Ukrainian government's plan for public policy toward Donbas: reintegration or capitulation?

On January 11, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a plan of measures aimed at the implementation of some of the principles of the state domestic policy with respect to certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions where public authorities are temporarily not exercising their powers. The document caused a strong reaction in the parliament and drew criticism from experts.The essence of the documentThe plan for the creation of some economic and socio-cultural relations with the …


Zakharchenko invited Aksyonov to visit the DPR

During a meeting with the Kremlin-controlled Crimean authorities, the leader of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, invited the Russian-appointed Prime Minister of the Crimea to visit the territory controlled by their group in eastern Ukraine, as reported by the press service of the current Crimean government on 19 January.

Aksyonov, in turn, promised to invite the leaders of the DPR and LPR more often.“In the future, we will always invite them to participate in significant events. I’m sure that …


Former U.S. Secretary of Defense: Ukraine should not abandon the Crimea and the Donbas

Ukraine must uphold the principle of its territorial integrity. The idea of neutrality as a compromise to resolve the conflict with Russia is wrong, says Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2006-2011 who also headed the CIA in 1991-1993.

"It would be wrong to talk about the neutrality of Ukraine. Ukraine should never give up its position. The Crimea is a part of Ukraine, and they should never abandon the Donbas as it is a part of Ukraine, too." He said this in an interview with Interfax- …


Poroshenko discussed the Minsk agreements and Crimea with the new UN Secretary General

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held meetings and talks with the leaders of states and heads of international organizations in Davos, Switzerland. It was reported on the official website of the Ukrainian President on January 19.

Poroshenko met with the newly elected Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and discussed with him the international organization’s support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent states, as well as the implementation of …


The Verkhovna Rada approved participation of NATO soldiers in exercises in Ukraine

On Thursday, 19 January, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the holding of exercises in 2017 with the participation of NATO armed forces in the country. 236 of 329 MP’s present at the meeting voted in favor of the proposed law approving the decision of Petro Poroshenko. The remaining members did not vote, as indicated on the Rada’s website.

According to the addendums to the proposed legislation on the website of the Ukrainian parliament, the proposal for the international training …