Politics & Economics

Sybiha to Slovak FM: Russia will hit your other cheek as well

Sybiha to Slovak FM: Russia will hit your other cheek as well

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to his Slovak counterpart Juraj Blanár, who had suggested the possibility of forgiving Russia for its crimes. As reported by Ukrinform, Sybiha made the statement on the social platform X. “Juraj, Russia's sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes. It's naive to expect a criminal to stop if their crime is forgiven instead of punished. Russia will hit your other cheek as well. And those who have lost no one in this war have no right to make such statements,” the Ukrainian minister wrote. Read also: Sanctioning Russia in NATO’s, EU’s…
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Germany’s Foreign Minister arrives in Kyiv

Germany’s Foreign Minister arrives in Kyiv

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Kyiv on Monday, June 30. This was reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), as cited by Ukrinform. It is noted that this is Wadephul’s first visit to Kyiv in his current role. “We will continue to firmly stand by Ukraine so that it can successfully defend itself — with the help of modern air defense systems and other types of weapons, as well as humanitarian and economic assistance,” the minister said in a statement. Guten Morgen aus der Ukraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/mbvfuE0niz — Johann Wadephul (@AussenMinDE) June 30, 2025 The German Foreign Minister pledged continued…
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Volodymyr Ohryzko, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister, head of the Center for Russian Studies

Volodymyr Ohryzko, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister, head of the Center for Russian Studies

In modern politics, what is said in public rarely matches what happens behind closed doors. This is an era of hybrid threats and political theater, where every word has a subtext and each and every gesture carries a hidden purpose. Donald Trump calls Volodymyr Zelenskyy “nice” but avoids a direct answer to the question about the transfer of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. Viktor Orbán appeals to the “voice of two million Hungarians” who, according to him, are “objecting Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” while he is actually relaying the Kremlin’s messages. How should Kyiv and Brussels respond to…
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Russia seeks to resume LNG exports despite sanctions – media

Russia seeks to resume LNG exports despite sanctions – media

Russia has assembled a fleet of tankers and is trying to expand its liquefied natural gas exports after the U.S. imposed sanctions last year. This was reported by Bloomberg, Ukrinform saw. According to navigation tracking data compiled by Bloomberg and satellite imagery, a Russian LNG carrier has docked at Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 export plant for the first time since October. The facility was supposed to be a key element for Moscow to achieve its goal of tripling LNG exports by 2030, but it has been idle for months as Russia tries to find buyers willing to violate Western sanctions.…
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Ukraine’s Presidential Office sums up this week’s defense-related international events

Ukraine’s Presidential Office sums up this week’s defense-related international events

Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Pavlo Palisa, reflected on the results achieved at a number of international events that took place this week in terms of Ukraine’s defense. The review was posted on the official’s Facebook page, Ukrinform reports. "This week there were many international events: highest-level meetings in the UK and the Netherlands, the NATO Summit in The Hague, attended by Ukraine’s delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelensky. I’d like to summarize the results related to the military field." Palisa stated that in London, President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to launch co-production…
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Germany’s Social Democrats oppose Nord Stream relaunch

Germany’s Social Democrats oppose Nord Stream relaunch

The delegates to the Congress of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDPP) overwhelmingly rejected the resumption of natural gas supplies from Russia via the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. This was reported by DW, Ukrinform saw. At their Congress in Berlin, the German Social Democrats spoke out "against the resumption of any natural gas supplies from Russia via the northern gas pipelines," thereby rejecting the corresponding proposals "from the bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions (CDU/CSU) and the Republican Party in the USA." Read also: German government: Nord Stream not to be relaunched It…
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Ukrainian, Spanish PMs talk co-production of drones, Ukraine’s recovery, EU accession path

Ukrainian, Spanish PMs talk co-production of drones, Ukraine’s recovery, EU accession path

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal kicked off a working visit to Spain with a meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to discuss strengthening defense cooperation, including the potential for joint production of drones, as well as the issue of Ukraine's reconstruction and European integration. PM Shmyhal reported this on Facebook, Ukrinform saw. Shmyhal thanked Spain for its comprehensive support for Ukraine. According to the prime minister, the overall assistance amounts to over EUR 2 billion. "Military assistance is especially important. Spanish air defense systems help protect Ukrainian skies from Russian missiles and drones," Shmyhal emphasized. The parties also discussed…
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Ukraine aligns Russia sanctions with EU’s 13th, 14th packages – Zelensky

Ukraine aligns Russia sanctions with EU’s 13th, 14th packages – Zelensky

Ukrainian institutions have already begun to implement the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on aligning the sanctions imposed against Russia with those introduced by Europe. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this in an address to the nation on Sunday, Ukrinform reports. "The 13th and 14th EU sanctions packages are now fully synchronized – they will now also be 100 percent Ukrainian sanctions. Today I approved this," the head of state said. He announced that the European sanctions package against the regime in Iran will also be 100 percent aligned. These are restrictive measures applied to a large number…
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MFA explains Ukraine’s decision to withdraw from Ottawa Convention

MFA explains Ukraine’s decision to withdraw from Ottawa Convention

Ukraine has adhered to the provisions of the Ottawa Convention for 20 years. However, Russia’s large-scale use of anti-personnel mines—despite not being a signatory to the treaty—has created an asymmetric advantage on the battlefield. This was stated in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarding the country’s decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, as reported by Ukrinform. The MFA noted that in 2005, Ukraine ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and Their Destruction, commonly known as the Ottawa Convention, and since then has faithfully…
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Russia considers banning gasoline exports amid soaring fuel prices — intelligence

Russia considers banning gasoline exports amid soaring fuel prices — intelligence

The Russian government is reportedly preparing to introduce a complete ban on gasoline exports in response to surging fuel prices. This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform. Amid surging fuel prices, the Russian government is reportedly weighing a full ban on gasoline exports—a move that could have significant implications for the energy sector and for citizens already strained by ineffective economic policies.  On the stock exchange, the price of AI-95 gasoline rose 11% in June, reaching RUB 67,456 per tonne, while AI-92 increased by 12% to RUB 64,462. According to the Foreign Intelligence Service,…
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