Tag - russia

 
 

RUSSIA

Ukrainian soldiers in a trench in the Donetsk region of Ukraine in January
WORLD / Politics
Feb 14, 2024
Short on soldiers, Ukraine debates how to recruit new troops
A potential expansion of the nation’s military draft to replenish the exhausted, battered army has become an emotional, politically charged issue.
A sign erected in Hokkaido’s port of Nemuro calls for the return of the Russian-occupied islands that Japan calls the Northern Territories.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 13, 2024
Geopolitical chess: Unpacking the Northern Territories conundrum
While domestic motivation for Tokyo to resolve the Northern Territories dispute may endure, the opposite is true in Moscow.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally on Saturday. Many were alarmed by Trump’s comments that he would "encourage” Russia to attack U.S. allies that didn’t pay into NATO, but European leaders were already pondering the prospect of an alliance without the U.S.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 13, 2024
Once-bitten Europe is better prepared for Trump’s NATO tirades
The EU is quietly preparing an impact assessment of the November U.S. election — particularly the scenario in which Trump wins.
Human rights activists hold placards during a demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in Kathmandu on Feb. 5. Nepali mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, lured to kill far from their Himalayan homeland by promises of a passport and cash, but wounded returnees warn anyone tempted to join the war: "Do not come."
WORLD / Politics
Feb 12, 2024
'There to die': Nepali mercenaries fight for Russia in Ukraine
While Nepali soldiers-for-hire can earn nearly double what they make at home, conditions are brutal and many are killed or wounded.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with then-Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi prior to their meeting in Kyiv in September.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 12, 2024
Japan may ease Ukraine travel restrictions
Ukraine is under Tokyo's strictest travel advisory, which urges all Japanese citizens to evacuate and avoid all travel there.
Local residents use a Starlink terminal in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Jan. 31, 2023.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 12, 2024
Ukraine says Russia uses Musk’s Starlink terminals at front
Intercepted conversations between Russian troops indicate they had Starlink devices installed for internet access.
U.S. television host Tucker Carlson interviews Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in on Feb. 6. Carlson was criticized for failing to challenge the Russian leader on much of what he said.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 11, 2024
Putin interview showed why he really invaded Ukraine
Tucker Carlson lobbed questions to help the Russian president serve up his usual string of half-truths and outright falsehoods about the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives an interview to U.S. talk show host Tucker Carlson at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday.
WORLD
Feb 10, 2024
Putin to U.S.: Let’s make a deal on Ukraine (on my terms)
The message seemed aimed at the American right and Republicans in Congress, with an eye to undermining support for aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy takes a video in front of a road sign with the words "Avdiivka this is Ukraine" as he visits in the front-line town of Avdiivka Donets region, Ukraine, on Dec. 29.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 9, 2024
Zelenskyy’s ugly fight with top general exposes split in Ukraine
The Ukrainian president's public fallout with commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi has come at the worst possible time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with U.S. television host Tucker Carlson in Moscow on Tuesday. This is the first time the Russian leader has given an interview to a Western media figure since he ordered the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 9, 2024
Vladimir Putin takes hard line on Ukraine in Tucker Carlson interview
Russian president said he would consider negotiations if the U.S. stops supplying weapons to Kyiv.
U.S. Senators raced on Thursday to revive a sweeping emergency national security aid bill for Ukraine and Israel that has stalled yet again on Capitol Hill amid Republican resistance.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 9, 2024
U.S. Senate votes to start work on Ukraine aid in shock turnaround
The procedural vote to at least consider the bill marked a stunning about-face by Senate Republicans.
Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces
WORLD / Politics
Feb 9, 2024
Ukrainian commander who defended Kyiv early in war takes top job
Oleksandr Syrskyi succeeds Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, who was replaced following speculation about a rift with the president.
Since 2006, North Korea has been subject to sanctions, which the U.N. Security Council has repeatedly strengthened to try and cut off funding for its weapons of mass destruction development.
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 8, 2024
U.N. experts investigate cyberattacks worth $3 billion by North Korea
Monitors wrote that the funds reportedly help the country's development of weapons of mass destruction.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addresses a government-sponsored rally in Tokyo campaigning for the return of the Russian-held islands to Japan, an event held to coincide with Northern Territories Day in Japan, on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Feb 7, 2024
Kishida vows to conclude peace pact with Russia
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday vowed to conclude a peace treaty with Russia after resolving a territorial row over four northwestern Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan.
Today’s Russia is nothing like the citadel of stability and satisfaction nor the bastion of prosperity that the Kremlin tries to claim it is.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 7, 2024
Preparing Russia for permanent war
Today’s Russia is nothing like the citadel of stability and satisfaction nor the bastion of prosperity that the Kremlin claims it to be.
Ukrainian Railway trains at the central railway station of Kyiv on Sunday
JAPAN
Feb 7, 2024
Ukrainian Railways to buy rails from Nippon Steel
Nippon Steel plans to deliver about 15,000 metric tons of rails in summer and 7,500 metric tons next year.
U.S. President Joe Biden sought to cast responsibility for the failure to secure an agreement on the border — an issue which polls show is a major political liability for his re-election hopes — on congressional Republicans and Donald Trump.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 7, 2024
Biden pins border bill failure on Trump with Ukraine hanging
Biden acknowledged the Senate package was all but dead.
Cars and homes destroyed by a Russian missile that fell between a residential building and a public preschool in Kyiv on Dec. 13, 2023. In January, the White House said it had evidence that North Korea had provided ballistic missiles used by Russia.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 6, 2024
A Russian bank account may offer clues to North Korean arms deal
Russia has allowed the release of $9 million in frozen North Korean assets from a Russian financial institution, according to intelligence officials.
U.S. and U.K. military aircraft have carried out over a hundred bombing missions on Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, as well as against Tehran's proxies in Iraq and Syria, since last month.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 6, 2024
2024 looks to be a very bloody year
Preventing a conflagration and wider wars depends first on preventing regional crises from escalating, which demands a strong deterrent posture.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits a frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 5, 2024
Zelenskyy hints at major shake-up of Ukraine’s government
The Ukrainian president said that a broad overhaul of Ukraine’s military and civilian leadership was needed to reboot the country’s war effort.

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Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?