Lavrov claims American diplomats are engaged in espionage

During a large press conference on the results of Russian diplomacy in 2016, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that American intelligence services tried to recruit Russian high-ranking diplomats.

Lavrov said that during U.S. President Barack Obama’s second term, the USA’s efforts to recruit Russian diplomats increased. According to him, American intelligence services tried to make recruitment offers to a high-level Ambassador. "They tried to get him into a car and give him ten …


The President of Moldova is open to annulling Association Agreement with the EU

The President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, stated that Moldova hasn’t benefited from the 2014 signing of the EU Association Agreement and this agreement may be annulled in the near future, Interfax reported.

“There is a real situation. We are pragmatists. We understand that there is the Association Agreement with the EU. By the way, I had repeatedly opposed the signing of this Agreement. I believe that Moldova gained nothing from it,” Dodon stated at a press conference after a meeting with Russian …


Portugal provides Ukraine with 200,000 euro for non-lethal weapons

Portugal allocated 200,000 euro for Ukraine for the purchase of equipment and non-lethal weapons, as stated by the Minister of National Defense of Portugal, José Alberto Azeredo Lopes, during a meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, according to the Defense Ministry’s website.

"He expressed the readiness of Portugal to provide the Ukrainian Army with material and technical support by providing 200,000 euro to purchase equipment and non-lethal weapons,” the statement reads. …


Ukrainian Naftogaz signed an agreement with Covington and Burling lawfirm

Ukrainian Naftogaz signed a contract for $6.31 million with Covington & Barling LLP (New York, USA). Covington & Barling LLP will represent the interests of the national oil and gas company (Naftogaz Ukraine) in arbitration against Russia under a claim for the compensation of losses over the annexation of the Crimea by Russia.

As Interfax-Ukraine reported, the agreement was signed on January 11th. According to Naftogaz’s report in the ProZorro e-procurement system, the agreement will expire on …


Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk: Separatists are blocking the exchange of prisoners

On January 16, this year's first meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on the peaceful settlement of the situation in the Donbas was held in Minsk. Iryna Herashchenko, Member of the Ukrainian humanitarian subgroup said that representatives of separate areas of Donetsk and Luhansk (ORDLO) are blocking the release of the hostages. The separatists have apparently stepped up attempts to exclude her from the negotiating process.

On her Facebook page Iryna Herashchenko wrote, "Despite the call of …