Section: Voice of America (USA)
Fugitive Snowden Asks to Extend Stay in Russia
Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has asked Moscow to extend his asylum in Russia, his lawyer said on Wednesday. Russia granted Snowden a one-year visa in August 2013 despite the United States wanting Moscow to send him home to face criminal charges, including espionage, for disclosing secret U.S Internet and telephone...
Obama, Rasmussen Meet As Multiple Crises Face NATO
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has met with President Barack Obama to discuss the pressing crises facing the alliance in two different parts of the world. Tuesday’s meeting at the White House came as NATO prepares for a critical summit in September. There were smiles as t Obama met Rasmussen in the Oval Office. But half a...
US Officials Urge Ukraine to Reform Natgas Market
Ukraine must reform its historically inefficient and corrupt natural gas markets to guard against Russian aggression and supply controls, U.S. State Department officials told lawmakers on Tuesday. After invading and annexing Crimea this year, Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine last month in a dispute over unpaid bills. Escalation of...
As Ukraine Separatists Retreat, Russia’s Next Moves Unclear
Russia has urged Ukrainian authorities to negotiate a cease-fire, after separatist rebels in southeast Ukraine retreated to the two largest cities they control, Donetsk and Luhansk. But Ukraine has vowed to continue its offensive, saying rebels must first lay down their arms. Separatist rebels are reinforcing blockades and checkpoints as a...
Lithuania President Warns Of Growing ‘Russian Chauvinism’
Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region unnerved Russia’s neighbors from Kazakhstan in the south to the Baltic states in the north. Lithuania’s newly re-elected President spoke about her neighbor to the east – Russia. In Lithuania, July is the season of song festivals, like this one in the 15th century church...
Ukraine Government Calls on Rebels to Disarm
The Ukrainian government says there will be no cease-fire talks with pro-Russian separatists in the east until the rebels completely lay down their arms. A statement released Tuesday by Defense Minister Valery Heletey expressed a growing confidence in Kyiv that it was gaining momentum against the separatists in a three month old uprising that has...
Retreating Ukraine Rebels Dig In at Donetsk
Pro-Russian separatists retreating ahead of a Ukrainian military offensive in eastern Ukraine dug in Monday in the city of Donetsk, building barricades and erecting checkpoints along main roads. As Ukrainian forces pushed south from Slovyansk toward Donetsk, three bridges linking the two cities were destroyed in explosions. It was not clear...
Russian, EU Energy Officials to Meet for More Gas Talks
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak plans to meet European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger late next week for gas supply talks, Russia’s Energy Ministry said in a statement on Monday. The planned talks would follow weeks of debate to try to solve a row over how much Russia charges Ukraine for its gas, which has led Russian...
Column: Ukraine Diplomat’s Job Complicated by Russia
Ukrainian Ambassador Olexander Motsyk blasted Russia in an interview for instigating a “hybrid war” against his country, supporting separatists he sees as “terrorists.” The veteran diplomat said he couldn’t have imagined the turn of events that led to such bold pronouncements and greatly changed his diplomatic life....
Bridges to Donetsk Destroyed as Ukraine Battles Separatists
Three bridges into rebel-held Donetsk were destroyed Monday, as Ukrainian forces continue to fight pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of the country The bridges are access points from Slovyansk, which Ukrainian troops reclaimed from rebels Saturday. A Reuters video shows a freight train stretched over what used to be a railway, now...
