The European Union on Monday extended its economic sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine until the end of next July, drawing a swift rebuke from the Russian economy minister.

• December 21, 2015

Issue # 86
12/21/2015
The situation in east Ukraine remains tense.
Read more in ARMED CONFLICT IN EAST UKRAINE READ MORE

• December 21, 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will not abandon Russians living in southeast Ukraine to what he described as Ukrainian "nationalists."

• December 20, 2015

Iranian nuclear officials say Tehran will export most of its enriched uranium stockpile to Russia in the coming days as it implements a nuclear deal to secure relief from international sanctions.

• December 20, 2015

Ukraine and Russia appear all but certain to take their dispute over a $3 billion Eurobond to court after Ukraine said it would not repay the bond when it matures next week, prompting Russia to cry default and say a legal battle was now on the cards.

• December 18, 2015

Ukraine's Finance Ministry said on Thursday it was committed to negotiating in good faith on the restructuring of a $3 billion Eurobond held entirely by Russia, which in turn said it was waiting for a proposal from Kiev.

• December 17, 2015

Japan and Indonesia will strengthen their security cooperation and begin talks on transfers of defense equipment, their foreign and defense ministers said on Thursday, as China's maritime expansion leads its neighbors to forge closer ties.

• December 17, 2015

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered his government to suspend Russia's free trade zone with Ukraine from Jan. 1, making good on Moscow's threats to Kiev which seeks closer ties with the European Union.

• December 16, 2015