Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Kremlin is ready to resolve the current tensions over Ukraine through “diplomatic solutions,” but warned the West that his nation’s interests are “non-negotiable.” “The interests of Russia, the security of our citizens, are non-negotiable for us,” Putin said in a video address to mark the …

Belgian authorities are bracing themselves to prevent a massive convoy of cars, campervans and trucks protesting COVID-19 regulations from making their way to Brussels. According to Press TV, the vehicles, taking part in a Canada-style protest convoy, are set to enter Brussels Monday where local officials have already banned a …

Ukraine may give up its ambition of joining the US-led NATO alliance in a bid to avert “war”, the country’s envoy to Britain has suggested, noting that Kiev is willing to be “flexible” on the issue. In a BBC interview Sunday, on being asked whether Kiev would be willing to …

Russia’s foreign ministry repeats Moscow’s call for the illegal Zionist entity to stop its incessant attacks on Syrian soil, underlining the geopolitical and security repercussions of the operations. “Israel’s continuing strikes against targets inside Syria cause deep concern. They are a crude violation of Syria’s sovereignty,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said …

Turkmenistan will hold snap elections next month after President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov announced he is ready to relinquish power to younger people. “The president … gave us an instruction to prepare for early presidential elections on March 12,” Bezergen Garrayev, a Spokesman for the Election Commission, told AFP. The country’s parliament …

The US and some of its allies have called on their citizens to leave Ukraine, raising the alarm about an imminent invasion by Russia despite Moscow’s denials and Kiev’s warnings that the West’s unnecessary scaremongering is wreaking havoc on its economy. The White House claimed that Russia could invade Ukraine before …

Russia’s Foreign Ministry calls disrespectful and lacking in substance, a joint response by the Western military alliance of NATO and the European Union to its security demands. According to a statement issued by the ministry on Friday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had asked all member nations of the two blocs …

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a Russian invasion against Ukraine “could begin at any time.” Moscow has rejected the allegation that it is preparing to invade the neighboring country. “Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian …

The European Union threatened “massive” economic sanctions if Moscow attacks Ukraine, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rallied allies on Thursday ahead of last-ditch crisis talks with Russia aimed at preventing war. Western countries are seeking to present a united diplomatic front before Blinken meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei …

Ukraine said Sunday that Russia was behind a cyberattack that defaced its government websites and alleged that Russia is engaged in an increasing “hybrid war” against its neighbor. The statement from the Ministry of Digital Development came a day after Microsoft said dozens of computer systems at an unspecified number …

A massive cyber attack warning Ukrainians to “be afraid and expect the worst” hit government websites late on Thursday, leaving some websites inaccessible on Friday morning and prompting Kyiv to open an investigation. Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters it was too early to say who could be behind the …

Europe is nearer war than it has been in 30 years, Poland’s foreign minister warned during the third round of diplomacy this week aimed at defusing tensions over Russia’s demand that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO. Addressing envoys from the 57 members of the Organization for Security and …

The Kremlin on Thursday gave a bleak assessment of Russia’s security talks with the United States and NATO this week, describing them as “unsuccessful” and saying there was disagreement on fundamental issues. The Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said Moscow viewed a sweeping sanctions bill unveiled by U.S. Senate Democrats …

Protests against COVID-19 vaccine requirements have gathered momentum across western Europe with large demonstrations taking place in France, Denmark, Germany, and Austria, among other countries. More than 100,000 protesters took part in rallies in France to decry controversial government plans to restrict the rights of the unvaccinated and to denounce recent …

France’s parliament has approved President Emmanuel Macron’s plans for a “vaccine pass” to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus after three days of tumultuous debates, which were sparked by Macron’s comment that he wants to “annoy” the unvaccinated. The bill passed on Thursday in the …

At least 18 Kazakh police have reportedly been killed and more than 740 others injured as authorities in the ex-Soviet country try to quell unrest triggered by a sharp rise in fuel prices. The ongoing unrest is far from over, even after protests resulted in the resignation of the government. …

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev says he will act as tough as possible on those who broke the law by staging “massive attacks” on security forces during the ongoing protests prompted by a sharp rise in fuel prices. According to Press TV, in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, …

Russia has reacted to the ongoing unrest in Kazakhstan, warning against any outside interference into the internal affairs of the Central Asian nation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Kazakhstan could solve its own problems and it was important that no one interfered from the outside. He also urged “dialogue” …

Clashes between protesters and security forces have left dozens killed in Kazakhstan’s biggest city, Almaty, as nationwide protests continue over fuel price hikes in the oil-rich Central Asian country. Police spokesman Saltanat Azirbek said on Thursday that tens of rioters had been “eliminated” overnight in Kazakhstan’s financial capital as they …

Thousands of people in the capital of the Netherlands defied a ban and gathered Sunday for a demonstration against the Dutch government’s coronavirus lockdown measures before police pushed the crowd off an Amsterdam square. The local government had outlawed the protest, saying police had indications some demonstrators might be planning …