Ukraine crisis
Russia blocks Ukrainian Azov Sea ports
Two Ukrainian Azov Sea ports, Berdyansk and Mariupol, are effectively under blockade by Russia as vessels are being barred from leaving and entering, Ukraine’s infrastructure...
In Azov Sea, Putin plays a deadly Ukraine game
When Vladimir Putin opened a new bridge linking Crimea to the rest of Russia across the Azov Sea in May, Russian officials said it was...
Putin defiant on Ukraine crisis despite Trump summit talks threat
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday shrugged off a threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to cancel a meeting with him due to Moscow’s seizure of...
Putin accuses Ukraine leader of plotting naval clash to boost ratings
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of orchestrating a naval “provocation” in the Black Sea at the weekend in order...
Ukraine: no big war
By Gwynne Dyer THE Russian-Ukrainian naval clash in the Black Sea is not going to end up in a world war. Ukraine would love to...
European politicians call for new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
Several senior European politicians on Tuesday raised the possibility of new sanctions against Russia to punish it for capturing three Ukrainian vessels at sea, an...
Ukraine introduces martial law citing threat of Russian invasion
By Andrew Osborn and Natalia Zinets Ukraine on Monday imposed martial law for 30 days in parts of the country most vulnerable to an attack...
Russia ignores West’s protest over Ukrainian ships (Updated)
By Andrew Osborn and Natalia Zinets Russia on Monday ignored Western calls to release three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews it fired on and...
Russia resists Western calls to free captured Ukrainian ships
Russia resisted international calls on Monday to release three Ukrainian naval ships that its border patrols had fired on and seized near Crimea at the...
Russia fires on and seizes Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea
Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea on Sunday after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors, a move...
Russia and Ukraine involved in Black Sea naval standoff
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaking international law on Sunday after Russian border guards tried and failed to stop two Ukrainian armoured artillery...
EU leaders to consider how to improve Russia ties without dropping sanctions
European Union leaders will explore next month the possibility of improving strained ties with Russia in response to growing irritation among some member states over...
Lavrov, Kerry to discuss Ukraine on Tuesday in Sochi, Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss the Ukraine crisis and other global conflicts on Tuesday in Russia’s...
Russia stages huge military parade, Western leaders boycott
By Vladimir Soldatkin, Jack Stubbs and Timothy Heritage Thousands of Russian troops marched across Red Square, tanks rumbled through the streets and jets screamed overhead...
Putin defiant over economy, Ukraine in annual phone-in (Updated)
By Denis Pinchuk and Timothy Heritage President Vladimir Putin tried to reassure Russians over the ailing economy and said Washington wanted “vassals” rather than allies...
Russia starts large-scale military exercises in disputed territories
Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday that large-scale military exercises had started in southern Russia and in disputed territories on Russia’s borders. The exercises involve...
Russian opposition mourns murdered leader Nemtsov (Updated)
By Alexander Winning and Katya Golubkova Thousands of stunned Russians laid flowers and lit candles on Saturday on the bridge where opposition politician Boris Nemtsov...
Sweden says has proof of foreign submarine intrusion in October
By Niklas Pollard Sweden has proof that a small foreign submarine was operating illegally in its waters last month, its top military officer said on...
Russia imposes new import bans in sanctions stand-off
Russia has extended food import bans to Romania, stepping up its response to more biting Western sanctions for its support for separatist rebels in Ukraine,...