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US and UK Unveil Widespread Sanctions Against Russia's Energy Sector

This is Beirut, 10/01 18:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Sanctions United States Russia Gazprom Surgutneftegas

The United States and Britain on Friday announced sanctions against Russia's energy sector, including oil giant Gazprom Neft, just days before outgoing President Joe Biden leaves office. The US Treasury Department said it was designating more than 180 ships and Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, fulfilling "the G7 ...

Trump Confirms Plans for Meeting with Putin Ahead of Inauguration

This is Beirut, 10/01 10:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine russia Putin

US President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin wanted to meet and that a rendezvous between the pair was being arranged. He made the statement just a week and a half before taking office, following promises during his campaign to bring peace to Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion since February ...

Macron: Iran 'Main Strategic and Security Challenge' in Middle East

This is Beirut, 06/01 16:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron France Ukraine Russia Germany Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said Iran was the main strategic and security challenge in the Middle East, citing the acceleration of its nuclear programme and support for Russia's war against Ukraine. "Iran is the main strategic and security challenge for France, the Europeans, the entire region and beyond," Macron said in a speech ...

Russia Vows Response After Downing ATACMS Missiles Targeting Belgorod

This is Beirut, 04/01 15:33 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia United States

Russia vowed on Saturday to retaliate after it accused Ukraine of firing US-supplied ATACMS missiles at the border region of Belgorod the previous day. Outgoing US President Joe Biden authorised Kyiv to use the long-range weapons against Russia last year, in a move the Kremlin denounced as a grave escalation of the nearly three-year ...

Zelensky Hails the End of Russian Gas Transit Through Ukraine

This is Beirut, 01/01 19:41 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russia Ukraine Oil & Gas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday hailed the end of Russian gas transit across his country as a significant "defeat" for Moscow amid its near three-year invasion. Flows of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine stopped on Wednesday morning after Zelensky refused to prolong decades of cooperation that had earned billions of ...

In Moscow, Russians Hope for Peace in 2025 but Avoid Talk of Concessions

This is Beirut, 01/01 13:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russia Ukraine War New Year

Some Russians ushering in the New Year said they wanted the conflict with Ukraine to end in 2025 and for a return of "peace" and "stability". But on the streets of Moscow there was no mention of Russia withdrawing its troops or giving up territory seized during the nearly three-year offensive. "Of course, we would like the country to finally end ...

Zelensky Vows to Fight on "Battlefield" and "Negotiating Table" in 2025

This is Beirut, 01/01 10:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Zelensky Ukraine Putin Russia

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday vowed that his country would use 2025 to fight for an end to Russia's nearly three-year-long invasion by any means necessary. The Ukrainian leader's address caps a difficult year for the war-battered country, which has been fending off a better-resourced Russian army for nearly three years. "May ...

US Slaps Sanctions on Iran, Russia Groups over Election Interference

This is Beirut, 2024-12-31 17:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Iran IRGC Russia US Sanctions

The United States unveiled sanctions Tuesday against Iranian and Russian organizations, alleging they had sought to interfere in the US election. The groups targeted are the Cognitive Design Production Center, a subordinate organization of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical ...

Russia Gains Nearly 4,000 Square Kilometres in Ukraine in 2024

This is Beirut, 2024-12-31 14:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia

Russian forces advanced by 3,985 square kilometres (1,539 square miles) in Ukraine in 2024, seven times more than in 2023, according to an AFP analysis of data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Much of the Russian gains came in the autumn, as they took 610 square kilometres in October and 725 square kilometres in November. ...

Russia Pledges to Punish Those Responsible for Azerbaijan Plane Crash

This is Beirut, 2024-12-30 20:09 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Azerbaijan Russia Plane Crash Kazakhstan

Azerbaijan said on Monday that Moscow had promised to punish those responsible for the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that Baku says was shot at by Russian air defences. The AZAL Embraer 190 jet crash-landed in Kazakhstan on December 25, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The incident prompted several airlines to cancel flights to ...

US Announces $5.9 Billion in Military and Budget Aid for Ukraine

This is Beirut, 2024-12-30 19:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Joe Biden United States Ukraine Russia Military Aid

The United States on Monday unveiled almost $6 billion in military and budget aid for Ukraine, as Washington races to provide assistance before Donald Trump takes office next month. The imminent return of Trump, who has repeatedly criticized aid for Ukraine, has cast doubt on American support continuing at similar levels as under outgoing ...

Russia and Ukraine Exchange Over 300 POWs Ahead of New Year's Eve

This is Beirut, 2024-12-30 17:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Russia Ukraine Prisoner Exchange

Russia and Ukraine swapped more than 300 prisoners of war on Monday in an exchange brokered by the United Arab Emirates ahead of New Year's Eve, officials from both countries said. The two sides have exchanged hundreds of captive soldiers since Russia began its military assault on Ukraine in February 2022, in one of the few areas of ...

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