• Media: Russian-Belarussian Zapad-2107 exercises enter active phase

    The joint military Zapad-2017 exercises conducted by Russia and Belarus entered an active phase, during which a simulated attack by a potential enemy will be worked through, reports Belarusian news agency BelTA.

    The second stage of the exercises began on September 17, during which issues will be worked out regarding directing troops and conducting military operations in order to repel aggression against the countries.

    According to the agency, there are about 12,700 servicemen participating in …

  • Tillerson discussed situation in Ukraine and Syria with Lavrov

    Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as reported on Facebook by the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

    It is noted that the conversation took place on September 16, at the American initiative.

    "The current situation on the Syrian settlement, including the tasks of the anti-terrorist struggle ‘on the ground’, the implementation of decisions from the international meeting on Syria held September 14-15 of this …

  • Russian representative to UN: Russia may not sign US declaration on UN reform

    Russia may not sign a US-proposed political declaration on UN reform, stated Vasily Nebenzya, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the organization.

    The document was drafted by the administration of American leader Donald Trump. On September 18, the UN Headquarters will host a summit of world leaders on a change in the work of the UN.

    "I'm not sure that we will sign this declaration ... The declaration on UN reform will not be passed through [the UN], and the UN will not …

  • Poroshenko: peacekeepers have to be in all of the Donbas including the areas where Russia stores weapons

    The UN peacekeeping mission should be deployed throughout the Donbas, including the territories where the Russian Federation stores weapons, as expressed by President Petro Poroshenko on his Facebook page.

    "Peacekeepers should be present everywhere, including the territories where Russia keeps weapons and on the uncontrolled part of the Ukrainian-Russian border," he wrote.

    "It would stop the flow of Russian troops, weapons, and ammunition very quickly. The potential for aggression would have …

  • Volker: deployment of peacekeepers in Donbas according to Russia’s proposal will further divide Ukraine

    The introduction of UN peacekeepers into the conflict zone in the Donbas according to the scenario proposed by Russia will aggravate the division of Ukraine, as stated by Special Envoy of the US State Department on Ukraine Kurt Volker, who arrived in Kyiv to participate in the forum "Yalta European Strategy" on Saturday, September 16.

    Volker stressed that the dispatch of peacekeepers by itself is an "interesting offer" but the international forces should replace the Russian troops in the …