Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin wrapped up a visit aimed at boosting ties with Egypt on Feb. 10 with Cairo and Moscow agreeing to build the Arab country's first nuclear power plant.
      
Putin's two-day visit came with Moscow seeking to strengthen relations with the most populous Arab country at a time when Cairo's alliance with Washington has frayed.
      

German official: Serbia cannot remain neutral

BELGRADE -- German official Gernot Erler has said that Serbia's neutral intermediary role between Russia and the EU "is not possible."

Day of mourning for workers who died in Siberia

BELGRADE -- The Serbian government has declared Thursday, February 12, a day of mourning for six Serbian workers who died in a fire in Siberia, Russia.

CNN refers to Ukraine's army as "pro-U.S. troops"

MOSCOW -- "Social media is abuzz," RT is reporting, after CNN labeled Ukrainian Army forces fighting in the country's southeast as "pro-U.S. troops."

The American network scrolled a headline during a report dedicated to talks between Barack Obama and Angela Merkel that read, "Obama considers arming pro-U.S. troops."

Russian military stages drills in Crimea

MOSCOW -- The Russian army has started a military exercise in Crimea, with more than 600 soldiers participating, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Tuesday.

US President Barack Obama on Feb. 9 agreed to hold off a controversial decision on sending arms to Ukraine until German-led efforts to broker a ceasefire with Russia are given a chance.        

Greece could turn to "another source" for funding in the event that a deal is not reached with its eurozone partners and Berlin in particular, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said on Monday night, adding that the government - in which his party is the junior partner - has an "obligation to go to Plan B."

EU steps in to reverse Russian embargo on Moldovan fruits

Moldova's farmers hail the EU's help to counter a Russian embargo as a show of solidarity and economic opportunity.

The European Parliament voted to allow Moldova to export up to 60,000 tonnes of fruit without paying taxes. [AFP]

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will visit Berlin Tuesday and Moscow Wednesday to hold talks with his German and Russian counterparts at a time when European governments are concerned that the debt-wracked nation is cozying up to the Kremlin.

The United States and its European allies remain committed to finding a diplomatic solution to tensions with Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, US President Barack Obama said on Monday.