The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belarus and Belorussian Foreign Minister met to discuss a possibility of talks between presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.
Estonia marked its independence day with a military parade featuring NATO hardware and troops on its eastern border with Russia amid heightened east-west tensions over Ukraine.
Russia voiced confidence that world powers and Iran would be able to reach a comprehensive accord over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme by a June 30 final deadline.
Moody's cut Russia's debt rating by one notch into 'junk' territory, saying the Ukraine crisis and the fall in oil prices and the ruble will further undermine Russia's economy.
Pussy Riot, the Russian band jailed after mocking the Kremlin, has released a first English-language song that takes aim not at Vladimir Putin but at US police brutality.
US Secretary of State John Kerry called his Russian counterpart to urge him to stop separatist attacks on a strategic Ukrainian town and respect a fragile ceasefire.
First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan has officially refuted the reports suggesting that the largest Central Asian economy was intending to ban or limit imports from Russia.
Media reports suggest that Kazakhstan may resort to restricting Russian imports due to the pressure its domestic market from the significantly cheaper products offered by its Northern neighbour.
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a controversial visit to Budapest, showing the world he still has a friend in Europe in Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban