Republic of Crimea

Russia's proposal to pump gas to the Turkish-Greek border and from 2019 to cease using Ukraine as its main energy transit route to Europe is in breach of legally binding contracts and is economically flawed, the EU's energy chief said on late Feb. 4.

The Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided on Wednesday to suspend its participation in the body until the end of the year.

The Russian boycott came after PACE passed a resolution earlier on Wednesday, which deprives Moscow of its voting rights until April 2015, the BBC reports.

Russia and the United States have engaged in a war of words over the tension in Ukraine, but U.S. President Barack Obama's remarks putting the fight against Islamists in the focus of his Syria policy have been welcomed by Moscow.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev devoted considerable time of his speech on the completion of his third year in office on Wednesday to the country's foreign policy.

EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has suggested renewal in relations with Russia in the spheres of global diplomacy, trade and other issues on Wednesday.

Turkey accused Russia of not keeping the promises it has given reagarding Crimean Tatars' rights and announced that it will send a delegation to monitor developments in the region.

The Russian ambassador to Turkey has called on Turkish businessmen to remain in the Russian market, despite the depreciation of the ruble, which has deeply impacted a number of Turkish investors in the country.

Crimea, which broke away from Ukraine in March, has been cut off from the county's electricity supplies, officials say.

The peninsula will now have to use energy from local generators and two thermal power plants to fulfill its needs.

Crimean authorities have said they are still awaiting official explanation as to why supplies have bee disrupted.

Ukraine temporarily cut off power supplies to Crimea on Wednesday after the Russian-annexed peninsula failed to curb consumption as required due to a power crisis, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Dec. 20 new Western sanctions against Ukraine's Crimea region were a "collective punishment" on residents who voted last March to join Russia, adding it was preparing to retaliate.