Section: The Japan Times (Japan)
Despite criticism from Ukraine, Ban plans to attend Victory Day in Moscow
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend celebrations in Moscow on Saturday of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, despite criticism from Ukraine and other Central European countries. Ahead of his visit to Moscow for Victory Day, Ban will travel to Poland to attend commemorations there marking 70 years since...
U.S. now sees Russia directing Ukraine’s rebels
The United States now sees the Ukrainian rebels as a Russian force. American officials briefed on intelligence from the region say Russia has significantly deepened its command and control of the militants in eastern Ukraine in recent months, leading the U.S. to quietly introduce a new term: “combined Russian-separatist forces.” The State...
Forest fire rages near Chernobyl nuclear site
A forest fire broke out Tuesday near the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine, scene of the world’s worst civil nuclear disaster in 1986, but posed no danger to the site, officials said. “The fire is at a distance of 15 to 20 kilometers from Chernobyl,” said Maya Rudenko, a spokeswoman for the plant. She added, there […] The post Forest fire rages...
Russians seethe over West’s ‘snub’ of their WWII commemoration, fail to see link with Ukraine
One of Boris Lisitsyn’s happiest memories is of being swept by a huge, joyous crowd through the streets of Moscow and onto Red Square in spontaneous celebrations when World War Two ended in Europe. He was too young to fight but, like most Russians, sees the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 as one of […] The post Russians seethe over...
Ukrainian businessman tops U.K. list as Britain’s wealthy get even richer
In a rich list released Sunday which is studded with members of the international jet set living in London, Ukrainian businessman Len Blavatnik has been named the wealthiest man in Britain. Blavatnik, an investor in a range of industries including oil, petrochemicals and media, is worth £13.1 billion ($20 billion), according to the...
Arctic nations vow to fight climate-changing emissions of black carbon, methane
The eight Arctic Council nations pledged on Friday to do more to combat climate change, which is shrinking the vast frigid region, and tried to put aside disputes over issues like Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. Meeting in the Canadian town of Iqaluit, 300 km (200 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, […]...
Russia bolstering rebel forces, heavy arms, air defenses in Ukraine: U.S.
The United States accused Russia Wednesday of building up its forces along the border with Ukraine, boosting air defense systems in the country and training Ukrainian rebels in the east. “Combined Russian-separatist forces continue to violate the terms of the ‘Minsk 2′ agreement signed in mid-February,” acting State Department spokeswoman Marie...
Ukrainian forces get U.S. paratrooper training to fight pro-Russia rebels
U.S. paratroopers Monday began training Ukrainian government forces who will fight pro-Russian separatists in the east, angering Moscow as the deadly conflict rumbles on in the ex-Soviet country. Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko welcomed troops from the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade in a rain-soaked ceremony at a military base in Yavoriv, western...
MH17 fragment to be displayed at museum by group of Russian veterans
A Russian veterans organization is planning to display a piece of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet shot down over Ukraine at a museum. The fragment was given to veterans organization Boyevogo Bratstva in the town Yeisk by residents near the crash site as a sign of respect, the head of the group, Finat Shaikhulin, told […] The post MH17...
U.S. accuses Russia of training separatists inside Ukraine
Russian forces still are operating inside Ukraine and have set up training camps for pro-Moscow separatists, despite a cease-fire agreement backed by the Kremlin, the Pentagon said Tuesday. “There is no question that the Russians continue to operate inside of Ukrainian territory,” spokesman Col. Steven Warren said. The United States believed the...
