Section: Voice of America (USA)
Ukraine Minister Denounces Russian Aid Convoy
Ukraine’s interior minister insisted Wednesday that the Russian convoy headed to the war-torn eastern region will not be allowed to enter the country. Arsen Avakov called the convoy a “provocation by the cynical aggressor.” Russia says the nearly 300 trucks that left Moscow Tuesday are carrying hundreds of tons of aid to...
As Showdown Looms, Humanitarian Situation Worsens in Eastern Ukraine
As Ukraine promises to deny entrance to a convoy of nearly 300 Russian trucks carrying what Russia says are aid to civilians in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, the humanitarian situation is worsening in the region’s besieged cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. As the Russian convoy nears the border, Ukrainian and Western officials fear that...
Russia to Boost Trade with Egypt
Russia will increase exports of wheat to Egypt and imports of other agriculture products from it, Russian officials said on Tuesday as the two countries discussed the potential for free trade. The move comes as Russia seeks new sources of supply after it banned most food imports from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and...
World Oil Prices Hitting New Lows
Crude oil prices have dropped to a nine-month low in Europe, with an industry research group reporting that the global supply of oil is more than adequate at the moment. The price for Brent oil fell Tuesday on the London market to $103.61 a barrel, its lowest point since last November. The price for West Texas Intermediate crude sold in the...
Russia Begins Military Exercises in Island Chain Partly Claimed by Japan
Russia began military exercises in a Pacific island chain parts of which are also claimed by Japan, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, a potential blow to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to keep the door open to dialog with Moscow despite strains over the Ukraine crisis. Exercises began involving military...
Putin Prepares for Crimea Visit
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will meet his top security officials on Wednesday and address members of government and parliament traveling with him on a trip to the Crimean peninsula a day later, the Kremlin said. A Russian convoy carrying food, water and other aid set off on Tuesday for eastern Ukraine, where government forces are...
Ukraine Says It Will Block Russian Aid Convoy
Ukrainian officials said they will not allow Russian trucks to cross the border after Moscow said it was sending a convoy to deliver humanitarian aid to besieged residents in rebel-held eastern Ukraine. Russia said Tuesday it was sending 280 truckloads of relief supplies to residents of eastern Ukraine, who are caught in the conflict between...
Reports: Russia Sends 280 Aid Trucks to Ukraine
Russian state media say a convoy of 280 trucks carrying humanitarian aid has left for war-torn eastern Ukraine. Russian television reported Tuesday the aid mission is being carried out in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross. But the relief agency, in a statement Monday, said no agreement on Russian participation is in...
As Kyiv’s Maidan Square Clears, Regrets Remain
The last of the hardcore protesters on Kyiv’s Independence Square accepted the inevitable Sunday and took down their last remaining canvas tents following scuffles and the burning of tires three days earlier. They are leaving but not without ill-feelings towards Ukraine’s new, post-revolution government. One of the protesters,...
NATO Chief: ‘High Probability’ Russia Will Intervene in E. Ukraine
NATO’s secretary general says the alliance has seen no sign of Russian forces pulling back from the border with Ukraine and that there is “a high probability” Moscow will intervene militarily in the eastern part of the country. “We see the Russians developing the narrative and the pretext for such an operation under the...
