The European Union was set to take a cautious step towards extending sanctions against Russia on Monday, targeting companies, as well as people, linked to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

• Date: 12.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 12.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Russia will be ready to hold more talks with Ukraine on its natural gas supplies only when Kiev pays its gas debt to Moscow, Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky said on Monday.

• Date: 12.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 12.05.2014  |  Energy  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Ukrainian leader Oleksander Turchinov accused Russia of working to overthrow legitimate state power in Ukraine on Monday after pro-Russian rebels declared a resounding victory in rebel referendums on self-rule in eastern regions.

• Date: 12.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 12.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Germany and France are ready to agree more extensive sanctions against Russia if a planned presidential election in Ukraine on May 25 is foiled, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande said on Saturday.

• Date: 10.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 10.05.2014  |  Security  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Romania asked Moscow for an explanation on Saturday after Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin, reacting to being barred from its airspace, tweeted he would return in a TU-160 strategic bomber

• Date: 10.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 10.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

Acting Ukrainian President Oleksander Turchinov told eastern regions gripped by a pro-Russian uprising that they would be courting catastrophe if they voted "yes" in a separatist referendum on Sunday.

• Date: 10.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 10.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

China's foreign ministry blamed the United States on Friday for stoking tensions in the disputed South China Sea by encouraging countries to engage in dangerous behavior, following an uptick in tensions between China and both the Philippines and Vietnam.

• Date: 09.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 09.05.2014  |  External Relations  |  from http://www.reuters.com/

The European Central Bank is ready to take action next month to boost the euro zone economy if updated inflation forecasts merit it, its president said on Thursday, warning outsiders not to pressure the bank into action.

• Date: 09.05.2014  |  Published on EGF: 09.05.2014  |  Markets  |  from http://www.reuters.com/