning the top office of his country a record four times.

Putin, a black belt in judo, relishes his macho image. His swift military interventions in Ukraine, annexing Crimea in 2014, the bombing of rebels in Syria, and allegations of interference in the US elections have stunned many observers. 
 
At 65, Putin has made no secret of his determination to reassert Russian power against US and Nato allies. 
 
Despite the long rule, Putin's approval ratings have remained high his brand of patriotism dominates Russian media, skews coverage in favour of him and puts opposition leaders in jail, and silences dissenters. 
 
In his first two terms as President, Putin was buoyed by oil and gas profits but that has changed the world is now looking at an uncertain future for the oil market. 
 
His third term was marked by more controversies - allegations of absolutism, religious orthodoxy under the powerful church, protesters marginalised including the most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny who was jailed under corruptions charges. 
 
The Church under Putin has supported a ban on groups spreading gay "propaganda" among teenagers.

The Church is back in focus over the Ukraine war and the breaking away of a faction of the Orthodox Church in favour of Ukraine as the seat of religious conservatives.

International concern about human rights in Russia has grown with the jailing of oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once one of the world's richest billionaires, and of anti-Putin activists from the punk group Pussy Riot. 
 
World leaders are conscious of&nbsp;Putin's rising clout, but&nbsp;US President Donald Trump admires the Russian President for his style. However, he&nbsp;has been wary of the headlines around his ties with Russian businesses and Russian interference in US elections in favour of Trump himself. 
 
US prosecutors accuse a longstanding Putin ally oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin of orchestrating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. 
 
The alleged meddling&nbsp;has prompted the US to impose more sanctions on officials close to Putin, a controversy that has surrounded Trump's presidency.

There are also worries of a growing arms race between the US and Russia after Washington publicly discussed quitting a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia that has been in place since 1987.

Putin has warned Washington it will be forced to respond in kind to restore the military balance if Trump carries through with his threat to quit the INF treaty. 
 
Russia is no longer a strategic partner of the European Union as well. The West accuses Putin of helping the pro-Russian rebels in Eastern Ukraine with heavy weapons and troops. The West also accuses him of meddling in Syria in favour of Bashar al-Assad. 
 
Putin's relations with the UK have soured too&nbsp;over the 2006 radioactive poisoning of anti-Putin campaigner Alexander Litvinenko in London. Agents of the Russian state were accused of murdering him and more recently the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. 
 
Controversially, he has also backed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a man now being accused of ordering the brutal murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp; 
 
But Putin is also playing peacemaker. He has been part of talks with the Taliban and the Afghan government to initiate a peace process and to bring the Taliban to the talking table. 
 
Significantly, India, China and Russia are also advancing the cause of liberalisation and promotion of free trade as the&nbsp;three countries held a trilateral meeting recently to take on the US administrations to move towards protectionism and unilateralism. 
 
Putin's rise has been spectacular - from being a spy to four-time President.

Born in 1952 in Leningrad, he studied law and then joined the Russian spy agency, the KGB, after university.

Putin served as a spy in Communist East Germany and in the&nbsp;1990s, became a top aide to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak. Later, he entered Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin in 1997, was first made chief of federal security service, and&nbsp;then the&nbsp;prime minister. 
 
Putin’s moment came in 1999 when Yeltsin quit and named him acting President. Since then, he has won four times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains a formidable force in world politics. He started as a low-level KGB spy and rose to the upper echelon of power winning the top office of his country a record four times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains a formidable force in world politics. He started as a low-level KGB spy and rose to the upper echelon of power winning the top office of his country a record four times. Putin, a black belt in judo, relishes his macho image. His swift military interventions in Ukraine, annexing Crimea in 2014, the bombing of rebels in Syria, and allegations of interference in the US elections have stunned many observers. At 65, Putin has made no secret of his determination to reassert Russian power against US and Nato allies. Despite the long rule, Putin's approval ratings have remained high his brand of patriotism dominates Russian media, skews coverage in favour of him and puts opposition leaders in jail, and silences dissenters. In his first two terms as President, Putin was buoyed by oil and gas profits but that has changed the world is now looking at an uncertain future for the oil market. His third term was marked by more controversies - allegations of absolutism, religious orthodoxy under the powerful church, protesters marginalised including the most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny who was jailed under corruptions charges. The Church under Putin has supported a ban on groups spreading gay "propaganda" among teenagers. The Church is back in focus over the Ukraine war and the breaking away of a faction of the Orthodox Church in favour of Ukraine as the seat of religious conservatives. International concern about human rights in Russia has grown with the jailing of oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once one of the world's richest billionaires, and of anti-Putin activists from the punk group Pussy Riot. World leaders are conscious of Putin's rising clout, but US President Donald Trump admires the Russian President for his style. However, he has been wary of the headlines around his ties with Russian businesses and Russian interference in US elections in favour of Trump himself. US prosecutors accuse a longstanding Putin ally oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin of orchestrating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The alleged meddling has prompted the US to impose more sanctions on officials close to Putin, a controversy that has surrounded Trump's presidency. There are also worries of a growing arms race between the US and Russia after Washington publicly discussed quitting a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia that has been in place since 1987. Putin has warned Washington it will be forced to respond in kind to restore the military balance if Trump carries through with his threat to quit the INF treaty. Russia is no longer a strategic partner of the European Union as well. The West accuses Putin of helping the pro-Russian rebels in Eastern Ukraine with heavy weapons and troops. The West also accuses him of meddling in Syria in favour of Bashar al-Assad. Putin's relations with the UK have soured too over the 2006 radioactive poisoning of anti-Putin campaigner Alexander Litvinenko in London. Agents of the Russian state were accused of murdering him and more recently the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Controversially, he has also backed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a man now being accused of ordering the brutal murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Putin is also playing peacemaker. He has been part of talks with the Taliban and the Afghan government to initiate a peace process and to bring the Taliban to the talking table. Significantly, India, China and Russia are also advancing the cause of liberalisation and promotion of free trade as the three countries held a trilateral meeting recently to take on the US administrations to move towards protectionism and unilateralism. Putin's rise has been spectacular - from being a spy to four-time President. Born in 1952 in Leningrad, he studied law and then joined the Russian spy agency, the KGB, after university. Putin served as a spy in Communist East Germany and in the 1990s, became a top aide to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak. Later, he entered Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin in 1997, was first made chief of federal security service, and then the prime minister. Putin’s moment came in 1999 when Yeltsin quit and named him acting President. Since then, he has won four times.

Vladimir Putin: Four-time President and global influencer

In pics: Guests who made 2018 special

A&nbsp;brawl erupted between members of Ukrainian parliament on Thursday&nbsp;over a poster placed on the tribune.

Parliament member Nestor Shufrych from the Opposition Bloc Party tore off a poster depicting Ukrainian oligarch and politician Viktor Medvedchuk and naming him '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's agent'.

This triggered a brawl in which a member of parliament from People's Front party Yuriy Bereza punched Shufrych in the face.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual news conference that he held a meeting with Medvedchuk lately to discuss the possible release of Ukrainian sailors seized by Russian after an incident in the Kerch Strait.

A brawl erupted between members of Ukrainian parliament on Thursday over a poster placed on the tribune. Parliament member Nestor Shufrych from the Opposition Bloc Party tore off a poster depicting Ukrainian oligarch and politician Viktor Medvedchuk and naming him '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's agent'.

A brawl erupted between members of Ukrainian parliament on Thursday over a poster placed on the tribune. Parliament member Nestor Shufrych from the Opposition Bloc Party tore off a poster depicting Ukrainian oligarch and politician Viktor Medvedchuk and naming him '(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's agent'. This triggered a brawl in which a member of parliament from People's Front party Yuriy Bereza punched Shufrych in the face. Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual news conference that he held a meeting with Medvedchuk lately to discuss the possible release of Ukrainian sailors seized by Russian after an incident in the Kerch Strait.

Watch: Ukrainian MPs scuffle in parliament over putin's agent poster

WION Dispatch: Putin, Trump plan to meet in Paris next month

The US on Wednesday urged its allies not to enter into transactions with Russia and warned that it would trigger American sanctions, a day after it was reported that India was planning to purchase multi-billion S-400 missile defense system from Moscow.

 
Late last month, the Trump administration imposed sanctions under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA, which was signed into law last August, on China for purchasing fighter jets and missile defense system from Russia.

The CAATSA law tries to push back against Russia's malign activity around the world.

"We urge all of our allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that would trigger sanctions under CAATSA," a State Department Spokesperson told PTI when asked about India's plan to purchase multi-billion S-400 missile defense system from Russia.

"The Administration has indicated that a focus area for the implementation of CAATSA Section 231 is new or qualitative upgrades in capability - including the S-400 air and missile defense system," the spokesperson said.

According to a report, India and Russia will sign a deal for the multi-billion-dollar S-400 surface-to-air missile system this week.

The signing of the deal for Moscow's most advanced air defence system will be overseen by Russian president Vladimir Putin, who is visiting New Delhi on October 4-5 for the annual India-Russia summit, the report said quoting a top Kremlin official said.

"The President is trying to develop a relationship and change that, but we've not been successful, at least to date," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told NBC news in an interview.

In September, a senior administration official told reporters that purchase of major military system like multi-billion S-400 missile defense system would be considered as a "significant transaction and thus has a potential" for CAATSA sanctions.

The official emphasized that the ultimate target of these sanctions was Russia.

The CAATSA sanctions in this context are not intended to undermine the defence capabilities of any particular country.

 
"They are instead aimed at imposing costs upon Russia in response to its malign activities," the official had said.&nbsp;

The US on Wednesday urged its allies not to enter into transactions with Russia and warned that it would trigger American sanctions, a day after it was reported that India was planning to purchase multi-billion S-400 missile defense system from Moscow.

The US on Wednesday urged its allies not to enter into transactions with Russia and warned that it would trigger American sanctions, a day after it was reported that India was planning to purchase multi-billion S-400 missile defense system from Moscow. Late last month, the Trump administration imposed sanctions under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA, which was signed into law last August, on China for purchasing fighter jets and missile defense system from Russia. The CAATSA law tries to push back against Russia's malign activity around the world. "We urge all of our allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that would trigger sanctions under CAATSA," a State Department Spokesperson told PTI when asked about India's plan to purchase multi-billion S-400 missile defense system from Russia. "The Administration has indicated that a focus area for the implementation of CAATSA Section 231 is new or qualitative upgrades in capability - including the S-400 air and missile defense system," the spokesperson said. According to a report, India and Russia will sign a deal for the multi-billion-dollar S-400 surface-to-air missile system this week. The signing of the deal for Moscow's most advanced air defence system will be overseen by Russian president Vladimir Putin, who is visiting New Delhi on October 4-5 for the annual India-Russia summit, the report said quoting a top Kremlin official said. "The President is trying to develop a relationship and change that, but we've not been successful, at least to date," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told NBC news in an interview. In September, a senior administration official told reporters that purchase of major military system like multi-billion S-400 missile defense system would be considered as a "significant transaction and thus has a potential" for CAATSA sanctions. The official emphasized that the ultimate target of these sanctions was Russia. The CAATSA sanctions in this context are not intended to undermine the defence capabilities of any particular country. "They are instead aimed at imposing costs upon Russia in response to its malign activities," the official had said.

As Putin heads to India, US warns of sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on October 5 for the 19th India-Russia summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this comes against the backdrop of a complex dynamic that relates to the texture of their individual relations with the US.

On Thursday (September 20), the Trump administration imposed sanctions on China by invoking CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) provisions since Beijing had engaged in “significant transactions” with Russia. These include the Su-35 combat aircraft and the S-400 surface-to-air missile system and it is instructive to note that these inventory items are also part of the acquisitions that are in the pipeline for India to obtain from Russia. Moscow has been a major supplier of military equipment to India for five decades and the agenda for the current Putin visit is likely to include some important G2G (government to government) agreements for the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative.

It is pertinent to note that India is among the world’s largest importers of military equipment, for it has no significant indigenous manufacturing and design/R&amp;D capability in the defence sector as related to conventional weaponry. It is an anomalous characteristic, that while India has acquired a certain degree of self-sufficiency in relation to strategic capability (nuclear weapons, missiles and nuclear propulsion), it is also a country that has not been able to design and manufacture its own rifle or pistol with a performance index that is on par with the global benchmark.

This has been a major inadequacy in the higher defence management of India for years and this manufacturing-design void in conventional military capability dilutes India’s claim to “strategic autonomy” in the global arena. While Moscow, in its own transition from the former USSR to the current Russian Federation, has provided India invaluable support in certain niches — for instance nuclear submarine construction — this has not been the case in relation to conventional military equipment, however rudimentary. Consequently, the five decades of Indian engagement with the former Soviet Union and later Russia (after the end of the Cold War in December 1991) did not lead to any significant addition to India’s defence manufacturing sector.

Thus it is significant that the Putin visit in October may also include G2G protocols for the licenced-production of the AK-103 assault rifle in an Indian defence public sector unit and a joint venture between Rostec, a Russian helicopter entity, and HAL for the production of the Ka-226 light utility helicopters. Taken to their logical conclusion, this initiative will provide substantive content to the Make in India effort that has been prioritised by Prime Minister Modi, though the question lingers as to why such a step was not taken much earlier by New Delhi. It is understood that the Russian origin Talwar class frigates and IL-78 transport aircraft would also be considered for acquisition.

But all of this would be deemed to be a “significant” transaction with Russia by the White House and early signals coming from the Beltway are cautioning India that the CAASTA legislation could be invoked against New Delhi. It may be recalled that during the recently concluded ‘2+2’ talks that India had with the US, this issue had been flagged but no official position was articulated by both sides and prudently so.

The Trump administration has advised its allies and friends that it expects them to comply with the US line on both Russia and Iran and different domestic legislation such as CAASTA has been introduced. This is a demand that cannot easily be agreed to by many nations who have a long-standing military equipment relationship with Moscow and it is expected that the waiver route would be resorted to on a case-by-case basis.

For the US, the more immediate reaction has come from Beijing which responded to the September 19 CAASTA sanctions by summoning the US ambassador in Beijing and advising Washington to review its position or “bear the consequences.” The US-China tension that is already at play in the economic-trade domain has now spread to the military domain and has become a triangular issue involving Russia as well.

How India will deal with a Trump-led US diktat over CAASTA (and later Iran) will be a litmus test for the resilience of the India-US relationship, as also an indicator of the strategic import that Delhi accords to its ties with Moscow. There are many strands of tactical discord between India and Russia that have emerged in recent years — for instance Russian dismay at the Delhi-Washington partnership that had grown to a robust military sales relationship of $15 billion in a decade and the relative lack of enthusiasm from New Delhi to pursue any new big-ticket projects with Moscow.

On the Indian side, the more recent Russia-Pakistan military relationship and coordination over the Taliban issue in Afghanistan has stoked Indian anxiety. Furthermore, India has to accept the reality that there will be a greater degree of strategic engagement between Moscow and Beijing to deal with the current US orientation in global affairs led by an unpredictable Trump administration.

But the paradox is that while there are specific and complex tactical dissonances in the bilaterals, India remains a distinctive swing State for all three of its major interlocutors: Russia, US and China. While India is militarily dependent on both the US and Russia, they are aware that to realise their respective strategic objectives over the next 25 years, it would be desirable for them to have a stable and satisfactory relationship with India. In like fashion, the Indian swing index works differently for China, wherein pushing New Delhi into the Washington camp would introduce a brittleness in the China-US relationship that will not be favourable to Beijing. India has to distribute its military dependency astutely and Putin’s visit may enable a more nuanced dialogue with Washington over CAATSA and other prickly issues.

(This article was first published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-dynamics-around-putin-s-visit-2666999">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on October 5 for the 19th India-Russia summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this comes against the backdrop of a complex dynamic that relates to the texture of their individual relations with the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on October 5 for the 19th India-Russia summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this comes against the backdrop of a complex dynamic that relates to the texture of their individual relations with the US. On Thursday (September 20), the Trump administration imposed sanctions on China by invoking CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) provisions since Beijing had engaged in “significant transactions” with Russia. These include the Su-35 combat aircraft and the S-400 surface-to-air missile system and it is instructive to note that these inventory items are also part of the acquisitions that are in the pipeline for India to obtain from Russia. Moscow has been a major supplier of military equipment to India for five decades and the agenda for the current Putin visit is likely to include some important G2G (government to government) agreements for the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative. It is pertinent to note that India is among the world’s largest importers of military equipment, for it has no significant indigenous manufacturing and design/R&D capability in the defence sector as related to conventional weaponry. It is an anomalous characteristic, that while India has acquired a certain degree of self-sufficiency in relation to strategic capability (nuclear weapons, missiles and nuclear propulsion), it is also a country that has not been able to design and manufacture its own rifle or pistol with a performance index that is on par with the global benchmark. This has been a major inadequacy in the higher defence management of India for years and this manufacturing-design void in conventional military capability dilutes India’s claim to “strategic autonomy” in the global arena. While Moscow, in its own transition from the former USSR to the current Russian Federation, has provided India invaluable support in certain niches — for instance nuclear submarine construction — this has not been the case in relation to conventional military equipment, however rudimentary. Consequently, the five decades of Indian engagement with the former Soviet Union and later Russia (after the end of the Cold War in December 1991) did not lead to any significant addition to India’s defence manufacturing sector. Thus it is significant that the Putin visit in October may also include G2G protocols for the licenced-production of the AK-103 assault rifle in an Indian defence public sector unit and a joint venture between Rostec, a Russian helicopter entity, and HAL for the production of the Ka-226 light utility helicopters. Taken to their logical conclusion, this initiative will provide substantive content to the Make in India effort that has been prioritised by Prime Minister Modi, though the question lingers as to why such a step was not taken much earlier by New Delhi. It is understood that the Russian origin Talwar class frigates and IL-78 transport aircraft would also be considered for acquisition. But all of this would be deemed to be a “significant” transaction with Russia by the White House and early signals coming from the Beltway are cautioning India that the CAASTA legislation could be invoked against New Delhi. It may be recalled that during the recently concluded ‘2+2’ talks that India had with the US, this issue had been flagged but no official position was articulated by both sides and prudently so. The Trump administration has advised its allies and friends that it expects them to comply with the US line on both Russia and Iran and different domestic legislation such as CAASTA has been introduced. This is a demand that cannot easily be agreed to by many nations who have a long-standing military equipment relationship with Moscow and it is expected that the waiver route would be resorted to on a case-by-case basis. For the US, the more immediate reaction has come from Beijing which responded to the September 19 CAASTA sanctions by summoning the US ambassador in Beijing and advising Washington to review its position or “bear the consequences.” The US-China tension that is already at play in the economic-trade domain has now spread to the military domain and has become a triangular issue involving Russia as well. How India will deal with a Trump-led US diktat over CAASTA (and later Iran) will be a litmus test for the resilience of the India-US relationship, as also an indicator of the strategic import that Delhi accords to its ties with Moscow. There are many strands of tactical discord between India and Russia that have emerged in recent years — for instance Russian dismay at the Delhi-Washington partnership that had grown to a robust military sales relationship of $15 billion in a decade and the relative lack of enthusiasm from New Delhi to pursue any new big-ticket projects with Moscow. On the Indian side, the more recent Russia-Pakistan military relationship and coordination over the Taliban issue in Afghanistan has stoked Indian anxiety. Furthermore, India has to accept the reality that there will be a greater degree of strategic engagement between Moscow and Beijing to deal with the current US orientation in global affairs led by an unpredictable Trump administration. But the paradox is that while there are specific and complex tactical dissonances in the bilaterals, India remains a distinctive swing State for all three of its major interlocutors: Russia, US and China. While India is militarily dependent on both the US and Russia, they are aware that to realise their respective strategic objectives over the next 25 years, it would be desirable for them to have a stable and satisfactory relationship with India. In like fashion, the Indian swing index works differently for China, wherein pushing New Delhi into the Washington camp would introduce a brittleness in the China-US relationship that will not be favourable to Beijing. India has to distribute its military dependency astutely and Putin’s visit may enable a more nuanced dialogue with Washington over CAATSA and other prickly issues. (This article was first published on The DNA. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Dynamics around Putin’s India visit

On Mondy,&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to ensure that Syria respects implementation of the ceasefire accord in Eastern Ghouta.&nbsp;

According to reports, Macron, in a telephonic conversation, asked Putin to take stringent measures to push the Syrian government to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 2401 without any further delay.&nbsp;

The French President also urged Kremlin to assume all its responsibilities to show &quot;full credibility of its commitments,&quot; toward the welfare of the war-torn country and help Syria receive access to humanitarian aid in the rebel-held enclave.

On February 24, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to achieve a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria in the wake of a deadly Syrian conflict that killed hundreds in Eastern Ghouta.

The offensive was carried out by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to eliminate Al Qaeda linked groups in rebel-held zones.

On February 24, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to achieve a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria

On Mondy, French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to ensure that Syria respects implementation of the ceasefire accord in Eastern Ghouta. According to reports, Macron, in a telephonic conversation, asked Putin to take stringent measures to push the Syrian government to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 2401 without any further delay. The French President also urged Kremlin to assume all its responsibilities to show "full credibility of its commitments," toward the welfare of the war-torn country and help Syria receive access to humanitarian aid in the rebel-held enclave. On February 24, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to achieve a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria in the wake of a deadly Syrian conflict that killed hundreds in Eastern Ghouta. The offensive was carried out by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to eliminate Al Qaeda linked groups in rebel-held zones.

Macron urges Putin to ensure Syrian implementation of UN ceasefire accord

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after accusing Iran of wanting &quot;to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site&quot;.

He made his comments before leaving for Moscow, where he again said Iran wanted to &quot;destroy&quot; the Jewish state.

Netanyahu has held a series of discussions with Putin in recent months on Iran&#39;s influence in war-torn Syria and in Lebanon, seeking to persuade Russia to limit Iran&#39;s presence near Israeli territory and to stop it from entrenching itself militarily in Syria.

Russia, Iran and Lebanon&#39;s Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah -- which is backed by Tehran -- all support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country&#39;s civil war.

Netanyahu said before he left Israel that he planned to discuss with Putin Iran&#39;s &quot;relentless efforts to establish a military presence in Syria, which we strongly oppose and are also taking action against&quot;.

&quot;We will also discuss Iran&#39;s effort to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site, a site for precision missiles against the state of Israel, which we will not tolerate.&quot;

After viewing an exhibition in Moscow dedicated to the 1943 uprising at the Sobibor Nazi death camp, Netanyahu said that Israel is &quot;still ready to prevent any attempts of this type of ideology, in the first place Iran, which speaks of the intention to destroy us&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;We will stand before them (Iran) with all our might,&quot; Netanyahu said. &quot;There will not be another Holocaust.&quot;&nbsp;

The two leaders also took part in a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at Moscow&#39;s Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center and watched parts of a Russian-made film on the Sobibor uprising.&nbsp;

Putin said modern political and religious leaders should do &quot;everything possible to preserve historical memory in the 21st century and prevent the weeds of nationalist ideology spreading in whatever form it takes: anti-Semitism, Russophobia and other phobias built on hatred&quot;.&nbsp;

Netanyahu has held a series of discussions with Putin in recent months on Iran's influence in war-torn Syria and in Lebanon, seeking to persuade Russia to limit Iran's presence near Israeli territory and to stop it from entrenching itself militarily in Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after accusing Iran of wanting "to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site". He made his comments before leaving for Moscow, where he again said Iran wanted to "destroy" the Jewish state. Netanyahu has held a series of discussions with Putin in recent months on Iran's influence in war-torn Syria and in Lebanon, seeking to persuade Russia to limit Iran's presence near Israeli territory and to stop it from entrenching itself militarily in Syria. Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah -- which is backed by Tehran -- all support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war. Netanyahu said before he left Israel that he planned to discuss with Putin Iran's "relentless efforts to establish a military presence in Syria, which we strongly oppose and are also taking action against". "We will also discuss Iran's effort to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site, a site for precision missiles against the state of Israel, which we will not tolerate." After viewing an exhibition in Moscow dedicated to the 1943 uprising at the Sobibor Nazi death camp, Netanyahu said that Israel is "still ready to prevent any attempts of this type of ideology, in the first place Iran, which speaks of the intention to destroy us". "We will stand before them (Iran) with all our might," Netanyahu said. "There will not be another Holocaust." The two leaders also took part in a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at Moscow's Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center and watched parts of a Russian-made film on the Sobibor uprising. Putin said modern political and religious leaders should do "everything possible to preserve historical memory in the 21st century and prevent the weeds of nationalist ideology spreading in whatever form it takes: anti-Semitism, Russophobia and other phobias built on hatred".

Netanyahu lashes out at Iran in talks with Putin

President Donald Trump&#39;s son Donald Trump Jr&nbsp;agreed to meet with a Kremlin-linked lawyer during the 2016 campaign after being promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Sunday (July 9), citing three advisers to the White House, Reuters reports.

Trump&#39;s then-campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also attended the meeting at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016, two weeks after Trump won the Republican nomination, the Times reported.

The Times quoted a statement from Donald Trump Jr&nbsp;in which he acknowledged meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.

&quot;After pleasantries were exchanged, the woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Ms&nbsp;Clinton,&quot; the Times quoted Donald Trump Jr&nbsp;as saying. Clinton was the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.

The Times said Veselnitskaya then turned the conversation to the adoption of Russian children and a 2012 US&nbsp;law, known as the Magnitsky Act, blacklisting Russians linked to alleged human-rights abuses.

Vladimir Putin banned Americans from adopting&nbsp;Russian children because he was reportedly so outraged by Obama&#39;s passing of the Magnitsky Act. Putin also banned the former federal prosecutor,&nbsp;Indian-origin Preet Bharara, notorious for convicting Russian arms and drug dealers. Donald Trump originally asked Bharara to serve as a US attorney, then fired him in March.

&nbsp;

Changing his version

Donald Trump Jr altered his version of the story Sunday night,&nbsp;after The New York Times, citing three White House advisors and two other people with knowledge of the meeting, stated that the purpose of the meeting was for damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

Trump Jr claimed the information Veselnitskaya provided&nbsp;&quot;made no sense&quot; and was not &quot;meaningful&quot;.

Whether or not she produced any damaging information is not known, but she was expected to.

His full statement is here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
JUST IN: Donald Trump Jr. responds to reports that he met with Kremlin-linked lawyer during campaign <a href="https://t.co/5mqRX38Wio">pic.twitter.com/5mqRX38Wio</a>
&mdash; NBC News (@NBCNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/884164341649600512">July 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Three days after the meeting between Veselnitskaya&nbsp;and the Trump campaign, Julian Assange at WikiLeaks, the man the NSA, FBI and CIA claim with &quot;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/06/vladimir-putin-us-election-interference-report-donald-trump" target="_blank">high confidence</a>&quot; received hacked Clinton emails from&nbsp;Russian military intelligence, announced, &quot;We have upcoming leaks in relation to Hillary Clinton...We have emails pending publication, that is correct.&quot;

Assange maintains he did not receive any material from the Russians.

The meeting between the Trump campaign and&nbsp;Veselnitskaya&nbsp;was not <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/trump-campaign-leaders-met-kremlin-linked-lawyer-report.html">disclosed </a>until Jared Kushner filed an updated request for national-security clearance, after it became known that in his earlier report he failed to disclose other contacts with Russian officials. Kushner claimed it was an error. The punishment for submitting a false report, or concealing information, can be imprisonment.&nbsp;

President Trump was &quot;not aware of and did not attend&quot; the meeting reported by the Times, Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Trump&#39;s legal team, said in an emailed statement.

Here is a video of Donald Trump Jr on July 24, 2016, denying that Russia helped the Trump campaign by hacking the Democrats and releasing the emails.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
FLASHBACK: Don Jr. July 24, 2016. On the Clinton campaign&#39;s claims that the Russians were helping Trump: &quot;It&#39;s disgusitng. It&#39;s so phony.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/BSut2RwbOs">pic.twitter.com/BSut2RwbOs</a>
&mdash; Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/884206457843068928">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

(With agency inputs)

Whether she provided the damaging information is unknown, but WikiLeaks' Assange announced he possessed Clinton's hacked emails three days later

President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr agreed to meet with a Kremlin-linked lawyer during the 2016 campaign after being promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Sunday (July 9), citing three advisers to the White House, Reuters reports. Trump's then-campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also attended the meeting at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016, two weeks after Trump won the Republican nomination, the Times reported. The Times quoted a statement from Donald Trump Jr in which he acknowledged meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. "After pleasantries were exchanged, the woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Ms Clinton," the Times quoted Donald Trump Jr as saying. Clinton was the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. The Times said Veselnitskaya then turned the conversation to the adoption of Russian children and a 2012 US law, known as the Magnitsky Act, blacklisting Russians linked to alleged human-rights abuses. Vladimir Putin banned Americans from adopting Russian children because he was reportedly so outraged by Obama's passing of the Magnitsky Act. Putin also banned the former federal prosecutor, Indian-origin Preet Bharara, notorious for convicting Russian arms and drug dealers. Donald Trump originally asked Bharara to serve as a US attorney, then fired him in March. Changing his version Donald Trump Jr altered his version of the story Sunday night, after The New York Times, citing three White House advisors and two other people with knowledge of the meeting, stated that the purpose of the meeting was for damaging information on Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr claimed the information Veselnitskaya provided "made no sense" and was not "meaningful". Whether or not she produced any damaging information is not known, but she was expected to. His full statement is here: JUST IN: Donald Trump Jr. responds to reports that he met with Kremlin-linked lawyer during campaign pic.twitter.com/5mqRX38Wio — NBC News (@NBCNews) July 9, 2017 × Three days after the meeting between Veselnitskaya and the Trump campaign, Julian Assange at WikiLeaks, the man the NSA, FBI and CIA claim with "high confidence" received hacked Clinton emails from Russian military intelligence, announced, "We have upcoming leaks in relation to Hillary Clinton...We have emails pending publication, that is correct." Assange maintains he did not receive any material from the Russians. The meeting between the Trump campaign and Veselnitskaya was not disclosed until Jared Kushner filed an updated request for national-security clearance, after it became known that in his earlier report he failed to disclose other contacts with Russian officials. Kushner claimed it was an error. The punishment for submitting a false report, or concealing information, can be imprisonment. President Trump was "not aware of and did not attend" the meeting reported by the Times, Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Trump's legal team, said in an emailed statement. Here is a video of Donald Trump Jr on July 24, 2016, denying that Russia helped the Trump campaign by hacking the Democrats and releasing the emails. FLASHBACK: Don Jr. July 24, 2016. On the Clinton campaign's claims that the Russians were helping Trump: "It's disgusitng. It's so phony." pic.twitter.com/BSut2RwbOs — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 10, 2017 × (With agency inputs)

Trump Jr met Kremlin-linked lawyer who promised damaging info on Clinton during election

Craig Reedie, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, indicated today that he would be prepared to back a complete ban for the entire Russia team from August&#39;s Olympic Games in Rio. 
 
The founding president of WADA, Dick Pound, told Britain&#39;s Sunday Times newspaper that such a ban was &quot;not impossible&quot;. 
 
Friday saw the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) uphold an international ban on Russia&#39;s track and field competitors first imposed in November after a WADA team led by veteran Canadian sports administrator Pound revealed state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics.&nbsp; 
 
The Russia team is now ruled out of all events in athletics in Rio, although Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August 5-21 event in Brazil. 
 
The IAAF&#39;s decision was endorsed by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. 
 
But there are fears that the scale of Russia&#39;s breaking of doping rules extend beyond just track and field. 
 
In May, WADA set up a new investigation under Professor Richard McLaren, a Canadian law professor and longstanding member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. 
 
Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Russian lab now living in Los Angeles, also gave an interview to the New York Times last month in which he said he switched tainted urine samples for clean ones at the doping lab used for the Sochi Games, with help from people he believed to be officers of the Russian security services. 
 
McLaren, who is due to deliver his full report by July 15, said in a preliminary statement on Friday he had evidence that Russia&#39;s Ministry of Sport was involved in instructing a Moscow laboratory to &quot;not report positive sample results over the period before, during and after&quot; the 2013 World Athletics Championships. 
 
&quot;In the coming weeks, we will learn the outcome of our independent McLaren investigation,&quot; Reedie, speaking at the WADA symposium at London`s Lord&#39;s Cricket Ground, said Monday. 
 
&quot;If his report indicates transgressions of any kind, then there will be a precedent-setting opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to cleaning up sport,&quot; added the veteran British sports administrator, who reiterated WADA&#39;s support for the IAAF ban on Russia. 
 
&quot;The world will be watching.&quot; 
 
Reedie said the fact anti-doping laboratories in Beijing, Bloemfontein, Lisbon, Madrid and Moscow had all had their WADA accreditation suspended was proof that the organisation had taken &quot;decisive action&quot; by hearing the &quot;strength of the athlete&#39;s voice&quot; in insisting labs maintain the &quot;highest standards&quot;. 
 
This, said Reedie, was all part of &quot;levelling the playing field for each and every athlete competing in Rio&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile Reedie repeated his calls for increased WADA funding from national governments and also suggested that, for the first time, broadcasters and media rights-holders might want to contribute to the budget. 
 
Reedie said WADA was &quot;punching above its weight&quot; on a budget of less than $30 million a year, which he noted was less than the annual income of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, recently banned for a doping violation. 
 
Reedie added that 0.5 per cent of the worldwide sports television rights market would produce a WADA budget of $175 million and that it was in the rights-holders&#39; interest to promote clean sport. 
 
Russian President Vladmir Putin&nbsp;has labelled the IAAF&#39;s ban on his country&#39;s athletes as &quot;unjust and unfair&quot;. 
 
But IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who won Olympic 1500 metres gold and 800m silver for Great Britain at the 1980 Moscow Games, wrote in Britain&#39;s Sunday Telegraph: &quot;We have not prevented clean athletes from Russia from competing, rather the Russian system has cataclysmically failed their clean athletes.&quot; 
(AFP)

Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August event in Brazil

Craig Reedie, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, indicated today that he would be prepared to back a complete ban for the entire Russia team from August's Olympic Games in Rio. The founding president of WADA, Dick Pound, told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper that such a ban was "not impossible". Friday saw the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) uphold an international ban on Russia's track and field competitors first imposed in November after a WADA team led by veteran Canadian sports administrator Pound revealed state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics. The Russia team is now ruled out of all events in athletics in Rio, although Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August 5-21 event in Brazil. The IAAF's decision was endorsed by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. But there are fears that the scale of Russia's breaking of doping rules extend beyond just track and field. In May, WADA set up a new investigation under Professor Richard McLaren, a Canadian law professor and longstanding member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Russian lab now living in Los Angeles, also gave an interview to the New York Times last month in which he said he switched tainted urine samples for clean ones at the doping lab used for the Sochi Games, with help from people he believed to be officers of the Russian security services. McLaren, who is due to deliver his full report by July 15, said in a preliminary statement on Friday he had evidence that Russia's Ministry of Sport was involved in instructing a Moscow laboratory to "not report positive sample results over the period before, during and after" the 2013 World Athletics Championships. "In the coming weeks, we will learn the outcome of our independent McLaren investigation," Reedie, speaking at the WADA symposium at London`s Lord's Cricket Ground, said Monday. "If his report indicates transgressions of any kind, then there will be a precedent-setting opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to cleaning up sport," added the veteran British sports administrator, who reiterated WADA's support for the IAAF ban on Russia. "The world will be watching." Reedie said the fact anti-doping laboratories in Beijing, Bloemfontein, Lisbon, Madrid and Moscow had all had their WADA accreditation suspended was proof that the organisation had taken "decisive action" by hearing the "strength of the athlete's voice" in insisting labs maintain the "highest standards". This, said Reedie, was all part of "levelling the playing field for each and every athlete competing in Rio". Meanwhile Reedie repeated his calls for increased WADA funding from national governments and also suggested that, for the first time, broadcasters and media rights-holders might want to contribute to the budget. Reedie said WADA was "punching above its weight" on a budget of less than $30 million a year, which he noted was less than the annual income of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, recently banned for a doping violation. Reedie added that 0.5 per cent of the worldwide sports television rights market would produce a WADA budget of $175 million and that it was in the rights-holders' interest to promote clean sport. Russian President Vladmir Putin has labelled the IAAF's ban on his country's athletes as "unjust and unfair". But IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who won Olympic 1500 metres gold and 800m silver for Great Britain at the 1980 Moscow Games, wrote in Britain's Sunday Telegraph: "We have not prevented clean athletes from Russia from competing, rather the Russian system has cataclysmically failed their clean athletes." (AFP)

World Anti-Doping Agency prepared to ban entire Russian team from Rio Olympics

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