Ukraine
America’s top priority is to help Ukraine ‘defend itself’ as a sovereign nation, Blinken adviser says
What are Washington's current strategic goals and limitations in Ukraine? And how do they align with Kyiv? Derek Chollet, a counselor at the US State Department who advises Secretary of State Antony Blinken, joined The World's host Marco Werman to shed some light.
Belgium faces pressure to support sanctions on Russian diamonds
Wagner mercenary group recruits Africans held in Russian prisons
Tanks for Ukraine are 'ready to go' when Germany and US strike a deal, retired Navy Adm. says
How well is the grain deal working for Ukraine?
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stressed the importance of the grain deal, saying that it needs long-term protection in order to avoid a global food crisis.
Ukrainians celebrate Orthodox Christmas amid raging war
Over the weekend, Orthodox Christians around the globe celebrated Christmas. In Russia and Ukraine, the holiday took place during a time of war between the two countries.
A bakers’ rebellion looms in France to defend baguettes
Due to soaring electricity costs, bakers in France can’t afford to turn on their ovens to bake bread. They’re demanding help from the government and threatening the unthinkable — to turn off their ovens.
War in Ukraine sparks fertilizer crisis that may impact the future of global food production
Russia is the world’s largest fertilizer producer, but fewer Russian agricultural products are entering the global market due to the war in Ukraine. It’s changing how farmers and fertilizer suppliers are thinking about agriculture.
Philadelphia's Ukrainian diaspora puts a unique spin on holiday classic in solidarity with Ukraine
The Ukrainian community in Philadelphia is the second-largest in the United States. As members of the diaspora celebrated the holidays with a special Ukrainian version of “The Nutcracker,” they reflected on a year of worry and solidarity.
This Vermont couple created a home for Ukrainian refugees with a focus on children with disabilities
Theresa and Scott Cianciolo founded Agape Ministries, a Christian nonprofit that works with children and adults with developmental disabilities in Ukraine. After they stopped traveling to Ukraine due to the war, they raised money to create a home for refugees and children with disabilities in Vermont.
Critical permafrost research in Russia disrupted by war in Ukraine
Most of the world’s permafrost lies in Russia. Critical research looks at how melting permafrost contributes to global warming. But sanctions against Russia this year have disrupted field work and threatened collaborations among scientists.
Putin reinforces military, security bonds with Belarus at Minsk meeting
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, the Belarusian capital. The meeting raises new questions about the role Belarus may play in Russia's war against Ukraine.
War disrupts Ukrainian soccer, but the game still goes on
Ukraine didn't qualify for this year’s World Cup, and Russia was banned from the games. But soccer goes on in both countries, amid a war that could decide the future of the sport in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
WNBA star Brittney Griner prisoner swap raises questions about how hostage deals are made
WNBA star Brittney Griner has been freed in a prisoner swap with Russian arms-dealer Viktor Bout. To hear more about how this deal got made, we hear from Hugh Dugan, a former State Department hostage negotiator who has worked on deals to bring back Americans from abroad.