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Merkel asks Putin why Russian officers left Joint Center for the Control and Coordination in Donbas
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, spoke on the phone with the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. The Kremlin's website indicated that the politicians discussed the situation in the Donbas. Merkel asked her Russian colleague why Russian officers left the Joint Center for Control and Coordination for the ceasefire and stabilization of the Contact Line (JCCC).
In response, Putin accused the Ukrainian authorities “who had made it difficult for the Russian military to work because of …
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SBU detains one of its employees for spying for Russia
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) exposed a senior expert adviser from its central departments that had been cooperating with the Russian special services, as reported on the SBU website.
"The SBU operatives found that the Lieutenant Colonel had been handing over the classified information to the representatives of the aggressor country. He also assisted the Russian special services in conducting espionage and subversive activities to the detriment of the national security of Ukraine," the …
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Putin orders issue of special bonds for the repatriation of capital back to Russia
While attending a meeting with businessmen, Vladimir Putin announced that he has issued an order for as early as 2018 for the issuance of special bonds for the repatriation of capital to Russia. The decision was made jointly by the government and the Central Bank.
"At your last meeting, you asked for the creation of favorable mechanisms for the return of capital to Russian jurisdiction. As a tool, we have decided to use domestic bonds for external loans denominated in foreign currency. I have …
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Russian Parliament approves agreement with Syria on expansion of Tartus military base
On December 21, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, the State Duma ratified the Russian-Syrian agreement on expanding the territory of the base of Russian forces in Tartus. The document was presented to the deputies by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, Nikolai Pankov.
Pankov explained that the agreement would allow for the expansion of the territory of the logistics center to 24 hectares.
Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a corresponding bill to the Russian …
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EU extends sanctions against Russia until August 2018
The Council of the European Union has extended sanctions against Russia until July 31, 2018.
“On December 21, 2017, the Council extended economic sanctions against specific sectors of the Russian economy until July 31, 2018,” the report stated of the European Council.
Initially, these measures were introduced on July 31, 2014 for a period of one year in response to Russia’s actions that destabilized the situation in Ukraine. They were strengthened in September of the same year and are …