-
Yanukovych says he would like the Crimea to return to Ukraine
Former Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia, said he would like the Crimea to return to Ukraine. Interfax news agency quoted him as saying that the "cowardly" Ukrainian authorities were afraid to "use force and bar the referendum [in the Crimea]."
Yanukovych stated that he had met with the Crimeans and seen their alarm that the Maidan revolution could spread to the Crimea. According to him, Pro-Russian sentiment had been there already, it only needed an occasion – and …
-
The Head of Crimea to dismiss three ministers
Head of the Crimea Sergey Aksyonov said that the recent resignations in the government of the republic are not connected to any criminal prosecutions.
Earlier Aksyonov announced his intention to dismiss three regional ministers: Resorts and Tourism Minister Sergei Strelbitsky, Fuel and Energy Minister Svetlana Borodulina and Housing and Public Utilities Minister Sergei Karpov. He also spoke about the dismissal of the mayor of Yalta, Andrei Rostenko at his own request.
The Head of Crimea noted …
-
Ankara: Turkey will stand up for the rights of Crimean residents
Turkey will stand for the rights of Crimea’s residents and the Crimean Tatars, stated Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yıldız at a conference dedicated to the reforms in Ukraine, Anadolu news agency reports.
Yıldız expressed confidence that despite the tense situation in the Crimea and the Donbas, Ukraine will become stronger. He also emphasized the significance of implementing the Minsk agreements.
“This agreement, despite the discontent over the process of its implementation, still …
-
Poroshenko signed a law on the course of Ukraine's accession to NATO
President Petro Poroshenko signed a law amending several laws regarding foreign policy processes which listed Ukraine's accession to NATO as one of the bases of Ukrainian foreign policy, as reported on the Presidential website.
The previous version of Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Basics of Domestic and Foreign Policy," the priority was "to deepen cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in order to meet the criteria necessary to obtain membership in this organization. …
-
Lavrov: Russia expects information from U.S. after Tillerson’s statements about no-fly zones in Syria
Russia requested information from the U.S. about statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about no-fly zones in Syria, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as reported by RIA Novosti.
The day before, Tillerson said that the United States was studying the possibility of implementing, with Russia, an agreement on no-fly zones, observers for keeping the ceasefire, and the delivery of humanitarian aid in Syria.
“The United States is ready to consider the possibility of …
-
Russians picket in support of political prisoners
A series of one-man protests in support of Russian political prisoners took place in St. Petersburg with about 10-15 people lining up with posters along Nevsky Prospect, Rosbalt.ru reports.
"The signs demanded the release of political prisoners. We also tried to draw attention to the beginning of new mass political repressions in Russia. This is evidenced by the cases brought against the participants of the protests on March 26 and June 12. These events show that the ‘Bolotnaya Square Case’ is …
-
Siemens warns that it will not service illegally imported turbines in Crimea
The German company Siemens AG has stated that it will not service its turbines that have been illegally imported from Russia to the annexed Crimea, if this information is confirmed.
According to the company’s statement, Siemens has taken all possible legal measures to prevent such an import of the company's products into the Crimea, which is under sanctions, and will take appropriate operative measures to prevent illegal use of the equipment; namely, it will not provide any deliveries or …
-
Poland signs agreement to buy Patriot missile systems from US
On the night of July 6, the US and Poland signed an agreement regarding the purchase of eight American Patriot anti-missile defense systems.
“The US government has agreed to sell Poland Patriot missile systems in the most modern configuration, specifically, the same which the US forces will be using,” Radio Poland cites Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz as saying.
In the spring of 2015 it was reported that Poland intends to purchase eight Patriot anti-air defense systems from the US. …
-
Security Service of Ukraine opens case against detained Russian border guards
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) initiated criminal proceedings according to article 110 of the Criminal Code (infringement of territorial integrity) against detained Russian border guards Askar Kulub and Vladimir Kuznetsov. The SBU is preparing to file charges against them, as reported on the SBU’s website.
The investigation believes that in the period between December 2016 and the 30th of June 2017, Kulub (deputy commander of the reserve unit no. 9930) and Kuznetsov (head of canine …
-
Separatist Republics in the east of Ukraine believe they will soon become part of Russia
According to Commander of the separatist Legion battalion and “Member of Parliament” of DPR Sergey Zavdoveev, the self-proclaimed DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and the LPR (Luhansk People’s Republic) will be incorporated into Russia in the near future, separatist media reports.
In his opinion, only Russia is preventing Kyiv from realizing the "Croatian scenario" in the Donbas.
"I think that no one is taking on Russia. The LPR and DPR – this is Russia. We are now legally being integrated …