Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 19 January. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

Please scroll to view news items added during the day.

NEWS:
"Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory and meddle in Ukrainian affairs," - Obama. Russia has explained the impossibility of a big deal between Putin and Trump. Trump's pick for ambassador to UN Haley says US can't trust Russia.  Russia continues to arm militants Donbas - US Mission to the OSCE.  Premier of the Netherlands and European Commission President in Davos staged a violent dispute.  Most Russians support the decriminalization of beatings in the family.

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South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley pledged Wednesday at her confirmation hearing to voice U.S. leadership in the world and stand up to Russia if approved as Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

"When America fails to lead, the world becomes a more dangerous place. And when the world becomes more dangerous, the American people become more vulnerable," Haley told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Censor.NET reports citing USA Today.

When asked about Russia, Haley was unequivocal. "Russia is trying to show its muscle," she said. "We cannot trust them and need to continue to be cautious."

"We need to continue to be strong back, show what this administration will be," she said. "We are not OK with what happened in Ukraine and Crimea and what is happening in Syria. But we do need their help in ISIS," she said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.

Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the committee, asked if Russia has any legitimacy in Ukraine's Crimea province, and whether she supports sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine.

Haley agreed that Crimea is part of Ukraine and not Russia. "We have to make that very clear to them," she said. "Russia has to make positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia."

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

US Delegation to the OSCE said Russia continues to arm, train and fight militants on its side of Donbas.

This was reported on Twitter in sramnytse US Mission to the OSCE.

It is noted that Russia again seeks to play the role of victim, shifting the blame on Ukraine for the conflict in the Donbass, which she began and continues to kindle. Also stresses that Russia refuses to take responsibility for the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine and continues to lie about his current role in military operations.

United States Mission to the OSCE reminded the members of the organization in December reported a high number of ambulances and funeral vehicles with bodies of Russian soldiers.

"The direct involvement of Russia in the Ukrainian conflict continues today. The US and European sanctions against Russia for aggression in eastern Ukraine left Russia to fully implement the Minsk agreements," - said the US mission to the OSCE.

Moscow continues to arm, train, and fight alongside separatists in eastern Ukraine.

— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) January 19, 2017

At #OSCE today, #Russia again seeking to play the victim, shift blame to #Kyiv for the conflict it started & continues to fuel in #Ukraine

— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) January 19, 2017

US @ #OSCE PC: #Russia refuses to take responsibility for starting #Ukraine conflict, continues to lie about ongoing role in the fighting

— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) January 19, 2017

In Dec., #OSCE Observer Mission reported high # of ambulances & funerary vehicles, incl. w/ signage that Russian mil casualties on-board.

— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) January 19, 2017

Direct #Russian involvement in the #Ukraine conflict has continued up to the present day.

— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) January 19, 2017

U.S. and European #sanctions against #Russia for aggression in eastern #Ukraine will remain until Russia fully implements Minsk commitments

— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) January 19, 2017

As reported, "Apostrophe", Ukrainian diplomat explained why Russia agreed to armed OSCE mission in Donbas.

apostrophe.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Russia took away Crimea and continues to interfere in the affairs of Ukraine and support militants in the country's east.

U.S. President Barack Obama said at his final press conference, Censor.NET reports.



"I did what I could to encourage Russia to be a constructive member of the international community. After President Putin came back into the presidency, an escalating anti-American rhetoric and an approach to global affairs that seemed to be premised on the idea that whatever America is trying to do must be bad for Russia and so we want to try and counteract whatever they do - that return to an adversarial spirit that I think existed during the Cold War has made the relationship more difficult," Obama said.

"And it was hammered home when Russia went into Crimea and portions of Ukraine. The reason we imposed the sanctions was not because of nuclear weapons issues. It was because the independence and sovereignty of a country, Ukraine, had been encroached upon, by force, by Russia. That wasn't our judgment; that was the judgment of the entire international community.

"And Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory and meddle in Ukrainian affairs and support military surrogates who have violated basic international law and international norms. What I've said to the Russians is, as soon as you've stopped doing that the sanctions will be removed," the U.S. president said.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Faction independent MP Nadiia Savchenko says she made no statements that Ukraine could peacefully regain control over the occupied Donbas only by surrendering Crimea to Russia.

She said at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense, Censor.NET reports citing 112 Ukraine TV channel.

"I have never said that Crimea should be surrendered. It has already been yielded up. I want to prevent the people from being deceived by those shouting to them from high rostrums that they did not surrender Crimea. It was actually yielded up in 2014," Savchenko said.

Earlier on Jan. 17, Savchenko said that peaceful liberation of the Donbas would lead to Crimea surrender: "If this is done in a peaceful way, over Russia's inability to resist sanctions, this will definitely cause a surrender of Crimea. For a certain period, and then, as always, it will be indefinitely postponed."

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Faction independent MP Nadiia Savchenko held a press briefing following the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense.

As reported by correspondent for Censor.NET, the briefing was held outside the building of the Verkhovna Rada Committee in Kyiv.



Savchenko called illegal the Committee's decision to revoke her membership.

"The Procedure Committee (Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine - Ed.) explained that neither the Law of Ukraine "On the Verkhovna Rada Committees" nor "On status of people's deputy" have no regulations for expulsion of a rank-and-file member. However, there are such regulations regarding the committee head, secretary and deputy. Therefore, today's decision of the committee is illegal," the lawmaker said.

As reported, the members of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense upheld a resolution to revoke Savchenko's membership in the Committee on Jan. 17.

Earlier on Jan. 17, Savchenko said that peaceful liberation of the Donbas would lead to Crimea surrender: "If this is done in a peaceful way, over Russia's inability to resist sanctions, this will definitely cause a surrender of Crimea. For a certain period, and then, as always, it will be indefinitely postponed."

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

One reason for the sharp cooling in relations between the White House and the Kremlin under President Barack Obama was that Russian President Vladimir wants an agreement with the US on the distribution of spheres of influence.

Such an opinion in an interview with "apostrophe" expressed the Russian political scientist, doctor of historical sciences and senior fellow at Brookings Institution Lilia Shevtsova.

According to her, the Kremlin wants to achieve an agreement on the US 's right in its sole discretion to interpret the principles and standards of politics and international relations, have their national sovereignty, territorial interference and so on. In addition, Putin wants Russia recognized superpower, including in the energy sector, and to recognize Ukraine recognize the sphere of influence of the Kremlin.

But now the US president will be Donald Trump and it dramatically changes the balance of power, says Shevtsova.

"Trump is not one of those who goes on delivery positions. Trump himself wants overwhelming superiority in all transactions that it undertakes. Trump himself is a key actor in any show and not take anyone else. That can hardly be a basis for its favorable relations with Putin. Therefore, the question intemperance agreement rests on the Kremlin's ambitions, from which it can not retreat,"- said the analyst.

She stressed that Putin any retreat - a loss of face, especially before elections.

"It is unclear what Trump can promise in return. Given the fact that Trump also wants to realize his idea of ​​the United States in spite of everything. He is also likely to be inclined to stomp on the international scene, so to speak, iron boots. So this very agreement is a lot of doubt. and because of contradictory agendas, and because of differences of Russian and American relations, and most individuals Trump and Putin"- summed Shevtsova.

In an interview with "apostrophe" Lilia Shevtsova also spoke about how the US will work with China and Russia to be able to isolate itself from the world.

apostrophe.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Rutte contested Schultz

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte believes that continued even closer integration of the EU is not possible. He said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, writes "Derkalo week".

Chairman of the Dutch government stressed that the idea is now in the past. And instead of trying to push the country closer to EU integration should start working hard to become more functional in the current format. "We have to work harder to create jobs, revive the economy, the problem of migration. Here's what to Europeans from the EU ", - he said.

With enough emotional Rutte disagreed Commission President Martin Schulz. He recalled how once German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and French President Francois Mitterrand, despite the differences in their political views, declared that the EU protects the interests of both Germany and France and all other member countries. "Now every day in Brussels to meet European budivlenyu people who declare that came to defend the interests of their countries to the EU, the same union that previously defended them," - he stressed.

Schultz added that this is a very dangerous trend, which reinforces the fact that EU leaders are increasingly blamed for all the troubles just association. Schulz stressed that Brussels has as much power as he give member countries. "What I want from European leaders, it is that they finally remembered why this alliance was created. For Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande, you, Mark and the rest came out and said loudly: we now have to stick together like never before. And I am sure that you are in my heart too convinced of this"- emotionally appealing Schultz.

"No, I'm not sure - said Rutte - Mention history to determine future - this is a very unreliable way. And what you say is the fastest and easiest way to divide the EU. We need to start from pragmatic interests ", - he said.

glavcom.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Beating in Russian families - not uncommon

Most Russians (59%) were in favor of supporting yideyi mitigation of sentence - translated from the category of criminal to administrative offenses - in beating relatives. These were the data survey Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM).

Against this approach stand only 33% of Russians.

According to the survey results, the positive effect of the law on decriminalization of beating the expected 41% - in their view, the number of cases of domestic violence will decrease. "On the contrary, deterioration expected 13%, and 40% believe that major changes will not happen", - noted in VTsIOM.

As the survey, beating a Russian families - not a rarity: a third of respondents (33%) reported that such incidents occurred in the families of their friends, and one in ten (10%) personally encountered this in my family.

As reported, January 11, Russian State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill on decriminalization beating relatives.

Recall, December 29, Putin signed a law regulating the use of physical force, special means and firearms prison staff, prisoners, also known as the "law of sadists."

According to the document, officers can use special means the termination of any violations of the hold, blocking the movement of groups of prisoners and "other illegal acts that disrupt the activities of" correctional institution. The law eliminates the concept of "evil" resistance and disobedience prisoner employee Federal Penitentiary Service. The bill also appeared on demand "urgent" call to the doctor convicted after the use of force, special means and weapons.

glavcom.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

The ex-president believes that the GPU has not provided any evidence of his guilt in the shooting of the Maidan for three years.

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukokovich going to provide new information Ukrainian investigation of the crimes on the Maidan, and intends to initiate on the subject international investigation , reports RIA Novosti.

He noted that the Prosecutor General's Office for three years, did not provide the public a single proof of his guilt in the death of people on the Maidan.

When asked why he does not want to provide proof of Ukrainian investigators, fugitive ex-president said that we are talking about new evidence.

"We're going to pass a number of documents Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, but the key witnesses are worried about their safety and are not willing to testify Ukrainian investigators. Since three years Ukrainian investigation did not dare to give a truthful answer to the question of who shot the people, I will turn to international organizations and foreign States with the demand for an international independent investigation into this tragedy", - said Yanukovych.

Recall that Yanukovych fled from Kiev on the night of February 22, 2014, and soon finally left the Ukraine. Law enforcers suspect Yanukovych's involvement in mass killings of protesters during euromaidan, gosizmenene, abuse of power and a number of other crimes.

segodnya.ua , In Russian / На русском

Russian President Vladimir Putin will establish a political distance with the US against China, pushed by US President-elect Donald Trump, because it does not correspond to Russian state interests.

This is a Russian political scientist, Ph.D., Senior Fellow Brookings Institution Lilia Shevtsova said in an interview with "apostrophe".

According to her, US President-elect Donald Trump intends to establish cooperation with Russia axis against China.

However, participation in the US-Chinese conflict is not a priority for Russia.

"Not in the interests of Moscow trigger aggression of China, the big neighbor on its borders - the longest border with China," - said Lilia Shevtsova.

That is why Russian President Vladimir Putin will try to distance themselves from the conflict in the future.

apostrophe.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

One reason for the sharp cooling in relations between the White House and the Kremlin under President Barack Obama was that Russian President Vladimir wants an agreement with the US on the distribution of spheres of influence.

Such an opinion in an interview with "apostrophe" expressed the Russian political scientist, doctor of historical sciences and senior fellow at Brookings Institution Lilia Shevtsova.

According to her, the Kremlin wants to achieve an agreement on the US 's right in its sole discretion to interpret the principles and standards of politics and international relations, have their national sovereignty, territorial interference and so on. In addition, Putin wants Russia recognized superpower, including in the energy sector, and to recognize Ukraine recognize the sphere of influence of the Kremlin.

But now the US president will be Donald Trump and it dramatically changes the balance of power, says Shevtsova.

"Trump is not one of those who goes on delivery positions. Trump himself wants overwhelming superiority in all transactions that it undertakes. Trump himself is a key actor in any show and not take anyone else. That can hardly be a basis for its favorable relations with Putin. Therefore, the question intemperance agreement rests on the Kremlin's ambitions, from which it can not retreat, "- said the analyst.

She stressed that Putin any retreat - a loss of face, especially before elections.

"It is unclear what Trump can promise in return. Given the fact that Trump also wants to realize his idea of ​​the United States in spite of everything. He is also likely to be inclined to stomp on the international scene, so to speak, iron boots. So this very agreement is a lot of doubt. and because of contradictory agendas, and because of differences of Russian and American relations, and most individuals Trump and Putin "- summed Shevtsova.

apostrophe.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові