ukraine

Ukraine Crowds Protest Over Russia Summit

December 9, 2019 2:48 pm

Some 5,000 Ukrainians rallied in Kiev on Sunday warning President Volodymyr Zelensky to resist pressure from Russia’s Vladimir Putin when the two men meet on Monday for talks on the conflict in Ukraine’s east.

Protesters held placards with slogans such as “No to capitulation”, “Stay away from Moscow” and “Russian gas is a noose around our necks” during the rally, led by Zelensky’s political opponents.

The two leaders are due to meet for the first time since Zelensky’s election in April at the talks in Paris, mediated by French and German leaders Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel.

The meeting is …

IMF And Ukraine Reach Tentative $5.5bn Aid Deal

December 9, 2019 2:38 pm

The International Monetary Fund said Saturday it had reached a “staff-level” agreement with Ukraine on a new $5.5 billion, three-year aid program for the war-scarred country.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said she was “pleased to note that IMF staff has reached agreement with the authorities” on the deal, adding it was “subject to IMF management approval.”

Georgieva said she spoke by telephone on Saturday to President Volodymyr Zelensky and commended him on “impressive progress” on reforms and “sound economic policies.”

“The President and I agreed that Ukraine’s economic success depends crucially on strengthening the rule of law, enhancing the …

Miss Ukraine Banned By Miss World For Being Single Mum

December 3, 2019 9:28 am

A BEAUTY queen is taking legal action against the Miss World contest after she was banned for being a mum.

Veronika Didusenko, 24, was crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018 but stripped of her title four days later when it was revealed she was divorced with a son.

She should have gone on to represent her country in the Miss World finals but was banned from taking part and replaced by another contestant.

Veronika claims bosses of the UK-owned Miss World franchise are in breach of the Equalities Act 2010 and has demanded they change their “outdated” entry rules.

She …

NATO Demands Russia Withdraw All Troops’ From Ukraine

October 30, 2019 2:56 pm

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday welcomed a pullback by the Ukrainian army and Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, but reiterated calls for Russia to “withdraw all their troops”.

Tuesday saw a long-awaited pullback between the two sides in a key area of the war-torn east.

The move was a precondition for the first face-to-face talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We welcome all efforts to reduce tensions,” Stoltenberg said during a visit to the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

“But we know there

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Ukraine Qualify For Euro 2020 Despite Ronaldo’s 700th Goal

October 15, 2019 8:23 am

Ukraine beat Portugal 2-1 on Monday to clinch a place at Euro 2020 despite Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 700th career goal.

Roman Yaremchuk and Andriy Yarmolenko put Ukraine two goals up after 27 minutes.

Although Ronaldo scored his landmark goal from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute and Taras Stepanenko was sent off, Ukraine held on to secure first place in Group B.

Ukraine joins already qualified Poland, Russia, Italy and Belgium at next summer’s finals, while second-placed Portugal, who are eight points behind Ukraine, have Serbia just a point behind them with two matches remaining after they beat …

Ukraine’s Zelensky defends parliament dissolution in court

Ukraine leader vows ‘tough response’ as two soldiers killed

June 7, 2019 7:30 am

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Friday of violating peace agreements and vowed a tough response after two soldiers were killed in the war-torn east.

The two servicemen died as a result of artillery shelling near the village of Novoluganske, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) northeast of the main separatist stronghold of Donetsk, Zelensky’s office said in a statement.

The use of heavy weaponry is banned under the terms of a peace deal.

Another eight Ukrainian soldiers were injured.

Zelensky, a former comedian who crushed predecessor Petro Poroshenko in April’s …

Ukraine Presidency: Comedian Zelensky wins in landslide

April 21, 2019 4:30 pm

A comedian with no political experience won a landslide victory in Ukraine’s presidential election on Sunday, exit polls showed, dealing a stunning rebuke to the country’s political establishment.

Volodymyr Zelensky, whose only previous political role was playing the president in a TV show, trounced incumbent Petro Poroshenko by taking 73 percent of the vote, according to exit polls conducted by several think tanks.

It was an extraordinary outcome to a campaign that started as a joke but struck a chord with voters frustrated by poverty, corruption and a five-year war in eastern Ukraine that has claimed some 13,000 lives.

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