Can the US and Russia De-escalate Rising Tensions? - Inside Story

It was all-out verbal warfare this week as the United States imposed fresh sanctions on Russia.

US President Donald Trump reluctantly approved the new measure, saying the US would side with its allies and friends against Russian subversion and destabilisation. He added that considered the sanctions bill seriously flawed, and he said he was only signing it for the sake of national unity.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev responded by saying the sanctions end hopes for improving Russia's relations with the new US administration. He said Trump had been "fully outwitted" and his administration had "shown its total weakness by handing over executive power to Congress in the most humiliating way."

Trump then tweeted that the US relationship with Russia was at "an all-time and very dangerous low". "You can thank Congress", Trump said.

As the crisis between the two countries deepens, what's behind this latest escalation?

Presenter: Richelle Carey | Guests: John Herbst - Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council and former US ambassador to Ukraine; Pavel Felgenhauer - Columnist with the Novaya Gazetta newspaper; Lilit Gevorgyan - Senior economist and country risk analyst at IHS Markit

Russians See Sanctions Régime as a Blessing in Disguise

Oliver Stone Interviews Putin on U.S.-Russia Relations, 2016 Election, Snowden, NATO & Nuclear Arms

Trump, Russia, and Comey Firing - What Does This Mean for US-Russian Relations?

What is the real state of US-Russian relations? Twitter has exploded with speculation about “collusion,” but what are the chances that President Trump or his staff colluded with Russia? Columbia University Professor Levgold explains that the firing of Director Comey may be “a cover up that is greater than the crime.”

Stephen Cohen: This Is Most Dangerous Moment in US-Russian Relations Since Cuban Missile Crisis

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has wrapped up a visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The meetings come at a time of increased tension between Washington and Moscow. On Wednesday during a press conference, President Trump said relations with Russia had reached a new low point. Trump’s comments came a day after the White House accused Russia of attempting to cover up the role of the Syrian government in the recent chemical attack in Syria that killed 87 people. Russia has rejected the claim, saying the U.S. has been too quick to blame Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. We speak to Stephen Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies and politics at New York University and Princeton University.

Can Russia Abandon Assad? – Inside Story

US President Donald Trump's inauguration was expected to usher in a new era of close ties with Russia. The past week, however, shows that's not happening. Harsh words have been traded over the Syrian conflict. It started with the chemical attack in Idlib last week, blamed on the Russian-backed Assad regime, followed by the US strike on a Syrian airbase.

Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow has done little to ease tensions. Tillerson met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss the future of the Syrian President. The US wants Assad gone. But Russia wants to know what America's real intentions are. And what the West is planning for a Syria without Assad?

Presenter: Sohail Rahman. Guests: Alexander Nekrassov, Russian political analyst and former Kremlin adviser; Wa'el Alzayat, former senior Syria adviser to Samantha Power, the US Ambassador to the United Nations under President Obama; Ian Black, visiting senior fellow at the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics.

Putin Meets With Tillerson in Russia After Keeping Him Waiting

THE NEW YORK TIMES: MOSCOW — After Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson waited for much of the day, wondering whether he would get to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin, the two men sat down at the Kremlin late Wednesday afternoon in the first face-to-face meeting between the Russian leader and a top official in the Trump administration.

Relations between the United States and Russia have grown so tense that it was unclear whether Mr. Putin would agree to see Mr. Tillerson, a man he once gave a medal of friendship. » | David E. Sanger | Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Tillerson in Moscow: Have US Strikes in Syria Scuppered US-Russia Relations? (Parts 1 & 2)

US Fails to Impress Putin with ‘Beauty of Their Weapons’ in Syrian Strike ahead of Tillerson's Visit

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson begins his visit with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. The agenda is expected to focus on spiking Russia-US tensions in light of an alleged chemical attack in Syria and a US missile strike in response.

Vladimir Putin Says Trust between US and Russia Has 'Degraded' Since Donald Trump Took Office

THE TELEGRAPH: Russia's top diplomat accused the United States on Wednesday of carrying out an unlawful attack against Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces as he opened a fraught meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said Russia had lots of questions about the Trump administration's "very ambiguous" and "contradictory" ideas.

In an ominous start to their meeting, Mr Lavrov said it was important for Moscow to understand the "real intentions" of the Trump administration.

"We have seen very alarming actions recently with an unlawful attack against Syria," Mr Lavrov said. "We consider it of utmost importance to prevent the risks of replay of similar action in the future." Read on and comment » | Roland Oliphant | Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Putin Shrugs Off Criticism of Syria Ties before Tillerson Visit

THE GUARDIAN: Russian president calls for UN inquiry as he compares chemical attack claims against Syria to US accusations Iraq had WMDs

Vladimir Putin has shrugged off western criticism of his support for the Syrian regime, shortly after the top US diplomat said Bashar al-Assad’s days in power were numbered, ratcheting up tensions between the the US and Russia before talks in Moscow.

The US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, had hoped to underscore the US position with a unified message from the G7, which condemned the chemical attack at a summit in Italy on Tuesday. However, G7 foreign ministers were divided over possible next steps and refused to back a UK call for fresh sanctions.

Putin said western and Turkish accusations that Syria’s government dropped the nerve agent sarin that killed dozens of civilians in Idlib earlier this month were comparable with the now-discredited claim that Saddam Hussein’s had stockpiled weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. » | Emma Graham-Harrison and Heather Stewart | Tuesday, April 11, 2017

US-Russia Tensions: How Is Moscow Likely to Respond to Tillerson's Latest Remarks?

Dr. Sebastian Gorka Responds to Attacks on His Credibility

Deputy assistant to the president fires back at reports, talks U.S.-Russia relations on 'Hannity'

UK Worried about Its Place If US-Russia Ties Are Repaired – Russia’s UK Envoy

Hacking, destabilizing Western states, building up its military might, and weaponizing information – Russia is hitting the headlines and seems to be to blame for all of the world’s problems. One of the loudest anti-Russia voices is the United Kingdom, condemning Moscow’s actions and calling for economic sanctions against it. Most of the accusations are far from proven – so is there still room left for cooperation on vital issues between world powers? And now that the UK’s ally the US may be ready to change course and start making deals with Moscow, is there a chance for a change in tone? We ask Russia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom – Alexander Yakovenko.

'...Humiliated by Their Own President': US Imposed New Set of Anti-Russian Sanctions

Thirty-five Russian diplomats have been expelled from the US, according to a statement from State Department. President Obama described those expelled as “intelligence operatives,” also announcing the closure of two Russian compounds, in New York and Maryland

Putin Takes the High Road and Outfoxes Obama! Putin: Russia Will Not Expel Anyone in Response to US Sanctions

The Russian president has rejected a suggestion of the foreign ministry to expel 35 American diplomats in response to a similar move by the US. He said Obama’s act was designed to provoke a reaction, but Russia would not take the bait.

Putin, Trump Hold First Phone Conversation Since Election

US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have held their first telephone call, in which the two leaders discussed Syria and agreed to improve and develop bilateral ties, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Trump’s team has issued a statement saying Trump is 'very much looking forward to having a strong and enduring relationship with Russia and the people of Russia'.

RT's Gayane Chichakyan and Michael Hughes, Journalist and foreign policy strategist, talk on the issue.

Inside Story - Are Russia and US Entering a New Cold War?

The Kremlin is talking up its military might as the Americans accuse the Russians of war crimes in Syria. Presenter: Hazem Sika

Gorbachev: 'Obama and Putin Must Meet'

BBC: Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev told the BBC's Newsnight programme that Mr Obama and Mr Putin must meet.

"They must strike up a conversation that will lead to the improvement of relations and stop the things which are happening now". Watch BBC video » | Thursday, September 05, 2013

'Snowden Saga Test of Leadership for Putin & Obama'

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden says he wants temporary political asylum in Russia, and has promised to stop releasing leaks that harm Washington. The White House said Friday that Russia granting political asylum to Edward Snowden would be on par with providing the National Security Agency leaker with a "propaganda platform" to further harm the United States. For more analysis Stephen Cohen, Professor of Russian and Slavic studies at New York University and a former advisor of President George Bush senior, joins RT.