On Friday the leaders of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping spoke on the phone about the current situation in Ukraine. The two versions of official news agencies follow. The Russian version said the two leaders enhanced practical bilateral cooperation and closely coordinate actions in support of each other.
The United States military sources have warned Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was about to capitulate any time as Russian forces marched onto the country for allegedly refusing to recognize the independence of the eastern rogue provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk.
The escalation of the conflict between Russia and the West regarding Ukraine and two self-declared independent provinces, with military support from Moscow, has exposed different reactions in Latin America, as well as President Vladimir Putin's influence in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Thursday announced the end of the Ukraine-Russia diplomatic relations. He also confirmed 40 soldiers and 10 civilians had been killed during Russia's multi-front “treacherous” onslaught.
By Gwynne Dyer - On January 18 US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that “our assessment has been that (a Russian invasion of Ukraine) could happen any time between mid-January and mid-February”.
The United States Embassy in Kiev has confirmed the arrival of military supplies sent by Washington to the Ukrainian capital while preparations were also under way to leave the diplomatic mission at the earliest, in case military tensions with Russia escalate.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Friday met in Geneva to discuss the escalating military tensions in Europe, particularly about a possible invasion of Ukraine.
By Gwynne Dyer (*) – After a week of intense discussions about “security” between Russia and the NATO countries, this is the week when the Western allies will send their written replies to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Various pundits, some of whom have actually been to Russia, warn us that there will be “War in Europe” if Putin's demands are not met.
High-ranking officials from the United States and Russia are to meet in Geneva on Jan. 10 for talks regarding tensions over Ukraine, it was announced. Russia and NATO were also likely to convene on Jan. 12 in Brussels with a broader meeting set for Jan. 13 involving the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which includes the US and its NATO allies, as well as Russia, Ukraine, and other ex-Soviet states.
United States President Joseph Biden Monday called on his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin to step back from provocative actions during a news conference at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.