The West Block Diplomacy over Ukraine

The US and its European allies are moving ever recklessly to a war footing with Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. Military maneuvers, inflammatory rhetoric and the readying of economic sanctions against Russia are creating an ominous momentum for confrontation – one that precludes even a modicum of diplomatic options to try to resolve the escalating tensions. Washington and Brussels are condemning Russia for «aggression» and «violation» of Ukrainian territory without the slightest due consideration for the political background to the crisis, or for Russia’s legal rights to defend national interests in the Crimea Republic under a long-standing bilateral agreement.

VIDEO: Skyscraper ablaze in Moscow City, capital's business hub

[anyplayer:url=http://rt.com/files/news/moscow-city-fire-skyscraper-725/if4f8908fbc07c28500a7b9627b434f34_139066_2013-01-25t121035.357_fire.mxf.flv] One of skyscrapers in the Moscow City business district is ablaze in the center of the Russian capital. It’s reported to be one of the buildings under construction. The fire can be seen on…

Der Spiegel: US Intelligence Involved in Turkish Interception of Syrian Aircraft

Syria: Waiting for Someone Named Obama Even as the German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle who was on a visit to China diverted himself to Istanbul in a mission Saturday ostensibly aimed at tamping down Turkish-Syrian tensions, Der Spiegel calmly reported that the information about the «non civilian cargo», which led to the interception of a Syrian aircraft by the Turkish air force the previous Wednesday night, was actually passed on to Ankara by the American intelligence. Furthermore, Der Spiegel disclosed authoritatively, «Ankara only forced the plane to land after close contact with its Western allies»… The question naturally arises: Was it an incident that had been choreographed with a view to change the dynamics of the Syrian situation? Stranger ways have been found to kick-start wars in history.

Russia Bridges Middle Eastern Divides

  Russia’s President Vladimir Putin welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during their meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, on 10 October 2012. Putin hosted al-Maliki for talks, hoping to take ties to a…