A new book alleges that President Donald Trump told donors he threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with bombing Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine.

MOSCOW: Russia said on Saturday (Jul 12) that its agreement with the United Nations to facilitate exports of Russian food and fertilisers had collapsed due to Western sanctions over Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.

As Moscow sweltered in record-breaking summer heat, animals at the city’s zoo cooled off with icy treats and baths.

A bipartisan U.S. bill that would hit Russia with sanctions in a bid to pressure Moscow into good-faith peace negotiations with Ukraine has gained momentum this week in Congress, but it still lacks the presidential push it needs to get over the finish line.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a visit to North Korea, said Moscow respects and understands why Pyongyang is developing its nuclear program.

Moscow sweltered on Friday in a heatwave with temperatures topping 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the Russian weather service, breaching a municipal record registered nearly 30 years ago.

U.S. relations continues and has not faded, although the U.S. administration is acting in a zigzag manner, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA news agency in remarks published on Friday.

During a rare news conference on Friday, the head of the French military, Thierry Burkhard, said Russia remains a “lasting, close” threat.