• Will the conflict between Russia and Turkey affect Ukraine?

    While Russia and Turkey accuse each other of violating basic international rules and threaten each other with rigorous sanctions, we tried to understand what the long-term consequences of the SU-24 crash would be. How strongly tied are the economies of the two countries? Immediately after the crash, the Kremlin stated that the status of the relationship between the countries was undermined at that time. Both parties stand to suffer losses should the relationship deteriorate further. Turkey is …

  • Russia bombs Turkish humanitarian aid convoy

    As reported by Turkish state-run Anadolu News Agency, Russian warplanes bombed a Turkish truck convoy at the Syrian border on Wednesday.The trucks belonged to IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, an Istanbul-based humanitarian organization with connections to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

    Seven people were killed and ten others injured in the air strike on the convoy of 20 trucks delivering supplies to refugees.

    Meanwhile, a US official said he was "aware of reports that a convoy of …

  • US Defence Budget approved with $300 aid to Ukraine

    Barack Obama signed U.S. 2016 defense budget that among other things will provide a $300 million assistance for Ukraine.

    The revised law signed on November 25, 2015 assigning $300 million for Ukraine forces, includes $50 million that may be used for lethal defensive arms.

    As a reminder, the budget stipulates $300 million in defense and security assistance to Ukraine. These funds may be used to train Ukrainian servicemen, to transfer intelligence data, non-lethal or lethal weapons.

    Ukrainian …

  • How Russia Is a Threat to Ukraine

    Political expert, Olesya Yahno, stated that possible renewal of military actions east of the country, as well as the unpredictability of Russia and its internal processes, poses a threat to Ukraine. “Potential risks apply not only to former Soviet countries but the whole Asian territory and Central Asia in particular. Kurdistan is not simply a problem for one particular country; it’s a problem for other nations as well,” stated Yahno.

    On the other hand, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey are all …

  • US launches a new stage of Ukrainian Army combat training

    The Ukrainian Defence Ministry explained that military exercises, supported by American instructors, will last until the beginning of 2017. According to The Pentagon, Washington has pledged funding of more than $265 million for this purpose. On November 23, Pentagon official, Mr. Davis , stated that The United States has initiated the second stage of its program Fearless Guardian with the preparation and equipping of Ukrainian Army servicemen. In his interview to reporters, Davis explained that …