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☆ China's trade war with the US is unlikely to cool down this election year, so it's working on Europe instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Xi is spending two days in France, meeting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday before heading to Serbia and Hungary. "I'm calling for an 'aggiornamento' because China is now in excess capacity in many areas and exports massively to Europe," Macron told La Tribune Dimanche, per a Bloomberg translation. She said China's trade practices are leading to unfair trade that are "market-distorting" and "could lead to deindustrialization in Europe." China has pushed back on the West's claims of overcapacity, accusing the bloc of being protectionist and of trying to curb China's economic development. However, Europe — like China — isn't quite the same anymore, following years of economic malaise punctuated by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Persons: —, Janet Yellen, Olaf Scholz, Xi Jinping's, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Matt Geraci, Geraci, Ursula von der Leyen, Von, Leyen, Léonie Allard, Allard, Xi Organizations: Service, State Authority, European Union, Business, La Tribune Dimanche, Atlantic, Associated Press, European, overcapacity, Council's Locations: China, France, Serbia, Hungary, European, Germany, Europe, Beijing, Washington, Russia, Ukraine

☆ In Meeting With Xi, E.U. Leader Takes Tough Line on Ukraine War
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Roger Cohen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, put pressure Monday on China to help resolve the war in Ukraine, saying Beijing should “use all its influence on Russia to end its war of aggression against Ukraine.”She spoke after accompanying President Emmanuel Macron of France in a meeting with Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, who began his first visit to Europe in five years on Sunday. Ms. von der Leyen has persistently taken a stronger line toward China than has Mr. Macron. With President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia again suggesting he might be prepared to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine, she said Mr. Xi had played “an important role in de-escalating Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats.” She was confident, Ms. von der Leyen said, that Mr. Xi would “continue to do so against the backdrop of ongoing nuclear threats by Russia.”Whether her appeal would have any impact on Mr. Xi was unclear, and describing the conflict as Russia’s “war of aggression” in Ukraine seemed likely to irk the Chinese leader. Beijing has forged a “no limits” friendship with Russia and provided Moscow with critical support for its military effort, including jet fighter parts, microchips and other dual-use equipment.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, ”, Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping, von der Leyen, Macron, Vladimir V, Putin, Xi Organizations: European Commission Locations: China, Ukraine, Beijing, Russia, France, Europe, Moscow

☆ China's president arrives in Europe to reinvigorate ties at a time of global tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinas President Xi Jinping (L) and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron attend the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing on April 6, 2023. Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off a three-country trip to Europe on Sunday with the continent divided over how to deal with Beijing's growing power and the U.S.-China rivalry. Xi starts Sunday in France, whose president wants Europe to have more economic and strategic independence from other world powers. Then the Chinese president heads to Serbia and Hungary, both seen as China-friendly and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and recipients of substantial Chinese investment. On Monday French President Emmanuel Macron will treat the Chinese leader to formal honors of a full state visit.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron, China's, Xi, Vladimir Putin, Gabriel Attal –, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: U.S ., EU, Paris, Airport, French, Monday, European Locations: Beijing, Europe, U.S, China, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, France, Serbia, Hungary, Washington, Tibet, Paris

☆ France's Macron set to press visiting Xi on trade, Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chinas President Xi Jinping (L) and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron attend the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing on April 6, 2023. China's President Xi Jinping heads to Paris on Sunday for a rare visit, with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron set to press him to reduce trade imbalances and try to convince him to use his influence on Russia over the war in Ukraine. Neither aim will be easily fulfilled during Xi's two-day stay in France, where he arrives at a time of growing trade tensions between Europe and China. His official meetings will include joint talks with Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not join Macron and Xi in Paris due to prior commitments, sources said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron, Xi, Ursula von der, Olaf Scholz, Noah Barkin Organizations: China's, European Union, EU, Macron, European Commission Locations: Beijing, Paris, Russia, Ukraine, France, Europe, China, European, Germany, German

☆ China’s Xi is visiting Europe for the first time in five years – his goodwill tour will be an uphill struggle
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Major breakthroughs with China’s toughest critics will be hard to come by unless Xi is ready to make surprise concessions. And the trip could instead serve to underscore divisions – not only between Europe and China – but those within Europe that could play to China’s favor, analysts say. Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron visit a garden in Guangdong during Macron's state visit to China last April. Putin has said he plans to visit China this month, according to Russian state media. Xi may also look to highlight Chinese investments in both Belgrade and Budapest in a message to the rest of Europe.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Andrea Bocelli, –, Xi, China –, ”, Noah Barkin, Hungary –, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Von der Leyen, Olaf Scholz, Chong Ja Ian, “, Chong, Jacques Witt, China’s, Macron, Russia …, Wang Yiwei, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Aleksandar Vučić, Viktor Orban – Organizations: CNN, European Union, Ukraine, German Marshall Fund of, EU, “, National University of Singapore, Getty, Beijing’s Renmin University, NATO, Reuters, EV Locations: China, Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia, “ China, Europe, Berlin, United States, Serbia, Hungary, Beijing, Paris, “ France, North America, Guangdong, Ukraine, Switzerland, Barkin, “, Belgrade, Budapest, Balkans, Balkan

☆ EU raids offices of Chinese security equipment maker in subsidy probe
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —European Union officials have raided the offices of a Chinese company as part of a probe into subsidies, exposing rising tensions between the bloc and one of its biggest trading partners. The European Commission said Tuesday that it carried out “unannounced inspections” at the premises of a company making and selling security equipment in Europe, which it suspects may have benefited unduly from state subsidies. “The commission has indications that the inspected company may have received foreign subsidies that could distort the (EU’s) internal market,” the EU’s executive body said in a statement on its website. The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said Wednesday that it had been informed that a Chinese company was the target of the investigation. The Foreign Subsidies Regulation, which came into force last July, is aimed at addressing market distortions caused by subsidies from foreign governments and ensuring that EU companies are competing on a level playing field.

Persons: “, ”, ” Ursula von der Leyen, Janet Yellen Organizations: London CNN — European Union, European Commission, China Chamber of Commerce, EU, CNN Locations: Europe, Poland, Netherlands, Romania, China, Puglia, Italy, United States, Beijing

☆ German cars are the best in the world, its finance minister insists: 'They do not have to fear Chinese competition'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Christian Lindner (FDP), Federal Minister of Finance, is on his way to a bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Yellen at the headquarters of the World Bank. Bernd von Jutrczenka | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesGerman carmakers do not have to fear competition from China and are still considered the best in the world, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner told CNBC. "German car manufacturers are world leading, they do not have to fear Chinese competition," Lindner said. Competition in the electric vehicle, or EV, market in China and Europe, as well as the U.S., has been heating up in recent months. This came ahead of Scholz's visit to China earlier this month, during which he warned against unfair competitive and trade practices.

Persons: Christian Lindner, Yellen, Bernd von Jutrczenka, CNBC's Karen Tso, Lindner, China's BYD, Tesla, Janet Yellen, Ursula von der, Wang Wentao, Olaf Scholz Organizations: Federal, of Finance, US, World Bank, Getty, German, CNBC, Washington , D.C, European Union . U.S, Treasury, European Commission, European Union, Commerce, EV, Reuters Locations: China, Washington ,, Europe, U.S, EVs, EU

☆ Opinion | The Fantasy of Reviving Nuclear Energy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Stephanie Cooke | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Thirty-four nations, including the United States and China, agreed “to work to fully unlock the potential of nuclear energy,” including extending the lifetime of existing reactors, building new nuclear power plants and deploying advanced reactors. “Nuclear technology can play an important role in the clean energy transition,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, told summit attendees. Solar and wind power together began outperforming nuclear power globally in 2021, and that trend continues as nuclear staggers along. At the same time, investment in energy storage technology is rapidly accelerating. In 2023, BloombergNEF reported that investors for the first time put more money into stationary energy storage than they did into nuclear.

Persons: “, Ursula von der Leyen, BloombergNEF Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, “, European Commission Locations: Brussels, Belgian, United States, China

☆ Iran's attack on Israel could be bad for Russia's war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewIran's attack on Israel on Saturday is bad not only for the Middle East, but also for Russia's war in Ukraine as new fault lines emerge between Moscow and Tehran. AdvertisementRussia has been installing itself as a military and diplomatic player in the Middle East for years. This is in part due to Moscow's preoccupation with its war in Ukraine, Grisé wrote. "Russia would be especially sensitive to Chinese attempts to encroach on its influence in the Middle East," Grisé wrote in her commentary. AdvertisementThis is especially so since Beijing managed to deliver results in March 2023, brokering a détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Grisé added.

Persons: —, Michelle Grisé, Grisé, Russia's, Israel —, Ursula von der Leyen, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, RAND, Business, Iran, European Commission Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Moscow, Tehran, American, Russia, Iran, Damascus, Syria, Libya, Iranian, Beijing, Saudi Arabia, China

☆ EU's von der Leyen echoes Yellen's calls for tough stance on Chinese overcapacity
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference, Nurphoto | Getty ImagesEuropean Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said that Europe must talk tough with China on its perceived unfair trade practices, echoing calls a day earlier from U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Speaking ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's trip to Beijing later this week, von der Leyen said European companies should have the same market access in China as Chinese firms have in Europe, according to comments cited by Reuters. She also urged the German leader to take a hard stance with Chinese authorities about overcapacity and unfair competitive practices. Chinese overcapacity concernsChinese overcapacity has become a major point of diplomatic tension, with the U.S. and its allies contesting that excess production and subsidized goods from China are undercutting domestic businesses. It also contests that the U.S. — through initiatives such as the Inflation Reduction Act — is subsidizing its own manufacturing industry.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Janet Yellen, Olaf Scholz's, von der Leyen, Yellen, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Commerce Wang Wentao Organizations: Getty, European Commission, Treasury, Reuters, Monday, CNBC, U.S, China's, Commerce Locations: Europe, China, U.S, Beijing

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone on Sunday, marking a new step in the two countries’ integration with the European Union. After years of negotiations to join the Schengen area, there is now free access for travelers arriving by air or sea from both countries. The Schengen Area was established in 1985. Before Bulgaria and Romania’s admission, it was comprised of 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Truck drivers are frequently stuck in kilometers-long queues at the borders of both Romania and Bulgaria.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Siegfried Muresan, ”, Marcel Ciolacu, ” Kalin, “, ___ McGrath Organizations: —, European Union, EU, Schengen, Associated Press, European Commission, The Union of International Carriers Locations: SOFIA, Bulgaria, — Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Romania, Croatia, Romanian, Europe, Sofia, The, Sighisoara

☆ Basking in his Russian election win, Putin talks about political nemesis Alexei Navalny's 'sad' death for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin was upbeat after winning a fifth term in power in Russia's presidential election over the weekend. He chose the moment to make his first public remarks on the death of his political nemesis, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, mentioning his name for the first time in years. Navalny's family and supporters accused Putin of ordering Navalny's death. He also used the moment to make his first public comments on Navalny's death, and mentioning his most vocal critic's name for the first time in public in years. Putin won Russian presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, first official results showed Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny, Putin, Natalia Kolesnikova, —, Laudator Ursula von der Leyen, Bambi, NBC's Keir Simmons, Navalny, Mr Navalny, Navalny's, Maria Pevchikh, airbrushing Organizations: Afp, Getty, Navalny, European Commission, Bavaria Film Studios, NBC, Russian, Moscow Times, Putin's, Ukraine, Reuters, Commission, Anadolu Locations: Russia, Moscow, U.S

CAIRO (AP) — The European Union on Sunday announced a $8 billion aid package for cash-strapped Egypt amid concerns that economic pressure and conflicts and chaos in neighboring countries could drive more migrants to European shores. The package includes both grants and loans over the next three years for the Arab world’s most populous country, according to the European Union Mission in Cairo. The package drew criticism from international rights groups over Egypt’s human rights record. Amnesty International decried the deal and urged European leaders not to be complicit with human rights violations taking place in Egypt. “EU leaders must ensure that the Egyptian authorities adopt clear benchmarks for human rights, said Amnesty International’s Head of the European Institutions Office, Eve Geddie in a statement.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Eve Geddie, Geddie Organizations: Union, Sunday, European, Mission, EU, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Office Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Cairo, Libya, Africa, Saharan Africa, Europe, Israel

☆ EU to Bolster Egypt Ties With Billions in Funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The agreement is designed to enhance cooperation in areas including renewable energy, trade, and security while delivering grants, loans and other funding over the next three years to support Egypt's faltering economy. War in Israel and Gaza View All 222 ImagesInflation has been running close to record highs and many Egyptians say they struggle to get by. Of that, funding from the European Union is expected to total $5-6 billion, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait told Asharq Business. Egyptian officials say Egypt deserves recognition for hosting an estimated nine million foreign residents and largely shutting off irregular migration from its north coast since 2016. CROSSINGS VIA LIBYABut there has been a surge in Egyptians trying to cross to Europe via Libya, and the European Union is already providing funding aimed at reducing those flows.

Persons: Ursula von der, Mohamed Maait, Abdel Fattah al, Egypt's, Patrick Werr, Philip Blenkinsop, Renee Maltezou, Aidan Lewis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: IMF, Diplomats, Cypriot, European, Asharq Business, Rights Watch Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Cairo, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Qatar, United States, European Union, LIBYA, Europe, Libya, Crete, Gavdos, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tunisia, Mauritania, U.S

☆ First Ship Carrying Food Aid Arrives in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Anushka Patil | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

A humanitarian aid ship arrived on Friday in Gaza for the first time since the start of the war, a first step in a fledgling maritime operation to bring more aid to hungry Palestinians as aid groups say that Israel is restricting more efficient deliveries by road. Linda Roth, a spokeswoman for World Central Kitchen, said that the Open Arms had docked at a newly built jetty on the Gaza coast and that workers were beginning to move the food onto land. “For aid delivery at scale there is no meaningful substitute to the many land routes and entry points from Israel into Gaza,” two U.N. aid officials, Sigrid Kaag and Jorge Moreira da Silva, said in a statement this week. Still, they welcomed the opening of a maritime corridor, given how much more humanitarian assistance is needed in Gaza. Israel, which tightened an already restrictive blockade on Gaza after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack, has said throughout the war that it is committed to allowing as much aid into Gaza as possible.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Linda Roth, Sigrid Kaag, Jorge Moreira da Silva Organizations: Arms, United Nations Locations: Gaza, Israel, Cyprus, Gaza . Israel

A ship hauling more than 200 tons of food for the Gaza Strip left Cyprus on Tuesday morning, in the first test of a maritime corridor designed to bring aid to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who the United Nations says are on the brink of starvation. The United Arab Emirates was providing financing and logistical support for the operation, he said. “We may fail, but the biggest failure will be not trying!” Mr. Andrés said on Tuesday on social media. With no end in sight to the war in Gaza, clashes flared anew along another front, Israel’s northern border, between Israeli forces and the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah and Hamas are allies, both backed by Iran, and the fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border has raised fears of a wider regional conflict.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, José Andrés, “, Andrés Organizations: Gaza, United Nations, United, Hezbollah Locations: Cyprus, United, Gaza, Spanish, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Lebanon, Iran

☆ Gaza aid corridor from Cyprus could start this weekend, says EU president
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The European officials and Canada's Prime Minister are visiting the capital Kyiv on the second anniversary of the start of the Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)A sea corridor to take desperately needed aid from Cyprus to besieged Palestinians in Gaza could start this weekend, the European Union said on Friday. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that a temporary port would be built in Gaza to facilitate a flow of aid by sea, initially from Cyprus. "The maritime corridor can make a real difference ... but, in parallel, our efforts to provide assistance to Palestinians through all possible routes of course will continue," Von der Leyen said. Cyprus tested an on-island screening mechanism in January, when British and Cypriot aid for Gaza was dispatched to Egypt.

Persons: Ursula von der, Belgium Alexander De Croo, Giorgia Meloni, Canada Justin Trudeau, Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Nikos Christodoulides, Von der Leyen, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Christodoulides Organizations: Canada's, Getty, European Union, Cypriot, United, United Arab Emirates, United Nations, EU Locations: Belgium, Italian, Canada, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Cyprus, Gaza, Cypriot, Larnaca, United Arab, Palestinian, EU, UAE, United States, Christodoulides, Egypt

☆ Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine says it’s rebuilding for counteroffensives; EU condemns 'reckless' and 'vile' Odesa attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis (L) inspect the functioning of the 'grain corridor' in the Black Sea in the port of Odesa, Ukraine on March 06, 2024. European Union leaders have sharply criticized a deadly Russian missile strike on Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa, near to where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a meeting. Zelenskyy and Mitsotakis met in Odesa on Wednesday to pay tribute to the 12 people killed by a Russian drone strike on the city last week. During the meeting, Mitsotakis said the pair heard the sound of sirens and "an explosion that was very close to us." A Ukrainian navy spokesperson said five people were killed in the strike, according to Sky News.

Persons: Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Greece Kyriakos, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, @ZelenskyyUa, Josep Borrell, Ursula von der Leyen, Sam Meredith Organizations: European Union, Sky News, Union, European, Russia's Defense Ministry, Wednesday Locations: Ukraine, Greece, Odesa, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Russian oligarch's yacht is costing U.S. taxpayers close to $1 million a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A mega-yacht seized by U.S. authorities from a Russian oligarch is costing the government nearly $1 million a month to maintain, according to new court filings. The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking permission to sell a 348-foot yacht called Amadea, which it seized in 2022, alleging that it was owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. The government said it wants to sell the $230 million yacht due to the "excessive costs" of maintenance and crew, which it said could total $922,000 a month. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week that the European Union should use profits from more than $200 billion of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's war effort. Yet, nearly two years later, the legal process for proving ownership of the Russian assets and selling them has proven to be far more time-consuming and costly.

Persons: Suleiman Kerimov, Ursula von der Leyen, Vladimir Putin, Eugene Shvidler, Sergei Naumenko, Phi Organizations: U.S, U.S . Department of Justice, Amadea, European Union Locations: San Diego , California, Amadea, Ukraine, European, London, Russian

☆ Leaders should consider using frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine’s military, EU's von der Leyen says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European officials and Canada's Prime Minister are visiting the capital Kyiv on the second anniversary of the start of the Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)European leaders should discuss using the profits from frozen Russian assets to boost Ukraine's military in its defence efforts against Moscow, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. "It is time to start a conversation about using the windfall profits of frozen Russian assets to jointly purchase military equipment for Ukraine," she said in a speech before the European Parliament. "There could be no stronger symbol and no greater use for that money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live," von der Leyen noted. Crucially, frozen assets are, by definition, temporarily retained rather than fully seized with the ability for reallocation.

Persons: Ursula von der, Belgium Alexander De Croo, Giorgia Meloni, Canada Justin Trudeau, Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Von der, Janet Yellen, Russia's Organizations: Canada's, Getty Images, European Union, Treasury, . Security, Bank Locations: Belgium, Italian, Canada, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Moscow, Europe, Kuwait

☆ Delays in promised Western military aid to Ukraine are costing lives, the defense minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Half of promised Western military support to Ukraine fails to arrive on time, complicating the task of military planners and ultimately costing the lives of soldiers in Russia's war, the Ukrainian defense minister said Sunday. Year 2024" forum in Kyiv, stressed that each delayed aid shipment meant Ukrainian troop losses, and underscored Russia's superior military might. Commemorations to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Saturday brought expressions of continued support, new bilateral security agreements and new aid commitments from Ukraine's Western allies. The defense minister also said that a "strong" military strategy is already in place for the coming months, but didn't disclose details. A Russian drone on Sunday morning struck an unspecified facility in Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region, the regional military administration reported without giving details.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, Alexander De Croo, Justin Trudeau, Rustan, Umerov, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Valerii Zaluzhny Organizations: Belgium's, Canada's, Russia, U.S . Congress, Sunday Locations: Italian, Hostomel, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Moscow, Russia, Kherson, Kostiantynivka, Russian, Khmelnytskyi, Belgorod

☆ Putin official compared Zelenskyy to Brad Pitt, said his image couldn't be trashed, says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementA Moscow official complained that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was like Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, a global star with an image that couldn't be sullied, the Washington Post reports. AdvertisementThe documents reveal the Kremlin's elaborate and persistent efforts to undermine Zelenskyy, per the Post's analysis. Internal Kremlin documents reveal a planned disinformation campaign to tarnish Zelenskyy's image and destabilize his leadership. Thousands of social media posts and fabricated articles flooded the online spaceThrough social media platforms and fake news articles, the Kremlin orchestrated a barrage of anti- Zelenskyy content. AdvertisementThe focus shifted to infiltrating Ukrainian social media landscapes, emphasizing platforms like Telegram, which had emerged as a critical news source.

Persons: Brad Pitt, —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kevin Coombs, Zelenskyy, Valery Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny, Gen, Oleksandr Syrsky, Ursula von der Leyen, Viktor Kovalchuk, splintering, Zelensky Organizations: Putin, Washington, Service, Washington Post, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Zelenskyy, Kremlin, Reuters, Getty Locations: Kyiv, Ukrainian, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine Marks 2nd Anniversary of Russian Invasion, Determined Despite Setbacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In solemn ceremonies and small vigils, state visits, stirring speeches and statements of solidarity, Ukraine and its allies marked the dawn of the third year of Russia’s unprovoked invasion with a single message: Believe. “When thousands of columns of Russian invaders moved from all directions into Ukraine, when thousands of rockets and bombs fell on our land, no one in the world believed that we would stand,” said Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s newly named top military commander. “No one believed, but Ukraine did!”On the 731st day of the war, Ukrainian soldiers once again find themselves outmanned and outgunned, fighting for their nation’s survival while also trying to convince a skeptical world that they can withstand the relentless onslaught, even as they suffer losses on the battlefield and are challenged up and down the front line by Russian forces. The leaders of Canada, Belgium and Italy, as well as the head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, were among the dignitaries who traveled to Kyiv in a show of solidarity. While many analysts at the outbreak of the war believed that European nations would go wobbly in their support of Ukraine in a prolonged struggle, these countries are now stepping up, trying to help fill the void left by the U.S., where Republicans in Congress have for months blocked any new military assistance to Kyiv.

Persons: ”, Oleksandr Syrsky, “, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Russian, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Kyiv, U.S

☆ Four Western leaders arrive in Kyiv to show solidarity on 2nd war anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A view of the damaged business center after a Russian missile attack on December 29, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with cruise missiles and drones. Four Western leaders, including the prime ministers of Italy, Canada, and Belgium, arrived in Kyiv on Saturday to show solidarity with Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion. Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Canada's Justin Trudeau, Belgium's Alexander De Croo and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, travelled to the Ukrainian capital together overnight by train from neighboring Poland, the Italian government said in a statement. Meloni was due to host a videoconference later in the day from Kyiv that will involve leaders from the Group of Seven major democracies, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy invited to join the discussion.

Persons: Giorgia, Canada's Justin Trudeau, Belgium's Alexander De Croo, Ursula von der Leyen, Meloni, Volodymyr Zelenskiy Organizations: Ukraine's, European Commission Locations: Russian, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Poland

☆ As Ukraine marks two years since Russia’s invasion, Europe is facing difficult questions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Arguably most important among those questions: How long can it practically sustain such draining financial support for Ukraine? The United Kingdom, arguably the major security player in the region, has also pledged more than $15 billion to Ukraine since 2022. This is an alarming prospect for European officials who already believe Putin is digging in and trying to wait out the West. In the run-up to the US presidential election, the question of what happens to European security without America will inevitably be asked. Europe simply doesn’t have the manufacturing heft right now to independently serve Ukraine over the next 12 months.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Money, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Biden, Stefan Rousseau, Donald Trump, White, Trump, Putin, Thomas Peter, ” Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Bakhmut, European Union, NATO, EU, Kiel Institute, US, Parliamentary, Getty, White House, DC Locations: Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine, Europe, Ukraine, Avdiivka, United States, Kyiv, EU, Kiel, United Kingdom, Ukrainian, AFP, NATO, America, Kramatorsk, Brussels, China, Beijing

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