Section: The Malaysian Insider (Malaysia)
Merkel vows united European stance over Ukraine
German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a New Year’s address vowed to maintain a tough stance against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, pledging that Europe will stay united in defending its values. “Without question, Europe cannot and will not accept the purported right of the strong who violates international law,” she said in a...
Ukraine adopts ‘draconian’ budget backed by IMF
Ukraine’s parliament today adopted an austerity budget that hikes import prices and shrinks social spending in order to balance the books under a plan backed by the International Monetary Fund. The highly-disputed 2015 plan was pushed through by the government-led coalition after a marathon debate that ended after 4.00 am. Ukrainian…...
After turbulent 2014, next year may be no calmer
From financial crisis in Russia to cyber warfare with North Korea, 2014 has generated new flashpoints right into its final days, setting 2015 up to be just as turbulent. Almost all of the major confrontations, such as the battle with Islamic State militants, the West’s stand-off with Russia over Ukraine and the fight against Ebola, will...
Kiev and rebels swap hundreds of captives in peace push
Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels were on Saturday set to complete a swap of hundreds of prisoners as part of a new push for peace that came despite Kiev’s decision to cut off key transport links to breakaway Crimea. The exchange began Friday on a dark and isolated stretch of a road north of the devastated eastern rebel stronghold of Donetsk,...
Ukraine, rebels try to revive stalled peace talks
Ukrainian and pro-Russian rebel leaders tried today to revive peace talks that stalled after just one round due to stark difference over how to end the eight-month separatist war. A tense meeting mediated by European and Russian envoys in the Belarussian capital Minsk on Wednesday was due to have been followed by a final one today at which...
Ukraine temporarily cuts off power supplies to Crimea
Ukraine temporarily cut off power supplies to Crimea today after the Russian-controlled peninsula failed to curb consumption as required due to a power crisis, the Ukrainian energy ministry said. “Today electricity supplies to Crimea were shut off… just as would be done to any region of Ukraine,” a ministry representative told...
Russia, Ukraine set for peace talks after Kiev step towards Nato
Fragile peace talks aimed at ending the separatist war between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels are due to resume Wednesday, a day after Kiev angered Moscow by taking a historic step towards Nato. The talks in the Belarussian capital Minsk are expected to bring together envoys from Ukraine, Russia, pro-Moscow separatists and the Organisation...
A lot’s in a name in rebel-held east Ukraine
As Italian and Barber fiddled with a broken television set in their base near Ukraine’s frontline, Accurate laid down his Kalashnikov to tuck into a bowl of borsch. Across rebel-held territory in the war-ravaged east, since the start of the Russian-fuelled conflict the vast array of military nicknames used by insurgent fighters has become...
Long road to recovery for injured in east Ukraine
Sitting up with difficulty in her hospital bed, Raisa Bulda says that despite months of treatment she still feels like she is only just beginning her recovery. It was back in August that a shell tore through her home on the edge of rebel bastion Donetsk in eastern Ukraine and left her screaming for help in a pool of blood. But it was last…...
White House says Obama will sign Russia sanctions bill
US President Barack Obama will sign into law a bill passed by Congress to tighten sanctions against Russia over its Ukraine incursion, the White House said Tuesday amid a dramatic run on the ruble. “The president does intend to sign the bill,” spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters, while adding “it does preserve the...
