Ukraine News. Tuesday 8 MAY. [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY HEADLINES:
EU plans to consider new sanctions against Russia due to aggression in Ukraine.  Trump congratulated Putin on the fourth term as president of the Russian Federation.  In order for Russia to change its behavior, sanctions are not enough, pressure should be constantly and synchronously strengthened.  Giving Ukraine weapons is necessary to deter Russia from further aggression.  US-2019 Defense Budget Draft: Ukraine is requested to provide $ 250 million in aid, including $ 50 million in lethal weapons.  US Congress is proposing to impose sanctions against suppliers of Russian defense industry. The vision of Western Europe in Ukraine does not correspond to reality - EU. In the United States, they propose to impose sanctions against Russian arms suppliers. US Congress will continue to seek any opportunity to impose restrictions on the Russian Federation. In the Donbass, up to 50% of the fighters are citizens of Russia. Volker about the return of Crimea to Ukraine: The Baltic states were also occupied by the USSR, but eventually everything changed. Mass poisoning by an unknown substance in Cherkassy: the number of hospitalized persons increased to 55 people. Ukrainians are calling for boycotting Adidas products through a collection of USSR symbols. Russia builds a powerful border, in order to start aggression against Ukraine, military resources on it can be increased in a few weeks. SBU found Internet recruiters who offered for money to participate in the March of the Immortal Regiment. Russia builds a powerful border, in order to start aggression against Ukraine, military resources on it can be increased in a few weeks. German Minister of Economics Altmaier is going to hold talks in Kyiv and Moscow on "North Stream-2".

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The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states at the May 8 meeting plans to consider introducing additional sanctions against Russia due to aggression in Ukraine.

It is reported on the website of the European Council.

"Restrictive measures in respect of actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine - new lists - decisions and regulation of implementation", - says in a document describing the plans for the forthcoming meeting.

As RBC-Ukraine adds , the European Council plans to consider sanctions against Russia precisely because of the illegal "election" of the Russian president in the annexed Crimea.

Earlier, Radio Free Europe correspondent in Brussels, Ricard Yosvyak, said that the EU plans to impose sanctions against five responsible for "elections" in Crimea.

March 18 in Russia, the presidential elections took place. The election day was appointed on the day of the annexation of the Crimea. In Russia, it was stated that over Putin in the annexed Crimea "gave" over 90% of the vote .

The illegal election of the Russian president in the annexed Crimea recorded a low turnout . It was also reported that pressure was exerted on the Crimean Tatars.

The European Union did not recognize the results of the "election" of the Russian president in the Crimea.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US President Donald Trump congratulated Vladimir Putin on the fourth term as President of the Russian Federation.

This was announced by the spokesman of the White House Sarah Sanders.

"The President congratulates him and hopes for a time when we will be able to have good relations with Russia. At the same time, the United States believes that everyone has the right to be heard and has the right to peaceful gatherings, "Sanders said, recalling mass protests against Putin's inauguration.

Trump greeted his Russian colleague with a short phone call, reports Indian Express.

At noon on May 7, Putin's inauguration took place in the Kremlin. Thus, Vladimir Putin, for the fourth time, assumed the office of President of the Russian Federation.

On May 5, in the cities of Russia, protest rallies "He is not king" were confined to the inauguration of Vladimir Putin. In general, over May 16, more than 1,600 people were detained in the actions "He is not a king". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the mass detention of protesters in Russia.

The US and the European Union also condemned the mass detention of protesters in Russia.

US President Donald Trump congratulated Vladimir Putin on the fourth term as President of the Russian Federation.

This was announced by the spokesman of the White House Sarah Sanders.

"The President congratulates him and hopes for a time when we will be able to have good relations with Russia. At the same time, the United States believes that everyone has the right to be heard and has the right to peaceful gatherings, "Sanders said, recalling mass protests against Putin's inauguration.

Trump greeted his Russian colleague with a short phone call, reports Indian Express.

At noon on May 7, Putin's inauguration took place in the Kremlin . Thus, Vladimir Putin, for the fourth time, assumed the office of President of the Russian Federation.

On May 5, in the cities of Russia, protest rallies "He is not king" were confined to the inauguration of Vladimir Putin. In general, over May 16, more than 1,600 people were detained in the actions "He is not a king". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the mass detention of protesters in Russia.

The US and the European Union also condemned the mass detention of protesters in Russia.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The impact of Western sanctions on Russia can be evaluated differently, but to change the behavior of the RF they need to be strengthened constantly and do it in synchrony with other countries.

A spokesman for the US State Department for Negotiations in Ukraine, Kurt Volker, said on Monday at a thematic conference in Washington DC, Censor.NET reports , referring to Ukrinform.

Answering the question of whether the Western sanctions on the Russian Federation had an impact, Volker remarked: yes, and no. "If you look at whether Russia changed its behavior, whether it decided to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and return the Crimea - obviously not, we did not achieve a" dramatic "effect," said the representative of the United States.

On the other hand, according to him, it is possible to notice how everyday there is a "significant influence on the relations of Russia with the rest of the world", and not only within the framework of the European Union, but also in a broader context.

Volker emphasized that, in light of the advancement of such projects as the North Stream 2 and other efforts, Russia is trying to divide Europe. In this regard, he stressed that it is very important to gradually increase pressure on Russia and to do so in cooperation with all the allies.

"If you demonstrate that pressure is increasing every time and you are ready to continue to do this and keep unity, it will be a clear united message for a broader response to what Russia does. I think that a common position is very important", - stressed Volker.

In addition, he said, "it also signals (for Russia - ed.) That it will not be better, it will be only worse, and this is the most important thing you can do in order to try to build the basis for change (in behavior - ed.)"

In this context, Volker confirmed that Europe and the United States are "absolutely united" in the matter of settling the situation in Ukraine and creating pressure on Russia. "Ukraine is one of the issues on which we have the most permanent coordination," said the United States Special Representative.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Giving Ukraine weapons and strengthening its defense potential is not aimed at attacking or provoking Russia, as the opponents of this idea say, but in order to prevent Russia from expanding aggression.

According to Censor.NET, referring to Ukrinform, Kurt Volker, Special Representative of the US Department of State for Negotiations in Ukraine, said on Monday in Washington.

"As for Ukraine, the balance of power here is very clear. Russia has concentrated much more forces in the east of Ukraine and around what Ukraine has or will have ever," said the American diplomat.

He stressed that "there is no question of whether Ukraine should be strengthened in order to attack Russia or provoke Russia", which some fear.

"None of these approaches is a rational look at the situation," Volker said.
Instead, as the US spokesman said, it would be appropriate to create more potential for raising prices for Russia, "if it wants to expand control over the Ukrainian territory."

In this regard, the US special envoy noted that "deterring Russia from further aggression" is something that the United States and its allies would like to achieve.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Committee on Armed Forces of the House of Representatives of the US Congress introduced the draft law "US Budget for 2019 for National Defense needs".

As informs Censor.NET, this is stated in the message of the embassy of Ukraine to the United States, published on Facebook.

"The amount of funds proposed to be allocated for Ukraine's security assistance, in particular lethal weapons, is estimated at $250 million, which is $100 million more than the Committee has proposed to provide in the current budget year," the report said.

It is noted that $50 million from the indicated amount it is proposed to send it exclusively for the provision of lethal weapons of a defensive nature.

The bill must be agreed with a version that will be prepared by the Senate and voted by both chambers of Congress before filing for the signature of the President of the United States.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Congressional Chamber of Commerce's House of Representatives is proposing to empower the US president to impose sanctions on suppliers of the Russian defense industry.

According to Censor.NET, referring to Interfax-Ukraine , the relevant proposal is presented in the US Defense Budget bill and its policy for 2019, which is posted on the committee's website.

"This section provides for the imposition of sanctions against individuals who provide some support to the Russian industry, with a focus on the supply chain of the Russian defense industry, related to the development or production of key military equipment and leading examples of conventional weapons," the text of the draft law says.

According to the document, the section "will also contain extended sanctions for the governments of the sponsoring countries receiving such equipment from Russia."

The President is empowered not to include those persons whose activities are important for the national security of the United States.

In addition, this section of the bill would "amend section 231 of the CAATSA Law" On Resistance to American Americans through Safeguards "and thus would be empowered" to suspend the imposition of sanctions under this law for 180-day periods "if Persons who purchase weapons in the Russian Federation will demonstrate that they "directly support the goals of national security of the United States" and will take certain steps, including "termination of military relations or decrease of dependence on the Russian defense sector".

It is noted that within 120 days after the date of entry into force of the law, the president must submit a report to the US Congress on information on supply channels used under the Russian arms trade programs.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In Western Europe, the vision of a situation in Ukraine does not correspond to reality because of the fact that in the West it is poorly informed about it.

This was announced by the head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hug Mingarelli, reports RBC-Ukraine.

"In the European Union, not very good information on what is happening in Ukraine. Especially in the western countries, the vision of what's happening in Ukraine is not realistic. This is a big problem. We must find ways to help understand the people of Western Europe that are happening in Ukraine, "Mingarelli said.

In his view, changing the situation will help provide opportunities for young people from Ukraine to travel to Western Europe.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the US Congress proposed to impose sanctions against suppliers of the Russian defense industry.

This is reported by DW.

The authors of the bill on the US defense budget for 2019 suggest offering the president powers that provide for sanctions against those who support the defense industry of Russia.

In particular, it refers to deliveries of defense industry, related to the development or production of basic military equipment. In addition, sanctions may be imposed against government governments that buy such weapons in Russia.

At the same time, Congress is being offered to allow a three-month delay in sanctions, if those who buy armaments in Russia will confirm their activities in the interests of national security of the United States. Sanctions can also be postponed in the event of a demonstration of steps to reduce dependence on the Russian defense sector.

As it was reported, the same draft law in the US Congress is proposing to allocate $250 million to Ukraine for security assistance.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The American Congress has many opportunities to increase economic pressure in the form of sanctions and other restrictions against Russia and intends to apply them in order to force the Kremlin to stop aggression against sovereign states.

As informs Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform, said American Sen. Democrat Ben Cardin.

"Congress has already passed a law with a very powerful sanction regime," the legislator stressed, referring to the law of CAATSA (Act against American opponents through sanctions).

"I think you will see that we will continue to exercise control over the implementation of the law (Ed.) For our part, asking how we did during the Pompeo hearing - I think it was useful," Cardin remarked.

He also stressed that members of the Congress will continue to seek any opportunity to impose restrictions on the Russian Federation, including in draft bills on allocations.

The Senator criticized the current administration of the White House through the implementation of not all instruments of pressure on Russia, including those provided by the law of CAATSA. In this regard, he stressed that the Congress could do a lot "to increase the scope for sanctions against the Russian Federation".

At the same time, Cardin noticed that the United States was imposing sanctions not "to inflict pain" on Russia. "We are imposing sanctions not to invade Ukraine, not to invade the US-sovereign states, so the position is very clear: if Putin changes his course and does not interfere in the affairs of sovereign states, we will not even talk about sanctions because they will not", - said the American senator.

Earlier, the Special Representative of the United States Department of State for Negotiations in Ukraine, Kurt Volker, said that in order for Russia to change its behavior, sanctions are not enough, the pressure should be constantly and synchronously strengthened.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the Donbass, up to 50% of those who fight on the side of the militants of the so-called "DPR" and "LNR" are citizens of Russia.

This was stated by the president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in an interview to the CBS News channel, the press service of the Presidential Administration reports.

Poroshenko stressed that Ukraine has confirmed data on regular Russian troops in the occupied part of the Donbas.

"We have confirmed figures that in different periods their number was from 10 thousand to 2.5 thousand regular Russian troops in the occupied territory. Plus, they have almost 50,000 troops of the so-called "Russian volunteers" who were recruited through the Russian mobilization system and sent there, "the president said.

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine established that the operation on the bombing of Mariupol in January 2015 was led by Russian troops .

A group of international investigators, Bellingcat, several hours before the briefing of the head of the SBU, Hrycak also released materials confirming the participation of the Russian Armed Forces in the shelling of Mariupol. Bellingcat revealed the participation of nine Russian officers in these operations, including one general, two colonels and three lieutenant colonels.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Moscow may return Crimea to Ukraine just as it has returned independence to the three Baltic States, despite the recognition of their Soviet republics for a long time.

According to Censor.NET, referring to Ukrinform , such a view was expressed by US special envoy on talks in Ukraine Kurt Volker.

"They (Russians - Ed.) Will say one thing (about the prospects of returning the Crimea - Ed.), We are others, but we will see what will happen in the future. The Baltic states have been occupied by the Soviet Union for decades, and eventually everything has changed", - said Volker.

In this regard, he stressed that the problem of the Crimea is quite complicated. However, he noticed that he was watching "with great enthusiasm" about his predecessors regarding the policy of non-recognition of the annexation of the Baltic States.

He also noted that pressure on sanctions against Russia would continue until it returns the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine.

According to him, the "Crimean" package of sanctions against Russia was a clear message: "An invasion and capture of its territory, its annexation, declaration of its property is simply unacceptable, and we are not going to tolerate it."

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

As of 14:30, 53 students and 2 teachers were hospitalized in the Cherkasy healthcare facilities.
As informs Censor.NET, this is stated in the press service of the DSNC in Cherkasy region.

According to the agency, out of 53 children, 11 are in moderate intensive care, the rest are in a satisfactory and easy condition.

For the provision of psychological assistance to parents of sick children in the medical institution, the work of the psychologists of the DSNOS is organized.



In order to determine the reason for the deterioration of the health of students by the chemical and radiological laboratory of the DSS in the school, air measurements were carried out on the content of hazardous chemicals. Excessive content of chemicals above the maximum permissible concentration was not detected (ammonia - 0 mg / m3, chlorine - 0 mg / m3, hydrogen sulfide - 0 mg / m3, combustible gases - 0 mg / m3). The level of oxygen in the air - 20,9% (in the norm - from 19 to 23%).

The Laboratory of the State Committee for Consumer Goods of Cherkasy has taken samples of water from the centralized water supply system of the school and bottled drinking water for the study of the content of hazardous substances. (The results of the research are expected - until 16:00 on May 8, 2018).



ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

Ukrainians launched a flashmob in social networks calling for boycotting Adidas brand sportswear after the company's release of the USSR national team collection.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislytsia posted a report stating that the company had removed products from the site with appropriate symbols.



"Adidas prefers to use the symbols of the USSR on their clothes. For me, this means that I will not spend more than one cent on their belongings. A company that does not respect history and does not feel compassion for human suffering does not deserve me as a client. Or someone else, "wrote a communications technology specialist in Facebook, Yaroslav Klyuchkovsky, a teacher at the Lviv Business School.



The first deputy minister of finance Oksana Markarova also joined the flashmob .

"Adidas has decided to support the regime, which killed millions of people and was the prison of nations, having put the name and logo of the USSR on its products. What's next? Apartheid clothing line? How can such an epic failure in a company that can afford the best professionals? No more Adidas for me or my family", - Markarova wrote on Facebook.



Twitter users publish ironic photos of Adidas products with a swastika, asking rhetorical questions about why not make collections with symbols of other modes.

As the Interfax-Ukraine writes, Adidas-Ukraine (Kyiv), a subsidiary of the subsidiary, said that it would provide information on Adidas plans to sell products with USSR symbols in Ukraine only after a written request.



Earlier, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance addressed a subsidiary of the Adidas sports brand in Ukraine from a reminder of the responsibility for the distribution of products in Ukraine using prohibited symbols of the communist totalitarian regime.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania expressed surprise by using the Soviet symbols as the Adidas sports brand. Also in the statement stated that Adidas "sick" imperial nostalgia.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The operatives found two residents of the Kiev and Sumy regions, which administered anti-Ukrainian communities in the social network VKontakte. Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine documented that the attackers received an instruction from the Russian intelligence services to organize a selection of those willing to take part in the so-called "Marche of the Immortal Regiment" in different cities of the country.

In addition, according to information provided by the Security Service of Ukraine, on the eve of May 9, advocacy activities of representatives of the so-called "Ministry of Information of the DPR" became much more active. Its employees send "manuals" to owners of anti-Ukrainian communities in social networks for mass campaigning in the interests of the Kremlin and terrorist organizations "D / LNR".

"Within the framework of the implementation of a set of measures to counter Russian information aggression on the eve of the May holidays, SBU staff blocked eight anti-Ukrainian communities in social networks that circulated appeals for participation in provocative fake actions in the interests of the aggressor country," the press service said in a press-center of the agency.

ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

According to the Ukrainian intelligence, Russia currently has insufficient groups to start a massive aggression against Ukraine.

This was stated by Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak in an interview with the publication "Obozrevatel", informs Censor.NET.

"Russia is building a powerful border that can be used to open an open aggression against Ukraine. Today, according to intelligence, there is no group in Russia capable of carrying out a full-scale aggression against Ukraine, but the created infrastructure makes it possible to increase the military resource from two weeks to two months, mainly by the Western and Southern military districts, "he said.

According to him, in addition to two terrorist armed forces in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, Russia has launched a powerful grouping along the border with Ukraine.

"There are about 80 thousand personnel, 900 tanks, more than 1000 arts systems, more than 400 volley fire stations, and the restoration of three armies, the task of which was to create tension in Europe during the Cold War," the minister said.

Also, Poltorak said, there is a constant rotation of officers of the regular troops of the Russian Federation.

In the terrorist groups today, the local population is about 60%.

"Russia has created such economic conditions in Donetsk and Luhansk that yesterday's miners or peasants are nowhere to go, so they are forced to go to illegal armed forces in order to make money, which is the first component and the second is information work with the population. Morning to evening gives its result", - said Poltorak.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The head of the German Ministry of Economy, Peter Altmeier, is going to visit Ukraine and Russia in order to hold talks with the theme of which, among other things, will be the North Stream 2.

According to the German edition of Handelsblatt, Censor.NET reports.

"Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmayer is planning a visit to Russia and Ukraine soon," the statement said.

In particular, on Sunday and Monday, May 13 and 14, he intends to visit Kyiv and Moscow to discuss "energy and economic policy issues." An important topic for negotiations will be the controversial draft of the North Stream 2 pipeline and the future role of Ukraine as a transit country, the paper said.

Also, the focus of the policy will be German-Russian economic relations. Despite the fact that last year, German exports to Russia again showed significant growth, in relations there is uncertainty and uncertainty about sanctions.

In addition, Altmayer's visit to Russia will be part of the preparation of the visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi on May 18, where she will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the edition notes.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український