Section: The Malaysian Insider (Malaysia)
Merkel urges Putin to use influence over Ukraine rebels
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during a telephone call with President Vladimir Putin yesterday, stressed Moscow’s “responsibility” to act as a moderating influence over the pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. The ceasefire in place in eastern Ukraine “must be strictly respected”, a statement by a German government...
Deadliest attacks by pro-Russian rebels threaten Ukraine truce
Ukraine’s truce and troops withdrawal deal lay in tatters Tuesday after the deadliest wave of attacks by pro-Russian insurgents in more than a month left nine soldiers and four civilians dead. Thirteen soldiers and civilians were killed in 24 hours, officials said Monday, in the worst violence since the government and pro-Russian...
Stoltenberg takes helm at pumped-up Nato but challenges loom
Former Norwegian premier Jens Stoltenberg will on Wednesday take charge of a revitalised Nato which less than a year ago looked like a Cold War dinosaur in a fast-changing world. The alliance has a newfound sense of purpose thanks to the Ukraine crisis but Stoltenberg will be aware that it must also face up to many other and longer-term…...
Ukraine backs off from EU-backed Russia gas deal
War-torn Ukraine has distanced itself from an EU-brokered agreement with Russia that would have restored its gas supplies during winter and helped rebuild trust between the neighbouring foes. EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger emerged from hours of acrimonious negotiations in Berlin on Friday to pronounce the three-month dispute on...
Obama offers sanctions lift if Russia ‘changes course’
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday slammed Russia’s “aggression” in Ukraine but offered to lift sanctions against Moscow if it threw its weight behind an unraveling peace deal with Kiev. The outstretched hand to Moscow came a day after pro-Russian guerrillas brushed off Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s limited...
