Showing posts with label Minsk II. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minsk II. Show all posts

Friday, August 28, 2015

Debt ridden Ukraine asks Russia for lower gas prices for coming winter season


Debt ridden Ukraine asks Russia for lower gas prices for coming winter season. (AP).

Emboldened by a deal with international creditors to write down part of its debt, Ukraine on Friday asked Russia for lower gas prices for the winter season.

Russia and Ukraine last year struck an emergency deal on prices through the winter. That deal has expired, however, and the sides have to hold new talks if Ukraine is to receive more Russian gas.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Friday he is convinced that Kiev and Moscow should go back to the last winter deal, which saw Ukraine pre-pay for gas but receive a sizeable discount.

"We are convinced that the only mechanism to ensure a gas transit to the EU as well as stable supplies to Ukraine is applying the same mechanism that was worked out last year between the EU, Ukraine and Russia," he said in comments released by his press office.

The Ukrainian government on Thursday reached a deal with its international bondholders to lighten its public debt burden. It will see the creditors write off 20 percent of their bond holdings, shrinking $19 billion in sovereign debt to $15.5 billion.

Russian creditors did not take part in talks, but Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko on Thursday insisted that Moscow should accept the same terms because "it would not get a better deal" than Ukraine's other creditors.

Moscow insists that it wants to be fully repaid for a $3 billion loan it gave to Ukraine. The debt is due at the end of the year.

Speaking to reporters late Thursday, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov noted that Russia's loan "was not a commercial one. We provided funds for Ukraine with a below-market interest rate."
 Hmmmm......"Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine.Read the full story here.

Related:   Belarus ready to increase Russian gas transit to EU if needed.



Friday, August 21, 2015

Belarus ready to increase Russian gas transit to EU if needed.


Belarus ready to increase Russian gas transit to EU if needed. (Taz).

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday that his country was ready to increase the volume of Russian gas transiting through Belarus to Europe, if needed, Sputnik reported.

Earlier in the day, Lukashenko and Miller formally announced the construction of the multifunctional Gazprom Center in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus was not an "alien territory" for the Russian energy company.

Last month, Ukraine, via which Europe receives over 40 percent of its gas from Russia, ceased all purchases of gas from Gazprom because Kiev and Moscow were unable to reach an agreement on gas deliveries for the third quarter of 2015.


Moscow has repeatedly voiced concerns over Ukraine's reliability as a transit countryHmmm.......Sounds like a long , Cold Russian winter is coming to the Ukraine.

Related: EU, Russia and Ukraine meeting, trying to resolve 'Winter' gas issue could take place at end of September.




Thursday, August 20, 2015

EU, Russia and Ukraine meeting, trying to resolve 'Winter' gas issue could take place at end of September.


EU, Russia and Ukraine meeting, trying to resolve 'Winter' gas issue could take place at end of September. (RBTH).

The European Commission sent Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers a document which sets out the main points on which an agreement on gas supplies to Ukraine is needed, European Commission member for energy Miguel Arias Canete said.

"This paper will be discussed in bilateral meetings at the ministerial level. The first one will be on August 27 with the Ukrainian minister and possibly at the beginning of September with the Russian minister. There is a convergence that there will be probably a trilateral ministerial meeting at the end of September," Arias Canete said at a press conference in Brussels on August 20.

The document outlines the nature and timeline for the protocol, formula for prices and discounts, minimum purchase amounts and their financing.

The European Commission is working tirelessly in order to reach a new gas delivery protocol from Russia to Ukraine from October 2015 to March 2016, Arias Canete said.
"The commission wants very clearly to have the second winter package. This is our position", he said.
Arias Canete said that the last three-sided ministerial meeting on gas in Vienna finished without results. A draft protocol was readied for Vienna upon which the sides reached a working level agreement, however the positions changed on the ministerial level.

"It became clear that at the moment there is no political will on both sides to agree on a new protocol. That is why the commission has informed the Normandy Group about the deadlock of the negotiations and asked for a stronger political steering from the heads of states and government commissars," he said.

He also outlined the arguments of the European Commission in favor of a protocol. First of all, it is necessary to ensure the gas supply to Ukraine in the coming winter. And although the situation has improved a bit compared to last year due to the reverse gas supplies from EU countries, "Ukraine still needs to fill its storages to at least 19 billion cubic meters (bcm) in order to prepare for a rough winter. 

The current level is 13.5 bcm. They need to buy more gas," Arias Canete said.

Additionally he said that it is necessary to guarantee the supply for Ukraine, while at the same time maintaining the transits of gas from Russia to the European Union, as it is in the interests of Moscow, so that they can retain their position as a reliable supplier. Hmmm.........I wouldn't count too much on a solution, in view of: "Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine.




Saturday, August 15, 2015

"Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine.


"Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine. (RBC). [GoogleTranslate].
"Gazprom" said the amount of claims to "Naftogaz Ukrainy", transmitted to the Stockholm arbitration is $ 29.2 billion
The total amount of claims against "Gazprom" to "Naftogaz Ukraine", is $ 29.2 billion, follows from the report "Gazprom" for the second quarter 2015. The document notes that the company has specified the total amount of their claims in a counter lawsuit, filed in the Arbitration Institute of Stockholm Chamber of Commerce June 12, 2015.

At the beginning of May 2015 it was reported that the total amount of the claims of "Gazprom" to "Naftogaz Ukraine" in the Stockholm arbitration is $ 23.837 billion. However, in late May, the head of "Gazprom" Alexei Miller said the company will send a new view arbitration with the requirement to recover from the "Naftogaz Ukraine" another $ 8.197 billion in accordance with the rule spelled out in the contract "take-or-pay" for 2014.

The total amount of debt, "Naftogaz of Ukraine" with the additional requirements of Miller appreciated then at $ 29.477 billion.

Oral hearings on the suit of "Gazprom" to "Naftogaz Ukraine" in the Stockholm arbitration scheduled for February and March 2016, a decision may be rendered by the arbitrators at the end of June 2016.

In the report "Gazprom" also reported that in June 2015 the company "Gazprom export" initiated in the same Stockholm arbitration proceedings against the company SC "Turkmengaz". "Daughter" of "Gazprom" requested arbitration to revise the price of the purchased from GC "Turkmengaz" natural gas. Hmmm.....Ukraine is totally broke, ready to default and has no gas reserves for coming Winter.....Any guess what will happen next?

Friday, August 7, 2015

Large Russian military offensive in Ukraine possible within weeks: US analyst.


Large Russian military offensive in Ukraine possible within weeks: US analyst. (Unian).

Russian troops in east Ukraine could launch a major offensive within weeks, said American military analyst Phillip Karber in an interview with Ukraine Today.

They have intelligence, they are run by Russian officers, there is Russian electronic warfare and they have heavy artillery brigades so they can orchestrate and coordinate….this is not the infrastructure you put in if you're expecting a ceasefire to last, this is the infrastructure you want to put in if you want to launch a major offensive, and not just one that goes a little way, but one that goes very deep," says Karber, arguing that the Kremlin hardly expects the Minsk ceasefire agreement to last, Ukraine Today reports.

Karber also suggested that Washington benefits from US Army training Ukrainian servicemen. According to Karber, the American instructors claim that they are “learning more from them than they are learning from us. They taking mass fire artillery strikes that we've never experienced, they are under UAV's constantly, we've never experienced that”.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has stopped short of sending weapons to Ukraine, proclaiming that a diplomatic solution to the Donbas conflict is instead, the way forward.

See unian.info’s video section for more of the latest news from Ukraine in video from Ukraine Today, Ukraine’s 24-hour English-language news channel.



Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Russian prosecutors to review legality of Baltic independence.


Russian prosecutors to review legality of Baltic independence. (Interfax).[Googletranslate].
Earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office acknowledged the illegal decision on the transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954.
Russian Prosecutor General's office began checking the legality of recognition of the independence of the Baltic republics by the State Council of the USSR in 1991, "Interfax" on Tuesday, a source familiar with the situation.

"Legally, the decision to recognize the independence of the Baltic States is defective due to the fact that it was taken by an unconstitutional body," - said the agency interlocutor corresponding parliamentary inquiry into the main supervisory authority.

In his opinion, the answer to the appeal "would be the same as for the request to the Crimea." Source Agency said that Prosecutor General's Office has recognized the illegal decision on the transfer in 1954 of the Crimea from the RSFSR in the Ukraine, but, according to him, this decision has no real legal consequences.

"Prosecutor General's Office only stated a fact, namely, that the transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in the days of Nikita Khrushchev did not occur on a constitutional basis, since the relevant decisions are not taken by the competent authorities", - said the agency.

According to him, "in the present circumstances and realities that no authoritative body that could reverse this decision." "Although such a need has not. Crimea is again a part of Russia, and the question went to the political plane," - said the source.

However, he believes that the answer to the request of the Prosecutor General should be "more balanced". "Recognizing the illegal or that fateful decision, one can go too far - until the problem of the legitimacy of the Soviet Union and other countries" - said the source.

Because, he says, when making such decisions on a deputy's request "should take into account not only the legal but also the political aspect of the issues raised." Hmmm...So this time, they'll send lawyers in stead of little green men?

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Video - Eye-witness: the Russian's wiped out TWO full mechanized Ukraine battalions in 3-mins using thermobaric weapons


Video - Eye-witness: the Russian's wiped out TWO full mechanized Ukraine battalions in 3-mins using thermobaric weapons. HT and Source: RobPulseNews.

Joseph Wood, Professor at The Institute of World Politics, and Phillip A. Karber, President of The Potomac Foundation and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, discussed " NATO and Central and Eastern Europe."

This panel was part of the The Fifth Annual Kosciuszko Chair Spring Symposium on the topic of "Between Russia and NATO: Security Challenges in Central and Eastern Europe." The event, which took place on April 25, 2015, was sponsored by The Institute of World Politics.


Friday, June 19, 2015

Surprise! - Belarus will deploy Russian S-300 missiles near the Polish border.


Surprise! - Belarus will deploy Russian S-300 missiles near the Polish border. (politnavigator).[GoogleTranslate].

Defense Minister of Belarus Andrei Ravkov said that Belarus received the Russian missile systems S-300 and will be located in Brest, Grodno and Vitebsk regions, respectively, at the borders of Poland and the Baltic countries.

This was reported by "Polish Radio".

Head of the Belarusian Defense Ministry also said that Minsk is negotiating to obtain from the new Russian air defense systems S-400.

General Ravkov added that his country considers the potential threat on its borders stay of NATO troops. He also noted that, to date, no country in the world is a potential opponent of Belarus.

The military said that Belarus will cooperate with NATO, and it does not prevent the strategic relationship with the Russian Federation.

As reported by "PolitNavigator" Warsaw previously stated about the need to be placed on Polish territory heavy weapons because of the "threat of the aggressive actions of Russia" in the region. And today, in Poland were carried out exercises NATO Response Force.

Video - Ukrainian drone confirmed concentration of Russian troops in Lugansk. 63 tanks detected in 2 hours



Video - Ukrainian drone confirmed concentration of Russian troops in Lugansk. 63 tanks detected in 2 hours.(Lugansk).[GoogleTranslated].

Intelligence unit of Ukrainian Army Regiment “Dnipro-1″ published a video recorded by the drone that was flying over Lugansk.

In 2 hours flight they confirmed concentration of Russian troops on the East of Ukraine. They checked several bases and found 63 tanks, 32 APCs and 96 military trucks. Read the full story here.

 


Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Polish MP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski: 'Russia may use Belarus for troops deployment'.


Polish MP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski: 'Russia may use Belarus for troops deployment'. (charter97).

Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, a Polish MEP and deputy chairman of the Christian Democrats group, criticised Russia at the Wroclaw Global Forum. According to him, it's time to consider the issue of delivering weapons to Ukraine as the Minsk agreement is not implemented.

The politician spoke to Radio Svaboda about his vision of Russian-Belarusian relations.

Does Russia really take Lukashenka as an ally? Is it ready to stake on him?

We can hardly say that free and democratic elections would help Lukashenka. It would be a problem for him to overcome the 50% barrier if the media were free. To be short, free Belarus would most probably elect a new president. Russia is not going to allow free elections in Belarus, so you cannot believe in anything it says.

Lukashenka began to use pro-Ukrainian rhetoric more than a year ago. But the recent military exercises on the border with Poland and Ukraine do not match his words. Does it mean that the leash on which Putin keeps Lukashenka became shorter?

We need to look at what he does rather than what he says. He speaks to confuse both Moscow and the West. We shouldn't take his meanders seriously. He swings from side to side.

The facts are that Belarus has the common military space with Russia. The fact is the military exercises on the border. The fact is that if Belarus is needed to deploy Russian troops, it will be done. Unlike the West, I don't feel optimism about his or his propaganda's statements.

Belarus yesterday started large-scale command and staff military exercises in the Gomel region close to the Ukrainian border. The drills will last until June 18. It is planned to practice the phased strengthening of the state border in the southern direction. The drills involve the separate infantry company of the territorial troops consisting of reservists as well as territorial border guard and interior units of the Gomel region.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Video - Canada's PM Harper: "Putin's invasion of Ukraine ... must not be allowed to stand"



Ukraine Today: Ukraine's debt to private creditors should be restructured...in plain words: "We are broke and won't pay our debts"....expect fireworks.

Considering it's an election year for Harper and the large number of Ukrainian Canadians, it's 'normal' to hear this kind of talk.

Remains the fact that Ukraine is broke, has a mountain of debts from not paying their bills and no gas reserves for coming Winter.This situation is bound to escalate.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Putin has two options: Option slow retreat and the option of an insane escalation.


Putin has two options: Option slow retreat and the option of an insane escalation.(Espreso) [Google translate].

- Hello, Andrei. I read your tweet, where he wrote that Putin now has a choice: "To lose power as banal thief or lose power as the leader of the embattled Russian world." Once you have written that the Federation Council may soon come. Could you explain what you mean

- The fact that Moscow was made two very curious statement. 

Chairman of the Federation Council, Mrs. Matvienko, Russian senators asked not to go too far from Moscow, as in the near future may be called an extraordinary meeting of the Federation Council. This could explain some bills in the Duma, they say they need to take place before the summer holidays by the Federation Council. But just half an hour after it was made, Mr. Sands, who somehow suddenly decided to remind the city and the world that actually Putin can once again turn to the Federation Council with a request to give him authority to use the Armed Forces beyond our borders. This is all very worrying signals. They can, of course, be considered as part of the continuous military blackmail, which deals with Putin. But right now I would rate the likelihood of military escalation as a higher than even a few weeks ago.

Quite close to my assessment of the situation given, for example, is very far away from me in the next man Prohanov Sabbath Solovyov. However, he has formulated it somewhat differently according to their political outlook. He said: "We have a choice of either World War III or the second restructuring." The second restructuring in its language - Putin's retreat, his political defeat and displacement. Prohanov continued: "Perestroika, we still lose, and World War III can be won. So let's go to the Third World War. "

I believe that something similar can move and head of Putin himself. Therefore, the next few days, a week - they are very important. And it's strange attack at Marinka two days ago also seems to me not accidental, but an attempt to "feel out" the situation including within his own entourage. . I think that everything will depend on how Putin single-handedly controls the situation.

We are going through very troubled days. An intermediate situation can not continue indefinitely. Choice - escalation or slow retreat - the Kremlin in general, or Putin, if he is single-handedly controls the entire system of government should take in the near future.

- Recently, there are reports from Russian sources, with reference to the same Valentina Matvienko, that the Federation Council can vote for the accession of Transnistria. And, given that Ukraine has blocked Transnistria, this news sounds very anxious. Do you think Russia will dare even to the annexation of Transnistria?

- You know, taking off his head, the hair do not cry. Transnistria, it is a tactic. The question is different: whether the regime will be decided on a real war with Ukraine, Moldova and, indeed, with the West? Where he decides: the Donbas, Moldova, or maybe it is now actively offering Russian media to throw special squad to Odessa, grab Saakashvili, bring him in a cage to Moscow and Putin, his one seat hangs - it is technical details.

Very anxious, of course, what is being discussed and aggravation of the situation around Transnistria. It simply underscores that the scenario of military escalation, in spite of all his madness, is regarded very seriously. And where they will arrange a new provocation: in Marinka, Tiraspol or in Odessa - this is not essential. Now Putin will have to decide for themselves the question or slow, very boring, viscous and hopeless retreat, or challenge the West and the fate and the insane escalation, in which, as said Mr. Prokhanov, "What if we have a chance and win ? '

- What do you think, what will be the reaction of the West, because, in principle, have already begun and military provocations is absolutely clear that the Minsk Agreement thwarted?

- Today I watched meeting of the Security Council. At that time Samantha Power "drove a muzzle on the table" Churkin accident. But the Security Council in fact does not solve anything. Performances of the British and American representatives were, however, rigid and clearly indicate what they see as the culprit running escalation.

I have no doubt that the reaction of the West to be very sharp. I think that the basis for this conclusion is all that is said and what makes the West over the past two to three weeks with respect to Putin and the Kremlin's power. The West warned Moscow about the consequences of military escalation in very uncertain terms.

The point is not to be sympathetic to the Western Ukraine or the absence of such sympathies. The West is now most acute problem solve their own security. Because about Ukraine because he could tell, and he said, Obama and Rasmussen on the first day of the conflict a year ago: "Ukraine is not a member of NATO, so our military intervention is absolutely impossible." And there will be a military intervention. Yes this is not necessary. The West has enough economic and political means to inflict a humiliating defeat Putin.

They certainly it will cause, because if they would allow Putin to triumph in Moldova, Ukraine or anywhere else, then the next day his "little green men" will appear in the Baltic states on the territory of a NATO member country. 

There will not be able to avoid a war with Russia. If Western politicians betray Estonia - a member of NATO, do not fulfill their obligations under para. 5 of the NATO Charter, then it will be the infamous end of NATO, the end of the West as a subject of world politics, leaving the United States from the world stage as a guarantor of the security of the West.

And if they come to the aid of Estonia - a war with nuclear power, led by a person in a different reality, and brandishing nuclear weapons. It's unthinkable choice. Therefore, as I see the situation, the West made a firm decision not to bring the situation to such a choice, and stop Putin here and now in Ukraine, with the maximum use of a set of economic and political means, but «without boots on the ground».

Pick up the rhetoric of recent days. All influential Western leaders speak with one voice. Obviously, they were discussing the issue and Putin came to a common denominator. Thus, the Canadian Prime Minister said: "As long as Putin in the Kremlin - is no place for Russia in the Group of Eight will not." However, shrederovsky "fosterling" Steinmeier - Germany's foreign minister, to try something squeak that "in fact, we need Russia to solve some issues in Iran and Syria." But then he straightened Merkel sharply.

For the West, came a kind of "moment of truth". This situation is quite unusual for Putin. His game with the nuclear blackmail in political poker burst. For a year these Trenin, Lukyanov, Karaganov on any "informal talks" with the American political scientists sincerely whispered: "Well, understand, after all, Ukraine more important for us than for you. Therefore, we will raise rates until the use of nuclear weapons. You still flinch and turn away. " West did not flinch, did not give up and will stand up to Putin is very tough. Therefore, a new and very unpleasant situation for him. Hmmm....If i were Putin the 05 July at 03,00 AM would seem a good time to start. Read the full story here.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Video - Rostov Russia - Echelon military equipment & Howitzers transport in direction of Ukraine. June 6, 2015





Obama 'Admin' Threat of US Missile Deployment in Europe Should Be Taken Seriously.


Obama 'Admin' Threat of US Missile Deployment in Europe Should Be Taken Seriously. (SP).

The possibility of US missile deployment in Europe to counter alleged Russian violations of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) arms control treaty should not be underestimated, former Pentagon official and vice president of the Lexington Institute think tank Dan Goure told Sputnik on Friday.

This is not a threat the [US President Barack] Obama administration would make lightly,” Goure said. Goure noted the discussion of a possible US counterforce response “is remarkable considering the Obama Administration's efforts to develop a positive relationship with Moscow.”

On Thursday, the Associated Press reported the Obama administration is considering deploying missile capable of striking targets inside Russia, as a counter force measure to alleged Russian violations of the INF Treaty.

The United States is weighing the option of improving “the ability of US nuclear weapons to destroy military targets on Russian territory,” according to the report.

Goure, who served as an analyst and advisor in the Pentagon, noted that US counterforce options “are likely to be the nearest-term and the most effective conventional counter to the growing Russian threat.”

In the past six months, US officials, including Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, have presented three possible US responses to alleged INF violations: counterforce, active defensive or deterrent measures and fully withdrawing from the INF Treaty. Goure commented that the INF Treaty “is dying.”

He added, “We are rapidly returning to the Cold War days of escalation ladders, nuclear umbrellas and limited options.” Washington has accused Russia of testing a ground-based cruise missile in violation of the bilateral arms control treaty. Russia has repeatedly denied violating the INF Treaty, and has accused the United States of deploying defense systems in Romania and Poland with capabilities that violate the Treaty. Hmmmm....I think Putin is thinking 'just make my day'. He'll use the US Deployment to install way more nukes.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Video - Russian Army moving towards the Ukrainian border.



Friday, May 29, 2015

Gazprom to demand more than $8bn from Ukraine in ‘take-or-pay’ contract penalties, total gas debt almost $29.5 billion.


Gazprom to demand more than $8bn from Ukraine in ‘take-or-pay’ contract penalties, total gas debt almost $29.5 billion.(RT).

Russia’s Gazprom wants Ukraine’s Naftogaz to pay penalties for taking less than the agreed upon amount of gas in 2014, considering the so-called “take-or-pay” contract signed by the companies.
Gazprom would require Naftogaz of Ukraine to pay $8.197 billion in “take-or-pay” contract penalties, said company head Aleksey Miller at the European Business Congress on Thursday.
Russian natural gas producer also put Ukraine's total gas debt at almost $29.5 billion.
At the end of 2014 Russia, Ukraine and the EU agreed to put a freeze on the “take-or-pay” principle for five months which means that in the period spanning 1 November 2014 to 31 March 2015, Russia would not impose fines on Ukraine.

However, Gazprom has every right under the contract to fine Naftogaz for failing to provide payments from January 1 to October 31, 2014; there was no such freeze for the period of time spanning January 1 to October 31, 2014.

Naftogaz has reacted by saying it has never paid penalties arising from the “take-or-pay” rule and does not intend to do it in the future. The Ukrainian company claims the “take or pay” condition is not part of the contract.


At the same time the company welcomes the intention of Gazprom to submit their claims to an arbitration court. “Arbitration is the most civilized way to resolve commercial disputes when the parties cannot find a consensus through negotiations,” said the head of Naftogaz Andrei Kobolev, commenting on the statement of his Russian counterpart Aleksey Miller.

 The corresponding claim will be addressed to Naftogaz of Ukraine today, the same claim will be directed to the Stockholm arbitration,” said Miller, quoted by RIA.

Miller estimated the total debt of Naftogaz to Gazprom at more than $29 billion. He said $200 million are owed to Gazprom for gas deliveries to the Donetsk and the Lugansk regions in Eastern Ukraine.

Earlier Gazprom filed an action to the Stockholm arbitration against Naftogaz, demanding $18.5 billion for the gas volumes in 2012-2013 that weren’t delivered by Gazprom but had to be paid for by Ukraine under the “take-or-pay” agreement. Hmmm.....Come Winter Ukraine will have No Gas reserves and no money.....get ready for war. 

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Massive Air Force Drill Under Way In Russia

Left Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin

Massive Air Force Drill Under Way In Russia.(rferl).

The Russian Defense Ministry says that its air forces have begun a massive exercise involving hundreds of aircraft and thousands of service personnel.

In a May 25 statement, the ministry described the four-day drill as a "massive surprise inspection," to check combat readiness.

"The inspection involves about 12,000 military service personnel, as well as up to 250 planes and helicopters and 689 various weapons and pieces of military hardware," the statement said.

The manoeuvers began on the same day as NATO and some of its partners started an Arctic training exercise.

Russia's involvement in Ukraine and incursions into Western airspace have led to rising tensions with the West.

A ministry spokesperson said that, during the inspection, "Long-range aviation aircraft will carry out cruise missile strikes against a mock enemy's ground targets at the Pemboi test and training area (in the Komi Republic)."

Asked about Russia's assertiveness in a television interview, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin joked that "tanks don't need visas." Read the full story here.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Russia To Adopt 'Tough' Position If Ukraine Defaults on end of the year debts.


Russia To Adopt 'Tough' Position If Ukraine Defaults on end of the year debts. (rferl).

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says Russia would adopt what he calls a tough position if Ukraine decides not to repay debts owed by its previous government.

Speaking to Russian TV in an interview broadcast May 23, Medvedev says if Ukraine were to default on its obligations, Russia would "defend its national interests."

Earlier this week, Ukraine's parliament approved a law that would give the government the right to miss payments to its international creditors as it renegotiates payment terms.

Russia holds a $3 billion Ukrainian eurobond whose full repayment is due by the end of the year.

Medvedev also says the Russian government was right to allow its currency, the ruble, to float and that it was "optimal" to achieve a balance in the foreign-currency market.

The ruble has lost about a third of its value with respect to the U.S. dollar in the past year. Hmmmm.....By Winter Ukraine has no gas reserves and no money......welcome to WWIII

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Video - Possible War Crimes evidence in East Ukraine: Frozen corpses with hands tied seen at Donetsk Airport



Video - Possible evidence of War Crimes in East Ukraine: Frozen corpses with hands tied seen at Donetsk Airport.(UANews).

Footage was shot during press tour organized by militants of the destroyed complex.

Disturbing video filmed amid the ruins of the airport showed dead prisoners of war purported to be Ukrainian soldiers, with their hands tied together.

The footage shot on Monday sparked online speculation that war crimes, illegal under the Geneva Convention, had been committed by Russian-backed militants at the destroyed complex.

One correspondent on the tour organized by militants in Donetsk was Alex Thomson, a reporter from UK broadcaster Channel Four. In an online blog, Thomson recounts he saw six bodies - with their hands tied with white electric cable, lying next to two burnt out vehicles and several live shells.

Militant leaders claimed those dead were Ukrainian soldiers. However, Thomson insisted the video is not conclusive evidence of a cold-blooded execution and questioned whether the dead soldiers were placed at Donetsk Airport for the world's media.

Social media users also speculated the soldiers' hands were tied to make transportation easier. This is not the first time militants have been accused of committing war crimes. Read the full story here.

Video - Ukraine - Large contingent of pro-Russian infantry moving in towards central Debaltseve



Source:
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