-
Visegrad Group says it's ready to facilitate visa-free regime between Ukraine and EU
The Visegrad Group (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) has declared its readiness to facilitate a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union, as reported by RBC Ukraine.
Representatives of the four members of the Group are currently in Lviv attending a meeting on energy efficiency.
“The Visegrad partners position remains unchanged with respect to the support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and [the group] expressed its readiness to support …
-
European Council formally lifts sanctions against Belarus
The European Council formally lifted sanctions against Belarus on February 25th, citing improvements in the country’s human rights situation.
In particular, asset freezes and travel bans were lifted against 170 individuals, including President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as three Belarusian companies.
EU Foreign Ministers made the decision earlier this month after Lukashenko released several political prisoners in August of 2015. The appropriate legislation was approved on February 25th. …
-
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister believes that it is too early to lift sanctions against Russia
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevičius, commented on statements given by French politicians regarding the possible dangers of ongoing sanctions, saying that they not only affect the country’s economy, but the European Union (EU) as a whole.
Linkevičius noted that "no one is proud of the sanctions, but they were introduced for a reason".
In an interview with Radio French International (RFI), Linkevičius stated that Russia’s annexation of Crimea was the reason for the …
-
Bellingcat releases names of suspects in downing of MH17
Bellingcat experts, in a new report on the crash of the plane of Malaysia Airlines, name those who assembled the crew that fired the Buk missile and gave the order to launch the rocket.
On Wednesday, February 24, the Bellingcat expert group published a report entitled "MH17: alleged suspects and witnesses from the 53rd air defense missile brigade." Using publicly accessible information, a civil investigative journalist managed to restore the movement of the brigade in the summer months of 2014, …
-
Russia terminates all arms agreements with Turkey
Russia terminated its military-technical cooperation with Turkey, as was reported to Interfax by Vladimir Kozhin, MTC (Military-Technical Cooperation) Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation.
“We had contracts to supply small arms and artillery systems. Of course now, all supplies and contracts, including service contracts are halted,” he said. Kozhin added that all contracts and negotiations have been suspended “until the situation changes to the way the President of Russia wants. …