EU leaders vow sanctions over Putin's recognition of breakaway Ukraine regions

EU leaders vow sanctions over Putin's recognition of breakaway Ukraine regions

Leaders from the European Union and the United Kingdom vowed Monday to impose sanctions over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. In a letter statementsEuropean Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they “condemn in the strongest possible terms the … Read more

Putin ‘still committed’ to further invasion of Ukraine, UK warns

Putin ‘still committed’ to further invasion of Ukraine, UK warns

LONDON — The Russian president is still committed to launching a further invasion of Ukraine despite claiming the opposite, Britain has warned. In an address to the House of Commons Monday, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said a series of false-flag operations, orchestrated by the Kremlin in recent days, and the continued arrival of troops … Read more

Putin ‘to recognize’ independence of breakaway territories in Ukraine

Putin ‘to recognize’ independence of breakaway territories in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine as independent on Monday in a dramatic escalation of the crisis that Western leaders have warned is intended to prepare the ground for a Russian invasion of its western neighbor. In a televised address to the Russian nation on Monday evening, Putin announced his … Read more

Kremlin denies ‘concrete’ plans for a Putin-Biden summit

Kremlin denies ‘concrete’ plans for a Putin-Biden summit

Press play to listen to this article Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said Monday that there were no plans yet for a new summit with US President Joe Biden, contradicting claims by the Elysée Palace and the White House, which had said overnight that the leaders agreed “in principle” to meet provided Russia did not … Read more

Putin, Biden agree to summit after Macron calls

Putin, Biden agree to summit after Macron calls

US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold a bilateral summit, followed by a meeting with all relevant parties on the security situation in Europe, after both leaders spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, the Elysee said. But the meeting “can only be held at the condition … Read more

West must brace for years of Putin pressure on Ukraine, Latvian PM says

West must brace for years of Putin pressure on Ukraine, Latvian PM says

Press play to listen to this article Whether or not Moscow launches an attack on Ukraine in the coming days, the West must gear up for years of heightened Russian pressure on the country and on Europe as a whole, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said Friday. In an interview with POLITICO, Kariņš said Russian … Read more

Crimea: The peninsula poisoning relations between Russia and Ukraine

Crimea: The peninsula poisoning relations between Russia and Ukraine

Press play to listen to this article KYIV — Russia started its intimidation of Ukraine not with the ongoing buildup of troops, but eight years ago with the invasion and annexation of Crimea. The peninsula remains at an intractable point of antagonism between Russia, Ukraine and the West. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made that clear … Read more

What Tolstoy would make of Vladimir Putin

What Tolstoy would make of Vladimir Putin

Robert Zaretsky is a professor of French history at the University of Houston. His latest book is “The Subversive Simone Weil: A Life in Five Ideas.” Rarely in recent history has so much been said by so many about one man. Listen to the media, and you’ll come away convinced that the current march toward … Read more

War warnings and calls for unity: Just another day in Ukraine

War warnings and calls for unity: Just another day in Ukraine

KYIV — Facing Western warnings of an “imminent” Russian invasion and a hasty official call for a day of national unity, many Ukrainians Wednesday simply shrugged their shoulders and went about their usual business. A US intelligence warning that Wednesday could be the day Russia invades its neighbor prompted multiple Western governments to tell their … Read more

NATO: No sign of Russian ‘de-escalation on the ground’ in Ukraine crisis

NATO: No sign of Russian ‘de-escalation on the ground’ in Ukraine crisis

NATO said Tuesday it has not seen “any de-escalation on the ground” from Russian forces near Ukraine, despite earlier claims from Moscow that some troops taking part in military exercises were pulling back. “So far we have not seen any de-escalation on the ground, not any signs of reduced Russian military presence on the borders … Read more