#Russia: #ForeignMinister Voices Bleak Forecast for Russia-U.S. Relations

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  Lavrov, left, pictured here with then Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in 2010, spoke at length on Monday about Russia’s relations with the U.S., which have been blighted by a series of unresolved issues between the two nations.
  Photo: Polishmfa / flickr

The prospect of assuaging the rift in U.S.-Russia relations appeared dimmer Monday after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov predicted that the dire state of bilateral ties would persist for a long time... (Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

Europeans Debate Tougher Sanctions on Russia

BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers met on Tuesday to endorse a schedule of tougher sanctions against Russia over the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet in eastern Ukraine. But they were unlikely to impose the measures immediately for fear of jeopardizing an independent search of the crash site and possible Russian help in quelling the rebellion in Ukraine, according to officials...

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