Section: Voice of America (USA)
BRICS Neutrality on Ukraine a Diplomatic Win for Putin
A summit of the BRICS group of emerging market countries will abstain from criticizing Russia’s recent actions in Ukraine, Brazilian officials said, a diplomatic victory for President Vladimir Putin. The summit statement will make only a passing reference to Ukraine and will echo the neutral stance adopted by Russia’s fellow BRICS...
As Ukrainian Forces Advance, Putin Plays Double Game
As fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine, signs are emerging that Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a twin strategy: pledge his willingness to support a negotiated settlement, but continue funneling arms to separatist rebels. “Putin in the last several weeks has been playing a dual game,” said Steven Pifer, a former U.S....
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Bringing Troops Up to Border
Russia is building up forces on its border with Ukraine, and separatists, backed by Russian “mercenaries”, are firing on Ukrainian border guards in an attempt to bring armored vehicles into the country, a Ukrainian military spokesman said on Monday. Accusing Russia of embarking on a course of escalation in Ukraine’s eastern...
Romania Expects to be Energy Independent Despite Ukraine Crisis
Romania is expected to achieve energy independence by the end of the decade, due to shale gas and alternative energy sources like wind and nuclear power. It is the third most energy independent country in the European Union after Denmark and Estonia. A neighbor of Ukraine, Romania has found itself in recent months close to Europe’s latest...
Russia Says Ukrainian Shell Crosses Border, Kills 1
Russian media say a shell fired in Ukraine has struck a Russian border town, killing one person and wounding another. The reports say the shell landed in the town of Donetsk Sunday. The Associated Press quotes a Russian official as saying the incident would be met with “an appropriate response,” but gave no further explanation. On...
Ukrainian Fighter Jets Pound Rebels After Deadly Missile Attack
Ukrainian war planes bombarded separatists along a broad front on Saturday, inflicting huge losses, Kyiv said, after President Petro Poroshenko indicated that “scores and hundreds” would be made to pay for a deadly missile attack on Ukrainian forces. In exchanges marking a sharp escalation in the three-month conflict, jets struck at...
Europe Considers Fracking to Cut Russian Gas Imports
The political crisis in Ukraine, including its dispute with Moscow over the flow of Russian natural gas, has forced many European nations to reconsider their reliance on Russia for energy. Some nations are looking at new options for extracting natural gas at home, including the controversial process of hydraulic fracking. Although much of Europe...
EU Sanctions Target 11 Pro-Russian Separatists in Ukraine
The European Union says it is placing sanctions on 11 leaders of the pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine, including separatist leader Alexander Borodai. The rebels have declared independence for the region, and have been fighting Ukrainian government troops. Borodai is a Russian citizen who has declared himself the prime minister of the...
Putin Begins Latin America Tour in Cuba
Russia’s president has begun a six-day tour of Latin American countries. Vladimir Putin’s first stop Friday was Cuba where he met with Cuban President Raul Castro. The two countries signed a number of accords, including one that forgives 90 percent of Cuba’s Russian debt, totaling more than $30 billion, and another that allows...
New Development Bank Likely to Top Agenda of BRICS Summit in Brazil
As Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff prepares for World Cup closing ceremonies on Sunday, she also is working on another big event. Her country will host the sixth annual BRICS summit on Monday. BRICS, the acronym for a group of five emerging national economies with significant influence on regional and global affairs, includes Brazil, Russia,...
