Turkey is committed to a strategic partnership with Ukraine, intends to expand cooperation with Kyiv in defense and does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, said Turkish President Recep Erdogan after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul. “We stand for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. We reaffirmed our principled decision not to recognize the annexation of

The self-styled leader is yet to approve one of the three drafts on the table, operatives say.Denis Pushilin / Photo from pro-“DPR” outlet The “authorities” of the Russia-controlled entity in eastern Ukraine, the internationally-unrecognized “Donetsk People’s Republic”, are reportedly preparing to release a public appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the future of the occupied territories. That’s according to

10.04.2021 13:19 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin are set to travel to Brussels next week to discuss Russia’s escalation in eastern Ukraine with allies in Europe. “Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to return to Brussels next week for more meetings with NATO and European officials, according to people familiar with the matter,

The Theology Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church has prepared a document regulating the practice of exorcism (casting out demons). RIA Novosti was informed about this by the head of the department for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion.  According to Hilarion, currently the practice of exorcism does not exist in all local churches. The prepared document contains both

The Federal Security Service has updated the rules for visiting the Moscow Kremlin. The corresponding document is posted on the official portal of legal information.  The new rules, in particular, allow visitors to bring soft drinks (up to one liter) and foodstuffs in transparent containers (up to one kilogram) to the Kremlin. In addition, now you can take walking backpacks with

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine by phone, reported Putin’s press service. During the telephone conversation, Putin outlined to Erdogan “Russian approaches to resolving the internal Ukrainian crisis.” The Russian side stressed that it considers the Minsk “Complex of Measures”, which was adopted in 2015, as an alternative basis for resolving the

Tim Ogden & Vazha Tavberidze. April 7, 2021 Even with Alexei Navalny imprisoned, Russia’s opposition continues to struggle against Vladimir Putin and his quarter-century of Kremlin rule. This already daunting task has been made harder by the fact that key figures are now imprisoned or in exile: the opposition leader’s principal aides Vladimir Ashrukov and Leonid Volkov have fled to

The restrictive measures will be in effect indefinitely.Twenty-seven officials are on the sanctions list / Photo from UNIAN Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine on former President Viktor Yanukovych, former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, and other high-ranking officials. This is stipulated in presidential decree No.151/2021 of April 9, 2021. “The decision

This handout picture taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on April 9, 2021 shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) presenting awards to soldiers not far from the front line with Russia backed separatists in Mariupol region. (AFP)Photo by AFP I have spent the week reading various sell-side bank research reports on the evolving crisis in eastern Ukraine and feel

PHOTOS09.04.2021 16:15 A U.S. delegation led by Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché Colonel Brittany Stewart has visited the Joint Forces Operation area in eastern Ukraine, the press service of the Defense Ministry reports. The U.S. representatives visited the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which carry out tasks on the contact line with the enemy, talked to Ukrainian

Russian troops have already invaded the Donbas in 2014 and 2015, and thus saved the “DNR and LNR pro-Russian fighters” from complete defeat. This was stated by member of the public council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Kremlin military expert Ruslan Pukhov in an interview with the Fontanka Russian news agency. “The Russian military grouping on

09.04.2021 14:56 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his condolences over the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Zelensky wrote this on his Twitter account. “Deep condolences to the Royal Family. Irreparable loss for the British people. Ukraine grieves together with Great Britain. Prince Philip lived a great life to serve his people and to

The conversation reportedly took place on April 7. A Russian serviceman, nom de guerre “Rostov”, orders a “DPR” field commander to deliberately open friendly fire on “DPR” positions.“Rostov” calls “DPR” fighters ‘meat’ / Screenshot Ukraine’s counterintelligence operatives say they have intercepted communications between members of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) based in the Russia-occupied part of Donbas and their Russian supervisors.

The U.S. is discussing its concerns with its NATO allies.REUTERS Press Secretary of the White House Jen Psaki says Russia has more troops on the border with Ukraine than at any time since 2014. She announced this at a briefing at the White House, according to the media outlet European Pravda. “Russia now has more troops on the border with Ukraine

The U.S. Navy is continuing to fly reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea.REUTERS The United States is considering sending warships into the Black Sea in the next few weeks in a show of support for Ukraine amid Russia’s increased military presence on Ukraine’s eastern border, according to CNN. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea,

The administration of US President Joe Biden has completed a review of the hostile actions in which Russia is suspected and has prepared a series of retaliatory measures, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources.WHAT HOSTILE ACTIONS? According to the agency, the United States is considering the expulsion of Russian intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover as a possible measure. One source noted

Work on the roads reconstruction under the Big Construction program has started in all regions of Ukraine, Deputy Head of the President’s Office, coordinator of Big Construction Kyrylo Tymoshenko said. “This year we continue construction. Even now, I think, if you go by the roads, the highways of Ukraine, you will see that in all regions the reconstruction of roads,

The European Commission (EC) has approved the Council’s draft decision for the signing of the Agreement on the Common Aviation Space with Ukraine, said representative of Ukraine to the European Union, Ambassador Mykola Tochytsky. “Long awaited good news: today EU Commission has re-approved the draft Council Decision on the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement. Looking forward to member-states’