Section: International Business Times (USA)
Russia To Hire More Foreign Soldiers; Experts Believe Move Not Linked To Ukrainian Conflict
Russia is planning to recruit more foreign soldiers for the country’s army as part of a broader plan to professionalize its armed forces. The move comes at a time when many overseas volunteers are reportedly fighting in eastern Ukraine, although some experts believe that Moscow’s decision is not linked to the Ukrainian conflict....
Ukraine Talks In January: France, Germany Only Want To Meet With Russia If ‘Progress’ Is Possible
France and Germany will only attend a planned meeting this month with Ukraine and Russia if there is the possibility of progress in Ukraine between the government and pro-Russian separatists, the countries’ leaders said on Monday, according to Reuters. The talks in Astana, Kazakhstan were proposed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in...
Obama Reaching Out To Russia Behind The Scenes, Kissinger Used To Woo Putin
The Obama administration has worked under the radar to heal relations with Vladimir Putin’s government in Russia for months, according to a Bloomberg report. Those plans included sending Secretary of State John Kerry to meet with Putin and to have former Secretary of State and Cold War point-man Henry Kissinger call Putin to discuss an end...
On Eastern Ukraine’s Front Lines, Strategic, Besieged Mariupol Faces Economic Destruction
MARIUPOL, Ukraine — One year ago, Roman Sokolov’s purpose in life was his window-making business. Today, the 34-year-old entrepreneur spends every waking hour defending his hometown of Mariupol, a strategic Ukrainian seaport less than 30 miles (50 km) from the Russian border. “When there’s a war, nobody needs new windows....
U.S. To Move 150 Tanks To Europe In Response To Ukraine Crisis
The U.S. will move 150 tanks to Europe for training American troops there as a response to the continuing crisis in Ukraine, according to Reuters. An unspecified quantity could be placed in Poland, Romania or the Baltic states – Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania — seemingly to shore up NATO’s defensive capabilities against the Russian...
Ukraine’s Parliament Approves Austerity Laws Needed For Draft Budget
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s parliament backed on Sunday the final reading of laws that will simplify tax legislation and impose additional duties on imports, improving the chances a 2015 budget will be approved soon as required by the country’s Western backers. Voting was delayed as deputies debated the merits of the amendments,...
NATO Is Russia’s Top Threat In Military Doctrine Released Amid Tensions With West Over Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an updated military doctrine Friday that listed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as the top military threat and, for the first time, presented the possibility of using conventional precision weapons “as part of strategic deterrent measures.” The doctrine released by the Kremlin describes NATO’s...
Ukraine Prisoner Exchange: Kiev, Pro-Russian Separatists Agree To Swap
Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists agreed on a prisoner exchange Friday but could not come to a deal to restart peace negotiations in Belarus. Kiev will give the rebels 225 of their fighters, while the rebels will hand over 125 Ukrainian soldiers, according to Reuters. …read more Source: International Business...
Ukraine Peace Talks In Minsk Called Off, Say Belarusian Officials
An important round of peace talks between the government of Ukraine and pro-Russian separatist rebels, which was due to take place in Minsk on Friday, has been called off, Belarusian officials reportedly announced. …read more Source: International Business...
Russia Signals More Military To Belarus as Ukraine Briefly Cuts Power To Crimea
Peace negotiations commenced Wednesday in Kiev aimed at quelling a war between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels, but recent moves on both sides cast a shadow on the prospects for a resolution emerging from the talks. On Wednesday, Ukraine briefly cut off power to Crimea, its former territory that Russia annexed earlier this year, while Russia...
