• Zelensky: Ukraine will continue to work with IMF

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ron van Rooden, head of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) mission to Ukraine, in Kyiv last week, the president’s press service announced.

    The meeting was also attended by Yakiv Smolii, head of the National Bank of Ukraine, and Finance Minister Oksana Markarova.

    “The cooperation is continuing. The IMF has always been a reliable partner to Ukraine at times when we need support, and Ukraine in turn will also remain a partner that meets its …

  • Volker: US will not recognize Russian passports issued in Crimea and Donbas

    The United States will not recognize Russian passports issued in areas of the Donbas outside of Ukrainian control and Russian annexed Crimea, said Kurt Volker, US State Department’s Special Representative for Ukraine.

    In response to a question asked by a Radio Svoboda correspondent during a telephone briefing in Brussels, the American official said that he considers Russia issuing passports to Ukrainian citizens in the east of Ukraine a “provocative step”. However, he doubts many Ukrainians …

  • The United States calls on Russia and Syria to stop offensive in Idlib

    On Tuesday, at a media briefing, State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, called on Russia and Syrian officials to stop conducting offensive operations in Syria’s Idlib province.

    According to her, such actions constitute a “reckless escalation” of tensions in the Syrian province.  “This is unacceptable,” said Ortagus. She stressed that Washington is calling on Moscow and Damascus to stop conducting the offensive operation. It “needs to end,” Ortagus added. The State Department …

  • Ukrainian President Zelensky will make his first foreign visit to Brussels

    President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will make his first foreign visit to Brussels on June 4-5. The President of Ukraine will meet with the leadership of the European Union and NATO; he will meet with EU President Donald Tusk and President of European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, reports Interfax-Ukraine. Also, a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is planned.

    In turn, the Executive Director of Europe and Central Asia in the European External Action Service Thomas Mayr- …

  • Russia summons Spanish ambassador over ‘old enemy’ remark

    Spanish Ambassador to Moscow Fernando Valderrama has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry over a comment made by acting Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell.

    In an interview with El Periodico, Borrell mentioned Russia only once, while talking about changes in the world. “A lot has changed. Our ally (the US) is turning its back on us. Our old enemy, Russia, is once again asserting itself and posing a threat, and China is becoming a rival,” he said, adding that in such a situation …