Contents tagged with Russia

  • US expands sanctions against Russian companies

    The United States government has expanded the list of Russian companies that are subject to economic sanctions in connection with Moscow’s aggressive policy towards Ukraine. The new list of companies was published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which posted it on the website of the government's Federal Register bulletin.

    This list featured 81 enterprises that were connected with the energy sector in one way or another or were involved in various projects in the annexed Crimea. The …

  • Pentagon: Russian Su-27s intercepted US aircraft over the Black Sea

    The U.S. reconnaissance aircraft that carried out regular patrol flights over the Black Sea was intercepted by a Russian fighter jet in a dangerous and unprofessional way, two representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense reported to Reuters. The incident took place between a Russian Su-27 fighter jet and a U.S. R-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft.

    The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that there have been two so-called interactions between the aircraft. One of these …

  • EU extends sanctions against Russia

    The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia because of the annexation of the Crimea in 2014 for another 6 months. This was reported by Radio Liberty correspondent in Brussels Rikard Jozwiak on Twitter on Wednesday, September 7th. This decision affects 146 people and 37 legal entities from Russia, Ukraine, and the occupied Crimea.

    According to the correspondent of 112 Ukraine TV channel in Brussels, this decision should be published before September 15th, when the term of the …

  • Stoltenberg: Russia is the reason for stationing NATO troops in the Baltics and Poland

    The presence of NATO battalions in the Baltic States and Poland is associated with the military ambitions of Russia, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Jens Stoltenberg, said.

    “The reason for placing the four battalions of NATO in the Baltic States and Poland is that we saw the military ambitions of Russia and its desire to use force against its neighbors,” Stoltenberg said on Wednesday, August 7, 2016, speaking during the International Conference “Europe’s …

  • Russian budget estimated to sink to 20-year low by 2019

    The revenues of the Federal Budget of the Russian Federation will drop to a 20-year low in 2019. On Monday, September 5, 2016 the Russian daily Vedomosti made the announcement, quoting the forecast of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, which projected that revenues will be reduced to 13.3% of the Gross Domestic Product for three years. The last time the actual figure was below forecast was in 1999.

    The Ministry predicted these results on the basis of oil priced at 4 …

  • PACE President isn't satisfied with relationship with Russian Duma

    The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Pedro Agramunt, who arrived in Moscow on an official visit, noted the poor state of relations between PACE and the Russian State Duma.

    “The fact that the Russian Parliament decided not to appoint a delegation for the session of the Assembly and the fact that the voice of the MPs from one of our member states is no longer present in PACE is an exceptional situation,” RIA Novosti quoted the president of PACE on …

  • US lifts sanctions on Russian defense company to service Mi-17 helicopters in Afghanistan

    On September 6th, RIA Novosti reported that the U.S. had lifted sanctions against Rosoboronexport contracts regarding the maintenance of Mi-17 helicopters in Afghanistan. Deputy Director General of Rosoboronexport Sergey Goreslavsky said in an interview with RIA Novosti that "the decision was made for two years, but if necessary, may be extended by the Americans." Those restrictions were imposed on September 2nd last year but had been partially lifted on November 25th.

    The Director of …

  • Estonia accuses Russia of violating its airspace

    Tallinn accused Moscow once again of violating its airspace. On Tuesday, September 6th. This was reported by the press service of the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces.

    According to the Estonian military, an AN-72 aircraft of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation flew into the air space of Estonia without the permission on the evening of September 5th. The plane’s transponder was turned on but the flight plan was not submitted in advance. The plane did not communicate with …

  • Peskov: Putin has no plans to meet with Poroshenko

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Interfax reported.

    “The President [Putin] has said that in the interest of implementing the Minsk agreements, if necessary, he would be ready for such contact [with Poroshenko]. And again, for this the necessary conditions must arise, and the necessary homework must be done,” Peskov stated.

    The Kremlin’s spokesman recalled that Putin had said …

  • Syrian opposition group would reject joint deal between Russia and US if it deviated from its own plan

    Syria’s main opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee, has said that it would reject any coordinated strategy by Russia and the US to bring peace to Syria if it were to deviate from the group’s proposed plan, Reuters reported, citing the committee’s general coordinator, Riyad Hijab.

    The Saudi and Western-backed High Negotiations Committee’s proposed plan includes a six-month transition period during which a new administration would be created made up of opposition figures, civil …