Tag Archives: Russia

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. …

CBS News reports: The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on Sunday warning that “according to media sources, there have been threats of attacks against shopping centers, railway and metro stations, and other public gathering places in major urban areas, including Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as in areas of heightened tension along the Russian border with …

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 Hill reports: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blasted President Biden on Sunday for what he described as his enabling of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, saying Biden’s presidency was the “best thing” that had happened for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Cruz argued that Senate support for sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has changed solely because of who is sitting …

The New York Times reports: President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia presided over the theatrically timed test launches of three ballistic and cruise missiles on Saturday as part of what were described as nuclear deterrence exercises, in a blunt reminder to the West that any conflict over Ukraine could quickly escalate. Mr. Putin watched the display from a Kremlin command …

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 …

The Associated Press reports: The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday night to show unwavering support for an independent Ukraine and “condemn” Russian military aggression toward its neighbor as fresh fears emerged of a possible invasion that could spiral toward a European war. The resolution from the senators does not carry the force of law but puts the U.S. legislative body …

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 Hill reports: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) warned on Thursday that he will block quick passage of a symbolic resolution supporting Ukraine and sending a warning to Russia unless it incorporates changes he wants. “We have some amendments to it. We believe that it should say nothing in this resolution is to be construed as an authorization of war and …

CNBC reports: Secretary of State Antony Blinken will address the United Nations Security Council Thursday morning as the crisis on Ukraine’s borders reaches a pivotal moment. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters on a call Thursday morning that she requested Blinken to address the international forum ahead of his scheduled trip alongside Vice President Kamala Harris …

The Washington Post reports: Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists accused each other Thursday of violating a cease-fire in the eastern part of the country, a potential flash point in what Western officials say are Russian preparations for a possible attack by growing forces massed near Ukraine’s borders. In Moscow, the Russian government ordered the expulsion of the U.S. Embassy’s second-ranking diplomat, …

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 New York Times reports: President Biden said Tuesday that American officials had not verified Russia’s claim that it is pulling some troops back from Ukraine’s border, and declared that Russian forces remain “very much in a threatening position.” “An invasion remains distinctly possible,” he said. Speaking from the East Room of the White House, Mr. Biden vowed to “give …

The Associated Press reports: U.S. intelligence officials on Tuesday accused a conservative financial news website with a significant American readership of amplifying Kremlin propaganda and alleged five media outlets targeting Ukrainians have taken direction from Russian spies. The officials said Zero Hedge, which has 1.2 million Twitter followers, published articles created by Moscow-controlled media that were then shared by outlets …

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 …

Mediaite reports: Tucker Carlson ripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator on Monday, and derided American politicians he said are attempting to garner sympathy for he and his country. After attacking Democrats and “some low-IQ” Republicans, Carlson scoffed at the notion that Ukraine is even a democracy. “What exactly is Ukraine like, what’s its government like?” Carlson said. “Turns …