Section: The Malaysian Insider (Malaysia)
Ukraine and Russia ground direct flights in latest spat
Direct flights between Ukraine and Russia were grounded today as mistrust between the uneasy ex-Soviet neighbours boiled over into a new trade war that affects tens of thousands of families. “I never thought it would come to this,” said 30-year-old Muscovite Alexander Mikhaylin after walking off the very last Russian flight into...
Voting cancelled in Ukraine’s strategic port Mariupol
Ukraine’s local elections were cancelled today in the strategic southeastern port of Mariupol because of what officials described as a lack of sufficient ballots in the disputed industrial city. “Polling stations did not open in Mariupol because the ballots were not ready in the voting offices,” electoral commission Natalia...
Ukrainians transform Lenin statue into Darth Vader
Just in time for the release of the latest “Star Wars” blockbuster, Ukrainians have transformed a statue of Lenin into one of Darth Vader, an oddly prominent figure in local politics. Soviet founder Lenin, long despised by most in non-separatist parts of Ukraine, fell victim to a law adopted in April that ordered the removal of all...
Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia seeks vote on joining Russia
The breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia said it plans a Crimean-style referendum on joining Russia, drawing a furious riposte from Tbilisi over a move that risks inflaming the Kremlin’s already frayed relations with the West. Leonid Tibilov, president of the self-declared republic of South Ossetia, said he had laid out the plans...
Ukraine wants an Ikea, ‘symbol’ of anti-corruption fight
Ukraine’s economy minister pleaded today for Ikea to set up shop in his country, saying it would show Kiev was serious about fighting the corruption that reportedly caused the furniture giant to ditch a previous Ukrainian foray. “We hope that Ikea will open a store. It would be an important symbol, because of its good reputation and...
Ukraine PM accuses Russian forces of shooting down flight MH17
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Tuesday he had no doubt Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine by Russian special forces because “drunken separatists” could not have operated the missile. Yatseniuk made his charge shortly before publication of the Dutch Safety Board’s final report on...
Poroshenko says ‘real truce’ has begun in Ukraine
President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday a “real truce” had begun in Ukraine but that a long-lasting peace with pro-Russian insurgents would still take some time. “There has not been a single shot fired. This is still not peace. This is not the end of the war,” the pro-Western leader said in a televised address....
Ukraine local polls postponed to ensure ‘undisputed’ vote
The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agreed on Friday to delay contentious local elections in Ukraine to ensure that they meet international standards, despite fighting having all but stopped in the country’s separatist east. Peace appears closer than ever in the 17-month conflict, which has plunged relations between Moscow...
Ukraine, rebels agree to full small weapons withdrawal
Kiev and pro-Russian insurgents struck a vital agreement on Wednesday to withdraw their entire arsenal of smaller weapons from the buffer zone splitting eastern rebel-held lands from the rest of Ukraine. International monitors said the two sides’ February commitment to pull back heavy weapons from the 500km line separating their forces...
Obama and Putin to meet, Syria and Ukraine vie for attention
US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in New York next week at a time of high tension in Europe and the Middle East, but the Kremlin and the White House disagreed yesterday over the top priority for the talks. The White House insisted the meeting would focus on eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed forces...
