• Argentina bans Russia Today broadcasts

    The Argentine government announced the termination of broadcasting for Russian news channel Russia Today (RT). The decision will come into force within 60 days.

    According to Radio Liberty, RT’s 24-hour news in Spanish began broadcasting in Argentina in October 2014 with great pomp. Its launch began with a general television program with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the then President of Argentina Cristina Kirchner as guests.

    Argentina's consent to include RT into the state television …

  • Finnish PM: Finland's NATO membership should be determined by a referendum

    Finland may apply for NATO membership, but it will require broad support from the local population, as stated by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, speaking at a party congress in the city of Seinäjoki.

    "I consider it is important, that if one day we will come to this decision, a referendum will be held," Sipilä said.

    "This does not mean that those who make decisions in the country are transferring their responsibilities [to the people], this means that they understand that such a big decision …

  • Ukraine will not agree to Gazprom's prices

    Naftogaz of Ukraine will not agree to buy gas from Gazprom in the third quarter of 2016 for the price offered by the Russian Energy Minister of $177 per one thousand cubic meters. On Friday, June 10, Director for Business Development at Naftogaz, Yuriy Vitrenko, wrote this on his Facebook page.

    Vitrenko noted that the cost of European gas in July was below $173 per one thousand cubic meters. "All the necessary gas we will buy on the European market. Thankfully we have no problems there now," …

  • Abkhazia will not hold a referendum on joining Russia

    Unlike South Ossetia, Abkhazia will not hold a referendum on joining the Russian Federation. The Prime Minister of the breakaway Republic, Artur Mikvabia, said this in an interview with RIA Novosti.

    Commenting on the referendum in South Ossetia, Mikvabia said that "Abkhazia is another story."

    "The motives of Tskhinvali are clear. The Ossetians are a divided people, some are now living in Russia, others in South Ossetia. That is why there is a desire to reunite. We have a different situation. …

  • Merkel: Sanctions against Russia will not end by themselves

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that sanctions imposed against Russia “will not end by themselves.”

    According to Reuters, she stated that implementing the Minsk Agreements is the key to lifting the sanctions.

    The EU imposed economic sanctions against Russia in July 2014 due to the crisis in Ukraine. In response, Russia banned the import of a number of products from the EU. The European Union tied these sanctions to the Minsk Agreements. According to the EU, the terms of the Minsk …