russia
It was -3 degrees in Munich over the weekend and, inside the 51st Security Conference, there was an unmistakable cold war chill. For three days the Bayerischer Hof hotel was a security and diplomatic lockdown as western leaders clashed with Russian counterparts over the way into – and out of – the Ukraine crisis. Delegates arrived in glum agreement over the risks posed by the conflict, and departed after heated disagreements over whether military might or diplomatic skill could save the day.
Ukrainians are documenting the conflict with Russia online. NPR's Scott Simon talks with the Wall Street Journal's Paul Sonne about how once-lighthearted websites have become grim logs of destruction.
Some European leaders are in a full court press to oppose Washington’s potential plan to give lethal aid to the Ukrainian military. The problem is, there has been no decision in Washington, and the Europeans may be fighting against a plan that U.S. President Barack Obama will never approve anyway.
The president’s 2015 National Security Strategy, released Friday, promised Americans the administration will confront a myriad of security and social threats with a strong focus on diplomacy and an aversion to meddling too much in developing events.
Three major countries that have been a thorn in the side of the United States are going to see diminishing influence over the coming years because of declining oil prices.
The leaders of France and Germany were carrying a new peace initiative to the Ukrainian and Russian capitals Thursday, amid a flurry of high-level diplomacy to end what French President Francois Hollande called a war on Europe's edge.
Andy Lack, the new CEO of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees U.S. international agencies such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, has identified Russia’s propaganda offensive as one of his job’s major challenges, along with the rise of ISIS on social media and Boko Haram. “We are facing a number of challenges from entities like Russia Today which is out there pushing a point of view, the Islamic State in the Middle East and groups like Boko Haram, “ Lack said.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has terminated the activities of the Russian organization Gorchakov Fund for Support of Public Diplomacy, which was conducting open, anti-Ukrainian propaganda among Ukrainian students, an adviser to the SBU chief, Markiyan Lubkivsky, has said.