US commanders in Poland see Russian threat as ‘near-term’
As Russia ramps up its offensive in eastern Ukraine, officials with the U.S. command in Eastern Europe say it’s urgent for NATO to be ready for a possible confrontation. VOA’s Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze talked to the U.S….
Ahead of China visit, Putin says he is ready to negotiate on Ukraine war
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready to negotiate on the war in Ukraine, in an interview with Chinese media. Russia has “never refused to negotiate,” Putin was quoted saying, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. It seeks…
UN rights chief, independent experts denounce Georgia’s new ‘foreign agents’ law
The Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence requires media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other nonprofits to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad. It was…
Blinken pledges US support for Ukraine in Kyiv visit
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the United States knows the urgency of the situation in Ukraine, and that Ukrainian forces will be getting the support they need. During a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv,…
Blinken reassures Ukrainians help is on the way
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has taken an unannounced trip to Ukraine to deliver what he called a strong message of reassurance, as Ukrainian forces face fierce attacks by Russia’s military in the east and await new weapons shipments…
Security Council hears of relentless attacks against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine
Lisa Doughten, OCHA’s director of financing and partnerships, said relentless hostilities continue along the border with Russia and on the frontline. Following several waves of attacks, Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, was struck again that day, injuring 15 civilians, she…
Blinken makes unannounced visit to Kyiv as Ukraine faces Russian challenge in east
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for what he called a “crucial package” of aid, as he hosted talks Tuesday in Kyiv with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken arrived in the country hours earlier on an…
With Putin’s reshuffle, is Russia preparing for a long war?
Three experts have told VOA’s Russian Service that the appointment of Andrei Belousov as Russia’s defense minister suggests President Vladimir Putin is preparing his country for a protracted war against Ukraine. Putin reshuffled his government Sunday, tapping Belousov, an economist…
Will US voters continue to care about Ukraine amid Israel-Hamas conflict?
As Russia pushed into northern Ukraine this week, the U.S. presidential race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump remained focused on another foreign policy crisis — the war in Gaza. As VOA’s congressional correspondent, Katherine Gypson, reports,…
US, allies ‘doing everything humanly possible’ to rush weapons to Ukraine
The United States is working hard to rush weapons to Ukraine to fight against a surprise Russian ground offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, the White House said Monday. “We’re doing everything humanly possible, both ourselves and our allies,” White…