Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Tuesday 30 May. [Ukrainian sources]

Senior banker Andrei Kostin warns lack of east-west dialogue is ‘very dangerous’

A top Russian banker and associate of President Vladimir Putin has accused the “American elite” of waging a political witch hunt against Donald Trump, the US president, that leaves the two nuclear-armed powers in a “very dangerous” situation.

Andrei Kostin, chief executive of VTB, the state-controlled bank that is Russia’s second largest, said the “madhouse” in Washington was thwarting any chance of improvement in east-west relations for the foreseeable future.

The turmoil could lead to western sanctions on Russia — of which his bank is a prime target — remaining in place indefinitely, he added.

“It’s ridiculous,” Mr Kostin told the Financial Times in an interview. “The fight against Mr Trump using the ‘Russian card’ is close to absolute madness. I’m stunned.

“The elite in Washington, or bureaucrats in America, are campaigning against Trump and that’s completely paralysed his ability to do anything, even to have any dialogue with Russia.”
A top Russian banker and associate of President Vladimir Putin has accused the “American elite” of waging a political witch hunt against Donald Trump, the US president, that leaves the two nuclear-armed powers in a “very dangerous” situation.

Andrei Kostin, chief executive of VTB, the state-controlled bank that is Russia’s second largest, said the “madhouse” in Washington was thwarting any chance of improvement in east-west relations for the foreseeable future.

The turmoil could lead to western sanctions on Russia — of which his bank is a prime target — remaining in place indefinitely, he added.

“It’s ridiculous,” Mr Kostin told the Financial Times in an interview. “The fight against Mr Trump using the ‘Russian card’ is close to absolute madness. I’m stunned.

“The elite in Washington, or bureaucrats in America, are campaigning against Trump and that’s completely paralysed his ability to do anything, even to have any dialogue with Russia.”..................

Access complete text of the editorial:  ft.com

TUESDAY

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NEWS:
The scandalous Russian neo-Nazis in Mexico accused of killing, NATO made a tough statement on dialogue with Putin. Poroshenko: the Kremlin failed to bury the Association Agreement EU-Ukraine.  NATO plans to place its troops in Georgia's ports.  The threat of seizure of Belarus, Russia: Ukraine Putin explained tactics.  In Poroshenko responded to Putin gem of origin Princess Anne.  Putin broke through threats of expulsion of Russian diplomats from Moldova.  Dutch Senate approved the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association.  Ukrainian delegation to the NATO PA wants to unite the efforts of the countries that suffered occupation.  Macron a meeting with Putin, "I said everything I thought. We share common contradiction".

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Kremlin affected by chronic Ukrainophobia, kapostyv us at every step, said Poroshenko

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko thanked Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Dutch government, the National Assembly, the Senate for the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. This is stated in his address on the ratification of the Netherlands.

"The way this was long and much harder than we imagined at the start of the process. Why does this happen? Kremlin affected by chronic Ukrainophobia, kapostyv us at every turn. He used all available resources, money, propaganda, lies, intrigue, intelligence and group structure effects. He pidihruvaly by the anti populist forces within the EU who have used the existing bureaucratic and produce a new hook. All this was done with the sole purpose - to prevent the ratification of the Agreement, bury it and thus - to stop Ukraine's course towards the reunification of our European family, "- he said.

He recalled that at the finish pryhalmuvavsya ratification process in the Netherlands. "The historic deal for us was under real threat. Until recently, all countries diplomatic team struggled to star in the European firmament favorable for Ukraine. This supported us and helped us to our European partners, "- said Poroshenko.

"Thank you very much for the support of his friend Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Dutch Government, the National Assembly, the Senate. On behalf of the Ukrainian people thank the citizens of the Netherlands, who during the recent elections for the most part did not support anti-European party, but instead delegated the authority responsible pro-European forces ", - said Poroshenko.

The President stressed that the entry into force of the Association Agreement, free trade zone and visa-free regime with the EU, which starts exactly ten days - "this is a very important step on our way to a united Europe."

In the near future the Netherlands will give ratification to Brussels. Then the Council of the European Union will launch its special decision implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU at full capacity.

glavcom.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Juncker expects the ratification process completed by the Association of Ukraine-EU summit

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed the approval of the Association Agreement Ukraine and the EU in the Senate of the Netherlands. It referred in his statement published on the website of the European Commission.

"Today's vote in the Dutch Senate gives an important signal of the Netherlands and the European Union all our Ukrainian friends, place Ukraine - in Europe. The future of Ukraine - is Europe "- said the President of the European Commission.

Juncker thanked the Government of the Netherlands and other countries for management efforts and expressed hope that the process of ratification of the Agreement will be fully completed by the Ukraine-EU summit to be held in July.

"Our Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive component FTA, a step closer to complete ratification. I would like to see the process completed quickly, before the July summit Ukraine-EU ", - said Juncker.

He noted that the Association Agreement has intensified trade between Ukraine and the EU has created new opportunities for the citizens of Ukraine, and for Europe.

"Use positive momentum that came from today's vote, to further strengthen our partnership", - stated in the appeal.

Recall, on Tuesday, May 30, Netherlands Senate (upper house of parliament) voted for the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU . According to preliminary calculations, 50 deputies voted for the ratification of the agreement, 25 were against.

Now, ratification's must pass the signature King of the Netherlands and then sent to Brussels.

glavcom.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українському

This was stated by Deputy NATO Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, confirming that the involvement of military forces outside the North Atlantic alliance is not planned, reported "Caucasian node".

According to her, the Alliance plans to provide security in the Black Sea in Romania manned by multinational crews, comprising troops only NATO countries.

"We really appreciate the relationship with Georgia in the Black Sea region security context in the sense that Georgia and provides more informed NATO about the region. Our attention is paid to strengthening the presence of NATO forces in the Black Sea ", - added Gottemoeller.

Recall that the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Paolo Alli urged Russia to return to the officially recognized borders , given its aggressive behavior in Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Within the military exercises "West-2017" to be held in Belarus from 14 to 20 September, virtually guaranteed mild Belarus occupation forces of the Russian Federation .

This opinion was expressed by military expert Alex Arestovych in an interview with "apostrophe".

"I think the idea of ​​this, is taking Belarus, threaten the Baltic states, Poland and Central Europe. And judging by the plan, the calculation is that the Poles, Balts and NATO forces, frightened of Russian military power and the ability of local nuclear war somewhere near Kaliningrad, forget about Ukraine and Ukrainian rozminyayut own security in the West seem. This plan, "- he said.

At the same time, according to experts, the final decision on Belarus, the Kremlin will take only after the elections in Germany.

"Merkel pereoberetsya or not? They need to understand the new balance of power in Europe. Germany is the guarantor of the Minsk process and the main force that addresses this issue within the EU", - said Arestovych.

According to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin is building during the presidential elections in 2018 the image of "collector's land" , under which scenarios are considered occupation of Belarus, as well as joining the occupied part of Donbass and the so-called Transnistrian Moldovan Republic.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Russian Alexei Makeevu, which on May 29 was discharged from the hospital and taken into custody, charged with murder.

This was announced by the head of the consular department of the Russian embassy in Mexico Dmitry Bolbot, reports the BBC .

"He was taken to the prosecutor's office, which read the rights and charges of murder. Within 48 hours, the judge must decide in which prison vidravyty" - said the Russian diplomat.

He stressed that Makeev "rejects any involvement of embassies in this case" and not going back in.

In addition, it was reported that prosecutors Mexican state of Quintana Roo to establish the degree of responsibility not only those who participated in the fight, but police officers who failed to fulfill their obligations to protect citizens.

Recall May 19 in Mexico Cancun about a hundred people nearly lynched Russian Alexei Makeyev , who became known for his video, which insulted and threatened Mexicans and demonstrating Nazi symbols. As a result of the conflict killed one Mexican, he Makeev seriously injured and was hospitalized.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to mislead the French princess Anna Yaroslavna called "Russian woman".

This was written by deputy head of the presidential administration Dmitry Shymkiv on his page on Facebook.

"My dear French friends, Russian President Putin tried to lead you astray today - Anna Kiev, Queen of France, from Kyiv, Moscow (Moscow did not even exist at the time)," - said Shymkiv.

He also recalled the Reims Gospel, which was used during coronations in France: first, it was Anna's own book from the library of Yaroslav the Wise, her father, the Duke of Kiev.

"You still need proof of origin Kyiv Anne?" - said the deputy head of the AP.



Note that yesterday, May 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with French President Emmanuel macron in Paris said that the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, Anna, who married French King Henry I, was "a Russian."

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the expulsion of Moldova five employees of the Russian Embassy and threatened tough measures.

It is reported by Russian "Interfax" referring to Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin.

"The answer of course is, it will be very tough. But the shape and parameters of this response we will think" - said the Russian official.

He also said the decision of the Moldovan authorities "gross provocation" and a blow to the forces of the country led by President Igor Dodon, who is seeking normalization of relations with Russia.

Recall Moldova declared persona non grata five employees of the Russian Embassy. The names of the diplomats and the reasons for expulsion are not officially called. In turn, the President of Moldova said the decision of the government implementation of the "order of the West."

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Paolo Alli said that through political dialogue with Russia must be "language of force".

He said this at a meeting of the PACE Standing Committee in Prague, reports " Ukrainian Truth ".

As Allie said, NATO countries should respond to Russia using force in international politics.

"Dialogue with Russia should also be based on force, because Putin does not understand other language", - said the head of the NATO PA.

He believes that we should not expect to replace Russian approach as long as Putin remains the head of the Russian Federation.

"Unfortunately, it does not change at least until the election of the new Russian president," - he said, adding that it is his opinion, not the official position of NATO.

In the context of NATO plans to increase funding for the defense sector in response to the policy of the Russian Federation, Paolo Alli said that it is important to not only increase the amount of funding, but also the effectiveness of their spending.

As reported by "Apostrophe", recently the US president Donald Trump called Russia one of the threats to NATO.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

EU-Ukraine Association supported the Senate of the Netherlands.

The Senate of the Netherlands supported the ratification of the Association Agreement Ukraine - EU, reports Tsenzor.NET with reference to UNIAN .

Voting for the relevant legislation was held in The Hague in the plenary session of the Senate. The Senate consists of 75 deputies.

The legislative act must sign a king; it will take effect after publication in the State Journal.

Earlier, the Dutch lower house of parliament on February 23 supported the government's law on ratification of the Association Agreement EU-Ukraine. Today the Netherlands - the only EU country which has not ratified the agreement. Following the referendum held in April 2016 and was attended by 32.28% of voters, 60% voted against the Association Agreement with Ukraine. The referendum was advisory in nature.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Ukrainian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation plans to combine the efforts of countries that have suffered and lost their occupation of the territory.

As the Tsenzor.NET , this head of the Ukrainian delegation to NATO PA, MP Irina Freese wrote on the page in Facebook.

"The Ukrainian delegation to the NATO PA delegation plans to combine the efforts of countries lost territory as a result of the occupation. I am sure that together we can more effectively defend the territorial integrity of our countries. We have to stop the creeping occupation of our territories and external stimulation of separatism by the aggressor Room one of the world - Russia, "- she wrote, adding that Ukraine question Georgia's territorial integrity is beyond discussion.

Vries thanked the Georgian side for the high level organization of events during the spring session of NATO PA (which took place in Tbilisi), a high level of representation and "incredible hospitality." During the session also hosted an international conference "Ukraine-Georgia-NATO: issues of deepening cooperation."

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Without an open and sincere dialogue can not be progress in addressing either Ukrainian or Syrian issues.

Said French President Emmanuel macron after a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, reports Tsenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"We have a direct, frank exchange of views. I said whatever he thought President Putin. We share common contradiction. We can see how to build a joint action. If we do not open, sincere dialogue, we will not progress either in Ukrainian issue nor on the Syrian issue "- E.Makron wrote on his page on Facebook.

Also during yesterday's joint press conference the two presidents called E.Makron Russian TV channel "Russia Today" and the news agency "Sputnik" "by false propaganda", said the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia in case of escalation of the conflict and urged the Donbas the speedy negotiations in "Norman format".

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said about the anti-Russian nature of the Agreement on Association of Ukraine - EU.

Reported Tsenzor.NET with reference to Interfax .

"We leave to the conscience of the person who lost their Dutch politicians, to put it mildly, controversial methods. It is quite predictable in recent debates all again reduced to unsubstantiated allegations of provocative actions in Moscow, the invocation of European solidarity in the face of the mythical" Russian threat ", etc." - said in response to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry on the question of the media.

"However, from all this sad conclusion: in fact, the Dutch people, to say" no "to the Ukraine association, circled around . a finger to do it his own leaders, once again employed the openly Russophobic propaganda, which, incidentally, is a direct confirmation of the anti-Russian nature of the Agreement on Association of Ukraine - EU, no matter how much we have not assured in reverse "- emphasizes Zakharov.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

British singer and musician Sting will perform this autumn in Kyiv as part of a world tour with a new album 57th & 9th.

This was stated in a message on the website of the musician.

Concert in Kiev, scheduled for 6 October and will be held at the Palais des Sports.

Ticket sales will begin on Friday, June 2 at 10:00.

Round Rock musician launched in North America last month, he visited Europe and currently serves in Central and South America.

Another region where the singer will travel will be Asia.

Recall, Sting performed in Kyiv in July 2011. He came to a concert in the capital in the spring of 2001.

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner - British musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, activist, actor and philanthropist. The leader of the group The Police, which acted 1976-1984 years. Since 1984 solo acts.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

The Ukrainian parliamentarian Mustafa Nayyem says the FBI has come to him at last, asking about Paul Manafort, who had a long record as a political operative serving pro-Russian figures here before he became the campaign manager for Donald Trump last year.

Nayyem and other Ukrainian officials say they are not only willing to cooperate with the FBI, they have been trying to do that for years, but only recently did American law enforcement show any interest.

For its part, the FBI declined to comment on what now is an inquiry headed by its former director and now special counsel, Robert Mueller. But there is little question that Manafort is at or near the center of the narrative it is putting together about Russian interference in the U.S. presidential elections and the extent of collusion, or not, between Moscow and members of Trump’s campaign team.

Much of this is, and likely will remain, murky. It is sometimes hard to distinguish at this juncture between what Manafort taught the Ukrainians and Russians, and what he may have learned from them as he helped elect Viktor Yanukovych to the presidency here in 2010, then allegedly helped to sow disastrous political divisions after Yanukovych was deposed in 2014. The use of bots to flood messages onto social media, for instance, was a major feature of Russian-backed actions in Ukraine. So, too, in the United States. That does not mean Manafort was involved in either of those bot storms.

Indeed, part of Manafort’s strategy for Yanukovych at one point, much to the chagrin of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was to promote the Ukrainian as a pro-European Union statesman. But Manafort’s reputation here is such that there’s almost nothing people would put past him, and extensive dossiers have been compiled by reporters and government officials looking into his activities.

Nayyem, for instance, began investigating what he calls the “dangerous business” of Paul Manafort more than a decade ago. Since the Maidan uprising of 2013 and 2014, Nayyem has been called “the father of Ukraine’s revolution,” but back in 2006, he was a journalist, and he and his former colleagues at the well-respected Ukrainska Pravda newspaper began publishing investigative reports about the contracts between Ukraine’s then-prime minister, Victor Yanukovych, and Paul Manafort. When Yanukovych was elected Ukraine’s president in 2010, only to be overthrown by the Maidan revolution in 2014, that reporting intensified and there have been many revelations since.

So when the FBI met with Nayyem here a few weeks ago to ask about President Trump’s former campaign manager, Nayyem says, he felt relieved: Maybe now those in America wondering about the future of Trump’s presidency would take a look at the legacy left in Ukraine by Manafort, who did so much to get Trump elected.................

Access complete text of the editorial:  thedailybeast.com

Ministry of Culture in particular feared violation of the law through the dismantling of the coat of arms

Dismantling the coat of arms of the USSR on the monument "Motherland" may violate current legislation of Ukraine on protection of cultural heritage and copyright and related rights.

This UNN reported in the Ministry of Culture in response to an information request.

"In order to prevent violation of the law question dismantling and replacement of Soviet symbols on the shield monument has opratsyuvatysya terms of legislation of Ukraine on protection of cultural heritage and copyright and related rights" - said in response the Ministry of Culture.

It is noted that the Law of Ukraine "On the condemnation of Communist and National Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes in Ukraine and promote their prohibition symbols" a ban on the use and promotion of communist symbols and National Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes, including the Soviet coat of arms.

However, this prohibition does not apply to cases of the use of such symbols in the works of art created before the enactment of this Act.

However, the Ministry of Culture said that the sculpture "Motherland" was established in the late 70's - early 80's of the 20th century, ie before the enactment of Law and is under state protection.

Also, the ministry reported that the monument was included in the State list of Ukraine December 16, 2016 as a monument of science and technology of local importance.

Earlier in the KSCA reported that the date of dismantling Soviet coat of arms on the monument "Motherland" is to determine the Ministry of Culture.

glavcom.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському