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Media: At previous meeting with Surkov, Volker wanted to learn if Russia was ready to resolve the Donbas conflict
On October 7, a meeting between the US Department of State's Special Representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker, and Russian Presidential Aide Vladislav Surkov took place in Belgrade. However, the details of the meeting had remained unknown- until now.
The publication LB.ua, citing sources in diplomatic circles, has reported that the meeting itself consisted of three elements. First, lunch; further, a tête-à-tête, which lasted more than an hour; and, finally, communication with members of their …
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Latvia detects Russian warships near its borders
Three Russian warships were sighted near the Latvian border, the National Armed Forces of the Republic stated on Twitter.
"In the Latvian exclusive economic zone, 18 nautical miles from territorial waters, on October 21, the Navy identified the Bira-class supply ship Irgiz of the Russian Armed Forces," the statement says.
It also notes that 13 nautical miles from the territorial waters of the republic, a Russian Sura-class buoy tender Kilektor 1 was seen, and at six nautical miles, a Smolny- …
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Russian Sberbank admits that it is impossible to operate in the Crimea due to sanctions
Lawyers from the Russian Sberbank cannot find a legal mechanism that would allow them to operate in the Crimea while avoiding related sanctions, stated Herman Gref, the bank’s CEO, during a lecture at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi, reports RIA Novosti.
"You can imagine what the price of such an issue is for Sberbank. It is a question of the entire financial system of the country, the competitiveness of the country as a whole. Therefore, the speculators who raise these …
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Elections winner in Czech Republic excludes possibility of pro-Russian coalition
The leader of the ANO party, the decisive winner in the Czech elections, said that he will not negotiate the formation of the government with the pro-Russian parties who were also among the leaders of the election.
This was reported by iDnes, citing the speech given by ANO head Andrej Babiš. iDnes is part of Babiš’s own media holdings.
Appearing before the media after the announcement of election results, the politician said that he would work “with all the political forces” in parliament, …
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Speaker of Ukrainian Parliament signs the law on tours of Russian performers in Ukraine
On October 20th, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Andriy Parubiy, signed the law "On tour events in Ukraine," according to which Russian performers must pass a check on Ukrainian legislation’ violations, as well as laws "On the basic principles of ensuring cybersecurity of Ukraine" and "On electronic confidential services."
The law on tours provides for a ban on carrying out activities if there is a person who is on the list of people posing a threat to national security.
If the …