UN denies involvement in new Donbas peace plan proposed by OSCE special representative Martin Sajdik

The UN has no involvement in the new plan on settling the situation in Donbas, relayed by OSCE Special Representative Martin Sajdik, said the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani, as reported by UNIAN.

She emphasized that the UN supports proposals aimed at achieving peace in Donbas.

“Foremost we support the Minsk agreements and negotiations that are ongoing, the efforts of the “Normandy format,” the Tripartite Contact Group and the OSCE in Ukraine,” said Lubrani.

According …


Turkey: Russia proposed to conduct joint operation in Syria

The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, stated that Russia offered Turkey to conduct a joint operation in the de-escalation zone in Idlib against the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the backbone of which is made up of Nusrah militants.

According to Çavuşoğlu, Turkey has completed preparation for the operation in Syria

“Russians are offering a joint operation, they say that we have to get rid of them [the militants],” said Çavuşoğlu in an interview with the Hurriyet …


Latvia bans broadcasts of channel RTR-Russia for inciting hatred towards Ukrainians

The National Electronic Mass Media Council of Latvia or NEPLP has restricted the Russian television channel RTR-Russia from broadcasting in the country for three months. As Latvian news agency Leta reports, Latvian authorities found incitement to hatred toward Ukrainians was found in their programs. 

The agency found hate speech against the Ukrainian government in the program “Evening with Vladimir Solovyov” dated May 22. In the program “60 Minutes” aired on January 11, 2018, the leader of the …


German warship to enter Black Sea for NATO mission

The Werra, a replenishment ship belonging to the German Navy, will travel to the Black Sea in February as part of a permanent NATO anti-mine group. The naval vessel will visit two Bulgarian ports, Burgas and Varna,  Deutsche Welle reports citing a spokesperson for Germany’s Defense Ministry.

According to the source, the transfer has been planned for a long time. “There is no plan to deploy other German naval vessels in the Black Sea,” the spokesperson noted.

After Russian special forces  …


Putin: Russia reserves the right ‘to protect freedom of religion’ in Ukraine

Russia does not interfere in church affairs in Ukraine but “reserves the right to protect freedom of religion”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Interfax reported.

Putin said that there is actually a struggle for power, as well as speculations and cheap politics in the context of church affairs. He expressed regret that the Constantinople Patriarchate has been involved in the …