Contents tagged with USA
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US State Deparment calls for ending human rights violations in eastern Ukraine
The US State Department has called on Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to stop human rights abuses, while at the same time appealing to the Ukrainian Government to investigate cases of human rights violations that were referred to in a recent UN report.
This was stated by Deputy Spokesman of the State Department Mark Toner during a daily briefing on Friday.
"We once again call on the so-called authorities in the separatist-controlled areas to cease their human rights abuses, …
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Ukraine offers joint production of rocket engines with US to replace Russian models
Ukraine has proposed a joint development and production of a rocket engine designed to replace Russian models that are currently used for the launch of U.S. military satellites, Radio Svoboda reported.
On the 31st of May, the Head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Luybomyr Sabadosh stated that he proposed a plan to replace Russian RD-180 rocket engines during his visit to the U.S.A. Congress decided to stop using RD-180 engines until 2019.
“This is a challenging task but we can handle it,” …
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Biden calls for the release of all Ukrainians held in Russian prisons
During a phone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, US Vice President Joe Biden called for the release of all Ukrainian prisoners being held in Russia, according to a statement on the White House’s website.
“The Vice President congratulated President Poroshenko on the release of Ukrainian pilot and Rada member Nadiya Savchenko and called for the release of all Ukrainians unlawfully detained in Russia,” the statement read.
Nadiya Savchenko was released on Wednesday as part of a …
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The US will not recognize a referendum in South Ossetia to join Russia
The US does not support the possibility of holding a referendum to allow the state of South Ossetia to join the Russian Federation. This was said by the State Department spokesman, Mark Toner, and was reported on the department’s website.
“We support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, which includes South Ossetia. This means that we do not accept any attempts by South Ossetia to break away or declare its sovereignty,” Toner said.
South Ossetia has changed the date for …
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Inhabitants of Russian villages asked Obama to help them with gas supplies
Valery Slesarev, an activist and resident of the town of Yegoryevsk, has visited the US Embassy in Moscow to ask US President Barack Obama to provide gas to several Russian villages.
According to MK, Slesarev has been asking local authorities for nearly 10 years to provide several large villages in the area with gas. The majority of the residents are weak pensioners and war veterans who are forced to chop fallen trees for firewood.
“What is happening in the city of Yegoryevsk is an outrage! …
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Russian citizen sentenced in US for economic espionage
On the 25th of May, the deputy representative of the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, Evgeny Buryakov, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for economic espionage while in the US. He was also fined $10,000 for the crime.
According to AP news agency, the Russian received sensitive information concerning possible US sanctions against Russian banks between 2012 and 2015. Buryakov also received information on the development of alternative energy programs.
Buryakov had …
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John Kerry welcomed the release of Nadiya Savchenko
The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, welcomed the release of the former Army pilot in the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Nadiya Savchenko, and her return from Russia to her homeland. In his statement, he called Savchenko’s release an important element of Russia’s implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
Secretary Kerry called on Moscow to meet its other obligations to these agreements, namely the release of prisoners and hostages, withdrawal of troops and restoration of Ukraine’s control …
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The U.S. Defense Attache in Moscow was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Defense
On the 23rd of May, the U.S. Defense Attaché from the Embassy in Moscow was invited to the Russian Ministry of Defense in connection with an allegedly dangerous flight of U.S reconnaissance aircraft over the Sea of Japan near the Russian border. According to the agency, there was a risk of collision with passenger aircraft because the U.S. aircraft flew at the height designated for civil aircraft.
The plane, an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, allegedly turned off its transponder and the crew …
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US Deputy Secretary of Defense: Russia is on a path towards confrontation
The United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, Robert Work, stated that Russia’s actions in Europe contribute to a changing international strategic landscape and represent a serious cause for concern. Europe and more generally NATO face different challenges in from all sides, Work noted. Russia is increasingly antagonistic and is gaining strength from the east, west and north, while terrorism and armed extremism are challenges from the south and from the inside.
“We are at a turning point in …
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Stratfor: Washington and Moscow may be making progress in talks over Ukraine
The United States is likely making slow headway in the negotiation process with Russia on the crisis in Ukraine but this week demonstrated significant progress. Voice of America reports that this statement was released by the American analytical center Stratfor in a new analysis named "Anticipation of progress in negotiations on Ukraine."
On May 18th, Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland once again visited Moscow where she met with Russian Presidential Assistant Vladislav Surkov. This …