The New Cold War

(Newser) - Moscow thrust the BBC into the geopolitical limelight yesterday by axing its radio service from Russian airwaves. Media pundits are blaming the decision on rising anger between Moscow and Britain as the head of Russia's BBC called the radio silence “highly irregular and extremely disappointing.” But a Russian regulator denied any political motivation behind the move and promptly hung up on the Guardian .  More »

(Newser) - Britain turned to its European allies for support in its diplomatic battle with Russia over a sensational radiation murder in London, but the response has been tepid, the Guardian reports. Only the French expressed support yesterday, as Germany, with powerful economic ties to Russia, suggested that the UK had overreacted, and the Portuguese characterized the clash as a two-way fight. More »

(Newser) - Britain has expelled four Russian diplomats from London in retaliation for Moscow's refusal to extradite a suspect in the sensational radiation poisoning of a former KGB spy on British soil. Russia immediately threatened Britain with "the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations," Reuters reports. More »

(Newser) - Vladimir Putin suspended the Kremlin’s recognition of a key arms control treaty today, citing the threat to Russian security posed by US plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. The 1990 pact limited the number of offensive weapons that could be deployed in Europe, the BBC explains; suspension means the Russians will no longer allow inspections or exchange data on arms. More »

(Newser) - Vladimir Putin yesterday pushed his proposal for cooperating with the US on a joint missile defense system, part of which would be built on Russian soil, the  Washington Post reports. The offer, first broached in Germany last month,  was welcomed by President Bush as he and the Russian premier  wrapped up two days of talks at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport. More »

(Newser) - President Bush is looking for support for his missile shield in all the wrong places, the LA Times reports. While he dallies with president Putin, an increasingly underwhelmed Congress is readying to pull the plug. Meanwhile, Poland and the Czech Republic—the designated missile-defense bases—are increasingly skeptical of American designs. More »

(Newser) - After weeks of exchanging sharp criticism with US officials, Vladimir Putin today suggested a truce over a controversial missile shield in Eastern Europe. In talks with President Bush at the G8 summit, the Russian president reversed course and said Moscow would support US plans for the shield if it is based in Azerbaijan. Bush called the idea "interesting." More »

(Newser) - Russia has nothing to fear from a US missile shield in Eastern Europe, President Bush insisted in a speech in the Czech Republic today aimed at smoothing Vladimir Putin's ruffled feathers en route to the G8 summit. The Russian president threatened over the weekend to aim nuclear warheads at Europe in response to the US plan. More »