Section: Africa&ME
During Ukraine visit, senior UN official pledges broad support for Government
17 December 2014 – The top United Nations political official today voiced the Organization’s “unwavering commitment” in helping Ukraine address the range of political, humanitarian, security and development challenges it continues to face amid ongoing fighting in the country’s east. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs...
Merkel Says Prospects For Peace In Ukraine Is Uncertain
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that prospects for peace in Ukraine are “uncertain”, as Francois Hollande, the French President, warned it was “one of the last chances” for peace. Merkel and French President Francois Hollande met with the Russian President in Moscow on Friday. Speaking at a security conference in Munich, Mrs...
US Secretary Kerry visits Ukraine
US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to arrive in Kiev for talks focusing on the possibility of arming Ukrainian forces in their fight against Russian-backed separatist rebels. Kerry’s visit on Thursday comes a day after rocket salvos hit a previously safe section of Ukraine’s rebel stronghold of Donetsk, killing at least five...
‘Extremely serious’ situation for over a million children in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine – UN
19 December 2014 – In eastern Ukraine, the situation remains ‘extremely serious’ for more than 1.7 million children affected by the escalating crisis, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned today as it appealed for funds to continue its humanitarian response in the country. “Since March 2014, more than one million people...
Ukraine Crisis: EU Leaders Set For Putin Talks
French President, Francois Hollande and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel announced a new peace plan for Ukraine on Thursday, flying to Kiev with a proposal they would then take on to Moscow. The coordinated trip by Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande comes as rebels advanced on a railway hub held by Ukrainian troops after...
Kerry denies US, Europe differences over Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State Kerry has dismissed talks of split between US and Europe over providing arms to Ukraine, and says Washington is up for diplomacy. …read more Source: World...
Ukrainians escape encircled strategic town
Kramatorsk, Ukraine – Elina, 28, lived without water or electricity for two weeks amid the winter cold on eastern Ukraine’s new front line. She fled the strategic city of Debaltseve, which has been the focus of a pro-Moscow rebel offensive. According to Amnesty International, only 7,000 people are left in Debaltseve, which used to...
Four-way emergency Ukraine summit planned for Wednesday
French, German and Ukrainian leaders are planning a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Wednesday … …read more Source: Gulf...
Europe and US clash over how to confront Putin on Ukraine
Germany’s Angela Merkel warns that sending arms to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian separatists will not solve the crisis there, drawing a sharp rebuke from a leading US senator …read more Source: Business...
Ukraine leader sees prospects of ceasefire from next Minsk meeting
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and leaders of Russia, France and Germany expect their talks in Minsk, Belarus, on Wednesday to lead to a “swift and unconditional ceasefire”, his website said. A statement from Poroshenko’s administration said progress had been made during a phone call between him and Russia’s Vladimir Putin,...
