Section: The Guardian (The United Kingdom)
Merkel and Hollande hold Ukraine talks with Putin in Moscow
Chances of breakthrough hinge on establishing a durable ceasefire, and diplomats say the prospect of that look slimAngela Merkel and François Hollande met Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Friday night in an attempt to prevent a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict, as Washington weighed Kiev demands for arms supplies.Talks got under way after...
Vladimir Putin playing on divisions in west as war looms
That Angela Merkel has gone to Moscow speaks to the sudden gravity of the situation in east UkraineIn Brussels and other European capitals, the fear of Vladimir Putin is becoming palpable. The mood has changed in a matter of weeks from one of handwringing impotence over Ukraine to one of foreboding.The anxiety is encapsulated in the sudden rush...
Downing Street denies Cameron is ‘diplomatic irrelevance’ in Ukraine talks
PM’s office issues robust defence after being criticised by an army general and the shadow foreign secretary for not being present at the diplomatic tableStung by claims that David Cameron is a diplomatic irrelevance as France and Germany spearhead efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, Downing Street has insisted Britain is playing an...
In east Ukraine, life was impossibly hard even before the horrors of war
With food and medicine scarce, grim situation in Kommunar, near Donetsk, seems likely to play into hands of Russian rebelsLife in Kommunar was never easy; the last thing the depressed mining settlement needed was a war. The conflict that ripped through the Kommunar in recent months, as elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, has added to existing social...
Merkel and Hollande to present Ukraine peace plan to Putin
German and French leaders to meet Russian president in Moscow as US continues talks in Kiev over potentially arming rebelsAngela Merkel and François Hollande are to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible peace plan for Ukraine, as fears rise that failure to secure a breakthrough could trigger an escalation in a conflict that has already cost...
West weighs risks as it considers arming Ukraine
Some say those who oppose supplying weapons to Kiev are appeasers; others argue it could lead to serious escalationIn Kiev, John Kerry had a clear message for Russia and Vladimir Putin: the Kremlin should respect Ukraine’s territory, negotiate constructively and stop funnelling weapons and troops into the east of the country.The problem is...
Nato will establish rapid reaction force to counter perceived threat of Russian aggression
Command posts to be set up in six eastern members states in show of solidarity and resolve following Russia’s intervention in UkraineNato declared on Thursday it will set up six new command posts on its eastern borders and create a 5,000-strong rapid reaction force in an effort to show resolve and solidarity in the face of what the alliance...
The Guardian view on the Ukraine conflict: Swift action needed | Editorial
European leaders must be prepared to back fresh peace talks with credible threats. While supplying arms would be dangerous, it is time to consider severing Russia’s financial linksOn the eastern rims of Europe, a bad situation is getting nastier. The war in Ukraine, which has already claimed over 5,000 lives in nine months, has been...
Can Obama halt years of unmet national security promises before it’s too late?
The president’s new national security strategy could mark a stiffening of hawkish tendencies on Ukraine and other challenges where the US has appeared reactiveBarack Obama unveils his administration’s new national security strategy on Friday with the sound of past foreign policy promise ringing in his ears – and its unmet challenges...
Ukraine currency plummets after interest rate hike
Central bank intervention fails to stem hryvnia’s decline, piling further pressure on policymakers to secure IMF bailoutUkraine’s currency lost more than a third of its value on foreign exchange markets at one point on Thursday, piling fresh pressure on policymakers to secure an emergency bailout from the International Monetary...
