Ukraine

TV comedian frontrunner for Ukraine’s President post

A Ukrainian comedian known for his role of playing the president in a popular television show is now the actual frontrunner for Ukraine's top job, according to a recent poll.…

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EU and NATO are Ukraine’s President Poroshenko launches campaign for re-election

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has launched his campaign for re-election in March’s vote, which promises to be a bitter contest between him and a former prime minister. Addressing supporters in…

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Russian court orders that 24 Ukrainian soldiers remain under arrest till trial in April

A court in Moscow has ordered the first four of 24 Ukrainian sailors seized by Russia off the coast of Crimea in November to be held in pre-trial detention until…

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More than 200 MPs from various parties urge government to commit against No Deal Brexit

More than 200 MPs from various parties have signed a letter urging the government to take the prospect of a no-deal Brexit off the table. The politicians are from the…

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Independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church born after split from Russian church control

An independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been born with the blessing of Patriarch Bartholomew I. Ukraine's President Petro Poroschenko heralded the split from Russia, but Moscow was less than…

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Russia dismisses calls by Germany and France for the immediate and unconditional release of 24 Ukrainian sailors detained by Russia

Update : Russia on Saturday dismissed a statement by the leaders of France and Germany accusing it of using military force and carrying out illegitimate checks on Ukrainian vessels in…

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Ukraine – Europe’s forgotten war

Next year, the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine will enter its fifth year. The conflict has taken 3,000 civilian lives, displaced 1.5 million people and left 3.5 million in need - more…

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Ukraine says Russia has partially unlocked Ukrainian sea ports on Azov Sea

Russia has partially unlocked Ukrainian sea ports on the Azov Sea, Ukraine’s infrastructure minister Volodymyr Omelyan said on Tuesday, Reuters report. “Yes, Berdyansk and Mariupol ports are partially unlocked. Vessels…

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Tuesday Morning Briefing

Good morning, Your morning briefing brings you a review of the main news and headlines from Malta, Europe and the World. Quote of the DayChange happens when you extend your…

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Ukraine raids Orthodox churches aligned to Russia

Ukrainian authorities on Monday raided three Orthodox churches aligned to Russia as political and religious tensions between the two countries grow. Police and security services also searched the homes of priests…

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Too early to return Ukrainian sailors and naval vessels – Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin has said it is “too early” to return Ukrainian sailors and naval vessels seized by Russia in the Sea of Azov, accusing the Ukrainian government of provoking an incident…

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Ukraine bans Russian adult men from entering country

Ukraine has banned Russian adult men aged 16-60 years from entering Ukraine, the head of the border service Petro Tsygykal said in a televised meeting on Friday. "Today, the entry…

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Russia – Ukraine escalation of tensions – An explainer

Russia seized three Ukrainian military vessels after they attempted to pass through the Kerch Strait off the coast of Crimea, Ukraine's peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. Ukraine says the move violated the…

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Tuesday Morning Briefing

Good morning, Anti-mafia investigations in online gaming companies in Malta, waste separation, PN Leader's call for Minister Konrad Mizzi's resignation, and the tragedy where a 26 year old construction worker…

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Ukraine declares martial law in place for 30 days

Ukraine has declared martial law, after Sunday's capture of three of its naval vessels and 23 crew members by Russia. After heated debates, lawmakers backed President Petro Poroshenko's request to…

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UN Security Council to meet urgently on the Ukrainian – Russian tension (UPDATED)

Update: Russia reopened the Kerch Strait near Crimea to shipping in the early hours of Monday morning after firing on and seizing three Ukrainian naval ships a day earlier, a…

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Poland working on regulations to forbid unvaccinated foreigners enter the country after increase in measles cases

Polish Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski has said that the ministry is working over regulations forbidding unvaccinated foreigners from third countries from entering Poland. Moreover, the minister is considering, along with…

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Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning, Your morning briefing, with an update and review of the latest headlines from the main news agencies, news media and newspapers from Malta, Europe and the World. Start…

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Ukraine expels Hungarian consul

Ukraine has given a Hungarian consul 72 hours to leave country after accusing his consulate of illegally issuing passports to ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on…

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Breaking News: Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that MH17 was shot down by Ukrainian owned Buk missile

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Monday that the missile that shot down flight MH17 in June 2014, killing 298 people on board, had been produced in 1986 and was owned…

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Russian Orthodox Church ‘cuts ties’ with Constantinople leader over Ukraine

The Russian Orthodox Church has downgraded "diplomatic relations" with Istanbul-based Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Bartholomew I has been accused of "anti-canonical activities" for sending bishops to Ukraine. Russia's Orthodox Church…

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Ukraine: Lack of legal regulation surrounding the process can increase the risk of crimes such as human trafficking

Ukraine's in vitro fertilization clinics draw foreign couples desperate to have a baby. But the process can lead to paternal mistakes and citizenship questions, and experts want more regulation. According…

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Saturday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The following briefing brings you the latest news from Malta, 13 countries around the Europe and the world and 4 main institutions following a review of the highlights…

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Consultant linked to Manafort admits funnelling Ukrainian oligarch’s money to Trump campaign

Republican political consultant linked to Paul Manafort and Cambridge Analytica funneled $50,000 from a Ukrainian oligarch to Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration committee, authorities said on Friday. The Guardian reports Sam…

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Zakarchenko, the leader of separatists in Donetsk killed in explosion

An explosion at a cafe has killed Alexander Zakharchenko, the leader of the Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, sources there say. The report was carried by the rebel "Donetsk…

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Putin visits Austria in first visit in EU state since re-election

Easing of sanctions against Russia, the relations with the US and the European Union were the main topics discussed during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Austrian chancellor, Sebastian…

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Thursday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, A number of stories are covered on today's Maltese newspapers. The government of Malta has signed an agreement with the World Health Organisation on technical help for a…

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‘Politically harassed journalist’ shot dead in Ukraine

Police in Kyiv reported that Arkady Babchenko, a Russian journalist who fled to Ukraine after what he called “political harassment” in Russia, has been shot dead at his home by…

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The ‘voice’ which led to the conclusion of Russia’s involvement in the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17

Radio Free Europe reports that Oleg Vladimirovich Ivannikov's atypical voice led to the conclusion, the 51-year-old was "with very high certainty", as being a missile specialist who was in charge of military operations…

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Putin denies that missile which brought down Malaysian aircraft was a Russian military equipment

Vladimir Putin denied that the missile which brought down a Malaysian airliner in July 2014, killing almost 300 people was a Russian military piece of equipment. This was the first…

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Investigators: Buk Missile From Russian Antiaircraft Brigade Downed Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in Donetsk, Ukraine

A Dutch-led international criminal investigation has established that the Buk missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014 came from Russia's 53rd Antiaircraft Missile Brigade. The…

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BBC: Trump’s personal lawyer received secret payment to arrange meeting between the US and Ukrainian Presidents

Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, received a secret payment of at least $400,000 (£300,000) to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump, according to sources in Kiev…

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Reuters : Cyber researchers, Ukraine warn of possible Russian attack

Reuters reports that "hackers have infected at least 500,000 routers and storage devices in dozens of countries, some of the world’s biggest cyber security firms warned on Wednesday, in a campaign…

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Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin meet

Germany has a strategic interest in good relations with Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this following meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meetings focused on Syria, the conflict…

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Ukraine expresses its anger as Putin inaugurates bridge to the Crimean Peninsula.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened the country's newly built bridge to the annexed Crimean Peninsula, driving a truck across the span and drawing angry condemnation from Kyiv and the…

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