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Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is flying to Moscow in the hopes of securing assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin to reduce tensions over Ukraine. Prior to his trip on Monday, Macron stated that he expects to "address the terms of a de-escalation" with Putin. Following his visit to Moscow, Macron will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, on Tuesday for discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia has amassed a force of 100,000 troops near its Ukrainian border, demanding security guarantees from the US and NATO, including the rejection of Ukraine as a member and a halt to any eastward expansion. It denies, however, that an invasion of Ukraine is in the works. The US and NATO have labeled Russia's demands as non-starters, and Washington has sent thousands more troops to Eastern Europe. Putin might authorize an attack on Ukraine within days or weeks, according to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. However, Macron – who spoke w

In a carefully-managed interview aired this week to allay global fears about her personal safety in China, Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai took back her sexual assault charges against a top Chinese official and announced her retirement from competitive tennis. In a conversation sponsored by the Chinese Olympic Committee, she told French sports publication L'Equipe, "I never alleged anyone sexually attacked me." "Sports and politics should not be used to bring up my personal life." Peng's first sit-down interview since accusing retired Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual abuse following a years-long on-again, off-again romantic engagement last November. The charges have elicited no public response from Zhang. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced shortly after L'Equipe's interview that its president, Thomas Bach, had supper with the Chinese tennis player in Beijing on Saturday, where they are both attending the Winter Olympic Games