Latest news with #OrganizationforSecurityandCo-operationinEurope
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials back strategic policy tool that could change how governments plan for crises: 'Part of a broader effort to prevent conflict'
A training workshop was held in Uzbekistan to examine potential future environmental policies and projects. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and its Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities collaborated on the training, held April 23-24. Forty government and civil society representatives attended, as the OSCE reported. Countries around the world are catching up to the need for legislative change and planning surrounding environmental concerns. New standards were announced in a U.K. government news release, including investments in environmental projects and a crackdown on greenwashing. In the United States, bans and restrictions are being proposed to protect air quality. At this time, government incentives such as the Inflation Reduction Act are also in place to give tax credits and rebates to individuals who invest in renewable energy — including via electric vehicles, induction stoves, and solar panels. The OSCE's environmental mission is "to strengthen co-operation on environmental issues as part of a broader effort to prevent conflict, build mutual confidence and promote good neighbourly relations." Topics covered ranged from managing hazardous waste to natural disasters to raising awareness for climate-related issues. This regional security organization's meeting involved conversations and even used hands-on exercises to examine strategic environmental assessments, which take real environmental concerns and translate them into potential policies. "[SEA is] a key tool for integrating environmental and social considerations into decision-making processes, enhancing transparency and aligning national planning with global sustainable development goals," the organization said. The workshop was part of a broader endeavor by the OSCE called Strengthening National and Regional Capacities and Co-operation on Strategic Environmental Assessment in Central Asia Phase II. As a new project, its application is sparing at the moment, but according to the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe, it has big, beneficial goals and is already creating awareness. The hope is that training events such as this one inspire conversation and action from lawmakers to do their part in protecting citizens and Earth from environment-related issues. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia's Lavrov says NATO 'should have been dissolved'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed on April 12 that NATO "lost its meaning" after the Soviet Union collapsed and "should have been dissolved," adding that the matter is still relevant today. Speaking at the Antalya Forum in Turkey, Lavrov argued that the end of the Eastern Bloc eliminated the threat NATO was originally created to counter, yet the alliance not only persisted but also allegedly claimed a dominant role in European security. Lavrov, the top diplomat of a country that launched the greatest war in Europe since World War II, called this "a failed strategy," accusing NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) of failing to strengthen security or prevent new conflicts. The statements come amid growing expectations that the Trump administration will proceed with plans to scale back U.S. troop deployments in NATO's eastern flank. U.S. President Donald Trump has long been a critic of the U.S.'s NATO partners, saying he would not defend those who fail to meet defense spending targets, directly challenging the alliance's principle of collective defense. Some members of Trump's circle, including billionaire and advisor Elon Musk, called for the U.S. to exit NATO. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently affirmed Trump's commitment to NATO membership while urging other allies to hike defense spending. "All the 'efforts' of this Euro-Atlantic community are focused on preparing for a new war," Lavrov claimed, blaming Germany, France, and the U.K. for leading what he described as a campaign to remilitarize Europe. Lavrov also repeated Russia's long-standing narrative that NATO violated verbal assurances given to former Soviet leaders in the early 1990s by expanding eastward. "(P)eople have been agreeing on something important without signing contracts — just a word of honor and a handshake," Lavrov said, suggesting such an understanding should have prevented NATO enlargement. No formal agreement ever prohibited NATO from admitting new members. Declassified Western documents confirm that while informal discussions on limiting military presence took place during the 1990 reunification of Germany, no binding promises were made. Read also: 'The security of the world is at stake,' Trump should visit Ukraine, Zelensky says NATO has consistently maintained that membership decisions are made by sovereign countries and the alliance as a whole, not dictated by external powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin has used the narrative of NATO betrayal to justify Moscow's aggression, though NATO has never attacked Russia or threatened its sovereignty. The war in Ukraine began with Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated with the full-scale invasion in 2022 — acts initiated by the Kremlin, not NATO. During U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, Moscow reportedly demanded that the U.S. withdraw NATO forces from Eastern Europe as a condition for "normalizing relations." Tensions between NATO and Russia have risen following Moscow's all-out attack against Ukraine. Western leaders and intelligence agencies have warned of a potential large-scale war between NATO and Moscow within the next five years, citing Russia's increasingly aggressive posture. Speaking to CBS News on April 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Putin's ambitions go beyond Ukraine. "If we do not stand firm, he will advance further," Zelensky said, adding that the threat of a larger war in Europe is "real." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized on Feb. 12 that any attack on alliance members would be met with a "devastating" response. Read also: Russia 'mocking' US ceasefire efforts by attacks on Sumy, Kryvyi Rih, Polish FM says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Guardian
14-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukraine ceasefire: how might an end to fighting be enforced?
Ending a war is seldom straightforward. Even agreeing to a ceasefire comes with complications. Though Ukraine signed up to a 30-day ceasefire proposal after discussions with the US in Jeddah this week, the joint statement between the two does not begin to explain how a halt in fighting might be enforced. 'Monitoring has to begin immediately,' says John Foreman, a former British defence attache to Moscow and Kyiv. 'If there's meant to be a 30-day ceasefire, the big question is whether it is adhered to.' Given Russia has a record of violating ceasefires and peace agreements, a robust process is critical. Recent history in Ukraine underlines the challenge. A dedicated Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission of as many as 1,000 people running dozens of unarmed vehicle patrols a day was responsible for monitoring the end of hostilities in Ukraine's eastern Donbas on both sides of the frontline as part of the Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015. The OSCE, which represents 57 states in Europe, North America and central Asia, was chosen because Russia and Ukraine are both members. But it struggled to keep a lid on tensions, counting 486 civilian casualties and 400,000 ceasefire violations in 2017. Though that dropped to 91 casualties and 93,902 violations in 2021, it was less than two months later that Russia launched its full scale invasion. Samir Puri, an analyst with the Chatham House thinktank and a former OSCE monitor with the Ukraine mission, says the task is much greater now: 'In 2015, the OSCE was largely monitoring a shorter frontline in the Donbas, where the Ukrainian army was mostly facing separatist militias. Now the frontline is far longer, with two full militaries each with significant weapon systems at their disposal.' Modern technology – drones, airborne and satellite reconnaissance – makes ceasefire monitoring easier in 2025. Puri recalls that a decade ago, the OSCE mission had only four drones, which Russia-backed separatists 'would use for target practice now and again'. But while that may reduce the number of observers needed, it does not help with enforcement if a ceasefire is breached. A similar point was even made by the Russian president on Thursday. Who will control the ceasefire, Vladimir Putin asked rhetorically at a press conference in Moscow, when the front is 2,000km (1,243 miles) long? It could require several thousand monitors, able to communicate and deconflict across both sides of the contact line Though European countries, led by the UK and France, have talked about creating a 'reassurance force' to guarantee Ukraine's security in the event of a lasting peace, its organisers are emphatic that they are not troops who will enforce quiet at the front. 'They are not peacekeepers,' one said, describing instead a force that will secure Ukraine's airspace, sea lanes and critical infrastructure. Yet monitoring, Foreman argues, is essential for restraining and building confidence between once warring parties. 'You have to trust – and verify,' he says, adding: 'The problem is that, for Ukraine, ceasefire monitoring has very bad associations because of what happened after the Minsk agreements'. A poorly enforced ceasefire could easily lead to an outbreak of renewed fighting, he says. Given the history, it is probably unlikely that the OSCE will host a repeat monitoring initiative. The 2014 mission ended as a result of Russia's February 2022 invasion and its withdrawal of cooperation shortly after. An alternative might be for monitoring to take place under UN auspices, but that would require Russia to agree to a security council resolution to set it up. Puri wonders if there is another practical possibility, where a demilitarised zone is established on both sides of the current frontline (in Korea, where there has never been a peace agreement after the 1950 to 1953 war, it is 4km wide) and where Russia has its own parallel reassurance force composed of troops from 'broadly friendly countries' such as China, able to communicate with counterparts in Ukraine. Ultimately a lasting peace will only be possible if neither side tries to undermine it with acts of provocation and aggression. Some ceasefires, such as in Korea or Cyprus, have endured because neither side ultimately wanted to restart fullscale fighting. But Russia's hostility to Ukraine has been so great, and many believe Putin's long-term goal of dominating his country's neighbour remains unchanged. Despite that backdrop, it is not yet clear how the ceasefire proposed by the US would even be monitored to prevent or restrain violations. As Foreman concludes: 'There are so many obstacles that need to be dealt with before we can get to peace.'
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
Donald Trump 's administration has taken a Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day truce with Russia to Vladimir Putin for consideration. After months of Mr Trump blaming Ukraine for being the obstacle to peace despite Russia's sole role as the aggressor, Washington says the ball is now in Moscow's court. Ukraine hopes this will show that it has always been Russia that is the one in the way of peace. But even if Mr Putin agrees to a temporary truce, which is a big if, Ukraine and Europe are clear that Russia has a long history of breaking ceasefire agreements. Mr Putin, they say, cannot be trusted, even if Mr Trump believes the Russian leader will respect his requests. Last month, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky handed a document to Mr Trump's Ukraine envoy detailing what he said were the 25 ceasefires Russia has violated since the start of its aggression in 2014. That document was intended to be delivered to Mr Trump. Below, we look at some of those agreements and how exactly these previous ceasefires broke down. The Minsk Agreements After pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in 2014 following the Euromaidan revolution, Mr Putin sent plainclothes Russian soldiers into the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, and then into the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. Fighting quickly broke out as Russia denied involvement. Moscow claimed it was Ukrainian separatist forces. Nonetheless, by September of that year, Ukraine, Russia and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) convened for the first of what would be many peace talks. They were brokered by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). On 5 September, the first of two agreements was signed in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. Its provisions included prisoner exchanges, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of heavy weapons. But a day later, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council announced that Russian troops had fired at Ukrainian positions at least 10 times. The ceasefire failed to materialise into anything substantive. By the turn of the year, fighting had intensified. Pro-Russian insurgents attacked Ukrainian positions at Debaltseve, a transport hub near the administrative line between Donetsk and Luhansk, eventually forcing a Ukrainian withdrawal by mid-February. At that point, a second agreement was underway in Minsk, this time overseen by German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande. The agreement came into effect on 15 February but lasted only a few minutes, as Russian units fired on a Ukrainian checkpoint near Zolote in Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine's military. For the next four years, Russia and Ukraine agreed to several ceasefires a year, often timed with Christmas, Easter or the harvest, around June/July. Not a single one held for very long. Zelensky's 2019 and 2020 attempts It was just two months after the comedian-turned-politician Mr Zelensky assumed his role as the president of Ukraine that he found himself opposite Mr Putin for the latest round of peace talks. Ms Merkel and the new French president Emmanuel Macron oversaw the talks. In a written statement, the countries agreed to the release and exchange of all 'conflict-related detainees' by the end of 2019. They also pledged to disengage military forces in three additional regions of Ukraine by the end of March 2020, without specifying which regions would be affected. But it was a deal that was doomed to fail. 'We saw differences today,' Mr Macron admitted at the time. 'We didn't find the miracle solution, but we have advanced on it.' The following July, another agreement was struck, one that did reduce the level of fighting but never quite stopped it completely.
Russia Today
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukrainian drone raid linked to OSCE head's visit to Russia
Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Russia to specifically coincide with a visit to Moscow by the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. A total of 337 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down above Russian territory overnight, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Tuesday morning. Most of the drones were intercepted in Kursk and Moscow Regions, where 129 and 91 UAVs were downed respectively. In Moscow Region, two civilians were killed and more than a dozen wounded as a result of the raid, according to governor Andrey Vorobyev. Zakharova wrote on Telegram on Tuesday that it was no coincidence that 'the Kiev regime sent UAVs towards the capital when it was visited by OSCE Secretary General [Feridun Sinirlioglu].' 'This is not the first time that a trip to Moscow by a high-ranking foreign delegation is being accompanied by a Ukrainian drone attack,' she stressed. The spokeswoman also expressed regret that during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine the OSCE 'has been reduced to merely a talking shop, deprived of its original purpose of ensuring security and cooperation in Europe, by the sponsors of [Ukrainian leader Vladimir] Zelensky.' According to an earlier statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be holding a meeting with Sinirlioglu in Moscow on Tuesday. A wide range of topics connected to Russia's interactions with the OSCE and its leadership will be discussed during the talks, the statement read. Moscow also intends to raise the issue of the safety of journalists and ways to increase the effectiveness of the organization's work in this area, it added. Zakharova said on Monday that the OSCE continues to be in the 'deepest existential and institutional crisis,' but expressed hope that there will be 'a constructive, comprehensive exchange of opinions' between Lavrov and Sinirlioglu. The last time the OSCE head visited Moscow was in June 2021, more than half a year before the escalation between Russia and Ukraine. At the time, the organization was headed by Helga Schmid. Moscow has accused the OSCE of multiple failings throughout the Ukraine conflict, including a lack of objectivity. Last year, Russia criticized the OSCE for failing to denounce the killings of Russian civilians by Ukrainian forces during their raids in border regions. It also accused the organization of covering up irregularities in the Moldovan presidential election, which was won pro-Western President Maia Sandu. Earlier this month, former Greek ambassador to Ukraine Vasilios Bornovas claimed that OSCE observers who had been working in Donbass between 2014 and 2022 secretly shared intelligence with Kiev.
