• US: Russia's actions hinder efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine

    Washington has criticized the fact that Russia has strengthened their military forces in the south-west region of the country and in the Crimea. This increase in forces was previously announced by Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergey Shoygu.

    While at a press briefing on the 27th of July, the US State Department Spokesman, John Kirby, said that these actions prevent the cessation of violence as well as any efforts to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

    Kirby stressed that the Crimea is a …

  • Former Turkish PM says he gave the order to shoot down any aircraft coming from Syria

    The former Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu, has said that he gave the order which resulted in the downing of a Russian Su-24 aircraft in November last year. Hurriyet Daily News reported that Davutoğlu said this while on air with private news channel, NTV. He added that it was not a specific order, but a general instruction.

    “According to the customs of our country, the Prime Minister gives the rules of conduct to the General Staff in a written directive. I gave such an order on the 10 …

  • Russia has to compete with Ukraine and Romania on the grain market

    Record yields of wheat in Ukraine and Romania reduced grain export prices, forcing Russian grain to compete with them. Bloomberg cited data from the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies stating that wheat export prices declined by 1.8% ($162 per ton) as a result of bumper crops.

    According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Russia and Romania are set for record crops and Ukraine is expected to reap its third-biggest since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. “Ukraine, Romania and …

  • Poroshenko agrees with Merkel’s call for stronger sanctions against Russia

    The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, conducted a telephone call with the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. Both parties agreed to intensify the work in the Normandy format and in other sectors, the Presidential press service reported. In particular, the call concerned the development of a clear roadmap for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, including Russia’s fulfillment of the security component.

    As noted in the report, the President of Ukraine pointed out Russia’s …

  • The US to deliver drones and radar systems to Ukraine

    The US intends to supply Ukraine with drones and radar equipment this week. Ukrainski Novyny reported that this was said by the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, at the “Open World” discussion club.

    “We have set $600 million aside for security assistance. We have a large delivery of UAVs and night vision devices scheduled for this week, and radar equipment will be delivered in a few days,” Pyatt said. However, he did not specify how much of the equipment will be sent to Ukrainian …