Tag: putin

Putin calls for Russia draft mistakes to be ‘corrected’

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday called for mistakes in Russia’s ongoing military mobilisation for the offensive in Ukraine to be “corrected”, as discontent grows over the often chaotic conscription push. Russian media and social networks have reported cases of the mobilisation of elderly people, students, the sick or conscripts without military experience. Opposition to the drive has also sparked protests and the flight of thousands of men abroad. “This mobilisation raises […]

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Putin’s troop call-up will prolong but not win war: experts

by Sylvie LANTEAUME Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Western experts predicted Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new troop mobilization would prolong the war but not change the balance on the ground, and warned against downplaying his renewed nuclear threat. Putin announced the call-up of 300,000 reservists — more than the nearly 200,000 mustered to invade Ukraine in February — after his troops have lost significant parts of territory seized early in the […]

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China calls for ‘ceasefire through dialogue’ following Putin address on Ukraine

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China called Wednesday for a “ceasefire through dialogue and consultation” following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s address on Ukraine, in which he announced a partial military mobilisation. “We call on the relevant parties to realise a ceasefire through dialogue and consultation, and find a solution that accommodates the legitimate security concerns of all parties as soon as possible,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing. Putin announced the […]

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Markets drop as Fed hike looms, Putin move lifts dollar and oil

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Stocks fell Wednesday ahead of what many expect to be a third successive jumbo rate hike by the Federal Reserve, while the dollar hit fresh multi-decade highs against the pound and euro after Russia stepped up its war in Ukraine. Equities around the world have been clattered by fears of a recession in major economies as central banks ramp up borrowing costs to combat the highest inflation in decades, which […]

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UPDATED: Putin announces partial mobilisation in Russia

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered “partial” mobilisation in Russia, in an escalation of what Moscow calls its military operation in pro-Western Ukraine. “I consider it necessary to support the proposal of the Defence Ministry and of the General Staff to conduct partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation,” Putin said during a televised address to the nation. He added that a relevant decree has already been signed and will come into […]

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Putin hails ‘new centres of power’ at summit with Asian leaders

  Samarkand, Uzbekistan (AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the growing influence of “new centres of power” on Friday at a summit with Asian leaders including China’s Xi Jinping. “The growing role of new centres of power who cooperate with each other… is becoming more and more clear,” Putin told the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in ex-Soviet Uzbekistan. “We are open to cooperation with the entire world,” Putin said. “Our policy is […]

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Russian leader Putin, China’s Xi meet for high-stakes talks in challenge to West

  SAMARCANDE, Uzbekistan (AFP) — Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping gather with other Asian leaders in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand from Thursday for a regional summit touted as a challenge to Western global influence. Xi and Putin will be joined by the leaders of India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and several other countries for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Uzbek city on Thursday and Friday. The […]

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Putin says ‘impossible’ to isolate Russia, vows gas and oil supply cuts

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday it was “impossible” to isolate Moscow and vowed to cut gas and oil deliveries to countries imposing a price cap on supplies. Speaking at an economic forum, over six months after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, the Russian leader sought to pivot towards allies in Asia, the Middle East and Africa as his country faces a barrage of Western sanctions. “No matter how much […]

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Biden rejects branding Russia ‘state sponsor of terrorism’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday said it would be counterproductive to brand Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism,” rejecting calls from Ukraine and lawmakers to take the far-reaching action. Biden, asked by a reporter on Monday if he would blacklist Russia as a terrorist state, said simply, “no,” after months of non-committal answers from senior officials. Asked Tuesday whether a decision had been made, White House Press Secretary […]

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Russians bid to farewell to Gorbachev, but without Putin

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will be laid to rest Saturday in a Moscow ceremony, but without the fanfare of a state funeral and with the glaring absence of President Vladimir Putin. With Russia isolated by its military campaign in Ukraine, no foreign leaders are expected to attend what will be a relatively low-key affair to remember one of the great political figures of the 20th century. Gorbachev — affectionately […]

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Putin visits Baltic exclave Kaliningrad as tensions with EU soar

Moscow, Russia (AFP) President Vladimir Putin on Thursday was in Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad, wedged between NATO member countries, with tensions soaring between Moscow and the EU over fighting in Ukraine. As part of his visit, Putin met with Kaliningrad school students to mark the start of the school year, answering questions on topics ranging from the economy, space exploration and Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine. “The mission of our soldiers… is to stop this […]

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Putin increases Russian army headcount

  Moscow, Russia (AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree to increase the headcount of the country’s army, as Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine enters its seventh month. Russia’s army will have over two million people, including 1.15 million servicemen, starting January next year, according to the decree published on a government portal. Putin last set the army headcount in 2017 at around 1.9 million people with 1.01 million soldiers. While the […]

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