Alex Brideau, director of Russia and Ukraine at Eurasia Group, discusses the outlook for Russia and Ukraine and the global risks related to the nations in 2019.

Russia has launched a new hypersonic missile system nuclear head and will be commissioned in 2019. The Avangard hypersonic system has an intercontinental range and the ability to fly as fast more than 15,000 miles per hour and 27 times faster than the speed of sound.

Russia has opened a criminal case against a US citizen for alleged spying. Relations between Moscow and Washington have soured since Russia's annexation of Crimea and allegations Russia interfered with US elections.

Sensitive communications between EU diplomats were accessed by hackers for years, a US media report has claimed. The cables reveal a worried EU trying to find a way to deal with Trump, China and Russia.

If the US puts intermediate-range missiles in Europe, Russia will take countermeasures, Putin said at his end-of-year press conference. He warned the "threshold" for the use of nuclear weapons was getting lower.

NATO and the United States have increased their pressure on Russia over its alleged violation of the INF treaty. What is known about the Russian missile at the center of the allegations?

The Venezuelan president, who views Russia as a strategic ally, is ending his diplomatic efforts this year "with a flourish." The trip comes after Turkey pledged to help Venezuela with its economic crisis.

Oil is surging on the back of Saudi Arabia and Russia extending their deal to manage the market into next year.

World leaders have opened talks at the G20 summit in Argentina. A weekend of meetings is expected to be overshadowed by the contentious presence of the Saudi crown prince and tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

NATO members including Germany have been asked to send naval vessels to the Sea of Azov to back Ukraine against Russia. "Germany is one of our closest allies," President Petro Poroshenko said.

With a new military focus on China and Russia, the US is planning to reduce its number of troops in Africa. Experts say that the move is no surprise, but there might be more to come.

James Sherr, associate fellow, Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House, examines the fallout of Russia firing on Ukrainian warships and the renewal of tensions in the Kerch Strait, near Crimea.