Politics & Economics

Ukraine can anticipate a very robust package of political and practical support at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July this year. According to Ukrinform, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this in Oslo on June 1 during an informal meeting of foreign ministers of allied countries. "With regard to Ukraine, I think, based on the discussions today, the first thing I'd say is that at Vilnius, when the leaders meet for the summit, we and our friends in Ukraine can anticipate a very robust package of both political and practical support," he said. According to Blinken, the alliance…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that new defense decisions, which concern air defense systems, fighter jets and the Ukrainian army's advance on the ground, are being prepared. He said this in a daily address on Thursday, June 1, according to Ukrinform. Zelensky said that this morning, the Ukrainian delegation was in Moldova for the Summit of the European Political Community. "This is the center of political discussions on our continent now. We had very important negotiations. The President of Moldova and the President of France, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the European Commission,…

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that Ukraine's rightful place is in the NATO military alliance. According to Ukrinform, he said this in a comment to CNBC in Chisinau on June 1, where the second meeting of the European Political Community was taking place. "I agree with the NATO Secretary-General: Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO," Sunak said. He noted that allied nations were sending a "strong signal" to Russian President Vladimir Putin that they would safeguard Ukraine's security arrangements for the long term. Read also: Romania supports Ukraine on its way to EU, NATO - Presidents sign declaration…

The Senate of the Czech Republic has adopted a resolution on supporting Ukraine’s accession to NATO under the fast-track procedure. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk announced this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Today (May 31 - ed.) the Senate of the Czech Republic adopted an important resolution on Ukraine’s accelerated accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization," he wrote. Stefanchuk wrote that the adopted resolution, in particular, notes Ukraine's demonstration of determination and readiness to defend Euro-Atlantic values. According to him, the document says that Ukraine's victory in the war with the Russian Federation and Ukraine's accession…

China advocates a political settlement of the "Ukrainian crisis" and will continue to contribute to the de-escalation “in its own way.” That’s according to a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Mao Ning, who spoke at a briefing on March 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "On the issue of Ukraine, we are in favor of a political settlement of the crisis and promotion of peace negotiations. China maintains contact with all sides and will continue to play a constructive role in its own way, contributing to the de-escalation," the spokesperson said, answering a…

The European Union considers the Kremlin's statements about its intention to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus as an irresponsible escalation and is ready to introduce new economic sanctions in response to increased threats to European security. According to Ukrinform, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said this in a statement published on Twitter. "Belarus hosting Russian nuclear weapons would mean an irresponsible escalation & threat to European security. Belarus can still stop it, it is their choice. The EU stands ready to respond with further sanctions," he wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement about the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is a step toward internal destabilization in the country. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "Putin's statement about placing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus – a step towards internal destabilization of the country – maximizes the level of negative perception and public rejection of Russia and Putin in Belarusian society. The Kremlin took Belarus as a nuclear hostage," Danilov said. Putin earlier said in an interview on Russian TV on March 25 that Russia intends…

On Thursday, March 30, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will address the National Council of Austria via video conference. This was reported by Ukrinform's own correspondent in Austria. The head of the Ukrainian state will deliver a video address to the Austrian parliament not during the regular session of the lower house, but within the framework of the so-called "parliamentary event" at the invitation of the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka. This is due to the fact that Zelensky's speech at the session is still being blocked by the far-right and pro-Russian Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ). It is…

NATO has condemned the Kremlin's nuclear rhetoric as "dangerous and irresponsible" after Russia's statement on its intention to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and its continued nuclear threats against Ukraine and the collective West. NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said this in a statement on Sunday, March 26, according to Ukrinform. "Russia's nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible. NATO is vigilant, and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia's nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own. We are committed to protect and defend all NATO allies," she said. She called…

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is working to organize a second Africa tour for Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba this summer and hold a Ukraine-Africa summit. Maksym Subkh, Ukraine's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, said this in an interview with Ukrinform. "We are currently working to ensure that the minister's second Africa tour takes place in the summer and covers new countries on the African continent," Subkh said. He recalled that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the African Union and May 25 marks Africa Day. "We would like Ukraine to join these events…