Tag: Russia

EU readies for end of Russia gas, warns won’t pay in rubles

by Dave CLARK Agence France Presse The European Union warned member states Monday to prepare for a possible complete breakdown in gas supplies from Russia, insisting it would not cede to Moscow’s demand that imports be paid for in rubles. The European Commission will on Tuesday propose to member states a new package of sanctions to punish President Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine, including an embargo on Russian oil, officials said. But […]

Israel slams Russian claims on Hitler over Ukraine war

  JERUSALEM, Undefined | AFP  Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday slammed his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for alleging Adolf Hitler may have “had Jewish blood” and summoned Moscow’s ambassador for “clarifications”. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Israel has sought to keep a delicate balance between the two sides, but remarks by Lavrov to an Italian channel sparked anger in Israel. Moscow has previously said it wants to “de-militarise” and “de-Nazify” […]

Russia not seeking to end Ukraine war by May 9: FM

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia is not looking to end its war in Ukraine by Victory Day on May 9, its foreign minister said, as the country looks set to mark the key anniversary under the cloud of a deadly conflict. Speaking with Italian outlet Mediaset, Sergei Lavrov insisted Moscow would not rush to wrap up its so-called “special military operation” in time for the anniversary, which celebrates Nazi Germany’s surrender to allied forces — […]

Ukraine FM asks China to be security guarantor: interview

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Ukraine’s foreign minister has asked China to provide security guarantees for Kyiv, in a lengthy interview containing some of the most direct criticisms of Moscow recently published by Beijing’s state media. Western powers and Ukraine have repeatedly urged China to condemn Russia’s invasion as it tries to maintain a supposedly neutral stance, with the United States threatening consequences if Beijing provides military or economic support to Moscow. “Ukraine is currently […]

Ignoring Putin’s threats, US boosts support for Ukraine

  by Sylvie LANTEAUME Agence France Presse In rallying global arms supplies and asking Congress for $33 billion more to support Ukraine, Washington is choosing to ignore Vladimir Putin’s threats to use nuclear arms, and instead is openly testing the Russian leader’s limits. After the United States brought 40 countries to a US base in Germany last week to discuss aid for Ukraine’s war with Russia, Putin on Wednesday threatened a “lightning fast” response if […]

Angelina Jolie makes surprise Ukraine trip

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Hollywood star Angelina Jolie on Saturday made a surprise appearance in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv where she met displaced people and was spotted in a cafe. Jolie is a UNHCR special envoy but it was not known if she was visiting the country in that capacity. “For all of us, this visit has been a surprise,” said Lviv regional governor Maxim Kozytski on Telegram, posting photos and videos of […]

US frowns on Indonesia’s invite to Putin for G20 summit

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia faced down US opposition and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in November, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, its leader said Friday. Jakarta, which holds the G20 presidency this year, has been under heavy pressure from the West, led by the United States, to exclude Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, but it has argued it must remain “impartial”. “I have invited President Zelensky to […]

Russia confirms ‘high-precision’ strike on Kyiv during UN visit; Ukraine says at least 1 person killed

  KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russia’s defence ministry on Friday confirmed it had carried out an air strike on Kyiv during a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “High-precision, long-range air-based weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed the production buildings of the Artyom missile and space enterprise in Kyiv,” the ministry said in its daily briefing on the conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine said Friday that one person had been killed in the strike […]

Russia strikes Kyiv during UN chief’s visit as Moscow presses offensive

by Joshua Melvin with Emmanuel Peuchot in Kharkiv Agence France Presse Russian forces pressed their offensive in south and east Ukraine on Friday after bombarding its capital during a visit by the United Nations’ chief. At least three people were wounded in strikes late Thursday in the western part of Kyiv, the first in the capital in nearly two weeks, which came after Guterres toured Bucha and other suburbs where Moscow is alleged to have […]

In Kharkiv, no let-up for Ukraine firefighters

  by Emmanuel Peuchot © Agence France-Presse KHARKIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Blackened by smoke and dripping with sweat, firefighters in Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv are totally exhausted after two months of chasing blazes sparked by the constant explosion of Russian rockets. Since Russia invaded on February 24, there have been more than 1,000 fires in the eastern Kharkiv region which borders Russia, the area’s emergency services spokesman Yevgen Vasylenko said. In the city alone, over […]

War in Ukraine: Latest developments

  KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine: – Kyiv hit as UN chief visits – Russian missiles slam into buildings in a residential area of Kyiv as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres visits the Ukrainian capital. Guterres and his team are unhurt, but casualties are reported and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says it is part of Russian leaders’ attempts to humiliate the United Nations. – Biden in […]

Another 52,000 Ukrainians flee war as refugees

by Nina LARSON More than 5.3 million Ukrainians have fled their country since Russia invaded two months ago, the United Nations said Wednesday, with more than 52,000 joining their ranks in the past 24 hours. In total, 5,317,219 people have fled Ukraine as refugees since February 24, according to the latest data from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. That marks an increase of 52,452 over the figure given on Tuesday. While the outflow has slowed […]