Moscow

The renewal of long-term contracts for gas supplies and further energy cooperation are expected top the agenda of Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Budapest on Tuesday.

Putin is to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in what will be his first trip to an EU country since June 2014.

The leaders of Russia, Germany and Ukraine have agreed on "concrete measures" to allow OSCE observers to monitor the shaky ceasefire in Ukraine, Berlin announced on Feb. 17.
      

NATO member Poland, bordering conflict-torn Ukraine, has earmarked a whopping EUR 33.6 B in spending to modernise its armed forces.

The plans will bring Poland in line with NATO's recommended defense spending target of 2% of gross domestic product, AFP said on Monday.

EU extends "black list" of Russians

BRUSSELS, MOSCOW -- The European Union has extended its sanctions against Russian citizens, so that its "black list" now contains 151 names.

19 names have been added to the list, including deputy defense ministers Anatoly Antonov and Arkady Bakin, and Head of the Directorate of Operations General Andrei Kartapolov.

With news that moments after the Ukraine cease-fire went into effect, there were some serious violations, fingers were crossed with wishes that the "glimmer of hope" as described by Angela Merkel - who together with President François Hollande of France brokered the deal in talks in Minsk, Belarus with Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine - will hold.

By Paul Taylor

In the tug-of-war over Greece's debt crisis, geopolitics and domestic politics are pulling in opposite directions.

Greece's strategic location and ties to Russia give its new leftist-led government some leverage in its struggle to make European Union creditors ease up on austerity and give Athens more time to repay its mountain of debt, if it ever does.

About a hundred people have demonstrated against Bulgaria's NATO membership, calling on the alliance "to leave" the country.

The event started at Sunday noon at the square in front of Bulgaria's Presidency and later headed to the National Assembly.

By Alexis Papachelas

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias communicated via phone on Saturday evening with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

During their conversation, they reportedly discussed developments in Ukraine in light of the recent Minsk agreement and the ceasefire that went into effect yesterday at midnight.

BELGRADE- Renowned Yugoslav marathon runner Franjo Mihalic passed away at the age of 95 in Belgrade on Saturday.

The legendary winner of silver medals at the Olympics in Melbourne dedicated his whole life to sport, especially athletics.

Mihalic broke down 22 records in his career, and his greatest success was the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in April 1956.