• Germany’s Defense Minister calls for transparency of Russian military movements

    In her interview with Bild am Sonntag, the Minister of Defense of Germany, Ursula von der Leyen, called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization the strongest existing military alliance and called on Russia to openly report the number of its troops and its movements. “It would be an appropriate step if Russia and NATO continue to exchange information on movements and number of their troops within OSCE,” the Minister stated. Von der Leyen favored improving relations with Russia, noting that Moscow …

  • Aliyev: Nagorno-Karabakh can get special status if it remains part of Azerbaijan

    The Status of Nagorno-Karabakh should not violate the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan

    Nagorno-Karabakh can get a special status, but only provided that the area remains a part of Azerbaijan as stated by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, APA reports.

    "Nagorno-Karabakh will never gain independence. A second Armenian state will never be created on the historical lands of Azerbaijan. This is the main issue. As for the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, this is a matter for the future. Of …

  • Poland: Brexit could simplify Ukraine's path to the EU

    The UK’s decision to withdraw from the European Union (EU) will force the European institutions to change how they function. This may then simplify the process for Ukraine to integrate with Europe. This was stated by the Marshal of the Polish, Sejm Marek Kuchciński, at a briefing in Truskavets in the Lviv region on the 26th of June.

    “If we are discussing the future, especially Europe’s future with regard to the decision of the UK, then I believe that this is an opportunity to necessitate …

  • Yelchenko: Punishment for MH17 perpetrators will be considered at upcoming UN General Assembly meeting

    The issue of holding those accountable who are responsible for the MH17 crash will be put on the agenda on the second anniversary of the tragedy, and at the next session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September.

    According to UNIAN, this was announced by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, Volodymyr Yelchenko, during an interview with LB.ua.

    “I think that all of the reports that were promised will be published during autumn. We will then again sit in New York and …

  • Media: So-called DPR has decided to 'nationalize' Ukrainian property in the Donbas

    The so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has adopted a new law on nationalization, declaring that all property belonging to Ukraine, which is located on the territory of the DPR, now belongs to the DPR.

    According to the Gazeta.Ru, the law was adopted by the so-called National Council on the 24th of June.

    “The law was read out in the National Council by the representative of the head of the DPR, Svetlana Yegorova. It was immediately approved in the first and second readings,” the …

  • Georgian Defense Minister: Brexit does not change Georgia's relationship with the EU and NATO

    Georgian Defense Minister Tinatin Khidasheli believes that the UK’s decision to withdraw from the European Union will not affect the relationship between Georgia and the EU, Interfax-Ukraine reported. She also said that Georgia’s relationship with NATO remains unchanged.

    Commenting on the UK’s referendum, in which 52% of voters supported leaving the EU, Khidasheli said “of course this changes international politics and international relations,” but in the matter of cooperation between Georgia …

  • EU to discuss referendum on Ukraine’s association at upcoming Summit

    On Sunday, a European official told UNIAN that from the 28th – 29th of June in Brussels, the EU Summit will discuss the consequences of the referendum in Great Britain on the exit from the EU as well as the referendum in the Netherlands on Ukraine’s Association Agreement.

    According to him, on Tuesday, 27 leaders of the EU member countries during a dinner with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, will hold a discussion on the UK's exit from the EU.

    "We expect that he will …

  • Ukrainian-American Rapid Trident 2016 exercises begin in the Lviv region

    The Ukrainian-American Rapid Trident 2016 military exercises have begun at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy in the Lviv region.

    More than 1,800 soldiers from 14 countries are participating in the exercise, which will last until July 8th.

    According to the US Army in Europe's website, "Rapid Trident is a regional command post exercise and field training exercise focused on peacekeeping and stability operations to ensure a …

  • The Verkhovna Rada is unlikely to approve a draft law on elections in Donbas

    The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Andriy Parubiy admits that the draft law on elections in Donbas can appear in the Verkhovna Rada and can be placed on the session agenda. However, Parubiy sees no prospects for its adoption.

    “Theoretically, it can appear, especially if it is placed on the agenda by the President, who has a right to present draft laws for urgent consideration… but I see no prospects for emergence of this draft law in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and also I see no prospects …

  • Chief Of Staff of Ukrainian Army called in for questioning over 2014 air crash in eastern Ukraine

    The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Viktor Muzhenko, was called in for questioning on the crash of an IL-76 cargo jet over Luhansk in eastern Ukraine which claimed the lives of 49 people. This was reported by Ukrainian Channel 5.

    According to Channel 5, the Chief of Staff was questioned by the Pavlograd court of the Dnipro region. The questioning was conducted via teleconference. The commander of the 25th Transport Aviation Brigade,Dmitry Mimrikov, was also summoned …