Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Monday 10 July. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY

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HEADLINES:
Putin said that he spoke to Trump about the police mission in ATO.  In Russia, called the two true indication that Trump has not handed over to Ukraine to Putin.  Russia may allow public renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship.  The EU hopes that sanctions will force Russia to withdraw from the Donetsk and Lugansk.  In Odesa, began international military exercises "Sea Breeze 2017". The best way to counter attacks upon Ukraine is to strengthen it. Russia must withdraw thousands of its troops from Ukraine and to cease support militants. Ukraine and NATO begin to discuss an action plan for NATO membership.

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President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine begin discussions with NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) of NATO.

This Poroshenko said at a joint with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg Yensom press conference in Kyiv on Monday, reports Tsenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"We consider it necessary, and today it is clearly stated to begin discussions on granting Membership Action Plan, and our proposal for this was gladly accepted," - said Poroshenko.

Also read: NATO Allies stand on the side of Ukraine - Stoltenberg

He also noted that Ukraine does not meet the criteria for NATO membership.

"We have a plan for the three years to 2020. We clearly know what to do. This is the first time in Ukraine, when made clear" road map "that when doing when Ukraine will be eligible when the reforms will be implemented..."- he added.

In turn, Y. Stoltenberg said that NATO will continue to support Ukraine on its way to a rapprochement with the Alliance and contribute to the implementation of reforms and transition to NATO standards.

"Only Allies and Ukraine will determine when the time comes, NATO membership", - he said.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Ceasefire in the Donbas not, de-escalation and to provide state-aggressor Russia must withdraw its army from the hybrid Ukrainian territory.

It informs Tsenzor.NET with reference to the League , the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg said at a briefing in Kiev after the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

"Obviously, the ceasefire did not perform and we are concerned about the growing threats to the OSCE," - he said.

Stoltenberg stressed that Minsk agreement are "the only way to peace."

"Russia should withdraw thousands of its troops from Ukraine to stop militants maintain command and control and weapons" - he said, adding that NATO "firmly support the position of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

"We do not recognize and will never recognize the annexation of Crimea ... Russia. NATO will continue to provide practical help to Ukraine", - he said.

According to him, during the war in eastern Ukraine during the fighting killed more than 10,000 people, among them almost three thousand civilians.

Recall that in Kyiv today meets NATO-Ukraine Commission with the participation of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, head of the Alliance and Jens Stoltenberg.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Newly appointed U.S. Special Representative on Ukraine Kurt Volker said the best way to help Ukraine will be to make it a strong democracy.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Liga, Volker said in an interview to Voice of America.

The best way to counter attacks upon Ukraine, Volker is quoted as saying, as well as to counter Russian propaganda is to strengthen Ukraine.

"We need to have Ukraine, which is a sustainable, resilient, prosperous, strong democracy, so that it would be attractive to the regions in the East, and [be the place]where disinformation and propaganda attacks don't really have much traction," the U.S. official said.

Volker added that any information ban is not a right solution for the problem, and said he advocated complete transparency on the media scene.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appointed Kurt Volker, the former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, to serve as a special representative to Ukraine on July 7. Tillerson and Volker visited Ukraine on July 9.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

In Odesa, began on July 10 international naval exercises "Sea Breeze 2017".

The press service of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukraine came in the military 16 countries to conduct maritime security operations in crisis regions.

"The event involved 31 ships, boat and ship, 29 aircraft, more than 3,000 people personnel", - the press-service.

Studies conducted on the territory of Odesa and Mykolaiv regions in certain ranges of marine northwestern part of the Black Sea. They completed July 23.

"The main elements of combat training tasks and practical training will be planning and conducting operations with NATO standards, anti-submarine exercises, anti-ship, air defense force action on release of vessel seized. In addition, the planned landing and river operations, training, search and rescue, underwater demining works and conducting sweeps and so on ", - the press-service.

Recall, 8 and 9 July in Odesa arrived aircraft and ships of the Armed Forces of Turkey, Romania and the United States.

The last study on July 10 came the American cruiser Hue City and destroyer Carney, reported "Dumskaya."






hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

The EU believes that sanctions eat Russian economy

EU set to continue sanctions against Russia until not met Minsk II. This was in an interview with "Commander" said EU Ambassador to Ukraine Hyuh Mingarelli.

"We believe that sanctions eat Russian economy, they have led to a deterioration of living standards in Russia. That is why we are determined to continue these sanctions until not met the Minsk agreement", - he said.

He said the EU expects that sanctions will force Russia to gradually withdraw from some areas of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions. "We also hope that the penalties help to prevent further Russian aggression," - said Mingarelli.

He said that sanctions were introduced to implement the negative impact on the Russian economy and, consequently, the price increase invasion of Ukraine to Russia. "The sanctions are aimed at ensuring that the price was too high for the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation", - said EU Ambassador to Ukraine.

As reported, the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said that the Kremlin will not change its policy toward Ukraine and Syria used across the EU and US sanctions.

glavcom.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the US Donald Trump discussed placing police mission in Donbas

This was during a briefing the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, according to "RIA Novosti".

"Putin and discussed Trump can accommodate police mission in Donbass", - he said.

See also: First Date. How was the long-awaited meeting of Putin and Trump

Peskov also commented and words of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that the Kremlin should withdraw thousands of its troops from Ukraine to stop militants maintain its command and weapons. A spokesman for Putin once again denied that the Donbas are Russian troops.

According to media reports, discussion of Russian cyber attacks on the US during the last presidential election took 40 minutes of the first official meeting with Putin Trump, which took place on July 8 in Hamburg. In general, their joint meeting lasted more than 2 hours.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that Trump during his meeting with Putin repeatedly pressed the Russian president on last year's elections. Putin thus, as noted by Secretary of State, denied the intervention of.
Trump and Putin agreed on with the creation of a communication channel on Ukraine.

USA, Russia and Jordan have agreed on a ceasefire in southwestern Syria.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

An amendment to allow citizens of Ukraine, who cannot obtain a certificate of renunciation of citizenship in order to achieve Russia's citizenship, to publicly give up their Ukrainian citizenship is expected to be submitted at the meeting of the Russia's Legislative Committee on July 11, according to Kommersant.

There are also discussions about the procedure for taking the solemn pledge of allegiance: whether it should it be taken before or after the passport of a Russian citizen is issued to the applicant, or the ID will be handed over during the oath ceremony, Kommersant reports. According to the publication, the bill will be submitted to the committee meeting on July 11, but it can be still adjusted. In particular, this involves the issue on when a new Russian citizen will receive a passport: before or after taking the oath or even while making an oath.

In addition, according to Pavel Krasheninnikov (United Russia Party), representatives of the migration and legal departments of the Russian Interior Ministry were invited to attend the July 11 Committee meeting. They will be talking about the situation with Ukrainian citizens who wish to obtain Russian citizenship, while not being able to get certificates on withdrawal from their Ukrainian citizenship. "There are countries where it’s difficult to get such a certificate but Ukraine has simply stopped issuing them," Krasheninnikov claimed, adding that the bill will establish the procedure of "public renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship for such citizens."....................

Access complete text of the editorial:  unian.info/politics In English

This opinion was "Internet" stated Russian politician, president of the All-Russian public movement "Union of Right Forces" Leonid Gozman.

"Trump did not give Ukraine Although he has said repeatedly during the campaign that he was in the Ukraine do not care -. And I think it reflects his personal point of view - but as the head of the United States Ukraine is not passed is very important." - says the politician.

According to him, the proof of this fact can serve two. The first is that Trump "nothing agreed" with Putin in the "agree in this situation can only be passing the Ukraine - no other agreement Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, unfortunately, in Ukraine will not accept" - said Gozman.

The second proof - the appointment of a special representative of the USA in Ukraine Kurt Volker - diplomat known as a supporter of the "hard line." "Although he is a career diplomat and, nevertheless, he does not hesitate to speak Such a person in this position -. A demonstration of rigid and some things uncompromising US position", - said the politician.

. "In this sense, it is, of course, the success of Ukraine Maybe not Ukraine it has achieved, but it seems to me, is good for Ukraine, I am as a man who sympathizes with your country, it is, of course, pleases As Trump -.. People unpredictable from him, in principle, could expect anything, and he could pass", -. Gozman summarized.

As he wrote "The Observer", the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko after a meeting with United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States and Ukraine relations have moved into a practical plane.

obozrevatel.com , Original in Russian / На русском

Russia has not sent in its military occupied the Donbas.

The press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on the statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the necessity of withdrawal of Russian military in Ukraine, reports TASS.

"Russia has not been and there are no troops in Ukraine", - said the representative of the Kremlin.

Recall that Stoltenberg at a press conference in Kiev said the need for the withdrawal of Russian troops from its many thousands of Donbas.

As reported by the "Observer", formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov let slip that the Russians are fighting in Ukraine.

Later Kremlin propagandists Russia Today TV channel removed from the video of the performance Lavrov fragment  of admission that Russia is involved in the conflict in Donbas.

obozrevatel.com, Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

A new chapter of Ukraine-NATO cooperation opened today, July 10.

As reported by Censor.NET, this was announced by European and Euro-Atlantic integration Vice PM Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze on Facebook.

"For the first time in its history, NATO is creating a unique office here in Ukraine - the country that has a special partner status. None of the partner countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has the same full-scale diplomatic office.

"This event is also of a deep symbolic meaning. These days we are opening a new chapter of relations between our state and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

"I am certain that better working conditions for the Office employees will have a positive effect on both the contents and the quality of cooperation activities between NATO and Ukraine, as well as on the rate of our rapprochement with the Alliance," she wrote.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will never recognize the illegal Crimea occupation by Russia.

This was stated by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg during his speech in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, in Kyiv on Monday, Censor.NET reports.

Stoltenberg said that for the first time since WWII, one European country annexed a part of the other, and did it by force. This policy has destroyed many decades of progress that the global community had been building in order to have world order based on legitimacy, when borders are respected, NATO secretary-general said.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will never recognize the illegal Crimea occupation by Russia, he said.

Stoltenberg also said that Russia continues destabilizing the situation in Ukraine.



July 9, 2017


ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

Germany's Siemens AG says at least two gas turbines delivered to Russia were re-routed to Crimea, in violation both of European sanctions and a contract with the company.

Germany's Siemens AG says at least two gas turbines delivered to Russia were re-routed to Crimea, in violation both of European sanctions and a contract with the company.

Siemens told the dpa news agency Monday the Russian customer, who was not identified, had confirmed multiple times in writing that the turbines would not go to Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

The company says "this action is a clear breach of the delivery contract with Siemens" and that it's setting up a task force to re-examine all of its Russian contracts.................

Access complete text of the editorial:  usnews.com In English

Ukraine will become a NATO member, but spending reforms and introducing NATO standards.

It informs Tsenzor.NET with reference to UNIAN , it was declared NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

He stressed that NATO is a fundamental principle that every country has the right to choose their path, including membership in the organization. "No, no other country outside the 29 allies and countries that asked for membership has no right to it" - said the secretary general.

Stoltenberg gave the example of Montenegro, which recently became a member of the organization. "We have seen the situation with Montenegro that NATO's door open, we are open-door policy. However, Montenegro showed us that it requires many reforms, many efforts and achieve NATO standards. Solutions Ukraine is focus on reforms to strengthen the security institutions, fight corruption, upgrading - this is the right focus. Especially because you focus on those because you can achieve NATO standards, "- said Stoltenberg.

"The more you modernizes, the more you succeed in the fight against corruption, the more you can meet NATO standards and to be interoperable, working with NATO soldiers, the better it is for Ukraine even outside NATO. And it is better for NATO, regardless of whether Ukraine will join NATO or not later. at the same time it brings you closer to NATO, and so my message of: Focus on reforms to achieve NATO standards in the fight against corruption. this is the best thing you can do, and this is the best what you can do to get closer at NATO, "- said the secretary general of the Alliance.

Recall results of a study conducted by leading sociological centers of the country (KIIS "Rating" Socis, Razumkov Center) show that for NATO today would vote 55,9% of citizens of Ukraine , against 44.1% have voted.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that support for Ukraine and NATO plans for the country's accession into NATO threatens Russia's security.

It is reported  the Russian newspaper "RBC".

"In Moscow traditionally distrust and concern related to the process of NATO expansion towards our borders. Believes that it threatens our security and the balance of power in the Eurasian region. Clearly, the Russian side is taking all necessary steps for rebalancing the situation and ensure their own security, "- he said.

Peskov also said that Ukraine is "civil war."

Recall July 10, Kyiv hosted the North Atlantic Council within NATO-Ukraine Commission with the participation of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. President Poroshenko said that  Ukraine and NATO began discussions about joining the Alliance. At the same time, Poroshenko said that Ukraine does not submit an application for NATO membership .

Earlier, on June 8 Parliament supported a course for NATO membership.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg July 7, a meeting of the presidents of the United States and Russia has been announced. While the Kremlin is struggling to present the talks as a landmark event, Trump has already sent quite an unpleasant signal to Putin in his appeal to cease Russia’s “destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere."

On the eve of the visit of the U.S. and Russian leaders to Hamburg, where the first meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is scheduled, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it would be held in the format of a separate conversation - a "full sitting meeting" is planned, rather than a brief contact. According to the Kremlin, the agenda will include the fight against international terrorism, the issues of Syria and Ukraine, as well as disarmament. UNIAN has asked Russian, Ukrainian, and Western experts whether such a "truncated summit" can contribute to the Donbas settlement and whether a "grand deal" between Washington and Moscow is possible. Different interests and dangerous rapprochement Despite Putin's administration bravado in their attempts to represent the upcoming meeting as the one at the "peer to peer" level, it works, perhaps, only on Russian information consumers. On the one hand, the very fact of a full-fledged bilateral meeting, where delegations will be sitting before each other, is already deemed as a kind of symbolic victory for Putin. On the other hand, this is also Donald Trump’s personal victory over the U.S. Congress and over the majority of members of his own Cabinet who have recommended that the U.S. president confine himself to some brief hallway meeting, as Obama had with Putin the latest time the leaders of the two powers met in person. "Trump again and again shows his longing to Putin, which can’t be explained rationally, and a desire to somehow meet half-way with him," said Andrei Piontkovsky, a Russian publicist, adding that in terms of content, Trump will fail to continue this line of concessions. This is due, in particular, the discrepancy between Trump’s personal aspirations and those of the American political elite. "He understands that refusal from sanctions imposed late last year by Obama when the latter drove Russian diplomats (read “intelligence operatives”) from the two mansions in Maryland and New York, or some serious "deals" on Syria and Ukraine in the current political atmosphere that prevails in Washington are simply impossible and will constitute a political suicide for him," the expert says. Indeed, the political elites of both countries understand and recognize the fact that despite Trump's weird attraction to Putin, the strategic interests of the U.S. and Russia just do not coincide, while it is even difficult to reach compromise on some issues where common interests exist. Lilia Shevtsova, a Russian political scientist and Doctor of Historical Sciences, shares this opinion. According to her, Trump and Putin will try to go beyond the symbolism of their meeting and pretend they are starting a new chapter in bilateral relations. Everything is quite simple with Putin. Moscow's intentions and goals are clear: to get out of isolation and resume "bipolarity," because relations with the U.S. are the base of Russia’s foreign policy and confirmation of its "status." But no one dares say for sure what exactly Trump is trying to achieve. "What’s the model of his ‘deal’? Unless something unimaginable happens, they both can say that they have come to an understanding. But predicting Trump’s behavior is always in vain. His is the man driven by impulses and wild ignorance in foreign policy," Shevtsova argues. According to her, Putin is much more experienced and skillful than Trump, and can even impose on him the course of discussion of some issues to which Trump's team will not be ready (although there are plenty of levers to get the U.S. president back on the right track). "Therefore, any attempt to "normalize relations," which both presidents seek, will soon bring to the surface a deep gap in interests," the expert stresses. Moreover, in her opinion, it may so happen that Putin and Trump during their actual meeting "will not like each other": "It is possible and even most likely to be the case..." In this regard, the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin cannot become a turning point in the relations between the two states, or change the logic of these relations. Moreover, it is unlikely that the two leaders will raise a number of issues sensitive for both, in particular, the one of the Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.......................

Access complete text of the editorial:  unian.info In English

The American president did not say a word of criticism regarding the Russian occupation of the Crimea and the war against Ukraine.

At that time, as the US media debate whether succeeded Donald Trump show Vladimiru Putinu his resolute intentions and yet the US leader was trapped Russian President, the Russian press to argue only on one thing: how to translate the word "tremendous", which the US President described the meeting .

Headers of state and independent media in the single Russian word translated as "great", "outstanding" or "awesome". But if you put aside this distinction, all in Moscow agree: the meeting was a Russian triumph.

About this on pages loyal to the Democratic Party of the publication New York Times writes columnist Masha Gessen.

Over the last 17 years of his rule, Putin is well aware of what he wants from the relationship with the United States prezidnetom. He wants to be treated as an equal partner on the world stage and does not raise questions about his activities in Russia or in the so-called "sphere of influence". Despite the friendly tone of relations with George W. Bush, Putin has never been able to achieve this goal. Up until this time.

"The fourth American president to his memory gave him exactly what he wanted: the respect of the critics of friendship and freedom" - the article says.

The only outcome of the meeting - a limited truce in Syria - this is exactly what he wanted Putin. The Russian president did not want even a truce as such. He wanted to recognize that the US and Russia - equal partners at the negotiating table on the war in Syria. For years he deceiving, and then blackmailed the administration of Baraka Obamy, demanding that US recognized the key role of Russia in the Middle East. Now Trump gave Putin much more. He has demonstrated that Russia and the United States are to discuss the fate of Syria without the participation of the Syrians.

But more important it is that Trump did not even try to criticize Russia for its invasion of the Ukraine, the occupation of the Crimea and the suppression of dissent within Russia. Summing up the meeting of the presidents, secretary Rex Tillerson mentioned Ukraine only when he said that the United States have appointed a special representative who will deal with issues related to it. He evaded the questions of journalists about Ukraine and sanctions which the West punish Moscow for its war against the neighboring country. Columnist wrote that the journalists during the press conference too for some reason decided not to seek from Tillerson answers to questions about Ukraine. They are more interested in the details of the conversation the presidents to intervene in the American elections. And this theme brings Putin a lot of fun, because it recognizes its political power, which does not limit the international borders.

See also: Trump and Mr. Putin did not agree in their views on the Kremlin's intervention in US elections
Hesse notes that neither the results of the meeting, any questions of journalists of any conversation the presidents, which lasted more than two hours, there was no mention of a number of problems. In particular, the fact that Russia has increased persecution of dissent. Last month, for example, 1,700 people were arrested for participating in a peaceful protest. Not talking about the arrests and harassment of opposition leader Alekseya Navalnogo. About the persecution of homosexuals in Chechnya, where at least the death of three people for sexual orientation has already been confirmed. The fact that the organizers of the murder Borisa Nemtsova has not yet been found. The fact that the number of political prisoners in Russia is growing. Among them - the people who took to the streets in peaceful protests, as well as those who have expressed their opposition in social networks, as well as citizens of Ukraine, which wrongly accused of "terrorism".

Since the 1970s Russian and Soviet leaders faced with the question of human rights in meetings with US leaders. Trump administration has put an end to this tradition. In May, Tillerson said in a statement that US economic and strategic interests take precedence over human rights. In April, during a trip to Moscow, he refused to meet with human rights defenders in spite of tradition, which for decades. It is therefore not surprising that Putin and his state-run media say a meeting with Trump triumph.

Recall, July 7 at the G20 summit in Hamburg hosted US presidents and Russia meeting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin . Initially it was planned that the negotiations will take 35 minutes, but they lasted 2.5 hours, which is why Putin was late for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on the introduction of the ceasefire in Syria, carrying out the visit of US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker in Moscow, as well as the creation of a joint group on cyber-security.

zn.ua, Original in Russian / На русском