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
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
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
Press play to listen to this article MUNICH — The Kremlin on Sunday used a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron to broadcast an array of provocative, unproven allegations of belligerence by Ukraine and NATO countries, insisting the West was “pushing Kyiv towards a military solution to the so-called … Read more
Press play to listen to this article It is not easy to pinpoint the nadir of the EU’s great pivot to Africa. The shift in Europe’s focus was trumped with great fanfare by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel at the start of their mandates in December 2019. But the … Read more
Press play to listen to this article BERLIN — Even before Washington warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was facing a daunting double mission to Kyiv and Moscow this week. In Ukraine on Monday, his main task is to pacify national leaders angry at Berlin’s refusal to … Read more
Ukraine’s government asked citizens to remain calm, amid fears a Russian invasion is imminent. in a statements Saturday, Ukraine’s foreign ministry said that armed forces are ready to repel any attack. “It is now critical to remain calm and united within the country, and avoid actions that undermine stability and sow panic,” the statement said. … Read more
Press play to listen to this article In their frenzied diplomatic effort to dissuade Russia from a new invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders are pinning renewed hope on the long-stuck Minsk peace accords. The Minsk agreements, first negotiated in 2014 and 2015, were intended to bring an end to the war with Russian-backed separatists, then … Read more
French President Emmanuel Macron and the Kremlin delivered contradictory statements Tuesday on the outcome of a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine. The two leaders met for more than five hours in Moscow on Monday to discuss the Ukraine crisis, triggered by Putin massing more than 100,000 troops near the country’s borders. … Read more
Press play to listen to this article There was little doubt Emmanuel Macron had walked into the grizzly bear’s den. Seated at the far end of an enormous conference table in one of the Kremlin’s ornate meeting rooms, complete with gold-trimmed curtains and an elaborate inlaid wooden floor, the French president offered his opening thoughts … Read more
