VLADIMIR PUTIN

The new year is likely to be a continuation of 2015, with further economic restrictions between Russia and Ukraine as Kiev looks toward the EU.

Moscow has called for the U.S. to back down with troops and weapons in Eastern Europe even as ceasefire violations continue in Eastern Ukraine.

The functions and responsibilities of the agency will now be transferred to the Roscosmos state corporation, which was established earlier this year.

Relations between Russia and Turkey strained after Ankara shot down Russia's Su-24M jet fighter late last month accusing Moscow of violating Turkish airspace.

Iran is set to receive the second regiment of these systems in August or September next year, according to a report.

India and Russia have enjoyed strong ties in recent years, with New Delhi buying billions of dollars in weapons from Moscow.

Russia and India have held an annual bilateral summit, hosted alternately by Moscow and New Delhi, since 2000.

The Russian defense ministry said Monday that the probe into the black box of the Su-24M fighter jet shot down by Turkey last month can be continued only with the help of specialized research institutes.

India also wants to discuss a possible purchase of two diesel-electric submarines, 48 military transport helicopters and 150 armored fighting vehicles.

Reiterating his defense of the Russian president, the GOP front-runner said there is no proof that Vladimir Putin has ever killed journalists and political opponents.

Russians with cash to spare have been sinking it into hard assets in the United States hoping to benefit from the stability in the country.

At least 10 people were reportedly wounded in an explosion in Damascus Sunday.

Moscow is lukewarm on the deal, preferring to focus on a joint venture to build the new T-50 stealth fighter jet, the first fifth-generation fighter jet outside of the U.S.

In a "Morning Joe" interview, Republican front-runner Donald Trump seemed unconcerned with allegations that Russian President Vladimir Putin kills political opponents.

The move followed a similar naval maneuver by Russia, which is currently holding eight Turkish ships in its ports after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane.

The Ukrainian government insists that it cannot repay the $3 billion it owes Russia without violating a debt-restructuring deal with other international creditors.

At a briefing Friday, the deputy head of Russian Aerospace Forces said that Russia has proof that the jet shot down by Ankara last month did not violate Turkish airspace.

Russian sanctions are to end going into 2016, but Kiev will lose access to free trade with Moscow.

The US reportedly declined to give France information after the Charlie Hebdo attack in January and hasn't responded to similar requests after the attacks around Paris last month.

Two French citizens carrying fake Syrian passports were arrested over the weekend at a refugee center in Salzburg, Austria.

During Tuesday's GOP "undercard" debate, the former governor of New York characterized Russia's president as a bully who needed to be put in his place.