Section: KXAN (USA)
AP PHOTOS: Top pictures from Europe and Africa
LONDON (AP) — The war in eastern Ukraine again dominated the news in Europe last week, as Russian-backed rebels captured territory near the besieged town of Debaltseve, prompting Ukrainian authorities to evacuate some residents. The new Greek government survived a confidence vote, Russians marked the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad...
Dutch government releases MH17 documents, many redacted
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government released dozens of documents Tuesday about the aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, but much of the information was redacted. One of the Dutch broadcasters that requested the information be made public, RTL News, said it would protest against the number of redactions and take...
Poland will not send lethal weapons to Ukraine
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Defense 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 neighboring Ukraine with some 17 million zlotys (4 million...
Ukrainian army reports gains in eastern Ukraine
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Government forces are reporting gains in rebel-held eastern Ukraine as the parties in the conflict gear up for talks. Fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 5,300 people since April, according to the U.N. The volunteer Azov battalion said on social media on Tuesday that it...
Merkel says Ukraine conflict can’t be solved by military
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the conflict between Russia and Ukraine cannot be solved by “military means” and she is hopeful it will be solved through diplomacy. Merkel made the remark in a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper after meeting with U.S. President Barak Obama earlier Monday....
Diplomat: Buffer zone, border controls key to Ukraine talks
PARIS (AP) — A French diplomatic source says a demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia is essential for a cease-fire but is a sticking point in a new international push for peace. The official said Monday night that the other main difficulties are how to police the Ukrainian-Russian border, and the future status of regions in eastern...
EU ministers urge Russia to free imprisoned Ukraine pilot
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union foreign ministers have launched a plea for Russia to free a Ukrainian air force officer who has been on hunger strike in a Russian prison. Fourteen EU ministers and the French ambassador on Monday held pictures of Nadezhda Savchenko and urged Russian authorities to free the “illegally abducted Ukrainian pilot.” The...
EU backs Ukraine talks, weighs fresh sanctions
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union foreign ministers have thrown their weight behind fresh diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine as they assess whether to expand the EU sanctions list targeting separatists and Russian nationals. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said Monday that he hoped the peace talks “will help to get a real...
Chemical plant in eastern Ukraine catches fire
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — An explosion and fire have rocked a chemical plant outside a separatist stronghold in eastern Ukraine. Rebels say it was hit by government shelling. No casualties or damage were immediately reported from the blast which was so powerful that it was heard as far as downtown Donetsk. An armed conflict between Russia-backed...
Leaders to hold Ukraine summit in Minsk Wednesday
BERLIN (AP) — Efforts to broker a peace deal in Ukraine gained momentum Sunday with leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine announcing they aim to hold four-way talks this week, even as fighting rages on. The plan for a meeting Wednesday in the Belarusian capital of Minsk emerged from a phone call between German Chancellor Angela Merkel,...
