Russia ups ante by freezing communications with US in Syria
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Russia reacted to US military strikes on its ally Syria Friday by cutting a hotline intended to prevent midair incidents, a response that demonstrates Moscow's readiness to defy Washington and could even put the two nuclear superpowers on a course toward military confrontation.
President Vladimir Putin signaled he was ready to risk a clash with the US and abandon hopes for mending ties with the US under President Donald Trump, rather than accept the humiliation of standing by while his ally is bombed.
