Ukraine

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

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. ...

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

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

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 ...

US Announces $2.5 Billion Military Aid for Ukraine

The United States announced Monday a $2.5 billion security assistance package for Ukraine as Washington races to provide aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump's November election victory has cast doubt on the future of American support for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already ...

Ukrainian FM Calls for the "Elimination of Russian Presence in Syria"

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga urged new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday to expel Russia from the country during an unannounced visit to Damascus. Moscow was one of former president Bashar al-Assad's key backers, intervening to help to turn the tide of Syria's civil war in his favour in 2015. The ex-president's toppling was ...

Moscow Opposes NATO and EU Troop Deployment to Ukraine

Russia is against the deployment of Western peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of any settlement to end the nearly three-year conflict, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said. Talk of the possible stationing of foreign troops in Ukraine to enforce any peace deal is circulating in Western capitals, with French President Emmanuel Macron and ...

Georgia’s New President Sworn in Amid Political Showdown

Georgia inaugurated a ruling party loyalist as president in the midst of a political showdown on Sunday, moments after Tbilisi's outgoing pro-EU leader declared herself the "only legitimate president". The inauguration of former footballer Mikhail Kavelashvili is set to further escalate a months-long political crisis that has seen huge ...

Zelensky Claims That Several North Korean Soldiers Were Killed in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that "several" wounded North Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, as he accused Russia of throwing them into battle with "minimal protection." "Today there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were ...

Russia Accuses France of Excluding Kyiv in Ukraine Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday said France had tried to establish "dialogue" with Moscow on Ukraine but without Kyiv's participation -- a claim that was dismissed by Paris as "intemperate". Western countries have called for a united front in support for Ukraine and have constantly said that no decisions could be taken without ...

Russia Launches Massive Strike On Ukraine's Energy Network On Christmas Day

Russia launched more than 170 missiles and drones at Ukraine's energy system on Wednesday, an ‘inhumane’ attack that Kiev said killed one person and left hundreds of thousands of homes without electricity or heating on Christmas Day. Russian President Vladimir ‘Putin consciously chose Christmas for his attack. What could be more ...

Pope Calls for ‘Arms to Be Silenced’ Across World

Pope Francis called Wednesday for "arms to be silenced" around the world in his Christmas address, appealing for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan as he denounced the "extremely grave" humanitarian situation in Gaza. He used his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and the world") message to the world's 1.4 billion Catholics to call ...

Christians Celebrate Sombre Christmas Under Shadow of Wars

Christians across the world  celebrated Christmas Wednesday, with the mood darkened by wars and a massive Christmas morning attack on Ukraine by Russia and a plane crash in Kazakhstan. With the war in Gaza also showing no signs of ending, Pope Francis was also expected to call for peace in the Middle East during his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ...