Section: Cyprus
At G20 summit, US and Europe blast Russia over Ukraine
By Alexei Anishchuk and Gernot Helle Western leaders attending a G20 summit blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday for the crisis in Ukraine, threatening further sanctions if Russia did not withdraw troops and weapons from its neighbouring nation. US President Barack Obama said Russian aggression against Ukraine was a threat to the...
Sweden says has proof of foreign submarine intrusion in October
By Niklas Pollard Sweden has proof that a small foreign submarine was operating illegally in its waters last month, its top military officer said on Friday after a mysterious episode that triggered the country’s biggest military mobilisation since the Cold War. More than 200 troops, stealth ships and helicopters scoured Baltic waters off...
Ukraine and Russia take centre stage as leaders gather for G20
By Matt Siegel The G20 leaders summit in Australia starting on Saturday is setting up as a showdown between Western leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following fresh reports of Russian troops pouring into eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has accused Russia of sending soldiers and weapons to help separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine launch a...
Dutch fighters intercept Russian plane over Baltic sea
By Thomas Escritt Two Dutch F16 fighter jets, part of a NATO force patrolling the skies above the Baltic states, intercepted a Russian Ilyushin transport aircraft flying near Estonian and Lithuanian air space, the Netherlands said on Thursday. After the interception, which took place late on Wednesday, the Ilyushin flew off in the direction of...
Russia tells Kiev: new conflict would be catastrophic for Ukraine
By Thomas Grove and Natalia Zinets Moscow and Kiev traded accusations on Thursday of failing to observe a ceasefire agreement and Russia warned a resumption of hostilities against pro-Russian separatists in the east would be catastrophic for Ukraine. Ukraine accused Russia of sending soldiers and weapons to help rebels launch a new offensive in a...
Shelling rocks rebel stronghold Donetsk in east Ukraine
New shelling rocked the pro-Russian rebel stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday despite a fragile ceasefire. A Reuters correspondent in the heart of the city, once eastern Ukraine’s industrial hub, heard loud explosions from heavy artillery fire. It was unclear who was shooting or what the intended target was. Artillery...
Ukraine says rebels get reinforcements, shelling batters truce
By Natalia Zinets and Anton Zverev Kiev accused separatists of preparing for renewed conflict in east Ukraine on Tuesday by bringing in “Russian mercenaries” and rearming as heavy shelling increased strains on a crumbling ceasefire. In Berlin, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief said the bloc’s foreign ministers would discuss...
Putin blames Ukraine for obstructing MH17 inquiry
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused Ukraine’s government of interfering with the investigation into the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet in July that killed 298 people. Independent investigators have had little access to the wreckage of flight MH17 in territory in eastern Ukraine in the hands of pro-Russian separatists...
Germany celebrates 25th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall
By Erik Kirschbaum More than a million Germans and people from around the world on Sunday celebrated the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the event that more than any other marked the end of the Cold War. A spectacular 15 kilometre-long string of 7,000 illuminated helium balloons traced the course of the barrier that once snaked...
Heavy shelling in east Ukraine adds to concern over ceasefire
Heavy shelling around the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk increased strains on a two-month-old ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists on Sunday. Reuters reporters in rebel-held Donetsk said shelling by heavy artillery continued throughout the night and into the early hours, and then picked up again later on...
