Arthur Laffer, former advisor to President Reagan, has become the advisor on taxation issues to Natalie Jaresko, Ukraine's minister of finance.

"As an advisor to the minister of finance, Laffer will be consulting the minister on issues concerning the implementation of tax reforms in Ukraine, which will allow the creation of a transparent and efficient taxation system that will stimulate investment, economic growth and job creation, as well as improve the quality of public services rendered for …

Senator John McCain declined the invitation of the leader of Pro-Kremlin Luhansk Republic,Igor Plotnitsky, to come to the elections as an observer.

The Communication Director of the Senator, Brian Rogers, confirmed this on Monday.

"Although I don’t usually deal with elections monitoring I am grateful for this unique invitation" - said McCain.

“If the so called Luhansk Republic is interested in democratic elections I suggest their proponents to surrender their weapons and take part in the …

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the elections on the occupied territories in Eastern Ukraine can only be held if the conditions for fair and transparent expression of people’s will prevail there.

“At the moment we cannot hold elections on the occupied territories” - said the President in his interview to the Ukrainian TV channels on Sunday.

“Our key point is not the fact of simply holding elections as preferred by Russia but ensuring how these elections are held.”

The …

The European Union on Monday extended its sanctions against Russia until March of 2016. The sanctions are meant to punish Moscow for its military support for Ukrainian separatists and its annexation of Crimea.

The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans against 149 people and 37 entities, the European Union announced in a statement. Without the EU action the sanctions would have lifted on Tuesday.

A separate set of European economic sanctions against Russia are in place until the end …

As reported by Dmitriy Tymchuk of Information Resistance , Russian troops began to hold public executions in the occupied regions of Donetsk and Gorlovka.

The chief of one of the checkpoints of the local community has been shot by Russian military for attempting an unauthorized firing of artillery.

Also, in the Petrovsky district of Donetsk, 2 militants were sentenced to death for insubordination. The sentence has been carried out by the Russian troops.

On the eve of the federal elections Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine has made a list of critical questions to ask their MP candidates. Questions concerning Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The activists seek to help Canadian voters, many of those ethnic Ukrainian, "to choose the most worthy and most competent" - those MPs whose political outlook is not limited to Canada only. The elections - is the best opportunity for the public to formulate their guidelines for Canadian politicians. It …

Silvio Berlusconi, Former Italian Prime Minister arrived with a "private visit" in the Crimea annexed by Russia.  

Berlusconi arrived on September 11 in Yalta, where he plans to take in the sights and have "several meetings".

As admitted in the Kremlin on September 9, during the trip Berlusconi could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Berlusconi is also expected to visit Sevastopol, and then go to Moscow and return to Italy on 13 September.

Earlier this year Berlusconi, who is a …

As per Sir Andrew Wood, Chatham House

The received wisdom that Russia will always be ready to go further than the West in a confrontation over Ukraine is flawed.

‘The West could never prevail in a military confrontation over Ukraine with Russia, which would always be prepared to go further.’ This line, from a Financial Times editorial last week, reflects a commonly-held view among Western commentators about the crisis in eastern Ukraine. But if taken literally, it would imply that Vladimir …