Russian officer, Vladimir Starkov, detained in the Donetsk region in July, was exchanged for the Ukrainian soldier, Andrey Grechanov, who has been detained by DNR (Donetsk People’s Republic) separatists. Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, signed a decree to pardon Russian Major, Vladimir Starkov, sentenced to 14 years in prison for participation in hostilities against Ukraine. This was reported on the first of December in the statement published on the Ukrainian President’s website.

The …

Russian Minister of Energy Skeptical About Continued Crimean Reliance on Ukrainian Power Supply

According to the Russian Minister of Energy, Alexander Novak, he had no clear understanding concerning the continuation of work with Ukrainian electrical power system. Authorities of the Russian Federation do not anticipate the renewal of power supplies from Ukraine to Crimea.

“The peninsula counts on its own strength,” Novak said in Simferopol. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Energy denied the …

In the next two weeks the Council of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union (Coreper) will begin its work preparing proposals for the heads of EU Member States on the extension of economic sanctions against Russia. RIA Novosti reports that sources close to EU leadership believe that during the summit in December, members will decide on the renewal of these measures, presumably for another six months. 

According to one source, the draft document on economic sanctions …