Lavrov, Blinken trade blame for escalating Ukraine tensions
The top Russian and U.S. diplomats, Sergey Lavrov and Antony Blinken, traded sharp words Thursday at an international security conference over Moscow’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine, with each blaming the other’s country for escalating the conflict. Lavrov, the Russian…
Ukraine demands Russia return ‘kidnapped’ children
UNITED NATIONS — Ukraine demanded Wednesday that Russia end what Kyiv called “the largest kidnapping campaign in modern history” and return Ukrainian children forcibly transferred from its territory during the ongoing war. “Ukraine is searching for nearly 20,000 children who…
Blinken: Ukraine must make hard, but necessary, decisions
In his final appearance at NATO headquarters as U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken spoke about Ukraine and what he said are the hard, but necessary, decisions it must make about mobilizing its forces on the front lines to “deal…
Ukraine: UNICEF chief urges greater protection for children ‘caught in this nightmare’
Catherine Russell, head of UN child rights agency, UNICEF, appealed for greater protection efforts by both the international community and the parties to the conflict, and a political solution to end the war. “Children are depending on this Council to…
NATO chief says Russia weaponizing winter in its war in Ukraine
NATO chief Mark Rutte said Tuesday he is confident that whatever military aid allies can supply to Ukraine in the coming months will be provided, as he warned that Russia is again using the onset of winter as a weapon…
Regional analysts suggest caution as Nigeria signs new deals with France
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Political analysts in Nigeria say the country needs to be careful after signing a series of agreements with France during President Bola Tinubu’s three-day visit to the European country last week. Tinubu’s three-day visit to France was…
Amid war, Ukrainian children learn how to fly drones
In Ukraine, a music teacher is teaching children how to fly drones. While it grew out of Russia’s invasion, the teacher says the skills the students learn will serve them well in peacetime as well. Lesia Bakalets reports from Kyiv….
Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says
Most of the world’s airlines are not doing enough to switch to sustainable jet fuel, according to a study by Brussels-based advocacy group Transport and Environment, which also found too little investment by oil producers in the transition. The airline…
West pushes for more Ukraine military aid, not NATO membership
Western leaders are calling for continued military support to Ukraine as it battles Russia’s nearly 3-year invasion but are balking at the Kyiv government immediately joining NATO, the West’s main military alliance, for fear it would drag the allies into…
Biden seeking additional $24B to support Ukraine, replenish US weapons stockpiles
PENTAGON — President Joe Biden has asked Congress for an additional $24 billion to support Ukraine and replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles, two U.S. officials tell VOA, as the administration continued Monday to push out new aid packages from the last…