Section: Voice of America (USA)
Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Exchange Underway
A major prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine is underway — with multiple reports citing the transfer of prisoners out of Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison as well as the arrival of a Ukrainian state-emblemed plane to Vnukovo airport in the Russian capital Saturday morning. While the exact number, list, and timing of the exchange is not yet...
Panetta: ‘A New Chapter of the Cold War’ With Russia
VOA correspondent Greta van Susteren spoke with former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta about the global arms race and the military expansion into space. Panetta said space represents a new frontier and the likely battlefield of the future. He also discussed China’s developing lead in space and its impact on the world, as well as the risks...
US Defense Chief Esper Cautions Europe to be Wary of China
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper cautioned European allies against cozying up to China, arguing on Friday that Beijing seeks greater global influence by leveraging economic power and stealing technology.“The more dependent a country becomes on Chinese investment and trade, the more susceptible they are to coercion and retribution when they act...
Observers Cry Foul Over Kyiv’s Release of Key Witness in Flight MH17 Probe
This story originated in VOA’s Ukrainian service. Some information is from AP.Some Western observers are criticizing a Ukrainian court’s decision Thursday to release Volodymyr Tsemakh, a “person of interest” in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) five years ago.The decision, handed down by the Kyiv Court of...
Former Obama Counsel Acquitted of Lying to Government
Prominent Washington lawyer Greg Craig was found not guilty of lying to the Justice Department about work he did for the government of Ukraine in a case that arose from the special counsel’s Russia investigation and that centered on the lucrative world of foreign lobbying.The jury deliberated for less than a day before clearing Craig, a...
MH17 Suspect to be Released
A court in Kyiv has released Volodymyr Tsemakh, a suspect in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) five years ago, as Russian President Vladimir Putin said a prisoner swap with Ukraine is nearing completion.The Kyiv Court of Appeal handed down the ruling on Thursday, saying Tsemakh should be released immediately on his own...
‘The Painted Bird’ Tells ‘Timeless’ Story of Survival in Dark Times
Set somewhere in rural eastern Europe towards the end of World War II, “The Painted Bird” is a sombre tale of a young boy trying to survive a harsh wilderness and the cruelty of strangers, and is described by one of its stars as “timeless.”Based on a 1965 novel by Polish-born novelist Jerzy Kosinski, the 35mm black and...
Biden Taps Influence Industry Despite Pledge on Lobbyists
Joe Biden entered the Democratic primary promising “from day one” to reject campaign cash from lobbyists.“I work for you _ not any industry,” he tweeted.Yet hours after his April campaign kickoff, the former vice president went to a fundraiser at the home of a lobbying executive. And in the months since, he’s done it again and...
Ukraine’s Parliament Scraps Immunity for Lawmakers
Ukraine’s parliament has approved a much-anticipated bill to scrap immunity from prosecution for lawmakers.The move was one of the main campaign promises for comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who won the presidential election by a landslide in April. The parliament, dominated by Zelenskiy’s allies, voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to end...
Pence: United States Will Continue to Support Ukraine
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said the United States will continue to support Ukraine in the country’s conflict with Russia and its right to full territorial integrity.Washington “stands with the people of Ukraine and most especially since 2014, we have stood strongly for the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Pence said after...
