Breaking News, 4th of January, 2019

«A new group of Ukrainian ships is being prepared to go through the Kerch Strait, accompanied by international observers» — said Yury Biryukov, an adviser of the Ukrainian president. He explained that Kiev has the right on the “unrestricted passage” from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov and back, RIA NEWS reports with a reference to »News-one» TV channel. “Yes, we will continue doing so, regardless of whether the Russians like it or not” — he announced. According to him, the international observers will accompany the Ukrainian sailors. Earlier, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchynov, also announced that Kiev plans to send a new group of Ukrainian ships through the Kerch Strait.

11 civilians, members of one family, died as a result of an airstrike of the international coalition in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor, RIA NEWS reports. The airstrike hit the houses in the village of al-Safa. Civilians often become the victims of the air strikes of the international coalition in Syria. Back in December, as a result of an air strike, 17 civilians were killed in Deir ez-Zor.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the start of the withdrawal of the US troops from Syria. He added that the United States will continue their campaign of countering of the Iranian actions in the Middle East, and they will make every effort in order to “ensure the stability of all the Middle East.” “We will continue to work on the implementation of these goals. We will achieve all of them when our troops are no longer in Syria» — the US Secretary of State said. He also pointed out the importance of the security of the religious minorities in Syria, and the prevention of clashes between Turkish and Kurdish forces. “All these goals are still part of the American mission” — the head of the State Department concluded.

On Thursday, on the first day of the work of the US House of Representatives of the 116th convocation, the Democratic Party pushed the bills that would allow the government to resume its work, Interfax reports. In particular, the congressmen spoke in favor of funding of the activities of the Ministry of Internal Security until 8th of February, 2019. During this time, the Congress intends to find a compromise on the issue of the protection of the United States borders from the illegal migration. Now the bills must be approved by the Senate. More than a half of the seats are being occupied by the Republicans. The US government has partially suspended its own work since the midnight of 22nd of December, due to a lack of funding. The ‘stumbling block’ was the construction of the wall on the border with Mexico, on which insists the US President Donald Trump.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that the military cooperation between Russia and Venezuela is disturbing him. He didn’t rule out a possible placement a US military base in Brazil. “Russia did conduct their maneuvers in Venezuela” — TASS quotes his words with a reference to the SBT. Jair Bolsonaro didn’t rule out that he could discuss the opening of a US military base with Washington, «depending on what happens in the world.» At the same time, he underlined that such placement would be «symbolic», since «the capabilities of the American, Chinese and Russian armed forces reach all parts of the world, regardless of the base». Jair Bolsonaro said that his «rapprochement with the United States is an economic issue, but it can be a military one». He didn’t rule out that Brazil and the United States «may have an agreement in this area.»

Dirk Wiese, the representative of the German government for the relations with Russia, said that in 2019 the relations between the two countries will get worse, RIA News reports. In his opinion, this is related to the fact that in 2018 Moscow, allegedly, demonstrated highly unpredictable policies. In addition, Dirk Wiese believes that it is related to the «Russian responsibility for a number of incidents that occurred in 2018 around the world». «We saw the poisoning of the former spy Skripal. Then Moscow twisted the spiral of the arms race — the INF Treaty could be terminated. We will have to deal with this issue in the new year. And, of course, I remember about the dangerous demonstration of power in the Sea of Azov. Thus, I declare: the relations with Russia will get worse this year as well” — Dirk Wiese concluded. Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.