Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 17 December [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

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News -
20 attacks by Putin terrorists last night.
Update - 0 dead, but two soldiers injured.
Putin gives his annual tv show today. Who cares? Pure bullsh@t propaganda. But -
Expect Shaun Walker, Roland Oliphant, and Steve Rosenberg to be waxing lyrical and posting photos of Putin calendars for the next week.

Weather -
Another cold morning. -4. But forecast is good for the weekend, and beyond.
Predicted to be very warm. No snow.

Footie -
Mourinho is toast!

http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/news/27432794.html
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Not good news for Ukraine - but -
once this loan is paid off then Russia has no hold whatsoever on Ukraine. Plus and minus in my opinion.

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7:28
http://censor.net.ua/news/365498/ocherednoyi_putinskiyi_gumkonvoyi_vtorgsya_na_territoriyu_ukrainy
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Over 100 vehicles. And we all know what Putin's humanitarian help means. Weapons, ammunition, war.

7:12
http://nbnews.com.ua/ru/news/168540/

Putin would like, perhaps more than anything, to freeze Ukrainians to death.
Stalin starved millions of Ukrainians to death. Putin sees Stalin as a sort of hero. Why? I think Putin has visions of turning himself into some great historical figure, like Stalin, or Hitler.
Unfortunately, for Putin, the weather has not been on his side. Last winter was very warm in Ukraine. I recall, basically no snow until January.
This year - if the forecasts are right, then we are looking for more of the same. In fact, if the forecasts are right, then the next couple of weeks will be well above the average.
Statistically this is what should happen now, in Kiev, in December -



Today - the 17th - the temperature should fall below zero, and the average should be below zero for the rest of the month.
The forecast for today is more or less around zero, but after today, temperatures of 4 or 6 - even +8 are predicted.
And lows - now of -4, but of zero or +1.

Thursday 17th мин.-5° макс.+2° Friday 18th мин.+1° макс.+4°
Sat 19th мин.+4°макс.+6° Sunday 20th мин.+5° макс.+7°
Monday 21st мин. +2° макс. +7° Tuesday 22nd мин. +3° макс. +8°
Wed 23rd мин. +4° макс.+9° Thurs 24th мин. +2° макс. +8°
Friday 25th мин. +1° макс.+6° Saturday 26th мин. -1° макс+4°
This from ukr.net, but gismeteo, which is generally reliable, is also saying approximately the same thing, give or take a degree, each day.

What is going on? It is, I am told, an El Nino year. Last December was chilly, but sunny, hence the lack of snow.
But this December is predicted now to be much warmer than average. But with some rain.
What does this mean for Putin? Ukraine will use less gas in December. The market gas price will be lower in January. But also - western Europe will also need less gas. Putin's economic machine, so heavily dependent upon oil and gas, is already hurting. Expect it to hurt even more if Europe gets another warm winter.
Another added bonus - if it is above zero, and raining quite often, the ground will be very soggy. Not good if Putin is planning a major military advance further into western Europe.

Statistics from
https://weatherspark.com/averages/33809/12/Kiev-Kiev-City-Ukraine

9:50
http://ua.112.ua/ato/u-zoni-ato-poblyzu-krasnohorivky-i-manhusha-zafiksovano-poloty-trokh-bpla-sektor-m-279350.html
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5 am. Mariupol area. Dark then. Must be using infrared to work out where soldiers are sleeping, I would think.

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http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/27432991.html
Kyiv - December 17 to be held extraordinary session of parliament, which plans to consider the draft budget for next year and a number of its related legislation, in particular - tax reform project. Meanwhile, most of the leaders of parliamentary factions criticized draft state budget. Also, politicians and experts do not exclude that in spite of the joint statement of the president, prime minister and speaker of conflict within the government team could find the continuation and development in the parliament.
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I think there will be big big problems passing the budget.
Tymoshenko will want to make political hay. Liashko also. And the Opposition block.
All those stuck with Soviet brains are going to oppose any move towards a more liberal, western economy.
There brains are stuck on Soviet subsidies, fixed prices, and corruption.
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Just looked on tv. Nothing. But 1030 is rather too early for your average Ukrainian deputy to be getting out of bed in the morning.

http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-bad-news-russophobia/27432017.html
...As an antidote, Markin espoused a head-in-the-ground strategy....
"We have a chance if we don't react to Russophobia. We can only ignore these attempts to attract attention to our sores," ...
"Where does Russophobia come from? It all comes from there -- from envy. Only, they don't envy our material prosperity but our spiritual qualities -- kindness, fairness, being prepared to come to help...
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What a joker!!
Wow - the propaganda is having to go into overdrive now. Shaun Walker stuff.
So the west doesn't envy Russia's poverty? What a surprise. By "spiritual" I presume he means spirits of the alcoholic variety..

Putin's annual journalists' show is underway.
The journalists actually applauded Putin as he came in! Could you see that happening in any other country in the world? North Korea maybe...
It is not being carried by any Ukrainian channel, that I can see, but it is live on Euronews currently, and also on one Russian channel I get for some reason.
He didn't start with a load of garbage first, but went straight into questions. Different.
Ukrainian Rada - still haven't started, but some other meeting being broadcast currently - about corruption - what else, now at 11.30

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Rada proceedings now live of Rada tv etc. Finance minister currently giving her address. Assume budget talk.

Putin still rabbiting on to his faithful assembled - the Russian "press" and other Shaun Walker types.
If I understand correctly he said,
I never said that there were no Russian troops in Ukraine. There are Russians carrying out special operations. But there are no regular Russian troops in Ukraine.
Playing with words. Looks like he has admitted that the lie is well and truly out.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/12/17/7092816/
Russian President Vladimir Putin admits that the Russians present at the Donbass, but he denies the presence of regular troops.
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Rather like an expensive lawyer. Change the words round a bit, and a lie becomes the truth.
Although there is a mountain of evidence pointing to regular Russian troops occupying Ukraine. Expect another turn-around of a lie this time next year maybe.

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/vladimir-putin-admits-russian-military-presence-ukraine
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Well - there you have it. EVEN Putin mega-butt-kisser Shaun Walker of the Guardian and Russiaprofile (part of RIA Novosti) has to admit that there are Russian troops in Ukraine. Why? Because his beloved hero, Mr Putin, has said it. Walker has no choice. Not if he wants to keep his Russian visa. He can't accuse Putin of lying. No.
Putin said 100 times that there were no Russian troops in ukraine, and now - he says that there are.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/312151.html
"Next week we might come to an understanding on what the gas price for Ukraine might be," he said.
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Will Ukraine buy, or go to Europe? Pity they can't get gas from Norway.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/312193.html
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My guess - July 01. I hope...

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not consider it appropriate to discontinue transit of Russian gas through Ukraine after 2019, when the contract for gas transit between Russian Gazprom and Ukrainian Naftohaz NJSC expires.

He said during a press conference, Censor.NET informs citing Ukrainski Novyny.

"Yes, I myself heard at the corporate level in the course of fierce debate that someone was saying there: "But we'll stop the transit at all". I'm not sure that it should be done - the cessation of transit through Ukraine," he said.

Putin stressed that the issue of further cooperation between Russia and Ukraine in terms of transit of Russian gas to Europe depended on whether Ukraine would bring its gas transportation system management standards in line with European requirements.

"Everyone demands that the Nord Stream in general and the Nord Stream II in particular meet certain requirements in the future. These requirements are reliability, market-oriented operation of the gas transmission system, legal and administrative control in accordance with the highest standards. Our Ukrainian partners are capable of doing the same things we do together with our European partners on the Nord Stream II. If they turn out to be capable - we will continue working with them, if not - well, we'll see how to deal with it then," Putin said.

censor.net.ua In Russian

A district court in Kyiv has completed consideration of a suit filed by the Justice Ministry against the Communist party, UNIAN reports Dec. 16.

The hearing was attended by Ukraine’s ombudsman for human rights.

The Communist party was involved in actions to topple the constitutional regime in a violent way, destroy the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, promote war propaganda, and fuel interethnic hatred, a Justice Ministry representative said at the hearings.

zik.ua

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg considers Russia to be particularly responsible for the implementation of the agreements reached in Minsk Feb. 12.

He said this at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Censor.NET informs citing Ukrainski Novyny.

Jens Stoltenberg noted that Ukraine had not yet acquired full control over its borders and Russia had not withdrawn all its troops from the territory of the Donbas. He stressed that it was critical for all parties to adhere to their obligations while Russia was to bear special responsibility.

According to Stoltenberg, there was certain progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements earlier, but the number of cease-fire violations has increased lately.

censor.net.ua In Russian

President Vladimir Putin used his annual press conference to try to reassure Russians as slumping oil prices threaten the government's efforts to pull the economy out of recession.

Speaking at the Kremlin before nearly 1,400 Russian and foreign reporters on December 17, Putin also used crude language in a diatribe against the Turkish leadership over the downing of a Russian bomber last month.

However, he used a conciliatory tone at times when addressing Russia's relations with Ukraine and Georgia in the marathon appearance that lasted over three hours.

Putin said Russia was ready to work to improve ties with the United States, saying his talks with Secretary of State John Kerry this week show that Washington is ready to "move toward resolved the issues that can only be resolved through joint efforts."

Putin admitted that Russia's gross domestic product (GDP), incomes, and investment were falling while inflation stands as high as 12.3 percent since the start of the year.

But he added that Russia's economic activity is showing "signs of stabilization."....................




To read further go to this link:   rferl.org

Canadian government officials today handed over certificates to Ukraine interior ministry for 1,359 sets of police uniforms and 1,420 personal video cameras.

The ceremony was attended by Canada’s Ambassador in Ukraine Roman Waschuk and Canadian police officers.

The uniforms and cameras will go to policemen in Uzhgorod, Mukacheve, Lutsk and Dnipropetrovsk.

The gift is only part of the total Canadian government program to help build new police force in Ukraine.

Ambassador Waschuk said he was impressed with the speed of reforming the police in Ukraine.

zik.ua

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed NATO's previous statements about the presence of Russian military specialists in eastern Ukraine.
As reported by Censor.NET citing UNIAN, it was declared by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"Regarding the Russian presence in eastern Ukraine, we have stated again and again that Russia is present with military personnel. And it is based on our own intelligence sources, it's based on open sources, it's based on reports in the media, it's based on reports from non-governmental organizations… But today that's also confirmed by President Putin. He stated that Russia has personnel in eastern Ukraine, and that this personnel - they have conducted military activities, and that's what we normally call soldiers," Stoltenberg said.

Read more: Putin got lost in his testimony of last year, - NSDC Secretary Turchynov

NATO Secretary General called on Russia to comply with the Minsk agreements: withdrawal of heavy weapons, withdrawal of forces, ensuring the cease-fire. As the full implementation of the Minsk agreements is the only way to a peaceful negotiated solution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine, he stressed.

As previously reported, at the annual press conference in Moscow on Dec. 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted the presence of Russian military in eastern Ukraine, who he said were not regular troops.

censor.net.ua In Russian

Successful reforms are good for both Ukraine and European security.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Brussels today, Censor.NET reports referring to the press service of the Alliance.

"Continued progress on reforms and political stability is essential to building a strong, democratic and stable Ukraine. And I urge you to continue on this path. This will be good for Ukraine, and good for European security," Stoltenberg stated.

"Our Trust Funds are helping Ukraine modernise its command and control, cyber, logistics capabilities and other parts of its armed forces. We are advising the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. And Ukraine has shown commitment in implementing ambitious reforms," he added.

As previously reported, the Cabinet approved the Annual National Programme of NATO-Ukraine cooperation in 2016.

censor.net.ua In Russian

The Estonian Defense Forces have recorded another case of the violation of country's airspace by Russian military aircraft.
As reported by Censor.NET citing rus.err.ee, at 00:10 p.m., near the island of Vayndloo in the Gulf of Finland, a Russian An-72 military cargo aircraft entered Estonia's airspace, the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces informed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia summoned a representative of the Russian Embassy to file a note of protest.

The aircraft stayed in the airspace of Estonia for at least one minute. Aircraft transponder was switched on. Plane's crew earlier presented a flight plan according to which the aircraft was supposed to fly in international airspace only.

censor.net.ua In Russian