German authorities do not recognize the Russian annexation of the Crimea peninsula. German companies will not work in this territory, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated, as reported by the newspaper Kommersant.

"This fact, of course, has consequences for German companies’ activities both directly in the Crimea and in connection with it. German companies won’t work there. Besides, concerning Siemens, the existing agreement was violated and, therefore, the investors have lost …

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia is gradually moving away from the compulsory military service model, and will abandon it completely “sometime later”, RIA Novosti reports.

“We should bear in mind that we are gradually moving away from compulsory service in general,” the president said, adding that this process is taking place more slowly than planned due to budgetary limitations.

“But we are still working and will continue to work to ensure that it won’t be long before …

Ukraine is ready to suspend its membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in the event of Russia's return to PACE without the implementation by Moscow of the Assembly’s resolutions, reported LB.ua news website, citing diplomatic sources.

"A return of the aggressor country, Russia, which has not fulfilled any European resolutions, to the club of decent countries will force Kyiv to take retaliatory actions. We are not talking about a withdrawal of Ukraine from PACE …

The Russian Prosecutor General, Yury Chaika has requested the United States to launch a probe into British investor William Browder, on whose initiative the United States adopted the so-called "Magnitsky Act" on sanctions against Russian human rights violators.

According to Radio Liberty, Chaika is said to have requested this in his letter to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In another letter, he called on the US to verify the validity of the adoption of the "Magnitsky Act" itself. According …

The UN General Assembly has indefinitely postponed debate on the issue of the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and weapons from the territory of the Transdniestrian region of Moldova, as reported by the   the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, citing UN Spokesperson Brenden Varma.

"Based on a statement received from the delegates, the General Assembly has postponed the decision to include the topic of the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of the Republic of …

Undeclared military exercises began in the polar county of Troms in the north of Norway. About 2,000 servicemen of the Land Forces and the National Guard of the country are taking part in them, the press service of the Norwegian Armed Forces stated, according to TASS.

The exercises are scheduled to last until the end of the week. During this time, the rapid response skills and prompt execution of the tasks set by the command will be trained. The maneuvers are in the central part of Troms …

Moldovan President Igor Dodon released a statement on the swearing in of Defense Minister Eugen Sturza. The statement was published on the president’s website.

According to Dodon the actions of the Moldovan government have no political legitimacy.

“The regime will fall into the pit which it is digging for others. The swearing in of the defense minister goes beyond the limits of political legitimacy and demonstrates how powerlessness forces the government to make serious mistakes.

By not …

Next year, Ukraine can be invited to the Enhance Opportunity Program, which is a program for special partners of NATO, stated Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO Vadym Prystaiko in an interview with Ukrinform.

“For Ukraine, the priority is to hold a special meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the highest level, to which the President will be invited [in connection with the NATO summit on July 11-12, 2018 in Brussels]. Also, as planned, at that time we will receive support for our …