Month: February 2024

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The prime ministers of Hungary and Sweden concluded a defense industry agreement Friday that will expand Budapest’s fleet of Swedish-built fighter jets, paving the way for Hungary’s likely ratification of Sweden’s long-delayed NATO bid. The meeting in Budapest between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, came after months …

Read more “Hungary Buys Swedish Jets, Prepares to Approve Sweden’s NATO Bid”

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced 500 new sanctions on Russia as the world marks two years since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Biden said the sanctions will target Russia’s “war machine,” including weapons procurement, and will also target individuals involved in the imprisonment and death of prominent Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny …

Read more “Biden Announces 500 New Sanctions on Russia”

London — U.S. and European Union sanctions announced Friday on hundreds of people and companies for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine included several companies from China. While most sanctions were against Russians and Russian firms, the U.S. and EU measures also included Chinese individuals and companies based in mainland China cities as well as Hong Kong …

Read more “Chinese Companies Hit by US, EU Sanctions on Russia”

Once a defender on the soccer field, Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Vashchuk now defends his country. Vashchuk joined the National Guard of Ukraine in May 2022. Since then, he has worked as a soldier and paramedic. Anna Kosstutschenko reports. …

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washington — U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday announced a significant sanctions escalation against Russia, targeting its financial system and military infrastructure with over 500 new penalties, marking the largest tranche of sanctions since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. The measure was announced ahead of the invasion’s anniversary on Saturday and followed the …

Read more “Biden Slaps 500 New Sanctions on Russia over War, Navalny Death”

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madrid, spain — A right-wing Spanish politician who was shot in November in Madrid on Friday accused Iran of being behind his attempted murder during his first public appearance since the attack. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a founder of Spain’s far-right Vox party and former head of its center-right People’s Party in Catalonia who has long supported Iran’s …

Read more “Spanish Politician Shot in Madrid Blames Iran”

Ukraine’s economy shrank 29% in 2022, the year Russia launched its full-scale invasion. In addition, Ukrainian businesses were destroyed, exports were halted and millions of people were displaced. But in 2023, Ukranian officials’ say, the economy actually grew 5%. Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze reports from Kyiv. …

STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s Security Service office was evacuated Friday after a suspected gas leak that saw seven people treated at a hospital, authorities said, adding that the cause of the incident was unclear.  Images from the scene showed police officers wearing gas masks alongside several ambulances and emergency vehicles as an area around the office of …

Read more “Suspected Gas Leak at Swedish Intel Service Sends 7 to Hospital”

Budapest — Hungary continues to buy billions of dollars of Russian oil and gas annually, despite most other Western nations’ cutting of economic ties with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. Budapest also has sought to strengthen ties with Beijing, bucking Western efforts to reduce dependence on China.  It has led some …

Read more “Hungary Appears to Be Strengthening Ties With Russia, China”

During the two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian Railways became the country’s key means of transportation. With over 22,000 kilometers (13,600 miles) of track, the state-owned network keeps working despite constant damage from shelling. Ukraine’s railways evacuate people from front-line cities, transport world leaders, and move cargo and troops for the Ukrainian army. Lesia …

Read more “Ukrainian Railways Plays Critical Role as Wartime Lifeline”

Entering the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainians say that with intense fighting on the eastern front and daily attacks across the country, they are in dire need of global military and financial support. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress is holding up much needed aid. VOA’s Eastern Europe Bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze reports from Kyiv. …

Read more “Ukrainians Bracing for Prospect of Prolonged War With Russia”

The war introduced new elements into Ukrainian children’s lives, things such as bomb shelters in kindergartens and schools, mine safety lessons and first aid training. From Kyiv, Lesia Bakalets looks at how the war is affecting the country’s youngest citizens. VOA footage by Evgenii Shynkar. …

Foreigners are living in embattled Ukraine, choosing to face the threat of shelling instead of remaining in the relative safety of their home countries. VOA met with citizens of the United States and Denmark to find out why they are staying in Ukraine during the war. Lesia Bakalets has their stories from Kyiv. Camera: Evgenii …

Read more “Some Foreigners Choosing to Live in Ukraine During Wartime”

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Buenos Aires, Argentina — Two years after Russia’s war on Ukraine, the United States is doubling down pressure on the Kremlin by rolling out sanctions on Russia targeting banks and the weapons industry, as described by a senior U.S. official. A day before the U.S. plan to announce new sanctions packages imposed on Moscow, U.S. Secretary …

Read more “US Plans ‘Crushing’ Sanctions on Kremlin 2 Years After Ukraine War”

As the United States is set to announce sanctions against Moscow following Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny’s death, President Joe Biden met with his widow in San Francisco on Thursday. VOA Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington. …

United Nations —  The head of the embattled U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees warned Thursday that it is at a “breaking point,” and its ability to assist millions of Palestinians is “seriously threatened.” “It is with profound regret that I must now inform you that the Agency has reached breaking point, with Israel’s repeated calls …

Read more “UNRWA Chief Says Israeli Pressure, Funding Freeze Threaten Agency”

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While many Western nations have cut economic ties with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Hungary continues to buy billions of dollars of Russian oil and gas. It also has sought to strengthen ties with Beijing, bucking Western efforts to reduce dependence on China. As Henry Ridgwell reports from Budapest, analysts say Hungary’s leader is …

Read more “Why is Hungary Strengthening Ties with Russia and China?”

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