About: Crimea annexation
Ukraine insists on territorial integrity as Turkey talks loom
With peace talks between Russia and Ukraine set to take place in Turkey this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted on the territorial integrity of his country after earlier suggesting he was ready for a compromise.
Kazakhstan takes distance from Russia’s Ukraine war
Kazakhstan, one of Russia's closest allies, has denied a request for its troops to join the offensive in Ukraine and will not recognise the so-called republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.
Russia, Ukraine warm to Turkey helping ease tensions
Both Russia and Ukraine are open to the idea of Turkey playing a role to ease tensions between the two countries, as proposed by Ankara in November, Turkish diplomatic sources said on Thursday (20 January).
Putin: Russia needs ‘immediate’ security guarantees
Russia wants to avoid conflict with Ukraine and the West, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (23 December), demanding an "immediate" response from the United States and its allies to Moscow's demand for security guarantees.
‘Lot of concern’ over Russian military activity near Ukraine, top US general says
The United States is tracking enough indicators and warnings surrounding Russian military activity near Ukraine to trigger "a lot of concern" and Russian rhetoric appears increasingly strident, the top US military officer said late on Thursday (2 December).
US ‘deeply concerned’ by Bulgarian president’s Crimea comment
The United States waited until Rumen Radev's victory was confirmed in Bulgaria's presidential election run-off but then voiced its "deep concern" on Monday (22 November) over Radev's comment in a televised debate last week that “Crimea is Russian for the time being”.
US warns Russia against another ‘serious mistake’ on Ukraine
The United States on Wednesday (10 November) warned Russia against making another "serious mistake" on Ukraine as it sought clarity about troop movements near the border.
EU candidate Serbia misaligned with EU foreign policy, Commission says
In its annual report monitoring Serbia's progress toward EU accession, the European Commission highlighted Belgrade's significant misalignment with EU foreign and security policy.
Rivals allege mass fraud in Russia election, EU refuses to recognise the Crimea poll
Opponents accused Russian authorities of mass fraud on Monday (20 September) after the ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, won a bigger than expected parliamentary majority despite unease over living standards.
Chizhov: Russia is well-placed to play a constructive role in Afghanistan
In a wide-ranging interview, the Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov discussed Afghanistan, the ‘Crimea Platform’, carbon border tax, COVID and vaccines, and the new political season.
Ukraine vows to bring Crimea back as international leaders affirm support in Kyiv
An international summit initiated by Ukraine reaffirmed on Monday (23 August) international commitments to de-occupy Crimea, seven and a half years after Russian troops occupied the strategic Black Sea peninsula.
Russia takes Ukraine to European court over MH17 plane crash
Russia said Thursday (22 July) it had filed a complaint against Ukraine with the European Court of Human Rights, blaming Kyiv for the 2014 crash of a Malaysian airliner and civilian deaths in Russia and Ukraine.
Putin says Russia could have sunk UK warship without starting World War Three
President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday (30 June) that Russia could have sunk a British warship that it accused of illegally entering its territorial waters without starting World War Three and accused Washington of a role in the "provocation".
Russia tests Crimean air defence systems as Ukraine, US hold Black Sea drills
Russia tested the readiness of its air defence systems in Crimea, the peninsula it annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Ukraine and NATO countries held military drills in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday (29 June).
Ukraine’s president thanks G7 nations for support
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, thanked the G7 group of wealthy industrial nations on Sunday (13 June) after it voiced support for Kyiv and called on Russia to withdraw troops and weapons from near Ukraine’s eastern border.
Ukraine advances treason case against Kremlin ally
The Ukrainian authorities put Viktor Medvedchuk, the Kremlin's most prominent ally in Ukraine, under formal suspicion for high treason on Tuesday (11 May) as part of a crackdown on his circle that has fuelled tensions between Kyiv and Moscow.
Ukraine says Russian military buildup threatens its security
Russia is building up armed forces near Ukraine’s borders in a threat to the country’s security, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Ruslan Khomchak said on Tuesday (30 March), accusing Moscow of pursuing an “aggressive policy” towards Kyiv.
Ukraine sanctions French MEPs for visiting Crimea
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on two dozen Russian officials and three French members of the European Parliament who visited Russian-annexed Crimea without Kyiv's permission.
After EU embarrassment in Moscow, Michel makes it up by going to Kyiv, Tbilisi
While European lawmakers were scolding the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell for his ill-fated trip to Russia, European Council President Charles Michel has announced he will be travelling to Ukraine and Georgia in March.
EU deplores ‘widespread detentions’ in pro-Navalny protests
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he deplored the "widespread detentions and disproportionate use of force" against protesters and journalists in Russia on Sunday (31 January).
Ukraine launches ‘Crimean Platform’, Russia also invited
In an exclusive interview, Emine Dzhaparova, Ukraine's first deputy minister of foreign affairs, told EURACTIV about her country’s new initiative to keep the international community attention's focused on the occupation of Crimea by Russia.
In Baltics, Macron defends French dialogue with Russia
French President Emmanuel Macron insisted on Monday (28 September) that Europe should cooperate with Russia to build peace in Europe, despite calls among European Union peers to review his stance towards Moscow after the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader.
12 years after war: Georgia moving forward but still searching for justice
The Russian aggression of August 2008 against Georgia was a blatant attempt to change the borders of Europe by force, launching a series of events spreading over the wider region, writes David Zalkaliani.