Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexey Reznikov has said he is feeling “cautiously optimistic” following talks with key US government figures, led by President Joe Biden, in the Polish capital, Warsaw, on Saturday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also joined the meeting, along with Kiev’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba. Speaking afterwards …
Read More »Polish, Swiss sports officials announce Russia boycott plans
Athletes from Poland and Switzerland will boycott the International Swimming Federation (FINA) 2022 World Championships if Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate, claiming that competing against the two countries is inconceivable because of the attack on Ukraine. FINA is one of a diminishing number of sporting organizations not to have announced sanctions …
Read More »Officials push Nobel Committee to change procedure for Zelensky
36 former and incumbent EU officials, including deputies and ministers, have asked the Nobel Committee to extend the nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize until the end of March so that they can nominate the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, giving him a chance to receive the award for …
Read More »EU foreign policy chief mocked for Russian officials shopping threat
Russians who undermine Ukrainian sovereignty won’t be able to shop in Milan, party in Saint-Tropez or purchase diamonds in Antwerp, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted on Tuesday. The post was deleted hours later, as it sparked mockery from its intended audience and raised eyebrows in Europe. The …
Read More »Putin set to address security officials – Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak with his country’s top security officials as part of a meeting on Monday, the Kremlin has confirmed, amid a worsening standoff across the border with Ukraine. Speaking to journalists moments before the meeting was due to start, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov shed light …
Read More »Putin summons top officials to Kremlin amid war fears
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with his ministers of defense and foreign affairs on Monday, the Kremlin has announced, without revealing the agenda for the talks. Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov shared the timing of the appointment with journalists earlier the same day, adding that “we will show you the meetings, …
Read More »US Olympic officials lash out after Valieva verdict
American Olympic officials have reacted angrily to the news that Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete at the Beijing Games, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) refused to suspend the teenager in her doping case. After a late-night emergency hearing in Beijing, CAS announced …
Read More »Valieva trains in Beijing as officials respond to ‘doping speculation’
Kamila Valieva took to the ice in Beijing for training on Thursday as Russian and Olympic officials refused to comment on speculation that the 15-year-old figure skating star had failed a doping test. Valieva was seen going through her routine at a practice rink in the Chinese capital alongside teammate Alexandra …
Read More »US officials make Russian blood claim – Reuters
Citing “three US officials,” Reuters has reported that Russia is allegedly moving blood supplies and other medical materials closer to its frontier with Ukraine. The anonymous individuals cited by the agency have claimed that this was one of the “concrete indicators” showing whether Moscow is poised to launch an invasion. “The disclosure of …
Read More »Xi did not ask Putin ‘not to invade Ukraine’ during Olympics – Chinese officials
Chinese diplomats in Russia have said that their country’s position on Ukraine is consistent and clear and dismissed a US media claim that Xi Jinping may have made a special request to Vladimir Putin ahead of the Winter Olympics, according to a report. An anonymous diplomat in Beijing said it is “possible” …
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