• Russia denies US senator entry into the country

    The Russian Embassy to the US has published a statement saying that Russia has refused to issue a visa to US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and that the politician had been put on a "blacklist" created in response to anti-Russian sanctions.

    "The [Russian] Embassy received a visa application for a Congressional delegation consisting of senators and their staff. Visas were issued to all members of the delegation, with the exception of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who is on a Russian ‘blacklist’ created in …

  • Hrytsak: there are Russian agents among SBU employees

    People who cooperate with Russian special services are working in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), including those who are at high positions, the head of the SBU Vasyl Hrytsak stated it in an interview to Interfax-Ukraine. Employees of the department have detained "counterintelligence agents" themselves, including colonels and lieutenant colonels on suspicion of working for Russian special services.

    He explained that before the change of power in 2014 "favorable conditions existed for …

  • More than 10 Russian military held in Ukrainian prisons

    In Ukrainian prisons, there are more than 10 regular Russian military who took direct part in the military conflict in the Donbas, as stated on the NewsOne TV channel by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Valeriya Lutkovska.

    "There are 320 persons [citizens of the Russian Federation]. They are convicted of various crimes. These are not only those related to the conflict in the Donbas, but there are other issues that may arise among citizens of the Russian Federation in …

  • Volker: Obama imposed restrictions on supply of weapons to Ukraine, Trump lifted them

    Donald Trump's Administration's decision to start supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine has removed the restriction on supplies imposed by former U.S. President Barack Obama,  U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker, stated in an interview with Echo of Moscow.

    "This decision [on weapon supplies] was, in fact, the lifting of the Obama administration's restrictions. President Obama had imposed restrictions on U.S. assistance to Ukraine. The U.S. has established relations in the field …

  • Ukrainian Presidential advisor: some soldiers freed from separatist captivity in Donbas suspected of desertion

    According to Ukrainian Presidential Advisor, Yurii Biriukov, 14 of the 73 freed prisoners of war were suspected of being deserters as indicated on Facebook. The soldiers suspected of desertion will not be able to access financial compensation until a court hands down a verdict.

    This came after veterans of the antiterrorist operation [the armed conflict between government troops and Russian-backed separatist forces in Donbas] became frustrated when recognizing deserters among the soldiers who …

  • Volker: US ready to partially remove sanctions from Russia if Kremlin implements the Minsk agreements

    The United States is ready to partially lift sanctions against Russia after full implementation of the Minsk agreements in the Donbas,stated US special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker in an interview with Echo of Moscow.

    "It's very simple, very, very simple. Secretary of State Tillerson, Pentagon chief James Mattis, [and] the US president have spoken about this: we want to see the restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, [and] security and protection for all …

  • Russia and Turkey sign loan agreement for delivery of S-400 missile systems

    Russia and Turkey have signed an agreement on payment terms for the S-400 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, reported Hurriyet, citing the head of the Turkish Defense Ministry, Nurettin Canikli.

    The publication did not disclose the details of the signed agreement. However, the head of Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, said earlier that Ankara would pay 45% of the transaction amount as an advance, while the other 55% would be allocated by Russia as a loan. The total value of the deal is $2.5 billion. …

  • Russia sentences 'Magnitsky Act' advocate Browder to 9 years in prison in absentia

    William Browder, head of British investment fund Hermitage Capital, has been sentenced to nine years in prison in absentia by Russia for deliberate bankruptcy, reported Interfax, citing the decision of the Tver Moskovdsky District court.

    The Court decided to charge Browder and his partner Ivan Cherkasov, who is also a defendant in the case, for more than 4 billion rubles ($70 million USD) in damages to the aggrieved parties.

    Browder's defense indicated that Browder intends to appeal the …

  • Warsaw: only Poland decides whether to accept refugees or not

    “The Polish position regarding the relocation of refugees remains unchanged. Only Poland decides whether it is able to accept refugees or not,” stated the Polish government spokeswoman Joanna Kopcińska. “Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will continue the policy of supporting the needy in their home countries,” she added.

    "It is Poland who decides whether it is able to accept refugees or not. It is our sovereign decision, which lies in the hands of Poles, not officials who have little in …

  • Putin ratifies agreement with Syria on the use of Tartus naval base

    On December 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified an agreement to expand the Russian Naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus, as reported on Russia’s government website.

    The agreement is valid for 49 years and will be automatically extended for successive 25-year periods unless one of the parties informs the other party about its intention to terminate it no less than one year before the expiration of a period.

    The base in Tartus is being transferred to Russia at no cost. The Russians …