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David R. Sands

David R. Sands

dsands@washingtontimes.com

David R. Sands covered numerous beats, including international trade, banking, politics and Capitol Hill, and spent eight years on the foreign desk as senior diplomatic correspondent. He has authored The Times' weekly chess column since 1993.

Articles by David R. Sands

In this image released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, May 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, awards the Order of Princess Olga, the third grade, to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country's struggle against Russia. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Battle for Mariupol back on after civilian convoy finally allowed out

Russian forces renewed their assault on the key Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Sunday just hours after a convoy of civilian refugees was finally allowed to leave, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greeted a U.S. congressional delegation headed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and accused the Kremlin of pursuing a "war of extermination."

May 1, 2022
A Phantom 4, developed by major Chinese consumer-drone maker DJI, flies during its demonstration flight in Tokyo, Thursday, March 3, 2016. Drone company DJI Technology Co said Tuesday, April 27, 2022, that it has temporarily suspended business activities in Russia and Ukraine to prevent use of its drones in combat, in a rare case of a Chinese company pulling out of Russia. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

Leading Chinese drone maker DJI cuts off Russia, Ukraine

DJI Technology Co., the Chinese manufacturer who claims a massive share of the global market for commercial drones, said Wednesday it is suspending sales to Russia and Ukraine as the Kremlin's invasion of its neighbor enters its third month.

April 27, 2022
A destroyed tank and a damaged apartment building from heavy fighting are seen in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Mariupol, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov)

U.S., allied military leaders defy Kremlin with new Ukraine aid plans

Russia's top diplomat and America's top defense official traded charges of saber-rattling Tuesday, as military leaders from the U.S. and more than three dozen allies met in Germany to discuss how to speed up arms flows to Ukraine as it seeks to halt a coming offensive by invading Russian troops in the east and south.

April 26, 2022
Caruana-Sevian after 52...d2.

American Cup represents a chess stress test

There is plenty of stress in classical chess, where the slightest misstep can lead to catastrophic loss and a single move can ruin seven hours of hard work.

April 26, 2022
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson speaks during a press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin ahead of a meeting on whether to seek NATO membership, in Stockholm, Sweden, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (Paul Wennerholm/TT via AP)

Joint Sweden, Finland bid for NATO expected within weeks

A joint application from Sweden and Finland to end their longstanding policy of neutrality and apply for NATO membership could be coming in a matter of weeks, according to press reports Monday from both countries.

April 25, 2022
Firefighters work inside a building destroyed by a Russian bomb in Chernihiv on Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Russian general hints at broadening war aims

A senior Russian commander for the first time Friday openly suggested the Kremlin's territorial appetite extends beyond Ukraine as the invasion drags on into its third month.

April 22, 2022
Sukandar-Niemann after 31...Nxf2.

The (chess) kids are all right, judging from these games

Today's games give one fresh hope for the future of chess, with some marvelously creative and daring ideas from two young players who we hope will be giving us such pleasure for years to come. We wrote here last week of Maryland master Bijan Tahmassebi's fine performance finishing in a seven-way tie for first at the recent U.S. National High School Championships in Memphis.

April 19, 2022
In this handout photo released by The State Duma, The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation Press Service, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, arrives to attend a session of the State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 7, 2022. (The State Duma, The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation Press Service via AP) **FILE**

Missing-in-action Russian defense minister surfaces

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who has been most notable for his absence from the public eye for nearly all of the troubled eight-week invasion of Ukraine, surfaced Monday to defend the operation and insist Russian forces are on track to "liberate" two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

April 19, 2022
The Russian missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, is seen anchored in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, on Sept. 11, 2008. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the ship was damaged Wednesday, April 13, 2022, but not that it was hit by Ukraine. The Ministry says ammunition on board detonated as a result of a fire whose causes "were being established," and the Moskva's entire crew was evacuated. (AP Photo, File)

Sinking of storied flagship latest blow to Russian war push

An invasion of Ukraine that has not gone according to Russia's plans took another high-profile hit Thursday as the flagship of the Kremlin's Black Sea fleet sank and President Biden hinted he may visit Ukraine in the coming days to bolster the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

April 14, 2022
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks as he meets NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. (Evelyn Hockstein, Pool via AP)

Blinken ‘not overly optimistic’ as Iran deal talks drag on

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said Wednesday he was not "overly optimistic" that the U.S. and Iran can reach a deal to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, after weeks of speculation that a breakthrough in talks in Vienna was imminent.

April 6, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with top officials on support to aviation industry in Russia amid western sanctions vis videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin’s approval rate at home soars one month into Ukraine invasion

Western critics say his war is going badly, his economy is staggering and his advisers are misleading him. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval numbers at home are shooting up just over one month into his invasion of Ukraine, according to a new poll.

March 31, 2022
Efimenko-Kogan after 43. Qh4.

Nakamura nabs slot in tourney to pick next chess title challenger

U.S. GM Hikaru Nakamura, after a long absence from over-the-board competition, has stormed back to snare one of the last two coveted slots on offer in the upcoming Candidates Tournament, the eight-grandmaster chess round-robin that will produce the next challenger to world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway.

March 29, 2022