Russia summons US ambassador, warns ties on verge of collapse

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned US Ambassador John Sullivan, warning that Moscow-Washington relations are on the verge of entire collapse as the Russian military operation in Ukraine enters its 26th day.

Tensions between the United States and Russia escalated after US President Joe Biden recently labeled President Vladimir Putin of Russia a “war criminal,” marking the first time a US official used the term to characterize Putin since February 24.

“Such statements from the American president, unworthy of a statesman of such high rank, put Russian-American relations on the verge of rupture,” the ministry said in a Monday statement. It also told the American envoy that hostile actions against Russia would meet with a “decisive and firm response.”

On March 16, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced Biden’s comment as “unacceptable and unforgivable.”

“We believe such rhetoric to be unacceptable and unforgivable on the part of the head of a state whose bombs have killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world,” Peskov said.

Russia says it will halt the operation instantly if Kiev meets Moscow’s list of demands. Moscow has specified some of them as protection of its interests and nationals in Ukraine and prevention of the country’s joining NATO.

Russian court labels Meta ‘extremist organization’, allows WhatsApp to stay

Meanwhile on Monday, a Russian court declared Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, an “extremist organization” and made its operations in the country illegal. The court, however, said the decision would not apply to its WhatsApp messenger service. “The decision does not apply to the activities of Meta's messenger WhatsApp, due to its lack of functionality for the public dissemination of information.”

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier, Meta’s lawyer Victoria Shagina rejected claims of “extremist” activities, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia banned Meta for restricting access to Russian media. Instagram was also blocked after Meta said it would allow social media users in Ukraine to post messages urging violence against President Putin and Russian troops in Ukraine.

MG