Section: Voice of America (USA)
NATO Scrambles Jets 400 Times in 2014 Over Russian Activity
NATO warplanes have had to scramble 400 times this year in response to an increase in Russian air activity around Europe not seen since the Cold War, the alliance’s chief said on Thursday. North Atlantic Treaty Organization members have sought to fill gaps in the alliance’s land, air and sea defenses since Russia annexed Crimea and...
UN: Rights Abuses on Rise in War-torn E. Ukraine
A new United Nations report found the presence of large numbers of sophisticated weapons as well as foreign fighters, including Russian soldiers, have led to a worsening of the human rights situation in eastern Ukraine. The report issued by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said serious human rights violations persist in...
Russia Can Do Little to Shore Up Falling Oil Prices
Russia can do little to shore up slumping global prices even if OPEC wants it to. Russian wells will freeze if they stop pumping oil, and the country has no capacity to store the output it would otherwise export. Before next week’s meeting of OPEC, Russia has already spoken to group member Venezuela about the need to “coordinate actions in...
Russia: US Arms Supplies to Ukraine Would Destabilize Situation
Russia said on Thursday that the United States providing weapons to Ukraine’s government to fight separatists in the country’s east would have a “serious destabilizing” effect and would be in violation of a number of agreements. The statement by Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich comes a day after a ranking U.S. official...
Obama Nominee Says US Should Consider Lethal Aid to Ukraine
U.S. President Barack Obama’s nominee to fill the number two post at the State Department says the White House should consider providing Ukraine with lethal, defensive military equipment. Testifying Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Tony Blinken said that arming Ukraine’s military could force Russia to rethink...
Ukrainian Forces Prepare to Defend Mariupol
Shelling continues on the outskirts of Mariupol, in southeast Ukraine, as Russia-backed rebels have gradually advanced from the northeast on the strategic port city. Ukrainian troops posted at checkpoints say they are prepared to defend the city, but could use more support. While in the city center, joint patrols and “anti-violator” drills are...
Russia’s Relations With Hungary Warm as Ties With West Chill
President Vladimir Putin hailed Hungary as one of Russia’s most important partners on Wednesday, giving his seal of approval to a budding relationship with a Soviet-era ally that is worrying some of its European Union allies. While the Ukraine crisis is straining ties between many EU capitals and Moscow, Hungary – which relies heavily...
Putin: Russia Wants Relationship with US Based on ‘Respect’
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that his country wanted a relationship with the United States based on “respect,” a day after accusing the U.S. of seeking to “subdue” Russia. Speaking at a Kremlin ceremony during which a group of new ambassadors to Russia presented their credentials, Putin said Russia was...
Ukraine Rebels Dismiss Minsk Peace Deal as They Push for Territory
The rumble of tank shelling and mortar exchanges comes in waves, startling flocks of crows. For hours there can be silence here in the center of Donetsk, only for the quiet to be shattered as clashes between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces resume, mainly around the city’s wrecked airport and in the fiercely...
Pro-Moscow Separatists Face Health Crisis
Ukraine’s government is threatening to stop funding hospitals and medical services in areas in the east of the country controlled by Moscow-backed separatists. This is leaving the insurgents scrambling to make up for the shortfall amid signs that some locals want a return to normal. The health minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk...
