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MOSCOW (Reuters) – A senior Russian diplomat said on Friday that talks on security guarantees for Russia cannot take place while NATO instructors and “mercenaries” remain in Ukraine, and while Western arms supplies to the country continue. In an interview with Russian state-owned news agency TASS, Alexander Darchiev, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North …

Russian diplomat says NATO instructors must leave Ukraine before talks can start Read More »

By Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) – To an outsider, it may seem an unlikely time for Ukraine to double down on the battle against corruption, as missiles rain down on cities and citizens fight for their lives. Nonetheless, anti-graft agencies have revived a years-old investigation into an official scheme they say led to electricity customers …

Ukraine’s parallel war on corruption to unlock door to West Read More »

By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The private Russian military company, the Wagner Group, took delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea to help bolster Russian forces in Ukraine, a sign of the group’s expanding role in that conflict, the White House said on Thursday. Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin denied the assertion as “gossip and …

US says Russia’s Wagner Group bought North Korean weapons for Ukraine war Read More »

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -A Belgian judge ruled on Thursday that European lawmaker Eva Kaili will remain in custody for another month as an investigation continues into corruption charges in a graft case involving World Cup host Qatar, Belgian prosecutors said. Kaili, who is Greek, was stripped of her role as European Parliament Vice President over the …

Former European Parliament VP Kaili remains in custody amid corruption investigation Read More »

PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo has asked NATO troops to airlift a former Serb policeman who was detained two weeks ago but could not be transported to another facility because local Serbs demanding his release set up barricades to prevent his transfer. Dejan Pantic was arrested on Dec. 10 for allegedly assaulting serving police officers during …

Kosovo asks NATO to airlift a Serb detainee as tensions rise Read More »

By Kate Abnett and Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Thursday it would hold back all 22 billion euros of EU cohesion funds for Hungary until its government meets conditions related to judiciary independence, academic freedoms, LGBTQI rights and the asylum system. EU institutions had already decided on Dec. 12 to …

EU holds back all of Hungary’s cohesion funds over rights concerns Read More »

By Johan Ahlander STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Talks between Sweden and Turkey are progressing well and Stockholm hopes Ankara will ratify the Nordic country’s NATO application well before an alliance summit in July, Sweden’s foreign minister said on Thursday. Sweden and Finland applied in May to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but …

Sweden’s foreign minister says NATO talks with Turkey progressing well Read More »

By Steve Holland and Pavel Polityuk WASHINGTON/KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the U.S. Congress that aid to his country was an investment in democracy and “not charity” as he invoked battles against the Nazis in World War Two to press for more assistance in the war against Russia. Zelenskiy’s comments on Wednesday come …

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy tells U.S. its support is investment in democracy Read More »

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Ukrainian Americans in Washington saw President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s U.S. visit as a promising sign that displayed strong relations between the countries but also urged more American assistance to defend against the Russian invasion. Dozens of pro-Ukrainian activists gathered near the White House on Wednesday afternoon as Zelenskiy visited Washington …

Ukrainian Americans see Zelenskiy visit as promising sign, urge more U.S. support Read More »