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

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

Putin welcomes Macron into his lair

Putin welcomes Macron into his lair

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

Macron vows ‘de-escalation’ but hints at concessions to Putin

Macron vows ‘de-escalation’ but hints at concessions to Putin

Press play to listen to this article PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron is optimistic he can secure a de-escalation over Ukraine when he travels to Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, but hinted that Western countries could have to make concessions to the Kremlin. His bullish prognosis of a diplomatic … Read more

For Ukraine, less ‘imminent’ threat is still very real

For Ukraine, less ‘imminent’ threat is still very real

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is prepared to keep talking, and that he expects visits from European leaders to Moscow soon — after he gets back from the opening of the Winter Olympics on Friday in Beijing. The Biden administration is no longer saying an attack on Ukraine is “imminent.” But even as the … Read more