Hillary Clinton: Spy Scandal Won’t Damage U.S.-Russian Ties

"We expect that the incident involving the arrest in the United States of a group of people suspected of spying for Russia will not negatively affect Russian-U.S. relations," a Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The U.S. Justice Department announced on Monday that it had cracked an undercover Russian spy ring and arrested 10 suspects. An 11th suspect was detained and freed on bail in Cyprus on Tuesday.
The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday criticized the timing of the announcement, days after Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama met in Washington, and said it did not understand why the Justice Department had made the news public.
In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs labored to show that the arrests were a law enforcement matter — one not driven by the president, even though Obama was informed — and played down any political consequences.
Obama was asked about the matter by reporters twice Tuesday. He declined to comment both times.
Gibbs said Obama was aware of the investigation before he met with Medvedev at the White House last Thursday, although Gibbs said he did not know whether Obama knew then that the arrests were imminent. The two leaders did not discuss the issue, Gibbs said.
Another White House spokesman, Tommy Vietor, said Obama did not know the exact timing of the arrests.
The FBI’s arrests of the 10 suspects had to be carried out Sunday partly because one of the 10 was scheduled to leave the United States, the Justice Department said.
Obama wants to build a foundation for a strategic partnership with Moscow — to increase security, and economic and other cooperation — and it was that longer-term goal that the State Department emphasized in reacting to the spy case.
"We were not going to forgo the opportunity to pursue our common interests because there are things we disagreed on," Phil Gordon, the department’s top Russia policy official, told reporters.
"I think you should see this spying issue in that context. We feel we have made significant progress in the 18 months that we have been pursuing this different relationship with Russia," Gordon added. "We think we have something to show for it."
By coincidence, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to visit Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in coming days, as well as Poland. Each of those countries is keenly interested in the direction of U.S.-Russian relations.
Americas

Meta stock drops following WSJ report on AI model delay

Rubio won't attend talks with Russians Friday and doesn't expect breakthrough until Trump and Putin meet

Rubio says timeline for a Trump-Putin meeting won't be decided until Trump returns from trip

Trump: I may go to Istanbul tomorrow
NEWS FEED
Trump announces $200 billion in deals during UAE visit, AI agreement signed
Seventeen arrest warrants issued over Bangkok skyscraper collapse
Meta stock drops following WSJ report on AI model delay
Israeli military intercepts Houthi missile launched from Yemen
Ukrainian leader approves delegation for talks in Istanbul
Turkish FM meets US secretary of state on sidelines of NATO meeting in Antalya
German Chancellor says new package of Russia sanctions finalized, to be adopted on May 20
Ukrainian, 21, charged over fires at homes and car linked to UK PM
Prospects for Azerbaijan–Pakistan railway cooperation discussed
Rubio won't attend talks with Russians Friday and doesn't expect breakthrough until Trump and Putin meet
Israeli military intercepts missile launched from Yemen, army says
Putin replaces commander of Russia's ground forces and appoints him to security council
Rubio says timeline for a Trump-Putin meeting won't be decided until Trump returns from trip
Turkish foreign minister to meet Russian delegation in Istanbul amid Ukraine peace talks
Albania studying use of gas as energy source with support from Azerbaijan
Albanian Deputy Minister: We consider Azerbaijan as one of the closest strategic partners in energy sector
Turkish, Syrian foreign ministers, US secretary of state hold trilateral meeting in Türkiye
Witnesses at trial detail Armenian forces' occupation, killing of civilians in Azerbaijan
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul will take place on May 16
Court screens footage of occupation of Zilanli village and Zangilan
There will be 'no surprises' at Istanbul peace talks - Zelenskyy
Azerbaijani PM meets with Chinese Ambassador
Türkiye willing to host Russian, Ukrainian leaders for talks when they’re ready: President Erdogan
Talks between Russia and Ukraine may be rescheduled
Russian Presidential Aide: Russian delegation in Istanbul seeks long-term peace with full authority
Azerbaijan serves as one of the key logistics in region - RCC Director General
Zelenskyy: Date of Russia-Ukraine talks still unclear
"Anatolian Phoenix - 2025" international exercise continues-PHOTO
President Ilham Aliyev arrives in Albania for working visit
Trump lands in UAE on final stop of Gulf tour
Zelenskyy and Erdoğan discuss efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war
Zelensky: Russia not ready for serious talks based on delegation’s level
Russia ready to resume talks in Istanbul - Aide to President
Zelensky not to attend talks in Istanbul, will send delegation
Azerbaijan's Parliamentary Speaker meets newly appointed Chinese Ambassador
Erdogan-Zelensky meeting concludes in Ankara -VIDEO -UPDATED-1
Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova meets with Deputy Speaker of National Assembly of Hungary
Victim: Family of five brutally murdered by Armenian militants
5.2 magnitude earthquake jolts Ankara
Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova meets with Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan
Europe taking steps in defense sector to reduce dependence on US - Turkish FM
European trio to discuss nuclear issue with Iran in Istanbul, no official talks
Turkish Foreign Minister: Russia and Ukraine agree on principle on ceasefire
Turkish FM: Ceasefire needed in Gaza, Türkiye ready to support reconstruction and peace efforts
Turkish FM: We'll hold trilateral meeting with US and Syrian FMs today
Türkiye hopes for results from Russia-Ukraine talks
More than 7 bcm of gas transported via Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline this year
Turkish Foreign Minister confirms US delegation's arrival in Istanbul
EBRD’s Head of Azerbaijan: CBAR update marks a milestone in the modernization of Azerbaijan’s financial markets
Türkiye to continue playing role in European security - Top diplomat