Section: The United Kingdom
Two civilians killed in shelling in east Ukraine rebel city
DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – A 12-year-old boy and a 55-year-old woman were killed by shelling in the eastern Ukrainian separatist stronghold of Donetsk on Thursday, the city administration reported, despite a Sept. 5 ceasefire deal. …read more Source:...
Russia exerts influence in France with tree diplomacy – and loans to Le Pen
After Paris halted delivery of warships in protest over Ukraine, Moscow has hit back with a Christmas tree and €9m to the FNThe Chinese have panda diplomacy. The Russians, it appears, prefer trees.France may have just announced it is delaying the delivery of two warships to Russia in a protest over the crisis in Ukraine, but the French...
Ukraine’s new parliament sits for first time
War in east of country visible in makeup of Rada, with dozens of men in fatigues walking the corridors as newly elected MPsParamilitary commanders in fatigues, investigative journalists and a fighter pilot absent because she is in a Russian jail are among the members of Ukraine’s new parliament, which sat for the first time on Thursday,...
NATO wrestles with new fast-reaction force prompted by Ukraine crisis
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO’s planned new fast-reaction force, centerpiece of its response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, is proving harder to set up than expected because of shortages of vital equipment and arguments over funding, diplomats say. …read more Source:...
The west is letting Putin get his way on Ukraine | Ian Birrell
Since Russia annexed Crimea, the response of western leaders has been gesture politics of the worst kindUkraine’s new parliament was sworn in today. More than 400 members took their oaths, but 27 seats remain vacant – the annexation of Crimea, plus the war in eastern Ukraine, prevented deputies being elected there.It is just one year since...
MPs brawl in parliaments around the world – video
Ukraine’s parliament is notorious for brawls and scuffles between MPs – but many other countries have a history of parliamentary fisticuffs. As Ukraine’s MPs attend their inaugural session of parliament on Thursday, we take a look at parliamentary brawling from around the world, including India, Afghanistan, Japan, Italy, Turkey,...
Ukraine in anti-corruption pledge
Ukraine’s new parliament meets for the first time, as the president says he intends to nominate a foreigner to lead the country’s anti-corruption efforts. …read more Source:...
VIDEO: Sanctions hitting Russian oil firms
Opec’s meeting in Vienna is being closely watched in Russia, which depends heavily on oil exports but is being hit by Western sanctions over Ukraine. …read more Source:...
Majority of Russians believe their troops are not fighting in Ukraine: poll
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A majority of Russians believe their country’s troops are not fighting in eastern Ukraine but nearly half would be glad if it turned out they were, an opinion poll showed on Thursday. …read more Source:...
Germany and Russia: A new Ostpolitik
Putin wags a finger at Mutti OVER the past year, Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, has become the West’s diplomatic shield against Russia’s Vladimir Putin. That is partly because America’s Barack Obama is distracted and weakened by his midterm elections. It is also because nobody else in the European Union has the same...
