Ukrainian politicians have paid $2 billion to US-based lobbyists over the past three years, which can be seen from reports of lobbying companies that regularly disclose their contacts.

The most active customers of overseas lobbying services are the Ukrainian Presidential Administration and the Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna (All-Ukrainian “Fatherland”) Party, writes Novoe Vremya news website, citing an investigation by journalist Tatiana Kozyreva. At the same time, the fact that both the …

In Sevastopol on July 12, there was a meeting of the movement “In support of the President of Russia”. Its participants, including members of United Russia and the All Russia People’s Front, adopted a resolution calling for the resignation of the city’s Kremlin-controlled government and parliament. At the event it was also announced that on 15 July a rally would be held in protest against the city’s current management, Krym.Realii reported.

The meeting took place in a semi-closed manner. …

Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, the Deputy Head of Presidential Administration of Ukraine stated that Ukraine offers to create an international consortium based on the Ukrainian gas transmission network as an alternative to the Nord Stream-2 pipeline project, reported Ukraine’s Channel 5 TV.

“With regard to energy, we clearly expressed our position on the inadmissibility of the Nord Stream-2. They have reacted with understanding to our reasoning and we will continue our dialogue because this project …

In the next two weeks, the Russian military will be preparing for missile launches off the coast of Syria, as reported by Interfax citing information contained in the international notification for aviation personnel - Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and a navigational warning for seafarers. According to the warnings, missile launches will be taking place in the eastern Mediterranean on July 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28, from 08:00 to 18:00 Moscow time. As the agency notes, the same sea area was previously …

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes that more servicemen will be involved in the upcoming joint Russian and Belarusian exercise Zapad 2017 (West-2017) than was officially announced, and as a result, called for the admission of observers from the alliance to the exercise, Interfax reports.

"I can say that it's too early to say anything right now, because we still have to see, because the exercises have not taken place yet. However, based on the history of the previous exercises, …

Germany has asked Poland to provide information about Russia’s influence on politics and the media in the Federal Republic of Germany, said the Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz on a broadcast on TV Republika.

“At some point, Germany asked me to provide the German authorities with an in-depth analysis of the agents of influence, ways that the Russians have to influence the political scene and media in Germany,” said Macierewicz.

He noted that he did not doubt that the Germans had …

The Republic of Moldova is demanding that Russia comply with its international obligations and withdraw its troops and weapons from Transnistria, reported the press service of the ruling Democratic Party in Moldova after a speech by the party leader Vlad Plahotniuc at the Council Meeting of Socialist International in New York.

“At this forum I would like to recall the legitimate demands of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova: We insist that Russia complete the withdrawal of their troops …

The press service of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported that 28 military units from its Armed Forces were trained according to NATO standards by instructors from Canada, Great Britain, the USA, Lithuania and Poland.

The report said that, “in 2017, 297 instructors were trained to Alliance standards. Overall, since the beginning of the military reform, about 1,200 military instructors have been trained, 600 of which had the benefit of foreign coaches’ participation.”

The Ministry also …