Ukraine

Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin has reiterated Bulgaria's support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Speaking Friday in Parliament, he noted that Bulgaria backed the efforts to find a peaceful solution of the crisis in compliance with the principles of international law.

Five members of Bulgaria's ultranationalist Ataka party will travel to Crimea as monitors of Sunday's referendum for the autonomous province's future.

The leader of the party, Volen Siderov believes the new leadership in Kiev is illegitimate, and the result of a coup carried out by extremists, terrorists, and pro-fascist organizations, the daily 24Chasa reports.

"NATO opened Pandora's box in Kosovo"

BERLIN -- German MP Gregor Gysi said in the country's parliament on Thursday that "NATO and the EU are partially responsible for the current situation in Ukraine."

This is because of the policy they pursued in previous years, the leader of the left-wing political party The Left noted.

The official websites of the Russian president and the Bank of Russia became target of a series of coordinated cyber attacks by hackers, officials said Friday.

"A powerful attack on the site is ongoing," a spokesperson for the Kremlin said Friday. "Measures are being taken to restore the normal functioning of the site."

At least one dead in clashes in eastern Ukraine town

DONETSK -- Clashes in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Thursday left one person dead, according to an AFP agency report.

16 were injured in the clashes that erupted during the holding of two rallies in the city.

At least one person died on Thursday during clashes between rival rallies in the Eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

The standoff began when members of an anti-war demonstration labelled "For a United Ukraine" ran into a group of pro-Russian activists at Lenin Square, website Interfax has reported. 

Influence of crisis in Ukraine on Serbia Putin not to recognize Kosovo because of Crimea

Proclamation of Crimea independence shall have no influence on Russia’s stance towards Kosovo, both domestic and foreign experts believe. .

Ukraine crisis significant for Chinese investment in Europe

Beijing has made clear that it wants to retain good relations with the new, pro-Western coalition government in Kiev.

(From left) BiH Prime Minister Vjekoslav Bevanda, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta pose for a photo at a November summit in Bucharest. [AFP]

EU rejects Crimea-Kosovo comparisons

Threats of genocide spurred Kosovo's separation, but no such threat lies in Crimea.

Propaganda billboards in Crimea draw comparisons to Nazism to persuade voters to separate from Ukraine. [AFP]

BERLIN - Gregor Gysi, leader of the socialist left-wing political party The Left, said in the Bundestag on Thursday that NATO and the EU are partially responsible for the current situation in Ukraine because of the policy they pursued in previous years.