Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine ignored a public call by Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone a referendum on independence, declaring they would go ahead on May 11 with a vote that could lead to war.

• Date: 08.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 08.05.2014  |  Security  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Russia will beef up its Black Sea fleet this year with new submarines and warships, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying on Tuesday, following the annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

• Date: 06.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 06.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday it would be "unusual" to hold a presidential election in Ukraine while the army was being deployed against Ukrainians.

• Date: 06.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 06.05.2014  |  Security  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told his U.S. counterpart John Kerry that the U.S. should use its influence to make Ukraine's government immediately stop military operations in south-east Ukraine, the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday.

• Date: 05.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 05.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Pro-Russian rebels shot down two Ukrainian helicopters on Friday, killing two crew, as troops tightened their siege of separatist-held Slaviansk and Moscow accused Kiev of launching a "criminal" assault that wrecked hopes of peace

• Date: 01.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 01.05.2014  |  Security  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Russia staged a huge May Day parade on Moscow's Red Square for the first time since the Soviet era on Thursday, with workers holding banners proclaiming support for President Vladimir Putin after the seizure of territory from neighboring Ukraine.

• Date: 01.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 01.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

The United States imposed new sanctions on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, prompting Moscow to denounce "Cold War" tactics amid more violence in eastern Ukraine.

• Date: 29.04.2014  |  Published on EGF: 29.04.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

U.S. President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against some Russians on Monday to stop President Vladimir Putin from fomenting the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, but said he was holding broader measures against Russia's economy "in reserve."

• Date: 28.04.2014  |  Published on EGF: 28.04.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/