Russia

Iran said on Tuesday it expected to sign a deal with Russia in late August on the building of two new 1,000-megawatt nuclear  reactors in the Islamic Republic, potentially boosting its case that it is refining uranium for civilian energy, not atom bombs.
   

Russian concern Gazprom struck Monday an agreement with oil and gas company OMV on the construction of Austria's stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday, the day of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Vienna where he meets Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to Parliament that an enactment allowing military intervention on Ukrainian territory be canceled, his press secretary reported.

The request was introduced "with the aim to normalize the situation" in the east of Ukraine, Dmitry Peskov was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. 

Russia and Austria set up joint South Stream company

VIENNA -- Russia and Austria have agreed on a joint company to construct the Austrian arm of the USD 45 billion South Stream gas pipeline project, RT.com is reporting.

The pipeline will deliver 32 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to the country, bypassing Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet Austrian head of state Heinz Fischer in Vienna.

OMV and Gazprom officials are expected to seal deals on the South Stream pipeline during his visit, daily Die Presse reveals, citing high-profile sources.

Russia's VTB bank does not intend to take part in the capital injection planned at the Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB), according to bank sources.

RIA Novosti agency, citing anonymous VTB officials, said Russia's second-largest bank owns a EUR 10 B stake in KTB and does not seek to increase it.

Russia asked Twitter on June 24 to block access to a dozen accounts it deems "extremist", the head of the country's telecoms watchdog said, as Moscow seeks greater control over Internet sites based beyond its borders.

Ukraine's pro-Russian insurgents have agreed to a temporary ceasefire and talks with the new Western-backed president, as U.S. President Barack Obama warned Russia it risks fresh sanctions over its support for the separatists.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Titus Corlatean, on Tuesday and Wednesday will participate in the meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, to be held at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

FM cannot confirm Vienna meeting with Putin

BELGRADE -- First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić will attend the opening of the annual OSCE review conference on security in Vienna on June 24.