Section: Iran English Radio (Iran)
Russia vows ‘tough’ action if Ukraine defaults on debt
Russia said on Saturday that it will adopt a “tough stance” if Ukraine defaults on its debt, which includes a $3 billion loan from Moscow. According to reports, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Ukraine’s failure to repay its debt or a decision to freeze payments could prompt Russia to oppose new IMF loans to...
Moscow vows tough action if Kiev halts debt repayments
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has warned that his country will adopt a tough stance should Ukraine fail to repay its debts to Moscow after Kiev’s parliament authorized the government to suspend foreign debt payments. Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Friday, Medvedev slammed the Ukrainian parliament’s decision as...
Lavrov, Kerry discuss world ‘hotspots’ in phone call: Moscow
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the conflicts in Ukraine, Yemen and Syria in a telephone conversation initiated by Washington, the Russian Foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday, RT reported. “The situation in Syria and Yemen, including efforts by the international community...
‘No promises’ on EU membership for Eastern states at Riga summit
The EU is not ready to welcome its eastern non-member partners, including Ukraine, according to a leaked draft resolution ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned EU leaders not to make false promises. “We must not create false expectations,” Merkel said when speaking in front of the Berlin parliament before...
Another Russian convoy delivers humanitarian aid to Donetsk, Luhansk
The Russian Emergencies Ministry has delivered its 27th humanitarian cargo to the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine, a ministry spokesman said on Thursday. More than 100 trucks brought over 1,000 tons of humanitarian cargo, including foodstuffs and essentials, to Donetsk and Luhansk, the spokesman said, Itar-Tass reported. Russia...
Kiev refuses to guarantee human rights protection in east Ukraine conflict zone
Ukraine refused to guarantee protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the zone of military operations in the East. The Ukrainian parliament has backed a decree allowing the country to rescind its commitments outlined in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the International Covenant on Civil...
Ukraine parliament scraps 5 military agreements with Russia
The Ukrainian parliament has terminated a series of intergovernmental agreements on military cooperation with Russia, amid growing tensions between the two sides. On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada , parliament, voted to terminate five agreements between the two sides over allegations that Russia has been instigating unrest in eastern Ukraine. The...
Russia return to G7 unimaginable: Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will host a G7 summit next month, says that a return of Russia to the Group of Seven (G7) is “unimaginable.” Ahead of the June 7-8 summit in the southeastern German State of Bavaria, Merkel said in the German parliament on Thursday “As long as Russia does not commit itself, and act according to the fundamental...
Russia warns of retaliatory measures if Ukraine hosts NATO missiles
Russia has threatened to adopt countermeasures if NATO deploys its ballistic missile system in Ukraine. “If the point at issue is Ukraine’s wish to host US missile defense components, of course this can be perceived only negatively, because that would pose a threat to Russia’s security,” Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov,...
Ukraine army shells Donetsk 33 times in 24 hours
Ukrainian military forces have intensely shelled the areas under the control of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the last 24 hours despite a truce in the region, the DPR Defense Ministry says. According to Donetsk News Agency an unnamed DPR Defense Ministry spokesman on Wednesday said: “Over the last 24 hours, 33...