Ukrainian opposition party blocks NATO ships in Crimea

A Ukrainian opposition party has prevented foreign warships participating in a NATO naval exercise from leaving the Black Sea port of Odessa, the Bratstvo (Brotherhood) press service said on Monday.

Sea Breeze 2008, a NATO military exercise, began last Monday in Ukraine’s Odessa, Crimea and Black Sea coastal regions. Two years ago, the Sea Breeze 2006 exercise in the Crimea was also disrupted by protests.

Ukraine and the United States are joined by 15 other countries for this year’s exercises, which are due to end on July 26. Fifteen Ukrainian ships, four aircraft, 10 helicopters, and 500 service personnel are involved in the military exercises.

Moscow to host next year’s Eurovision song contest

Moscow has been chosen ahead of other Russian cities bidding to host the 2009 Eurovision song context, the prime minister said on Monday.

Vladimir Putin made the announcement at a meeting of the Russian inner Cabinet.

Several Russian cities had applied to host the event after Russia’s Dima Bilan won this year’s contest in Belgrade. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said the strongest rival bid had come from St. Petersburg.

Merkel visits Ukraine, encourages its NATO-Bilderberger ambitions

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Bilderberger member) reassured Ukraine on Monday that it will eventually join NATO, and said no countries should influence its decision.

NATO delayed a decision on Ukraine’s accession to the NATO Membership Action Plan, a key step toward joining the alliance, at a summit in Bucharest in spring, mainly over German and French opposition. However, the bloc pledged to review the decision in December.

Russia needs bombers in Cuba due to NATO expansion – ex-commander

The possible deployment of Russian strategic bombers in Cuba may be an effective response to the placement of NATO bases near Russia’s borders, a former Air Force commander said on Monday.

Russian daily Izvestia earlier on Monday cited a senior Russian military source as saying that Russian strategic bombers could be stationed again in Cuba, only 90 miles from the U.S. coast, in response to the U.S. missile shield in Europe.

“If these plans are being considered, it would be a good response to the attempts to place NATO bases near the Russian borders,” Gen. of the Army Pyotr Deinekin told RIA Novosti.