Section: US & 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...
Kerry holds talks in Ukraine amid bid by European partners to quell fighting
KIEV, Ukraine — Diplomats and leaders from Europe and the United States converged in the Ukrainian capital Thursday in an effort to quell an growing offensive by pro-Russian separatists that has left civilians trapped by heavy shelling.Read full article >> …read more Source: The Washington...
John Kerry Pledges Additional $16.4M Aid To Help Ukrainians As US Mulls Over Arming Kiev
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Kiev on Thursday to conduct talks with Ukraine, and pledged to provide an additional humanitarian aid worth $16.4 million to help the country’s civilians in violence-hit eastern Ukraine, NBC reported. Kerry will meet Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and...
Top NATO General Warns of Russian Reaction to Arming Ukraine
BRUSSELS— The top NATO commander says 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 says any action the U.S. or other Western nations take “could trigger a more strident reaction from Russia.” His remarks come amid signals that the...
Top NATO general warns that giving Ukraine defensive weapons could trigger Russian reaction
The top NATO commander says any move to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons must take into account any possible angry reaction from Russia. …read more Source: FOX...
