David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Ukraine says Russian naval drills are choking off trade
Ukrainian officials said Russian naval drills off its Black Sea coast are disrupting trade and hurting the economy, even as Russian and Belarusian forces began 10 days of major military exercises close to Ukraine's northern border. Published February 10, 2022
Olympic controversy inflames debate in South Korea over China ties
Relations with China already were proving a delicate and divisive issue in the run-up to South Korea's too-close-to-call presidential elections just a month away. And that was before "Speedskatergate." Published February 9, 2022
A chess battle of the sexes and a history of the World (Open)
It's Gibraltar, so they clearly know how to rock on. The hugely popular annual chess festival on the little spot of Britain at the mouth of the Mediterranean was called off last year because of COVID-19, and tournament sponsors had to scramble again this year because the Caleta Hotel, the longtime venue for the event, has just closed for a three-year renovation. Published February 8, 2022
Biden OKs more troops to Eastern Europe as replies to Russia leak
President Biden on Wednesday signed off on sending additional troops to reinforce NATO allies in eastern Europe amid a mounting crisis with Russia over Ukraine and security policy across the continent. The U.S. troops could begin deploying within days, U.S. officials said. Published February 2, 2022
Russian troops in Belarus for exercises to stay until at least Feb. 20
Russian troops that have deployed to Belarus for joint military exercises near the Ukrainian border will be in the country at least through Feb. 20, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Wednesday. Published February 2, 2022
Peeved Putin complains West ‘ignored’ demands as Blinken, Lavrov confer
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of dismissing the Kremlin's "fundamental concerns" about the military standoff across Eastern Europe, while Ukraine announced plans Tuesday to dramatically expand the size of its armed forces, adding fresh uncertainty to the slow-burning crisis. Published February 1, 2022
Carlsen, Erigaisi score big chess wins at Tata Steel tourney in Wijk aan Zee
There were two big winners in this year's Tata Steel chess extravaganza in the Dutch city of Wijk aan Zee, one a name we know and one a name we may be hearing a lot more about in the years to come. Published February 1, 2022
Blinken, Russia’s Lavrov talk on Ukraine crisis after bitter U.N. exchanges
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a direct phone conversation Tuesday, a day after U.S. and Russian diplomats traded broadsides at a charged U.N. Security Council meeting over who was responsible for the gathering crisis in Ukraine. Published February 1, 2022
Latest North Korean missile shot raises fears of a breakout
Kim Jong-un will not be ignored. Even with Europe braced for a shooting war in Ukraine, the Winter Olympics set to begin in China and a pandemic still uncontained, the North Korean leader is using a battery of missile firings to remind the world of the threat he poses and give President Biden another growing foreign policy headache to address. Published January 30, 2022
South Korean minister, assembly speaker to attend Beijing Olympic Games
Navigating between its crucial military ally and its biggest foreign market, South Korea announced Tuesday it will send a mid-level Cabinet minister and the speaker of its National Assembly to head its delegation to the Winter Olympics in Beijing next month. Published January 25, 2022
Van Foreest battles in bid to repeat at super-strong Tata Steel chess tournament
Jorden Van Foreest's victory in the 2021 Tata Steel Chess Tournament last January was a feel-good story in a year that could have used a few more of them. Published January 25, 2022
More talks planned as Blinken, Lavrov meet over Ukraine crisis
There were no breakthroughs, but the top diplomats from the U.S. and Russia agreed at least to keep talking Friday amid fears that Moscow is preparing an invasion of its neighbor Ukraine. Published January 21, 2022
U.S. sanctions four Ukrainians accused of helping Russia destabilize country
The State Department announced new sanctions Thursday on four Ukrainian citizens, including two members of the national parliament, accused of cooperating with a Russian intelligence operation designed to destabilize the former Soviet republic. Published January 20, 2022
European leaders rush to clean up Biden remarks on ‘minor’ Russian moves against Ukraine
European allies Thursday joined White House staff in rushing to contradict President Biden's assertions that the West may not respond to a "minor incursion" by Russia into Ukraine and that there were divisions among the NATO allies over how to respond to the Kremlin's aggression. Published January 20, 2022
Hard-line Iranian president proposes extensive cooperation accord on first trip to Russia
Hard-line Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has floated a 20-year strategic cooperation agreement with Russia on the first day of a two-day trip to Moscow, Russian news outlets reported Wednesday. Published January 19, 2022
Biden warns of ‘dear price’ for Russia as Blinken huddles with Ukraine
President Biden told a White House press conference Wednesday that Russia would pay a "dear price" if it took military action against neighboring Ukraine, hours after Secretary of State Antony Blinken huddled with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to kick off a hastily organized European mission to head off a new war in Europe. Published January 19, 2022
Getting a jump on the 50th anniversary of the epic Fischer-Spassky chess match
We're on a mini-break this week, but thought we'd get a head start on the 50th anniversary celebrations this year to mark the epic 1972 Fischer-Spassky match. Here are excerpts from a couple of previous columns looking at some of the leading players in the drama. Published January 18, 2022
Fears of Ukraine invasion rise as Russia talks fail to reach breakthrough
Fears rose Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is intent on invading Ukraine, as talks between American, NATO and Russian officials failed to produce a commitment from Moscow to draw down its major troop buildup along the border with the developing, U.S.-aligned democracy. Published January 12, 2022
NATO leader eyes more talks with Russia after lengthy session
Russian and NATO officials held a "serious and direct exchange" over soaring tensions in Ukraine and eastern Europe, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday, asserting that the Western military alliance still has deep concerns about the Kremlin's policy but hopes for more talks to ease the crisis. Published January 12, 2022
Chess was a sideline, but Penrose was no amateur
Jonathan Penrose was the epitome of that generation of fine British chess players who had all the talent in the world but lacked the time, the wherewithal and perhaps the monomaniacal ambition to scale the highest summits of the game. Published January 11, 2022
