Section: Politics

      Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska asks for immunity to testify about Manafort
      May28

      Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska asks for immunity to testify about Manafort

      A highly influential Russian oligarch has offered to testify to the U.S. Congress about his relationship with ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort in exchange for immunity, according to New York Daily News. Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum kingpin who previously worked with Manafort, wants to speak with Congressional intelligence committees...

      Trump adviser says no plans to ease sanctions on Russia – The Washington Times
      May27

      Trump adviser says no plans to ease sanctions on Russia – The Washington Times

      A top White House adviser said Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump has no plans to lift sanctions against Russia and might even take a ”tougher” approach with Moscow, according to The Washington Times. ”We`re not lowering our sanctions on Russia,” said Gary Cohn, director of the national economic council, The Washington Times reported. ”If...

      Top Russian officials discussed how to influence Trump aides last summer –  New York Times
      May25

      Top Russian officials discussed how to influence Trump aides last summer – New York Times

      American spies collected information last summer revealing that senior Russian intelligence and political officials were discussing how to exert influence over Donald J. Trump through his advisers, according to three current and former American officials familiar with the intelligence, according to The New York Times. The conversations focused on...

      EU envoy calls on Kyiv not to put pressure on anti-corruption NGOs
      May25

      EU envoy calls on Kyiv not to put pressure on anti-corruption NGOs

      Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hughes Mingarelli has called on the Ukrainian authorities to take a firm stance to prevent pressure on anti-corruption NGOs. ”My first reaction is one of growing concern for what appears to be another sign of pressure against anti-corruption NGOs. Yesterday`s intervention in the Rada adds to a negative...

      Court rejects defense`s appeal over confiscation of ”Yanukovych assets”
      May25

      Court rejects defense`s appeal over confiscation of ”Yanukovych assets”

      The Donetsk Regional Appeals Court has refused to commence proceedings regarding the confiscation of $1.5 billion on the appeal of the team of lawyers, representatives of non-resident companies of ex-president Viktor Yanukovych`s criminal organization, according to the Prosecutor General`s Office of Ukraine. However, the PGO has not yet received...

      Bloomberg tells how Manafort brought pro-Russian party to Rada despite Crimea annexation
      May25

      Bloomberg tells how Manafort brought pro-Russian party to Rada despite Crimea annexation

      Months after Russia annexed Crimea, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych`s political advisor Paul Manafort returned to Ukraine to advise the pro-Russian party, the ”Opposition Bloc”, for the 2014 parliamentary campaign, according to Bloomberg. Nestor Shufrych, one of the party leaders, says Manafort pushed for them to appeal as both the...

      Ukrainian parliament says 75% of TV broadcasts now must be in Ukrainian
      May24

      Ukrainian parliament says 75% of TV broadcasts now must be in Ukrainian

      The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has adopted a bill, setting quotas for nationwide TV channels, obliging them to ensure a 75% share of programs and movies in Ukrainian, according to an UNIAN correspondent. The document was adopted with 269 deputies voting in favor out of 356 MPs registered in the session hall, while the pro-Russian...

      Ukraine`s agriculture minister resigns, waits for parliament`s green light
      May24

      Ukraine`s agriculture minister resigns, waits for parliament`s green light

      Ukraine`s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Kutovyi has resigned, according to his Facebook post. ”The minister`s decision to resign is an absolutely natural process for any European country and usual practice in the world,” Kutovyi wrote on Wednesday evening. In his words, he is leaving the post, thanking members of the parliamentary...

      Dutch Senate forms majority to support EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
      May24

      Dutch Senate forms majority to support EU-Ukraine Association Agreement

      The majority has been formed in the Dutch Senate in support of the ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, according to BNR.nl. In addition to traditional supporters of the Agreement – senators from parties VVD, D66, GroenLinks, and PvdA, nine CDA senators and three representatives of CU are reportedly ready to ratify the deal...

      White House explains converting military grants to loans, decision to affect Ukraine
      May23

      White House explains converting military grants to loans, decision to affect Ukraine

      The Trump administration`s budget proposal would convert some of the United States` foreign military grants to loans, part of a larger effort to slash spending on diplomacy, aid and programs abroad by more than 29%, as reported by Reuters. See also: Trump budget would convert Ukraine`s military grants to loans The cuts to programs under the State...