European defense officials warned on Friday that arming Ukraine in its fight against pro-Russian separatists would only inflame the conflict, but were told by NATO's top soldier, an American general, that the West should consider using "all tools" if diplomacy with Moscow wasn't working.

• Date: 06.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 06.02.2015  |  Security  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

NATO's top military commander, U.S. General Philip Breedlove, said on Friday the West should be ready to use "all tools in the tool bag" to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian separatists, though he did not specify if that should include arming Kiev.

• Date: 06.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 06.02.2015  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov is the highest-profile target of new sanctions due to be formally endorsed by European Union foreign ministers on Monday, diplomatic sources told Reuters.

• Date: 06.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 06.02.2015  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

European Union governments have agreed on a list of new entities and Russian and pro-Moscow Ukrainian individuals who will suffer sanctions in the bloc, diplomats said on Thursday.

• Date: 05.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 05.02.2015  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Moscow would see any decision by the United States to give Ukraine lethal weapons as a threat to Russia's security, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.

• Date: 05.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 05.02.2015  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

France will not for the moment deliver weapons to Ukraine for its fight with pro-Russian separatists, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday.

• Date: 04.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 04.02.2015  |  Security  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Russia's top oil producer Rosneft is basing its budget for this year on an average oil price of $50 per barrel, the company's Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin said on Wednesday.

• Date: 04.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 04.02.2015  |  Energy  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Rosneft is raising money from Swiss trader Trafigura days before it must repay a $7 billion debt, industry sources said, seeking new funding options after the Russian central bank said its borrowing via the domestic bond market had added to pressure on the struggling rouble.

• Date: 04.02.2015  |  Published on EGF: 04.02.2015  |  Energy  |  from http://www.reuters.com/