Russia able to withstand EU's toughest sanctions scenario

Russia able to withstand EU's toughest sanctions scenario

Russia’s Economic Development Ministry has drafted three variants of forecasts of the country’s economic development in case sectorial sanctions are imposed against Moscow over the situation in Ukraine, Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Saturday.

"We have developed three variants which differ by the degree of toughness. The first variant includes luxury articles, caviar, furs, the second one is tougher and the third one includes the entire complex - metals, fertilizers, oil, gas and so on, taking into account the factors of price and volume," Ulyukayev said.

Further sanctions against Russia may have negative impact on European banks

Further sanctions against Russia may have negative impact on European banks

Tightening of European sanctions against Russia may adversely affect activities of the Italian Bank Unicredit and the whole European banking sector, an adviser to the Italian Bank, member of the Board of Directors, Gianni Franco Papa said today in an interview with the German Handelsblatt newspaper

"We are waiting for an EU decision and will treat it with respect, but if the sanctions are tightened, of course, it will be a blow not only on our interests, but also on the whole of Europe. Russia is too important a market," he said.

Ukraine ready to sign package agreement on gas with Russia

Ukraine ready to sign package agreement on gas with Russia 

Ukraine is prepared to sign a package agreement on gas with Russia's Gazprom and to continue to work only in the framework of that agreement, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Minister Yuriy Prodan said.

"Ukraine is prepared to sign a so-called package agreement with Russia today on those proposals that the European Commission made at the last round of talks in Kiev, and to work only in the framework of this package agreement," Prodan said on his arrival in Brussels for talks with the European energy commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, Interfax reports.

US opposed to South Stream because of interest in supplying gas to Europe - Putin

US opposed to South Stream because of interest in supplying gas to Europe - Putin

The US is trying to disrupt Russia's gas pipeline project, South Stream, because it wants to supply gas to Europe itself. "We are in talks with our partners over contracts, not with third countries. That our US friends are unhappy about South Stream, well, they were unhappy in 1962 too, when the gas-for-pipe project with Germany began. Now they are unhappy again, nothing has changed, except the fact that they want to supply to the European market themselves," Putin stated.

"I can reassure you, it will not be cheaper than Russia's: piped gas is always cheaper than liquefied," the Russian president said.

On this issue, the US acts as Russia's rival, Putin said.

"This is a normal situation. They do everything to disrupt this contract. There is nothing unusual here. This is a normal competition. A competition which uses political methods among others," he said.

Gazprom to increase shipments via Nord Stream, Yamal-Europe if Ukraine siphons gas off - CEO

Gazprom to increase shipments via Nord Stream, Yamal-Europe if Ukraine siphons gas off - CEO

If Ukraine is siphoning off gas, Gazprom will increase shipments via Nord Stream and the Yamal-Europe gas pipelines, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"If Ukraine is siphoning off gas, then we will increase shipments via Nord Stream, and we'll load up Yamal-Europe at a maximum," he said.

Ukraine regime fails to understand longing to freedom its former parts

Ukraine regime fails to understand longing to freedom its former parts

President of Ukraine Petr Poroshenko announced that the ceasefire in the south-east of the country stops, saying that "the protection of the territorial integrity of Ukraine "requires not only defensive, but offensive action."

"We will attack and we will liberate our land," he said, adding that Kiev "is ready to return to the ceasefire at any time, when we see that all parties adhere to the implementation of the basic points of the peace plan." Read the article on the current state of affairs in Ukraine at voiceofrussia.com and make sure to leave your feedback.

Lavrov to meet with Germany, France, Ukraine's FMs in Berlin

Lavrov to meet with Germany, France, Ukraine's FMs in Berlin

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov is expected to take part in a meeting Wednesday with the Foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Ukraine. The talks are to take place in Berlin and are aimed to boost efforts towards settling the Ukrainian crisis.

Russia's Foreign Ministry official said on Tuesday night that Lavrov, during a telephone conversation with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, had welcomed the idea of meeting in such a format:

Russia never annexed Crimea, no plans to intervene in Ukraine, it's a Western delusion - Putin

Russia never annexed Crimea, no plans to intervene in Ukraine, it's a Western delusion - Putin

On June 6 Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Ahead of his visit to France the Russian leader gave an extensive interview to Radio Europe 1's news program author and frontman, Jean-Pierre Elkabbach and, anchor of the evening news on TF1 TV channel, Gilles Bouleau covering burning issues from Ukraine and Crimea to US foreign policy. The interview was recorded on June 3 in Sochi.

On what happened in Ukraine:

Latvia Warns Ukraine's it Has No Clue About Accession to the EU

Latvia Warns Ukraine's it Has No Clue About Accession to the EU

In the EU, many are very skeptical about the possibility of Ukraine joining the organization, said Latvia Euro-MP Tatiana Zhdanok. According to her, the people of Ukraine are uninformed, what consequences entail the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU. "Many Europeans are questioning the ability of the Kiev government to run the country and ensure the democratic system. So Europeans are very skeptical and believe that Ukraine cannot make it to the Copenhagen criteria that must be met for entry into the European Union," said MEP in an exclusive interview to RT.

Moscow Prepares for Trilateral Consultations on Ukraine's EU Association

Moscow Prepares for Trilateral Consultations on Ukraine's EU Association

Moscow is making ready for ministerial consultations on Ukraine’s EU association and expects a constructive approach from partners, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. "We would like to point out that the Russian side is preparing for trilateral consultations at ministerial level on Ukraine’s association with the EU in July. We expect our partners to demonstrate a responsible and constructive approach that will help alleviate Russia’s quite real and not imaginary, concerns," the Ministry said in a statement published on the official website.

Ukraine, Georgia and Moldavia signed the economic section of European Union Association Agreements this Friday. Russia has on numerous previous occasions expressed concerns about this, worrying that it might cause an uncontrolled influx of goods and warning that the country would be forced to protect its markets.

Russia to Take Action if EU Association Agreement Hits Russian Economy

Russia to Take Action if EU Association Agreement Hits Russian Economy

Georgia, Moldavia and Ukraine have the right to sign a European Union Association Agreement; however, Russia will act correspondingly, if its economic interests are to get hit by the agreement, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said.

Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia Give Up Sovereignty by Signing with EU

Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia Give Up Sovereignty by Signing with EU

By signing association agreements with the EU on Friday, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have delivered a crucial blow to their social and economic sectors, says Russian State Duma Deputy Chairman Sergei Zheleznyak.

The agreement effectively deprives the countries that signed it of their national sovereignty and could aggravate the internal political and socioeconomic conflicts in them, Zheleznyak told journalists.

"But this is a choice of each of the countries that signed the agreement, and the leaderships of these countries will bear responsibility to their peoples for the consequences of these actions," he said.

Donetsk Peoples Republic intends to leave Ukraine

Donetsk Peoples Republic intends to leave Ukraine

Self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic intends to leave Ukraine's jurisdiction and integrate with Customs Union to avoid economic fallout from Ukraine's association agreement with the EU, Donetsk Republic's deputy prime minister Andrei Purgin said.

"By making this decision Ukraine in fact cuts itself off from the Russian market. It is 99 percent machine manufacturing, metals industry, partially agriculture, etc... Possibly, from the side of the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Community [reaction] will not be head on, but more pin-pointed. In any case, losses in trade with Customs Unions will be upwards from 50 percent," Purgin said.