Section: US & Canada
Hawkish Putin says West has tried to destabilize Russia for years
KIEV, Ukraine – A hawkish Vladimir Putin capped off a tumultuous year in Moscow on Thursday with his annual state of the nation address, during which he defended Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the country’s bullish foreign policy, saying it is needed to ensure its survival. Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March...
Rolling Blackouts Expanded In Ukraine
Ukraine officials say rolling two-hour blackouts that began in some towns Monday are being expanded. Ukraine Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchishin said Wednesday a technical fault forced operations at the Zaporizka nuclear plant to shut down Friday. Concerns were raised earlier when Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk spoke of a nuclear power plant...
Hundreds of Ukrainian Jews receive aid packages in Lugansk’s synagogue
DNEPROPETROVSK, Ukraine (JTA) — Several hundred Jews braved sub-freezing temperatures to receive aid packages at the synagogue of the besieged city of Lugansk. The distribution of basic necessities on Wednesday by administrators from the east Ukrainian city’s Jewish community drew approximately 300 recipients, who stood in line for over an...
U.S. calls on Russia to calm turbulence in Ukraine
BASEL, Switzerland – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that Russia could rebuild its relations with the West “if it simply helps to calm turbulent waters” on its border with eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow separatists are fighting with Kyiv forces. Kerry spoke at a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in...
Kerry, Saying Russians Died in Ukraine, Urges Moscow to Carry Out Peace Accord
Russia has steadfastly refused to acknowledge that it has ordered its own forces into Ukraine or that its military has suffered significant casualties there. …read more Source: The New York...
Putin insists Crimea is historically part of Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea last March and implied that the “strategically important” peninsula will remain part of Russia “from now and forever.” …read more Source: Los Angeles...
Vladimir Putin state of the union defends aggression in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended the Kremlin’s aggressive foreign policy, saying the actions are necessary for his country’s survival. …read more Source:...
US calls on Russia to calm turbulence in Ukraine
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that Russia could rebuild its relations with the West “if it simply helps to calm turbulent waters” on its border with eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow separatists are fighting with Kiev forces. …read more Source: U.S....
Putin: Crimea Is Russia’s Jerusalem
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Crimea had a sacred meaning for Russia, like the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for Jews and Muslims, during his state of the nation speech on December 4. Putin also said Western sanctions were a response to Russia’s growing strength, not it’s stance on the Ukraine crisis. (Reuters)...
Russia’s Putin Defends Annexation of Crimea
Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended his country’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and accused the West of using the Ukraine crisis as a pretext to impose sanctions on Moscow. Delivering his annual state of the union speech Thursday, Putin referred to Crimea as Russia’s spiritual ground. On the subject of...
