The Kremlin is ready to discuss creation of a safe zones in Syria with the USA, however any such plan must be agreed upon with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a press conference in Moscow on February 22, reported Radio Liberty.

Lavrov further stated that he had briefly discussed this topic with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when they met last week in Germany, however, Tillerson told him that the concept of the creation of such safe zones was …

The Government of Japan has voiced protest over the Russian Defense Ministry’s plans to place a division in the Kuril Islands within the year. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the official position at a press conference, reports Nikkei media outlet.

According to Suga, the strengthening of Russia's military presence on the Kuril Islands "is incompatible with the position of Japan." Suga also added that the issue would be discussed at a meeting of the foreign and defense …

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Margot Wallström, stated in an interview with Dozhd that European sanctions imposed against Russia will be maintained as long as the Crimea remains under Russian control.

“Our sanctions, the decision on which was made by the European Union, were imposed due to the events that took place in the Crimea… The territory was illegally taken from another European country. This is prohibited by the European security policy,” Wallström said.

“Our sanctions …