The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jareeda recently published an article that claims that Russia has delayed shipment of S-300 anti-aircraft missile system supplies to Iran for reasons other than financial difficulties. According to Al-Jareeda, Moscow is displeased with Iran’s breach of obligations not to provide missile weapons to Lebanese Hezbollah. The story was quickly circulated by the Israeli media, in particular, by The Jerusalem Post, Maariv and Israel Hayom.

The Hezbollah allegedly received …

The Fitch international ratings agency revised the forecast on Russia’s gross domestic product or GDP. As reported on the Fitch website, experts believe that the Russian GDP will fall by 1.5% this year.

As early as last December, they forecasted 0.5% GDP growth but in February 2016 this changed to a 1% decline. Low oil prices in Russia reduced oil company profits that led to budget tightening policies.

Meanwhile, high interest rates and declining salaries are reducing consumption, the Fitch …

The EU sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian citizens will be formally extended, without debate, on Thursday.  Brussels holds these citizens accountable for undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

It is predicted that the list will contain 146 people and 37 entities.  This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing EU sources.  Three people have been excluded from this list as they are now deceased.  These sanctions will be extended until the 15th of September.

According to diplomatic …

Basic winter mountain training as part of the NATO program, Partnership for Peace, is currently being conducted in Bajuriani, Goergia. This was stated on the website of the Georgian Ministry of Defense.

According to Sputnik-Georgia, Military personnel from Turkey, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan are are participating in the exercises.

These exercises are conducted by the trainers of the Sachkhere Mountain Training School.  At the end of the training, soldiers will …

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Republic of Turkey on March 9th and 10th. According to the administration’s press service, “negotiations with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Ismail Kahraman have been scheduled.”

The two-day visit will include the fifth meeting of the high level strategy council between Ukraine and Turkey. Formal meetings with Turkish …