Ukraine News in brief. Saturday 17 February. [Ukrainian sources]

SATURDAY HEADLINES:
Merkel made an important statement on mitigating sanctions against Russia after the introduction of peacekeepers on Donbas.  A bold statement on Ukraine's membership in NATO was made in Europe.  Putin's chief diplomat Lavrov made a sharp announcement under the law on the reintegration of the Donbas.  The United States wants extradition of Russians accused of interfering in American elections.  Reforms are needed for Ukraine, and not for Western partners - the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada.  In Munich, Klimkin discusses with Volcker the deterioration of the situation in the Donbas. Facebook will increase its security staff twice after the US disperse the Russians in the election. Poroshenko and the delegation of the US Congress coordinated the steps towards the de-occupation of the Crimea. Poroshenko and Mattis in Munich discussed further strengthening of Ukraine's defense capability. A list of 74 Wagner's missing Mercenaries posted after the defeat on February 7 in Syria. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported on a meeting between Tymoshenko and the Russian ambassador to Germany at the Munich conference in the "Motherland", provoking a provocation.

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Episodes of sunshine

In Germany, they spoke after weakening sanctions against Russia in the event of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Donbas.

This was stated by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, reports Reuters.

Gabriel noted that the implementation of the Minsk Agreements without a proposal for a relaxation of sanctions is unrealistic.

According to Gabriel, the idea of ​​introducing a United Nations peacekeeping mission is "one of the few realistic options" to achieve some progress in ending violence, which killed some 10,000 people in the region since 2014.

As reported by the "Apostrophe", the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping mission to the Donbas, including on the border with the Russian Federation, will take several stages.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine will definitely become a member of the North Atlantic Alliance.

This confidence was expressed by Estonian Defense Minister Yuri Ljuk.

"I really believe that Ukraine will be a member of NATO. Of course, I can not predict when this will happen, but I have always spoken to my Ukrainian and Georgian colleagues: act calmly, work on it and be prepared to use every opportunity for rapprochement with Alliance) if it appears,"- said Luik.

According to him, skepticism at the expense of Ukraine's prospects in NATO should undo the example of the Baltic countries.

"It was not obvious that they would join NATO. Moreover, this assumption for some time even seemed absurd, even in expert discussions," he recalled.

As reported by the "Apostrophe", recently Russia has deployed significant forces on its western borders that surpass the combined armies of Poland and the Baltic states.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov sharply criticized the law on the reintegration of the Donbas.

He made an appropriate statement in an interview with Euronews.

So, the journalist asked the Russian minister how the Minsk treaties and this law relate. According to Lavrov, the agreements remain in force from the point of view of international law, they were approved by the UN Security Council.

"And no Ukrainian laws can be the highest decision of the UN Security Council, which is binding," Lavrov said.

In addition, he noted that the law on the reintegration of the Donbas no mention of the Minsk agreements.

"In essence, this is, I would say, the law of disintegration, because it is all directed against the logic of the Minsk treaties, which require the restoration of a united public political state space through dialogue between the Kiev authorities and this part of the Ukrainian state," Lavrov said.

As reported by "Apostrophe", former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchinov said that the law on reintegration of the Donbas provides for a military way of returning the occupied territories.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US Deputy Prosecutor General Rod Rosenstein announced Washington's intention to extradite Russians who were accused of attempting to influence American elections

His speech is posted on the US Department of Justice website.

"There is no communication with Russians about this, we will adhere to the usual procedures, seeking cooperation and extradition," Rozenstane said.



As you know, the US Special Prosecutor Robert Muller has charged 13 Russians who worked in the "troll factory" and three other organizations in their intervention in the United States presidential election.

The Russians are accused of plotting to deceive the United States. In addition, two Russians on the list accused of bank fraud, another four - in the theft of personal data of other people.

In addition to Russians, the United States accuses three Russian organizations - Internet Research Agency or Trolley Factory, Concord Management and Consulting and Concord Catering. All of them are associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is considered to be close to Vladimir Putin's Russian president.

-The United States President, Donald Trump, said the allegations against the Russians did not prove the conspiracy of his campaign with the Kremlin.

-In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia called the "absurd" accusation of 13 Russians in interfering in the election of the president of the United States.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Reforms in Ukraine are necessary for its citizens, not the service of Western partners.

This was stated at the Ukrainian Lunch within the framework of the 54th Munich Conference on Security Issues in Munich, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada, Christine Friland.

"Do not do this for us. Reforms are needed for Ukrainians, for themselves and for Ukraine ... This is not a kind of kind that Ukraine should do to the West. That Ukrainians should do for themselves, "she said.

According to the head of the Foreign Ministry, reforms should be initiated and conducted by Ukraine for its citizens.

A Ukrainian-Canadian analyst told Gromadsky that Canada's contribution to Ukraine's reforms is disproportionately large.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, discussed with the United States Special Representative in Ukraine Kurt Volcker the situation in the Donbass and the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission in the framework of the Munich Security Conference.

This was written by the speaker of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Marian Bets in Twitter.

"An important and positive meeting with K. Volcker, Munich Security Conference - on the deterioration of the situation in the Donbass, the placement of a peacekeeping mission", - noted Betz.



Earlier it was reported that the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Munich. He noted after the meeting that nothing could be agreed upon .

For Ukraine, deployment of a mission on the entire territory of the Donbas, agreements without coordination by militants is fundamental, and Ukraine excludes Russia's participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Donbas.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Facebook will double security after a US investigation into Russians' involvement in the election.

This was reported by CNN, referring to Vice President Joel Kaplan Facebook.

"We are sending significant funds, including an increase in the number of people working in the security field, from 10 thousand to 20 thousand this year. We also continue to work closely with the FBI, the Ministry of National Security, and other companies to develop methods for protecting the country and people who use our social network, "Kaplan said.

Recall that the United States has charged 13 citizens of Russia with interference with the US presidential election.

As you know, in January last year US intelligence accused Russian officials of interfering in the presidential election . In his report, intelligence called Putin the initiator of cyberattacks in the United States. However, the newly elected US president, Donald Trump, said that cyberattacks did not influence the course of the election.

Russian President Putin called the charges on Russia's contacts with Trump's campaign "a fabrication of the opposition."

In addition, the FBI suspects Russia of distributing fake money on the day of the US presidential election.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

President Petro Poroshenko and the delegation of the US Congress discussed issues related to the financing of assistance programs to Ukraine at the Munich Conference and coordinated further steps towards the de-occupation of the Crimean peninsula.

As informs Tsensor.NET, this is reported by the press service of the head of state.

As it is noted, the parties condemned the intention to hold Russian presidential elections in the temporarily occupied territory of the Crimea. Further steps were taken to strengthen the international front on the de-occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula.



Poroshenko thanked for the leading role of the US Congress in rebuffing Russian aggression and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. A vivid confirmation of such support was the adoption of a law on countering America's opponents through sanctions, some provisions of which are already being implemented.

The Head of State stressed that the decision by Washington to grant Ukraine lethal defensive weapons and increase the sanctions pressure is not only an answer to Moscow's destructive position, but also a favorable background for the peace process in the Donbass.



He expressed the hope that financing of security assistance programs to the Ukrainian state, including the provision of defense-related weapons, will continue to receive full support from Congress.

"The parties also discussed Ukraine's progress in implementing reform programs and development of cooperation with the IMF, and efforts were made to reform the security sector, as evidenced by the intention to consider in Parliament a bill on national security in the near future," the press service reports.

In addition, Poroshenko called on the US Congress to support the United States' official recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and US Secretary of Defense James Mattis at a meeting in Munich discussed the situation in the Donbas, the need for a peacekeeping mission, sanctions against the Russian Federation, and further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capability.
As informs  Tsensor.NET, this is reported by the press service of the  head of state.

"The parties discussed the situation in the Donbass and expressed their concern over Russia's and its supporters' attempts to undermine the peace process.(...) Discussed further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capability, as well as prioritize the development of a strategic partnership between Kyiv and Washington"- said in a statement on the outcome of the meeting.

Poroshenko and Mattis also considered the need to deploy a United Nations peacekeeping mission to the Donetsk in accordance with the UN principles and the goals of the Minsk process.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of sanctions policy against the RF to restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

The Head of Ukraine expressed gratitude to Washington's important decisions on strengthening the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the country's defense capabilities, noting that Washington's recent decisions are a signal to the aggressor against any intentional escalation of the situation in the Donbas.



Poroshenko thanked for the firm position of the USA in supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"Ukraine believes in the leadership of the United States in strengthening the transatlantic front of counteraction to Russian aggression and attempts to sway world law and order," the President said.

For his part, Mattis reaffirmed the US commitment to restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and also noted the significant progress made by Ukraine in reforming the security and defense sphere.



According to the press service, the Special Representative of the US Department of State for Ukraine Kurt Volker participated in the meeting.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The list of names and surnames of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner's PVC, which disappeared on the 7th of February near the village of Hisham, was published online.

It informs Tsenzor.NET, this says Russian bloher- "rashyst" from St. Petersburg, Anatoly Nesmiyan advocate, better known by his nickname of LJ el_murid (El Myurid).

"The list of personnel known to all private military companies, which disappeared on February 7 near the village of Hisham. The reliability of the list is not known at this time, and it has 74 names.

"Missing" in this situation - those who have not been counted after the removal of bodies and wounded. The number is impressive,"- he wrote, after publishing the list.

Recall that on the night of February 7th-8th, US troops destroyed a number of Russian mercenaries, according to various estimates, from 300 to 500 people with tanks, artillery and light armored vehicles, which was aimed at capturing oil fields in the Syrian Deir Ez- Zora

The Assad News Agency and the Ministry of Defense of Russia confirmed the fact that the US forces attacked a colony near the city of Deir-ez-Zor in Syria. Also, information about the fight has been confirmed by the US Department of Defense.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of the Batkivshchyna field, spoke with Russian ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechaev on the fields of the Munich conference.

As informs  Tsensor.NET,  this was written on a Facebook page by a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova, having published the corresponding photo.

"While Serey Lavrov is talking with Pavel Klimkin, Russian ambassador to Germany Serhii Nechaev talks to Yulia Tymoshenko, such as she, the Munich conference," Zakharova said in a statement.



For its part, the press service of "homeland" this publication called provocation.

"Tymoshenko and Hryhoriy Nemyria (in the photo in the center - Ed.) Have never been acquainted with the man who approached them on the sidelines of the conference. At that time, representatives of the Batkivshchyna were at the premises where the meeting was to begin in five minutes with the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Johannes Khan, "the statement said.

The press service explained that all participants in the conference have badges with a name, but they do not specify the positions and the countries they represent.

"The photo with the representative of the aggressor country is a deliberate provocation. We appeal to the mass media not to take part in Kremlin special operations. Official meetings and negotiations that Batkivshchyna representatives held in Munich, the party's press service reports on time and will do the same. in the future", - the press service of the political forces said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український