Ukraine News. Friday 10 August. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY HEADLINES:
Putin on the upcoming new US sanctions: illegitimate from the point of view of international law.  Glad to see new sanctions against Putin's Russia, - McCain.  US will not disclose details of new sanctions against Russia until they come into force.  This is the announcement of the economic war, - Medvedev on the announced US sanctions against the Russian Federation.  The EU urged the Russian Federation to provide necessary treatment to Sentsov and release all political prisoners.  Russia should urgently resolve the situation with Sentsov - Macron to Putin.  Create pyramid from buying voices: sources told how Tymoshenko's team is preparing for the election.  In the US Congress called for the release of the Russian mercenaries captured by journalist Aseev.  Russia is behaving in a barbaric way towards Belarus, as if we were vassals, Lukashenka.  Poroshenko proposes to strengthen the military presence in the Sea of ​​Azov and to terminate an agreement with the Russian Federation on fishing.  Russia considers the Azov-Black Sea region as an important springboard for its further expansion. Corruption in Ukraine has no limits. We have sent 371 requests to other states, - Sitnik. "Nord Stream 2" is a "Trojan horse" of the Kremlin against European security - Poroshenko. Trump declared double the tariffs for Turkish steel and aluminum.

WEATHER:
Kyiv, Ukraine
26c / 79f HI | RealFeel 26c / 79f
Sunny

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council the possibility of new anti-Russian sanctions on the part of the United States.

This was announced by the press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov, informs Censor.NET with reference to TASS.

According to him, Putin and members of the RF Council of Ministers stressed the illegitimacy of such actions by the United States.

"The topic of possible new unfriendly steps by Washington in the form of trade restrictions has also been violated," the spokeswoman added. "It is emphasized on the total unlawfulness of such actions from the point of view of international law", - said Peskov.
tions.

Recall that on August 8 it became known that the United States will introduce new sanctions against Russia on August 22 because of the incident involving the use of chemical weapons in the British Salisbury. It will be about a ban on exports of goods that may be related to national security.

If, within three months, Moscow will not provide guarantees that it will not use chemical weapons, and will not allow international inspectors to allow their chemical weapons production companies, then Russia will have a second round of sanctions. In particular, it provides for a ban on flights by Aeroflot in the United States, a reduction in diplomatic relations, an almost complete suspension of American exports (excluding food) and the import of Russian goods by the United States.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Republican senator John McCain expresses his satisfaction with the introduction of new sanctions against Russia for the poisoning of ex-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Great Britain.

"It is a pleasure to see how the State Department is moving towards new sanctions against Putin's Russia for its chemical attack, and the Congress must control this process to ensure the swift introduction of a full package of sanctions," McCain wrote in Twitter.

-Earlier, the United States announced that it would impose new sanctions on Russia in late August, claiming that Moscow had violated international law by using the Newbie toxic substance in British Salisbury.

-The restrictions will affect the export of dual-use electronic devices and their components to the national security of Russia.

-The Russian embassy in the United States stated that these sanctions are "draconian" , and the reasons for their introduction are "fake".

-Press Secretary Volodymyr Putin Dmitry Peskov expressed resentment with the new sanctions of the United States.

-This led to a further fall in the ruble.

-August 9, the State Department of the United States revealed requirements to the Russian Federation in the framework of new sanctions in the "Violence case".

-Premier Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia considers new sanctions the US declaration of economic war.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The U.S. Department of State does not intend to elaborate on the new sanctions against the Russian Federation up to the time they are actually introduced.

Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Heather Nauert, told a briefing on Aug. 9, Censor.NET reports.

"As you well know, we don’t forecast sanctions. We have complied with the law in announcing those sanctions just yesterday, and we will comply with the law going forward, of course, as we always would," she said.

Asked whether the State Department has any reason to think that Russians are going to allow inspections to make sure that they’re not using chemical weapons, which is a requirement for Russia to avoid further sanctions, Nauert said: "That’s asking us to look into the future, and we don’t know what the future holds. I think that’s a hypothetical question, so I don’t have an answer for you."

"We’d like to have a better relationship with the Russian Government, recognizing that we have a lot of areas of mutual concern. It is a major country; we are a major country as well. And so when you have that, you are forced to have to have conversations with other governments. And sanctions is a way that we can try to encourage better behavior on the part of government. Now, I’m speaking in a broad-based sense, but that’s one way that we can encourage better behavior," the spokesperson explained.

One of the reporters asked the spokesperson to give the journalists some global sense of what these sanctions are trying to achieve from an American foreign policy perspective.

"We approach every country very differently. Every country that we have a relationship or even countries that we don’t have relationships with are viewed through a separate lens. So what may be appropriate for one country is maybe not necessarily appropriate for another country," she said.

As reported, the Trump administration is going punish Russia with sanctions for poisoning an ex-spy living in Britain with a chemical weapon, the State Department said Wednesday.

A senior State Department official said Russia, along with U.S. allies, was informed of the new sanctions on Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the sanctions will go into effect around Aug. 22: "Following the use of a 'Novichok' nerve agent in an attempt to assassinate UK citizen Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal, the United States, on August 6, 2018, determined under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (CBW Act) that the Government of the Russian Federation has used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law or has used lethal chemical or biological weapons against its own nationals. Following a 15-day Congressional notification period, these sanctions will take effect upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, expected on or around August 22, 2018."

The U.S. would be willing to impose a second set of sanctions on Russia three months later, a senior State Department official said Wednesday, unless Russia can prove it has met certain criteria.

Those include no longer using chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law and allowing on-site inspections by the U.N., as well as providing other reliable assurances, the senior official said.

Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, remain critically ill in hospital, after they were found unconscious on a bench in the Wiltshire city on March 4. The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok and PM Theresa May said she believed Moscow was "culpable."

UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats as part of a "full and robust" response – prompting Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to say it will "certainly" expel British diplomats in response.

On March 16, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had "no reason to doubt the findings and assessments by the British government" which suggested Russian responsibility. He said the "UK is not alone" and Nato allies gave "strong political support" to Britain, following a joint statement from the US, France and Germany backing Mrs May's government and a pledge of support from Australia.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said that the U.K.'s government believes that it was likely Putin's decision to direct the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the U.K.

On March 26, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the United Nations in New York.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the case of strengthening US economic sanctions against the Russian Federation in the Kremlin, this will accept this as an announcement of the economic war, which will lead to a response.

The head of the Russian government Dmitry Medvedev told journalists about this, reports Censor.NET with reference to TASS.

"If there will be something like the ban of banks or the use of a currency, then this can be called absolutely direct - it's an announcement of the economic war," he said.

According to Medvedev, Russia will respond to it "by economic methods, political methods, and, if necessary, by other methods."

"And our American friends must understand that," Medvedev said.

The Russian Prime Minister recalled that sanctions against the Soviet Union were "introduced several dozen times more or less large", and Russia "has been in the last hundred years under conditions of constant sanction pressure".

However, acknowledged that American measures affect the economy of the Russian Federation.

"Why is it being done to remove Russia from its powerful rivals in the international field," he said.

"There is nothing good about this, because any restrictions in the end affect the state of the economy, the movement of the exchange rate," - added Medvedev.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The European Union urged Russia to provide the necessary treatment to Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov and release all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine.

This is stated in the statement of the speaker of the European Foreign Policy Service.

"According to reports, Sentsov's health is rapidly deteriorating. We expect that Russia will provide him with the necessary treatment under qualified medical facilities in accordance with the previous judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of July 25, "the statement said.

The document also states that the European Union expects that international standards in the field of human rights will be respected on the Crimean peninsula. In addition, the EU requires immediate release of Ukrainian citizens illegally detained in Russia and the Crimean peninsula.



Sentsa Sentsova said that she had received a letter from Oleg, in which he asked whether someone was interested in his hunger strike, since he was  not given letters.

Previously,  Denisova asked urgently to report to  President Vladimir Putin on the situation of Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov. Oleg, as of August 9, is hungry for the 88th day.

According to the lawyer, the political prisoner Oleg Sentsov had  a third protracted crisis , he wanted to be hospitalized twice for connection to equipment and to start forced feeding. As of July 9, Oleg is starving for the 88th day. Oleg is thin and weighs 70 pounds.

Denisova said she was ready to fly immediately to Russia to discuss  any conditions for the exchange of Sentsov . In addition, Denisova discussed with Moskal'kova about the possible exchange of Sentsov on Russian Alexei Sedikov.

A political prisoner's sister said that  Sentsov could not walk, nor did he send letters.

On August 8, it was reported that Ms Sentsov's request for his release was transferred to the commission for the pardon of the Yamalo-Nenets district.

Oleg Sentsov's mother Lyudmila wrote to Putin a  petition for pardon . Read the  full text of Ludmila Sentsova  's appeal for pardon.

On July 13, a video with Sentsov, recorded on the 18th day of his hunger strike, was published. This is the  first 2 years footage with Sentsov  in prison.

On July 7, lawyer Dmitry Dinze told the Civic that  Sentsov's health deteriorated, in particular, hemoglobin that led to anemia has decreased significantly, as well as a very low pulse rate of about 40 beats per minute. However,  in Russia, it was stated that Sentsov's condition was "satisfactory".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine urged partners to intensify pressure on Russia  to liberate Sentsov.

Politician  Oleg Sentsov , illegally sentenced to 20 years in the colony, May 14, 2018, declared a hunger strike. As of July 13, Oleg is starving for 61 days. Sentsov demands the  release of  all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. On May 28,  Sentsov agreed  to supportive therapy.

#FreeSentsov : Read all statements and news about Sentsov.

He  started starving before the World Cup in Russia to attract as many people as possible.

Note that on July 13, Oleg Sentsov's birthday. He is 42 years old.

On July 5, his sister Natalia Kaplan visited his short-term date with Sentsov in the "White Bear" colony in Labitnangi. This was the  first meeting for 3 years . They spoke for two hours.

Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov and activist Oleksandr Kolchenko were detained in Crimea on May 10, 2014. They were accused of preparing terrorist acts, convicting Kolchenko to 10, and Sentsova - up to 20 years imprisonment. Together with them were also arrested by Gennady Afanasyev and Alexei Chirnya. Afanasyeva exchanged in 2016, Chirnaya is still in a colony in the Shahty of the Rostov region.

In Russia and in the annexed Crimea, there are 64 Ukrainian political prisoners, 27 of which are in Russia.

58 - detained in the Crimea or in cases related to the Crimea. These figures do not take into account the prisoners held in the territory of self-appointed republics.

hromadske.ua/    In Ukrainian/український

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Russia to urgently resolve the situation with the Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov, whose state of health "is dangerously worsening".

He announced this to President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation on August 10, reports the press service of the residence of Macron.

"The President of France told his concern that the health of Sentsov seems to be dangerously deteriorating. There is a need for Russia to urgently find a humane decision in this situation, "the statement said.

As of August 10, Oleg Sentsov is starving for 89 days.

It is also noted that the French President made "a few suggestions" on this subject.

Putin has promised to respond to Macron's appeal and to quickly disseminate Sentsov's health information.

In the administration of the Russian president on the outcome of the meeting did not mention Sentsov. They noted that "some other themes were affected".

Previously, it was reported that the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, will discuss the issue of Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov in a telephone rumor on July 10 with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On July 10, the Ukrainian ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova appealed to the pardoning commission of the Yamalo-Nenets District of Russia with a request to consider a motion to pardon Sentsov as soon as possible .

On August 9, Ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova published a photo of Ukrainian director, political prisoner of the Kremlin Oleg Sentsov, made at the Colony "White Bear" in Labitnangi on the 88th day of the hunger strike.

Previously, Denisova asked urgently to report to President Vladimir Putin on the situation of Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov. Oleg, as of August 9, is hungry for the 88th day.

According to the lawyer, the political prisoner Oleg Sentsov had a third protracted crisis , he wanted to be hospitalized twice for connection to equipment and to start forced feeding. As of August 9, Oleg is starving for the 88th day. Oleg is thin and weighs 70 pounds.

Earlier, Ombudsman Denisov said he was ready to fly immediately to Russia to discuss any conditions for the exchange of Sentsov . In addition, Denisova discussed with Moskal'kova about the possible exchange of Sentsov on Russian Alexei Sedikov.

A political prisoner's sister said that Sentsov could not walk, nor did he send letters .

On August 8, it was reported that Ms Sentsov's request for his release was transferred to the commission for the pardon of the Yamalo-Nenets district.

On July 9, the Presidential Administration of Russia informed that they received a letter from her mother, Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov, about his pardon. President Vladimir Putin said they were not ready to talk about an official reaction to this letter.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Yulia Tymoshenko team is intensively preparing for future presidential elections, starting with buying votes for the election.

This is stated in the material "Apostrophe".

Since the end of last year, the members of Ivan Kuras Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have been actively working with Tymoshenko. These are the doctors of political sciences Victor Voynalovich and Victor Kotyogorenko. Both are representatives of the team of the late political technologist, the long-time head of the institute Yuri Levenets. The institute, which at different times participated in all-Ukrainian campaigns of Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yanukovych, is associated with the ex-head of the Presidential Administration, and now - a deputy from Opoplubko Sergey Lyovochkin. Now this structure is headed by former deputy Levochkin for AP Oleh Rafalsky. The Institute already performs various functions for the "Batkivshchyna".

"For example, the pyramid, which buys votes for elections, is built by the associates of the late Levenets, and people from Kiev come to the districts," said the apostrophe, familiar with the work of Tymoshenko's headquarters. Technologists from the Kurasa Institute have already been seen in the regions this spring during local elections in the united territorial communities.

In the press service of Levochkina, "Apostrophe" denied the fact of connection with Tymoshenko and political technologists named after Kuraz. The press service of the Tymoshenko party also assures in its own transparency. "Homeland" and the headquarters of Yulia Tymoshenko never engaged in bribing voters and will not engage. We are a democratic European party that defends and observes the principles of transparency and fairness of the electoral process, "they say in the party.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The US Congress on Press Freedom calls on Russian journalists Stanislav Aseev to be released immediately on the Russian-backed terrorists in the Donbas.

The relevant statement was promulgated on Wednesday, August 8, by the co-chairmen of the group, the member of the House of Representatives Adam Schiff and Steve Chabot, writes Radio Liberty, censored by Censor.NET.

Congressmen say they are "deeply troubled" by the fact that the terrorists of the "DPR" group supported by Russia continue to illegally retain Stanislav Aseyev from June 2017.

"Aseev wrote for several Ukrainian media and for the local Bureau of Radio Free Europe / Radio Free Europe, and was one of several independent journalists who remained in the region's controlled separatists to provide objective information," the statement said.

Congressmen said that there is information that Aseev in early July declared a hunger strike and that "his situation is terrible."

Recall that the connection with the Donetsk blogger and the author of the Radio Free Broadcasting Radio Donbas Realities project, Stanislav Aseev, known under the pseudonym Stanislav Vasin, disappeared on June 2, 2017. The mercenaries of the RF refused to report more than a month, where Aseev. In July 2017, the terrorists of the DPR confirmed the imprisonment of a journalist and allowed him to meet with his mother.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko criticized the Russian leadership for not complying with the obligations under the Eurasian Economic Union, the barbaric attitude and creating a situation of unfair competition.

He announced this today, visiting OJSC "Gomselmash", reports Censor.NET with reference to BelTA.

"I want to save" Gomselmash. "We have a difficult period now - the Russians behave in a barbaric way about us, publicly speaking about it, they demand something from us that we vassalized from them, and within the framework of the ECAES, where they invited us, they They do not want to fulfill their obligations, and they create an uncompetitive situation,"- said the Belarusian leader.

Lukashenko noted that Russia accuses the Americans and the West of creating "non-competitive advantage". "But they themselves create conditions for us as uncompetitive as we are talking about with the Russian president, but we must work in the conditions that exist today," the head of state said.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

On August 10, 2018, the First Deputy of the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine to the ARC Izet Gdanov and the representatives of the International Relations Service of the Representative Office participated in the preparatory meeting on the holding of the XXX session of the Ukrainian-Russian Fisheries Commission in the Azov Sea, which will be held in Ukraine in 2018.

This is reported by Censor.NET with a link to the Facebook page.

"Izet Gdanov stressed the need to strengthen the military presence and security measures in the waters of the Azov Sea and questioned the expediency of the future existence of the Ukrainian-Russian agreement in the field of fisheries in the conditions of its systematic violation by the Russian side and the temporary occupation of the Crimea," the statement said.

It is noted that the meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The military-political leadership of the Russian Federation considers the Azov-Black Sea region as an important springboard for its further expansion.

This was stated by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchinov while staying in the area of ​​the United Force, where he checked readiness to counter Russian aggression in the south of Ukraine, the organization of coastal defense and protection of the coast of the Azov Sea, reports censor.NET reference to the press service of the National Security and Defense Council.



According to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the buildup of the military presence of the Russian Federation is combined with "the flagrant violation of international maritime law in the Sea of ​​Azov, which manifests itself, in particular, in the illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and the growing number of incidents involving the detention of Russian military domestic and foreign vessels." "We see the efforts of Russia to actually launch a military-economic blockade of the Azov coast of Ukraine," he said.



Turchynov stressed that Mariupolsky, one of the most threatening areas, remained in the area of ​​the OOP, "where the enemy and the landing and landing operations along the Azov coast are not rejected."

"In the extreme south of the confrontation zone - a steady high number of shelling of our positions and military provocations by the Russian-terrorist forces," he said.



During a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, the command of the OS, the heads of the State Border Guard Service, the National Police and the National Guard Turchynov paid considerable attention to the issues of strengthening and organization of coastal defense and effective counteraction to land and sea provocations on the part of the Russian Federation.

The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine discussed with the command of the Army Naval Forces Navy the creation of a naval naval group in the Sea of ​​Azov.




During his stay in the port of Mariupol, Turchynov identified with the leadership of the State Border Guard a set of tasks for technical support and strengthening of the marine component in providing reliable protection of the Ukrainian southern border.



The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine visited the leading positions of the Ukrainian military in Shirokino, who for many years were at the epicenter of Russian military provocations and shelling, and discussed with the leadership of the 36th Marine Corps a military task to reliably protect the southern flank of the collision line.




According to Turchinov, an adequate counteraction to Russian expansion requires strengthening the naval presence of Ukraine in the region by "relocating part of the naval ship of the Armed Forces Navy, deploying additional monitoring posts along the coastline and the sea, as well as groups of rapid reaction to Russian provocations in the Azov region".

"The Ukrainian military duly fulfills the tasks set before them, reliably protecting the south of Ukraine, and are capable of counteracting the military provocations of the Russian Federation adequately", - summed up the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The amount of money that the state can expect to repay due to lawsuits of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is 6 billion UAH.

This was stated by NABU director Artem Sytnik during a briefing on the topic "Presentation of the report on the work of NABU in the first half of 2018", which took place on June 10 at Ukrinform, reports censor.NET.

"The National Anti-Corruption Bureau is actively prosecuting, as the corrupt schemes that are being investigated are often linked to the conclusion of illegal deals by top managers of state-owned enterprises, especially for public procurement, and over the past six months, 23 decisions were made on claims of NABU in the amount of almost 1.5 billion hryvnias. This provides opportunities for these funds to be repaid in the future for the benefit of the state. Today, the amount of claims by NABU amounts to UAH 6 billion, "Sitnik said.

He also clarified that the amount of claims in the case of PJSC "Ukrnafta" is 1 billion USD, and reminded of the pressure exerted on the judges who considered these actions.

"I would like to specifically mention the principled position of the judges who made these decisions, one of which is the case of Ukrnafta, where the amount exceeds one billion hryvnias, and the judges of the Economic Court who considered the case faced extraordinary pressure. You know who the beneficiary these enterprises, which the war continues for him.Now we have a criminal proceeding on which we are actively moving to a conclusion.Detectives initiated the filing of these actions.but the pressure on the judges did not pass, and the decision was made in favor of the state, and now it is nab Luo force "- said Sytnik.

At the same time, he expressed the hope that there would be no problem in the Supreme Court proceedings.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is considering 72 criminal proceedings regarding electronic declaration. This was stated during the briefing by the head of NABU Artem Sitnik, writes " GORDON".

According to him, the total amount of declared income for these proceedings is 769 million UAH. This is mostly true for people's deputies (30%) and judges (18%). "The first cases have already been referred to the court," Sitnik said.

During the first half of 2018, NABU sent 83 requests to other countries regarding corruption schemes, said Sitnik.

"Figures show that, unfortunately, corruption in Ukraine has no limits. There are almost no corruption schemes that are being investigated by NABU and which would have ended in Ukraine. For the entire period of work, we have sent 371 requests to other states, and for the first half of 2018 We have already sent 83 such requests, "Sitnik said.

According to him, NABU feels the opposition of the Prosecutor General's Office. This is due to the fact that NABU is the only law-enforcement agency, except for the GPU, which has the right to cooperate directly with international counterparts.

"And, unfortunately, we are faced with a certain resistance, but I can say that we successfully overcome it," - added the director of NABU.

Also, Sitnik, responding to journalists' questions, expressed conviction that an anti-corruption court would be launched.

"Optimistically minded in this direction," Sitnik said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

According to Poroshenko, "Nord Stream 2" could have catastrophic consequences for the EU.
This is Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on his Facebook page, reports censor.NET.

"North Stream 2" is a "Trojan horse" of the Kremlin against European energy and, ultimately, geopolitical security. Refusal to implement the project within the framework of the Third Energy Package of the EU and deliberate failure by Gazprom of the decisions of the Stockholm Arbitration on cases with Ukraine - These are clear and unambiguous signals about the true motives of the gas pipeline and its potential catastrophic consequences for the European Union. I call on our European partners to get rid of deceptive and disastrous Kremlin spells and resolve as quickly as possible. You have your own energy security, "Poroshenko said.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States will raise tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum against the backdrop of worsening diplomatic relations with Ankara.

This was stated by US President Donald Trump on Twitter.

"I just allowed double the tariffs for steel and aluminum with respect to Turkey, because its currency, the Turkish lira, is falling rapidly against our very strong dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and steel 50%. Our relations with Turkey are not very good now! "- wrote Trump.

Earlier, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Turkish ministers because of their involvement in the persecution of American pastor Andrew Branson, detained in 2016.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not change its position on the arrest of an American pastor.

US President Donald Trump said the United States would impose "big sanctions" against Turkey because of the holding of Ankara by American pastor Andrew Branson, accused of terrorism and espionage.

Branson has been working in Turkey for more than 20 years. He was detained in 2016 and accused of terrorism and espionage. Ankara claims that Branson allegedly assisted the groups that were behind the organization of the military coup in Truvia in July 2016.

On July 25, 2018, Branson was taken under house arrest. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Turkey should release him and release him to his homeland.

On June 20, the European Commission finally approved customs duties on American imports in response to US customs duties on steel and aluminum. In particular, new tariff restrictions would apply to US goods worth a total of $ 2.8 billion.

On June 14, the European Union unanimously supported the introduction of US customs duties as a response to America's imposed steel and aluminum duties. After that, a decision by the European Commission was required.

Previously, the European Commission offered 25% duty on US goods, such as juices, clothing, motorcycles, etc.

In March, Donald Trump introduced import duties on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%). The orders signed by the president came into force on March 23. Mexico, Canada and the EU were temporarily excluded from the list of countries.

On May 31, Trump canceled temporary exceptions for steel and aluminum from the EU, Canada, and Mexico. The EU has been told to introduce countermeasures .

The European Union and Canada were preparing to address the issue of the introduction of US customs duties on steel and aluminum through the mechanisms of the World Trade Organization. In particular, countries have already sent their complaints there .

In early June, it became known that the European Union announced plans to introduce additional duties of 2.8 billion dollars of American goods in response to Washington's decision to introduce tariffs for European steel and aluminum.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український