Contents tagged with Russia
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Stoltenberg: Russia is attempting to divide NATO
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Russia is attempting to divide the alliance using various means.
“What we have seen over long time is a more assertive Russia, using many different means to try to intimidate its neighbors and to try to also divide the NATO alliance,” Stoltenberg stated.
The Secretary General went on to explain that NATO is responding to the threat using several strategies.
“We are responding in a very unified way, adapting our …
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Russia refuses to supply new missiles to Iran after Tehran secretly armed Hezbollah with Russian arms
The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jareeda recently published an article that claims that Russia has delayed shipment of S-300 anti-aircraft missile system supplies to Iran for reasons other than financial difficulties. According to Al-Jareeda, Moscow is displeased with Iran’s breach of obligations not to provide missile weapons to Lebanese Hezbollah. The story was quickly circulated by the Israeli media, in particular, by The Jerusalem Post, Maariv and Israel Hayom.
The Hezbollah allegedly received …
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Fitch forecasts decline in Russian GDP in 2016
The Fitch international ratings agency revised the forecast on Russia’s gross domestic product or GDP. As reported on the Fitch website, experts believe that the Russian GDP will fall by 1.5% this year.
As early as last December, they forecasted 0.5% GDP growth but in February 2016 this changed to a 1% decline. Low oil prices in Russia reduced oil company profits that led to budget tightening policies.
Meanwhile, high interest rates and declining salaries are reducing consumption, the Fitch …
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EU expected to extend sanctions against Russia and former Ukrainian officials
The EU sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian citizens will be formally extended, without debate, on Thursday. Brussels holds these citizens accountable for undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
It is predicted that the list will contain 146 people and 37 entities. This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing EU sources. Three people have been excluded from this list as they are now deceased. These sanctions will be extended until the 15th of September.
According to diplomatic …
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US Vice President Joe Biden calls on Russia to release Nadiya Savchenko
US Vice President Joe Biden called on Russia to release Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who is on trial in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
“Today, as we mark International Women’s Day and honor all the brave women who struggle against injustice in this world, we also stand with Nadiya and with the Ukrainian people. And we call on Russia to make the right choice—to drop all charges and release her at once. Nadiya deserves to go home to her family and friends and join her fellow Rada …
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Lithuanian Foreign Minister: Only a unified position in the West will stop Russian aggression
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius believes that only a principled and unified position of the West will stop Russian aggression as expressed in his article, "Enough: NATO Should Stop Feeding Russian Trolls", published in Politico.
"If Moscow wants to participate in a real partnership with NATO, it must cease its unreasonable and provocative military operations on the borders of NATO countries; including the flights of Russian aircraft with disabled transponders over the Baltic Sea, …
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Mejlis regional building attacked in Simferopol
The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars’ regional building was attacked by unknown assailants in Simferopol. This was posted on Facebook by a member and coordinator of the Mejlis, Eskender Bariev. According to him, unknown suspects smashed the glass in the building, which is located on Chekhov Street.
According to the Krym.Realii news portal, Crimean authorities continue their attempts to ban any and all activities of the Mejlis. Because of this, international human rights organizations fear the …
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Normandy Format Ministers have yet to reach an agreement on the issues of elections in the Donbas
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, stated that he does not feel that any breakthroughs were made during the talks between the Foreign Ministers of the ‘Normandy Four’ countries in Paris, Reuters reports.
The Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, Germany, Russia and France were unable to agree on the key issue of the meeting- the elections in specified districts of the Donbas region. Germany and France have proposed to hold elections in the first half of 2016. Moscow, …
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Ukrainian Justice Minister: Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada is ready to sue Russia over Crimea
The Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Pavlo Petrenko, claims that lawyers among the Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada have expressed readiness to support Ukraine in litigation efforts against Russia for the annexation of the Crimea, as discussed by Petrenko with UKRINFORM at the end of his visit to Canada.
"The topic of Crimea was raised by our community. They have created the Association of Ukrainian Lawyers, including leading experts and lawyers from both Canada and the United States. They were …
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Ukrainian Intelligence: Russia deployed additional military equipment to Khartsyzk and Ilovaisk
Russia has transported weapons, military equipment, ammunition and fuel to pro-Russian militants in the occupied Donbas region, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The Ministry had recorded the arrival of these supplies to Khartsyzk and Ilovaisk.
Khartsyzk had received three T-72 tanks, five BMP infantry fighting vehicles, two 152-mm self-propelled howitzers, six 122-mm D-30 howitzers, 120 tons of fuel and two cars carrying uniforms.
This …