Contents tagged with crimea

  • NATO admits it was not prepared for Crimea's annexation by Russia

    During a speech in the European Parliament, NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe James Everard stated that NATO was not ready for the annexation of the Crimea by Russia, Polish Radio reports. 

    “In 2014, we were shocked when Russia annexed the Crimea. It completely changed the Euro-Atlantic security environment. We were not ready for this,” Everard stated. The General noted that Russia is the North Atlantic Alliance’s only opponent. 

    “Today, we have to fight against a more dangerous …

  • Russia will exhibit weapons seized in Syria in annexed Crimea

    A mobile train exhibition featuring “trophy weapons and military equipment” seized from Syria will stop at Sevastopol and Kerch, reports the press service of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. 

    The report notes that this exhibition will be held from March 1 to March 3 as part of the “military-patriotic action” the “Syrian Turning Point”. 

    According to the RIA Novosti news agency, the exposition consists of ten open railway platforms displaying models of military engineering equipment, artillery …

  • Lithuania to propose new sanctions against Russia

    During a visit to Poland, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said that Vilnius intends to propose additional sanctions against Russia if Moscow continues its aggressive policy towards Ukraine, BNS reports. 

    “If things continue to develop poorly, and Russia doesn’t start talking, but continues its aggressive policy throughout Ukraine and at the Kerch Strait, then, without a doubt, we will propose additional sanctions,” the Lithuanian leader told reporters in Lublin. 

    She added that the EU …

  • Klimkin: Ukrainian ships are getting ready to pass through Kerch Strait

    Ukraine is planning a new passage of ships through the Kerch Strait and it is taking certain measures and getting ready for the passage together with international partners. The Ukrainian Navy will likely be able to “surprise Russia”, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said in an interview with Censor.net. 

    According to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, the presence of foreign observers onboard the ships is hardly possible but there will be international monitoring. In particular, the …

  • Ukrainian military test surface-to-air missiles near annexed Crimea

    The press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian military tested air defense systems in the Kherson region. The exercises using modernized 2К12-2D Kub and BM9K330 Tor air defense systems were conducted at Yahorlyk test range, near the annexed Crimea.  

    “Tests of the modernized air defense systems, which are being brought back to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, are in the final phase. It will give us the opportunity to form new units, to significantly increase …

  • Former NATO Secretary-General: Belarus faces annexation by Russia

    The former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in an interview with LIGA.net, stated that Belarus faces the threat of annexation by Russia.

    “The key risk is a repeat of what happened in Ukraine after the war and the annexation. Belarus can expect the same scenario if it does not begin reforms,” he said.

    Rasmussen called on Belarus to begin reforms which would lead to democracy and freedom before it's too late.

    “We heard Vladimir Putin’s statement where he said that Belarus must be …

  • Syrian Ambassador to Russia: Assad will not visit annexed Crimea

    Syrian President Bashar Assad is unlikely to attend the Yalta International Economic Forum in April, stated Syrian Ambassador to Moscow Riyad Haddad, as quoted by Russian media.

    The forum will be held on April 17-20.

    “I don't think he [Assad] will participate in the forum,” Haddad told reporters.

    Andrei Nazarov, the co-chairman of the forum’s organizing committee, previously stated that Bashar Assad and the French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen will attend the Yalta International Economic …

  • Russia sends navy ships to monitor USS Donald Cook guided-missile destroyer in the Black Sea

    The Russian Black Sea Fleet organized continuous monitoring of a US missile destroyer that entered the Black Sea, reported RBC-Ukraine, citing the Russian media. 

    "On February 19, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. Moscow time, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) entered the waters of the Black Sea. The forces and resources of the Black Sea Fleet organized continuous monitoring of the US missile destroyer. Direct control of its actions is ensured by the small missile ship …

  • Lithuanian Foreign Minister calls on Europeans to step up the fight against Russian propaganda

    Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius stated in an interview with the newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that EU countries should make greater efforts to fight against “Russian propaganda” and prepare for an information war with Russia. 

    The Minister asserted that the West “still underestimates Russia’s informational influence” while Eastern European countries are not the only ones under “Moscow’s attack.” Linkevičius called for the continuation of a strict sanctions policy against …

  • Kremlin: Russia lost over 6 billion dollars due to sanctions

    Russian export companies lost 6,300 billion dollars due to economic sanctions from the West, reports Russian news agency Interfax, citing a report by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia. This figure is based on the department's experts’ data collected at the end of 2018. 

    The report notes that the European Union is a leader in the number of restrictive measures in respect of Russian goods. It has implemented exactly twenty-five sanctions. In the second place is Ukraine, which …