In the course of consultations in Kiev, heads of the consular services of Ukraine and China have agreed on a number of steps to simplify a mutual travel regime for the citizens of the two countries.

According to the Facebook post of the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the ministry held top-level consular talks with China. The event was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the …

Germany plans to increase the size of its armed forces for the first time since 1990 due to tensions with Russia. “The Bundeswehr is expected to recruit an additional 14,300 troops over the next seven years; 4,400 civilian staff will be recruited as well,” Ursula von der Leyen, the German Minister of Defense, said on Tuesday.

According to her, the expansion of the German army is necessary, owing to the current situation of increased tensions with Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine and also …

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hired the U.S. law firm Covington & Burling for $3.676 million to the protect Ukraine's interests in the international arbitration dispute with Russia over the annexation of the Crimea. The company has a reputation for successfully protecting clients' interests at various levels against the Russian Federation.

The contract with Covington & Burling was signed on May 5th. The term of the provision of legal services lasts until December 31, 2016.

In …

The US’s European missile defense system will be officially declared operational on Thursday, despite Russia’s objections, Reuters reported.

The announcement will come almost a decade after Washington first proposed such a system.

US and NATO officials will gather in Deveselu, Romania for the inauguration of the missile defense site, the construction of which was finished in 2015.

Construction of a second site in Poland is slated to begin on May 13th, and is due to be completed in 2018. …

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko postponed his visit to Great Britain which was planned for May 11-12th, as reported by the press service of the President.

"A working visit by Petro Poroshenko to Great Britain which was scheduled for May 11-12th, was postponed due to the election of a new Prosecutor General and failure to adopt laws necessary for the continuation of cooperation with the IMF," the statement of the press service read on Tuesday evening.

According to the statement, the …

NATO announced that the Alliance’s Military Committee will convene a meeting at the level of Defense Chiefs in Brussels on May 18th. Ukrainian and Georgian delegates will attend the meeting as partners of NATO in order to coordinate security and defense with the Alliance.

In particular, the Georgian delegation will discuss the progress of defense reforms and the country’s further cooperation with NATO.

Representatives of Ukraine will address the security situation in the country. Reform in …

The European Commission is ready to facilitate a new transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine

As was stated by the EU Climate and Energy Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete, the European Union believes that Ukraine needs to remain a gas transit corridor, RIA Novosti reports.

"Despite the economic and political challenges, Ukraine continues to be a reliable gas partner and a transit country. It is in the interest of all parties, including the Central and Eastern European countries, that …

More military equipment and personnel have arrived in the Donbas from Russia. This was reported by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

According to the report, Russia continues to supply fuel and motor oil to the occupied territory. “We have noted that trains carrying up to 100 personnel, as well as military equipment, have arrived at the Khartsyzk settlement. The equipment consists of three tanks, eight infantry fighting vehicles, two 122-mm MLRS Grads …