China's foreign ministry condemned on Tuesday a report by the U.S. State Department about China's claims in the South China Sea, saying they went against Washington's promises not to take sides in the dispute.

• December 9, 2014

Ukraine plans a "Day of Silence" on Tuesday to try to rebuild a ceasefire with pro-Russian separatists that has all but disintegrated, but accompanying peace talks -- the first in three months -- look likely to be delayed.

• December 8, 2014

The United Nations peace envoy to Syria is holding talks with the Syrian opposition in Turkey to promote a ceasefire proposal for the northern city of Aleppo, opposition sources said on Monday.

• December 8, 2014

A senior Russian diplomat accused the United States on Monday of trying to bring down President Vladimir Putin with the sanctions it has imposed on Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine.

• December 8, 2014

Italy reacted angrily on Sunday to demands from Chancellor Angela Merkel that it enact more reforms to bring its 2015 budget in line with EU fiscal rules, saying the German leader's time would be better spent resolving economic problems at home.

• December 7, 2014

The European Union will press Turkey to cooperate more closely in the fight against Islamic State and urge it not to undermine EU sanctions on Russia on a visit this week intended to give new impetus to often fraught EU-Turkish relations.

• December 7, 2014

The European Union urged Russia on Friday not to drag the Western Balkans into its deepening rift with the West over Ukraine, reflecting concern that the region risks becoming another point of East-West tension.

• December 5, 2014

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the West on Friday for what he said were constant attempts to blame Russia for the crisis in east Ukraine and said Moscow was not isolated over the conflict.

• December 5, 2014