Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with the members of the Security Council in the Crimea, accused Ukraine of its "unwillingness or inability" to implement the Minsk Agreements regarding the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas. According to him, this explains Ukraine’s "provocative acts" in the Crimea.

At the same time Putin expressed hope that this is not Ukraine’s "final choice" and that "common sense will prevail."

Putin also stated that Moscow is not going to sever  …

The World Trade Organization has supported the EU in the another trade dispute with Russia, RBC reports.

The panel of arbitrators at the WTO ruled that Russia’s ban on importing European pork is contrary to the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

In early, 2014 Russia imposed a ban on imports of live pigs and pig products from all EU countries, referring to the outbreak of African swine fever in Lithuania and Poland.

The WTO concluded that the ban on pork …

The build-up of Russian military forces in the Crimea is not directed at anyone, including NATO. According to RIA Novosti, this was said by Russia's Permanent Representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

“Somehow, there exists a kind of contrived element of intimidation of public opinion if we talk about the perception of what we are doing in the Crimea. NATO is actually well aware that a very serious Russian component has always been present in the Crimea at all times,” Grushko explained. …