Russian paratroopers to hold large-scale exercise near Latvian and Estonian borders

Russian airborne troops will hold a large-scale exercise in the Pskov region near the Estonian and Latvian borders, as reported by Radio Svoboda. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the exercises will be held from the 15th to the 20th of February, and will involve 2,500 paratroopers and 300 pieces of military hardware.

The announcement comes after last week’s surprise inspection of Russia’s Southern Military District and subsequent training exercises in southern Russia and the Crimea, …


European Parliament ready to vote in favor of visa-free regime for Ukraine

The European Parliament is prepared to vote in favor of the abolition of visas for citizens of Ukraine, the President of the EP, Martin Schulz, said after a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Munich, according to Glavnoye.

"We are now waiting for a legislative proposal from the European Commission on the abolition of visas for citizens of Ukraine, which will come after the Verkhovna Rada votes in favor of the relevant laws," the President of the European Parliament said. …


Nikolai Svanidze: The situation for Crimean Tatars is 'terrifying'

A member of the Council of the President of the Russian Federation on the issues of the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, Nikolay Svanidze, said that "the situation with the Crimean Tatars is terrifying”, as reported by Krim.Realii. He said this during the program "Minority Report" on the Ekho Moskvii radio station, which was broadcast on February 12th.

According to him, it's necessary to respond to the human rights violations in Crimea.

"We definitely must respond. In the Human …


Swedish Defense Minister: Russia’s actions are the most serious challenge to security in Europe

Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist stated that Russia’s actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine are the most serious challenge to security in Europe.

“The illegal annexation of Crimea and Russia’s illegal interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine are the most serious challenges in the field of European security”, Hultqvist said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

The Swedish Defense Minister added that Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine is a threat to other neighboring …


Ukraine and Georgia agree on the need to develop 'New Silk Road'

Ukraine and Georgia agreed on the need to continue to develop the New Silk Road; a rail route bypassing the Russian Federation, Ukraine’s Presidential Press Service said in a statement. It was noted that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed the issue with the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili during a meeting in Germany.

The two leaders “have discussed key issues on the bilateral agenda and agreed to activate economic cooperation, in particular, the development of the …