Russia accuses Ukraine of attempted border breach – Al Jazeera

Russia’s military says it has prevented a “diversionary reconnaissance” group from breaching the border from Ukraine.

Ukraine reaffirms desire to join NATO after envoy comments

NATO membership remains an absolute priority for Ukraine, a spokesman for Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as Ukraine’s UK ambassador backtracked on comments that Kyiv was “flexible” on the issue. Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and the European Union remain an absolute priority, a spokesman for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday. The country’s Foreign Ministry took it

China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion

China has joined Russia in opposing further Nato expansion as the two countries move closer together in the face of Western pressure. Moscow and Beijing issued a statement showcasing their agreement on a raft of issues during a visit by Russia’s Vladimir Putin for the Winter Olympics. Mr Putin claims Western powers are using the

Ukraine crisis: Belarus ‘will fight alongside Russia’ if Putin goes to war, says Lukashenko

Belarus will fight alongside Russia if Moscow invades Ukraine, Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday, even as Russia’s top diplomat said that the Kremlin had no intention of going to war. Belarus’ president said that he would welcome “hundreds of thousands” of Russian soldiers into his country if either Belarus or Russia are attacked. “If there

French President Emmanuel Macron hosts meeting on Ukraine crisis including Germany, Russia

The French President on Monday Emmanuel Macron is hosting a meeting between the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia on the conflict in eastern Ukraine in a bid to make progress toward possible solutions.

Russia needs to stop clinging to the idea of reviving the Soviet Union, Ukraine ambassador says

Relations between the Kremlin and its European counterparts hit a low in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Republican Senator Mitt Romney told NBC on Sunday that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to reestablish a “type of Soviet Union.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has made no bones about the fact that he

U.S. is ‘fully prepared’ if Russia invades Ukraine, secretary of state says

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.S. is planning “things that we have not done in the past” if Russia invades Ukraine. His comments follow days of diplomatic talks and a deadlock on resolving the crisis brewing along the Ukraine-Russia border. Russia has 100,000 troops lined up next to Ukraine, with tanks and artillery.

Russia agrees to begin security talks with U.S. at start of year

Russia will enter talks with U.S. negotiators on security guarantees it wants from the West at the start of next year, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, amid concerns over a Russian military build-up near Ukraine’s border. Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of considering a new attack on Ukraine as early as

Putin heads to India with eye on military, energy ties – France24

Russian President Vladimir #Putin will arrive in #India on Monday for just his second overseas trip since the pandemic, seeking to bolster military and energy ties with a traditional ally being courted by #Washington. FRANCE 24’s Chief Foreign Editor Rob Parsons tells us more.

U.S. intelligence finds Russia planning Ukraine offensive

There are signs that the White House and Kremlin are close to arranging a conversation next week between Biden and Putin. President Joe Biden has pledged to make it “very, very difficult” for Russia’s Vladimir Putin to take military action in Ukraine as U.S. intelligence officials determined that Russian planning is underway for a possible