Contents tagged with Ukraine

  • IMF says it is ready to help Ukraine implement reforms

    Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman and the Director of the IMF's European Department, Poul Thomsen, discussed the further cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF.

    "At hard times like this, support is of utmost importance for Ukraine, especially the support of the IMF. But we also consider our cooperation as an opportunity to implement structural reforms which will make it possible to transform Ukraine from a post-Soviet state into a modern European country," Groysman stated during the …

  • Steinmeier: the Minsk Agreements are being implemented at a snail’s pace

    The head of the German Foreign Ministry believes that the diplomatic efforts of France and Germany were instrumental in prevention of a war in Europe.

    At the same time the progress in the implementation of the Minsk Agreements is comparable to a snail's pace. According to the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Germany, this was stated by the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the eve of the twelfth meeting of the Normandy Four.

    Steinmeier fears that the work on the …

  • Ukraine and China outline steps necessary to simplify visa regime

    In the course of consultations in Kiev, heads of the consular services of Ukraine and China have agreed on a number of steps to simplify a mutual travel regime for the citizens of the two countries.

    According to the Facebook post of the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the ministry held top-level consular talks with China. The event was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the …

  • Germany to expand its army due to tensions with Russia

    Germany plans to increase the size of its armed forces for the first time since 1990 due to tensions with Russia. “The Bundeswehr is expected to recruit an additional 14,300 troops over the next seven years; 4,400 civilian staff will be recruited as well,” Ursula von der Leyen, the German Minister of Defense, said on Tuesday.

    According to her, the expansion of the German army is necessary, owing to the current situation of increased tensions with Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine and also …

  • US law firm to defend Ukraine in dispute with Russia over assets in Crimea

    The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hired the U.S. law firm Covington & Burling for $3.676 million to the protect Ukraine's interests in the international arbitration dispute with Russia over the annexation of the Crimea. The company has a reputation for successfully protecting clients' interests at various levels against the Russian Federation.

    The contract with Covington & Burling was signed on May 5th. The term of the provision of legal services lasts until December 31, 2016.

    In …

  • Poroshenko postpones visit to the UK

    Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko postponed his visit to Great Britain which was planned for May 11-12th, as reported by the press service of the President.

    "A working visit by Petro Poroshenko to Great Britain which was scheduled for May 11-12th, was postponed due to the election of a new Prosecutor General and failure to adopt laws necessary for the continuation of cooperation with the IMF," the statement of the press service read on Tuesday evening.

    According to the statement, the …

  • Ukrainian and Georgian delegates to attend NATO Military Committee meeting

    NATO announced that the Alliance’s Military Committee will convene a meeting at the level of Defense Chiefs in Brussels on May 18th. Ukrainian and Georgian delegates will attend the meeting as partners of NATO in order to coordinate security and defense with the Alliance.

    In particular, the Georgian delegation will discuss the progress of defense reforms and the country’s further cooperation with NATO.

    Representatives of Ukraine will address the security situation in the country. Reform in …

  • The EU wants Ukraine to remain a gas transit country

    The European Commission is ready to facilitate a new transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine

    As was stated by the EU Climate and Energy Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete, the European Union believes that Ukraine needs to remain a gas transit corridor, RIA Novosti reports.

    "Despite the economic and political challenges, Ukraine continues to be a reliable gas partner and a transit country. It is in the interest of all parties, including the Central and Eastern European countries, that …

  • Ukrainian Intelligence reported that more Russian artillery and tanks arrived in the Donbas

    More military equipment and personnel have arrived in the Donbas from Russia. This was reported by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

    According to the report, Russia continues to supply fuel and motor oil to the occupied territory. “We have noted that trains carrying up to 100 personnel, as well as military equipment, have arrived at the Khartsyzk settlement. The equipment consists of three tanks, eight infantry fighting vehicles, two 122-mm MLRS Grads …

  • Crimean Tatar Mejlis calls on the EU to strengthen sanctions against Russia

    The Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Refat Chubarov, called on the European Union to strengthen sanctions against Russia, including the imposition of a temporary embargo on oil and also to disconnect Moscow from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) as he stated on the Hromadske.tv TV Channel.

    “Against the background of increased oppression against Crimean Tatars, our task is to ensure that the international …