The Dispatch

Kremlin pledges legal action over planned EU transfer to Ukraine of interest accrued on frozen assets

The Kremlin on Tuesday called a European Union plan to use interest earned on frozen Russian assets to fund military aid to Ukraine "theft" and said it would take legal…

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Azerbaijan’s president pledges to help French territories secure independence

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over the weekend pledged to help France's overseas territories secure independence, the latest in a series of incidents pitting his ex-Soviet state against Paris over long-running…

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Russia says its jets prevented US bombers violating border over Barents Sea

Russia's Defence Ministry said that Russian warplanes prevented two U.S. strategic bombers from violating the state border over the Barents Sea. After having detected an air target approaching the Russian…

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Russian court jails US reporter Gershkovich for 16 years

A Russian court on Friday found U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich guilty of espionage and jailed him for 16 years, state news agency RIA said, in a case that his employer,…

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Russia says it may deploy nuclear missiles in response to US weapons in Germany

Russia does not rule out new deployments of nuclear missiles in response to the planned U.S. stationing of long-range conventional weapons in Germany, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted…

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NATO command to support Ukraine will be operational in Sept – Stoltenberg

A NATO command to coordinate support for Ukraine will be operational in Germany from September, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday. "We have agreed to establish a command…

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Germany to halve military aid for Ukraine

Germany plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, despite concerns that U.S. support for Kyiv could potentially diminish if Republican candidate Donald Trump returns to the White…

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Belarus to introduce 90 day visa-free regime for 35 European countries

Belarus, traditionally a close ally of Russia, said on Wednesday it would introduce a 90-day visa-free regime for citizens of 35 European countries in a sign Minsk may be keen…

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North Korean official drowned during Moscow visit, say Russian media

A North Korean official visiting Russia whose name matches that of a man cited by the secretive state's media as the leader of a military training contingent has drowned while…

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Russia’s Medvedev says Ukraine joining NATO would mean war

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the accession of Ukraine to NATO would be a declaration of war against Moscow and only "prudence" on behalf of the alliance could prevent…

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Ukraine urges NATO to lift restrictions on targeting Russia

Ukraine urged NATO allies to lift restrictions on its use of long-range weapons against targets in Russia, calling it a potential “game-changer” in its conflict with Moscow. Meanwhile, China condemned…

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NATO members say Ukraine membership is on an ‘irreversible path’

NATO members have pledged their support for an "irreversible path" to future membership for Ukraine, along with increased aid. While a formal timeline for Ukraine's membership was not established at…

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Ukraine will stop Putin, Biden tells NATO in forceful speech

Joe Biden vigorously defended the foreign policy accomplishments of his presidency as he welcomed NATO member states to a summit in Washington on Tuesday, a meeting closely monitored by allies…

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Elite North Korea military trainees visit Russia amid deepening ties

A North Korean elite military training delegation has left for a visit to Russia, the North's state media said on Tuesday, the first military exchange between the two countries since…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy vows retaliation for Russian strike

Ukraine will retaliate after a Russian missile strike killed at least 40 people and damaged a children's hospital in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said during a visit to Warsaw during…

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China, Belarus start joint military drills near Polish border

China and Belarus started joint military exercises on Monday, the Belarusian and Chinese defence ministries said, holding the drills just few miles (km) from the border of NATO-member Poland and…

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Russian daytime attack on Ukraine kills at least 20, hits children’s hospital in Kyiv

Russia launched a barrage of missiles on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in a rare daytime attack on Monday, killing at least 20 people across the country and hitting a…

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Two Russian warships sent on training mission to Asia-Pacific waters

Two corvettes of the Russian navy's Pacific Fleet left the port of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East to carry out training missions in the Asia-Pacific region, the Interfax news agency…

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Hungary’s Orban arrives in Moscow to meet Putin, drawing EU rebukes

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, drawing rebukes from fellow EU leaders and a warning that he did not speak…

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Belarus frees 10 political prisoners but 1,400 remain

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has freed at least 10 political prisoners, rights campaigners said on Thursday, including a veteran opposition figure suffering from cancer. But the rare pardon still leaves…

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Russia says it will respond to Finland giving U.S. access to bases

Russia will respond to Finland's decision to grant the United States access to its military bases, a spokesman for Russia's foreign ministry said. "I can only confirm that Russia will…

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NATO members agree €40 bln financial pledge for Ukraine

NATO allies have agreed to fund military aid for Ukraine with 40 billion euros ($43.05 billion) next year, a Western European diplomat told Reuters on Wednesday, one week before the…

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Polling shows Europeans skeptical Ukraine will win war

While the majority of Ukrainians believe Kyiv will prevail in its war with invading Russian forces, Europeans are more skeptical, a new study by the European Council on Foreign Relations…

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Ukraine not ready to compromise with Russia

Ukraine is not ready to compromise with Russia and give up any territory to end the war, a senior Ukrainian official said when asked about U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's…

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Belarus’ Lukashenko says will release ill opponents from prison

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he was likely to issue an amnesty to some of his jailed political opponents who had taken part in protests against his re-election but…

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Orban visits Kyiv for first time since war

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an outspoken critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, paid a surprise visit to Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Orban, who…

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Ukrainian air base under frequent fire as Russia aims at F-16 arrivals

Explosions reverberated across the pre-dawn sky as Ukrainian air defences fended off a Russian attack on this small city in western Ukraine, home to an important air base and a…

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Ukraine foils plot to overthrow the government

Ukrainian authorities said that a group attempted to mount "provocations" in Kyiv, occupy parliament and "remove from power" the current government, according to the SBU security service. Ukrainian authorities reported…

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Netherlands to start F-16 deliveries to Ukraine soon

The Netherlands will supply Ukraine with the first of 24 promised F-16 fighter jets soon, the outgoing Dutch government said. The necessary permits to deliver the jets to Ukraine have…

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Belarus to reinforce its border with Ukraine after security incident

The border service of Belarus and the country's Ministry of Defence are taking measures to further reinforce the Belarusian border with Ukraine after a security incident, the Belarusian border service…

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Senior Russian diplomat says US must take heed of discussions on nuclear doctrine

A senior Russian diplomat, in an interview published on Thursday, urged the United States to pay attention to discussions under way on possibly altering Moscow's nuclear doctrine to suit changed…

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US, Russia defense chiefs speak as tensions rise over Crimea attack

The U.S. and Russian defense chiefs spoke by telephone on Tuesday in rare communication between the two powers and with tensions rising after Moscow blamed Washington for a deadly Ukraine…

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Sandu says Moldova’s future within European family

Moldova's President Maia Sandu welcomed the start of formal talks to join the EU, stressing that her country's future is within the European family. Moldova applied for EU membership along…

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Moscow Bans 81 EU Media Outlets Including 4 From Malta

Russia said Tuesday it is blocking access to 81 EU media outlets as a "retaliatory measure" after Brussels last month imposed broadcasting bans on several Russian state media. "Counter-restrictions are…

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Russia’s Shoigu and Gerasimov

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu, the former Russian defence minister, and leading Russian general Valery Gerasimov on Tuesday for alleged crimes committed during Russia's invasion…

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Trump handed plan to halt US military aid to Kyiv unless it talks peace with Moscow

Two key advisers to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine - if he wins the presidential election - that involves telling Ukraine…

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Zelenskiy orders purge of state guard after assassination plots

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the new chief of Ukraine's state guard service to clear its ranks of people discrediting it after two of its officers were accused of plotting to…

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Ukraine inches closer to EU dream

The European Union will formally begin Ukrainian accession talks today, rejecting Russia's attempts to force its former Soviet neighbour not to join Western alliances. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to give…

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Kremlin announces Russia is revising its nuclear doctrine

Russia, the world's biggest nuclear power, has started updating its nuclear doctrine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, citing an earlier statement by President Vladimir Putin. "President Putin has…

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UPDATED: EU can avoid Hungary block on Russian asset plan for Ukraine, Borrell says

The European Union has found a way to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to buy arms for Ukraine despite hold-ups from Hungary, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said…

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Orthodox priest, multiple police killed in gunmen attack in Russia’s North Caucasus

Gunmen opened fire at a synagogue, an Orthodox church and a police post in attacks across two cities in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, killing an Orthodox…

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Russian air strike causes more damage to Ukraine’s power grid

KYIV, June 20 (Reuters) - Russia launched a new barrage of missiles and drones at Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday, causing "significant" damage to a thermal power plant…

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Ukrainians better treated than others displaced by war, Council of Europe says

Ukrainians who fled their homes to escape Russia's invasion have received better treatment than those displaced by other ongoing wars and emergencies, Europe's top human rights group said on Thursday,…

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Armenia, Azerbaijan trade barbs after France pledges new arms to Yerevan

Armenia and Azerbaijan, trying to work towards a peace treaty after three decades of conflict, traded fresh barbs after France pledged to supply new arms to Yerevan. The two countries…

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Russia in talks with partners on deployment of long-range weapons

Russia is discussing with its closest partners the issue of deploying long-range weapons, TASS state news agency reported on Wednesday, citing Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Ryabkov told TASS…

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Russia’s Pacific Fleet begins deployment to exercise involving 40 ships

The Pacific Fleet of the Russian navy will hold exercises between 18 and 28 June in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan and the Sea of…

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Russian official says Ukraine pouring troops into contested Kharkiv region

A Russian official said that fighting was gripping parts of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region which Moscow has been trying to seize and added that Ukraine's military was pouring men and…

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EU agrees on start of accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova

European Union ambassadors agreed to formally to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, the Belgian EU presidency said, adding this would take place at intergovernmental conferences on June 25.…

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Ukraine summit strives for consensus, way forward uncertain

Western powers and their allies at a summit in Switzerland denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Sunday, but they failed to persuade major non-aligned states to join their final statement,…

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Putin says Russia will cease fire if Ukraine pulls troops from four regions

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia would cease fire and enter peace talks if Ukraine dropped its NATO ambitions and withdrew its forces from four Ukrainian regions claimed…

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Russia rehearses delivering tactical nuclear weapons with dummy warheads

Russian drills to deploy tactical nuclear weapons for combat involved the special delivery of dummy nuclear warheads to forward storage points and an airfield where they were loaded on to…

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US, Britain, Canada accuse Russia of plot to sway Moldova election

The United States, Britain and Canada accused Russia of carrying out a plot to sway the outcome of the Moldovan presidential election in October and incite protests if a pro-Moscow…

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Russians told to mobilise to inflict ‘maximum harm’ on West in response to sanctions

One of Russia's top security officials called on Thursday for Russians to mobilise to inflict "maximum harm" on Western societies and infrastructure as payback for increasingly tough sanctions being imposed…

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Canada to send 2,000 unarmed rockets, other arms to Ukraine

Canada soon plans to start sending a total of about 2,000 surplus unarmed rockets to Ukraine as well as a selection of other weapons, Defence Minister Bill Blair said on…

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Protests erupt as Armenia nears peace deal with Azerbaijan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that a peace treaty with Azerbaijan was close to completion, but that his country would not accept Baku's demands that it change its constitution.…

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Russian Nuclear Sub, Frigate Operating Off East Coast of the United States

A nuclear Russian submarine carrying guided missiles with a range of 1,000 nautical miles is operating off the East Coast as part of Russian missile drills in the Atlantic.Kazan, a…

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What are tactical nuclear weapons and why is Russia and its ally Belarus holding drills?

Russia and its ally Belarus are carrying out exercises to practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. What are these weapons, how might they be used and what do we…

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