Section: The Manila Times (Philippines)
Macron hosts Putin in latest diplomatic test
PARIS: France’s new President Emmanuel Macron was to host Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday in the latest test of his diplomatic mettle after vowing firm stands on Ukraine and Syria. “It is essential to talk to Russia because there are many international issues that will not be resolved without a tough exchange with the...
Putin, Macron to air tough issues at Versailles meet
PARIS: France’s new President Emmanuel Macron will hold delicate talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday with the two countries harboring longstanding differences over Ukraine and Syria. Coming just three weeks after an election in which the Kremlin was widely seen as backing centrist Macron’s far-right rival...
Trump rows shadow acrimonious G7 summit
TAORMINA, Italy: G7 leaders on Friday found common cause on combatting terrorism after the bloodshed in Manchester but failed to bridge a gulf between Donald Trump and US partners on trade and climate change. On the opening day of a two-day summit, the leaders endorsed a British call urging internet service providers and social media companies to...
EU’s Tusk calls on G7 to maintain Russia sanctions
TAORMINA, Italy: European Union president Donald Tusk called Friday on G7 leaders to maintain sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, but the White House said it did not yet “have a position” on the issue. The EU and United States under then president Barack Obama imposed sanctions on Moscow over its 2014 annexation of Crimea and...
IMF sets tough new Ukraine loan demands
KIEV: The International Monetary Fund said on Friday it will only release a new tranche payment to Ukraine once parliament approves a long-stalled pension system overhaul and land privatization legislation. The IMF said after completing its latest mission to the war-torn country that Ukraine’s economy was continuing to recover from a dire...
EU’s Tusk says no ‘common position’ on Russia with Trump
BRUSSELS: European Union president Donald Tusk said talks with US President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed no “common position” on Russia, a subject on which the US leader faces pressure at home. Tusk, along with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, also argued for the benefits of open trade and the Paris climate agreement that...
Ukraine’s presidential office says website attacked by Russia
KIEV: The Ukrainian presidential administration said its website had been attacked by Russia in apparent retaliation for Kiev’s decision to block prominent Russian social networks. “We have been witnessing the Russian response to the president’s decree about closing access to Russian social networks,” President Petro...
Trump urges peace between Russia and Ukraine
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump urged Russia and Ukraine to “make peace,” in a tweet accompanied by two photos of the US president posing with top diplomats from the rival countries. “Yesterday, on the same day – I had meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the FM of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin. #LetsMakePeace!” the US president tweeted....
Trump urges Russia to rein in Syrian ally
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump brushed aside concerns over his wooing of Russia on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) and laid on a White House welcome for Moscow’s top diplomat to seek help to end the war in Syria. As Washington reeled at the dismissal of FBI chief James Comey, who had been probing Russia’s alleged interference...
Russia and climate change follow Tillerson to Arctic
FAIRBANKS, United States: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled about as far from Washington as he could without leaving the United States, but could not escape questions about Russia and climate change. America’s top diplomat is in Fairbanks, Alaska on Thursday to chair a meeting of the eight-nation Arctic Council, a policy forum for...
