Section: Voice of America (USA)
Putin Says Russian Economy Will Emerge Stronger
RussianPresident Vladimir Putin has said his country’s sinking economy will not only recover but also become stronger, despite falling oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine. VOA’s Daniel Schearf reports. …read more Source: Voice of...
Obama Signs Into Law Bill Authorizing More Russia Sanctions
U.S. President Barack Obama has signed into law legislation passed by the U.S. Congress authorizing more sanctions on Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis. The president said in a statement Thursday that while he signed the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014, it “does not signal a change” in the administration’s sanctions...
Putin: Russian Economy to Rebound in 2 Years
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual end-of-the-year news conference Thursday, tackling questions on the Russian economy, the crisis in Ukraine and Russian relations with the west. VOA’s Jeff Custer reports. …read more Source: Voice of...
EU Adopts Tighter Investment Sanctions on Crimea
European Union governments adopted tighter restrictions on European investment in Crimea onThursday, targeting Russian Black Sea oil and gas explorationand tourism, an EU official said. According to the official, the new restrictions, approved by the EU’s 28 governments just before the bloc’s leaders discuss the Ukraine crisis and...
Putin Addresses Russia Amid Economic Crisis
President Vladimir Putin is holding his end-of-year news conference Thursday amid a growing economic crisis in Russia. It is expected to be dominated by debate over the ruble, with Russia’s national currency struggling to cope with falling oil prices and sanctions. The Kremlin leader is also expected to take questions on Ukraine and on...
Russia’s Ruble Partly Recovers as Consumers Spend on Inflation Fears
Russia’s currency, the ruble, has recovered by about 10 percent, after falling sharply in value this week, as the government pressured exporters not to hoard their foreign currency. Consumers in Moscow have been on a spending spree, on fears of price hikes, after a massive interest rate increase failed to stop the ruble’s decline. The...
Ukraine’s President: Peace Talks Could Resume Dec. 21
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko says his government could resume peace talks with Russian-backed separatists and Russia’s government Sunday in Minsk. Poroshenko told reporters in Warsaw members of the so-called “contact group,” made up of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian governments, the separatists in...
Ukraine Leader Wants to Join ‘Euro-Atlantic’ Security Alliance
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday he had decided his country should set out on a course towards Euro-Atlantic security integration, and would press for that in parliament soon. Poroshenko, who was speaking on a visit to NATO member Poland, did not mention the U.S.-led military alliance by name, but his comments are...
No Signs of Foul Play in German Putin Critic’s Death
A conservative member of the German parliament and prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin died of heart failure or overheating after falling asleep in a sauna and there are no signs of foul play, state prosecutors said on Wednesday. Andreas Schockenhoff, a deputy parliamentary floor leader for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s...
Rouble Crisis Could Shake Putin’s Grip on Power
Russia failed to halt the collapse of the rouble on Tuesday, leaving President Vladimir Putin facing a full-blown currency crisis that could weaken his iron grip on power. A 6.5 percentage point interest rate rise to 17 percent overnight failed to prevent the currency hitting record lows in a “perfect storm” of low oil prices, looming recession...
