The British company Finastra, which produces software that allows banks to access SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication) system, discovered that one of its clients was the Russian National Commercial Bank (RNCB) operating in the Crimea and decided to stop this cooperation.

According to Russian Vedomosti newspaper, the bank can switch to another interface for accessing SWIFT, but if it does not manage to do this before August 31 when the license for the Finastra …

The Russian news outlet Kommersant reported that its journalists have uncovered the scheme according to which Siemens gas turbines were transferred from Russia to annexed Crimea, in circumvention of EU sanctions. As the media claims, this took place by means of resale.

According to the publication, it follows from the arbitration court documents that the scheme involved two Russian companies with the same name: JSC Foreign Economic Association Technopromexport, which is a subsidiary of the …

The United States should be helping Ukraine with arms supplies, said Lithuanian Minister of Defense Raimundas Karoblis on Thursday on national radio.

"Assistance from the US should not be just symbolic, but also be the supply of specific weapons that would help neutralize modern Russian weapons available in the Donbas," Karoblis said.

The head of the Defense Ministry expressed hope that "sooner or later such a decision will be made by Washington. Then, perhaps, the example of the United …

Alliance 90/The Greens is asking the head of the Foreign Ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, to explain the dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who is supposed to join the supervisory board of Rosneft.

Gabriel was asked to respond before the September elections to the Bundestag, reports DW.

"The Foreign Minister should dispel suspicions that Schröder is trying to use him to promote the interests of Putin and …

Foreigners are refusing to participate in the Cliff Diving World Cup in the Russian-annexed Crimea. Thus, Colombian diver Orlando Duque and Mexican diver Jonathan Paredes will not come to the peninsula because of warnings issued by Ukraine, as reported by RIA Crimea citing the competition’s organizers.

"In 2014, we encountered a similar situation when we held downhill competitions, so this year we tried not to advertise our event for as long as possible, although it is decreases participation …

An official North Korean travel agency, NKorean, has begun operating in Russia, as reported by the president of the Russian Travel Agencies Union, Sergey Golov.

According to Golov, the agency offers tourists the ability to visit North Korea and get acquainted with the cultural and spiritual wealth of the country. Tourist programs include visits to attractions and the opportunity to learn about the ideas of Juche socialism and a complete immersion in the culture of the country. The agency's …

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, during a trip to the Crimea met with a representative of Ukraine from one of the subgroups of the Trilateral Contact Group, Viktor Medvedchuk, as reported by RBC news agency, citing sources.

Putin was in the annexed peninsula for three days, as of Friday, August 18. He went to Sevastopol, visited the Chersonesus reserve and the Tavrida children's camp.

During his visit, Putin made time for closed talks with Medvedchuk.

"The leader of the Ukrainian …

US allies will continue to pressure Russia until it fulfills its international obligations, stated Pentagon chief James Mattis following a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Mattis recalled that Russia pledged to refrain from using force against Ukraine and threats of using nuclear weapons, and also pledged to respect the territorial integrity of other states.

"Unfortunately, Russia is not adhering to the letter, much less the spirit, of these international commitments.  The U. …