Ukraine News in brief. Monday 9 October. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
Google detected the intervention of Russian propagandists in the US election.  U.S. Ambassador To Russia Cites Ukraine As Key To Improving Ties.  NATO expands its presence in the Black Sea to counter Russia.  The Normandy format will not help: Putin made a new statement on the Donbas.  NATO's multinational NATO battalions in Romania are part of our response to Russia's increasingly intrusive, Stoltenberg.  Russian mercenaries in Donbas blame Ukrainians of numerous casualties on their positions.  RosMMI learned about Macron's acceptance of Putin's invitation.  300 companies from 13 countries will take part in the exhibition "Weapons and Security 2017" in Kyiv.  

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Google first detected the facts of Russian company operators' use of the company's platform to influence the US presidential election in 2016

The Washington Post writes about it .

The company found that tens of thousands of dollars were spent on advertising for Russian agents that aimed at spreading misinformation in many Google products, including YouTube, as well as ads related to Google, Gmail, and the DoubleClick ad network.

As the newspaper writes, opening Google also is significant because the ads do not seem the same, "the Kremlin farm trolls" that bought advertising on Facebook - a sign that the efforts of Russia on misinformation online can be much wider problem than thought still.

Google has previously diminished the problem of Russia's intervention on its platforms. Last month, Google spokeswoman Andrea Favill told The Washington Post, that the company "continuously monitors abuses or violations of our policies and we do not see any evidence that such a campaign was launched on our platform."

However, Google launched its own investigation into this issue, as Congress forced technology companies to determine how Russian operators used social media, internet advertising and other digital tools to influence the presidential election in 2016.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The new U.S. ambassador to Russia says restoring Ukrainian sovereignty over all its territory will be a key issue in his dealings with Moscow as he begins his tenure amid a period of high tensions between the two world powers.

Speaking in Salt Lake City, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman on October 7 said he wants to improve relations with Russia, but he insisted the first step would be for Moscow to return Ukrainian control to territory within its internationally recognized borders.

"This is an issue not only with the United States, but with Europe, Canada, and virtually every other developed country," said Huntsman, who was visiting his home state for a ceremonial swearing-in event.

Moscow seized the Crimean Peninsula from Kyiv's control and has supported separatists in eastern Ukraine in war that has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014.

The United States, other Western countries, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine, just one of many global issues separating the two countries.

Huntsman, who presented his credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on October 3, told the Salt Lake City crowd that he wants to work with Moscow to solve the crisis over North Korea’s banned nuclear and ballistic-missile programs.

He called Pyongyang a threat to Russia and the rest of the world, not just to the United States.

"Acting together, we think the United States and Russia could force the North Korean regime to the negotiating table to find a diplomatic solution," he said.

Huntsman's comments came a week after President Donald Trump said in an October 1 Twitter statement that negotiating with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs was a “waste of time.”

Huntsman also spoke of possible cooperation with Russia in the effort to defeat the Islamic State (IS) militant group and in efforts to end the six-year civil war in Syria, where Washington and Moscow back opposing sides....................

Access complete text of the editorial:  rferl.org In English

NATO is expanding a new multinational unit in Romania to confront the Russian Federation on its eastern flank and balancing its presence in the Black Sea after Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014.

Reuters reports .

It is noted that the unit will include ground, air and naval forces from 10 NATO countries, including the United States, Canada, Italy and Romania.

"Our goal is peace, not war, we are not a threat to Russia, but we need a dialogue with a strong defensive position," said Klaus Johannis, President of Romania at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

At the moment, the exact number of troops deployed in Romania is unknown. According to the agency, the naval component will include a more frequent visit by naval ships of the NATO countries of the ports of Romania and Bulgaria, as well as more exercises.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the "Norman format" and the involvement of other countries would not help resolve the conflict in the Donbass.

He announced this today, on October 9, according to RIA Novosti.

"Changes" on the ground "can not be provided by the forces of countries participating in the Norman process or other countries, in particular the United States." The changes on the ground can only be provided by the parties to this conflict, which are Kiev and Donbass, "said Peskov.

According to him, a "political will" is needed to change, aimed at solving the problem instead of putting it on.

Also, Peskov spoke about the meeting of US Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker and Russian President's Assistant Vladislav Surkov , who was held recently in Belgrade.

"As for the meeting between Surkov and Walker, there was a clock alignment, an exchange of views on the situation," he said.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that NATO's multinational NATO battalions stationed in Romania are part of the alliance's deterrent to Russia.

As informs Tsensor.NET , informs Interfax-Ukraine.

"I think it is important to realize: multinational battalions in Romania are part of our response to an increasingly penetrating Russia, which has increased its military presence in the Black Sea region, especially in the Crimea," said E. Stoltenberg at a joint press conference with Romania's President Klaus Johannis

According to the Secretary General, NATO also "has increased its presence in the Black Sea, where it conducts more naval exercises, and also increased the number of ships there."

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

Russian mercenaries in the Donbas made and published a video where they complain about technical capabilities of Ukrainian military and efficiency of Ukrainian weapons.

Censor.NET reports referring to the video posted on youtube.

The video shows Russian terrorists saying that technical capabilities of Ukrainian military and efficiency of Ukrainian weapons lead to numerous casualties on their positions.


"They have either 5.56, this American caliber, or 12.7... It is able to lop upper jaws of two people. Just a little contact - and it's off.

"They have good optics, good night visions. They work with night vision. They hit gun ports precisely. From a large distance," says one of the terrorists shown in the video.

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

French President Emmanuel Macron is ready to visit St. Petersburg at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kommersant reports citing sources in diplomatic circles in Paris.

It is reported that the decision on the visit is almost accepted, but until it is officially announced.

"The reason is purely formal, but it is quite venerable. Presidential elections in Russia will take place only in March, and although we anticipate their result, it would not be quite right to take the invitation of Vladimir Putin, who has not yet been reelected," - the source said.

Putin's invitation to visit Russia was transferred to Macron on May 29 during a meeting in Versailles . Previously, it was planned that the leader of France will visit Russia in December 2017 or early January 2018, but the option was rejected because of Christmas holidays in Russia.

It is expected that the visit will take place from May 24 to 26 during the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

About 300 companies from 13 countries will present their developments in the field of security and defense within the framework of the 14th International Exhibition "Weapons and Security 2017", which will be held on October 10-13 in Kyiv.

According to Tsensor.NET , referring to Interfax-Ukraine , this was reported at the organizing committee of the exhibition.

In addition to Ukrainian companies, the USA, Turkey, Poland, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Israel, China, and OAU confirmed their participation in the Kiev exhibition "Weapons and Security 2017".

Among the foreign exhibitors: Turkish Aselsan and Roketsan, American Night Vision Devices, Chinese BACEI, French Rockwell Collins France and Ouvry, Polish WB Electronics, Israeli Opgal Optronic Industries, Italian CMS Industries, German Rohde & Shwarz, Pakistani DEPO and Heavy Industries Taxila, Emirate International Armored Group.

Opportunities of Ukraine's Defense Industry for Kyiv "Arms and Security-2017" will represent defense companies of the state and private segments of the defense industry, including enterprises of state-owned "Ukroboronprom" and "League of defense enterprises of Ukraine", as well as known in the world market of PJSC "Motor Sich", OJSC "AvtoKrAZ", PJSC "Smith on Rybalsky", TASKO corporation, Arsenal KPSPS, Yangely Design Bureau Yuzhnoye.

According to the organizing committee, the main emphasis of the exhibition reflects the task of ensuring the large-scale rearmament of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the development of the Ukrainian defense market, the expansion of the international military-technical cooperation and the expansion of the presence of Ukrainian defense enterprises in the world arms market, the introduction of NATO standards for defense production, which are facing the Ukrainian defense industry in the conditions of long- Challenges to the state's defense capability .

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