The US insists that Ukraine make changes to the constitution, which would grant “special status” to the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, Novoye Vremya reported.

This position was reportedly voiced by Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during a meeting with representatives of parliamentary factions in Kiev on Tuesday.

The US also insists that Ukraine hold elections in the Donbas region in the near future. 

Victoria Voytsitska, a Deputy from the Samopomoch (Self-Reliance) …

NATO jets had to intercept Russian aircraft in the international zone over the Baltic Sea three times last week. This was stated in the weekly report of the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania.

"During the week of April 18 to 24, 2016, NATO fighter jets in the Baltic States had to intercept Russian aircraft that were flying in the international zone over the Baltic Sea three times," the message stated.

The first interception occurred on April 18, 2016, when a Russian …

Nadiya Savchenko’s lawyer Ilya Novikov stated in an interview with the 5th Channel that there are other Russian servicemen, in addition to Evgeny Yerofeev and Alexander Alexandrov, who were detained by the Ukrainian side during hostilities in the Donbas. However, this information wasn't disclosed by the Ukrainian authorities.

According to Novikov, it would be better for Ukraine to reveal this information to the public because it would increase pressure on the President of Russia, Vladimir …

On Monday, April 25th, RIA Novosti reported that Russia and Syria signed an agreement on the restoration of Syrian infrastructure worth 850 million euros. RIA Novosti credited the information to the Prime Minister of Syria, Wael Nader Al-Halqi.

"The Russian side responded to the idea of restoration of infrastructure, because of which a lot of deals were signed with the Russian Federation, including agreements worth 600 million euros and 250 million euros," Al-Halqi was quoted as saying.

The …

The senior American diplomat in Belarus, Scott Roland, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Vladimir Mackay, declared on April 25th that their countries are ready to discuss the possible return of ambassadors to Minsk and to Washington.

Mackay told journalists in Minsk that "there is a readiness on both sides for complete normalization of our relations.”

The Foreign Minister of Belarus said that the United States and his country "shouldn't look at each other through gun sights, but …

Carrier-based aircraft from Russia’s Northern Fleet will hold exercises at the aviation training complex NITKA in the Crimea, Krym.Realii reported, with reference to the press service of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

“About ten decked Su-33s and Su-25UTGs arrived in Crimea. Also, the An-12, An-26, and An-72 naval aviation of the Northern Fleet delivered engineering and technical personnel and equipment for aircraft maintenance to the Peninsula,” the press service stated.

Many experts have …

The Russian Supreme Court has approved a petition submitted by Russian-Crimean Prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya to label the Crimean Tatar Mejlis an "extremist organization", and has officially banned it. The decision was announced by the Chairperson of the Board of Judges, Natalia Terentyev, TASS reported.

Previously, the activities of the Mejlis were suspended in order to “prevent violations of the law” in Russia.

As explained by Poklonskaya, the Mejlis are prohibited from using any type of …

The next Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, four-star General, Curtis Scaparrotti, speaking at the special hearing of the Senate Committee on the Armed Forces, stated that the U.S.A. has to be ready for all scenarios, including military action, in dealing with Russia. Senators were especially interested in the possible confrontation with Moscow in connection with the flight of the Russian Su-24 fighter over the Destroyer Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea.

The Chairman of the Senate Armed Services …