Ukraine Appoints New Defense Minister amid Scrutiny on Russian Troop Movements

Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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Ukraine Appoints New Defense Minister amid Scrutiny on Russian Troop Movements

Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday voted to appoint President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's nominee Oleksii Reznikov as the new defense minister.

A 55-year-old former lawyer and deputy prime minister, Reznikov will replace Andrii Taran who resigned this week after his track record on reforms was criticized by lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.

The appointment comes as Ukraine said Russia had left military units near Ukraine's border after exercises, with the number of Russian troops in the area now totaling 90,000.

The United States said the Russian troop movements were significant but not "overtly aggressive".



Biden Calls ICC Arrest Warrant for Israeli Leaders 'Outrageous'

US President Joe Biden attends the G20 Summit leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
US President Joe Biden attends the G20 Summit leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
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Biden Calls ICC Arrest Warrant for Israeli Leaders 'Outrageous'

US President Joe Biden attends the G20 Summit leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
US President Joe Biden attends the G20 Summit leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

US President Joe Biden on Thursday called the International Criminal Court's move to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister "outrageous”.
"The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous," said Biden in a statement. "Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence -- none -- between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security”, AFP reported.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Ibrahim al-Masri, who is believed to be dead.
The warrants are for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel's military campaign in Gaza since then.