Section: The Malaysian Insider (Malaysia)
US Congress moves to approve new Russia sanctions, arms for Ukraine
American lawmakers defied President Barack Obama and approved fresh economic sanctions against Russia, prompting swift criticism from Moscow Friday over toughening the US response to a Kremlin-backed separatist insurgency in Ukraine. The legislation also authorizes, but does not legally require, Obama to provide lethal and non-lethal...
NATO says Russia refuses to discuss military activity
NATO accused Russia today of refusing any “genuine dialogue” about its increased military activity, saying there had been no contact between army brass during the seven months of crisis in Ukraine. The US-led alliance has reported an upsurge in Russian military flights, especially near its Baltic state members, but also further afield...
Putin, Modi in push to revive jaded Russia-India relationship
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin got straight down to talks today on boosting nuclear and defence cooperation at a summit aimed at reviving an old friendship that has faded over the years. Putin’s one-day visit to India comes at a time when Russia is at odds with the West over Ukraine, and its economy...
Airlines body calls for UN to regulate anti-aircraft weaponry
Global airlines body Iata has called on the UN to regulate anti-aircraft weaponry in a similar way to chemical weapons following the shooting down of a commercial airliner over Ukraine earlier this year. “We are calling on Icao to work within the UN framework to implement the responsible design, manufacture and deployment of weapons...
Putin, Hollande attempt to defuse Ukraine tensions
French President Francois Hollande on Saturday became the first European leader to travel to Russia in an attempt to defuse the standoff with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, as Kiev announced a fresh round of peace talks next week. Hollande’s meeting with Putin in the diplomatic terminal of an airport outside the capital came as the conflict...
Putin says foes hope to dismember Russia
President Vladimir Putin accused Russia’s enemies on Thursday of seeking to carve it up and destroy its economy to punish it for growing strong, in an annual state of the union speech that seemed to outdo his recent strident nationalism. The Kremlin leader trumpeted his annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, praised the Russian...
Ukraine nuclear plant short circuit adds to power woes
Ukraine said Wednesday a short circuit at a nuclear plant posed “no threat” but had added to electricity shortages at a time when the country is struggling to keep the lights on. The electrical fault at the Zaporizhya plant in the southeast of the country last Friday is due to be fixed in the coming days but comes as coal shortages...
Pro-European parties narrowly win Moldova polls
Pro-European parties edged out those backing closer ties with Russia in weekend parliamentary elections in ex-Soviet Moldova, which took place against the backdrop of the bloody conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. With more than 87.7% of the votes counted, three parties backing integration with the European Union won about 44% of the vote,...
Erdogan hosts Putin to tighten Turkey-Russia alliance
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday holds talks in Ankara with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to tighten links which have survived potentially grave disputes over the Syria and Ukraine crises. The talks are expected to focus on energy cooperation – with Ankara seeking not only a reduction in gas prices from Russia but...
Large, unauthorised convoy enters east Ukraine from Russia
Ukraine said today that a convoy of 106 vehicles had entered its eastern territory from Russia without Kiev’s permission and accused Moscow of once again using humanitarian aid shipments to send weapons and ammunition to separatist rebels. In the separatist-held city of Donetsk, fighting intensified at the local airport, a Reuters...
