Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• Six Russian Companies Added To EU Sanctions List Over Kerch Strait Bridge RFE/RL 31 Jul 2018 -- The European Union has added six Russian companies involved in the recent construction of the Kerch Strait bridge linking Russia with the Crimean Peninsula to its sanctions list.
• Ukrainian, 84, Gets 12 Years In Prison On Russia-Related Treason Charge RFE/RL 31 Jul 2018 -- A court in Ukraine has sentenced an 84-year-old researcher to 12 years in prison after convicting him of gathering classified information he allegedly planned to hand over to Russia.
• EU Slaps Sanctions on Six Russian Companies Over Crimea Sputnik 31 Jul 2018 -- The European Union has expanded the sanctions list associated with the reunification of the Crimea with Russia, as well as the construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, the Official Journal of the European Union reported.
• On The Eve Of His Trial, A Deeper Look Into How Paul Manafort Elected Ukraine's President RFE/RL 27 Jul 2018 -- Paul Manafort didn't think very much of Viktor Yanukovych. The longtime U.S. political consultant and lobbyist voiced serious misgivings in 2005 when he was brought on by several Ukrainian oligarchs to rehabilitate Yanukovych after his loss the previous year to Viktor Yushchenko, amid mass protests known as the Orange Revolution.
• US's Pompeo accuses Russia of 'occupying' Crimea Press TV 26 Jul 2018 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused Russia of "occupying" the Crimean Peninsula, saying Washington "rejects" the move by Moscow.
• Pentagon Awards $300Mln to Deliver Javelin Missiles to Ukraine, 5 Other States Sputnik 25 Jul 2018 -- The US Army has awarded a $307 million Foreign Military Sales contract to Raytheon to supply more Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, Estonia and Lithuania as well as to Australia, Turkey and Taiwan, the Department of Defense said in a press release.
• U.S. Issues 'Crimea Declaration' Reaffirming Rejection Of Russia's Annexation RFE/RL 25 Jul 2018 -- The United States announced a formal policy reaffirming its rejection of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasting Moscow for seeking "to undermine a bedrock international principle shared by democratic states."
• Crimea Declaration US Dept. of State 25 Jul 2018 -- "Russia, through its 2014 invasion of Ukraine and its attempted annexation of Crimea, sought to undermine a bedrock international principle shared by democratic states: that no country can change the borders of another by force."
• Transcript: VOA Interview with Kurt Volker, US Envoy to Ukraine Negotiations VOA 25 Jul 2018 -- On Monday, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker sat down with VOA to discuss the recent U.S.-Russia summit in Helsinki, Finland, and upcoming Normandy Format discussions about securing peace in Ukraine. The talks, involving political directors of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France, are slated for July 26 in Berlin.
• US rejects Putin's proposal on Ukraine, clears $200 million in military aid Press TV 21 Jul 2018 -- The Pentagon has released $200 million in military aid to Ukraine after the White House rejected an offer by Russian President Vladimir Putin to work with the United States in resolving the conflict.
• U.S. 'Not Considering' Putin Proposal For Ukraine Referendum RFE/RL 20 Jul 2018 -- The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump says it is "not considering supporting" a proposal made by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his summit with Trump to hold a referendum in regions of eastern Ukraine where an armed conflict is being waged against the Ukrainian government.
• DOD Announces $200M to Ukraine DoD 20 Jul 2018 -- The Department of Defense announced today that they will provide $200 million to Ukraine in security cooperation funds for additional training, equipment and advisory efforts to build the defensive capacity of Ukraine's forces.
• U.S. Announces $200 Million In New Security Aid To Ukraine RFE/RL 20 Jul 2018 -- The United States will provide $200 million in additional security funding to Ukraine.
• Pentagon to Provide $200Mln to Ukraine in Security Cooperation Funds Sputnik 20 Jul 2018 -- The United States is providing Ukraine with $200 million in security cooperation funds for training, equipment, and advisory efforts, the Department of Defense said in a press release on Friday.
• Closer ties with Ukraine, Georgia would have dire consequences for NATO: Putin Press TV 19 Jul 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his strong opposition to the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) eastward, warning the US-led military alliance against unspecified consequences in case it seeks to forge closer ties with Ukraine and Georgia.
• Exercise Sea Breeze 2018 Concludes in Ukraine AFPS 19 Jul 2018 -- The 18th iteration of exercise Sea Breeze concluded July 17 following a closing ceremony in Odessa, Ukraine.
• Joint Statement From G7 Foreign Ministers on MH17 US Dept. of State 18 Jul 2018 -- The G7 foreign ministers today issued the following statement in advance of the anniversary of the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17:
• OSCE's Ukraine Observer Mission 'Concerned' About Reported Russian Spy Leak RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- Russian intelligence has acquired internal documents of the international team monitoring the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including dossiers with personal information about its hundreds of staff members, from a spy, likely a staff member, according to German broadcaster ARD.
• Exercise Sea Breeze 2018 Kicks Off in Ukraine AFPS 13 Jul 2018 -- Austin, Texas, will be the location for the headquarters of the new U.S. Army Futures Command, Army Secretary Mark T. Esper announced today at a Pentagon news conference.
• Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a press point with the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko (NATO Summit Brussels) NATO 12 Jul 2018
• Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Anticorruption-Court Amendment in Bid For IMF Aid RFE/RL 12 Jul 2018 -- Ukrainian lawmakers have approved an amendment to a law establishing an anticorruption court in an effort to secure more funding under a $17.5 billion aid-for-reforms program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• NATO accuses Russia of destabilizing eastern Ukraine Press TV 11 Jul 2018 -- NATO has once again accused Russia of what it sees as destabilizing eastern Ukraine as members of the Western military alliance gather for a summit in Brussels.
• Anxious Ukraine Holds Its Breath Ahead Of Trump-Putin Summit RFE/RL 11 Jul 2018 -- Aboard Air Force One on June 29, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he may consider recognizing Russia's claim to Crimea, which was forcibly annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
• Crimean Tatar Close To Dzhemilev Says He Was Tortured By Russian FSB RFE/RL 10 Jul 2018 -- A driver for the wife of veteran Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev says he was tortured by officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Crimea.
• EU Demands Reforms Ahead of Summit; Ukrainians Question Benefits VOA 08 Jul 2018 -- Corruption and the conflict with Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine's east will top the agenda when a summit between that country and the European Union takes place Monday in Brussels.
• Ukraine's New Law on National Security US Dept. of State 06 Jul 2018 -- "The United States welcomes Ukraine's new Law on National Security, adopted by the Rada June 21 and signed by President Poroshenko July 5."
• Ukraine to Take Part in NATO Summit Despite Hungarian Objection VOA 05 Jul 2018 -- The NATO alliance has no plans to abandon its strong support for Ukraine despite concerns from the Hungarian government, which became public this week.
• Serbia, Ukraine Set Aside Differences Over Russia, Vow Cooperation RFE/RL 04 Jul 2018 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with his Serbian counterpart in a bid to repair ties with the Balkan country, a key Russian ally in Europe, as both states seek to join the European Union.
• US, Russia 'agree to disagree' on Crimea: White House Press TV 04 Jul 2018 -- The US White House has declared that Washington continues to reject the reunification of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea with Russia in a 2014 referendum and will not lift sanctions on Moscow until the decision is reversed.
• Ukrainian General Condemns Russian Renaming Units After Ukrainian Cities RFE/RL 03 Jul 2018 -- A top Ukrainian military officer has condemned an order by Russian President Vladimir Putin to name several Russian military units after cities and other places in Ukraine.
• Crimea 'inalienable' part of Russia, not to be discussed at Putin-Trump meeting Press TV 02 Jul 2018 -- The Kremlin says the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which rejoined Russia after a referendum in 2014, is an "inalienable" part of the country and not a subject on the agenda of an upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.
• Official: White House Continues To Reject Russia's Annexation Of Crimea RFE/RL 03 Jul 2018 -- A White House spokeswoman said the United States continues to reject Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, days after President Donald Trump cast doubt on that position.
• Ahead Of Putin-Trump Summit, Kremlin Says Everything (Except Crimea) Up For Discussion RFE/RL 02 Jul 2018 -- The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to searching for compromises with his U.S. counterpart on "all" issues except the status of Ukraine's Crimea region, which Moscow claims is part of Russia.
• Bolton: U.S., Russia 'Have To Agree To Disagree On Ukraine' RFE/RL 01 Jul 2018 -- White House national security adviser John Bolton says that he has discussed Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea with Russian President Vladimir Putin.