Section: KXAN (USA)
Russian military to get 50 intercontinental missiles
MOSCOW (AP) — The chief of Russia’s General Staff says the military will receive 50 intercontinental ballistic missiles this year, maintaining a high tempo of modernization despite the nation’s economic downturn. Gen. Valery Gerasimov’s statement Friday comes amid spiraling Russia-West tensions over Ukraine, where fighting...
Bosnian arms exporter accuses ministers over Ukraine deal
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — A Bosnian arms exporter has made a criminal complaint against the country’s current and former ministers of trade for blocking a 5 million-euro deal with Ukraine because of objections from Russia. The manager of UNIS-Group, Suvad Osmanagic, said Friday that politicians have harmed the entire industry,...
NATO to deploy small units in 6 Eastern European nations
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO will deploy small units in six Eastern European nations to help coordinate a spearhead force set up in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the alliance’s secretary-general said Friday. Jens Stoltenberg said the units in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania will be the first of their kind...
France pledges tanks, armored vehicles to NATO force
PARIS (AP) — France is pledging tanks and armored vehicles to bolster NATO forces in Poland, where leaders are increasingly uneasy about Russia. In a joint statement Friday after a meeting between French President Francois Hollande and Polish Prime Minister Eva Kopacz, the two governments also called for a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, where...
Merkel to visit Hungary at time of huge political challenges
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel is traveling to Budapest next week for talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that come at a time of strain between the two nations, with Orban moving closer to Russia and imposing higher taxes and other burdens on German and other foreign companies operating in the country....
Russia gives $3 billion Crimea bridge contract to Putin ally
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian government has awarded the contract for the construction of a $3 billion bridge to Crimea to a longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin. In a decree published online Friday, the government said that a company owned by Arkady Rotenberg would be given the commission to build a bridge linking Crimea — the Black Sea...
12 civilians, 5 troops killed in eastern Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — At least 12 civilians and 5 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the past 24 hours in war-ravaged eastern Ukraine. Full-blown fighting between Russian-backed separatists and government forces erupted anew at the start of January following a month of relative tranquility. The city hall in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk said...
Russian woman arrested after giving information to Ukraine
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court has arrested a mother of seven on treason charges for providing Ukraine with information on Russian troop movements. Moscow’s Lefortovsky court put Svetlana Davydova in custody last week on the charges, which carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years. The court didn’t provide details of the case, but...
Dutch minister: EU to extend first batch of Russia sanctions
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has decided to extend a first set of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia separatist officials which were due to expire in March by six months because of the continued fighting in eastern Ukraine. Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders said Thursday that all EU foreign ministers agreed on the decision and...
London summons Russian envoy after bombers near UK airspace
LONDON (AP) — Britain has summoned Russia’s ambassador and asked him to explain why Russian warplanes flew near British airspace, disrupting civil aviation. The Foreign Office said Thursday that Royal Air Force Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort Russian bombers in a “U.K. area of interest” on Wednesday. The Russian planes did not enter...
