Section: Egypt
Ukraine: The defenders of Mariupol
Shyrokine, Ukraine – The ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been in place for more than a month, but in this front-line village outside the strategic city of Mariupol, the violence never stopped. Volunteer fighters with the Donbas and Azov battalions exchange fire with pro-Russia separatist rebels on a daily basis. Despite being obliged by...
In Crimea, Euphoria Fades After a Year of Russian Rule
SIMFEROPOL, CRIMEA—A year after Russia’s takeover of Crimea sparked a wave of euphoria across the Black Sea peninsula, residents are suffering growing hardship as prices rise and many fear for the future. Russia’s flag is flying across Crimea on the anniversary of what President Vladimir Putin calls the region’s historic “return...
Kremlin: Crimea Will Not Return to Ukraine
MOSCOW—Russia said on Tuesday it would not hand back Crimea to Ukraine, despite warnings by the United States and European Union that they will not drop sanctions over the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation a year ago. “There is no occupation of Crimea. Crimea is a region of the Russian Federation and of course the subject of our regions is...
Kremlin rules out handing back Crimea to Ukraine
Russia said on Tuesday it would not hand back Crimea to Ukraine, despite warnings by the United States and European Union that they will not drop sanctions over the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation a year ago. “There is no occupation of Crimea. Crimea is a region of the Russian Federation and of course the subject of our regions is...
Fighting Rages Near Donetsk Airport Despite Ukraine Ceasefire
SPARTAK, UKRAINE—Heavy machine gun and light artillery fire pounded a district of Donetsk, the biggest city of eastern Ukraine on Monday and pro-Russian rebels said there had been no lull in the fighting since a February ceasefire. The Spartak district, adjacent to the city’s now-flattened airport, is one of several sites in eastern Ukraine...
Germany Warily Assumes Greater Global Role
Published March 16, 2015 Germany has taken the lead in trying to solve the European financial crisis and to stop the war in Ukraine. But is Berlin ready to play a larger international role? VOA’s Jela de Franceschi examines the extent and limits of German power. …read more Source:...
Russia starts nationwide show of force
More than 45,000 Russian troops as well as war planes and submarines started military exercises across much of the country on Monday in one of the Kremlin’s biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows.President Vladimir Putin called the Navy’s Northern Fleet to full combat readiness in exercises in...
Russia Conducts Massive Arctic Military Drills
MOSCOW—The Russian military on Monday launched sweeping military maneuvers in the Arctic and other areas, a show of force ordered by President Vladimir Putin amid spiraling tensions with the West over Ukraine. The five-day Arctic drills involving 38,000 servicemen, more than 50 surface ships and submarines, and 110 aircraft are intended to check...
Putin set to reappear after 10-day absence
President Vladimir Putin was due to reappear in public on Monday after an unusually long 10-day absence that unleashed frenzied speculation about the whereabouts and health of the Russian strongman.Putin is scheduled to meet with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Saint Petersburg later Monday, and a Kremlin official confirmed to AFP that the...
EU Voices Concern at Military Build-up in Crimea
BRUSSELS/ROME—The European Union said on Monday it would stick to its policy of not recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and voiced concern over what it said was a military build-up and deteriorating human rights situation there. “The European Union does not recognize and continues to condemn this act of violation of international...
