• Saudi exports of oil to Poland alarm Russian oil companies

    The Polish company Orlen has entered into a contract to receive oil from Saudi Arabia, provoking anxiety among Russian oil companies, as reported by Radio Poland. It is the first contract of its kind in Eastern Europe and may be followed by more. This can call into question the positions of traditional suppliers from Russia, headed by Rosneft.

    The head of Rosneft, Igor Sechin, has been afraid of this scenario since October of last year, the edition notes. He warned that the reduction of prices …

  • Ukraine and China outline steps necessary to simplify visa regime

    In the course of consultations in Kiev, heads of the consular services of Ukraine and China have agreed on a number of steps to simplify a mutual travel regime for the citizens of the two countries.

    According to the Facebook post of the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the ministry held top-level consular talks with China. The event was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the …

  • Germany to expand its army due to tensions with Russia

    Germany plans to increase the size of its armed forces for the first time since 1990 due to tensions with Russia. “The Bundeswehr is expected to recruit an additional 14,300 troops over the next seven years; 4,400 civilian staff will be recruited as well,” Ursula von der Leyen, the German Minister of Defense, said on Tuesday.

    According to her, the expansion of the German army is necessary, owing to the current situation of increased tensions with Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine and also …

  • US to unveil European missile defense system

    The US’s European missile defense system will be officially declared operational on Thursday, despite Russia’s objections, Reuters reported.

    The announcement will come almost a decade after Washington first proposed such a system.

    US and NATO officials will gather in Deveselu, Romania for the inauguration of the missile defense site, the construction of which was finished in 2015.

    Construction of a second site in Poland is slated to begin on May 13th, and is due to be completed in 2018. …

  • Ukrainian and Georgian delegates to attend NATO Military Committee meeting

    NATO announced that the Alliance’s Military Committee will convene a meeting at the level of Defense Chiefs in Brussels on May 18th. Ukrainian and Georgian delegates will attend the meeting as partners of NATO in order to coordinate security and defense with the Alliance.

    In particular, the Georgian delegation will discuss the progress of defense reforms and the country’s further cooperation with NATO.

    Representatives of Ukraine will address the security situation in the country. Reform in …