Greek PM: Sanctions against Russia are unproductive

At a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas said Western sanctions against Russia were unproductive.

"We have repeatedly said that the vicious circle of militarization, of Cold War rhetoric and of sanctions is not productive. The solution is dialogue,” Tsirpas said.

At the same time Putin noted that during his meeting with Tsirpas, the annexation of the Crimea will not be discussed because “the matter is closed forever.”

“Russia will …


NATO provides Ukraine with demining equipment

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) received equipment from NATO for pyrotechnical experts who carry out the de-mining of the Donbas region. The ceremony of transfer of equipment was held on Thursday in Kiev, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Sorin Ducary, who attended the ceremony, noted that the equipment was transferred within the boundaries of the NATO program. Assistance to humanitarian mine clearance in Ukraine was …


Merkel calls for maintaining sanctions against Russia

The Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, stated on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Japan that G7 countries want to preserve sanctions against Russia, Finanznachrichten.de reported. “As for me, it is too early to talk about lifting or easing of sanctions,” Merkel said. 

“We should do everything in our power to make progress in the political settlement in the coming weeks. There are no large-scale hostilities but there is no stable truce either,” the Chancellor of Germany stated, adding that …


Estonian PM: Putin holds the key to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas stated in an interview with Die Welt that the key to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements is in Putin’s hands. "The restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity is an integral part of the Minsk agreements. But obviously, this is not happening,” he noted.

Rõivas emphasized that "It is Putin who is holding the key for this [implementation of the Minsk Agreements]. In my view, Russia should take two steps back if they want to continue to sit at the …


Poll suggests most Ukrainians think Poroshenko should resign over off shore scandal

Most Ukrainians believe that President Petro Poroshenko should resign over the offshore scandal, according to the results of a poll conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

According to the institute’s website, respondents were asked the following: The media is discussing the fact that the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, owns companies registered abroad in the so-called 'offshore zones'. In your opinion, should he resign because of this? The results show that 4 …