Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Tuesday 24 January. [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY

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NEWS:
Sanctions against Russia meaningless, - French presidential candidate Fillon.  No threat, Putin responded to China placing missiles near Russian borders.  Merkel responded in Trump's nuclear deal with Putin.  Dodon set to quit deal on launching NATO Liaison Office in Moldova.  Protesters block entrances to Kyiv, burn tires.  Moldovan speaker blasts Dodon's initiative against NATO office. In Kharkiv man threw himself under a train station: published video.

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A spokesman for Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that Russia sees no threat in placing China intercontinental ballistic missiles DF-41 (Dongfeng) near the border with Russia .

It is reported by Russian TV channel "Star".

Peskov said that China is a strategic partner and ally of Russia.

"We value our relations. We do not perceive this as a threat to our country," - he said.

Recall that the Chinese edition of Global Times believes that the deployment of ballistic missiles DF-41, the maximum flight range which is about 12,000 km, may be associated with the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized China.

As reported, "Apostrophe", the media learned about the intention of Russia and China to jointly develop a response to the placement of US missile defense systems in South Korea.

apostrophe.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Lyayyen said that Berlin would not support a decision on easing US sanctions on Russia and the EU in exchange for a reduction in nuclear arsenal .

It is reported by "RIA Novosti".

German Minister reminded that Ukraine has agreed to renounce nuclear weapons with a written guarantee from the Russian side to respect and protect its borders. This agreement, said Ursula von der Lyayyen was broken Russian occupation of Crimea.

"Thus, it is clear that the combination of" reducing nuclear weapons - easing of sanctions "does not work" - said the German minister.

She noted that imposed sanctions on Russia for its hybrid war in Donbas, and they can be relaxed only after Moscow Minsk agreements.

As reported, "Apostrophe" EU to expand sanctions against Russia demanded Ukraine " list Sentsov."

apostrophe.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

President of Moldova Igor Dodon intends to offer to sign an agreement to ensure country’s neutral status at the upcoming February meeting with heads of NATO member states in Brussels.

Censor.NET reports citing TASS.

"I will work to cancel this agreement and find out whether the alliance members are ready to uphold and sign an agreement that would ensure Moldova's neutral status," Dodon said.

In late November 2016, Moldova's prime minister and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg signed an agreement on establishing a NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau. The document was later ratified by the country's parliament.

Igor Dodon slammed the agreement, saying he would "block any (NATO infiltration) attempts as well as prevent any dubious joint military exercises." However, the deal took effect prior to his inauguration as the president of the republic.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Moldova's Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu has reacted to President Igor Dodon's statement about his intention to cancel the agreement on launching a NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau. According to the speaker, there is no concern that neutrality could be lost or that foreign troops could be deployed in Moldova.

Censor.NET reports citing Deschide.md.

Candu believes NATO's office in Chisinau would enable successful communication of this international structure with Moldova's military institutions.

"The neutrality of Moldova is affirmed in the Constitution and there is no concern that the neutrality could be lost or that the foreign military could arrive in Moldova (except those who are already deployed in Transnistria). In this regard, the president's concerns are unfounded.

"NATO's office in Chisinau seeks to ensure a better communication between this international structure and our military. It's a technical office opened for information and communication purposes and nothing more. We must remember the cooperation with NATO started back in the communist era. Our soldiers began to be involved in peacekeeping missions and the Moldovan army only benefited from this cooperation, as well as the national security," the speaker noted.

Earlier, Dodon said he would "work to cancel this agreement."

In late November 2016, Moldova's prime minister and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg signed an agreement on establishing a NATO Liaison Office in Chisinau. The document was later ratified by the country's parliament.

Prime Minister Filip said on Sunday the bureau will start its work in March 2017.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon says EU's sanctions against Russia make no sense.

Censor.NET reports citing Reuters.

"I am convinced that the economic sanctions are totally ineffective," Fillon said.

He noted Russia had to make certain steps before sanctions could be lifted, adding that Ukraine was also not doing what it needed to do to ensure peace.

According to Fillon, another way for dialogue with the Russian Federation should be found.

"I do not want Trump to talk with Russia at our expense. It would be damaging for Europe if Trump went above our heads," he stressed.

Earlier, Fillon said that France should resume strong and frank relations with Russia and the United States.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Owners of cars with foreign licence plates have blocked entrances to Kyiv and demand adoption of the bill No.5567 that will allow importing cars in Ukraine without customs payment.
The event was announced by activists of the Avto Euro Syla on social media, Censor.NET reports.

"On Jan. 24 at 7 a.m. owners of cars from across Ukraine gather at major entry points to Kyiv to partially block the traffic and burn tires as a warning sign against dragging of adoption of No.5567 bill," the message reads.




In the morning, the activists were blocking traffic at Boryspil highway, Odesa direction, and Stolychne Roadway. The activists are few, they have started burning tires.

The bill stipulates for 'conditional partial tax exemption' for imported cars at 'fair price.' As written in the explanatory note of the bill, about 1.5 million cars with foreign plates have been imported to Ukraine. These vehicles enter under different schemes, including corrupt and illegal ones, BBC reports.

The authors of the documents propose to make this process legal and force Ukrainians from refusing the car import services of non-residents in order to 'prevent the flow of cash abroad.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

In Kharkiv man fell on the tracks before the train at the subway station "Maidan Constitution."

Reported by the communications department of the Kharkiv region.

The incident occurred January 24 near 10:20. The person affected is not reported. There remain unknown details of the event. Metro station was closed to passengers.

A spokesman for the mayor's office of Kharkiv Yuri Sidorenko on his Facebook page posted a record CCTV camera, which shows that people jumped on their own track.

It is likely that a man so tried to commit suicide.

According to Sidorenko, the victim was taken to hospital, but to save him failed. The victim died in a medical facility.

As reported, "Apostrophe" before the network published photos from the night shooting in Odesa.



apostrophe.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukraine is able to respond to Russian cyber attacks, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"Russia has been staging cyber attacks not only against Ukraine, and this has been confirmed. We have a very strong cyber division, so Ukraine is able to unleash a counterattack. But Ukraine is not the only target of the cyber attacks: all European countries and the United States are the objects of cyber attacks, and this is an element of hybrid warfare," he said at a joint press conference with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki on Tuesday.

Also, the Ukrainian president says he believes that the international community should create a new structure to address global security. "We must be fully prepared for such challenges from the Russian Federation, as the entire global security has changed after the illegal annexation of Crimea – it [security] is based on the UN Charter, but one of the UN member states violates these laws. So we should come up with an idea of a new structure for global security, new principles of global safety," he added......

unian.info