Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to fulfill Moscow’s goals in Ukraine and sternly warned the West against a deeper involvement in the fighting.

Such notices have been an essential element of strategic stability for decades, allowing Russia and the U.S. to correctly interpret each other’s moves and make sure that neither mistakes a test launch for an attack.

Russia and China share a cause: Both have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and hold back their development as they challenge it for regional and global leadership.

On Sunday, Ukraine’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any Ukrainian involvement in the killing.

American basketball star Brittney Griner testified Wednesday at her drug trial that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was said during her questioning and officials instructed her to sign documents without providing an explanation.

Britain denied Russia’s account and insisted its ship wasn’t fired upon.

The two leaders offered starkly different views on difficult simmering issues including cyber and ransomware attacks originating from Russia.

It’s the latest move in a campaign by authorities to silence dissent and bar Kremlin critics from running for parliament in September.

Tensions between Russia and the West will likely loom large over Thursday’s meeting of the Arctic nations’ foreign ministers in Iceland, with Moscow set to take a rotating chairmanship in the Arctic Council.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said Moscow will add eight U.S. officials to its sanctions list and move to restrict and stop the activities of U.S. nongovernment organizations from interfering in Russia’s politics.

Biden was asked in an interview this week whether he thought Vladimir Putin was a killer, and he replied, “I do,” which prompted Russia to recall its ambassador in Washington for consultations and warn about retaliation.

Russia may consider returning to an international pact allowing surveillance flights over military facilities if the United States reverses its exit, the top Russian diplomat said Tuesday.

President Vladimir Putin said that one of his daughters has already been inoculated.

While the Trump administration has seen the Arctic through the lens of security and economic competition with Russia and China, it has yet to demonstrate that the region is a significant priority in its overall foreign policy.

President Vladimir Putin led thousands to chant “Russia!” on a visit Monday to Crimea marking the fifth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine.