Russian and Kazakhstani leaders have reiterated plans to further develop bilateral commerce, relying on the free-trade arrangements of their Customs Union. Two-way trade, however, has appeared to advance slower than previously expected.

• September 27, 2012

Holding free and democratic parliamentary elections in Ukraine on October 28, 2012, will give a new impetus for the development of Ukraine-USA relations, as well as stimulate Ukraine's affairs with the EU. This was stated by Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych in New York City, USA, at the meeting with international press.

• September 27, 2012

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has openly slammed Russia over its stance on the Syrian conflict. Erdogan has been one of the strongest opponents to the regime and spoke out in an interview on Turkish TV.

• September 27, 2012

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has severely warned against the ramifications of West’s scenario to isolate Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.

• September 27, 2012

The European Union and the United States have urged Ukraine to review the updated draft Energy Strategy of Ukraine for the period of up to 2030, saying the document is based on unrealistic projections of the development of the national economy, is not consistent with other legislation, and does not account for all of the international obligations of the state.

• September 26, 2012

This decade will be a transformational one for Russia and Japan. Both countries are facing an uncertain future as Asia continues to morph into the most strategically important region in the world.

• September 26, 2012

Ukraine will provide reliable energy transit to the European Union, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry quoted Minister Yuriy Boiko. The minister gave the assurances at the Brussels meeting with European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger on Friday, September 21. Boiko stressed that Ukraine had created every condition for the uninterrupted transit of Russian gas to Europe.

• September 24, 2012

Iran's nuclear issue can only be resolved through political and diplomatic tools, Russia Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich said.

• September 21, 2012