U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will no longer meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later this week, saying on Tuesday it "does not make any sense" now that Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent troops to separatist regions in Ukraine.
Putin on Monday announced he recognized the breakaway regions, the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, as independent states, and was sending forces there to serve as "peacekeepers," a claim dismissed by the United States and its allies.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trialThe Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
-
How to earn extra cash for ChristmasThe Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
-
Incendiary device plot: Russia's 'rehearsals' for attacks on transatlantic flightsThe Explainer Security officials warn of widespread Moscow-backed 'sabotage campaign' in retaliation for continued Western support for Ukraine
-
Russia and Iran 'up the ante' after meeting in TurkmenistanThe Explainer Two nations talk up their closer ties but some in Tehran believe Putin 'still owes' them
-
What happens if Russia declares war on Nato?Today's Big Question Fears are growing after Vladimir Putin's 'unusually specific warning' to Western governments
-
Missile escalation: will long-range rockets make a difference to Ukraine?Today's Big Question Kyiv is hoping for permission to use US missiles to strike deep into Russian territory
-
Atesh: the Ukrainian partisans taking on RussiaUnder The Radar Underground resistance fighters are risking their lives to defend their country
-
'Second only to a nuclear bomb' – the controversial arms Russia is using in UkraineThe Explainer Thermobaric bombs 'capable of vaporising human bodies' have been used against Ukraine
-
The peaceful archipelago that may take up armsUnder The Radar Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left the Åland Islands 'peculiarly vulnerable'
-
What can Ukraine gain from Russia incursion?Today's Big Question Gamble to boost morale, improve negotiating position and show the West it can still win is 'paying off – for now'
