Page 39 - Russia Ukraine Conflict

EU revisits Western Balkans to win friends, seek more influence

The European Union is in the midst of yet another goodwill trip through the Western Balkans to drum up support for the bloc and to make sure that Europe's historical tinderbox is not about to pick the side of hostile Russia or strategic rival China in the world of geopolitics. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will have a stop during her whirlwind six-nation tour in Serbia on Friday, by far the most important nation in the southern region, and one that has shown scant regard for solidarity in joining EU sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. For years, the 27-nation EU has been caught in two minds over the Western Balkans: seeking to pull them close as allies and hold off foreign interference, yet at the same time, keeping them at arm's length since their weaker economies and political institutions are far from ready to seamlessly integrate into the EU's single market of open trade and Western democratic ideals. The result has been frustration for the Weste

US, allies say no biological weapons in Ukraine; Russia disagrees

The US and its Western allies on Thursday dismissed Russia's claims that banned biological weapons activities are taking place in Ukraine with American support, calling the allegation disinformation and fabrications. Russia's UN ambassador said Moscow will pursue a UN investigation of its allegations that both countries are violating the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons. The dispute came in the third UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine-related issues that Russia has called since Tuesday. This one focused on a 310-page document that Russia circulated to council members this week alleging there is military biological activity in Ukraine with support of the US Defence Department. The document includes an official complaint to the council, allowed under Article VI of the 1972 biological weapons convention, and a draft resolution that would authorize the Security Council to set up a commission to address Russia's claims. Russia's allegation of secret American ...

Russian President Putin rules out using nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday denied having any intentions of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine but described the conflict there as part of alleged efforts by the West to secure its global domination, which he insisted are doomed to fail. Speaking at a conference of international foreign policy experts, Putin said it's pointless for Russia to strike Ukraine with nuclear weapons. We see no need for that, Putin said. There is no point in that, neither political, nor military. Putin said an earlier warning of his readiness to use all means available to protect Russia didn't amount to nuclear saber-rattling but was merely a response to Western statements about their possible use of nuclear weapons. He particularly mentioned Liz Truss saying in August that she would be ready to use nuclear weapons if she became Britain's prime minister, a remark which he said worried the Kremlin. What were we supposed to think? Putin said. We saw that as a coordinated position, an attempt

France's TotalEnergies income hits $6.6 billion despite Russia loss

France's TotalEnergies on Thursday reported third-quarter net income rose to USD 6.6 billion despite losses from pulling out of a venture in Russia, with huge oil and gas company profits raising pressure on European governments to shield people from high energy bills. The company posted adjusted net earnings of USD 9.9 billion but notably took a charge of USD 3.1 billion after it sold a 49 per cent interest in a Siberian natural gas field to Russian energy producer Novatek. Total CEO Patrick Pouyann acknowledged the effect of Russia's war in Ukraine in raising oil and natural gas prices this year, saying the company leveraged its integrated model, particularly LNG (liquefied natural gas), to generate results in line with previous quarters." Europe has increasingly turned to LNG as Russia has slashed natural gas flows amid the war. Total's gas and renewable energy sector posted record operating income of USD 3.6 billion in the third quarter, a USD 1.1 billion increase from the previo

US to send Ukraine additional $275 mn in military aid in war against Russia

The Pentagon is sending Ukraine a new $275 million package of weapons and other aid, in a move to bolster the effort to drive Russian forces out of key areas in the south as the winter closes in, U.S. officials said Thursday. Officials said there are no major new weapons in the U.S. package, which is expected to be announced on Friday. Instead, the U.S. aid is largely aimed at restocking thousands of rounds of ammunition for weapons systems already there, including for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, known as HIMARS, which Ukraine has been successfully using in its counteroffensive against Russia. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of a package not yet made public. The new aid comes as federal officials made public the U.S. government's efforts to ensure that weaponry transferred to Ukraine doesn't end up in the hand of Russian troops, their proxies or other extremist groups. The plan, announced by the State Department on Thursday, notes t

BS Number Wise: Indian deal-making enters the slow lane, shows data

There is less money for companies as buyers slow down transactions amid geopolitical tension and higher capital cost.

Russian Prez Putin claims West seeks global domination by using Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday sought to cast the conflict in Ukraine as part of efforts by the West to secure its global domination. Speaking at a conference of international policy experts, Putin accused the US and its allies of trying to dictate their terms to other nations in a dangerous and bloody domination game. Putin, who sent his troops into Ukraine on February 24, has cast Western support for Ukraine as part of broad efforts by Washington and its allies to enforce what they call a rules-based world order that only foments chaos. The Russian leader warned that he who will sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. Putin claimed that humankind now faces a choice: accumulate a load of problems that will inevitably crush us all or try to find solutions that may not be ideal but working and could make the world more stable and secure. Putin said Russia isn't the enemy of the West but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neo-liberal elites.

EU to tighten gun trade laws as Ukraine war fuels fear of illegal arms

The European Union on Thursday moved to tighten laws governing the trade and transport of guns to help keep illicit firearms out of the hands of criminal gangs amid concerns that the war in Ukraine could increase the spread of illegal weapons. The EU's executive branch, the European Commission, estimates that around 35 million illicit weapons are in hands of civilians across the 27-nation bloc. Around 630,000 firearms are listed as stolen in the EU's security and border database. The commission's crackdown would involve clearer, common procedures for the import, export and transit of firearms and ammunitions. An electronic licensing system would be set up for import and export applications to replace the slower paper-based systems most countries have. Stricter standards would be imposed on the manufacture of alarm and signal weapons, which fire things like blanks or tear gas. Such arms were converted by extremists and used in the bloody 2015 Paris attacks and the killing of staff at

Jaishankar, Lavrov to hold talks in Moscow on Nov 8: Russian ministry

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to Moscow to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on November 8, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday. The proposed visit comes amid a fresh wave of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine following a huge blast in Crimea nearly two weeks ago. "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will have talks with External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar on November 8 in Moscow," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "The ministers will discuss the current state of bilateral relations and the international agenda," she added. There is no comment yet from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the proposed visit of Jaishankar. Since the Ukraine conflict began in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times. In a phone conversation with Zelenskyy on October 4, Modi said

Ukraine battles intensify; Russia eyes space for retaliatory strike

Moscow-appointed authorities have fled the capital of southern Ukraine's Kherson region along with tens of thousands of residents as Ukrainian forces attacked Russia's hold on the city Thursday while fighting also intensified in the country's east. Amid the battles, a senior Russian official warned that Western commercial satellites used for military purposes in support of Ukraine were a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike. Ukraine has pushed ahead with an offensive to reclaim the Kherson region and its capital of the same name, which Russian forces captured during the first days of a war now in its ninth month. More than 70,000 residents from the Kherson city area have evacuated in recent days, the region's Kremlin-installed governor, Vladimir Saldo, said Thursday. Members of the Russia-backed regional administration were included in the evacuation, the deputy governor, Kirill Stremousov said. Monuments to Russian heroes were moved, along with the remains of Grigory Potemki

UN optimistic on Ukraine grain deal; Russia has reservations

A senior UN official said Wednesday he is relatively optimistic the deal for returning Ukrainian grain and Russian grain and fertiliser to world markets will be extended beyond mid-November, but Russia's UN ambassador said Moscow needs to see movement on its own exports first. The deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July has led to more than 8.5 million metric tons of foodstuffs being shipped from three Black Sea ports in Ukraine. But Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia told reporters that Russia needs to see the export of its grain and fertilisers in the world market, which has never happened since the beginning of the deal. The deal has a 120-day limit. U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who has focused on the Ukraine side of the deal, and senior U.N. trade official Rebeca Grynspan, who has focused on the Russian side, were in Moscow earlier this month for talks with Russian officials including on an extension. We are keen to see that renewed promptly, now, Griffi

Ready for talks with Ukraine over claims of drone supplies to Russia: Iran

Rejecting the claims that Russia used Iranian drones against Ukraine, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed Tehran's readiness for talks with Kiev on such allegations.

Russia used around 400 Iranian drones to attack Ukraine: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said that Russia has used nearly 400 Iranian drones against the civilian population of Ukraine

Stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians: US tells Iran

The US called out to Iran to stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians as the war between Kyiv and Moscow escalated in the past few weeks

What is a 'dirty' bomb?

This week Russia wrote to the UN Security Council, saying Ukraine may detonate 'dirty bomb' in its own territory, only to blame Moscow. But what is a 'dirty bomb'?

Zara owner Inditex to transfer Russian business to Lebanese retail

Zara owner Inditex has reached an agreement to sell its Russian business to a Lebanese retail and real estate conglomerate, the Spanish fashion giant said on Tuesday in a statement to the country's competition authorities. The buyer is Daher Group and the potential purchase is pending approval from Russian authorities, Inditex said, without disclosing financial details. Inditex halted its business in Russia on March 5, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine at the end of February. Following other western brands, the fashion retailer closed its 502 shops and stopped online sales. Tuesday's announcement marks the end of Inditex's business in Russia, although the retailer said it would consider returning through a franchise collaboration with Daher if market circumstances changed. The statement to CNMC, the commission that oversees competition in Spain, made no direct reference to the war in Ukraine. The sale agreement includes the transfer of

Russia fires rockets at 40 Ukrainian villages, renews 'dirty bomb' claims

Russia targeted more than 40 villages around Ukraine over the past day, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday, killing at least two people and sustaining the terror that forces people into air raid shelters each night. Russian forces launched five rockets, 30 air strikes and more than 100 multiple-launch rocket system attacks on Ukrainian targets, the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said. The attacks come as fears are growing that Russia, facing setbacks on the battlefield, could try to detonate a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste in an effort to sow terror. Russia's defence minister called his counterparts from India and China to convey Moscow's concern about a purported Ukrainian plan to use such a so-called dirty bomb, repeating an allegation that Ukraine and the West have strongly refuted. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu voiced Moscow's concern about possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb in the calls with his Indian counterpart, Rajna

Russia recruiting Afghan soldiers trained by US to fight in Ukraine: Report

Afghan commandos who had been trained by Allied forces to fight the Taliban are now being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, a media report said

Kremlin: Putin monitors drills of Russia's nuclear forces amid hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday monitored drills of the country's strategic nuclear forces involving multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, the Kremlin said. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the drills were intended to simulate a massive nuclear strike by Russia in retaliation for a nuclear attack on Russia. The exercise comes amid soaring Russia-West tensions over Moscow's actions in Ukraine. The Kremlin said in a statement that all tasks set for the exercise were fulfilled and all the missiles that were test-fired reached their designated targets. Washington has said that Moscow informed it about the drills in advance. The Russian exercise comes amid Moscow's warnings of a purported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device commonly known as a dirty bomb in a false flag attack to blame Russia. Ukraine and its allies strongly reject the allegation.

Nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu that the Ukraine conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side. In telephonic talks, Shoigu briefed Singh on the evolving situation in Ukraine, including his concerns about possible "provocations through use of 'dirty bomb'", the defence ministry said. The conversation took place at the initiative of the Russian defence minister amid escalation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. "Singh reiterated India's position on the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy for an early resolution of the conflict," the ministry said. "He pointed out that the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side as the prospect of the usage of nuclear or radiological weapons goes against the basic tenets of humanity," it said. It said the two ministers also discussed bilateral defence cooperation as well as the deteriorat