Section: Dunya TV (Pakistan)
Europe ministers urge strict implementation of Ukraine truce
PARIS (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany on Tuesday called for a ceasefire deal to be strictly implemented in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has persisted since the accord came into effect.In a joint statement read by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius after talks in Paris, the minister urged parties...
Lithuania to reinstate army conscription amid Russia fears
VILNIUS (AFP) – Lithuania said Tuesday it would return to limited conscription later this year as concern mounts over Russian military exercises near NATO Baltic states.We must temporarily renew mandatory military service, President Dalia Grybauskaite told reporters.The current geopolitical environment requires us to enhance and accelerate...
Foreign ministers scramble to salvage Ukraine peace deal
PARIS (AFP) – Foreign ministers from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France gathered Tuesday to try to revive a shaky ceasefire in eastern Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out an apocalyptic scenario of all-out war.Top diplomats from the four countries, whose leaders hammered out the initial peace plan in the Belarussian...
Ukraine rebels mark Soviet holiday for defenders of ‘fatherland’
DONETSK (AFP) – Thousands of men and women gathered on Lenin square in east Ukraines main rebel-held city Donetsk on Monday to celebrate a Soviet-era holiday and pay hommage to their fallen fighters.Military music blasted out as a cossack dressed in black and a leather-clad rocker carried an icon of the Virgin Mary with Jesus onto a stage...
German doctors visited Ukraine pilot jailed in Russia: Berlin
BERLIN (AFP) – German doctors this month visited Ukrainian military pilot Nadia Savchenko who has been on hunger strike in a Russian jail for over two months, Berlin said Monday.The German foreign ministry called for her release, voicing serious concern about her health.Two German physicians had checked on Savchenko and talked with her...
Russia accuses US of bringing ‘chaos’ to Middle East
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States on Monday of plunging the Middle East into chaos and fueling the rise of extremists because of its drive to dominate the world.Lavrov leveled the fierce criticism of Washingtons policies at a special UN Security Council debate on maintaining...
Russia ‘cynical’ on Ukraine ceasefire: Britain
TALLINN (AFP) – Britain on Monday criticised Russia for failing to enforce the terms of a tattered truce in eastern Ukraine in the face of ongoing attacks by pro-Russian separatists.I have to say from the experience of the last 10 to 12 days, the Russian engagement in the Minsk process is rather cynical, British Foreign Secretary Philip...
Mariupol: Ukraine port city that could open Russia’s way to Crimea
KIEV (AFP) – A strategic port of some 500,000 residents before the Ukraine crisis, Mariupol is the largest remaining government-held city in east Ukraines conflict zone and seen as a likely target for any new pro-Russian rebel offensive.Fighting has rumbled on around the city since it was retaken by Ukrainian forces in June, and Kiev has...
Berlin voices ‘concern’ over Ukraine truce violations
BERLIN (AFP) – Germany voiced concern Monday that a comprehensive truce had not yet taken hold in eastern Ukraine and urged Moscow to exert influence on pro-Russian separatists to stop the fighting.It fills us with concern that there is still no comprehensive truce, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert, adding that Berlin called on...
Ukraine’s currency hits new low as central bank tightens controls
KIEV (AFP) – Ukraines battered national currency plummeted some 10 percent Monday as the central bank scrambled to strengthen currency controls in its latest bid to halt the slide.The average rate for the hryvnia — currently the worst performing currency in the world — tumbled to 31.51 to the dollar before improving slightly.The...
