The Ministry of Defense of Slovakia pays Russia 20 million euro annually plus another 10 million for other service work according to the Contract Agreement on service of MiG-29 fighter jets, stated Danka Capáková, the spokeswoman for the Defense Ministry on Monday, May 7.

Her statement came after an announcement of Slovak Parliament speaker Andrej Danko who said last Sunday that Slovakia is negotiating further contracts with Russia regarding the MiG-29s.

The local media earlier reported that …

The primary problem of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is the staff policy, which is causing decent individuals to leave the army en masse. A statement to this effect was made on Facebook by activist Olha Reshetylova, coordinator of the Media Initiative for Human Rights.Reshetylova came to this conclusion after talking to a general who said that Ukraine cannot get “normal commanders” anywhere.

“I know personally (and every volunteer knows) dozens of normal combat officers who have snapped and left …

On Monday, May 7, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid announced through her press service that she will pay an official visit to Ukraine on May 22.

President Kaljulaid is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, Vice-Prime-Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and Chairman of the Verkhovna, Rada Andriy Parubiy. Kaljulaid will additionally speak at a business seminar in Kyiv and meet with local entrepreneurs.

Kaljulaid plans to visit Eastern …

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has identified 26 Russian officers who have been "sent" to serve as combat training instructors for PMC Wagner since 2014, as stated during a briefing by SBU Head Vasyl Hrytsak, the SBU Press Service reports.

According to Hrytsak, Russian military personnel conducted exercises for “Putin’s private army" that included tactical, fire, engineering and artillery training, as well as training for tank crews, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel …

The Ukraine-NATO Commission at the level of deputy permanent representatives with the participation of the Head of the National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine, Andriy Kobolyev discussed issues of Ukraine’s energy security at a meeting on Monday, May 7.

The press service of the company stated that the Naftogaz report was devoted to the decision of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. The implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project sparked a discussion during …

Germany and France expect Vladimir Putin’s "constructive participation in resolving international conflicts." Russia should help resolve the crises in Syria and Ukraine, as well as other problems, Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas stated during a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Berlin on Monday, May 7, Radio Liberty reported. According to the German ambassador, Berlin and Paris are interested in dialogue with Moscow and expect from it "constructive contribution …

Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kyrylenko stated on Twitter that he has asked the Ukrainian authorities to develop sanctions against 12 Russian publishing houses that distribute “anti-Ukrainian” literature.

 “In response to the requests of the public and the State Committee for Television and Radio-Broadcasting of Ukraine, I signed a request for authorities to develop sanctions against 12 Russian publishers that systematically distribute book publications with content that is aimed …

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz threatened to overthrow and kill Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if he continues to allow Iran to operate out of Syria, the Israeli news outlet Ynet reports.

The Israeli government accuses Iran, one of Syria’s primary allies, of striving to turn Syria into a hostile staging area. However, Israel promises to prevent this, even if it requires use of military force.

“If Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to allow the Iranians to operate out of …