Contents tagged with US State Department

  • US State Department approves sale of another batch of Javelin anti-tank systems to Ukraine

    Ukraine may receive a new batch of portable anti-tank Javelin missile systems. This decision was made by the US State Department, reports the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

    The Department has decided to sell one hundred fifty Javelin missiles and related equipment for $39.3 million. Ukrainian authorities requested to buy 150 Javelin missiles and ten Command Launch Units (CLUs), report the DSCA.

    The Agency added that "the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter …

  • Media: U.S. State Department to appoint a charge d'affaires instead of ambassador to Ukraine

    The U.S. Department of State considers appointing a chargé d'affaires instead of ambassador in Ukraine, reports ZN.ua with reference to its own diplomatic sources.

    According to the publication, the most likely appointment to this position is William Taylor, who served as an ambassador in Kyiv in 2006-2009.

    “The Department of State made a proposal, which is still being considered by the executive vice president of the United States Institute for Peace,” the publication writes.

    “Shortly, a …

  • Turkish media: US cannot persuade Turkey to call off S-400 deal with Russia

    The US’s last attempt to stop Turkey from buying Russian S-400 anti-air missile systems was unsuccessful because the US’s offer to sell Ankara the US-made Patriot systems instead did not include access to the technologies for producing such systems or a discount in price, the pro-government Turkish news outlet Yeni Şafak wrote on Saturday, January 5.

    According to the article, the US’s position was expressed at a meeting between the American delegation and members of Turkey’s Defense Ministry …

  • US State Department demands that Russia withdraw troops from Ukraine

    Russia continues to violate the Minsk agreements on the conflict in the southeast of Ukraine, the US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Wednesday.

    “The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) conflict monitors spotted four new Russian electronic warfare systems in eastern Ukraine. More evidence Russia’s military is orchestrating the conflict in the Donbas,” Nauert wrote in Twitter.

    Russia must fully implement the Minsk agreements that require it to transfer control over the  …

  • Russian Foreign Minister: Putin is ready to meet with ‘unfriendly’ Trump

    The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov said that Russia was ready to “meet even with representatives of the states that lead unfriendly policies – including the USA”, TASS reported.

    Commenting on the relevance of a meeting in the light of Washington’s statements on sanctions, Lavrov answered, “We have never avoided communication, including with representatives of the states that have adopted a clearly unfriendly policy towards us”.

     “If the two leaders feel the need to meet and refer to …

  • Russian steel producer EVRAZ states there are no plans to sell assets in the US

    Metallurgical and mining company EVRAZ is not planning on selling its assets in the USA, as they are of strategic interest, reported Interfax referring to the statement made by the president of the company Alexander Frolov.

    “We see an opportunity to further develop rails and large-diameter pipes, delivery of slabs is continuing, even despite the newly imposed tariffs. Therefore, we do not have any immediate plans to sell,” Frolov said.

    EVRAZ North America includes six production sites. They …

  • US State Department: Russia can avoid sanctions under several conditions

    The US State Department announced that the United States is ready to cancel anti-Russian sanctions due to Skripal's poisoning under several conditions.

    According to the message of Washington, in the next three months, Russia has to assure that it will not use chemical or biological weapons, reported RBC news agency. In addition, Russian authorities shall not obstruct the work of UN inspectors and independent international observers.

    The second package of sanctions stipulates reduction of …

  • US State Department commends the creation of an anti-corruption court in Ukraine

    The United States commends Ukraine for adopting a law on the Anti-Corruption Court and emphasizes the need to amend the law that will ensure this court considers existing cases under its jurisdiction, stated US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.

    "The United States commends Ukraine for adopting a law to establish an independent anti-corruption court. We were pleased to see this important piece of legislation passed with broad support in the Verkhovna Rada. With this move, Ukraine …

  • US State Department accuses Russia of using intimidation tactics against the OSCE mission in the Donbas

    U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert declared that Russian-backed militants must stop shooting in the direction of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) staff of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Eastern Ukraine.

    "I’m seeing reports that Russia-subordinated personnel fired a weapon to intimidate unarmed OSCE SMM monitors in eastern Ukraine," Nauert wrote. "OSCE SMM risks their lives to protect civilians. Russia should stop this deplorable behavior and …

  • US warns Assad of 'firm' measures if southern Syria is attacked

    The US has warned that it will take “firm and appropriate measures” to enforce the ceasefire agreement in southern Syria if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sends his troops against the opposition who are based in that part of the country.

    The territory in south-western Syria between the border city of Daraa and the Israeli Golan Heights has become another “hot spot” in the large-scale conflict between the irreconcilable enemies in the region: Israel and Iran.

    In 2017, the US, Russia and …