Joe Biden voiced United States' concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in occupied Crimea. (Photo credit: AFP)
- Biden proposed to meet Putin and discuss the full range of issues facing the US and Russia
- United States claims that troop levels are at their highest at the Ukrainian borders since 2014
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister met with top officials of NATO nations earlier this week
Ukrainian servicemen hold a position on the frontline with Russia backed separatists near small city of Marinka, Donetsk. (Photo credit: AFP)
- Ukraine has accused Russia of massing tens of thousands of soldiers on its border
- An Ukraine official said that Russia had 41,000 troops on Ukraine's eastern frontier
- Russia did not deny the troop movements
Antony Bliken expressed his concerns at NBC's 'Meet the Press'. (Photo credit: AFP)
- US is close contact with Ukraine, Blinken confirmed in an interview
- If Russia acts recklessly, there will be costs, the US Secretary of State said
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was addressing a press briefing. (Photo Credit:AFP)
- "We are disturbed by reports that Mr Navalny's health is worsening," Jen Psaki said
- Psaki said US could consider "diplomacy" to end the standoff with North Korea
- President Biden doesn't believe that the wall will address immigration challenges
Alexei Navalny is serving a jail term on an embezzlement charge. (Photo credit: Instagram/@navalny)
- Last week, Alexei Navalny launched a hunger strike to demand proper medical treatment
- Navalny's lawyers and allies are demanding that he be transferred to a "normal" hospital
- Navalny was arrested in January after returning from Germany
Soviet Union made history by launching Yuri Gagarin into space on April 12, 1961. (Photo Credit: Twitter/ MFA Russia)
- Russia continues to have lofty extraterrestrial ambitions
- It pulled out of the US-led international Lunar Gateway project
- As Russia's space industry stalls, its competitors are moving forward
Vladimir Putin's current term will end in 2024. (Photo Credit: AFP)
- Vladimir Putin has already been in power for more than two decades
- He has given himself the possibility to stay in power until 2036
- Former president Dmitry Medvedev has also been granted the right to contest election two more times
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's office on Thursday slammed a fresh Russian military conscription drive in the Crimean peninsula annexed from Ukraine. (Photo Credit: AFP)
- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Russia's step is "another violation of international humanitarian law"
- The "Russian Federation is bound by international law," a statement by Borrell said
- Observers noted that Russia has in the past conducted military call-ups in the springtime
Hosting the summit will fulfil a campaign pledge and executive order by Joe Biden. (Photo Credit: AP/PTI File)
- The climate talks will be held on April 22 and 23
- The event, the US hopes, will help shape global efforts to cut pollution
- Forty world leaders were invited on Friday to the meeting
Joe Biden took over the oval office in January amid a deadly pandemic and political unrest.(Photo credit: Screengrab)