Russia

European Commission became aware that room was made at Bulgaria's Varna harbor for pipes to be used for the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline, EurActiv notes.

Kiev sees Russian invasion - "won't use force to stop it"

Some 100 trucks carrying Russian aid meant for southeastern Ukraine by Friday afternoon crossed the customs, said a spokesman for the Russian customs.

The head of the Ukrainian Security Service at the same time described this as "a direct Russian invasion."

Prime Minister Vucic said on Friday that Serbia would “respect the will of the European Union" when it comes to the Russian ban on EU food imports.

"EU membership is our main goal," he added, noting at the same time that Serbia intended to "maintain good relations with the Russian Federation".

A convoy of lorries from Russia are entering Ukrainian territory, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow has announced.

The vehicles have not been granted Kiev's permission to cross the border.

In its statement [RU], the ministry says that the convoy is heading to Luhansk and warns Ukraine against any actions it could take to stop the trucks.

BELGRADE - Serbia will respect the will of the European Union and it will not grant subsidies for export of Serbian products to Russia, but it will not introduce sanctions for the Russian Federation either, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stated on Friday.

"Serbia not endangered, respects EU"

BELGRADE -- Aleksandar Vučić says Serbia respects the EU and takes seriously the message from Brussels, but is not "endangered" because of its trade relations with Russia.

Ukraine on Friday accused Moscow of invading after Russia unilaterally sent the first part of its mammoth aid convoy into east Ukraine, warning against any attacks on the trucks.
      

It will be difficult for Bulgarian producers to sell their fruits and vegetables this year, interim Agriculture Minister Vasil Grudev argued.

Vasil Grudev also announced his ministry had halted public procurement procedures launched by predecessors, as the Health Ministry did on Thursday, though he refused to enter into details.

BELGRADE – Serbian Agriculture Minister Snezana Bogosavljevic-Boskovic said Friday that the ministry would do everything to respect the procedures and rules of the Russian market and live up to the trust put in us, adding that increased export of Serbian products to the Customs Union member states could not harm anyone.

Cheese exports to Russia could increase "in two weeks"

MOSCOW -- Serbia could increase its cheese export to Russia in two weeks' time , Russian Minister of Agriculture Nikolay Fyodorov said on Thursday.

He made the comments after his meeting in Moscow with Serbian counterpart Snežana Bogosavljević-Bošković.