Despite the tough political situation between Russia and Ukraine, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko have maintained continuous contact, according to the newspaper Kommersant.

Citing sources in Kyiv and Moscow Kommersant reported that the two leaders have spoken on the phone four times since the beginning of the year.

The penultimate call was on February 11, the day after the President of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, visited Moscow. The most recent conversation took place on February 21, …

Author: Dmytro Snegiryov, Head of Prava Sprava public initiative.

The trade blockade with separatists is necessary in order to cease trade relations with territories that are beyond Ukraine’s control. Unfortunately trading is the business of law enforcement agencies and it involves large sums of money. The trade blockade should be carried out at the government level but not by volunteers and veterans of the war in the Donbas.

The fact that the so-called masses took the initiative demonstrates …

The Embassy of Russia in Bulgaria has banned the laying of flowers in memory of murdered politician Boris Nemtsov anywhere near the diplomatic mission building. Journalist Natalia Novozhilova wrote about the development on her Facebook page, where she shared a post from an eyewitness named Tsvetan Kristev.

According to the Bulgarian eyewitness, he wanted to honor the memory of Nemtsov on the anniversary of his death, but the Embassy told him that Russia would regard such an act "as a threat." …

NATO countries can transfer ships released from active duty that will suit Ukrainian needs to the Ukrainian Naval Forces, using a variety of payment plans. Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Ihor Voronchenko discussed the possibility during a broadcast on Ukrainian "Channel Five".

"Groups of negotiators from Ukraine have departed for discussions. One group of Navy officers has already returned; I do not have the right to name the country, but the group has returned from abroad, and as a result …

Russia should be prepared to live under the sanctions regime for the indefinite future, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with TV channel Russia 1.

According to him, the United States and the EU are trying to “perpetuate” their legislation.

“We must be prepared to live under sanctions for the indefinite future. Just look at what our friends overseas and in Europe are doing! They are enshrining these sanctions in law, they are codifying them. They are initiating a great deal …

For the past 38 years, there has not been “much nuclear rhetoric, like it is heard now: even at the height of the Cold War no one so lightly threatened the use of nuclear weapons,” wrote Julian Hans for the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

“Recently, Russian leadership let the genie out of the bottle and now it is causing Russian authorities difficulties,” the author wrote.

Recently, a documentary on a Russian TV state channel portrayed the Russian leader as the “general director” of …

On Tuesday, the Siauliai District Court found a former Lithuanian Armed Forces officer and a Russian citizen guilty of espionage.

Russian citizen Sergey Moiseenko was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison; he was also convicted of the unlawful disposal of a large quantity of ammunition and explosives, as well as combat grenades.

Former Lithuanian Air Force officer, Sergei Pusin was sentenced to five years in prison for espionage, as reported to BNS (Baltic News Service) by the court’ …

The commander of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, Vice Admiral Ihor Voronchenko said that Russia has been disassembling seized Ukrainian vessels and scavenging them for parts.

"Ukrainian ships are anchored separately; they are singled out as the equipment of a foreign country but to our knowledge they exist as spare parts donors," Voronchenko said on Monday night, February 27 on 5 Kanal TV.

"For example, our ship Konstantin Olshansky, which is a Project 775-class landing ship is used as a spare …