by Shaun Tandon Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — China appears determined on using force in Taiwan, with Russia’s experience in Ukraine affecting Beijing’s calculations on when and how — not whether — to invade, the head of the CIA said Wednesday. Appearing at the Aspen Security Forum, Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns said that China likely saw in Ukraine that “you don’t achieve quick, decisive victories with underwhelming force.” He played down […]
Tag: Ukraine
US Senate moves to bring Finland, Sweden into NATO
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Senate on Tuesday took its first step towards bringing Sweden and Finland into NATO, with bipartisan support for the new alliance members following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. All 30 members of NATO must ratify the accession of the two Nordic countries, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week again threatened to freeze their bids despite his assent during a summit in late June in Madrid. The Senate […]
Russian fire pounds Ukraine, as Putin announces ‘progress’ on grain exports
by Cécile FEUILLATRE Agence France-Presse KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AFP) — Russian shelling pounded eastern and southern Ukraine Tuesday as President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would only ease the path for Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain if the West lifts sanctions on Russian shipments. Russian strikes hit the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing one person, local authorities said. AFP journalists said a four-story residential building had been hit in the city in the Donbas […]
Putin says West must remove restrictions on Russian grain exports
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that the West must remove restrictions on exports of Russian grain. “We will facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain, but we are proceeding from the fact that all restrictions related to air deliveries for the export of Russian grain will be lifted,” Putin told reporters in Tehran after talks with the presidents of Iran and Turkey. Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine has hampered shipments […]
Russian shelling kills 6 in Donbas, EU defends sanctions on Moscow
by Frankie Taggart with Cecile Feuillatre in Toretsk Agence France-Presse KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russian shelling of a town in eastern Ukraine on Monday killed six people, Kyiv said, as EU ministers meeting in Brussels insisted the pressure of Western sanctions on Moscow was working. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile appointed an acting security chief, having announced the suspension of senior law enforcement officials late on Sunday. Rescue workers were digging through debris and clearing […]
Himars precision rockets shift the balance in Ukraine: experts
by Paul Handley Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US-made precision rockets have given Ukraine forces a major battlefield boost since they were introduced in June, tilting the balance against the Russians and possibly forcing Moscow to pause its offensive, experts said. Since mid-June, using the Himars missile systems, Ukraine has destroyed more than 20 major Russian ammunition depots and command posts that were previously too far behind the front lines to be reached […]
Russia’s war in Ukraine ‘greatest challenge’ to global economy, says US Treasury chief Yellen
by Jack MOORE Agence France Presse Russia’s war in Ukraine poses the greatest threat to the global economy, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday as G20 ministers prepare to start talks in Indonesia. Moscow’s invasion has sent inflation soaring at a time when the world is struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, endangering the gains of the past two years and threatening widespread hunger and poverty. “Our greatest challenge today comes from […]
Ukraine severs ties with NKorea after pro-Russia separatists recognition
KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Kyiv said Wednesday it was severing relations with North Korea, as Pyongyang confirmed it was formally recognizing two self-proclaimed pro-Russian republics in eastern Ukraine. North Korea’s recognition of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic came after another Russian ally, Syria, made the same move last month. The Ukrainian foreign ministry in a statement denounced North Korea’s decision to recognize territories Kyiv described as “temporarily occupied by Russia”. “In […]
Ukraine, Russia to hold grain talks as war sends food prices soaring
by Frankie TAGGART with Dmitry ZAKS in Istanbul Agence France-Presse KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russian and Ukrainian officials were to hold talks in Istanbul on Wednesday over stalled grain deliveries that have pushed global food prices skywards, while Kyiv said it had destroyed a Russian arms depot as the war rages on. Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat and other grain, but shipments have been blocked by both Russian warships and […]
Iran to supply Russians with UAVs for Ukraine: White House
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Iran is planning to supply hundreds of drones with combat weapon capabilities to Russia for use in Ukraine, a top US official said Monday. Jake Sullivan, the White House national security advisor, said the information received by the United States supported views that the Russian military is facing challenges sustaining its weaponry after significant losses in Ukraine. “The Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred […]
Putin fast-tracks Russian citizenship for Ukrainians: decree
MOSCOW (AFP) –Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday issued a decree to fast-track citizenship for all Ukrainians, more than four months into Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine. The decree ordered that “all citizens of Ukraine” be given “the right to apply for admission to the citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner”. In May, Putin already fast-tracked citizenship for residents of two regions of Ukraine — the southern region of Kherson, which is […]
Europe frets over reduced Russia gas supplies
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Russian gas giant Gazprom begins 10 days of routine maintenance on its Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Monday — with Germany and other European countries watching anxiously to see if the gas comes back on. The annual work on the two pipelines was scheduled long in advance. The fear is however that — with relations between Russia and the West at their lowest in years because of the invasion of Ukraine […]





