Russian irredentism

Ukraine has banned French actor Gerard Depardieu from entering the country for five years, its state security service said on July 29, apparently for making comments that suggested he supported Russia's annexation of Crimea last year. 

Ukraine has moved ban actor Gérard Depardieu from entering the country over the next five years.

Depardieu, who in 2013 was granted Russian citizenship, has thus become part of a list including Serbian director Emir Kusturica, Hollywood director Oliver Stone, and actor Steven Seagal.

Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev has said that his country "stands for Ukraine’s territorial integrity with due account of decisions on Crimea taken last year."

Medvedev spoke in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he addressed a news conference after his meetings with top Slovenian officials.

Russia said on July 2 a new U.S. military strategy was confrontational and would not help improve relations with Moscow, strained by the crisis in Ukraine.

The strategy, released by the Pentagon on July 1, said  Russia had repeatedly demonstrated it does not respect the sovereignty of its neighbours and that it was willing to use force to achieve its goals.