Tag: Ukraine

Modi calls for unity at G20 dominated by Ukraine

by Shaun Tandon and Manon Billing Agence France-Presse NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Thursday for the G20 to bridge differences over Ukraine, telling the opening of a meeting in New Delhi that global governance has “failed”. “The experience of the last few years -– financial crisis, climate change, pandemic, terrorism and wars — clearly shows that global governance has failed,” Modi said in a recorded statement opening the meeting […]

Belarus leader ‘fully supports’ China’s Ukraine peace plan

BEIJING, March 1, 2023 (AFP) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that his country “fully supports” Beijing’s proposals for ending the Ukraine war when the two leaders met Wednesday. The state visit to the Chinese capital by Lukashenko — a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — comes after Beijing published a position paper on Moscow’s war in Ukraine insisting it is a neutral party and calling for dialogue. […]

Moldova offers Ukrainians refuge despite its own struggles

by Sabine COLPART / Chloe ROUVEYROLLES-BAZIRE Agence France-Presse NISPORENI, Moldova (AFP) — Tatiana Bellayar was among tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion a year ago, rushing to find a safe haven by crossing into tiny, impoverished neighbor Moldova. The nation, one of the poorest in Europe, ended up becoming one of the largest recipients per capita of Ukrainian refugees despite being buffeted by its own crises even before the war. “Here, we […]

‘Russia does not count people,’ Zelensky says of brutal Bakhmut fight

by Emmanuel PEUCHOT with Elizabeth STRIY in Bakhmut Agence France-Presse KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Pressure is mounting on Ukrainian forces as fighting for the eastern frontline city of Bakhmut is getting ever more brutal with Russia losing hundreds of troops a day, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday. As the battle raged, Moscow said it shot down Ukrainian drones targeting civilian sites in Russian territory while another one crashed near the capital. AFP aerial footage released […]

Ukraine intel chief sees no signs China plans to arm Russia

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine’s head of military intelligence has brushed aside claims that China is considering furnishing arms to Russia, telling US media that he saw no “signs that such things are even being discussed”. Senior US officials have said as recently as Sunday that they were “confident” China was considering providing lethal equipment to Moscow, with a diplomatic pressure campaign underway to discourage it from doing so. But when asked about the possibility […]

Wizz Air suspend flights to Moldova amid security concerns

CHISINAU, Moldova (AFP) — Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air announced Monday it would suspend all its flights to and from Moldova due to security concerns linked to growing tensions with Russia. “Due to recent developments and the high, though not imminent, risk in the country’s airspace, Wizz Air has taken the difficult but responsible decision to suspend all its flights to Chisinau as of March 14,” the group said in a statement. Moldova, a pro-European […]

Zelensky says Bakhmut fight ‘more and more complicated’

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday warned that the situation around the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut was getting increasingly difficult. “The situation is getting more and more complicated,” Zelensky said in his evening address. “The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions,” he said, calling Ukrainian soldiers fighting for Bakhmut “real heroes.” The fierce fighting for the industrial city of Bakhmut in the eastern region […]

Canada sending four more Leopard tanks to Ukraine

Toronto, Canada | AFP | Canada is sending four additional battle tanks to Ukraine — doubling its commitment — and sanctioning an additional 192 Russian individuals and entities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday. “Canada has stood in solidarity with Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict,” Trudeau said in a news conference on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “We will continue to do so,” Trudeau told journalists, speaking in Toronto where he […]

UN demands Russia withdraw from Ukraine

by Nicolas REVISE / Amélie BOTTOLLIER-DEPOIS Agence France-Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The United Nations voted overwhelmingly Thursday to demand Russia immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine, marking the one-year anniversary of the war with a call for a “just and lasting” peace. Ukraine earned strong backing in a nonbinding vote that saw 141 of the 193 UN members in support, seven opposed and 32, including China and India abstaining. Coming […]

Ukrainians pray, ready for strikes one year after Russian invasion

by Thibault MARCHAND with Phil Hazlewood in KRAMATORSK Agence France-Presse KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukrainians will hold ceremonies across their war-ravaged country Friday on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion, with President Volodymyr Zelensky to assure them of victory even as they face the threat of new missile strikes. A year ago to the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin stunned the world by sending troops across the border, in a move seen as punishment for […]

China urges Russia, Ukraine to resume talks, warns against using nuclear weapons

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China called Friday for Russia and Ukraine to hold peace talks as soon as possible, while insisting that nuclear weapons must not be used in their conflict. Beijing’s foreign ministry made the comments in a 12-point paper on the “political settlement” of the crisis, timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The paper follows accusations from the West that China is considering arming Russia — a […]

On war anniversary eve, Zelensky says Ukraine ‘will prevail’

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday expressed confidence in his country’s victory over invading Russian forces as fears mounted of strikes on the war’s first anniversary. The war has seen Western leaders step up their support for Kyiv, and on Thursday, the eve of the anniversary, G7 ministers discussed new sanctions on Russia as the UN General Assembly prepared to vote on a motion calling for “lasting” peace. The United States […]