Ukraine News. Friday 16 March. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY HEADLINES:
Russia expands the "black list" of Americans in response to sanctions.  The United States has imposed new sanctions against Russia because of the Violinist poisoning.  Washington allows for the imposition of sanctions against Russia in connection with Violinist poisoning. Former Assistant to Trump Bennett becomes Tymoshenko's lobbyist.  Russia has begun a conflict in Ukraine and now has to do everything to complete it, the United States spokeswoman in the United States.  Britain will provide a sample of the substance that has been poisoned by the Violinist to the experts of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.  Ukraine severs economic ties with Russia.  Any mention of Putin in connection with "the work of the Violinist" is a striking and complicated in terms of diplomacy behavior.  North Stream 2 will put Europe in complete dependence on the company run by the Kremlin and personally by Putin.  The order about the himaatka in Great Britain, probably, was given by Putin himself.  Putin released Savchenko on the terms of her recruitment by the special services of the Russian Federation.  

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Moscow is expanding its "black list" of Americans in response to new sanctions by the administration of Donald Trump.

This was reported by Reuters, referring to the statement by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkova agency "RIA-Novosti".

On the eve of the US Treasury Department, sanctions were extended to 19 citizens of Russia and 5 enterprises on Thursday. According to Reuters, this is the most difficult step of the administration of Trump since his work in the White House.

According to the deputy Russian minister, from the very beginning in Russia they tried to adhere to the principle of parity with regard to the number of blacklisting. That is why they decided to expand it.

The minister also added that Moscow is still seeking a dialogue with Washington and takes "counter-measures to American political stubbornness."

"American politicians play with fire, destroying Russian-American relations, because in parallel they still break the world stability," Ryabkov said.

On the eve of the United States introduced additional sanctions against Russia . US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin accused Russians of "destroying cyberattacks and invading critical infrastructure."

Earlier in the United States, three senators from the Democratic Party introduced a draft resolution calling on President Donald Trump to impose new sanctions on Russia.

On August 2, 2017, Trump approved a document providing for new sanctions against Russia . It was reported that US sanctions would apply to all those who cooperate with Russia. Therefore, a number of countries have criticized this document.

On January 26, the United States expanded the sanctions list of individuals and companies from Russia and the occupied Donbas due to aggression in Ukraine.

In particular, the United States imposed sanctions against a company through which the Russian Federation legalized trade with the DPR and LNR.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the United States, it is possible to impose new sanctions on Russia in connection with the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal.

This was stated at a briefing by the spokesman of the State Department Heather Neuert.

"This (sanctions - ed.) Is what we can do, but at the moment I will no longer comment," she said.

Neuer recalled that the United States had previously imposed sanctions on the DPRK after chemical weapons had been used during the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the consolidated leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-il.

Recall that US President Donald Trump said he was consulting with British Prime Minister Teresa May for dealing with the poisoning of former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. The American leader said Russia is likely to be poisoned by the ex-spy and his daughter.

March 13, the US president has already made it possible that Russia is involved in the poisoning of the former intelligence violinist.

"It seems that it was Russia, taking into account all the collected evidence. It seems that they (the British - ed.) Believe that it was Russia, and I will definitely accept such a conclusion as a fact, "said Trump.

The United States has supported the decision of Britain to send Russian diplomats.

A United States spokeswoman at the UN, Nicky Hailey, said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Russia is responsible for a British chemical attack on Sergey Skripal and his daughter.

On March 14, British Prime Minister Teresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in connection with the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. In addition, Britain has declared the freezing of Russian assets in the country. Sanctions can affect Putin's closest environment , says Foreign Minister of Britain Boris Johnson.

Also, Britain has warned citizens about the danger of traveling to Russia . In addition, May announced the meeting of the NATO Council on Chemical Weapons in Russia . Due to an international scandal, the Royal Family and British ministers will not go to the 2018 World Cup in Russia . The British regulator in the field of broadcasting did not rule out blocking the Russia Today channel, working in Britain. Russia threatens to ban British media in case of Russia Today blocking .

Russian stock markets responded by a decline in Britain's statement.

A 66-year-old citizen of Russia Sergey Skrypal was hit by a hospital with severe poisoning on March 4. With him was his daughter.

Sergei Skripal, Colonel of Military Intelligence of Russia on retirement in 2006, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for espionage in favor of Britain. He was found guilty of giving testimony to Russian agents working under cover of the EU, the Secret Intelligence of Britain.

The former intelligence officer was fired in an exchange between the United States and Russia in 2010. He was pardoned by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Then Russia, besides Violinist, sent Igor Sutyagin, Alexander Zaporizhzhya and Gennady Vasilenko to the United States. At the same time, 10 people charged with espionage in favor of Russian citizens were sent from the United States, including Anna Chapman. The violinist soon became a refuge in the UK.

As of March 15, Sergei Skripal, his daughter and one of the policemen are in a coma.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The US administration allows for the imposition of sanctions against Russia in connection with poisoning in the British Salisbury ex-employee of the GRU Sergei Skripal.

Cenzor.NET informs with reference to Interfax-Ukraine, according to the acting. US Deputy Secretary of State Hillary Noether.

"This (sanctions - Ed.) Is what we can do, but now I will no longer comment on (this topic - Ed.)", - she said at a briefing on Thursday.

She reminded that, according to Washington and a number of its allies, Russia was most likely to be poisoned by the Violinist.

"You are talking about compliance with Russia (the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - Ed.), Compliance with its obligations under the treaty, and the use of chemical weapons - a violation of the treaty," said H. Noert, answering the journalist's questions.

She also reminded that the United States had previously imposed sanctions against the DPRK after the use of chemical weapons in the form of highly toxic substances VX during the killing of Kim Jong Nama - the consolidated leader of the DPRK leader Kim Jong-il.

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, ahead of Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skryptal and his daughter, Julia, continues. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Batkivshchyna leader Yulia Tymoshenko hired Barry Bennet to lobby for her interests in defense. This is a former assistant to US President Donald Trump's election campaign.

According to Tsensor.NET, this is written by the Public TV with reference to Bloomberg.

At Barry Bennet, there is Avenue Strategies Global LLC. She will be busy with political relations, PR and strategic consultations with Tymoshenko, in particular by establishing contacts with Congress members and the Trump administration

According to the contract, where the "foreign manager" is Tymoshenko, Bennet will receive $ 65,000 a month.

Recall that former head of the Donald Trump campaign Paul Manafort, in his time, was an adviser to Viktor Yanukovych.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russia needs to take the necessary measures to end the conflict in Ukraine, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nicki Haley, said.

Reported Tsenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Russia is responsible for attacking two people in the UK using military paralysis, the illegal dangerous destabilizing actions of Russia in Ukraine, in Syria and in other countries can not be separated from the alarming events in Ukraine. We still support sovereignty Ukraine, sanctions in response to the actions in Ukraine will continue until Russia returns full control over the peninsula of Ukraine. Russia has started a conflict in Ukraine, and now it has to do everything to complete it, "said the representative of the United States, speaking and at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the occupied Crimea.

She also noted that, despite the fact that Russia denied the presence of its troops in the Donbas, the facts of the presence of Russian troops there were documented. "There is no doubt that Russia is present there, there is no doubt about what it intends to do. The conflict continues to foment," she added.

The US spokesman also said that the initiative with peacekeepers in the Donbas should be supported by Russia in the UN Security Council so that such an initiative would begin to work.

"As long as the United States continues to put pressure on Moscow to withdraw its troops and armaments from Ukraine, until Russia shows that it is ready to take any steps to resolve the crisis, there is no point in discussing even the slightest relaxation of sanctions," Haley said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United Kingdom will provide a sample of the substance that has been poisoned by the Ex-intelligence Fighter, the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Organization.

This was announced by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, reports Tsensor. NET with reference to DW.

According to Johnson, experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based in the Netherlands, will be able to check the materials of British investigators.

Johnson also again thrown Moscow into poisoning. "Only in the case of Russia, we have a combination of the history of homicide with the support of the state, a publicly-recognized motive for attempting to kill the violinist and the stockpile of the fighting elements of the" Novachok "group, Johnson stressed.

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that  the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, by Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia lasts for the eighth day. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was  injured as a result of poisoning with an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

At its next meeting on March 21, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine intends to sever a program for economic cooperation with the Russian Federation launched in 2011.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman said speaking on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel, Censor.NET reports.

"We are working to redirect our economy to cut the ties Russia has constantly imposed on us, binding us as a raw material supplement to its economy. I've given such an instruction. We are now drafting a government resolution. I think we will pass it Wednesday to sever the economic cooperation program launched in 2011. We are going to make every effort for Russia to pay a high price for its aggression against Ukraine," the PM said.

Hroisman added that unlike Russia, Ukraine would only benefit from such decisions.

As noted by UNIAN, the Ukraine-Russia economic cooperation program for 2011-2020 was developed in pursuance of decision made by the then presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Yanukovych on May 17, 2010.

The document determines the recovery of reputational losses after Ukraine-Russia gas transit disputes in 2006-2009 as the most important task, along with the abolition of mutual trade restrictions. Simultaneously with military aggression against Ukraine in 2014, the Russian Federation unleashed a trade and economic war, imposing an embargo on a number of sensitive Ukrainian export-oriented staples. Ukraine introduced retaliatory measures. Since 2014, Russia's share in Ukrainian exports has shrunk to 9 percent from almost 30 percent.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

A striking and unforgivable in terms of diplomacy, the behavior of the Kremlin named the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in connection with the so-called "Violinist case".

Reported Tsenzor.NET with reference to Interfax.

"We spoke at different levels and in different situations that Russia has nothing to do with this story. Any references and references from our president (in connection with this story - Ed.) Are nothing more than a striking and difficult one with the point of view of diplomacy behavior ", - said the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov regarded this behavior as a "diplomatic misconduct."

Earlier, the head of the British Foreign Ministry, Boris Johnson, said that, rather, there is a "huge probability" that Vladimir Putin ordered the use of a poisonous substance of neuro-paralytic action in Salisbury.

"That's why we do not get along with Russia," Johnson added, during a visit to the British Bunker Museum in Axbridge.

In the opinion of the minister, the words of which is presented by the TV channel, it is clear that the attack in Salisbury was carried out by Russia. He also confirmed that the substance "Novachok" was used in the territory of Britain, which, he said, was developed in Russia.

Earlier, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that Britain would send 23 Russian diplomats who allegedly work for intelligence in connection with the "Violinist Case". To leave the country, they were given a week.

In addition, the United Kingdom cancels contacts at a high level with Russia, and therefore recalls the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to London. Also, the ministers and high-ranking representatives of Great Britain will not go to the FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, by Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia lasts for the eighth day. Sergey Skripal, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was injured as a result of poisoning with an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

"North Stream-2" is an anti-Ukrainian, anti-Polish, anti-Slovak and anti-European project.

This was stated by the leader of the party "People's Front" Arseniy Yatsenyuk during the International conference "Revolution, war and its consequences" in Warsaw on March 16, reported in the press service of the NF.

Yatsenyuk in Warsaw: "Nord Stream 2" will put Europe in complete dependence on a company run by the Kremlin and personally by Putin.

"How can we support the project that Russia captures the EU energy market?" - he said.

The leader of the People's Front stressed the need for steps towards energy security: "Here too, the question of unity in the European Union arises: firstly, business, economics or values, and not only the values ​​but also the awareness of their own energy challenges for the countries- members of the EU ".

"How can we support a project that Russia's Gazprom, which does not comply with the decision of the Stockholm arbitration won by Ukraine, simply deactivates the gas pressure in the Ukrainian pipe, so that Ukraine can not handle the transit of gas to the European Union? But Ukraine has managed. a project that deprives Ukrainian citizens of $ 3 billion a year? "

"How can we support a project that completely puts Europe in dependence on one political company that is not managed by (the chairman of Gazprom's) Miller, but the Kremlin and personally Putin, who sells not gas but has power weapons?" - he said.

"We and our Polish friends are united in the fact that this project must be stopped, and we rely on our European partners, the EU and the European Commission in making the right decision, the right solution for our countries, for our peoples and for our future," - stressed Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The international conference "Revolution, War and its Consequences" in Warsaw is dedicated to the events in Ukraine since 2014, the illegal annexation of the Crimea and Russian aggression in the Donbass and their consequences for Ukraine and Europe, the issue of information wars and hybrid aggression. The 45th French President François Hollande, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Svyatoslav Shevchuk, and well-known Ukrainian and European figures take part in the conference.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that Russia's President Vladimir Putin was likely to order the use of chemical weapons on British territory.

Reported Tsenzor.NET referring to AFP.

"We believe it is very likely that this was his decision to order the use of neuroparalytic substances in the streets of Britain, Europe, for the first time since the Second World War," Johnson said during a Friday visit to the museum in western London, along with his Polish a colleague Jacek Chaputovich.

Recall that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, the former employee of the GRU, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

Mae also said that Britain, ahead of Tuesday evening, March 13, is waiting for explanations from Moscow in connection with the poisoning of the ex-employee of the GRU. After that London will be ready to take the most serious measures in response.

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skryptal and his daughter, Julia, continues. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The People's Deputy from the BPP, Ivan Vinnik, is convinced that the obligatory condition for the release of Nadezhda Savchenko from the Russian prison was her agreement to work further on the special services of the Russian Federation.

He stated this to journalists on the sidelines of the Verkhovna Rada, the correspondent of Tsensor.NET.



"I am convinced that the fact of recruitment by the Russian special services was one of the conditions in connection with which Putin agreed to let her go home... With the same status and with the same level of attention, for example, the citizen of Ukraine Sentsov. I came to the conclusion that Sentsov did not Hadia broke down, and Nadezhda broke down,"- said the People's Deputy, adding that the actions of Savchenko, who actually legitimize the idea of ​​Putin's propaganda about the civil war in the country, is an element of state betrayal.

According to Vinnik, investigative and operative actions against Hope Savchenko have been carried out for 13 months already "in fact since the day they visited ORDLO".

"Therefore, the idea that it is implementing some kind of strategy is not new... To say that the law-enforcement bodies have not done anything. The crime is prevented and documented. Investigative actions continue for several people, and only a third of the information on this crime was published," - he stressed, answering a question about the inactivity of the Ukrainian intelligence services.

Vinnik also said that the exclusion of Savchenko from the parliamentary committee on national security and defense will not affect his work.

Earlier it became known that the People's Deputies brought Savchenko from the session hall of the Council, according to the media, she had several pomegranates and a "trunk" in her bag . Commenting on this information, Savchenko said: " Today saw fear for the first time in the eyes of deputies."

Let's remind, on the morning of March 15, the Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko submitted to the Verkhovna Rada three representations about the removal of immunity, detention and arrest of People's Deputy Nadezhda Savchenko . She is suspected of attempting to organize an "armed coup by terror".

Recall that on March 12, people's deputy Nadiya Savchenko was summoned for questioning at the SBU in the case of the arrest of the head of the Center for the release of prisoners Vladimir Ruban.

On March 8, law enforcement detained a leader of the Volodymyr Ruban Center for the release of prisoners from the "Officers' Corps" when he attempted to enter an area controlled by Ukraine with an arsenal of weapons-controlled territory of the so-called "DPR".

March 9, Pechersk District Court of Kiev arrested Volodymyr Ruban for two months without the right to pledge.

On the fact of Ruban's arrest, the head of the SBU spoke at a special briefing, stating that the purpose of Ruban and his accomplices was to commit a terrorist act in the center of Kiev.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український