The United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, Robert Work, stated in an interview with Reuters on April 8th, that the Pentagon needs to buy 18 more Russian RD-180 rocket engines in order to launch military satellites into orbit. According to him, this need will continue to be in place until a similar American engine is developed. “We see no means by which to develop these engine types within the next six years. We need Russian RD-180 rocket engines during the transition period,” Work explained. …

In April, the European Commission intends to propose the introduction of a visa-free policy for Ukrainian citizens, contrary to the results of the referendum in the Netherlands, Reuters reports, citing a source in the leadership of the European Union.

"It may seem that we are ignoring the Dutch voters. However, we should keep our word with Ukraine as they have fulfilled all the conditions," the source said.

For the policy to come into effect, it must be approved by a majority of the member …

Fighting and artillery exchanges continue near Avdiivka, and both sides accuse the other of using artillery banned by the Minsk agreements. The distance between the positions of the separatists and the Ukrainian positions has shrunk to a mere 300 meters.

Both sides admit that the  intensity of the fighting increases when OSCE monitors are not present in the area.

On Saturday a 71 year old woman was hit and killed by a mortar shell while working in her backyard in Avdiivka.

There are …

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev explained the supplies of Russian weapons to Armenia and Azerbaijan, stating that if Moscow abandons these sales, the situation in the region will become more complicated. Medvedev said this during the weekly “Vesti on Saturday” program on April 9th.

“If we imagine for a minute that Russia declined playing this role, we are accurately aware that this place would not be empty,” the Prime Minister stated, meaning that Armenia and Azerbaijan would continue …

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, reported that four tons of Turkish tomatoes were destroyed in the Crimea, according to the agency’s press service, RBC reported. The banned products were being smuggled into the Crimea using the Kerch Strait ferry.

"An attempt to import four tons of tomatoes of Turkish origin to Crimea was prevented on the Kerch Strait ferry.  Products forbidden for import have been confiscated and buried in the …