With Russia seeking to counter Western influence in Ukraine and elsewhere, here's our infographic highlighting precisely where the economic might within BRICS lies.
Pro-Kyiv military blogger Dmitry Tymchuk's latest post -- a summary for July 15 translated into English and republished in full by the "Kyiv Post" -- describes the "successes of the ATO (Anti-Terrorist Operation)" in eastern Ukraine as having "changed into 'trench warfare.'"
Today's map of military activity in eastern Ukraine, commissioned and issued by the Information-Analytical Center of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council:
In another indication of how today's European Council meeting might go vis-a-vis Russia sanctions, AFP quotes a German government spokesman saying that Russian actions to resolve the Ukraine conflict have so far been insufficient.
From our newsroom:
European Union leaders will work to block loans for new projects in Russia by two multilateral lenders and broaden the scope of other sanctions in response to Moscow's actions in Ukraine.
According to a draft statement seen by Reuters, EU leaders, who are meeting in Brussels on July 16, will ask the European Investment Bank to suspend financing of new Russian public sector projects.
It says EU countries will also work together to suspend funding for new projects in Russia through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The draft statement also says the bloc will broaden the scope of asset freezes to target companies and other organizations that undermine Ukraine's sovereignty.
The text of the draft could change, however, until its final adoption.
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