Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Wednesday 12 April. [Ukrainian sources]

WEDNESDAY

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NEWS:
In Russia told that would end the war in Ukraine. In the State Department explained Tillerson scandalous issue of Ukraine. Putin responded to the ultimatum on Syria Tillerson.  Gorbachev Russians upset about the "big deal" between Putin and Trump.  Trump on Syria: If Putin did not support this "animal," there would be no problem.  "We want to relieve suffering of Syrian people," - Tillerson to propose Russia siding with US allies or maintain alliance with Syria, Iran.  Russian MPs propose allowing police to use lethal force against protesters.  Russia demands clarity from US on its Syria policy.

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Russian historian Andrei Zubov said that to end the war in Donbas can only change of power in Russia.

This opinion was expressed in an interview Zubov Lyha.net .

He believes that sanctions will not force Russia to stop the war, they can make up to feel its price. Zubov indicates that Putin эhotsentryk big and thinks only of himself, how to show themselves steadfast and always win. This explains historian "complex little man."

The historian said that under the pressure of sanctions policy of not changing Putin sends his friends financial assets, such as the abolition of taxes so they can live as before, and the rest falls on the people who are very unhappy with this.

According to Zubov, the only way to stop the war in Ukraine - is any way to remove Putin from power. He believes that democratic government stop the war in Ukraine, will return to Minsk II and run fast solve the problem of the occupied Crimea.

As reported by "Apostrophe" Zubov said that now Putin will not escalate the situation in the Donbass.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

State Department spokesman Robert Hammond explained why US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson set at a summit in Italy of foreign ministers of the "big seven" questions about why the US should worry about the difficulties in Ukraine.

It is reported by Bloomberg.

Hammond called scandalous question Tillerson "rhetorical devices".

The publication noted that the issue Tillerson certainly have caused to European officials fear that Trump could weaken sanctions against Russia, and Ukraine could return to the Russian sphere of influence.

Recall, the question Tillerson said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Tillerson has spoken for maintaining sanctions against Russia.

As reported by "Apostrophe", former Foreign Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Ohryzko Tillersonu advised to read the UN Charter, the Budapest Memorandum and look at the map of Europe.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Ukrainian military test missile launches conducted with the aim to test a mobile command post. Posted videos of these tests.

Mobile command post equipped with secure confidential audio - video, drones and comprehensive video surveillance system. This command allows you to manage and analyze complex situations as the Head of situational center the National Security Council and other protected center.



In testing took part Secretary of National Security and Defense Alexander Turchinov, who personally tried to manage the testing of rocket launchers protected command center.

Previously, "Apostrophe" reported, there were photos and video of the planned test launches that have been developed by joint efforts of the SC "Ukroboronprom" and the State Space Agency of Ukraine.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

U.S. President Donald Trump believes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is backing an "animal" in Syria. Nevertheless, the United States has no plans to launch a military operation there.
Trump said in an interview with Fox News, Censor.NET reports.

"Putin is backing a person that's truly an evil person, and I think it's very bad for Russia, I think it's very bad for mankind, it's very bad for this world. But when you drop gas, or bombs, or barrel bombs ... and they drop them right in the middle of a group of people, after which we see the same kids with no arms, no legs, no face ... This is an animal," said Trump speaking about Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.

If the Russian Federation did not support the Assad regime, Trump said, not problem would be there.

On April 7, U.S. warships launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian government airbase following a chemical airstrike in the province of Idlib blamed on President Assad.

U.S. envoy to the U.N. Nikki Haley said the attack on the Shayrat airfield was "fully justified." Washington threatened Assad with new strikes on military targets in Syria if such a need arises.

At least 80 civilians died in the air attack on the town in rebel-held Idlib province prompting an international outcry. The United States accuses the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of using chlorine gas mixed with a highly toxic sarin-like nerve agent in an air attack. UNICEF confirmed at least 27 children had been killed in the attack in Idlib.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Members of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (United Russia party) Vasily Piskarev and Ernest Valeev have registered a bill that stipulates granting permission to the police officers to use firearms against participants of unauthorized demonstrations.

As reported by Censor.NET citing BBC, the lawmakers propose to use lethal force "in order to prevent (avert) terrorist attacks, release hostages, repel an armed attack on critical infrastructure facilities, buildings, premises, government buildings and premises."

Such powers were earlier conferred on the members of the Federal Security Service and Federal National Guard Troops Service.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Tillerson in Moscow for first substantial talks since US strikes against Assad regime

Russia demanded clarity on Washington’s policy on Syria on Wednesday in its first substantial talks with the Trump administration following the US missile strikes against the regime of Bashar al-Assad last week.

Addressing Rex Tillerson on his inaugural visit to Moscow as US secretary of state, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said: “It is very important for us to understand your position, the position of the US, the real intentions of your administration.”

Donald Trump’s election as US president was widely welcomed in government circles in Moscow last year. But the Kremlin has watched with caution as the White House battled domestic suspicions over its growing friendship with Russia and Mr Trump struggled in setting out a clear course on foreign policy.

The US Tomahawk strike against a Syrian air base in response to a deadly chemical attack blamed on the Assad regime drastically heightened tensions with Russia, which backs Mr Assad. The military action triggered fears in the Kremlin of a full-scale US entry into the Syrian war.

On Wednesday Mr Lavrov said Moscow considered it “fundamentally important not to allow” further unilateral US strikes on Syria.

Conflicting statements from US officials on Washington’s priorities and intentions in the conflict have deepened Moscow’s apprehension.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said relations with the US worsened under Mr Trump. “One could say that the level of trust on the working level, especially on the military level, has not improved but rather deteriorated,” he said in a television interview broadcast on Wednesday..........................

Access complete text of the editorial:  ft.com In English

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow Tuesday following his Monday's claim that Washington has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Assosiated Press, Tillerson is set to deliver Russia an ultimatum: Side with the U.S. and likeminded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad.

"We cannot let this happen again," Tillerson said of the chemical attack.

"We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance" with Syria and Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately showed that he wouldn't back down, saying Russia knew about planned "provocations" to blame Syria's government for using chemical weapons. He said the U.N. should first investigate the attack.

"It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq," Putin told reporters on Tuesday. "We have seen it all already."

Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. It's unclear if Putin and Tillerson will meet.

Before heading to Russia, Tillerson told reporters that Moscow had either failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had been incompetent. But, he said, the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead."

It wasn't clear what the punishment would be for a Russian government that has used its military might to help Assad and his array of allies score a series of battlefield successes in their six-year war with Syrian opposition groups.

Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks." It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the U.S.-Russian relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage."

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Statement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Russia must choose between Syrian President Bashar Assad and the United States - is not a serious political proposal, but merely "play muscles" before the start of negotiations. This was stated by spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova, the radio station "Vesti FM" .

According to her statement Tillerson is not an ultimatum but a political statement, which is "in line with the approach of Washington."

"For history and Russian and world history repeatedly affirmed that we are not ultimatums," - said Zakharov.

Recall that before the visit to Moscow, US Secretary of State said that Russia should consider whether the alliance with Iran and Assad long term and whether it serves the interests of the country or believed Moscow would prefer to join with the US and other countries seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Despite all the expectations and statements of Russian readiness to big deals between the Kremlin and the new administration of the White House , relations between Russia and the US only worsened.

It noted first Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in an interview with Interfax.

In connection with the visit of the US State Department Rex Tillerson in Russia, Gorbachev said that is troubling concerns about the relationship between Moscow and Washington. According to him, the forecasts of the "big deal" Putin Trump was not confirmed, and given the recent events in Syria - a situation worsened. Gorbachev said that currently there is no progress on any item US-Russian agenda.

As reported by "Apostrophe" before that "a great deal" Putin will not happen Trump said political analyst Valery Solovey. His predictions often come true.

Recall Donald Trump after winning the elections in the US a number of international experts talked about the fact that between Washington and Moscow is reached comprehensive agreement on the Donbass, Crimea, Syria and sanctions. In Russia hoped that Trump will agree to lift sanctions from Russia in exchange for withdrawal from Syria and Donbass. Also voiced predictions that Trump allegedly recognizes the legitimacy of the annexation of the Crimea.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov greeted U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with unusually icy remarks, denouncing the missile strike on Syria as illegal and accusing Washington of behaving unpredictably.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Reuters, just as Tillerson sat down for talks, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov assailed the "primitiveness and loutishness" of U.S. rhetoric, part of a volley of statements that appeared timed to maximize the awkwardness during the first visit by a member of Trump's cabinet.

"I won't hide the fact that we have a lot of questions, taking into account the extremely ambiguous and sometimes contradictory ideas which have been expressed in Washington across the whole spectrum of bilateral and multilateral affairs," Lavrov said.

"And of course, that's not to mention that apart from the statements, we observed very recently the extremely worrying actions, when an illegal attack against Syria was undertaken."

Lavrov also noted that many key State Department posts remain vacant since the new administration took office -- a point of sensitivity in Washington.

As reported, Tillerson traveled to Moscow on April 11 with a joint message from Western powers that Russia should withdraw its support for Assad after a meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized economies also attended by Middle East allies. Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday trust had eroded between the United States and Russia under President Donald Trump.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Tillerson in Moscow for first substantial talks since US strikes against Assad regime

Russia demanded clarity on Washington’s policy on Syria as President Vladimir Putin and his top officials held their first substantial talks with the Trump administration after the US missile strikes on Syria last week.

Addressing Rex Tillerson on his inaugural visit to Moscow as US secretary of state, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said: “It is very important for us to understand your position, the position of the US, the real intentions of your administration.”

Donald Trump’s election as US president was widely welcomed in government circles in Moscow last year. But the Kremlin has watched with caution as the White House battled domestic suspicions over its growing friendship with Russia and Mr Trump struggled in setting out a clear course on foreign policy.

The US Tomahawk strike against a Syrian air base in response to a deadly chemical attack blamed on the Assad regime drastically heightened tensions with Russia, which backs Mr Assad. The military action triggered fears in the Kremlin of a full-scale US entry into the Syrian war.

On Wednesday Mr Lavrov said Moscow considered it “fundamentally important not to allow” further unilateral US strikes on Syria.

Conflicting statements from US officials on Washington’s priorities and intentions in the conflict have deepened Moscow’s apprehension.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said relations with the US worsened under Mr Trump. “One could say that the level of trust on the working level, especially on the military level, has not improved but rather deteriorated,” he said in a television interview broadcast on Wednesday before receiving Mr Tillerson at the Kremlin.....................

Access complete text of the editorial:  ft.com In English