Baltics blast China diplomat for questioning sovereignty of ex-Soviet states

Baltics blast China diplomat for questioning sovereignty of ex-Soviet states

[ad_1] The Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are demanding an explanation from Beijing after China’s top envoy to France questioned the independence of former Soviet countries like Ukraine. Lu Shaye, China’s ambassador to France, said in an interview on Friday with French television network LCI that former Soviet countries have no “effective status” … Read more

Zelenskyy digs in against calls to quit Bakhmut

Zelenskyy digs in against calls to quit Bakhmut

[ad_1] Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Doubts are growing about the wisdom of holding the shattered frontline city of Bakhmut against relentless Russian assaults, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is digging in and insists his top commanders are united in keeping up an attritional defense that has dragged on … Read more

The strengths and weaknesses of Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The strengths and weaknesses of Volodymyr Zelenskyy

[ad_1] Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe.  In the weeks leading up to Russia’s invasion, senior Ukraine opposition politicians and former ministers were brimming with frustration. They’d been imploring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with them — something he’d not done since his landslide election nearly two years before. They’d also been urging … Read more

UK to train Ukrainian pilots as ‘first step’ toward sending fighter jets

UK to train Ukrainian pilots as ‘first step’ toward sending fighter jets

[ad_1] Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. WAREHAM, Dorset — Ukrainian fighter pilots will soon be trained in Britain — but Kyiv will have to wait a little longer for the modern combat jets it craves. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the U.K. Wednesday with a firm British commitment to … Read more

As Kyiv steels for offensive, Russia launches missile raids and builds up troops near Kupyansk

As Kyiv steels for offensive, Russia launches missile raids and builds up troops near Kupyansk

[ad_1] Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. KYIV — Russia has launched extensive missile raids across Ukraine and is building up troops near the northeastern city of Kupyansk to test Ukrainian defenses, just as Kyiv is warning that Moscow is gearing up to launch a new offensive. Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, commander … Read more

Can Putin win?

Can Putin win?

[ad_1] “I am wicked and scary with claws and teeth,” Vladimir Putin reportedly warned David Cameron when the then-British prime minister pressed him about the use of chemical weapons by Russia’s ally in Syria, Bashar al-Assad, and discussed how far Russia was prepared to go. According to Cameron’s top foreign policy adviser John Casson — cited … Read more

Heads roll in Ukraine graft purge, but defense chief Reznikov rejects rumors he’s out

Heads roll in Ukraine graft purge, but defense chief Reznikov rejects rumors he’s out

[ad_1] KYIV — Heads are rolling in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s expanding purge against corruption in Ukraine, but Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov is denying rumors that he’s destined for the exit — a move that would be viewed as a considerable setback for Kyiv in the middle of its war with Russia. Two weeks ago, Ukraine … Read more