Section: Voice of America (USA)
Russian Arms Sales Soared in 2013, Bucking Global Slowdown
Russian arms makers’ sales soared 20 percent in 2013, bucking a slowdown in other countries’ industries, largely thanks to a Kremlin push to modernize its military, the SIPRI think tank said on Monday. Russia’s figures were strong enough to slow a three-year decline in global arms sales caused mainly by Washington’s...
UN: Around 1,300 Killed in Ukraine Since Cease-fire
Around 1,300 people have been killed in Ukraine’s separatist conflict since a September cease-fire, according to a U.N. report that said many living in the country’s rebel-held east were struggling to survive. As of Dec. 12, 4,707 combatants and civilians had been killed since pro-Russian rebels seized eastern regions near the border...
Kerry, Lavrov Meeting Again on Ukraine Conflict
The top U.S. and Russian diplomats are meeting in Rome in a new bid to ease tensions in Ukraine, but their latest talks are complicated by U.S. legislation calling for military aid to be sent to Kyiv forces fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were...
Russia Warns US on Bill Authorizing Military Hardware to Ukraine
Russia says there will be repercussions if Washington imposes new sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. Deputy Foreign Secretary Sergei Ryabkov on Saturday blamed “anti-Russian moods” in Washington for the new bill authorizing lethal military aid to Kyiv and deeper sanctions against Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in...
Russia Protests US Aid for Ukraine Military
Russia is criticizing legislation passed by the U.S. Congress authorizing $350 million in military aid to Ukraine and new sanctions against key state-controlled Russian companies. If President Barack Obama signs into law the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, the United States will provide Ukraine with anti-tank and armor-piercing weapons,...
India Questioned Over Crimean Leader’s Visit
India faced criticism and questions a day after the leader of Crimea, the Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia, visited the South Asian country. Sergey Aksyonov arrived with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in the Indian capital Thursday for a one-day summit. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko slammed India, saying the country was...
‘Fragile’ Cease-Fire Holds in Ukraine
Ukraine’s president says a “fragile” cease-fire is actually in place for the first time in his country’s seven-month conflict between government troops and Russian-back separatists. Petro Poroshenko said Friday that 24 hours had passed without any deaths or injuries of his soldiers. Poroshenko said if the cease-fire held...
Poland Reports ‘Unprecedented’ Russian Maneuvers in Baltic
Russia’s military is engaging in an unprecedented amount of activity around the Baltic Sea, Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Thursday. The minister said that Poland, a member of the NATO defense alliance, was not under threat of attack and the Russian maneuvers were most likely designed to test how NATO forces in the region...
Russian Ruble Continues Its Slide in Value
The value of the Russian ruble has sunk to new lows against the U.S. dollar and the euro, even as Moscow’s central bank raised its key interest rate again in an effort to bolster the country’s faltering economy. The Russian currency moved above 55 rubles to the dollar for the first time Thursday, and also to new depths against the...
Obama Cautious on More Russia Sanctions Unless Europe Agrees
President Barack Obama expressed caution on Thursday about the possibility of the United States adding more sanctions against Russia for its incursion into Ukraine because it could cause divide Washington and Europe. With some lawmakers on Capitol Hill considering more sanctions, Obama told the President’s Export Council that the current...
