• Herbst: War in Ukraine is more important than Russian invasion of Syria

     

    The former U.S Ambassador to Ukraine, John Herbst, in his interview with the Voice of America, stated that U.S Secretary of State, John Kerry, is not the best candidate for negotiations with Russia regarding the cessation of the war in Ukraine. According to him, his soft diplomacy will not convince the Kremlin that it’s time to pull back.

    “The point is that during negotiations with the Kremlin, U.S Secretary John Kerry doesn't speak harshly in regards to Russian crimes, such as the Crimean …

  • Trump: Putin's compliments are a great honor

    Donald Trump reciprocates the compliments by Vladimir Putin

     The leading presidential candidate from the Republican Party, Donald Trump, told ABC that for him it's a "great honor" to receive a compliment from Vladimir Putin.

     Trump made this statement on Thursday after the ABC broadcast of an interview with Putin in which the Russian president called the American businessman and showman a "colorful, talented" person that wishes to put U.S. - Russia relations on a more solid ground. "How can …

  • IMF recognizes status of Ukraine’s debt

    Ukraine’s debt to Russia is set to mature on December 20th.  Recently, however, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lifted the ban on lending to countries with existing overdue sovereign debt, so Ukraine’s unpaid "debt of Yanukovych" will not prevent the IMF from further cooperation with Kiev.

    The Executive Committee of the IMF officially recognized the $3 billion Eurobond that Ukraine owes to Russia as sovereign debt, not commercial. Consequently, Ukraine will have to demonstrate that it is …

  • No delay in the introduction of EU-Ukraine free trade zone

    Despite the opposition of Moscow, an agreement on a free trade zone between the EU and Ukraine will begin effective January 1st.  The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, ended the delays that were hindering the Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.  The EU President stated this during a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, December 16th.

    “A comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU will become enforced as of January 1 …

  • Putin comments on Nemtsov investigation

    During his annual Q & A session with journalists, Russian President Vladimir Putin encouraged those who demand progress in the investigation of the assassination of Boris Nemtsov to be patient.

    "I knew him personally. He chose a path of political battle, and he was not alone...and I believe that is a crime that must be investigated thoroughly", Putin stated.

    Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Putin, was gunned down in February of this year, just steps from the Kremlin. The former Minister had …