KYIV, Ukraine — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered Moscow’s armed forces to observe a 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend for the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday, the first such sweeping truce move in the nearly 11-month-old war. Putin did not appear to make his cease-fire order conditional on...
Russia Hits Key Infrastructure With Missiles Across Ukraine
Russian missiles hit Ukraine Thursday in the biggest wave of strikes in weeks, damaging power stations and other critical infrastructure during freezing winter weather. Russia fired 69 missiles at energy facilities and Ukrainian forces shot down 54, Ukrainian military chief Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi said. Local officials said attacks killed at...
Minister: Ukraine Aims to Develop Air-to-Air Combat Drones
Ukraine has bought some 1,400 drones, mostly for reconnaissance, and plans to develop combat models that can attack the exploding drones Russia has used during its invasion of the country, according to the Ukrainian government minister in charge of technology. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Minister of Digital Transformation...
Russia Says It Shot Down Ukrainian Drone Near Air Base
The Russian military reported Monday that it shot down a Ukrainian drone approaching an air base deep inside Russia, the second time the facility has been targeted this month — again revealing weaknesses in Russia's air defenses. Russia's Defense Ministry said debris killed three servicemen at the Engels air base,...
Zelenskyy Tells Biden: ‘No Compromises’ in Path to Peace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a defiant wartime visit to Washington on Wednesday to thank U.S. leaders and “ordinary Americans” for their support in fighting off Russia’s invasion and pledged there would be “no compromises" in trying to bring an end to the war. President Joe Biden and Congress responded...
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Preparing to Visit DC on Wednesday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to visit Washington on Wednesday, according to three AP sources, in his first known trip outside the country since Russia's invasion began in February. Two congressional sources and one person familiar with the matter confirmed plans for the visit. They spoke on the condition...
Putin Visits Belarus as He Eyes Next Steps in Ukraine War
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare trip Monday to Moscow's ally Belarus as his forces pursued their campaign to torment Ukraine from the air amid a broad battlefield stalemate almost 10 months into the war. Putin’s visit came hours after Russia’s latest drone attack on Ukraine. Moscow has been...
Donors Pledge Millions to Get Ukraine Through Winter, Bombs
Dozens of countries and international organizations threw their weight and more than 1 billion euros (dollars) in aid pledges behind an urgent new push Tuesday to keep Ukrainians powered, fed, warmed and moving as winter approaches. An international donor conference in Paris quickly racked up substantial promises of financial and in-kind...
The US Begins New Get-Tough Policy With Iran
The Iranian Government continues to aid Russia in the war against Ukraine, shoots and imprisons protesters, and now says it will continue its nuclear enrichment program. This has pretty much ended the White House’s hopes for diplomacy and has started a new era of confrontation, including imposing sanctions on Tehran....
Musk Wants US to Pay Tab for His Satellite Network over Ukraine
WASHINGTON — The Defense Department has gotten a request from SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk to take over funding for his satellite network that has provided crucial battlefield communications for Ukrainian military forces during the war with Russia, U.S. officials said Friday. The officials, who spoke on condition of...