Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the "absurdity" of EU complaints over a travel ban imposed by Moscow on 89 Europeans over the Ukraine crisis.
US diplomats avoided a clash of words with Moscow on the corruption scandal shaking FIFA after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Washington of trying to block the re-election of football boss Sepp Blatter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the arrests of top FIFA delegates in a US probe as an attempt by Washington to oust Sepp Blatter as head of the organisation.
US Vice President Joe Biden denounced Vladimir Putin's "pure aggression" in Ukraine, warning that Western nations must be prepared to respond with further sanctions.
A top NATO commander warned that "continual attacks" against Ukraine were hampering Kiev's efforts to modernise its army enough to one day join the Western military alliance.
British director Peter Greenaway is to direct a film about Russia backed by a billionaire businessman and ally of President Vladimir Putin who has come under US sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.