Contents tagged with Ukraine

  • Merkel's advisor: It's too early to lift sanctions on Russia

    The discussion surrounding the cancellation of EU sanctions against Russia is premature, as stated by the German Chancellor's foreign policy advisor, Christoph Heusgen, Deutsche Welle reports. "If the current situation stays the same, I see no reason for sanctions not to be extended for another six months," Heusgen said.

    He indicated that the removal of restrictive measures on Russia is connected to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. At the same time, according to Heusgen, the Minsk …

  • US State Deparment calls for ending human rights violations in eastern Ukraine

    The US State Department has called on Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to stop human rights abuses, while at the same time appealing to the Ukrainian Government to investigate cases of human rights violations that were referred to in a recent UN report.

    This was stated by Deputy Spokesman of the State Department Mark Toner during a daily briefing on Friday.

    "We once again call on the so-called authorities in the separatist-controlled areas to cease their human rights abuses, …

  • Ukrainian President: New Russian special forces units arrived in the Donbas

    Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the detrioration of the situation on the front line in eastern Ukraine is due to the arrival of new Russian special forces units in the Donbass.

    He made this statement at a press conference while answering a question about the reasons for the increased level of violence in the Donbas.

    “The first reason is that according to [Ukrainian] intelligence, new units of spetsnaz [Russian special forces] have entered the territory. We know the names of the …

  • Ukrainian Ambassador to OSCE:Russia continues to send weapons to the Donbas

    Russia continues to provide the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic with weapons, and it is now important to regain control of the Russian-Ukrainian border to decrease the conflict situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the head of the Ukrainian delegation of the OSCE Forum, Ihor Prokopchuk.

    “The situation at the uncontrolled border needs to be significantly improved in order for a decrease in conflict to occur. However, Russia continues to provide the Donbas …

  • Zakharchenko: A referendum to join Russia would be 'premature'

    During the "direct line with the people of the Donbas," the ‘DPR leader,’ Alexander Zakharchenko said he believes it is premature to hold a referendum on the accession of the self- proclaimed republic to the Russian Federation as it may disrupt the negotiations in Minsk.

    "Can we address the issue of accession to Russia today if we all agree? Frankly speaking, I’m not sure. Has anybody asked Russia about that? We need both sides for reunification. Have we taken into account the political risks …

  • Ukraine receives invitation to export pork to South Africa

    The Ukrainian Consumption Safety Service received an official letter from the country’s Embassy in the RSA

    The Ukrainian Service for Safety of Foodstuffs and Consumer Protection received an official letter from the Ukrainian Embassy in the Republic of South Africa offering to import Ukrainian pork into the RSA’s market, the statement of the Association of Swine Producers reads, citing the head of the Service, Vladimir Lapa.

    Swine producers in Ukraine have repeatedly complained that …

  • Rada proposes allowing Russian artists to perform in Ukraine after submitting written condemnation of the Kremlins's policies

    The Ukrainian Parliament is discussing a bill that would restrict performances of Russian musicians and actors in the country.

    The People's Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) wants to tighten the rules for Russian musicians, writers and movie makers. The authors of the bill want to ensure that media products from the Russian Federation appear in Ukraine only by permission of the Rada. Russian artists can receive permission to broadcast in Ukraine only after a written …

  • New Antonov An-178 makes international debut at ILA Berlin Air Show

    The new Ukrainian transport aircraft An-178 which was developed by the state enterprise Antonov, and boasts a lifting capacity of 18 tons debuted in the summer program at the International Aerospace ILA Berlin Air Show-2016. As the company’s press service reports, the new Ukrainian freighter fulfilled all aerobatic elements in extremely adverse weather conditions.

    "Due to difficult weather conditions demonstration flights were allowed only for the European transport A400M produced by Airbus …

  • OSCE: Separatists are firing from the roofs of houses in Donetsk

    Donetsk residents have told observers of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the OSCE that separatists are using the roofs of their houses as platforms for attacks. Interfax-Ukraine reported that this was said by the First Deputy Head of the OSCE SMM in the Donbas, Alexander Hug.

    “On Monday night, our observers reported 105 explosions north-west of Donetsk. Many of these explosions occurred in the Kuibyshevskyi district of the city. Our observers visited the area two days before the …

  • Ukrainian Finance Minister: Russia's debt recovery lawsuit could take up to two years

    According to the Ukrainian Minister of Finance, Alexander Danyluk, proceedings in the debt recovery lawsuit between Russia and Ukraine may continue for up to two years. The case involves $3 billion worth of financial assistance provided to Ukraine while the country was being led by former president, Viktor Yanukovych. Danyluk made these statements during an interview with 24 Channel on the 1st of June.

    Danyluk says that “developments may vary. It may take up to two years for the process to …