Battered Ukrainian City of Mariupol Braces for Worst as Rebels Close in Again | NYT > Europe: Negotiators meeting in Belarus were said to have reached a tentative deal on Tuesday night, setting the stage for a meeting of the leaders to sign the agreement on Wednesday. | Carter Strikes Forceful Tone on Russia: "I reject the notion that Russia should be afforded a 'sphere of influence,' " Carter wrote. "If confirmed, I will continue to encourage US partners, such as Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, to build their security capacity and military interoperability with NATO." | US Embassy in Yemen Closing Due to Turmoil
Carter Strikes Forceful Tone on Russia Tuesday February 10 th , 2015 at 7:07 PM 1 Share A Pro-Russian separatist tank on Monday in Uglegorsk. (Photo: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — The United States and NATO should reject Russian assertions that Moscow is entitled to a "sphere of influence" in Eastern Europe — and build militaries capable of handling "any opponent," said the nominee to be the next US defense secretary. Ash Carter, in a 42-page document prepared for the Senate Armed Services Committee, addresses issues from Russia to Afghanistan to cyber war to the US defense budget. In the responses, obtained by Defense News, the nominee struck a forceful tone about Russia and its recent aggression in Ukraine. For the latest national security news from Capitol Hill, go to CongressWatch "I reject the notion that Russia should be afforded a 'sphere of influence,' " Carter wrote. "