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Pentagon chief confirms support of Ukraine.
Ashton Carter, US Defense Secretary, confirmed Pentagon's continued support for Ukraine on Thursday at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Stepan Poltorak in Washington, D.C.He said Pentagon would soon start training Ukrainian forces.
Small numbers of US troops have already started training Ukrainian National Guards in the west of Ukraine far from the frontlines. In July a plan was also announced to take on regular military units.
Carter said America's commitment to …
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Pro-Russian militants order UN agencies to leave.
According to Stephen O'Brien, United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, pro-russian militants ordered UN agencies to leave rebel-held parts of in the eastern Ukraine.
Stephen O'Brien said the agencies had been told to leave by Friday, and several international non-governmental organisations (NGO) by Saturday.
The Luhansk separatists had earlier banned 10 international humanitarian agencies citing "violations".
Last year parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions …
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$1 Billion Gas Financing for Ukraine
A $1 billion financing package is being prepared by the World Bank and other international financial institutions to help Ukraine and its Naftogaz to fill up its natural gas-storage facilities and avoid shortages over the winter.
Many European states still remember 2009 gas shortages due to cutoffs from Russia. Current gas talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by EU have been complicated by the war in the east of Ukraine that was unleashed Russia.
European officials still hope that …
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French Warships to be sold to Egypt.
France said Wednesday it is selling two Mistral class warships that were originally intended for Russia to Egypt.
The two warships were originally built for Russia but France refused to deliver because of Moscow’s role in the war in Ukraine.
According to French officials, the Mistrals will cost Egypt €950 million (US$1.06 billion) for the two Mistral class warships. Originally Russia were to pay €1.2 billion for the warships, but as per the russian contract, France was supposed to help …
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MH17 Tribunal may be formed avoiding UN Security Council.
According to Julie Bishop, Austalia's Foreign Minister, an independent prosecution tribunal may be formed over Malaysian Ailines flight 17 destroyed in eastern Ukraine last year.A group of nations including Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine are seeking criminal accountability for the justice of victims of the Malaysian jetliner.Ministers from those nations would meet at the United Nations next Tuesday, during the annual General Assembly meeting of world leaders, for …