Russia has agreed to resume oil supplies to a refinery in Ukraine, traders said, in a sign Moscow is ready to reward the country's president for spurning a trade deal with Europe in favor of ties with its former Soviet master.

• December 17, 2013

Gazprom (GAZP.MM), the world's top gas producer, could sign a contract to supply natural gas to China at the end of January, Chief Executive Alexei Miller was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency on Tuesday.

• December 17, 2013

Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday played down tension with China over the East China Sea, saying U.S. efforts to strengthen maritime security in South East Asia were part of a normal process to help allies defend themselves better.

• December 17, 2013

The United States on Monday offered $32.5 million in assistance to Southeast Asian nations, more than half to Vietnam, to boost maritime security, which comes as tension grows with China over rival claims in the South China Sea.

• December 16, 2013

Divisions emerged in the European Union's policy towards Ukraine on Monday as the Dutch foreign minister slapped down a senior EU official for announcing on Twitter that he had suspended work on a trade agreement with Kiev.

• December 16, 2013

A Kremlin aide made clear on Monday that Russia was ready to extend a credit to Ukraine to help Kiev cope with its economic problems and keep the country in Moscow's orbit.

• December 16, 2013

A breakthrough agreement to end the standoff over Iran's nuclear program appeared to face its first major difficulty on Friday with Russia warning that expanding a U.S. sanctions blacklist could seriously complicate the deal's implementation.

• December 14, 2013

There is no reason why the European Union could not relax some sanctions on Iran in January, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on Saturday, as part of an interim deal between Tehran and major powers to curb its nuclear program.

• December 14, 2013