Section: Voice of America (USA)
Watchdog: Kremlin Internet Plans Could Endanger Free Speech
Russian proposals on protecting Internet users against threats from the West could be a Kremlin ploy to crack down on critical voices inside Russia, a representative of Europe’s main rights and democracy watchdog said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Internet as a “CIA special project,” and Russia media last week quoted...
Ukraine’s Poroshenko Secures Less US Aid Than Hoped
Addressing a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress last week, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked for military aid and a special security status for his country. Poroshenko said his army needed more military equipment – both non-lethal and lethal. “Blankets and night vision goggles are important,” he said, “but one cannot win a war with...
Russian MPs Back Initial Proposal to Curb Foreign Media Ownership
Russian lawmakers gave initial backing on Tuesday to a draft law limiting foreign ownership of Russian media to 20 percent from the existing ceiling of 50 percent, a move critics say will reinforce the dominance of outlets loyal to the Kremlin. With only one vote against the proposal, the draft law passed the first of three readings in the Duma,...
Ukraine Rebels Start Pullback of Heavy Artillery
Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say they have started to withdraw their heavy artillery from front-line positions as required by a peace plan aimed at ending five months of conflict with Kyiv. Rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko told Russia’s Interfax news agency Tuesday that the pullback was in response to a similar move by...
For West Ukraine City, Conflict Far Away Yet Near
The western Ukrainian city of Lviv prides itself on being both physically and culturally close to Western Europe. The Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country are 1,200 kilometers away, and seemingly even farther away in their world view. Still, as VOA’s Al Pessin reports, the war is having an impact in Lviv....
Ukraine Pulling Back from Buffer Zone in Embattled East
Ukrainian officials say they have started to pull troops from a buffer zone in the east of the country where they have been fighting pro-Russian separatists. Security and Defense Council spokesman Colonel Andriy Lysenko said Monday rebel attacks have diminished, allowing Kyiv to implement an agreement reached last week with the separatists to...
Russia’s Opposition Holds Peace March for Ukraine
Opposition activists and anti-war demonstrators marched in the Russian capital Sunday, urging peace in Ukraine and an end to Russia’s military support for separatists, even though the Kremlin denies backing the rebels. VOA’s Daniel Schearf reports from Moscow. …read more Source: Voice of...
Russians March Protesting Ukraine Conflict
Thousands of Russians marched in protest against the armed conflict in Ukraine on Sunday in the first major anti-war rally since the start of the standoff between Kyiv and pro-Russian rebels. The armed conflict, which Kyiv and the West blame on Russia’s support of the separatist armed groups in eastern Ukraine, has killed more than 3,000...
Russians March Against Fighting in Ukraine
Thousands of Russians marched in protest against the armed conflict in Ukraine on Sunday in the first major anti-war rally since the start of the standoff between Kyiv and pro-Russian rebels. …read more Source: Voice of...
NATO: Ukraine Cease-Fire Is ‘in Name Only’
NATO’s top military commander says he is hopeful the new agreement to create a buffer zone between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian separatists will calm the conflict. However, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said the current situation was “not good,” with Russian troops still inside Ukraine. Breedlove said...
