Only a year ago, Russia's dominance as a global energy supplier was threatened by low gas prices and a reputation as an unreliable trade partner. But with the world now shaken by Japan's natural disasters and uprisings across the Middle East, the country is back at the heart of the market - and cashing in.

• March 23, 2011

ISSUE #09
03/21/2011

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned Ukraine about the imposition of restrictions on Ukrainian imports. "If Ukraine sets up a free trade area with the European Union (EU) and is forced to yield on many positions that are sensitive for the Ukrainian economy, then it will obviously expect that these products go to the Russian market. However, we will not be able to afford to do this," he said. Putin noted that Russia would be forced to start drawing a "boarder" with Ukraine. READ MORE

• March 23, 2011

Ukrainians fear a serious accident at country’s nuclear power plants

The Gorshenin Institute held a telephone public opinion poll regarding nuclear safety in Ukraine on 15 and 16 March 2011. A total of 1,000 respondents aged over 18 were selected randomly in all regional centres of Ukraine, in Kiev and Sevastopol. Quotas were established based on respondents’ age, sex and area of residence. Sample error does not exceed 3.2%. READ MORE

• March 23, 2011

Ukraine deserves a special partnership with the EU – experts

Anticipating the first meeting of the Eastern Partnership’s Parliamentary Assembly (Euronest), Gorshenin Institute asked experts about its potential impact on the development of the EU-Ukrainian relations, its possible outcome without the participation of Belarus, and Ukraine’s chances for the EU integration when compared with neighboring states. READ MORE

• March 23, 2011

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius assured that Lithuania is prepared to appeal to the EU institutions with a proposal of imposing restrictions and certain rules on trading electricity from the third parties, which are planning to generate electric power under conditions that do not comply with the requirements of nuclear safety.

• March 22, 2011

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that Ukraine will revise its energy strategy for the long- term prospects, local media reported

• March 22, 2011

Setting aside decades of acrimony over President Ronald Reagan's vision of a "Star Wars" missile shield, the United States and Russia have been holding exploratory but serious talks about potential ways to cooperate on missile defense in Europe.

• March 22, 2011

Ukraine's joining a free trade area with the European Union will depend on greater flexibility and a readiness for a compromise with EU member states, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

• March 22, 2011