Section: Metro News (Canada)
Obama, Merkel rally behind diplomacy in Ukraine conflict
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel rallied behind efforts to reach a long-shot diplomatic resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine Monday, but they offered no clear path for how the West would proceed if talks this week fail. During a joint White House news conference, Obama dangled the prospect...
Dashboard video captures new shelling in eastern Ukraine
SARTANA, Ukraine – Fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine Tuesday as pro-Russia rebels and Ukrainian troops sought to extend their gains ahead of crucial peace talks, and the government accused the separatists of shelling a town far behind the front lines, killing 12 people and wounding scores. Germany, which has joined with France to try to...
Fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine ahead of peace talks
SARTANA, Ukraine – Fighting in eastern Ukraine intensified on Tuesday ahead of much-anticipated peace talks, with both sides claiming significant advances and the government accusing the rebels of shelling a town far behind the front lines. The intense fighting, which the U.N. says has killed more than 5,300 people since April, comes ahead of a...
Poland will not send lethal weapons to Ukraine
WARSAW, Poland – Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak says Poland will not send lethal weapons to Ukraine but says there is little optimism in the west about the outcome of peace negotiations. In interviews for Polish media Tuesday, Siemoniak said Poland has supplied the military in neighbouring Ukraine with some 17 million zlotys (4 million euros,...
Stephen Harper won’t rule out sending lethal weapons to Ukraine
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper declined to rule out supplying lethal military aid to Ukraine if diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict with Russian-backed rebels in the eastern part of that country fail. “We’ll look at all options,” Harper said, when asked if Canada would be in favour of a shift in aid to Ukraine from humanitarian...
Angela Merkel uncertain whether Ukraine talks will succeed
MUNICH – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday it’s uncertain whether a flurry of diplomacy aimed at calming the crisis in Ukraine will succeed, and warned that there are no guarantees any deal would stick. Merkel, speaking after two days of hastily arranged meetings in Kyiv and Moscow, also bluntly underlined her opposition to the...
Russia should ‘back off’ Ukraine: Nicholson
OTTAWA – Canada’s defence minister says Russia should take NATO plans to establish a series of six command centres deep inside eastern Europe as a sign to “back off” in Ukraine. The tough talk from Rob Nicholson followed a meeting of the military alliance’s defence ministers in Brussels, where it was agreed the units would be deployed...
French, German leaders push new peace plan for east Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine – In a new push for peace, the leaders of France and Germany headed Thursday to Kyiv and Moscow with a proposal to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine. The surprise move appeared aimed at heading off U.S. considerations of giving Ukraine lethal weapons, something Europeans fear could spark even wider hostilities. The flurry of...
Top NATO general warns of Russian reaction to arming Ukraine
BRUSSELS – The top NATO commander warned Thursday that any move to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons must take into account any possible angry reaction from Russia. U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove said that any action the U.S. or other Western nations take “could trigger a more strident reaction from Russia.” His remarks come...
US envoy Kerry urges Russia to back peace in Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine – In a new push for peace in eastern Ukraine, the leaders of France and Germany announced Thursday they were heading to Kyiv and Moscow with a proposal to end the fighting. The surprise move appeared aimed at heading off U.S. considerations of giving Ukraine lethal military aid, something many European nations oppose. The flurry of...
