• Russia to conduct extensive naval maneuvers in Mediterranean

    Russia has been expanding its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean ahead of Syrian government forces’ expected offensive on the final rebel and jihadist stronghold in Syria, the Idlib Governorate. From 1 to 8 September, the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean will carry out drills involving 25 ships and around 30 Aerospace Forces aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry announced.

    The exercise will focus on a range of tasks relating to anti-air and anti-submarine defense, as well as …

  • Czech President calls sanctions against Russia 'ineffective'

    The sanctions of the European Union against Russia are ineffective and not beneficial, said the President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman during a meeting with Ambassadors of the country, Zpravy news outlet reports.

    The President expressed his approval of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s earlier statement on the need to lift sanctions against Russia. "These sanctions benefit no one. I am pleased that the Prime Minister publicly stated that they are not effective," he said. Zeman also stated …

  • Ukraine prepares sanctions against builders of the Crimean Bridge

    The Ukrainian Government prepared the draft regulation on the application of sanctions against those involved in the construction of the Crimean Bridge.

    The Cabinets of Ministers will send to the National Security and Defense Council for consideration the list of organizations to be subjected to the restrictions, as stated by the Ukrainian Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons. The government plans to introduce sanctions against nineteen Russian entities. …

  • Ukrainian President’s representative claims Russia may have started development of chemical weapons in Crimea

    Speaking about the environmental situation in the north of the Crimea, where an unknown substance was discharged on August 27, the representative of the Ukraine's President in the Crimea, Boris Babin, said that Russia could be producing components of chemical weapons in the territory of the annexed peninsula, Ukrinform news agency reports.

    Babin said that environmental problems caused by the illegal activities of companies in the north part of the annexed Crimea, affect not only the residents …

  • Foreign Ministry of France: It’s too early to send UN peacekeepers to Donbas

    French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said during his speech at the annual gathering of French ambassadors in Paris, on Wednesday, August 29 that it would be premature to send UN peacekeepers to the Donbas,Interfax-Ukraine reports.

    According to the minister, there is not enough political will to enforce the move. "Let's be honest. Without local political will, it’s premature or even counterproductive to consider the possible dispatch of the UN mission," said Le Drian. The Minister added …