• IMF concerned by resignation of Ukrainian Economic Minister

    The decision of Aivaras Abromavičius to resign as the Minister of Economic Development and Tradeof Ukraine has created concern in the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    According to Interfax Ukraine, this was stated as a press conference in Washington by the Managing Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde.

    “His decision to resign is a matter of concern.  If the suspicions he expressed when he communicated his intention to resign are reliable, it is a clear sign that the undertakings made by …

  • Russia suspects Turkey of preparing to invade Syria

    According to Igor Konashenkov, a representative of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, there are “more and more” signs of covert preparations for an armed invasion of Syria by Turkey.

    Konashenkov stated that Moscow has “serious grounds” for suspicion.  “We are finding more and more signs of covert training of the Turkish Armed Forces for future military actions in Syria,” he reported.  He also noted that on a previous occasion, the Ministry of Defense presented video evidence of self-propelled …

  • Disagreements Emerge between Poroshenko and Cabinet of Ministers over IMF Loan

    Disagreements have emerged between the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by Arseniy Yatseniuk, over the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, as reported by Apostrophe, citing a source in diplomatic circles.

    The final version of the Memorandum, which outlines the obligations of both the IMF and Ukraine, is not yet ready. After the adoption of the budget for 2016 and changes in the tax code, the IMF received a proposal from the Cabinet of Ministers  …

  • Erdogan: Syrian Negotiations are Meaningless unless Russia and Syria Cease Attacks

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that inter-Syrian negotiations in Geveva are meaningless as long as the troops of the Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad, and Russia continue hostilities in Syria. “Russia continues to kill people in Syria. How is it then possible to hold peace negotiations?” he rhetorically asked, speaking during his visit to Peru on the 4th of February. “In a climate when people are killed, such efforts make no sense. They just ease the conditions for the tyrant,” …

  • Bavarian Minister-President visits Moscow to 'restore normal relations' with Russia

    At a reception held by Russian President Valdimir Putin, Bavarian Minister-President Horst Seehofer said that he would make an effort to restore normal relations with Russia.  He had previously stated that the Bavarian economy is suffering due to sanctions placed against Russia.

    Seehofer is also the head of the Christian Social Union party (CSU).  He viewed his visit to Moscow as a step towards achieving these normal relations with Russia.  “We wholeheartedly wish to contribute to the …