Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian deepened military ties between their countries on Friday by signing a 20-year strategic partnership that is likely to worry the West.

Moscow accused Washington of playing a destabilizing role in the Southern Caucasus on Tuesday as Armenia and the United States prepared to sign a strategic partnership agreement. "The US has never played a particularly stabilizing role in the Southern Caucasus,

All three countries are adversaries of the United States, and Russia has used its ties with them to help blunt the impact of Western sanctions and boost its war effort in Ukraine. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Feb.

The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that it has filed a civil lawsuit against the investment firm that financially backs Moscow-based company Lightcast. The DOJ says KKR & Co. Inc. failed to comply with antitrust laws for at least 16 separate transactions, including the merger that led EMSI and Burning Glass to become Lightcast.

The partnership, according to officials who spoke to ABC News, has been essential to Ukraine defending itself as Russia invaded almost three years ago.

Russia is "not constrained by the thought of large numbers of innocent victims," Russia expert Keir Giles told Newsweek.

The US Treasury imposed sanctions on Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, which explore for, produce and sell oil as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil, many of which are in the so-called shadow fleet of ageing tankers operated by non-Western companies.

President-elect Donald Trump should get tough on countries using chemical weapons in breach of agreed international conventions, such as Russia.

A Russian court on Friday upheld the jail term of Robert Shonov, a former US consulate worker sentenced to almost five years for "secret collaboration with a foreign state".

Russia's Defense Ministry on Sunday claimed to have held a major push from Ukraine, which resulted in the destruction of another MiG-29.

WASHINGTON (United States) - President-elect Donald Trump holds MAGA rally day ahead inauguration ceremony (2000 GMT) PICTURE. VIDEO. ARLINGTON (United States) - President-elect Donald Trump participates in a Wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. PICTURE. VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO.