Germany and France expect Vladimir Putin’s "constructive participation in resolving international conflicts." Russia should help resolve the crises in Syria and Ukraine, as well as other problems, Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas stated during a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Berlin on Monday, May 7, Radio Liberty reported. According to the German ambassador, Berlin and Paris are interested in dialogue with Moscow and expect from it "constructive contribution …

Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Vyacheslav Kyrylenko stated on Twitter that he has asked the Ukrainian authorities to develop sanctions against 12 Russian publishing houses that distribute “anti-Ukrainian” literature.

 “In response to the requests of the public and the State Committee for Television and Radio-Broadcasting of Ukraine, I signed a request for authorities to develop sanctions against 12 Russian publishers that systematically distribute book publications with content that is aimed …

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz threatened to overthrow and kill Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if he continues to allow Iran to operate out of Syria, the Israeli news outlet Ynet reports.

The Israeli government accuses Iran, one of Syria’s primary allies, of striving to turn Syria into a hostile staging area. However, Israel promises to prevent this, even if it requires use of military force.

“If Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to allow the Iranians to operate out of …

The Cossacks who dispersed the recent protest in Moscow previously fought on behalf of the separatists in Ukraine, Novaya Gazeta reports.

According to reporters, the “Crimean Cossack Regiment” is part of the Union of Cossack Forces in Russia and Abroad, which is headed by Nikolai Dyakonov.

Dyakonov and his subordinates are known to have extensive combat experience even from before the Ukraine-Russian conflict.

“After the ‘Crimean Spring’, Dyakonov’s Cossacks went to fight in the Donbas. …

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has decided to submit to the International Court of Justice evidence of the involvement of Russian servicemen in the shelling of Mariupol in the Donetsk region on January 24, 2015.

This was announced at a briefing by the head of the Security Service, Vasyl Hrytsak.

On the website of the SBU, information was published about the involvement of Russian military personnel in the shelling of the Vostochny neighborhood in Mariupol. In particular, it has been …

The Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter that crashed in Syria may have been shot down by a missile fired from the ground, reported the newspaper Kommersant.

“According to unofficial information, the Ka-52 was shot down while patrolling the eastern territories of the Syrian Arab Republic when it was fired on by portable surface-to-air missile systems (MANPADS), which were at the disposal of radical Islamists,” the paper said.

On May 7, the Ministry of Defense reported the crash of a …

Russian president Vladimir Putin, occupying the office for a fourth term, left Dmitry Medvedev as the head of the government. This was reported on the Kremlin’s website.

Now the State Duma of the Russian Federation must approve Medvedev’s candidacy.

According to the Russian constitution, after the inauguration of the president, the government resigns. Then the president names a prime minister, who recommends to the president candidates for the federal ministers.

Until the new government goes …

A Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopter crashed in eastern Syria, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

"While carrying out a planned flight over the eastern regions of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Russian Ka-52 helicopter crashed. Both pilots were killed, " the Ministry said.

It is reported that the bodies of the pilots were recovered and brought to the airbase.

According to preliminary information, the cause of the crash of the Russian helicopter in Syria …