Section: US & Canada
‘Primitive’ Sanctions Will Not Stop Putin, Says Close Ally Timchenko
An ally of Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia’s business elite would not put pressure on him to change tack on Ukraine due to Western sanctions which would only strengthen support for the president’s policies. Gennady Timchenko, who is under U.S. sanctions, told Itar-Tass news agency the West had miscalculated when it designed...
Interfax: Ukraine soldiers desert in Russia
MOSCOW — More than 400 Ukrainian soldiers have crossed the border into Russia and deserted the Kiev government, news agency Interfax quoted a border security official as saying Monday. Ukraine confirmed the crossing but said the soldiers were forced into Russian territory by rebel fire.Vasily Malayev, head of the Federal Security...
Berlin Blocks Rheinmetall Russian Deal
The German government’s blocking of Rheinmetal’s plan to build a training center for the Russian army goes beyond current EU sanctions, which do not apply to agreements already signed. …read more Source: The Wall Street...
OSCE Monitors Reportedly Vacate Ukrainian-Russian Border Post
OSCE monitors at the Gukovo checkpoint in Russia’s Rostov region near the border with Ukraine have reportedly left the area due to safety concerns. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...
Germany nixes Russia military simulator deal
BERLIN (AP) — The German government said Monday it has revoked permission for the delivery of a field exercise simulator to the Russian military, blocking a deal it had already put on hold and going beyond a European Union arms embargo that allows existing contracts to be fulfilled. Defense and auto parts company Rheinmetall AG’s...
German Businesses Warm to Iran
German businesses are cooling on Russian investments amid anger over its role in conflict in Ukraine while simultaneously warming on another big country hit by Western sanctions: Iran …read more Source: The Wall Street...
Conflict Claims East Ukraine Civilians
Military fire killed several civilians and injured dozens of others in eastern Ukrainian cities over the weekend, as urban residents are increasingly getting caught in the battle to regain control of rebel strongholds in the region. …read more Source: The Wall Street...
Russia Begins Military Drills Near Ukrainian Border
Russian officials say the military is beginning exercises Monday in the central and western regions of the country, which would include the Ukraine border region. The officials say the drills involving more than 100 fighter jets and helicopters will last through Friday. While the announcement did not mention Ukraine, the military exercises could...
Interfax: Russia starts air force drills
MOSCOW — Interfax says Russia’s air force has started military drills in central and western regions of the country, a move that could spark further fears that Moscow is ready to flex its military muscle in neighboring Ukraine.The drills will start Monday and last through Friday, air force chief Igor Klimov was reported as saying by...
Russia Conducts Military Exercises With More Than 100 Aircraft Near Ukraine
MOSCOW, Aug 4 (Reuters) – Russia is conducting new military exercises with more than 100 aircraft in the country’s central and western districts, an air force spokesman was quoted as saying on Monday, a show of strength near the border with Ukraine. Igor Klimov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying it was the first session in a...
