By Yuliia Dysa and Max Hunder KYIV (Reuters) – Russian forces are trying out a new tactic of larger-scale assaults involving several hundred troops, according to Ukraine’s military, as Kyiv girds for a new offensive push from its bigger adversary more than three years into a full-scale war. The change signals a possible break with …
Russia using new mass assault tactics on battlefield, Kyiv says Read More »
By Joshua McElwee VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis, still recovering from double pneumonia, paid a surprise visit on Thursday to Rome’s Regina Coeli, one of Italy’s most overcrowded prisons, to offer well-wishes to inmates ahead of Easter. The 88-year-old pontiff, gradually making more public appearances as he recovers from the biggest health crisis in …
By Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW (Reuters) -Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani told Russian President Vladimir Putin at talks in the Kremlin on Thursday that Syria’s new leader was keen to build ties with Moscow. The assurance from Sheikh Tamim comes as Putin attempts to retain Russia’s use of two military bases in Syria and …
Qatari emir offers encouragement to Putin on prospects for Syria ties Read More »
By Giuseppe Fonte and Gavin Jones ROME (Reuters) -Italy will meet NATO’s 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) target on defence spending this year through a series of accounting changes, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said at a parliamentary hearing on Thursday. Italy’s projected defence budget for 2024 was 1.49% of GDP, according to NATO figures, …
Italy says to meet NATO spending goal this year by accounting changes Read More »
SOFIA (Reuters) – The Bulgarian government, led by Rosen Zhelyazkov, survived a vote of no confidence on Thursday, launched over what the opposition says was its failure to fight against widespread corruption, BTA news agency reported. The no-confidence motion, the second this month, was initiated by the populist MECh party and backed by lawmakers from …
Bulgarian government survives no confidence vote Read More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff was extremely productive but various countries are trying to disrupt dialogue between Moscow and Washington, Putin’s investment envoy said. Putin received Witkoff in the former imperial capital of St. Petersburg on Friday and they spoke for close to …
Russian contacts with Witkoff are very productive, Putin envoy says Read More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Estonia’s adoption of legal amendments allowing the country’s navy to use force against foreign vessels was a provocative action that poses risks to shipping and security in the Baltic Sea. Zakharova said that Russia would react proportionately to instances of aggression against …
Russia says new Estonian legislation threatens Baltic shipping security Read More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The former deputy head of the Russian army’s general staff was sentenced on Thursday to seven years in a penal colony for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. Vadim Shamarin, a lieutenant-general, is one of a string of top officials charged in a series of corruption scandals that have engulfed …
Former top Russian military official gets 7 years in penal colony for taking bribes Read More »
By Miranda Murray and Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) -The German parliament has kept the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus off its guest list for a special sitting on May 8 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, a spokesperson for the legislature said on Thursday. The decision highlights discomfort …
Russian, Belarusian ambassadors not invited to German parliament’s WWII memorial event Read More »
CHISINAU (Reuters) – Moldova’s parliament voted on Thursday to hold parliamentary elections in September, a poll that is expected to be closely fought and could significantly reduce the number of seats held by President Maia Sandu’s pro-Western PAS party. Sandu is seeking to take Moldova into the European Union and move away from Moscow, which …
Moldovan parliament votes to hold elections on September 28 Read More »
