Russia's Putin upbeat on prospects of resolving Ukraine crisisMay 23, 2014 - 17:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, May 23 he was upbeat on the prospects for resolving the crisis in Ukraine and that doing so would help improve relations with the United States, Reuters said. "I'm an optimist. I am not losing faith that the situation in Ukraine will at some point become normal and we will find the inner strength to normalize relations (with the United States)," Putin told the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. He also said that Russia did not want to isolate itself from the rest of the world and that it wanted to work with the United States on many projects. "We are not planning any self-isolation," Putin said. "We hope that common sense ... will prompt our European and U.S. partners to work with Russia." Photo: AP Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |