• Russia faces steel surplus due to supply from Donbas

    The Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) is concerned that there may be a surplus of steel offered on the Russian market due to the growing imports from the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) in eastern Ukraine. The company mentioned this concern in its report for the first quarter of 2019, RBC reports.

    MMK also drew attention to steel imports from the Donbas in its fourth quarterly report for 2018: “The price of thick plates was under pressure due to the excess …

  • Israel stikes Iranian and Hezbollah bases in Syria

    Violent explosions rocked the areas near Damascus on the evening of May 17.  According to the reports, the Israeli Air Forces conducted air raid against Iranian and Hezbollah  bases in Syria.

    Earlier, the Syrian news agency SANA reported that the Syrian Army's air defense systems managed to down several missiles fired from the direction of the Quneitra province and the Golan Heights.

    Al Mayadeen TV Channel belonging to Hezbollah reported that Israel had also attacked targets south of Damascus. …

  • Russia agrees to pay Green Peace 2.7 million euros to settle Arctic Sunrise case

    The Netherlands and Russia reached an agreement on the dispute over the detention of the Arctic Sunrise ship and its crew in 2013. On Friday, May 17, the Netherlands Foreign Office in The Hague reported that as part of the final settlement of the conflict the Russian Federation will pay 2.7 million euros compensation to the international organization Greenpeace, the owner of the ship.

    In addition, as one of the dispute settlement points, the Netherlands and Russia agreed to conduct joint …

  • Belarus suspends transit of oil to Ukraine

    The transit of Russian oil from Belarus to Ukraine has been suspended due to the lack of free tankers in Ukraine that could store contaminated  oil, reported the press service of the Belneftekhim Concern.

    The oil routes leading to Ukraine are unstable and pumping has been suspended due to the lack of free tankers in Ukraine that could pump “dirty” oil through the pipelines. According to the new schedule, pumping will resume on night of May 19-20,” the concern noted.

    Belneftekhim also said …

  • Council of Europe allows Russia to take part in electing new Secretary General

    At a meeting in Helsinki, more than 30 member state ministers of foreign affairs in the Council of Europe decided to pave the way for Russia’s return to the PACE following an emergency procedure, as reported by Ukrinform.

    Member states should have the right to participate on an equal footing in the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly according to the decision rendered on Friday.

    At the same time, the ministers stressed that member states have the fundamental obligation to …