Kuchma’s press secretary: Separatists refuse to negotiate on prisoner exchange

In the framework of the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, separatist representatives from the self-proclaimed Republics of the Donbas refuse to hold negotiations regarding the release of prisoners. This was reported on the Facebook page of Darka Olifer, the press-secretary of the Ukrainian representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, Leonid Kuchma, regarding the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas.

According to Olifer, representatives from the so-called DPR and LPR “ …


Russia has to compete with Ukraine and Romania on the grain market

Record yields of wheat in Ukraine and Romania reduced grain export prices, forcing Russian grain to compete with them. Bloomberg cited data from the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies stating that wheat export prices declined by 1.8% ($162 per ton) as a result of bumper crops.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Russia and Romania are set for record crops and Ukraine is expected to reap its third-biggest since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. “Ukraine, Romania and …


Poroshenko agrees with Merkel’s call for stronger sanctions against Russia

The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, conducted a telephone call with the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. Both parties agreed to intensify the work in the Normandy format and in other sectors, the Presidential press service reported. In particular, the call concerned the development of a clear roadmap for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, including Russia’s fulfillment of the security component.

As noted in the report, the President of Ukraine pointed out Russia’s …


The US to deliver drones and radar systems to Ukraine

The US intends to supply Ukraine with drones and radar equipment this week. Ukrainski Novyny reported that this was said by the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, at the “Open World” discussion club.

“We have set $600 million aside for security assistance. We have a large delivery of UAVs and night vision devices scheduled for this week, and radar equipment will be delivered in a few days,” Pyatt said. However, he did not specify how much of the equipment will be sent to Ukrainian …


Russia's Gazprom is ready to resume talks on the Turkish Stream pipeline

Russia’s Gazprom is gearing up to resume talks on the adoption of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project. The topic will also be discussed at the meeting of Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak and Turkish Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, Kommersant reports.

Zeybekçi is the head of the Turkish delegation that arrived in Moscow to conduct negotiations on resuming economic relations between the two countries. Gazprom deputy chairman Alexander Medvedev reiterated on July 26th that the …