• Stoltenberg: we will not exchange Ukraine for Syria

    The West does not plan to exchange Ukraine in its efforts to resolve the situation in Syria, as stated by the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais.

    "We will not exchange Ukraine for Syria and vice versa. Russia is the country with which we cooperate, particularly in the effort of finding political solutions to these conflicts," he said.

    "We never intended to isolate Russia", the Secretary General of NATO said.

    As reported last week, the …

  • New U.S. funding won't be a part of Ukrainian budget

    Additional US financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $190 million will not be directed to the state budget.  These funds are intended for implementation of the reforms in the judicial and law enforcement spheres, the U.S. officials accompanying the Vice President, Joseph Biden, said on Monday during his visit to Kiev.

    According to them, the $190 million in new funding is to be used to carry out programs aimed at improving law enforcement support and making judicial and democratic …

  • Russia looking to use Cyprus airfields for emergency landings

    Moscow seeks to obtain permission from Cyprus to utilize their airfields. Both Germany and France have been granted the use of Cyprus’ airfields for emergency landings. The Cyprus Mail reported on December 7th that Russia has also requested use of these airfields for Russian aircraft engaged in the fight against terrorism in Syria.

    The Russian Ambassador in Cyprus, Stanislav Osadchiy, stated that Moscow is discussing this topic with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus. “I think we will …

  • US can provide Ukraine with $300 million

    Biden stressed that Ukrainian leaders implement the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and work with the international community "to continue economic progress in Ukraine.”

    The United States can give Ukraine $300 million for the security development. This was stated by US Vice-President, Joseph Biden, in Kiev.

    According to Biden, the U.S. Congress is working to pass such law. "It hasn`t been passed, but I hope that soon, it will be adopted,” he said during the joint …

  • Biden speaks to Ukrainian Parliament

    Kyiv, December 8, 2015

    In his passionate speach to Ukrainian parliament U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden urged Ukraine to seize the opportunity to become a truly democratic nation that removes the blight of corruption. He also directly accused Moscow of sending troops to fight with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and trying to hide that action from the Russian public and the world. Mr. Biden assured Ukraine of the U.S. continuous support as long as it stayed on the democratic path. …

  • Ukraine will prepare a trade blockade of uncontrolled territories

    On Dec. 9 the Ukranian Cabinet of Ministers will consider the draft resolution on a trade blockade of  Crimea and uncontrolled territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic - DND and Lugansk People's Republic - LNR). The Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov, stated this during the briefing, according to a correspondent of RBC-Ukraine.

    "The Cabinet of Ministers has prepared and agreed with all parties on the draft …

  • Ukrainian President: Moscow will not stop us from free trade zone with EU

    The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, noted that Moscow’s disapproval  of the  free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU will be unsuccessful. He discussed this among other things in an interview with Ukrainian TV channels published December 6.

    "If someone in Kremlin wants us to ask their permission for a free trade zone with EU, it will not happen. We will not give in to any blackmail," the President said and added that the Free Trade Agreement will come into effect starting January 1 2 …

  • Syrian opposition groups to meet at conference in Saudi Arabia

    Reuters reported that different groups of the Syrian opposition will meet on December 8th in Saudi Arabia in order to agree upon a common position before the upcoming international negotiations on Syria in New York. The various Islamist and Salafist organizations received invitations from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the conference, which is to be held from the 8th to the 10th of December.

    However, the report didn’t specify if the Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) will take part in the …

  • Turkey and Ukraine in talks on tank modernization

    As tensions between Moscow and Ankara continue to rise, Turkey has turned to Ukraine looking for cooperation in military programs.As reported by Defense News, Turkey's Aselsan and Ukraine's Ukroboronprom have started negotiations on a deal for tank modernization programs.This comes at a time when both countries find themselves at odds with Kremlin.The Turkish government signed a contract with Aselsan at the end of November for a weapons system, known as the Akkor, which protects against anti- …

  • Russian military satellite fails to launch

    As reported by RIA Novosti, one of two military satellites, launched from the Russian Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region, failed to separate from the booster rocket. The satellite was created to scan the Earth's oceans and weather systems from space, and to spot submarines. It took a decade to develop.

    An investigation has been opened and early indications suggest there was a problem with the satellite's attachment to the upper-stage rocket, which did not open up in time.

    The …