Section: The Malaysian Insider (Malaysia)
Germany sees ‘no grounds for optimism’ in Ukraine conflict
Germany’s foreign minister said Tuesday he was not optimistic about an end to the conflict in Ukraine because of a “dangerous” escalation of fighting in the east. Frank-Walter Steinmeier made the downbeat assessment after Nato’s secretary-general spoke of a “very serious build-up” of troops, artillery and air...
Isolated at G20, Putin shows he will do it his way in Ukraine
It may have looked in the West like Russian President Vladimir Putin fled this weekend’s G20 summit early with his tail between his legs after being berated over Ukraine. But it was a different story in Russia, where pliant media praised Putin for being courageous enough to “enter the lion’s den”, stand up to his critics...
Artillery explosions shake Donetsk airport in east Ukraine
Loud explosions and artillery fire rocked Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine today, despite attempts to negotiate an end to a battle that is undermining a ceasefire in regions held by separatists. A Reuters reporter near the strategically important airport saw flashes of artillery fire in several places and heard frequent blasts in new...
Russia expels diplomats as EU set for new Ukraine sanctions
Russia expelled several Polish diplomats for spying today, deepening the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War as the EU eyed fresh sanctions against Moscow over the violence in Ukraine. Fresh bloodshed in Ukraine between pro-Kremlin rebels and Kiev’s forces added to the tensions after Russian President Vladimir Putin (pic) left a...
Russia ‘will not prevail’ in Ukraine, says Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pic) on Monday called on the West not to lose hope in what may be a long struggle with Russia over Ukraine, but vowed that the Kremlin “will not prevail”. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March “called the whole of the European peaceful order into question, and it has continued by Russia...
Putin says he’s convinced solution to Ukraine crisis possible
Russia President Vladimir Putin (pic) said in a German television interview on Sunday that he is convinced it should be possible to find a way to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, but added he was concerned about the threat of ethnic cleansing. In the 30-minute interview, Putin defended Russia’s annexation of the Crimea, but also appealed to...
Putin yawns off Western baiting at testy G20
A weary Russian President Vladimir Putin today shrugged off a new barrage of Western fire over Ukraine at a G20 summit where the world’s most powerful leaders vowed to heat up the cooling global economy. Host Tony Abbott insisted that everyone including Putin – who left the Brisbane summit early – was on board the G20 campaign to enact...
G20 commits to higher growth, fight climate change; Russia isolated over Ukraine
Leaders from the G20 group of nations agreed today to boost flagging global growth, tackle climate change and crack down on tax avoidance but ties between the West and Russia plummeted to a new low over the crisis in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin left the G20 summit in Brisbane early as US President Barack Obama accused Russia...
Putin won’t demand early repayment of US$3 billion lent to Ukraine
Russia does not intend to demand early repayment of US$3 billion (RM10 billion) which it lent to Ukraine last year, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with German TV channel ARD, a transcript of which was released by the Kremlin today. “If we do it (demand repayment) the whole financial system will collapse. We have already...
Putin plans to leave G20 early after West blasts Russia over Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to leave the G20 summit early, a member of his delegation said, after Western leaders blasted Moscow today for the crisis in Ukraine and threatened more sanctions. The Russian official told Reuters that Putin planned to skip a working session tomorrow at the two-day summit in Brisbane and bring...
