Section: Voice of America (USA)
Putin Accuses Obama Administration of Trying to Undermine Trump
Russian President Vladimir Putin is accusing the outgoing U.S. administration of trying to undermine President-elect Donald Trump by spreading fake allegations. Putin, speaking at a news conference Tuesday, described a dossier on Trump as part of efforts by President Barack Obama’s administration to “undermine the legitimacy of the...
In UN Lawsuit, Ukraine Demands Russia End Support for Separatists
Ukraine filed a lawsuit at the United Nations’ highest court demanding that Russia immediately halt its support for pro-Moscow separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry accused Russia of “acts of terrorism and discrimination in the course of its unlawful aggression” in the filing to the...
Prospect of Warming US-Russia Ties Worries China
President-elect Donald Trump’s hints ties with Moscow could improve after he assumes office has been a source of controversy and heated debate in the United States. And that is unlikely to go away after his inauguration later this week. Across the Pacific, in China, it is an increasing source of hand-wringing and worry for Chinese officials...
Biden: International Community Must Stand Up Against Russian Aggression in Ukraine
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says “the international community” must stand up against Russian aggression and urged President-elect Donald Trump to be a strong supporter and partner of Ukraine. Speaking Monday in Kyiv alongside President Petro Poroshenko, Biden noted Ukraine is “fighting both the cancer of corruption” and “the...
Russian ‘Kompromat’ Remains Alive and Well
Amid the political maelstrom surrounding the leaked, and wholly unverified, accusations of the Kremlin’s possession of compromising information on U.S. President Elect Donald Trump, a new Russian word entered the global lexicon, “kompromat.” “The Kremlin has no kompromat on the president-elect of the United States, Donald...
As Russia Reacts to ‘Hawkish’ Tillerson, Elation Over Trump Melts
When U.S. Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson appeared before the U.S. Senate for his confirmation hearing last week, pundits and politicians in Moscow were watching closely for signals as to the new administration’s stance on Russia. Their reactions included upbeat pragmatism to an “I-told-you-so” warning that a Russia hawk could be...
Trump: Russia Sanctions to Be Upheld, but Maybe Not for Long
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he would maintain sanctions against Russia imposed by the Obama administration but would consider lifting them if Russia cooperates on matters of common interest. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he would keep the sanctions in effect “at least for a period of time,” but...
Poland Welcomes US Troops Amid Russia Fears
Poland on Saturday formally welcomed a contingent of U.S. troops that arrived in the country earlier in the week, part of a NATO deployment aimed at deterring Russian aggression in the region. Poland’s prime minister, Beata Szydlo, and Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz welcomed the troops at a ceremony in the western Polish town of Zagan....
Why France May Not Be Russia’s Next Hacking Target
Amid growing alarm Europe may be the next target of Russian cyberattacks, some believe France — which is gearing up for presidential and parliamentary elections this year — may not be the obvious choice. The reasons range from the candidates themselves to the lack of a powerful motive or payback for the same kind of election hacking that U.S....
Hungary to Meet NATO Defense Spending Goal by 2026
Hungary will increase its defense spending gradually to 2 percent of its economic output by 2026 from 0.95 percent now, Defense Minister Istvan Simicsko said Thursday. Hungary, which joined NATO in 1999, spends less on defense than other eastern European members Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. Although military spending...
