Ukrainian crisis

Ukraine abolishes military neutrality law

KIEV -- The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday adopted a law on the abolition of the country's military neutrality, and on initiating efforts to join NATO.

303 deputies voted in favor - 77 votes more than the minimum necessary for the adoption of the bill, while only eight deputies voted against, Reuters said.

Austrian chancellor speaks against sanctions, and TTIP

VIENNA -- Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann has spoken out "in support of moving away from additional sanctions on Russia," Austrian media report.

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. 

New US legislation authorising sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis could undermine relations between Moscow and Washington for a long time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Dec. 19.
      

The European Union on Thursday announced additional economic sanctions against Crimea-based companies over what the bloc calls illegal annexation of the region by Russia.

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When President Vikto Yanukovych of Ukraine fled his capital Kiev on Feb. 21, 2014, after the Maidan protests, very few could have predicted that it would unfold into a second Cold War between Moscow and the West.

Only five days later on Feb. 26, Russian forces sneaked into the strategic Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea, essentially occupying the Ukrainian territory.

The European Union (EU) has readiness to tighten sanctions against Russia, by extending its ban on investments in the Crimea.

Top US diplomat John Kerry is set to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Rome on Dec. 14, amid anger in Moscow over the prospect of new US sanctions and possible supply of lethal military aid to Ukraine.
      

Russia will respond to fresh sanctions from the United States, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Dec. 13 after US lawmakers passed a bill to impose new penalties on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

"Undoubtedly, we will not be able to leave this without a response," Ryabkov told Interfax news agency.

"Serbia under no obligation, but should join sanctions"

BERLIN -- Germany "does not agree with the European Commission's position that Serbia, as a candidate, has a legal obligation to introduce sanctions against Russia."