Kiev to ask for the Vatican's help to secure release of prisoners

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko believes that representatives of the Vatican could join the negotiations on the release of illegally detained Ukrainians. He discussed this issue with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

"We have agreed to coordinate our actions on the involvement of the Holy See in the humanitarian missions to free the hostages," Poroshenko said during a joint briefing with Parolin in Kyiv on Friday. Poroshenko also asked the Vatican to assist in …


NATO proposes the creation of a 'military Schengen zone'

The commander of U.S. ground forces in Europe, Lt. General Ben Hodges, expressed the need for the unrestsricted movement of military units of the alliance countries.

The U.S. commander of ground forces in Europe, General Ben Hodges, spoke in favor of the creation of a so-called military ‘Schengen zone’ in order to facilitate quick and unrestricted movement of NATO units. "We need a military Schengen zone so allied units can move at the pace fo the growing threats," Hodges stated during the …


German manufacturer of agricultural machinery signs contract with Russia at economic forum

A manufacturer of agricultural machinery from Germany signed a special investment agreement with the Russian government at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

The German CLAAS Group was the first foreign company to sign a special investment contract with Russia. The agreement was signed on Friday, June 17, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The German company received the status of the Russian manufacturer of agricultural equipment, and its products can now qualify for the …


The number of complaints of human rights violations in the Crimea has risen sharply

"There is a sharp increase in the number of complaints about human rights violations in Crimea," said Russia's Commissioner for Human Rights, Tatyana Moskalkova, on Friday, June 17th, as reported by RBC.ru news portal. Moskalkova compared the data for the first five months of 2016 with the same period in 2015.

"In the Southern Federal District, the number of complaints about human rights violations increased by 80 percent and in the Crimea, by 75 percent," said the ombudswoman. These are …


Putin hopes that next US President will cooperate with Russia

During the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that a sense of responsibility would urge the next U.S. President to cooperate with Russia and create a safe atmosphere in the world” .

Putin did not share his opinion of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for U.S. President. However, earlier, when speaking about succession in the U.S.A., the Russian president referred to the proverb “husband and wife live …