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The Kremlin: US weapons will hinder the peace process in the Donbas
The possible supply of US weapons to Ukraine would only postpone the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas, stated Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for Russian President Putin while commenting on the statement of the US State Department's Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, Kurt Volker.
"We have repeatedly said that any actions provoking tension on the line of demarcation and provoking the situation, which is already difficult, will only distance us from settling this intra- …
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Volker: Russia has more tanks in the Donbas than Western Europe combined
US States Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that possible shipments of weaponry to Ukraine cannot provoke Russia, because Russia has already concentrated a large military contingent in the Ukrainian territory.
In an interview for Radio Svoboda’s “Current Time” project on July 25 in Paris, Volker emphasized that the current US government is discussing the matter of shipping lethal weapons to Ukraine.
“Russia is already in Ukraine with all its heavy weapons. Right …
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Media: Russia will reduce spending on promotion of foreign policy agenda abroad
Budget expenditures for institutions promoting Russia's foreign policy agenda abroad will be reduced in the next three years, reported RBC, referencing materials from the "Electronic Budget" system.
Compared to 2014-2016, subsidies to the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) will be reduced by 8%.
In 2014-2016, the funds received subsidies in the amount of 431.4 million rubles. In 2017-2019, they will be allocated 398.7 million. The …
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Media: Ukraine dismantles fiber optic lines to Crimea
Ukraine has dismantled the main fiber optic communication lines connecting it to Crimea, Kryminform reports with reference to a competent source.
“Really, Ukraine has dismantled the infrastructure of the main fiber optic communication lines on the border with Crimea,” the source said.
According to Ivan Zima, general director of Miranda Media, one of the major internet providers in the Crimea, no internet traffic is currently coming to the peninsula from Ukrainian territory.
“We cannot …
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Putin’s former teacher becomes billionaire
Vladimir Litvinenko, the Rector of the St. Petersburg Mining University under whose leadership Vladimir Putin defended his Ph.D. thesis in 1997, has become a dollar billionaire, writes Vedomosti.
"Litvinenko's declarations reflect only a small portion of his fortune. This year, the rector became a dollar billionaire, having raised his shares in one of the world's largest fertilizer producers, Fosagro, in April to 19.35% of shares. As of last Friday, the value of this package amounted to 59.9 …