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

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

U.S. continues diplomacy but girds for ‘dead serious’ invasion threat in Ukraine

U.S. continues diplomacy but girds for ‘dead serious’ invasion threat in Ukraine

But even as US officials warned of the nearing threat in Ukraine, they also said they’re going all in on diplomatic talks with Russia to avoid such an invasion. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on Sunday described the efforts as a “full-court press” to solve the conflict through diplomacy. Later Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron … 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

Defiant Zelenskyy promises Ukraine will defend itself 'with or without' allies

Defiant Zelenskyy promises Ukraine will defend itself 'with or without' allies

MUNICH — With his country under threat of imminent attack by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy received a standing ovation at the annual Munich Security Conference on Saturday — and then bit the hands that applauded him in a scathing speech that slammed Western allies for not doing enough to punish Moscow and move his … Read more

Western leaders implore Putin to step back from 'real' risk of war

Western leaders implore Putin to step back from 'real' risk of war

Press play to listen to this article Western leaders on Saturday appealed to Vladimir Putin to not give up on diplomacy amid warnings that the Russian president has already decided to invade Ukraine. Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference, European, US and NATO leaders insisted that a standoff over the Russian troops threatening Ukraine … Read more

Iran nuclear talks crash Munich Security Conference

Iran nuclear talks crash Munich Security Conference

VIENNA — The Munich Security Conference, the exclusive annual gathering of powerful decision-makers, can add one more event to its agenda this weekend: the Iran nuclear talks. As officials signal an agreement may be nearing, European nuclear negotiators are expected to travel to Munich this weekend to keep talks going during the conference over reviving … 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