Contents tagged with Europe

  • European Commission: Putin is dividing Europe by supporting the ultra-right

    Russian President Vladimir Putin is supporting ultra-right parties in order to divide Europe. It was for this purpose that he received Marine Le Pen, a candidate for the presidency of France and leader of the National Front, at the Kremlin.

    First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans stated this in Madrid, reports RTBF news agency.

    "The reason why Putin supports the ultra-right in Europe is that he knows how it weakens and divides us," he said. "If the EU is divided, it …

  • Media: The issue of visa-free travel for Ukraine is urgently added in the agenda of the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee

    On Thursday, March 9th, the Committee of the European Parliament on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Domestic Affairs will approve the draft legislative resolution on the inclusion of Ukraine in the list of countries for which citizens’ visa requirements are abolished. This issue was urgently added on to the agenda of the Committee meeting, Ukrinform reports.

    According to procedures, the EU legislative body will vote on the draft resolution on abolishing the visa regime for Ukraine during a …

  • A former FSB officer said Russia sent spies to Europe disguised as migrants

    A Russian officer-defector stated that the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation sent its spies to Europe disguised as migrants, Die Welt reported.

    “We managed to deploy spies disguised as migrants to Europe. The results were reported to the President and he approved them,” the former high-level FSB officer known only as “Igor” said in a documentary named Putin’s Cold War, which broadcasted on ZDF German TV Channel.

    The defector was a former Russian Colonel and served as the head …

  • Biden is convinced that Russia will try to interfere in European elections

    The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, called Russia the greatest threat to the international liberal order, predicting that Moscow will try to influence the course of elections in Europe, as it did in the United States, Reuters reported.

    Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Biden stated that, “Under Vladimir Putin’s presidency, Russia is working with every tool available to undermine the European project, test the fault lines of Western countries and return …

  • USA to increase the scale of military exercises in Europe to deter 'Russia’s aggression'

    The USA will increase the scale and complexity of military exercises in Europe to counter "aggression coming from Russia," as was stated by the Deputy Commander, United States European Command, United States Air Force Lieutenant General Timothy Ray, Reuters reports, in commenting on the movement of a batch of armed vehicles to Germany with the intent of increasing NATO armed forces in Eastern Europe.

    "Let me be clear here: it’s a part of our efforts to deter aggression coming from Russia, to …

  • European Commissioner for Climate: The Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project should be stopped

    The European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, stated that the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project should be stopped, EUobserver reported. According to Cañete, the European Commission failed to prevent the construction of the gas pipeline on legal grounds. Miguel Arias Cañete noted that there is no reason to develop infrastructure for fossil fuels, when the European Union strives to switch to renewable energy after 2050.

    In September, a group of European gas …

  • Putin: Sanctions hinder the fight against terrorism

    Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at a meeting with representatives from both chambers of the Russian parliament that “the economic and political constraints divide the countries and do not allow them to join forces in the fight against terrorism”, RIA Novosti reported.

    "All restrictions in the economic sphere, in the political sphere - they divide the states and do not allow them to join forces in the fight against the common evil — terrorism. We are taking hits because of this — both …

  • Ukraine accused Gazprom of preparing a gas crisis

    Ukraine's Naftogaz believes that Russian Gazprom is preparing a new gas crisis in January and February 2017, as stated by the Ukrainian company's press-service.

    Earlier, Ukraine imposed a fine of 172 billion hryvnia on Gazprom. In turn, Miscow said that Kyiv may collect the fine by withdrawing gas. By doing so, the risk of disrupting the gas transit to the EU through Ukrainian territory is possible, the Russian company claims.

    "Naftogaz of Ukraine considers the statements of Gazprom about the …

  • Serbia will strengthen its air force with Russian planes and European helicopters

    The Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated that Serbian authorities plan to purchase aircraft from the Russian Federation and helicopters from the European Union in 2017, thus strengthening its air force. Serbia has formed an agreement with Russia that includes six previously donated MiG-29 fighter jets, which have served the Serbian Air Force for two years. Serbia will fund a major overhaul of these fighters, Reuters reported.

    According to Vučić, the total cost of the deal will be …

  • Kyiv estimates Russia lost $5 billion in attempts to block Ukraine’s gas imports

    Russian Gazprom tried to block Ukrainian gas imports from Europe and spent billions of dollars on these unsuccessful attempts, according to Yuriy Vitrenko, the Managing Director for Business Development at the national joint-stock company Naftogaz of Ukraine.

    "We buy gas from the largest European gas companies. A lot of them produce gas themselves. Many also buy gas from other producing companies, including from Gazprom, which prevented us from buying gas in Europe. According to current …