Section: KXAN (USA)
Kremlin says Ukraine moving too slowly to fulfill peace deal
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia accused Ukraine Thursday of dragging its feet on implementing last month’s peace deal, citing a wide range of areas in which Kiev is allegedly failing to meet its obligations. President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told The Associated Press that Ukraine was failing in its pledge to declare an amnesty...
Pope finds popularity and dissent at 2-year mark
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis marks his second anniversary Friday riding a wave of popularity that has reinvigorated the Catholic Church in ways not seen since the days of St. John Paul II. He’s also entering a challenging third year, facing dissent from within on everything from financial reform to family issues. Is the honeymoon over?...
EU lawmakers demand probe into ‘political murder’ of Nemstov
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers are demanding an international investigation into the killing of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemstov, calling it the “most significant political murder in recent Russian history.” The resolution adopted Thursday also expressed concern that parliamentarians and diplomats were refused entry into...
Poland seeks Tomahawk missiles from US, others
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak says his government is seeking to obtain Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States or another country. Poland considers its security challenged by the armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine, which also involves another neighbor, Russia. The Defense Ministry is inviting citizens...
Ukraine’s neighbor Poland to test resilience to attack
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland will hold an exercise this year to test its resilience to a “crisis” like the conflict in neighboring Ukraine, President Bronislaw Komorowski said Wednesday. Komorowski spoke to reporters during an annual meeting of army commanders and the defense minister that examines Poland’s defense potential and outlines...
Ukraine expects $5B loan from IMF in ‘coming days’
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s finance minister says the country is expecting to receive $5 billion in credit from the International Monetary Fund in the coming days— the first in a sought-for series of bailout loans the government hopes will keep Ukraine from an economic meltdown. The office of Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said...
Merkel declines Putin’s invite to WWII victory parade
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has declined an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend a military parade in Moscow marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis. Merkel’s spokesman says the German leader instead proposed taking part in a memorial and wreath-laying ceremony in Moscow on May 10,...
NATO chief: Ukraine cease-fire monitors must get full access
CASTEAU, Belgium (AP) — NATO’s secretary-general is insisting international observers be given the freedom of movement and the protection they need to monitor the cease-fire in Ukraine. Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that if monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are not provided with what they need to work,...
German foreign minister heads to US to talk Ukraine, Iran
BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister is heading to the U.S. for talks with American officials at a critical phase of the nuclear negotiations with Iran and the Ukraine crisis. Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement Wednesday that he would meet with Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, as well as...
US lifts sanctions on Belarus energy company
MINSK, Belarus (AP) — The United States is lifting sanctions on a Belarus energy company, underscoring a thaw in relations in the wake of Minsk’s key role in negotiations over Ukraine. The US announced online that it was lifting sanctions against Belorusneft that were implemented in 2011 in response to the company’s announcement that...
