Contents tagged with EU
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Russians will need approval of Finnish Defense Ministry to buy property in Finland
Finland has obliged citizens who do not live in EU countries to request permission from the Finnish Defense Ministry to the purchase of the real estate in the country. The measure, which would go into effect from January 1, also applies to Russian citizens, reports the YLE news agency.
The Defense Ministry will check whether the buyers present a threat to the country’s security. Thus, purchases of properties located near airfields, radars, and warehouses of food reserves are likely to be …
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Russia hopes for EU assistance with Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said that Moscow hopes that with the support of its European partners, it will be able to settle the situation around the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. Earlier, the construction of the gas pipeline was suspended due to US sanctions against contractors. "We are confident that in cooperation with European countries and the European Union, we will solve this problem and find a compromise," said Kozak on December 25, as quoted by …
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EU calls Russian railway line to Crimea ‘yet another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty
The European Union considers the opening of railway traffic across the Crimean Bridge from Russia to annexed Crimea “yet another violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by Russia,” said EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Peter Stano, DW reports.
According to him, Russia has taken yet another step towards “the forced integration of the illegally annexed peninsula” and made a new attempt to “isolate Crimea from Ukraine, of which it is a part”.
Stano also drew …
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EU: Ukraine meets requirements for transporting gas to Europe
The Secretariat of the Energy Community of the EU and neighboring countries has confirmed that the newly established operator, Ukraine’s gas transport system (GTS), has been separated from Naftogaz in accordance with the requirements of European legislation.
The secretariat said in a statement that the decision was based on a bill passed by Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada which unbundled the GTS from the national company Naftogaz of Ukraine. The bill was passed and si ned by the president in mid …
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EU extends sanctions against Russia for another six months
The Council of the European Union extended economic sanctions against particular sectors of the Russian economy for another six months. The sanctions will be in effect until July 31, 2020. The decision was made after French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on December 12 informed the European Council on the progress in implementing the Minsk agreements by Russia, to which the extension of sanctions is related.
“Given that the Minsk agreements are not fully …
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Ukrainian President calls on EU to maintain sanctions against Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, said that he hopes that the sanctions against Russia will be extended, reports the press service of the Ukrainian President.
"I expect that the leaders of the EU Member States will maintain unity in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as in the continuation of sanctions against the Russian Federation until full implementation of the …
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Europe prepares for gas war between Russia and Ukraine
Countries in the EU have been buying increased quantities of gas for commercial and strategic reservoirs, filling all the available underground gas storage almost to the brim, in light of growing risks that the current gas war between Russia and Ukraine will escalate this winter.
In just over 3 weeks time, the current contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine will expire. To this day, despite Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the war in the Donbas, nearly half of the gas supplied …
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Russia’s Gazprom sues EU for loss of Nord Stream 2 capacity
Nord Stream 2 AG, the Swiss subsidiary of the Russian company Gazprom, has taken the EU government to court regarding the gas legislation amendments that prohibit the Russian company from using more than 50% of the capacity of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
As reported by Interfax, Gazprom informed potential investors about the start of the litigation through a memorandum on the placement of Swiss franc-denominated eurobonds that is scheduled to take place in mid November.
Gazprom believes …
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Estonia voices support for Ukraine joining EU and NATO
Estonia is in favor of Ukraine joining the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu at a press conference.
“Estonia is the devoted friend of the Ukrainians, and fully supports [Ukraine] joining the political family of the European Union and NATO on the basis of objective reforms and transformation in the country,” the minister said.
He added that Estonia will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and the eastern …
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EU approves Kyiv's plan for Donbas
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission Federica Mogherini said at a press conference after a meeting with Foreign Ministers of EU member-countries in Luxembourg that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko presented a comprehensive and satisfactory plan on how to resolve the conflict in the Donbas.
"We have received from him [Prystaiko] a fairly comprehensive and, I would say, satisfactory picture of the plans that the Ukrainian government and …