Ukraine News in brief. Monday 14 August. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY

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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
Washington considers the armament of Ukraine as a lever of influence on Russia.  The threat of large-scale invasion of Putin's troops in Ukraine.  In Spain, three Russians are suspected of killing 22-year-old Italians.  Lukashenka said that relations with Russia have worsened.  Russia reduces aid to fighters DNR-LNR.  What's Mine Is Mine And What's Yours Is Mine. Eight Russian mercenaries killed, 35 wounded in combat over past week. Ukraine did not supply weapons and military technology to North Korea.

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The American side is losing patience and wants to force Moscow to change its calculations.

The proposal to transfer defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine, promoted by the State Department and the Pentagon, indicates the growing irritation of the administration of Donald Trump by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the wider deterioration of relations between the US and Russia.

The Washington Post , loyal to the Democratic Party, writes about this , recalling the escalation of tension in US-Russian relations after Vladimir Putin's decision to reduce the diplomatic mission of the United States by more than half.

Currently, a plan is expected to approve the transfer of anti-tank and anti-aircraft defense systems to Ukraine from Trump and his closest advisers. This proposal is not very different from that which President Barack Obama rejected because of the fear of intensifying the war in the Donbass. In addition, the previous US president did not want to create a situation in which American weapons could kill Russian soldiers. Theoretically, this situation can bring two nuclear countries closer to direct conflict.

During the election campaign, the Trump team also rejected the idea of ​​transferring weapons to Ukraine, removing this item from the Republican Party program. But now Trump's main associates in the sphere of national security are actively discussing the possibility of transferring weapons to the Ukrainian military. The final date when such a decision can be made, no. But the debate continues against the backdrop of a planned meeting of American and Russian diplomats in the coming weeks to discuss the end of the war in Ukraine.

The publication also recalls that the newly appointed US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker also supports the idea of ​​arming Ukraine. Some officials in Washington say that it is becoming more popular, as the American side is losing patience with Russia's behavior, and is also unhappy with the fact that Moscow does not comply with the Minsk agreements. Washington's goal, according to an unnamed American official, is to change Russia's strategic thinking. And the transfer of weapons to Ukraine can become a lever that will help to do this.

Earlier, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, John Herbst, wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council that arguments against the armament of Ukraine could not withstand criticism . All allegations against the transfer of American weapons are based either on myths or obsolete estimates.

As Yury Butusov wrote in his article for ZN.UA , the countries of the West did not develop a clear doctrine of rendering military assistance to Ukraine , as a result of which supplies to Kiev were subject to situational decisions.

According to him, Western diplomacy insists on the need to end the conflict in the Donbass and reduce the escalation of hostilities, but Western politicians have not explained to their military how exactly it is possible to achieve these goals.

Read more about the problematic aspects of US military aid to Ukraine in Yuri Butusov's article " US Military Equipment for Ukraine: Political Symbolism and Purpose-Setting " in the weekly Mirror of the Week, Ukraine.

zn.ua , Original in Russian / На русском

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko noted the deterioration of relations with Russia in the context of the restoration of complete border areas at the border.

He stated this in an interview with Russia 24 TV channel.

"We have a great debt to the society under the treaty on the Union state. We have lost a lot in many directions, but the worst thing is that on certain issues we allow a kickback," Lukashenko said.

At the same time, the Belarusian leader noted that equal rights for the citizens of his country and the Russian Federation were a prime cause.

"Today, we are already starting to ban the border, Russian border guards have been taken to the border, customs officers are beginning to behave obscurely, blocking goods. People from third countries only through international checkpoints - that is, there is no confidence in us now. This is a serious danger, we are beginning to retreat," - He said, adding that he wished to move forward in bilateral relations with the Russian Federation and preventing their deterioration.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

In Spain, detained three Russians suspected of murdering the 22-year-old Italian Nicolo Chiat.

This is reported by Corriere della Sera.

According to the police, citizens of Russia at a disco in the resort town of Lloret de Mar on the night of August 12 beat the Italian.

Police arrived at the scene, found the boy in critical condition. The victim died in the hospital. It is reported that the Russians beat the victim with fists and legs in the head. The attackers fled from the scene of the crime, they were detained later. Names of suspects are not reported. It is known that they are 20, 24 and 26 years old. The deceased Nicolo Chiatta was 22 years old.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Based on four important factors , which was written by the "Apostrophe", well-known journalist Yuri Butusov expressed the prognosis that Russia will not have a large-scale offensive on Ukraine.

This is stated in Butusov's article on Censor.Net website.

Predicting the absence of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the journalist notes that the war in the country continues and requires rapid changes in the state in the form of accelerated modernization of the army and defense structures.

"Despite the many things that have been done, the Ukrainian state and the forces of defense and security are far from modern standards," notes Butusov.

At the same time, he adds that the country can be proud of patriotism and readiness for the self-sacrifice of Ukrainians. However, for qualitative superiority over the enemy, believes Butusov, it is necessary to increase the level of professionalism.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Eight Russian mercenaries were killed in combat, 35 wounded over the past week in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in the Donbas.

This was announced by Defense Ministry spokesperson on ATO matters Oleksandr Motuzianyk at a briefing on Monday, Censor.NET reports citing UNIAN.

"According to information provided by the Main Intelligence Department of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, the enemy's confirmed casualties over the past week were eight occupants killed and 35 wounded," Motuzianyk said.

"The major share of these casualties was incurred by the enemy in Avdiivka and southern area of Mariupol direction. This is where the mercenaries act the most brazenly, and thus come under adjusted fire or fall victims to their own carelessness," the spokesperson said.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Ukraine has always adhered to all its international commitments, so the Ukrainian defense and aerospace complex did not supply weapons and military technology to North Korea.

This was stated by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchinov in his comment, reported the Censor. NET in the press service of the National Security and Defense Council.

According to him, some foreign media began to distribute false information regarding the transfer of missile technology to North Korea by Yuzhmash.

"This information is not based on any grounds, is provocative in its content, and most likely provoked by Russian special services to cover their own crimes," said O. Turchynov.

He stressed that Ukraine considers the pro-regime regime of North Korea to be "totalitarian, dangerous and unpredictable, and supports all sanctions against this country."

As well as sanctions against the Russian Federation, the regime of which increasingly becomes similar to the North Korean, "- said O. Turchynov, adding that since the Russian aggression against our country in 2014," Ukraine completely stopped supply of weapons, military Technology and military technology to Russia. "" Ukraine did not supply rocket engines and any missile technology to North Korea. We believe that this anti-Ukrainian campaign provoked by the Russian special services to cover up its involvement in the North Korean nuclear and missile programs "- summed up Secretary of the National Security Council.

Recall, The New York Times referring to" data expert analysis published on Monday, and classified evaluation of US Intelligence services "reported that".

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Moldovan President Igor Dodon said that the country will maintain neutrality and will not become a member of NATO or another military bloc.

He said this at a briefing, commenting on the visit to the military training ground of the National Army of Moldova in Bulboac, reports Interfax-Ukraine.

"Moldova should not participate in hostilities either in the west or in the east, we will not take part in NATO or other military blocs. We are a neutral country. Moldova will not take part in any hostilities or regional conflicts, "he said.

Earlier Dodon said that " anti-Russian Moldova will not definitely be".

In May, the President of Moldova opposed the march in support of the LGBT community. He also became the only foreign leader who visited the parade in Moscow on May 9 . It is also known that he considers the Crimea Russian.

hromadske.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The expert, who informed the American edition of the New York Times about Ukraine's involvement in the supply of engines for North Korea's missiles, had previously worked with Russia's special services.

As transfers Цззор.НЕТ referring to "Espresso.TV" , it was declared by the deputy minister of information policy Dmitry Zolotukhin.

"This expert, who published the research, he worked in Russia in the late 1990s, including with Russian special services," Zolotukhin explained.

According to him, foreign experts criticizing Ukraine, quite often either lived in Moscow, or had something to do with it.

In addition, he said that such cases of groundless accusations of Ukraine occur at least once a year.

"The last such case was in November 2015, when the" France Press "published information that Ukraine allegedly supplied" IG "PZKR of Chinese production," the deputy minister recalled.

Recall, August 14 on the website of the American daily newspaper The New York Times published an article entitled " North Korean missile success is linked Ukrainian plant, say the researchers. " The article, referring to a study of the missile specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Michael Elleman (English Michael Elleman), says that the recent successes of the DPRK in testing an intercontinental ballistic missile "were made possible through the purchase of powerful missile Engines on the black market, probably from the Ukrainian plant.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою