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

Kremlin lashes out at Ukraine and NATO after call with Macron

Kremlin lashes out at Ukraine and NATO after call with Macron

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

Boris Johnson: Conflict in Ukraine could be the 'biggest war in Europe since 1945'

Boris Johnson: Conflict in Ukraine could be the 'biggest war in Europe since 1945'

A Russian invasion of Ukraine would lead to sweeping economic sanctions on Russian companies, preventing them from trading with US dollars and UK pounds, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday. The impact of sanctions will extend beyond Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle to “all companies and organizations of strategic importance to Russia,” Johnson … 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

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

On stage at the Kremlin: Putin and Lavrov’s de-escalation dance

On stage at the Kremlin: Putin and Lavrov’s de-escalation dance

Press play to listen to this article Russian President Vladimir Putin and his trusty foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, signaled on Monday that there would be no imminent military strike on Ukraine and that they were prepared to continue diplomatic dialogue with the West, led by the United States. Coming after the US warned that a … Read more

Scholz, Zelenskiy play down talk of NATO membership for Ukraine

Scholz, Zelenskiy play down talk of NATO membership for Ukraine

Press play to listen to this article KYIV — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sought Monday to tamp down tension with Russia by suggesting that NATO membership for Ukraine was not on their agenda. At a press conference in Kyiv, Scholz and Zelenskiy played down the likelihood of Ukraine joining the … Read more

German leader ventures to Ukraine and Russia amid warnings of war

German leader ventures to Ukraine and Russia amid warnings of war

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

In Ukraine, even peace accords can be a Russian weapon

In Ukraine, even peace accords can be a Russian weapon

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