Contacts between Moscow and Washington on the topic of strategic arms reduction have not been interrupted, and the necessary information is being exchanged through the proper channels, Russian diplomat Andrey Belousov told reporters in Geneva on Thursday. Earlier in the day, however, his State Department counterpart said that further discussions …
Read More »US asked Russia to reconsider mercenaries’ status – Moscow
The United States has requested the recognition by Russia of American fighters captured during the Ukraine conflict as combatants, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday. “There was a certain signal from the American side, mainly focused on the fact that these individuals should be considered combatants under …
Read More »Ukraine’s EU-candidate status is ‘symbolic’ – Belgium
Granting Ukraine EU-candidate status is an important “symbolic message” to support Kiev amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Thursday. Actual admission of the country into the bloc, however, will take “many years” and a “lot of reforms,” he warned. Ukraine is expected …
Read More »EU grants Ukraine candidate status
The European Council agreed to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova during an EU summit on Thursday. Earlier, Belgium had said that the status would be a major sign of hope to Kiev, but it is, as of now, more of a “symbolic” gesture. The news on Ukraine becoming …
Read More »EU premiers call to immediately grant Ukraine candidate status
French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Germany, France, Italy and Romania are all in favor of granting Ukraine immediate EU-candidate status, following a joint meeting between the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the four EU leaders in Kiev on Thursday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian …
Read More »European Commission to support Ukraine’s EU candidate status – Politico
The European Commission is to support giving EU candidate nation status to Ukraine, Politico reported on Monday. Several anonymous officials “familiar with the debate among commissioners” told the media outlet that among the factors which tipped the scales in Kiev’s favor were the sacrifices Ukrainians have made so far, as …
Read More »Moscow clarifies status of UK citizens sentenced to death
Russia has rebuked Britain for its reaction to the death sentences passed by the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on two British nationals, who were captured while fighting for Ukraine. In a statement from the Russian foreign ministry, Moscow rejected the claim that the two were combatants, who should be treated …
Read More »Major EU states against granting Ukraine candidate status – Italy
Only Rome supports giving Ukraine candidate status in the European Union, which is just not in the cards right now, with all the other major EU members opposed, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi revealed on Tuesday. EU officials will try to draft a fast-track proposal for how Kiev could join …
Read More »Ukraine to grant special legal status to Polish nationals
Ukraine will grant a special legal status to Poland’s citizens, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday as he hosted his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda in Kiev. “There should be no borders or barriers between us. Mentally, the Ukrainian and Polish peoples have been inseparable for a long time. Therefore, we have …
Read More »Austria makes pledge on neutral status
Austria is not a NATO member and has no plans to become one in the near future, the nation’s foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg, told journalists in Brussels on Monday. When asked about his stance on Swedish and Finnish aspirations to join the military bloc, Schallenberg said he “fully respects” the …
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