Latest news with #RussiaUkraineWar

Wall Street Journal
11 hours ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Beijing's Trade Tactics, Ukraine Stance Cast Pall Over Europe-China Ties
BRUSSELS—China and Europe face a common threat from President Trump's tariffs. That isn't enough to bring the two economies closer. Instead, European frustration is mounting over Beijing's support for Russia's war in Ukraine and what officials view as a flood of low-cost products on global markets.


Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
French foreign minister in Kyiv for show of support
KYIV, Ukraine: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday emphasized France's support to Ukraine in a surprise visit, over three years into Russia's invasion. Barrot met his counterpart Andriy Sybiga, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and newly nominated Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. He arrived in Kyiv just hours after a fresh Russian barrage on the Ukrainian capital, the latest in a record number of drone and missile attacks Russia has recently fired on Ukrainian cities. 'It is by putting pressure on Russia on the one hand, and providing resolute support to Ukraine on the other, that we will succeed in ending this cowardly and disgraceful war,' Barrot said. He was speaking at a press conference shortly after visiting the Chernobyl power plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear accident, which sent clouds of radiation across much of Europe in 1986. In February, Ukraine accused Russia of using an explosive drone to damage the confinement arch protecting the structure — prompting France to pledge 10 million euros ($11.7 million) to help fix the cover. Accompanied by a small group of journalists including AFP, Barrot inspected the structure, where the hole in the arch was still clearly visible. Barrot briefly got stuck in the elevator on his way out of the building with some of his team — though the group managed to operate the elevator manually, and emerged unharmed. Back from Chernobyl, Barrot said Russia 'targets energy infrastructure in defiance of international law, security and nuclear safety.' He also blasted the latest wave of Russian attacks, which killed two people and damaged an entryway to the capital's Lukyanivka metro station, which he visited earlier. 'This inhumane, cynical and cruel violence has no military purpose,' Barrot said. 'Its sole aim is to terrorize civilians in a failed attempt to undermine Ukrainian morale.'


The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
A concert in Italy by Russian conductor Gergiev is canceled after protests
A concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev has been canceled, organizers in Italy announced Monday, following protests against giving the stage to the conductor who has been largely barred from European venues for failing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Gergiev had been invited to conduct during a summer festival at the Royal Palace of Caserta near Naples next Sunday. The regional governor, Vincenzo de Luca, had defended the invitation, saying that 'the logic of preclusion … does not help peace.'' The invitation had been widely criticized by human rights activists, Russian opposition figures and European parliamentarians. Gergiev, who is head of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Russian state theaters, is considered close to President Vladimir Putin. Milan's La Scala was the first theater in the West to cut off relations with Gergiev, who was engaged at the theater when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, after he failed to respond to Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala's appeal to speak out against the war.


New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Italian Festival Cancels Appearance by Russian Conductor With Ties to Putin
A concert at a festival in Italy that was to have been the conductor Valery Gergiev's first in Western Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine more than three years ago was canceled on Monday amid a backlash over the musician's close ties to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Antonella Giannattasio, a spokeswoman for the Un'Estate da RE festival, said in a telephone interview that Mr. Gergiev would no longer perform on July 27 at the Royal Palace of Caserta, a historic site north of Naples. Italian activists and politicians had denounced plans for Mr. Gergiev to conduct at the event. Mr. Gergiev, a staunch ally of Mr. Putin, lost all his engagements in the West when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. There was concern in Italy and more broadly in the European Union about Mr. Gergiev's participation, given that the festival is bankrolled by the bloc. There were fears that his presence could be seen as an endorsement of Russia at a time when Europe is scrambling to provide weapons to Ukraine as the Trump administration's support for Kyiv has seemed to waver. Italy's culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, said in a statement on July 15 that allowing Mr. Gergiev to participate in the festival 'risks passing the wrong message.' 'Ukraine is an invaded nation, and Gergiev's concert may turn a high-level but objectively controversial and divisive musical event into a sounding board for Russian propaganda,' Giuli added. 'Which for me would be deplorable.' The planned concert also drew international condemnation. Yulia Navalnaja, the widow of the Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, wrote in a guest article for the Italian daily la Repubblica last week that Mr. Gergiev's performance in Italy 'would be a gift to the dictator.' Before the war in Ukraine, Mr. Gergiev was one of the world's most sought-after conductors, with regular engagements at leading concert halls and opera houses. But his work in the West dried up after he declined to denounce Mr. Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He lost numerous engagements, and the Munich Philharmonic removed him from his post as chief conductor three years before his contract had been set to expire. Mr. Putin rewarded Mr. Gergiev in 2023 by tapping him to lead the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. The move put him at the pinnacle of Russian culture, since he was already the artistic and general director of the nation's other leading performing arts institution, the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. (In Moscow Mr. Gergiev replaced Vladimir Urin, who had been the Bolshoi's general director since 2013 and who had signed a petition expressing opposition to the war in Ukraine.) Mr. Gergiev and Mr. Putin have known each other since the 1990s, and the maestro has supported the Russian leader in election campaigns. Elisabetta Povoledo and Alex Marshall contributed reporting.

Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia SMASHES Over 70 Ukrainian Drones As Kyiv Attacks Moscow Again
Russia claimed a significant victory in Donetsk by capturing Bila Hora after a successful offensive by its Yug Group of Forces. The Russian Defence Ministry said it neutralized 74 Ukrainian drones over seven regions, including Moscow, thwarting a major drone attack. In response, Russia launched 426 drones and 24 missiles at Ukraine overnight, causing fires, killing one person, and injuring dozens. The ministry also claimed to have eliminated over 1,250 Ukrainian troops in the last 24 hours as part of its ongoing military operation.#RussiaUkraineWar #DonetskOffensive #DroneAttack #BilaHoraCaptured #RussianMilitary #UkraineConflict #MilitaryUpdate #WarNews #SpecialOperation #RussiaStrikes Read More