The Government of Japan has voiced protest over the Russian Defense Ministry’s plans to place a division in the Kuril Islands within the year. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the official position at a press conference, reports Nikkei media outlet.

According to Suga, the strengthening of Russia's military presence on the Kuril Islands "is incompatible with the position of Japan." Suga also added that the issue would be discussed at a meeting of the foreign and defense …

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Margot Wallström, stated in an interview with Dozhd that European sanctions imposed against Russia will be maintained as long as the Crimea remains under Russian control.

“Our sanctions, the decision on which was made by the European Union, were imposed due to the events that took place in the Crimea… The territory was illegally taken from another European country. This is prohibited by the European security policy,” Wallström said.

“Our sanctions …

Former Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Đukanović accused Russia of trying to destabilize the situation in the Balkans. He stated on the 21st of February that pro-Moscow groups “deployed a lot of destructive material in Montenegro” in the attempt to organize a coup.

“A new puppet government would serve only the interests of Moscow, which wants to send a message to Europe and NATO, that they can’t expand to the Balkans without Russian consent,” said Đukanović, who was the initiator of his …