David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
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
U.S. weighs in as Kazakh anti-government protests expand
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by telephone with his Kazakh counterpart Thursday, urging a quick end to a week of increasingly violent protests that have rocked the Central Asian nation. Published January 6, 2022
Uzbek phenom Abudsattorov dethrones Carlsen for world rapid chess title
If you start the year with three world titles and end it with just one, can it really be called a successful year? Published January 4, 2022
NATO foreign ministers to huddle ahead of Russia talks on Ukraine
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and foreign ministers from NATO's 29 other member nations will gather virtually Friday ahead of a string of key diplomatic meetings with Russia aimed at trying to defuse mounting tensions over Ukraine, NATO officials said Tuesday morning. Published January 4, 2022
Trump plays kingmaker in Hungary with endorsement of Orban
Former President Donald Trump doesn't just have his sights set on the U.S. midterm elections this fall. Published January 3, 2022
Biden steps up diplomacy to head off clash with Russia
President Biden was back at work trying to prevent a new war in Europe on Sunday, arranging a pep talk with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy Sunday just days after a tough, nearly hour-long talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Published January 2, 2022
French conservatives seethe as EU banner replaces French flag at Arc de Triomphe
The New replacement of the French national flag by the European Union banner at the Arc de Triomphe may have handed a symbolic issue to French conservatives. Published January 2, 2022
Generous to a fault at the chessboard
Painful as it is to concede, we have to admit that chess makes an uneasy fit with this season of generosity and gift-giving. Published December 30, 2021
Putin says West to blame for crisis in Europe, keeps door open to talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the U.S. and its allies, not the Kremlin, are to blame for rising tensions in Europe that have revived talk of war. Published December 21, 2021
Chess for Christmas, confounding and consoling
'Tis the season to be -- a little melancholy, if you want to know the truth. Chess lovers have a lot to be thankful for these days, but there's an undeniable post-world championship match letdown now that Magnus Carlsen has successfully defended his crown -- again. And for a second straight holiday season, the specter of COVID-19 is hanging over the game. Published December 21, 2021
Russia’s Putin says NATO, West to blame for surging tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the U.S. and its allies, not the Kremlin, are to blame for rising tensions in Europe that have revived talk of war. Published December 21, 2021
U.S. joins appeal condemning repression of Jehovah’s Witnesses
The U.S. and six other countries Friday issued a joint declaration condemning repression of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the evangelizing Christian denomination that has faced severe state opposition in many of the countries where it operates. Published December 17, 2021
All hostages freed in Haiti, U.S. missionary groups says
All of the remaining hostages from a group of 17 U.S.-based missionaries kidnapped in Haiti two months ago have been freed, the Ohio-based group said Thursday morning. Published December 16, 2021
Japanese PM Kishida: No plans to attend Beijing Olympics amid U.S.-led diplomatic boycott
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday he has "no plans" to attend the Winter Olympics that kick off in Beijing in just two months, befitting the leader of a country that relies on the U.S. for its national security but counts China as its biggest market and trading partner. Published December 16, 2021
Putin RSVPs for Olympics in warm talk with China’s Xi
It doesn't rank as a big surprise, but Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Wednesday he won't be honoring President Biden's call for a "diplomatic boycott" of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Published December 15, 2021
Harsh prison terms for top democracy activists spark sharp Western criticism
The Biden administration and leading European allies on Tuesday forcefully condemned an 18-year jail sentence handed down to the husband of 2020 opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, with the U.S. ambassador to Minsk calling it another "unjust" and "vengeful" act by the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Published December 14, 2021