MOSCOW / AP The United States says it is disturbed by Russia’s decision to recognize passports and other documents issued by rebel authorities in eastern Ukraine. The recognition, in an order signed by President Vladimir Putin that was announced on Saturday, “is alarming and contradicts the agreed-upon goals of the Minsk Agreement,” the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said on …

  MUNICH / AP The UN envoy for Syria says he’s hoping upcoming peace talks in Geneva produce new momentum and that much depends upon the position the U.S. decides to take. Staffan de Mistura said on Sunday “the big question mark is where is the US.?” He told the Munich Security Conference “we have to push for momentum” at …

  ROME / AP Former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi has resigned as Democratic Party leader in a bid to win a fresh, stronger mandate before the national election in which populist political forces are positioned to pose the biggest challenge. As promised, Renzi told fellow Democratic leaders at a meeting on Sunday that he was resigning. But Renzi insisted he …