Benghazi, Libya | AFP | Libyan strongman General Khalifa Haftar on Saturday announced a ceasefire in his months-long battle to control the capital Tripoli after calls for a truce from Russia and Turkey. The North African state has seen an escalation of the turmoil that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising killed …
Read More »Russia and Ukraine finalise gas transit deal ahead of NYE deadline
Kiev, Ukraine | AFP | Moscow and Kiev on Monday signed a five-year agreement on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine, after months of difficult talks but just ahead of a looming New Year deadline. The current gas transit deal between the two ex-Soviet countries expires Tuesday and …
Read More »Ukraine rivals to exchange prisoners in controversial swap
Kramatorsk, Ukraine | AFP | Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists in the war-torn east of the country are expected Sunday to swap dozens of prisoners in a frontline operation that stirred controversy in Kiev. As part of the swap, Kiev is expected to hand over to separatists several riot policemen suspected …
Read More »Putin says Trump impeachment based on ‘made-up grounds’
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that the impeachment of Donald Trump was based on “made-up” grounds, adding he did not believe it marked the end of the US president. “It still needs to go through the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority,” Putin …
Read More »Russia to contest doping ban, Putin defiant
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia decided on Thursday to contest its ban from major sporting events over doping violations, as President Vladimir Putin slammed its sidelining as unfair and insisted athletes should be able to compete under the national flag. Russia’s RUSADA anti-doping agency “made a decision not to agree” …
Read More »MH17 calls ‘show ties between Russian officials, rebels’
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | International investigators looking into the downing of flight MH17 over Ukraine released intercepted phone calls on Thursday showing close links between “high-ranking” Russian officials and rebel suspects facing trial over the crash. The probe said the recordings raised questions about the possible involvement of key …
Read More »Russian ‘Trojan horse’ bank stokes unease in Hungary
Budapest, Hungary | AFP | Called “Putin’s Trojan horse” by Hungarian opposition politicians, a small Russian-dominated bank in Budapest has sparked unease ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the capital Wednesday. The International Investment Bank (IIB) officially completed the move of its headquarters to Budapest last month. But concerns …
Read More »C.African ties highlight Russian strategy in Africa: analysts
Bangui, Central African Republic | AFP | The Central African Republic is an important plank in Russia’s strategy of boosting its presence in Africa by offering security for fragile regimes in resource-rich countries, analysts say. President Vladimir Putin last year surprised the West by a string of high-profile moves that …
Read More »Putin talks investments and space in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin signed deals worth over $1.3 billion with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, wrapping up a tour of the Gulf where he also courted investment in Saudi Arabia. A day after inking a major oil cooperation deal with Riyadh, …
Read More »Macron, Putin see chance on Ukraine but clash on Syria
Bormes-les-Mimosas, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron and Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Monday agreed changes in Ukraine had bolstered the chances of peace in its east but clashed on Syria, as the Russian leader made a rare bilateral visit to a key EU power. Macron, who hosted Putin at …
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