John Ratcliffe, Trump's CIA pick, tells senators the agency is 'not where we’re supposed to be'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that the nation's premier spy agency must do a better job of staying ahead of global threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries. John Ratcliffe,...

US steps up Russia sanctions, placing threat of more sanctions on businesses partnering with Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday that it's expanding the web of sanctions on companies and institutions supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, re-designating about 100 entities for sanctions and placing sanctions on 15 new entities. A senior...

Poland's leader accuses Russia of planning acts of terror against 'airlines over the world'

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Russia on Wednesday of planning acts of sabotage worldwide that included “acts of air terror” against airlines. Tusk spoke at a news conference in Warsaw alongside Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy. ...

Russian missile attack forces Ukraine to shut down power grid

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia on Wednesday launched a major ballistic and cruise missile attack on regions across Ukraine, targeting energy production and compelling authorities to shut down the power grid in some areas despite freezing winter weather, officials said. The Russian...

Polish Prime Donald Tusk says Russia has planned acts of terror against 'airlines over the world'

Russia says it will help Vietnam become a 'partner country' in the BRICS bloc of developing nations

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Russia will facilitate Vietnam's participation in the BRICS bloc of developing economies as a “partner country,” the countries said in a joint statement on Wednesday after Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s two-day visit to Hanoi. “The Russian...

Russia launches massive aerial attack against Ukraine, forcing country to introduce preventive power cuts, official says

Russia's top diplomat praises Trump's views on Ukraine conflict

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top diplomat said Tuesday that Moscow is open for talks with President-elect Donald Trump and praised him for pointing to NATO's plan to embrace Ukraine as a root cause of the nearly 3-year-old conflict. Any prospective peace talks should involve broader...

Shadow fleet of tankers keeps Russia's oil money flowing despite Western sanctions

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The Group of Seven democracies has sought to crimp Russia's oil export earnings that help fund the war against Ukraine. But Western governments and sanctions experts say Moscow has resorted to using a so-called shadow fleet of hundreds of aging tankers of uncertain...

Vietnam and Russia sign an agreement to expand cooperation on nuclear energy

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam and Russia inked Tuesday an agreement to boost cooperation on nuclear energy during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s two-day visit to Hanoi. The Southeast Asian country has been trying to revive its nuclear energy plans — after it shelved...