Putin Says Merkels Words About Minsk Agreements Unexpected, Disappointing

 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the statement of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the Minsk agreements had been concluded only to give Ukraine time to prepare for war with Russia were unexpected and disappointing for him.

Merkel’s confession about Minsk Agreements a solid bid for a tribunal — Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

 The confession made by German ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s in her interview for Die Zeit that the Minsk Agreements were signed in order to buy time for Ukraine to prepare for a military standoff with Russia could be used for an investigation in a tribunal, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

Macron wants to ‘bend Ukraine over’ – Klimkin — RT

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to force Ukraine to make concessions to Russia on a major peace deal designed to bring an end to fighting in the Donbass, Kiev’s former foreign minister has claimed.

Russia blasts Ukrainian Donbas law as preparations for war

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it saw Ukraine's new law on the return of the insurgent Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as "preparations for a new war."

No reason to ease sanctions against Russia: Ukrainian president

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday that there is no reason to relieve the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union (EU) on Russia.

Ukraine pledges peaceful settlement of conflict in east region

Ukraine is committed to settling the conflict in its eastern regions through dialogue and implementation of the Minsk Peace Agreement, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said on Thursday.

Kremlin: No Donbas ceasefire promises given to Germany as Russia "not party to conflict"

The Kremlin has stated it did not promise Germany to ensure the ceasefire in Donbas as Russia "is not party to the conflict", and it's "the armed forces of Donbas" that oppose Ukraine, Russia's presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told an UNIAN correspondent in Moscow.

US blacklists 37 individuals, entities over conflict in Ukraine

The United States on Thursday slapped additional sanctions on 37 individuals and entities in relation to the conflict in Ukraine.

1 soldier killed, 9 injured in eastern Ukraine

A Ukrainian soldier was killed and nine others were wounded in recent clashes with separatist militias in eastern Ukraine, a presidential spokesperson said Tuesday.

Russia condemned the G-7 countries for the extension of sanctions

The state of the group of seven (G-7) in the final statement stressed that the lifting of sanctions against Russia depends on the implementation of the Minsk agreements and made clear that restrictions could be tightened.

Japan urges Ukraine to fully implement cease-fire accord

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday to "fully implement" a cease-fire agreement struck in February last year so as to address conflict in the crisis-hit country.

France to Strengthen Ties with Russia despite Sanctions

France is working to strengthen its relations with Russia in spite of Western sanctions imposed against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis, French economy minister Emmanuel Macron said in Moscow Monday.

Peace in eastern Ukraine is top priority for Kiev in 2016 - Ukrainian President

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday outlined his government's work agenda for this year, saying that the settlement of the conflict in eastern regions remains an issue of paramount importance.

Hollande, Merkel, Putin, Poroshenko stress importance of Minsk Protocol full implementation

Leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine stressed Wednesday the importance of the "full implementation" of the Minsk Protocal in 2016.

Ukraine, Separatists Agree To Cease-Fire During Holidays

Ukraine reached an agreement with pro-Russian separatists for a truce during the Christmas and New Year holidays that went into effect at midnight December 22.

US playing destructive role in Ukrainian conflict - (Vitaly Churkin)

The United States is playing a destructive role in the Ukrainian settlement seeking to shield its Kiev partners, Russian Permanent Representative at the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Friday.

Ukraine repeats request to UN to send peacekeepers to Ukraine — (defense ministry)

Ukraine asks the United Nations to send its peacekeepers to Donbas, Leonid Golopatyuk, the head of the main department of military cooperation and peacekeeping operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, during his working visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry press service said on Tuesday.

Russian FM says he hopes escalation of violence in Donbas will be stopped

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday he hoped escalation of violence in Donbas will ultimately be stopped.

Election postponement demonstrates Donbas commitment to Minsk accords

Postponement of elections in Ukraine’s Donbas until 2016 is fully in line with the Paris agreements of the Normandy Four leaders and demonstrates a will of the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk (DPR and LPR) to implement the Minsk agreements, a top Russian parliamentarian from the State Duma lower house told reporters on Tuesday.

Karabakh Army Prevents Azeri Raid on Eastern Border

YEREVAN (ARKA)—The Karabakh Defense Army prevented Azeri troops from launching a raid on Thursday night on the eastern border with Azerbaijan, the press office of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s Ministry of Defense reported.