Contents tagged with War in Ukraine
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Ukraine needs 6 years to join NATO
In an exclusive interview with DW, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko commented about the continuing fighting in Ukraine despite an official ceasefire and discussed Ukraine's chance of becoming a NATO member.Mr. Poroshenko said he's optimistic about the European Union's solidarity with Ukraine and that he believes Kyiv will eventually join NATO. "Our position is to reform the country. We need at least six or seven years to meet the criteria. The world would be more secure if Ukraine had an …
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Lethal Aid to Ukraine bill passed at U.S. Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congress has passed a defense policy bill that authorizes up to $50 million in lethal military aid for Ukraine and mandates a White House response if Russia is deemed to be violating a key arms control treaty.
The White House said hours after the $607 billion bill was passed by the Senate on November 10 that President Barack Obama was likely to sign the legislation.
The House of Representatives passed a similar version of the bill last week.
Among other things, the package …
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Name of Putin's daughter revealed
As reported by Reuters, Putin's daughter Katerina uses the last name of Tikhonova.Katerina's identity was revealed by Andrey Akimov, deputy chairman of Russia's Gazprombank.Reuters has also learned that earlier this year Katerina, 29, described herself as the “spouse” of Kirill Shamalov, son of Nikolai Shamalov, a longtime friend of Putin. Shamalov senior is a shareholder in Bank Rossiya, which U.S. officials have described as the personal bank of the Russian elite. Katerina and Kirill, 33, …
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Worsening situation in the East of Ukraine
On November 7, 2015, Ukrainian Army positions were attacked with heavy artillery, the calibre of which is greater than 100 mm. The same day 15 Ukrainian servicemen were killed. The information was shared by the Ukrainian army servicemen and the Director of the Department for Cooperation with Volunteers, Yuri Danilov“The situation hasn’t changed over the year. We just got used to it. By the way, we have 15 people killed. They (the separatists) shelled us with mortars with the calibre greater …
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Ukrainian Officials: Multiple ceasefire violations put Minsk agreement at risk.
Ukrainian authorities confirm their withdrawal of heavy armor from the areas around Mariupol. Although due to the continuing ceasefire violations from the areas controlled by Pro-Russian separatist the withdrawal may be reversed.In his statement, the spokesman for the Ukrainian army stated that while Ukrainian military continues the withdrawal stipulated by the Minsk Agreement there are multiple violations of ceasefire from the Separatist controlled areas. In the past day, militants opened …
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Foreign ministers meet in Berlin on Ukraine crisis
The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine met Friday in Berlin to further discuss steps required to end the conflict in east Ukraine.Germany‘s Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: "We can be glad that the ceasefire regime has been observed to a certain extent." He said " the progress has been made, but some serious challenges" remained, including organizing fair local elections in separatist-held areas.
Also in attendance at the Villa Borsig, in north-west Berlin were France's …
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Ukraine to return weapons if rebels continue to violate ceasefire.
As stated by Oleksander Turchynov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, at least nine ceasefire violations, committed by the Russian-terrorist troops, were recorded in the occupied territories over past 24 hours.
The commentary of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov was posted on the official website of the Council.
"It it not the first time that the Russian-backed militants want to disrupt the Minsk Agreements by …
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Nine European leaders concerned over Russia's aggressive stance
Leaders of nine countries have issued a joint statement at the Central European Summit in the Romanian capital of Bucharest.
They expressed grave concern over Russia's "continuing aggressive posturing" and backed a sustainable NATO military presence in the region.
"We will stand firm on the need for Russia to return to respect of international law as well as of its international obligations, responsibilities and commitments as a pre-condition for a NATO–Russia relationship based on trust and …
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The Guardian - Ukrainian rebels grow restless amid cracks in alliance with Russia
Portraits of Putin and Stalin adorn the room where the rebel commander, Yuri “Rostov” Shevchenko, holds court.In this former KGB complex in the industrial town of Alchevsk in the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic, members of Shevchenko’s militant Ghost Brigade are growing restless as a shaky ceasefire holds in eastern Ukraine.With their Russian backers turning their attention to the war in Syria, cracks are appearing in the rebels’ alliance with Moscow. The Kremlin is reportedly pressing …
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At least 2 killed in Ukraine ammunition depot explosion.
At least two people have been killed in the Ukrainian town of Svatove after a series of blasts at a ammunition depot.
Local media has said the Ukrainian security forces were investigating and claimed it could be a terrorist act.
The town lies in a government-controlled part of the Luhansk region. In addition to the two casualties, four civilians and four servicemen were wounded.
According to Ukraine's Defence Ministry statement, the fire was started by "the release of a flare that fell onto …