Section: Voice of America (USA)
Putin Orders Import Bans on Products From Sanctioning Countries
Putin Orders Import Bans on Products From Sanctioning Countries Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning or limiting imports of agricultural products from countries that have placed sanctions on Russia. Russian state media announced the move Wednesday, saying Putin has ordered his government to decide on a list of import...
New Data Shows Italy in Recession
Europe’s 18-nation euro bloc is facing new economic pressure, with its third biggest economy in Italy unexpectedly falling again into a recession. Italy said Wednesday that its economy contracted two-tenths of one percent in the April-to-June period, on the heels of a first-quarter drop as well. It was the third time Italy has slipped into...
Rising Tensions as Kyiv Debates Future of Independence Square
Seven months after Ukraine’s former president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the country following mass demonstrations in Kyiv’s Independence Square, the protest camp – known as “Maidan” – still occupies the center of the city. The activists say their continued presence is still necessary, but many local residents...
Ukraine Military: 18 Soldiers Killed in Fighting Near Donetsk
Eighteen Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and 54 injured in fresh fighting overnight against separatist rebels in Eastern Ukraine, a military spokesman said on Wednesday. Spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said government forces had clashed with separatists 25 times in parts of eastern Ukraine near the Russian border in the 24 hours up to Wednesday...
NATO: Russia Could Be Poised to Invade Eastern Ukraine
Russia has amassed around 20,000 combat-ready troops on Ukraine’s eastern border and could use the pretext of a humanitarian or peace-keeping mission to invade, NATO said on Wednesday. Stating the conflict in Ukraine was fueled by Russia, NATO said in a statement that the troop build-up had further escalated “a dangerous...
Russia Criticized for Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine
Russia called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council Tuesday to urge that international community take urgent measures to improve humanitarian conditions in eastern Ukraine, where the government and Russian-backed separatists have been fighting for months. Some Council members accused Russia of being the cause of the crisis it...
Tensions Rise as Kyiv Debates Future of Independence Square
Nearly seven months after Ukraine’s former president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the country following mass demonstrations in Kyiv’s Independence Square, the protest camp – known as ‘Maidan’ – still occupies the center of the city. The activists say their continued presence is still necessary, but many local...
More People Fleeing Fighting In Ukraine As Crisis Deepens
The United Nations refugee agency reports more than 117,000 people are internally displaced in Ukraine and an estimated 168,000 have crossed into Russia. The UNHCR says humanitarian needs are increasing as the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. The U.N. refugee agency reports 87 percent of the total number of people displaced inside...
Rights Group: Ukraine Rebels Hampering Aid Efforts
As Ukrainian forces close in on a key city controlled by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, a human rights group is accusing the fighters of aggravating the humanitarian crisis triggered by the four-month-old conflict. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch issued a statement Tuesday saying rebel attacks on medical personnel and facilities have...
US Spy Plane Enters Swedish Airspace to Avoid Russian Fighters
U.S. military officials say one of its spy planes veered into Swedish airspace without permission recently, to avoid Russian planes over the Baltic Sea. The U.S. European Command told the New York Times this week that an Air Force RC-135 surveillance plane, flying in international airspace on July 18, was approached by Russian fighter jets....
