Section: Voice of America (USA)
Intense Fighting Reported in E. Ukraine
Violence continued in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, a day after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ended a 10-day unilateral cease-fire and resumed a military offensive against pro-Russian separatists. A spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Lysenko, said at least five Ukrainian servicemen were killed and...
Merkel: Economic Sanctions Against Russia Still an Option
German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized Moscow on Wednesday for failing to engage on a peace plan announced by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and said tougher economic sanctions against Russia were still an option. “Regarding sanctions against Russia, we have so far reached level two and we cannot rule out having to go...
Putin Accuses US of ‘Blackmailing’ France Out of Warship Sale
President Vladimir Putin accused the United States on Tuesday of using fines against French banks to “blackmail” Paris into calling off its sale of Mistral warships to Russia as punishment for Moscow’s role in the conflict in Ukraine. U.S. authorities imposed a record fine of almost $9 billion against French bank BNP Paribas,...
Crisis Hits Tourism, Business in Ukraine’s Odessa
While the separatist crisis continues in two small regions of eastern Ukraine, the rest of the country is trying to return to business as usual, including the port and resort city of Odessa in the south. The impact in Odessa continues from the revolution. As the summer tourist season gets under way, Odessa’s main pedestrianized street of...
EU Air Freight Rules Draw Moscow’s Ire
New European Union air cargo rules that have ignited a row with Russia and jeopardized annual trade worth more than 13 billion euros ($18 billion) came into force on Tuesday, and is likely to heighten tensions between the EU and Moscow. The EU is gradually tightening its security rules for air shipments. Russia argues its airlines and airports...
Crisis Hits Tourism, Business in Odessa
While the separatist crisis continues in two small regions of eastern Ukraine, the rest of the country is trying to return to business as usual, including the port and resort city of Odessa in the south. VOA’s Al Pessin, who recently was in Ukraine, reports on the impact in Odessa from the revolution and the continuing aftermath....
IMF: Sanctions Bring Russian Economic Growth to Standstill
Sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine have brought growth to a standstill, had a “chilling effect” on investment and could force Moscow into economic isolation, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday. The international lender’s report chimed with words from Russia’s central bank governor, Elvira Nabiullina, who...
Putin Accuses Ukraine Leader of Shunning Road to Peace
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he and European Union states had tried unsuccessfully to persuade Kyiv to extend a cease-fire in east Ukraine, and the Ukrainian president had veered off the road to peace. President Petro Poroshenko renewed a military campaign against pro-Russian rebels, saying they had not abided by the terms,...
NATO General Blames Russia for Rising Tensions
Simmering tensions in Eastern Ukraine are rising yet again, as President Petro Poroshenko said Monday he is ending a unilateral cease-fire in the conflict with pro-Russian separatists. A top U.S. and NATO general is laying much of the blame on Russia. Even with the cease-fire in effect, peace seemed elusive. In the flashpoint town of Slovyansk,...
NATO General Blames Russia for Rising Tensions
Simmering tensions in Eastern Ukraine are rising yet again, as President Petro Poroshenko said Monday he is ending a unilateral cease-fire in the conflict with pro-Russian separatists. VOA’s Jeff Seldin reports from the Pentagon that a top U.S. and NATO general is laying much of the blame on Russia. …read more Source: Voice of...
