The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states agreed on preliminary agreements reached regarding inter-institutional negotiations with the EU Council and the European Commission on trade standards for Ukraine, as stated on Wednesday after the meeting of the Committee in Brussels, according to UNIAN.

On June 20th, a version of trade preferences, on which a compromise was reached, was supported by the Committee of the European Parliament on international trade. This issues …

The Russian government is preparing measures in response to a package of new US sanctions and the expulsion of diplomats from the United States in December 2016, an official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said in an interview with Rossiya [Russia] 1 TV.

Maria Zakharova said that the response "will have a very solid base." "The response measures are being prepared. This, as you understand, will not be decided only in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," she added. …

The Russian Ministry of Defense denies that the Russian Viktor Ageyev, who was taken prisoner in the Luhansk region, is currently enlisted.

“Viktor Ageyev never served in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation under contract. According to the records of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ageyev served in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, after which, in May 2016, he resigned in accordance with established procedure to the reserve. Information regarding the alleged subsequent entry …

On Wednesday June 28 in Brussels, the company Ukrenergo signed an agreement on the conditions for the joining of Ukraine’s energy system with the European energy system ENTSO-E.

As reported by the company’s press service, this document consists of three main parts: a catalog of the conditions which need to be met for joining; a list of necessary additional research, and a roadmap.

Although technically operation with ENTSO-E and operation with Russia, Belarus and Moldova are similar, there are …

During his speech for Constitution Day, President Petro Poroshenko called for parliamentary immunity to be abolished.

“The high profile cases, the decisive steps in the fight against corruption, which are being demonstrated by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the National Anti-corruption Bureau, remind us all of what an anachronism parliamentary immunity is. My bill to change the constitution is ready. It will require political will from the MPs – once and for all, to put themselves on the …

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson informed him of US intelligence information that Syrian authorities are preparing a new chemical attack.

“Rex Tillerson called me. The leaking of the fact that we spoke took place once again on the American side. I can… confirm that he called me and warned me that the US has information on a supposed new chemical attack being prepared against the opposition, as he put it,” Lavrov said at a press conference …

The Russian National Guard will not only be able to ensure Russia’s security within the country, but also beyond its borders, as stated by the first deputy director of the Russian National Guard, Sergey Melikov at a reception for graduating officers, reported Russian news agency TASS.

“As of today, troops of the National Guard, by the president's decision, and unlike domestic troops, will have the opportunity to function outside our country. Such work can be given to the troops, hence, the …

The payment of the mineral extraction tax in Russia was completed, and at the same time the ruble stopped gaining strength, which again turned out to be “in the hands of geopolitics and oil quotations,” stated analyst for the eToro investor social network in Russia and the CIS, Mikhail Mashchenko.

As of 17:46 Moscow time, the dollar rate calculation for “tomorrow” added 16 cents to the previous close and reached 58.9325 rubles. At the same time, the rate of the euro rose almost 81 kopecks to 66 …