The case for stronger Russia sanctions
The Crimea sanctions have had the intended economic effect. Whereas Central and Eastern Europe’s GDP has grown by 3% to 5% per year since 2014, Russia’s has stagnated.
Russia conducts first ship-based hypersonic missile test, TASS reports
Russia successfully test-launched its Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile from a military vessel for the first time early last month, the TASS news agency said on Thursday, citing two military sources. President Vladimir Putin talked up hypersonic missiles in a March 2018 speech, saying they ...
Russian public's trust in Putin falls to six-year low despite high approval rating
The Russian public's trust in President Vladimir Putin fell to its lowest in six years last month, the Levada opinion pollster said on Wednesday, despite the Russian leader's approval rating remaining high. Putin's approval rating dropped sharply following an unpopular move to raise the pension ...
Ukraine to buy more Javelin anti-tank missile systems from U.S.
Ukraine will purchase a second consignment of U.S. Javelin anti-tank missiles and launch units, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Thursday. The United States has been one of Kiev's strongest supporters since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of fighting in Ukraine's eastern ...
Russia to invest $500 mllion in Syrian port and build grain hub, Interfax reports
Russia plans to invest $500 million in the Syrian port of Tartus and build a grain hub there to boost its presence on Middle East markets, Interfax news agency cited Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov as saying on Tuesday. Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, ...
Apple shows annexed Crimea as part of Russia — for Russian users
Apple has started displaying Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, as Russian territory in its Maps and Weather apps — but only for users within Russia. Russia and Ukraine have both been highly sensitive to the way global companies identify Crimea, ...
Under pressure, Apple shows annexed Crimea as Russia on apps
AFP-Jiji U.S. tech giant Apple has complied with Moscow's demands to show Crimea, annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Russian territory on its apps, lawmakers said Wednesday. The Black Sea peninsula and its largest cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol are now displayed as Russian territory on ...
In first sign of better ties, Russia and Ukraine begin long-awaited prisoner swap
Russia and Ukraine on Saturday began a long-awaited prisoner swap in a step that could ease bitter tensions over Moscow's annexation five years ago of the Crimea region. While the unfolding exchange could help build confidence between Moscow and Kyiv — formerly Kiev — and ...
Trump may block $250 million in military aid to Ukraine, officials say
The White House is reviewing whether $250 million in military assistance should be sent to Ukraine in keeping with President Donald Trump's view that U.S. foreign aid must be justified, two senior administration officials said on Thursday. The money is intended for use by Ukraine ...
Five years of international sanctions and Western attempts to isolate Russia have had no effect on the Kremlin's control of Crimea.
Russia has sent "squadrons" of nuclear-capable Tu-22M3 strategic bombers to Crimea in response to the deployment of U.S. Navy Aegis Ashore missile defense installations in Romania, according to a report in Russian state-run media. "The deployment of American missile defense systems in Romania came as ...
Ship in deadly Black Sea blaze was turned away from Russia port over U.S. sanctions
Two ships ablaze in the Black Sea region, leaving at least 10 crew dead, caught fire while transferring fuel midsea after one vessel was barred from using its usual port in southern Russia due to U.S. sanctions risk, two sources told Reuters. The vessels, which ...
