Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 18 February [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
Putin fires on Ukrainians on 47 separate occasions yesterday.
Update - sadly one soldier died yesterday, 3 wounded.
Samopomch have left the coalition. Coalition now in a minority. 217 votes.
Visa-free laws were passed today in the Rada.
Liashko and Yatseniuk talked for 2 hours yesterday evening. New coalition?!

Weather -
A cool night. -3 now. Probably +2 today, tomorrow. Clear blue sky. Should be a sunny day.

Political games -
continue. Now Tymoshenko trying for a revote on removing Yatseniuk. (by cancelling the first vote.)
More and more articles appearing suggesting oligarchs behind the failure to remove Yatseniuk yesterday.

Footie -
Donetsk play Shalke tonight. Europa League. According to the bbc website, at the Donbass arena.
Somehow - I don't believe this. More likely to be in Lviv.

http://www.unian.ua/politics/1268511-stalo-vidomo-koli-samopomich-ozvuchit-rishennya-pro-podalshe-perebuvannya-u-koalitsiji.html
[today]

07: 31
http://www.unian.ua/politics/1268514-do-radi-vnesli-dva-proekti-pro-povtorne-golosuvannya-za-vidstavku-kabminu-yatsenyuka.html
....Thus, the draft decree №4092 of the cancellation of the vote of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 16 February 2016 ...
===
Because they are only allowed to vote once on the dismissal of the cabinet, they want to cancel the first vote?! Is this legal?! Sounds dodgy to me.
Two resolutions.



Similar here. Note that the signature for the first resolution is Igor, not Yuri Lutsenko. Igor - Tymoshenko block.
http://24tv.ua/u_radi_hochut_shhe_raz_progolosuvati_za_vidstavku_yatsenyuka_n659349

https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/4943-romania-bioteching-poor-beer-for-poor-countries
Commercial beer in Romania and other developing countries is increasingly produced with the aid of little-known biotechnology — industrial enzymes that make beer faster and also allow brewers to use untraditional, lower-cost cereals such as corn or unmalted barley.
These enzymes are used discreetly, without the knowledge of the consumer and unregulated by Romanian authorities. It’s not clear how many beers exploit this biotechnology due to weak labeling and reporting laws, and the refusal of commercial beer producers to acknowledge using industrial enzymes....
====
A long, well written article. Put me off beer, that's for sure.
May apply to much of eastern Europe.

From the same website, this is from December, but in English. I remember a bit about this story, but the detail here - and suspected corruption - is interesting -

Ukraine Toxic Chemical Clean-up Under Investigation
https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/4698-ukraine-toxic-chemical-clean-up-under-investigation
Between 2011 and 2013, an Israeli company called S.I. Group Consort Ltd. won a series of contracts worth more than 1 billion Ukrainian hryvnia (about US$ 125 million at the time) to clean up a hazardous waste sludge pit near the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine.....
But independent tests completed in 2014 and paid for by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) found levels of HCB contamination several thousand times the legal limit—raising the question of what, exactly, S.I. Consort did to clean up the hazardous waste in Kalush....

http://www.unian.info/economics/1268342-naftogaz-to-triple-transit-rate-if-gazprom-doesnt-boost-gas-volumes.html
===
Sounds fair enough to me.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/17/now-we-know-who-really-runs-ukraine/
...Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk rose from his chair,..: “We inherited a plundered country, with the Russian army and Russian boots marching on Ukrainian territory. We had no army, no money, no public administration. But we kept this country together. I ask you to respect that,” he said, clenching his fists. But the speech seemed to fall flat. ....
Moments before the vote, dozens of legislators from a range of parties, all affiliated with powerful oligarchs Rinat Akhmetov, Ihor Kolomoiskiy, and Victor Pinchuk, suddenly left the session floor — they weren’t going to vote against the government. ....
....The second you accept that, and stop seeing Ukrainian politics through the political lens of the developed world, you’ll see what I see: a simple pushback by oligarchs against internationally backed efforts to finally rid the country of the corruption that inspired the Euromaidan....
...clusters of corruption thrive inside almost every party, including that of President Poroshenko, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk, the Opposition Bloc, and others. Further, the various corrupt forces successfully cooperate with each other, even when they are not “formally” allied politically....
...If this charade doesn’t stop, the system will just keep replicating itself without ever changing — and the hopes of yet another Ukrainian revolution will have been betrayed.....
===
Quite an interesting read. Theory, or fact, - or, more likely, part-theory, and part-fact??
Saying the oligarchs - Akhmetov, Pinchuk etc are still running Ukraine.

http://en.censor.net.ua/video_news/374943/they_tried_to_destroy_our_positions_used_blast_charges_not_shrapnel_pervomaiske_came_under_grad_fire

Russian militants employed Grad rocket system to hit Pervomaiske village in the area of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO).

As reported by Censor.NET citing TSN, Ukrainian soldiers near the Donetsk airport demonstrated shell cases, rocket fragments, and craters of human's height to OSCE monitors. As reported, terrorists based in Staromykhailivka fired two volleys of 10 rockets each.

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/374919/poroshenko_received_prosecutor_general_shokins_statement_of_resignation_poroshenko_bloc_faction_leader

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has received the letter of resignation from Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin.

As reported by Censor.NET, this was announced by Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction leader Yurii Lutsenko on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel.

"He has written the letter of resignation. The president met him and received it from him. Before the Verkhovna Rada approves it, he is on a sick leave or on a short vacation, as far as I understand; he is not fulfilling his duties," Lutsenko said.

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/374899/there_can_be_no_political_debate_regarding_visafree_laws_adoption_yatseniuk_says
....Yatseniuk also stressed that amendments countering European Union directives were made to the laws when they were voted in parliament in the first version several weeks ago.
"Therefore it is necessary now to return to the version submitted to the parliament. And positive votes are required tomorrow. Anyone, who votes for the laws on the introduction of visa-free regime in Ukraine actually represents the pro-European democratic forces," he stressed.
"It is high time to remove the artificial political hysteria, stop racing for power, and join efforts in a real struggle for the successful country," Yatseniuk said.
===
Rada deputies have their diplomatic passports, so they have absolutely no interest in a visa-free regime for the people of Ukraine.
Will they vote for this? I doubt it. We will see.

A Ukrainian who testified in the Russian trial of filmmaker Oleh Sentsov and later recanted his testimony has been transferred to a harsh punishment cell and is being denied medical care despite worsening health.

Hennadiy Afanasyev's lawyer told RFE/RL that Afanasyev, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted on charges widely seen as fabricated, had requested a transfer to another facility so he could get treatment for a blood infection, but that has been rejected.

Earlier this month, they moved him to a punishment cell, his lawyer, Aleksandr Popkov, said, after allegedly finding contraband items including a phone SIM card and, earlier, a razor blade. Afanasyev denied the items were his. .......

rferl.org

One day after Russia took Ukraine to a London court over the $3bn bond that Kiev failed to repay in December, its southern neighbour revealed a key aspect of how it plans to legally defend itself. Kiev will argue that the bond was a geopolitical “bribe”.


In comments carried by the state news agency Ukrinform, foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin said:

Of course, we will work in order to prove that it was a bribe in form and content. The fact, that the London court will consider this dispute gives us more opportunities. We are getting ready for it, and all the appropriate messages will be made soon.

A “bond bribe,” you may ask? Here are facts that will likely be brought up by Ukraine to defend its argument in the London trial...............

To read further go to this link:  ft.com

www.bloomberg.com/energy/

Crude Oil & Natural Gas
INDEX UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE CONTRACT TIME (EST) 2 DAY
WTI Crude Oil (Nymex)
USD/bbl. 31.62 +0.96 +3.13% Mar 2016 6:06 AM
Brent Crude (ICE)
USD/bbl. 35.28 +0.78 +2.26% Apr 2016 6:07 AM
Natural Gas (Nymex)
USD/MMBtu 1.93 -0.02 -0.88% Mar 2016 6:07 AM
===
Brent crude over 35 dollars again. But Natural gas is very low now. 1.93.
Anyway, better than the days when it was 120 / barrel ))

The possibility of early elections turned out to be more threatening than a shaky peace with the prime minister and the oligarchs.

The distribution of the factional voting (in the Verkhovna Rada, February 16) has led many observers to see a conspiracy by the oligarchs in favor of the Cabinet.

Indeed, the deputies close to Rinat Akhmetov and Ihor Kolomoisky did not support the dismissal of the government. Even the group RosUkrEnergo, where Yatseniuk is much disliked, was divided. Yuriy Boiko voted “for” and Yevhen Bakulin, for example, did not vote. Dismissal was not supported by the people around Serhiy Lyovochkin and most of the group of the late Ihor Yeremeyev, which, for some time, has not had very positive feelings for the government.....................

To read further go to this link:  euromaidanpress.com

This from www.xe.com 1 minute ago

Hryvnia for one dollar / one euro / one pound
Inverse: 26.2999 29.2045 37.7905

A few days ago it was 27 / 30 / 38.5 but now a little down from the foreign currency point of view.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/17/free-sergei-lavrov-putin-russia-syria/
===
Long long article, basically explaining how Lavrov has been turned - by Putin - into a lying machine.
Rather than creating policy, he now simply presents it.
A couple of sentences -
...But at last weekend’s Munich Security Summit, the usually commanding Lavrov was visibly uncomfortable. He even faced boos and mocking laughter as he tried to sell the world on Russian policy in Ukraine. This isn’t the first time Lavrov has been treated like a punchline: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s chief Russia analyst Brian Whitmore scornfully suggested in January that, given the direction his foreign service career appears to be headed, Lavrov always has a second career as a comedian....
Meanwhile, the country is less popular in the world than ever: Only in Vietnam, Ghana, and China do a majority of people hold favorable opinions of Russia...
— a job that increasingly involves the demoralizing task of telling truly absurd lies —

https://www.irkproc.ru/news/7858.html
The Prosecutor's Office of Irkutsk region
About the results of inspection carried out by the prosecutor's office area in connection with a fire in the penal colony
The prosecutor's office has completed field testing in connection with a fire in the colony, which killed two convicts....
female penal colony number 6.....
...contrary to the Rules of fire safety at the facilities of the institutions and bodies of the FSIN was used for other purposes in the children's camp "Winged" (a fire engine was used for filling the [ice] rink).... [and thereby arrived half-an-hour late, by which time the entire prison wing was on fire.]
===
Only in Russia.
What do they need an ice-rink for in Irkutsk? I've been there. They could just go to Lake Baikal (where Yanukovich Jr drove his jeep through the ice to immortality.)

http://www.unian.info/politics/1268804-rada-committee-proposes-amending-visa-free-legislation-contrary-to-eu-requirements.html
====
Looks like normal Ukrainians will NOT get visa-free travel.
The debuties, of course, have their diplomatic passports. They don't care one little bit.

The inaction of the Yatseniuk's government, according to Poroshenko Bloc leader, has ruined the coalition.

He stated this on the sidelines of the Verkhovna Rada, Censor.NET informs.

"The Verkhovna Rada demonstrates it can make important decisions. However, we need a parliamentary majority for this work to be stable... I want to say it once again, Poroshenko Bloc and all other factions do not deem it possible to cooperate with the current Cabinet under existing format. Nevertheless, Poroshenko Bloc will not withdraw from the coalition, regardless of any appeals. The coalition agreement is the reason why we came to the parliament. Still, we do not believe that the current composition of the Yatseniuk's Cabinet is capable of solving these tasks. Its inactivity has actually ruined this coalition... Yatseniuk has two options: either offering a new format of the Cabinet along with precise monthly plan of reforms or resigning. We expect him to take one of the two decisions," Lutsenko said, noting that the prime minister has three weeks to think everything over.

If Yatseniuk fails to come up with a decision and provide an action plan, Lutsenko does not rule out that the parliament may re-vote the no confidence motion.

"I do not rule out re-voting the resignation of the prime minister, which will lead to dismissal of the entire Cabinet of Ministers," he said.

censor.net.ua In Russian

http://www.unian.info/world/1268693-eu-breaks-taboo-on-russian-forces-in-ukraine.html
The EU has broken its taboo on referring to Russian forces in east Ukraine in its official documents, according to EUobserver.
It said in its Official Journal on Monday, February 16, that Russian deputy defense minister Anatoly Antonov is being added to its blacklist because he is "involved in supporting the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine," EUobserver reported....
It also listed Andrei Kartapolov, a senior Russian military commander, for being "involved in shaping and implementing the military campaign of the Russian forces in Ukraine."
The text in the legal gazette is signed by EU foreign relations chief Federica Mogherini....
===
Wow. The EU not telling Putin's lies. There is hope yet. But not much...

Ukraine is moving fast toward the early parliamentary elections, a heavyweight member of the BPP (Poroshenko Block) faction said, addressing a Rada session Feb. 17.

Commenting on Feb. 16 vote of no-confidence in Arseny Yatseniuk’s cabinet, she stressed the number of votes cast to recognize the cabinet’s 2015 track record as bad (more than the simple majority) and the number cast for the no-confidence vote (40 votes fewer).

“Why didn’t these 40 lawmakers vote?” she asked.

She called the vote a put-up scenario, noting that BPP, like other parties, played a unattractive role in it.

Herashchenko says Rada is headed for a serious political crisis, moving fast toward the early elections.

zik.ua

Two draft resolutions - on abolishing the results of voting for the resignation of the government and appointing a new vote - have been registered in the parliament.

Censor.NET reports citing Liga.

The first resolution (4092) has been introduced by non-affiliated deputies Dmytro Dobrodomov, Oleh Musii, and Bohdan Matkovskyi, as well as Poroshenko Bloc faction MP Andrii Antonyshchak.

The second one (4093) comes from deputies Olena Sotnyk (Samopomich) and Ihor Lutsenko (Batkivshchyna).

Both documents were registered on Feb. 17.

As previously reported, following the report by Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk in the Verkhovna Rada, deputies recognized the work of the Cabinet to be unsatisfactory but failed to vote for the motion of nonconfidence in the government.

censor.net.ua In Russian

http://lb.ua/news/2016/02/18/328264_samopomoshch_vishla_koalitsii.html
The faction is ready to vote for those bills, which considers good.
The faction political party "Samopomich" has decided to withdraw from the coalition.
This decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the party leadership on Thursday, said the head of the faction Oleg Berezyuk at a briefing.
On Wednesday, the coalition left "Batkivshina." Thus, the two factions that remain in the parliamentary majority (Block Poroshenko and the "Popular Front"), account for 217 deputies with a minimum of 226. Coalition "European Ukraine", formed at the end of 2014, legally ceased to exist.
If within a month from the moment of the collapse of the coalition of the new majority is not formed, the President will have the right to dissolve the parliament. However, this right he can not use. Petro Poroshenko has said that dissolve parliament as a last resort. In addition, "the Radical Party, Oleg Lyashko" declared its readiness on Thursday to take part in the formation of a new coalition with the BPP and NP. Together, these fractions will total 238 deputies.
====
I watched an interview with Yuri Lutsenko about 10 minutes ago on 112 channel.
He was asked about a possible coalition with Liashko - and he said ... something like,
"Liashko comes, and he goes. Who knows?" And laughed. Suggesting Liashko is not serious.

15:17
http://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-regions/1968000-gumkonvoj-priviz-na-donbas-prostrocenu-tusonku.html
....And meat and canned fish are past due as specified production date in 2012 with a term of 2 years. ...
====
Putin sparing no expense for the people of Donbass. ))

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/02/18/7099488/?attempt=1
===
As I understand it, the Rada altered the bill to protect 3rd parties who steal things. Only in Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the Ukrainian authorities to continue on the path of reforms and implementation of the Minsk agreements.

As reported by Censor.NET referring to DW, he said this on Wednesday, Feb. 17, in Berlin, after a meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström.

According to Steinmeier, succeeding in this task is hardly possible without a functioning government.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada has recently failed to dismiss the government, although it recognized its work unsatisfactory. A few hours before the vote, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko urged Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk to reboot the government.

On Feb. 17, Batkivshchyna leader Yuliia Tymoshenko announced withdrawal from the parliamentary coalition, while Yatseniuk stressed the need to reshape the coalition.

censor.net.ua In Russian

A group of American soldiers will arrive to Yavoriv, the Lviv region, in March this year to train their Ukrainian counterparts within the Fearless Guardian training program.

This was announced by U.S. Ambassador in Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt at the '16' security and defense forum, Censor.NET informs citing 112 TV channel.

The Ambassador said he was looking towards the following month, when soldiers of the 3rd battalion from Fort Stewart, Georgia, would arrive in Yavoriv, the Lviv region, to continue the second rotation of the Fearless Guardian training with the purpose of aiding Ukraine to enhance its defense capabilities," he said.

Pyatt reminded that the first rotation of Yavoriv drills was completed last week - 500 Ukrainian soldiers have passed the nine-week training program under U.S., European and other foreign trainers.

censor.net.ua In Russian

Today, Chechnya’s Ramzan Kadyrov is “the face of the Russian political class, the institutional basis of which is the union of the special services and the criminal world which arose already in the 1990s in St. Petersburg” — and thus represents a leading indicator of the direction in which Vladimir Putin is taking Russia, according to Denis Sokolov.

In today’s “Vedomosti,” the senior researcher at the Russian Academy of Economics and State Service argues that Kadyrov has achieved this status by his intuitive understanding of the implications of the rise of the security services, growing official opposition to dissent, and willingness to act in ways others are not..................

To read further go to this link:  euromaidanpress.com

Yesterday Batkivshina (Tymoshenko's party) left the coalition.
Today Samopomich left it also.

Two parties are now left in the coalition - Block Poroshenko and the "Popular Front".
Between them they have 217 seats.
There are suggestions that these parties are in talks with Liashko. Together they would make 238 seats.
If there is no new coalition within a month the President can, if he wishes, dissolve parliament.

However, Samopomich have said that they will support bills they approve of.
Also - there are 50 unattached deputies. And some other smaller parties also that might vote for certain things.
I have also read that BPP have given Yatseniuk 3 weeks in which to come up with a plan, or resign. (see post below)

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/375001/poroshenko_bloc_not_to_quit_coalition_yatseniuk_has_three_weeks_to_make_responsible_decision_mp_yurii
....Yatseniuk has two options: either offering a new format of the Cabinet along with precise monthly plan of reforms, or resigning. We expect him to take one of the two decisions," Lutsenko said, noting that the prime minister has three weeks to think everything over....

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted a decision on the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the parliaments of foreign states, parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Parliament demands from the Russian Federation to stop actions, which are directly or indirectly aimed at financing of illegal armed groups on its territory and in the territory of Ukraine, the delivery of military equipment, weapons, organization of logistic support, training and financing of terrorists, as well as to fully implement the requirements of the Resolution of the UN General Assembly of March 27, 2014 titled "Territorial integrity of Ukraine," the provisions of the Minsk agreements and complex measures for their implementation of February 12, 2015..................

To read further go to this link:  unian.info

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/375061/concerted_efforts_of_samopomich_and_batkivshchyna_work_in_russias_favor_ukraine_will_not_survive_early
..."It's a pity that two political parties have decided to coordinate their efforts to hasten the early parliamentary elections, but we see that the coalition works, the bills are adopted," Burbak said and expressed confidence that Rada would pass all the bills necessary for the introduction of visa-free regime with the EU today after 4 p.m. ...
===
We will see if the bills are passed.

Live now on Rada tv. Probably on other channels also.

Several bills, nothing getting more than 100 votes at the moment.
Tymoshenko, covered in makeup, is looking very happy with herself.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/02/18/7099523/
The Council adopted the last act of "visa-free package"
18:17
Thursday, February 18, 2016, 18:28
Parliament adopted amendments to the Law on Agency for the return and management of illegally derived assets. Thus, BP completed the adoption of the presidential package "visa-free" laws.
Changes to the Law on Agency supported 261 MP, the correspondent of "European truth."
All three bills, including the Agency adopted in the wording which required the EU. The last bill gives the Agency much broader rights to manage those assets that have been seized or confiscated because of their illegal origin.
Also, the agency has the right to sell seized property if it is prolonged storage leads to a decrease in the value of assets. Agency officials Salary will depend on the efficiency of its operations (income from the return of illegally derived assets)....

===
It brought a "hurrah" from Groisman, the speaker. He seemed very happy about this. He raised his arms in the air as he left the podium.
Currently live of Rada tv and Kanal 5.
I think... I think that is it for the visa free package laws. They passed the other one I think with 252 votes an hour earlier. But I am not 100% sure. I hope so.

Found this
Rada adopted a law on visa without controversial amendments
За прийняття закону 4054 проголосували 252 народні депутати.
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/02/18/7099513/
So I think that is it.
Here in English (but not the best of translations - )
Rada passes special confiscation bill from "visa-free" package in second reading
http://www.unian.info/politics/1269479-rada-passes-special-confiscation-bill-from-visa-free-package-in-second-reading.html
...aimed to improve the procedures of the seizure of property and special confiscation (registration No. 4054).
This bill scored 252 votes from 336 lawmakers registered in the session hall....

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/02/18/7099506/
16:21
Meeting Yatsenyuk and Lyashko on a new coalition lasted 2 hours - sources
Thursday, February 18, 2016, 16:29
Radical Party leader Oleg Lyashko on Wednesday evening met Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman Arseniy Avakov, MIA and NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov on reformatting the coalition.
This "Ukrainian Pravda" reported by multiple sources.
The meeting lasted two hours - from about 20:00 to 22:00.
As noted by the source, the impossibility of meeting the destabilization program, change the coalition agreement.
Lyashko himself in the commentary UP said: "We have met with many of yesterday. From the prime minister I spoke with the president, the head of BP, I was leader of the opposition factions to work I meet dozens of people."
When asked Lyashko said that Poroshenko spoke with on the phone and maybe meet with him Thursday.
===
Sounds interesting.

In January 2016 real disposable cash incomes of Russians dropped by 52.2% compared with December 2015, according to a report on the socio-economic situation in Russia, published by Rosstat.

In annual terms, the decline in real incomes of the population of Russia amounted to 6.3%. Average monthly wages, according to the preliminary estimate, amounted to about 32 thousand. Rub. (431.261 USD), Showing an increase of 3.1% compared to the same period of 2015.

At the same time wages, adjusted for inflation was at 6.1% lower yoy and by 26.7% in comparison with December 2015.

Total wage arrears on February 1, 2016 has reached 4 billion 332 million rubles., Which is 760 million rubles. more than in January 1, 2016.

glavcom.ua In Russian

President Petro Poroshenko has signed the law №0080, providing for the ratification of the agreement between the governments of Ukraine and Japan to allocate $ 300 million loan. This was reported on the website of the Verkhovna Rada.

The funds are going to send in the development of policies and economic reforms.

The maturity of the loan is 20 years and a grace period on the loan - 6 years.

Payments to repay the loan is planned to be twice a year - 20 June and 20 December.

Recall February 4, Parliament ratified this agreement.

glavcom.ua In Russian

International rating Standard & Poor's agency predicts preservation of the weak position of Russian banks in 2016, according to RNS with reference to the press-service agency.

"We predict that in 2016 banks' profitability will remain weak, and we believe that in 2014-2015 the ability of many shareholders to provide support to banks in the form of additional capital decreased due to the unfavorable macroeconomic situation in Russia, continuing for a long time" - told the agency.

Analysts also noted that the Bank of Russia will try to avoid a rapid increase in the requirements for capital adequacy indicators of banks and may begin to gradually introduce any changes to such requirements.

glavcom.ua In Russian

The faction "Block Petro Poroshenko," wants the post of Deputy Minister of Justice has taken the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Oleksiy Filatov. It is reported by "RBK-Ukraine", citing a source in the "Popular Front".

"They (BPP - Ed.) Want Filatov (the post of the Minister of Justice, - Ed.)" - Said the agency.

Earlier, one of the deputies BPP told the news agency that the faction dissatisfied with the work of Justice Minister Pavel Petrenko, who was appointed to the Cabinet by the quota "Popular Front".

glavcom.ua In Russian

President Petro Poroshenko had a telephone conversation with US Vice President Joseph Biden. It is reported by the press service of the Head of State.

Poroshenko informed about the deterioration of the situation in the Donbass, in particular an increase in the number of attacks and the use of multiple rocket launching systems controlled by Russian militants and their activation in Marinka area.

Vice President Biden condemned the deteriorating situation and assured the immutability of Washington's position in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Poroshenko also drew attention to the successful support of the parliament made the president of the visa-free laws, in particular concerning the fight against corruption.

The two sides agreed on the importance of the continuation of reforms in Ukraine in the context of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund and other international financial institutions.

glavcom.ua In Russian

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine urges the Russian Federation to ensure access of observers of the OSCE special monitoring mission to all areas beyond the control of Kiev of the Ukrainian-Russian state border. This is stated in the comments the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, who on Thursday extended the press office of the Foreign Ministry.

"The Foreign Ministry supports the monitoring activities SMM for the implementation of the Minsk agreement package and once again urges the Russian Federation to take all steps to ensure unimpeded access and freedom of movement of the observer mission in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, including all sections of the Ukrainian-Russian state border, which are temporarily controlled by the government of Ukraine ", - said in a commentary.

To read further go to this link:  glavcom.ua

Highlighted by the US government 200 thousand dollars for personnel renewal and reform of the prosecution system in Ukraine has not been credited to the General Prosecutor's Office. This statement was made public the press service of the party "Block Petro Poroshenko."

"Around 50 people's deputies from different factions, including those from the faction" Block Petro Poroshenko, "signed a letter of appeal to the Senate of the United States of America, to Senator Robert Jones Portman, a member of the US Senate Committee on National Security and Government Affairs , the budget for the financial and economic issues, on energy and natural resources, in which they expressed concern over the use of funds allocated by the United States, for the purpose of human resource renewal and reform of the prosecution system of Ukraine ", - the report says.

According to the statement, 200 thousand US dollars for staffing competitions, in particular, the development of specific tests for the reform of the prosecutor's office, on account of the GPU and not received. In addition, there are no documents confirming the transfer of such tests General Prosecutor's Office.

"In his address MPs have asked the United States Senate and the senator to address to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine with a request to provide comprehensive information, whether the information actually uncollected funds in its accounts. And also to find out what the results of an official investigation by the General Prosecutor's Office, which conducted an investigation into this matter, and by whom were these funds disbursed ", - the press service of the BPP.




glavcom.ua In Russian

Lugansk militants detained their "colleagues" from the "DNR", who tried to defect and surrender to the Ukrainian military. This «Informator» said an informed source in the headquarters of ATO.

"Lugansk militia detained the commander of a platoon of the so-called" DNR Department of Defense "with the call sign" Pete "and another thriller with the call sign" Miner "from the same division. Militants "LC" caught them in the extreme checkpoint Luhansk region for attempting to give the APU. Both militants were sober and moving in a service car to the nearest positions ATO forces. Now they are in a "military commander" Lugansk, "- said in a statement.

glavcom.ua In Russian

First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Andrei Paruby convinced that in August, the Ukrainians will be able to travel without visas. As reported by "UNIAN" , this Paruby said before closing today's session of the Verkhovna Rada.

"Today is a big day in the history of Parliament, today a great day in the history of Ukraine. We finally were able to put the last point in the adoption of "visa-free" anti-corruption laws, "- said Paruby.

He stressed that he was made a great decisive step towards visa-free regime.

"I am convinced that in August, our citizens are no longer able to travel abroad without a visa, and feel free people in a free world," - said Paruby.

glavcom.ua In Russian

This thread now continued for Friday at
https://ukraine-english-news.forumotion.com/t2242-ukraine-crisis-news-in-brief-friday-19-february-ukrainian-sources
or go to
https://ukraine-english-news.forumotion.com/
and select Ukraine news