Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Saturday 22 April. [Ukrainian sources]

SATURDAY

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NEWS:
Moscow Hails ICJ Ruling On Ukraine.  US Secretary of State ambassador Tina Kaidanow travels to Ukraine to discuss security issues.  US and Russian negotiations on Ukraine should take place with the participation of Ukraine.  The threat of collapse of Putin's regime, the Russian Federation described the split in the Kremlin.  US ally killed the leader ISIL.  EU thinking on the suspension of negotiations on Turkey's membership.  Putin expressed willingness to supply emergency Assad air defense systems. NATO sent 700 times more fighter planes via RF.

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Last year they made a record number of flights

NATO fighter aircraft in 2016 about 780 times the alarm raised in the air from bases in Europe for visual identification and maintenance of aircraft aerospace Forces. This is a record number of such incidents since the Cold War, Command spokesman US air base Ramstein in Germany (federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate) German media.

Indicated that another 90 such missions were carried out through the other states combat aircraft, passenger aircraft or transport of winged machines that are not immediately able to identify on the radar screen.

Thus in 2015 the number of flights in connection with the discovery of Russian fighters was almost half - 410, said the source.

Since the annexation of Crimea, the Baltic countries have repeatedly stated their vulnerability to aggressive policy. In this regard, NATO intensified its air policing of the Baltic allies.

glavcom.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Viktor Ozerov said Russia may put the government of Syria needed air defense (PVO) as a priority, if such agreement is reached.

It is reported by "RIA Novosti".

"Necessary volume (air defense systems) can be set as a priority, it does not require an additional burden on the defense industry", - said Russian senator.

He believes that the supply of data if a decision on them will be taken, "not unusual, given that Syria is at war with terrorists and that Russia helped her in realizing the task of fighting terrorism."

"It would not violate international law and the UN Security Council, air defense systems are not offensive and defensive weapons," - said Ozerov.

Earlier, Syrian President Bashar Assad said that Damascus is interested in the latest generation of air defense systems, and negotiations on the issue between the defense departments of Russia and Syria were "part of everyday relationships." Assad added that half PPO Syrian government forces destroyed.

As reported by "Apostrophe" Foreign Ministry spokesman called Staged footage from the effects of chemical attacks in the Syrian province of Idlib April 4.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

In the European Union next week will discuss the possible suspension of negotiations on Turkey's integration through a referendum to expand the powers of the president of the state.

This writes the German publication Die Welt, citing a diplomatic source, reports " European truth ."

Foreign ministers of EU member states will present an appropriate matter to the European Commission next week.

"This issue is on the agenda of a meeting of foreign ministers of EU member states at the end of next week in Malta (April 28-29), the Ministers urged the European Commission to consider whether Ankara had violated the basic principles of accession negotiations and not have to suspend them," - said a European diplomat.

As reported by "Apostrophe", the EU appealed to the Government of Turkey in the context of the outcome of the referendum.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Ambassador Tina Kaidanow will travel to Germany, Estonia, and Ukraine April 23-29 for discussions on a variety of international security issues.

Censor.NET reports citing the U.S. Department of State.

"Ambassador Kaidanow will consult with U.S. government officials from the U.S. European Command in Germany and other senior U.S. representatives in the region regarding ongoing U.S. efforts to strengthen NATO Allies through security cooperation and defense trade. She will also discuss security assistance programs overseen by the Department of State that strengthen the capabilities of partner nations in Europe contributing to coalition operations to defeat ISIS and promote security in Afghanistan," the statement reads.

In Estonia and Ukraine, Ambassador Kaidanow will meet with civilian and defense officials to discuss a wide range of political-military issues, including regional strategic priorities, security assistance, military-to-military cooperation, and related issues.

censor.net.ua , Original in Russian / На русском

Russia's Foreign Ministry has hailed a ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague rejecting Ukraine's request to order Moscow to stop supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine said in a case filed at the ICJ in January that Russia had stepped up its interference in Ukraine's affairs since 2014, "intervening militarily...financing acts of terrorism and violating the human rights of millions of Ukraine's citizens, including, for all too many, their right to life."

But the court on April 19 said in its ruling that “the conditions required for the indication of provisional measures,” as requested by Ukraine in order to block Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, “are not met."

In a statement on April 20, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the ICJ "also called on all parties to the dispute to implement in full the Minsk agreements, recalling that these agreements were approved and signed by representatives of Donetsk and Luhansk in particular, a fact that Ukraine attempts to deny."

Moscow seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and has supported the separatists in a war that has killed more than 9,900 people in eastern Ukraine since April of that year.

"It is important that the court has taken a principled stand and did not support Ukraine’s claims about supposed ‘aggression’ and ‘occupation,' and on the status of Crimea as a matter not relevant to the substance of the dispute," the Russian Foreign Ministry's April 20 statement said.

However, the ICJ did issue a provisional ruling calling for a halt to what it says is "racial discrimination" against Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians in Russia-occupied Crimea..................

rferl.org

Foreign Ministry spokesman Elena Zerkal commented on the possible involvement of Putin aide Surkov in the United States and Russia negotiations on Ukraine.

Any negotiations with the United States and Russia on the future participation of Ukraine should take place with the participation of representatives of Ukraine. This was said by Deputy Foreign Minister for European Integration Elena Zerkal, passes Tsenzor.NET with reference to Channel 5 .

"There will be a lot depends on the person, first of all, to be determined by the communicator not only with Russia, but in general with Europe on the part of Trump's administration, because now no such person. Of course, much will depend on whether they choose the path of communication. I can not say that I've always been a fan of communication format Nuland - Surkov "- Zerkal said.

Assistant to the Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of the architects of the anti-Ukrainian propaganda of the Kremlin, Vladislav Surkov, has been a major partner in the negotiations on the settlement of the situation in the east of Ukraine with representatives of the US, in particular, with the Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The upcoming presidential elections in Russia intensifies confrontation of different groups within the Russian government, which could lead to the collapse of the current regime.

It said Russian political scientist, professor, head of the expert group "owl" and a member of the Council of Free House in Kiev, Mikhail Savva, reports Ukrainian edition of " Explorer ".

"Towers of the Kremlin," as referred to warring factions in the government itself, are among a war. Kadyrov against the FSB, "liberals" of the financial and economic bloc of the government against the "siloviki" and so on. Elite regions deeper thinking about how not to be under the rubble of the power vertical. Before the presidential election in 2018 to strengthen the mass protests against the background of weakening governments can threaten the collapse of the regime, "- said the expert.

The split in the Russian government occurred within the federal government and between the federal center and regional elites.

As reported by "Apostrophe", formerly known Russian artist Sergey Elkin dedicated his new job for fear of Russian President Vladimir Putin before a possible successor.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The International Court of Justice announced its ruling on Ukraine’s case against Russia today, on April 19th 2017. It partially grants Ukraine’s request for preliminary measures against Russia under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. However, the Court said that it would not impose measures ordering Russia to stop funding and equipping pro-Russian separatists as part of the case brought against Moscow by Ukraine.

The President of the ICJ, Ronny Abrahams, read out the decision in a public meeting at the Peace Palace, the official home of the International Court in The Hague.

The decision concerned the election of provisional measures based on claims that Russia supports terrorism in Donbas and ethnic discrimination against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars in annexed Crimea.

Moreover, the ICJ expects Ukraine and Russia to both uphold and implement the Minsk agreements.

“The Court expects that both parties work in a joint effort towards the implementation of the agreements reached in Minsk, in order to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine,” said President of the Court, Ronny Abraham.

On 16th January 2017, the Government of Ukraine filed an application at the registry of the Court, instigating proceedings against the Russian Federation with regard to the alleged violations of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism of 9th December 1999 (hereinafter the “ICSFT”) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 21st December 1965 (hereinafter “CERD”).....................

en.hromadske.ua