US and Ukraine sign deal for construction of grain terminal in Odessa's port

Ukraine and the US have signed a $100 million investment agreement for the construction of a gain terminal in Odessa.  The signing ceremony was held in the presence of US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, as reported by Gordon.

According to Pyatt, the construction of the new grain terminal in the Yuzhny Port in Odessa will increase Ukraine’s export opportunities and create hundreds of jobs. 

“I want to congratulate the American and Ukrainian …


NATO to supply Ukraine with demining equipment for use in Donbas region

NATO intends to supply Ukraine with equipment to be used in the clearing of land mines in the Donbas region.  This was reported by the Acting Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO, Yehor Bozhok, during the workshop entitled "Research challenges in the field of border security of Ukraine".

“Ukraine will receive the demining equipment in the spring.  It will be ready by the beginning of the so-called season of clearance, which is in May,” Bozhok explained.  According to him, the need for this …


Only two Duma deputies observe moment of silence in memory of Nemtsov

Russian Duma Deputy Dmitry Gudkov proposed that those in attendance of Friday’s legislative session in Moscow share a moment of silence in memory of Boris Nemtsov on the eve of the anniversary of his assassination. As Glavnoe reported, only Gudkov and one other, Ivan Grachev, stood up to honor Nemtsov, who was assassinated on February 27th of last year.

“I suggested that we hold a moment of silence in the Duma in memory of Boris Nemtsov. As a result, two people stoop up- myself and Ivan …


Visegrad Group says it's ready to facilitate visa-free regime between Ukraine and EU

The Visegrad Group (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) has declared its readiness to facilitate a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union, as reported by RBC Ukraine.

Representatives of the four members of the Group are currently in Lviv attending a meeting on energy efficiency.

“The Visegrad partners position remains unchanged with respect to the support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and [the group] expressed its readiness to support …


European Council formally lifts sanctions against Belarus

The European Council formally lifted sanctions against Belarus on February 25th, citing improvements in the country’s human rights situation.

In particular, asset freezes and travel bans were lifted against 170 individuals, including President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as three Belarusian companies.

EU Foreign Ministers made the decision earlier this month after Lukashenko released several political prisoners in August of 2015. The appropriate legislation was approved on February 25th. …