Contents tagged with War in Ukraine

  • Biden speaks to Ukrainian Parliament

    Kyiv, December 8, 2015

    In his passionate speach to Ukrainian parliament U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden urged Ukraine to seize the opportunity to become a truly democratic nation that removes the blight of corruption. He also directly accused Moscow of sending troops to fight with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and trying to hide that action from the Russian public and the world. Mr. Biden assured Ukraine of the U.S. continuous support as long as it stayed on the democratic path. …

  • Ukraine will prepare a trade blockade of uncontrolled territories

    On Dec. 9 the Ukranian Cabinet of Ministers will consider the draft resolution on a trade blockade of  Crimea and uncontrolled territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic - DND and Lugansk People's Republic - LNR). The Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov, stated this during the briefing, according to a correspondent of RBC-Ukraine.

    "The Cabinet of Ministers has prepared and agreed with all parties on the draft …

  • Turkey and Ukraine in talks on tank modernization

    As tensions between Moscow and Ankara continue to rise, Turkey has turned to Ukraine looking for cooperation in military programs.As reported by Defense News, Turkey's Aselsan and Ukraine's Ukroboronprom have started negotiations on a deal for tank modernization programs.This comes at a time when both countries find themselves at odds with Kremlin.The Turkish government signed a contract with Aselsan at the end of November for a weapons system, known as the Akkor, which protects against anti- …

  • Top U.S. official to discuss terrorism financing in Europe

    As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Adam Szubin, acting U.S. undersecretary of Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence will visit Italy, Germany and the U.K next week to discuss U.S.-European counter-terrorism finance with government officials, think tanks and business, legal and compliance leaders.The discussions will include joint efforts against Islamic State and enforcement of sanctions on Russia for its destabilizing actions in Ukraine.Mr. Szubin will also outline ongoing U.S. …

  • Ukrainian Foreign Minister says OSCE in deep crisis

     

    The active work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is paralyzed following the Russian veto. The Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that it is very likely that the Final Declaration will not be accepted during the upcoming ministerial meeting in Serbia. "The OSCE is in a deep crisis and many Ministers are speaking openly about this," he said. 

    At the same time, he indicated that Ukraine continues its work with the OSCE. "We try to work actively with the …

  • UK Officials: Russian military forces are still in Ukraine while Moscow is able to end the conflict

    The UK Minister for Europe, David Lidington, stated in his speech at the OSCE meeting that Russia has maintained military presence in the territories of Donbas, which are out of Ukraine’s government control. Lidington reminded those in attendance that a year ago, Ukraine was the key issue at the ministerial meeting. “Already 20 months have passed, but Crimea is still under annexation. According to the OSCE reports, we have serious grounds for concern, regarding the observance of human rights. …

  • Russian mercenaries in east Ukraine paid over 60 K roubles a month

     

    As reported by Ukrainian intelligence, military units and weaponry prohibited by the Minsk agreements are being accumulated by pro-Russian militants in the Donbas region of Ukraine. At the same time The Russian Federal Security Service is investigating the militants shelling their own positions.  “The pro-Russian rebels are taking steps to support the Russian occupying forces with their rotation and redeployment of the front formations, ensuring their readiness to carry out missions in …

  • Crimean energy independence to cost Russia $ 2 billion

    The Russian government may pay $2 billion for the power bridge construction between Kuban – Crimea Peninsula, wrote newspaper Vedomosti, referring to the estimates of “Renaissance Capital” analyst Vladimir Sklyar.

    To construct the stations with 940 MW total capacity may cost US $1.1–1.3 billion. But, according to Sklar, the construction in Crimea will cost $400-450 million more.

    On Dec. 2, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, launched the first line of an energy bridge to  Crimea. The first …

  • Kremlin hampers progress in Donbas

    The Kremlin's position prevents effective work in the Donbas

    To postpone the Ukrainian question and unite in the fight against the "Islamic state" was the call made by the representative of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, at the meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Belgrade.

    In turn, Ukrainian foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, reminded those in attendance that the Ukrainian issue is on the agenda for the Belgrade meeting. Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine threaten peace no less than the "ISIL" …

  • NATO doubts Russia will fulfill the terms of the Minsk Agreements

    Changing the intensity of the conflict is the Russia's way to demonstrate its power, General Breedlove stated.

    Breedlove, the U.S. European Command General and the NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, does not believe that Putin intends to implement the Minsk agreement.

    The probability that the Kremlin will fulfill its commitments by the end of the year is negligible,  said Breedlove at a press conference on Wednesday, December 2.

    "It is unlikely that we can get everything Putin …