Ukraine looks back with regret at 1994 deal requiring it to give up nukes
This month marks 30 years since Ukraine signed an agreement to give up its nuclear arsenal, the world’s third largest at the time. With Russia’sчитати
On its 30th anniversary, Ukraine calls 1994 Budapest Memorandum ‘a monument to short-sightedness’
WASHINGTON — Thirty years ago, leaders of the United States, Britain Russia and Ukraine met in Budapest, Hungary, and signed a memorandum that provided security assurancesчитати
Azerbaijan denounces diplomatic criticism of human rights
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry denounced on Wednesday criticism by Western ambassadors of the country’s human rights record, saying the diplomats’ comments amounted to interference in itsчитати
Ukraine demands Russia return ‘kidnapped’ children
UNITED NATIONS — Ukraine demanded Wednesday that Russia end what Kyiv called “the largest kidnapping campaign in modern history” and return Ukrainian children forcibly transferred fromчитати
From VOA Russian: Experts address strategic context of situation in Kursk region
An operation by Ukraine launched on August 6 captured dozens of towns and villages and gained control of about 1,000 square kilometers in Russia’s Kurskчитати
From VOA Russian: How sanctions could affect China’s support for Russia
The U.S. and EU are urging Beijing to stop supporting Russia’s war machine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited China on Monday, asking China toчитати
Blinken: Ukraine must make hard, but necessary, decisions
In his final appearance at NATO headquarters as U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken spoke about Ukraine and what he said are the hard, butчитати
Notre Dame reopens amid French political turmoil
PARIS — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Jill Biden are among global dignitaries expected in Paris Saturday as the city’s iconic Notre Dameчитати
NATO chief says Russia weaponizing winter in its war in Ukraine
NATO chief Mark Rutte said Tuesday he is confident that whatever military aid allies can supply to Ukraine in the coming months will be provided,читати
German firms’ China market sentiment falls to record low, survey shows
Beijing — Business sentiment among German companies in China is at an all-time low, a German business lobby group said on Wednesday, as they face risingчитати
UN seeks $47 billion in aid as donor appetite shrinks while crises multiply
GENEVA — The United Nations on Wednesday sought $47 billion in aid for 2025 to help around 190 million people fleeing conflict and battling starvation, atчитати
French no-confidence vote could topple prime minister’s government
The government of France faces a no-confidence vote Wednesday, a move that could topple the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Analysts predict French lawmakersчитати
Regional analysts suggest caution as Nigeria signs new deals with France
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Political analysts in Nigeria say the country needs to be careful after signing a series of agreements with France during President Bola Tinubu’sчитати
Amid war, Ukrainian children learn how to fly drones
In Ukraine, a music teacher is teaching children how to fly drones. While it grew out of Russia’s invasion, the teacher says the skills theчитати
Spain to offer visas to 900,000 undocumented migrants amid surge
LONDON/LAS PALMAS, SPAIN — Record numbers of migrants arrived on Spain’s Canary Islands from West Africa this year, according to newly released government figures. Some 41,425читати
Romanian hard-right says it wants to be part of new government
BUCHAREST — Romania’s hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) party wants to be part of a coalition government, its leader said on Tuesday, as the nationчитати
As sabotage allegations swirl, NATO struggles to secure the Baltic Sea
TURKU, Finland — On Nov. 18, hours after two communication cables were severed in the Baltic Sea, 30 NATO vessels and 4,000 military staff took toчитати
Ukraine support in focus as NATO foreign ministers meet
NATO foreign ministers open two days of talks Tuesday in Brussels with support for Ukraine high on the agenda as the country fights to defendчитати
Biden seeking additional $24B to support Ukraine, replenish US weapons stockpiles
PENTAGON — President Joe Biden has asked Congress for an additional $24 billion to support Ukraine and replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles, two U.S. officials tell VOA,читати
Despite leader’s death, Russian Wagner mercenaries still fight abroad
Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group remains active, even after the death of its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in August of 2023. Russian experts say the group hasчитати
German FM urges China to stop backing Russia, work for Ukraine peace
Beijing — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday warned her Chinese counterpart that Beijing’s support for Moscow would impact ties and instead urged China toчитати
Chief of ICC lashes out at US and Russia over threats, accusations
The Hague, Netherlands — The president of the International Criminal Court lashed out at the United States and Russia for interfering with its investigations, calling attacksчитати
Germany announces Ukraine military aid as chancellor makes Kyiv visit
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged $680 million in military aid for Ukraine as he pledged support for the country during a visit Monday to Kyiv.читати
Romanian leftists win parliamentary election amid uncertainty over presidency
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romanian centrist and leftist parties looked to have fended off a surge by the nationalist right in Sunday’s parliamentary election, as attention turnedчитати
Nine Volkswagen plants to strike as labor battle escalates
BERLIN — Workers at nine Volkswagen car and component plants across Germany will strike for several hours on Monday, IG Metall union said, bringing assembly linesчитати
Art collection on 1930s Soviet-engineered famine gifted to Ukraine
The late American businessman Morgan Williams was deeply involved in promoting Ukrainian business as president of the US-Ukraine Business Council. During his time in Ukraine,читати
Romanian leftists ahead of resurgent far right in election
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s ruling leftist Social Democrats (PSD) looked set to win the most votes in a parliamentary election on Sunday, fending off a resurgentчитати
Landmark climate change case to open at top UN court
The Hague — The top United Nations court will take up the largest case in its history Monday, when it opens two weeks of hearings intoчитати
US will not return nuclear weapons to Ukraine
The United States is not considering returning to Ukraine the nuclear weapons it gave up after the Soviet Union collapsed, White House national security adviserчитати
Putin approves record Russian defense spending
KYIV, UKRAINE — Russian President Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war inчитати
Berlin’s traditional Christmas markets reflect city’s growing diversity
BERLIN — The smells of mulled wine, roasted almonds and hot bratwurst are wafting through the air across the German capital again, as the city’s moreчитати
France accuses countries of ‘obstruction’ at plastic talks
BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA — France on Sunday accused a handful of countries of obstructing negotiations in South Korea to reach the world’s first treaty to curbчитати
President-elect Trump has sought Orban’s take on Ukraine war, sources say
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has held multiple phone conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban since winning the November 5 presidential election, according to sourcesчитати
Trump threatens BRICS nations with 100% tariff if they replace US dollar
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA — President-elect Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs Saturday against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. читати
Polish leader visits defensive fortifications on border with Russia
DABROWKA, POLAND — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk traveled Saturday to his country’s border with the Russian region of Kaliningrad to inspect progress in the constructionчитати
Ukraine says war has damaged most of its civilian airports
KYIV, UKRAINE — Fifteen of Ukraine’s civilian airports have been damaged since Russia invaded the country in February 2022, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was quotedчитати