Section: Newsweek (USA)
EU Reaches Deal On Visa-Free Travel for Ukraine and Georgia
The European Union will soon let Ukrainians and Georgians visit the bloc without needing a visa after diplomats and lawmakers struck a deal Thursday to end an internal EU dispute that had been holding up the promised measures. Agreement on a mechanism for suspending such visa waivers in emergencies ends mounting embarrassment for some EU leaders...
Does Putin Have Plans for Afghanistan?
Afghan and American officials are increasingly worried that any deepening of ties between Russia and Taliban militants fighting to topple the government in Kabul could complicate an already precarious security situation. Russian officials have denied they provide aid to the insurgents, who are contesting large swathes of territory and inflicting...
Vladimir Putin Hits Out At ‘Idiotic’ Ban On Russian Judges Entering Lithuania
Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised Lithuanian authorities that have denied entry to Russian constitutional judges because of their ruling on Crimea, Baltic news site Delfi has reported. Lithuania is set to host a summit of constitutional judges in March 2017. However, the Russian delegation was blacklisted by the Baltic...
Ukrainian Prime Minister Dismisses Eurovision Host Rumors as ‘Propaganda’
It is an old cliche that the Eurovision Song Contest is really all about one thing—politics. The camp, annual sing-off between countries across Europe (and featuring Australia), whose winner is decided by televotes, often serves as a less-than-subtle indicator of both camaraderie and resentment in some of the continent’s most polarised...
Russian Lawmakers Praise Austria and Italy’s Votes as ‘Blow to Unity of EU’
Russian parliamentarians have hailed the referendum defeat for Italy’s government and the narrow defeat of the far-right in Austria as a triumph for “patriotic political forces” that spell the downfall of the EU. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi risked his job on Sunday’s vote to weaken regional representatives and strengthen...
Russian Lawmakers Praise Austria and Italy’s Votes As ‘Blow On Unity Of EU’
Russian parliamentarians have hailed the referendum defeat for Italy’s government and the narrow defeat of the far-right in Austria as a triumph for “patriotic political forces” that spell the downfall of the EU. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi risked his job on Sunday’s vote to weaken regional representatives and strengthen...
Putin’s New Foreign Policy Doctrine Claims Nuclear War Unlikely
Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined in his new foreign policy document that the chances of nuclear or large-scale conflict are low, according to a copy of the document on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Several changes were made to the document known as the “Concept of Russia’s Foreign Policy” which represents the...
Majority of Russians Support Ukraine’s Independence
The majority of Russians support the idea of Ukraine’s continued existence as an independent state, believing Russia is better off not having Kiev in its political and economic manacles. Although Ukraine has been an independent state since the collapse of the Soviet Union, pro-European political forces in the country have faced stiff...
Russia’s Lavrov Hopes Trump Will Not Interfere in Internal Affairs
Russia hopes to build a relationship with the next U.S. administration based on equality and “non-interference in internal affairs” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. Speaking to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Serra Lavrov said he is “sick and tired” of accusations that Russian hackers interfered in the U.S. election by leaking...
Ukraine Launches Black Sea Drill Despite Tension With Russia
Ukraine has launched a missile drill in the south, near Crimea, despite repeated warnings by Russian state media that this risks incurring Moscow’s retaliation. The two-day drill off the Black Sea coast of Ukraine’s Kherson region started on Thursday morning, after Russian state-run news agency Tass reported that Russian anti-missile...
