Contents tagged with Donbas

  • Macron and Putin discuss Donbas 'special status' during phone call

    French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Presidents discussed the situation in Ukraine in advance of the Normandy Four Summit, which is scheduled for December 9 in Paris, reports the Kremlin's press service.

    Macron and Putin noted that "holding such a meeting should contribute to the quick and full implementation of the Minsk agreements."

    "In this context, the importance of Kyiv to fulfill its obligations on the political …

  • Girkin considers extradition and indictment in MH17 case possible in light of new phone call evidence

    Igor “Strelkov” Girkin, former “defense minister” of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), has admitted that the investigators of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 catastrophe have intercepted a phone call from 2014 between him and then “prime minister” of the DPR Alexander Borodai. Girkin published his reaction to the recording on VKontakte, a Russian social network.

    The Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report mentions an intercepted phone call from August 13, 2014, in which …

  • Russia intends to discuss Donbas special status at next Normandy Four meeting

    During the upcoming Normandy Four Summit on December 9 in Paris, the special status of the territories controlled by the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics, with its inclusion in the Constitution of Ukraine, will be discussed, reports Kommersant, citing its source in Russian government. Other topics would involve security issues, amnesty, and elections.

    Security issues are related to the further withdrawal of forces and equipment in other areas of the demarcation line in the Donbas. …

  • Putin: Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics will respond if Ukrainian Forces move back to the disengagement areas in Donbas

    During a press conference at the BRICS Summit in Brazil, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if Ukrainian Police and the National Guard enter the withdrawal areas, then militants of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) will respond to these actions.

    Putin welcomed the withdrawal of troops in Zolote and Petrovske areas but stressed that there are "some ambiguities."

    "We see the statements of Ukrainian officials that the Ukrainian police and the National Guard can return …

  • Putin: we have 'full contact' with Zelensky

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he has full contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports TASS news agency.

    "We are in contact with him [Zelensky], we talk on the phone. We have full contact," said Putin, adding that it is essential to achieve results after negotiations on the Donbas.

    At the same time, the Putin said that he agrees with the position of the former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev that the solution of problems, including the armed conflict …

  • MH17 investigators: Moscow orchestrated capture of Donbas

    The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that is investigating the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 catastrophe which took place over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 has published new information which proves the connection between the separatists of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Russian government officials.

    The team released recordings of intercepted phone calls made by the leadership of the self-proclaimed republic, including Defense Minister Igor “Strelkov” Girkin and Prime Minister Alexander …

  • Kyiv: War with Russia will end after reparation has been paid and Crimea returned

    The Russian-Ukrainian war will end once the aggressor-state returns all of the occupied territories, including Crimea, and pays reparation, said Dmitry Kuleba, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, as cited by RBC-Ukraine.

    The vice prime minister said that the full extent of the damage caused by Russia’s invasion of the Donbas has not yet been determined.

    “Factories there have been ripped apart and taken away, mines there have been flooded, and if there is …

  • Russia urges Ukraine to extend Donbas special status law

    The Russian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) has urged Kyiv to enter into direct negotiations with the so-called Luhansk and Donetsk Peoples Republics about enshrining the special status of the Donbas in Ukraine’s Constitution, said Russian representative to the TCG Boris Gryzlov, as cited by Interfax-Ukraine.

    The Russians are concerned that the Ukrainian law on the special status of the Donbas expires on December 31.

    “The Russian delegation urged Kyiv to ensure that this law …

  • Merkel demands more money for German Armed Forces because of situation in Eastern Ukraine

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a weekly televised statement, which is published on German Government's website, that the situation in Eastern Ukraine forces NATO member countries to reconsider the Alliance's defense strategy.

    "Because of the conflict in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea, the topic of national defense and Alliance defense came into focus," said German Chancellor. According to her, the German Armed Forces need financial resources to perform the defense functions.

    " …

  • Suspect in MH-17 case is willing to testify if Dutch investigators come to Donbas

    The retired Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) militant Vladimir Tsemakh is willing to testify to the Dutch investigators about the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 catastrophe, but only if the investigators come to the part of the Donbas that is controlled by pro-Russian militants, Interfax reports, citing Tsemakh’s attorney, Anatoly Kucherena.

    “Naturally, the questioning can only take place in his homeland, in the Donbas,” the attorney said.

    However, Kucherena added that Tsemakh will only testify …