Tag Archives: Vladimir Putin

The Associated Press reports: The White House says President Joe Biden is ordering new sanctions after Russia moved to recognize separatist eastern Ukraine regions. The Biden administration calls Monday’s announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin a “blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments.” The sanctions will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognized by …

From the Russia state outlet Pravda: Putin started his urgent address to the nation with an insight into the history of Ukraine and its creation. The Ukraine that we know today was created during the times of Bolshevist Russia, he said. Putin in particular said that today’s Ukraine was completely created by Lenin. Today’s Ukraine can be referred to as …

The New York Times reports: The Kremlin said Monday that President Vladimir V. Putin would recognize the independence of two territories in Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, further escalating tensions in what Western nations fear could lead to one of the biggest conflicts in Europe since World War II. The announcement was made by the Kremlin in a statement summarizing …

Reuters reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was considering a request by two regions of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists to be recognised as independent – a move that could give Moscow a reason to openly send troops. Ukraine and the West consider the rebels controlling the two small eastern regions to be Russia’s proxies, and …

CBS News reports: U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle on Sunday to meet, either in person or via video link, as diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis on Ukraine’s borders took on new urgency with U.S. officials telling CBS News that Putin had ordered his troops to proceed with plans to invade. A U.S. …

The Guardian reports: Russian troops sent to Belarus for military exercises will remain in the country indefinitely, Belarus’s defence ministry has said, in a decision that will further fuel concerns Moscow is planning an imminent Ukraine invasion. Belarus’s defence minister, Gen Viktor Khrenin, said Russian soldiers would stay after large-scale joint drills were completed on Sunday. He said the move …

The Independent reports: US President Joe Biden will deliver an update on efforts to deter a further invasion of Ukraine at 4pm Eastern time on Friday, the White House has said. Mr Biden is expected to address US and NATO actions and the continued push to dissuade Russian president Vladimir Putin from ordering an invasion of Ukraine after the heads …

Foreign Policy reports: The United States has obtained intelligence that Russia may target prominent political opponents, anti-corruption activists, and Belarusian and Russian dissidents living in exile should it move forward with plans to invade Ukraine, as U.S. President Joe Biden warned on Thursday that the threat of a renewed Russian invasion of the country remains “very high” and could take …

The Associated Press reports: The Russian military on Friday announced massive drills of its strategic nuclear forces, a stark reminder of the country’s nuclear might amid Western fears that Moscow might be preparing to invade Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally oversee Saturday’s exercise, which will involve multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, the Defense …

Reuters reports: Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels reported increased shelling in eastern Ukraine for a second straight day on Friday, an escalation that Washington and other Western allies say could form part of a Russian pretext to invade. Russia denies Western accusations that it is planning an invasion and has said this week it is drawing down forces massed …

The Associated Press reports: Russia has added as many as 7,000 troops near the Ukraine border in recent days, contrary to claims by President Vladimir Putin that troops would be pulled back from the region, a senior Biden administration official said Wednesday. Russia has massed about 150,000 troops east, north and south of Ukraine, according to Western estimates. The U.S. …

The Washington Post reports: Russia has troops at Ukraine’s borders. Western powers have warned of an imminent invasion. World leaders have fretted over a military conflict in Europe larger than any since World War II. But Russia and President Vladimir Putin, on the cusp of what could be a mass-casualty event, are nonetheless reaching out to make new friends — …

The Associated Press reports: Russia said Tuesday that some units participating in military exercises would begin returning to their bases, adding to glimmers of hope that the Kremlin may not be planning to invade Ukraine imminently. But it gave no details on where the troops were pulling back from, or how many. That muddied efforts to determine the significance of …

Forbes reports: Though Russia continues to deny plans of an invasion of Ukraine, its thousands of soldiers posted at the Ukrainian border have forced many countries to prepare for a large influx of Ukrainian refugees should Russia attack. Polish interior minister Mariusz Kamiński [photo] tweeted Sunday the country is preparing for a “possible influx of refugees from Ukraine who, due …

The New York Times reports: President Biden spoke with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Saturday in a bid to defuse the crisis over Ukraine, and the State Department ordered all but a “core team” of its diplomats and employees to leave the American Embassy in Kyiv over fears that Moscow would soon mount a major assault. Reflecting the …

NPR reports: The U.S. isn’t planning a military operation to help its citizens leave Ukraine, President Biden says, and they should do so on their own. “American citizens should leave now,” Biden said as Russia amasses a military force around its neighbor. Biden made the remarks in an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt, who asked him what kind of …

Reuters reports: The United States and its allies have prepared a list of Russian elites in or near President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle to punish with sanctions if Russia sends troops into Ukraine, a senior U.S. official said on Monday. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said planned legislation will give London new powers to target companies linked to the Russian state, …

The BBC reports: The UK has accused President Putin of plotting to install a pro-Moscow figure to lead Ukraine’s government. The Foreign Office took the unusual step of naming former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev as a potential Kremlin candidate. Russia has moved 100,000 troops near to its border with Ukraine but denies it is planning an invasion. UK ministers have …

Reuters reports: Ukraine was hit by a massive cyberattack warning its citizens to “be afraid and expect the worst”, and Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 troops on its neighbour’s frontier, released TV pictures on Friday of more forces deploying in a drill. The developments unfolded hours after talks wrapped up with no breakthrough between Russia and Western states, …

The Washington Post reports: Negotiators for the United States are planning to show up to talks with their Russian counterparts Monday with proposals to discuss the placement of missiles and scope of military exercises in Europe, according to people familiar with the plans. The White House is looking to test whether Moscow is serious about ending the Ukraine crisis through …