Section: Metro News (Canada)
French, German leaders head to Ukraine with peace initiative
PARIS – The leaders of France and Germany were carrying a new peace initiative to the Ukrainian and Russian capitals Thursday, amid a flurry of high-level diplomacy to end what French President Francois Hollande called a war on Europe’s edge. Hollande said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel would travel to Kyiv on Thursday and then to...
US envoy Kerry urges Russia to commit to peace in Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, standing with Ukraine’s president after their talks in Kyiv, has urged Russia to show its commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Kerry said “our choice is diplomacy” and called on Russia to demonstrate its commitment by ceasing its military...
Canada to help train Ukraine’s military police
OTTAWA – Defence Minister Rob Nicholson says Canada is joining the US-Ukraine Joint Commission on Defence Reform and Bilateral Co-operation. In a statement Monday night, Nicholson said the move will help to better co-ordinate Canada’s ongoing provision of assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He says the joint commission is the most...
Ukraine troops fight to avoid being surrounded by rebels
DEBALTSEVE, Ukraine – As Ukrainian troops fought Monday to defend a strategic railway hub, Russian-backed separatists pledged to boost the size of their force and Washington pondered whether to expand its assistance to Ukraine to include lethal aid. President Barack Obama has so far opposed sending lethal assistance, but an upsurge in fighting in...
EU leaders threaten more anti-Russian sanctions over Ukraine
BRUSSELS – European Union leaders are threatening fresh sanctions against Russia because of what it sees as “growing support” of Moscow for separatists in eastern Ukraine during intensified fighting over the past days. In Tuesday’s rare joint declaration outside their regular summit meetings, the 28 leaders asked an extraordinary meeting of...
Fast arrives to talk free trade in Ukraine
OTTAWA – International Trade Minister Ed Fast arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for two days of meetings as fighting intensifies between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the embattled country. Fast, who has been to Ukraine twice is the last six months, is there to talk free trade his counterpart, Aivaras Abromaviius, but also...
U.N. criticizes Ukraine fighting tactics; raises toll to 5,358
ARTEMIVSK, Ukraine – The United Nations on Tuesday sharply criticized both the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russian rebels for turning bus stops, schools, markets and hospitals into battlegrounds where civilians are getting killed. Indiscriminate shelling and an escalation in the fighting in eastern Ukraine have killed at least 224 civilians...
Civilians flee east Ukraine town as fighting intensifies
DEBALTSEVE, Ukraine – Outgoing heavy-calibre fire boomed incessantly, shaking the ground and rattling windows around the besieged town. Residents of Debaltseve, seemingly inured to the racket, listened impassively as they mustered at the town hall on Saturday to be evacuated with as many belongings as they could carry. The government-held town...
Twelve civilians, five troops killed in eastern Ukraine fighting
KIEV, Ukraine – Artillery fire in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk has killed at least 12 civilians as the fighting between pro-Russia separatists and government troops intensifies. Donetsk city hall says five people were killed early Friday afternoon as they were waiting for humanitarian aid outside a community centre and two people were killed...
Twelve civilians, five troops killed in eastern Ukraine fighting
KIEV, Ukraine – At least 12 civilians and 5 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the past 24 hours in war-ravaged eastern Ukraine. Full-blown fighting between Russian-backed separatists and government forces erupted anew at the start of January following a month of relative tranquility. The city hall in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk said Friday...
