• Ukraine finds a way to block Nord Stream 2

    Kyiv has threatened to dispute the amendments made by members of Germany’s ruling coalition to the EU’s new gas directive which, once adopted, will allow the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to bypass the restrictions. Ukraine’s trade representative, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Taras Kachka, warned about this yesterday.

    According to him, such an initiative will lead to lengthy legal procedures, which will block the operation of the Russian pipeline, Interfax …

  • Israel officially confirms its support for Syrian Kurds

    The Jewish state is already assisting the Syrian Kurds and will continue to do so, said Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely. “Israel has received many requests for aid in diplomatic and humanitarian matters. We are aiding them in various channels,” The Jerusalem Post cites Hotovely as saying.

    The deputy minister made the statement during a session of the Knesset. According to her, Israel’s support of the Kurds is based on “historical ties and shared interests”. “The Kurds are a …

  • Ukraine and the US sign Protocol on Defense Cooperation

    Ukrainian-US bilateral defense consultations took place at the Central House of Officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv. After the meeting, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and US Defense Department signed a Protocol that defines further areas of cooperation between the two defense agencies, reports the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

    "The Ukrainian delegation, headed by Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Alina Frolova, discussed with American colleagues the main aspects …

  • Belarus fully renounces Russian loans

    For the first time in the many years that the Union State of Russia and Belarus has existed, the Belarusian government will be adopting a financial policy that completely avoids new loans from Russia.

    In its borrowing plan for 2020, the Belarusian Ministry of Finance has not budgeted for any new loans from Russia, according to the country’s “Primary areas of budget, financial and tax policy for 2020-2022”.

    In 2019, Minsk expected $630 million from Moscow in the form of an intergovernmental …

  • Abromavicius: Companies linked to Ukraine’s previous government had colossal access to state defense order

    Aivaras Abromavicius, Director General of the Ukrainian state-owned defense conglomerate UkrOboronProm, said that the state defense order (SDO) from recent years should be investigated by law enforcement.

    “Unfortunately, most of the state defense order went to companies linked to former politicians. We know their names, I think the law enforcement organs should investigate it… I think we should declassify the SDO,” Abromavicius said during a session about UkrOboronProm in Kharkiv.

    Ukrainian …

  • Austria allocates 1 million euros for Donbas

    The Austrian Federal Government has allocated 1 million euros of humanitarian aid to Ukraine for the Donbas, reports the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on its Twitter.

    It is noted that the funds are intended for the daily support of residents of Eastern Ukraine and mine clearance in the region.

    "We thank the Austrian government for the new tranche of humanitarian aid of 1 million euros for daily support of residents of Eastern Ukraine and mine clearance in the Donbas," reads …

  • Russian and Belarus governments to present integration plans to Putin and Lukashenko by December 1

    The governments of Belarus and Russia will present a roadmap for integrating the two countries to their presidents by December 1, RIA Novosti reports, citing Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhey Rumas.

    “We are working on it now in order to present draft roadmaps to the presidents by December 1,” Rumas said.

    He also added that a session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State has been scheduled for November 19, after which he will discuss integration plans with Russian Prime Minister …

  • Erdogan assures Zelensky of Turkey’s support for Ukraine

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reports the press service of Ukrainian President. During the conversation, the presidents discussed preparation for the next meeting of Ukraine–Turkey High-Level Strategic Council co-chaired by the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey.

    "The Heads of State noted a common commitment to further enhance cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. The parties agreed on the importance of …

  • Cyprus strips nine Russians of ‘golden passport’ citizenship

    The government of Cyprus has revoked 26 so-called “golden passports” that were issued to foreigners in exchange for investments. According to the Cypriot news agency Sigmalive, this has affected nine Russians, eight Cambodians, five Chinese, two Kenyans, one Iranian and one Malaysian. The news outlet clarifies that only nine of those affected are the investors, the rest are their family members.

    Nicos Anastasiades, President of Cyprus, announced on November 4 that the country’s government …

  • Russia bombs Syrian Idlib destroying children's hospital

    Russian aircraft carried out a double raid on medical facilities in the de-escalation zone in Northwestern Syria, reports the Turkish Anadolu News Agency.

    At night the aircraft of Russian Aerospace Forces had attacked Shinan and Maar Shurin villages, as well as the district of Maarat al-Numan.

    As a result of the strike, the Ikhlas Maternity and Children's Hospital in the village of Shannan were destroyed, two medical workers were wounded. Newborns and patients were evacuated.

    Over the past …