Ukraine News in brief. Monday 21 August. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY

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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
U.S. Envoy On Ukraine Conflict Meets With Russia's Surkov In Minsk.  United States will suspend the issuance of nonimmigrant visas in Russia. Putin reacted to suspending the issuance of US visas for Russians.  Ukrainian ambassador reacted to German politician's statement on "Russian Crimea".  Merkel criticized the ex-chancellor of Germany for cooperation with Rosneft.  Putin appointed Deputy Foreign Minister as the new ambassador to the United States.  Head of the Pentagon: In Ukraine, we emphasize support for its sovereignty and partnership with the United States.

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The new U.S. special envoy for efforts to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Kurt Volker, met with a Kremlin aide on August 21 in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter that Volker and Vladislav Surkov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin's point man for the conflict in eastern Ukraine, were meeting behind closed doors.

The U.S. State Department announced on August 18 that Volker and the Russian representative would discuss "Russian-Ukrainian relations."

Volker's talks with Surkov kick off three days of U.S. diplomacy on the war between Russia-backed separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 10,000 people since April 2014.

From Minsk, Volker will head to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, to meet with senior government officials on August 22 to discuss "the way forward in Ukraine," the State Department said.

On August 23, Volker will join U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in meetings with senior Ukrainian government officials to discuss "the next steps in diplomatic negotiations to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the department said.

After Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was pushed from power in February 2014 by massive pro-European protests, Russia seized control of Ukraine's Crimea region and fomented separatism in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Russia-backed separatists seized parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, which border Russia, and the war has persisted despite a pact known as Minsk II, a February 2015 agreement on a cease-fire and steps to resolve the conflict.

Sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union have not prompted Russia to abandon its support for the separatists or fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements.

Tillerson named Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, as the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations in July.

In an interview with Current Time TV in July, Volker said that ending the fighting will require agreement by all sides on two major principles -- the "territorial integrity of Ukraine, security of all the people" -- and a change in Russia's approach. Current Time TV is the Russian-language network, run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.



rferl.org

Russia will not "break the evil" of US citizens in response to the suspension of the issuance of American visas to Russians.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced this, the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN reports .

"For the account of our actions, as I have already said, it is necessary to study in detail the decisions that Americans have declared. Let's see. I can say only one thing - we will not break the evil on American citizens," Lavrov said.

Recall that earlier the United States suspended for an indefinite period the issuance of entry visas for citizens of the Russian Federation.

As reported by the "Apostrophe", social network users mocked the "effective" policy of President Vladimir Putin on Washington, which resulted in all Russians since August 23 lost the opportunity to obtain a non-immigrant visa in the United States.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Andriy Melnyk expressed his indignation over the candidacy of the candidate to the chancellor from the ultra-right party "Alternative for Germany" regarding the annexation of the Crimea

He described this in an interview with the Hamburger Abendblatt.

One of the leaders of the German ultra-right Alexander Gaugand said that Crimea will never return to the composition of Ukraine, so the peninsula should be recognized as part of Russia.

"Gauland's statement is hard to beat in cynicism," Andrei Melnyk commented.

The Ukrainian ambassador noted that Crimea will definitely return to Ukraine, even earlier than it is supposed.

"It will happen much earlier than some people think," the diplomat said.

The "Alternative for Germany" party has consistently advocated the abolition of sanctions imposed on Russia for the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula.

-Recall, the candidate right-winged in the Chancellor of Germany said that Crimea should be recognized as part of Russia.

-The head of the Free Democratic Party, Christian Lindner, said that the question of annexation of the Crimea should be temporarily considered separately from other issues in order to achieve progress in relations with Moscow.

-Subsequently, the German government reiterated its position that the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea was a violation of international law.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, for nominating her as independent director of the Russian subsidiary Rosneft

Merkel spoke about this, answering the question of German voters, reports Merkur.de.

"I do not like what Mr Schroeder does," stressed the German Chancellor.

"I'm not going to take office in business structures," Merkel added.

-Recall that in August the Russian government nominated former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and three other candidates as independent directors of Rosneft, as well as three candidates - to the board of directors of the company as representatives of the Russian Federation.

-Later, German politicians and human rights activists criticized the nomination of German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to the board of directors of Rosneft.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Anatoly Antonov as Russia's Ambassador to the United States.

The corresponding decree was published on the Kremlin's website.

In the post of Ambassador Antonov will replace Sergei Kislyak.

Earlier it became known that the US Embassy in Russia from August 23 will suspend the issuance of non-immigrant visas in Russian regions.

Recall that on July 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that 755 American diplomats should leave the Russian Federation.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The US Embassy in Russia from August 23 will suspend the issuance of nonimmigrant visas in Russian regions.

This is stated on the website of the US Embassy in Russia.

The procedure for issuing visas will be restored, but in a considerably reduced volume. It is noted that starting from September 1, 2017, interviews for a US non-immigrant visa will be held only at the US Embassy in Moscow.

Interviews for receiving a nonimmigrant visa at US consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok will be suspended until further notice.

Starting from August 21, the US mission began the process of canceling interviews for a nonimmigrant visa issued by all US consulates in the Russian Federation.

The embassy noted that such a decision involves limiting the number of US diplomatic staff in Russia at the request of the Kremlin. And the reduction of the number of diplomats, as stated in the department, also runs on the timetable for visas.

Such restrictions will continue to apply as long as there is a reduction in the number of US diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation.

Nonimmigrant visas are issued to athletes (subject to participation in cash prizes), artists, artists, exchange program participants, diplomats, home workers and nannies who accompany a foreign employer, fiancée, etc.

Recall that on July 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that 755 American diplomats should leave the Russian Federation.

Later in the United States, they said they were preparing a response to the sending of US diplomats from the Russian Federation.

Donald Trump also thanked Putin for sending out American diplomats from Russia, as this would allow "to save a lot of money."

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The United States Secretary of Defense said that during his visit to Ukraine on Independence Day on August 24, he underlined the US commitment to strategic partnership and support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This is stated on the Pentagon's website.

"I'm going to Ukraine to celebrate Independence Day and make sure that Ukrainians know that we share their values ​​and what they want to do based on their own history," said the head of the US Defense Department.

He also told that he plans to meet with Petro Poroshenko and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak, as well as to attend the Independence Day parade.

"It's not easy to build democracy. It's not easy to build a sovereign state, especially when Russia has violated territorial integrity, "added Matthew, speaking of Ukraine.

He also said he supported the efforts of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to work with NATO allies and Ukraine, "which includes immediate ceasefire, power divisions and unhindered access to the OSCE monitoring mission (on Donbas)."

Recall that on Saturday, August 19, Mettis began a 5-day visit, during which he will visit Europe and the Middle East, in particular Jordan and Turkey. On August 24, the head of the Pentagon will arrive in Ukraine.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The US is suspending processing and issuance of non-immigrant visas in Russia from this Wednesday and will resume it on a much reduced scale a week later, in a fallout of tit-for-tat sanctions.


The US embassy in Moscow on Monday blamed the planned changes on the Russian government’s move to force US diplomatic missions in the country to cut staff by almost two-thirds. Moscow’s decision, announced on July 28, was a political response to a new law codifying existing anti-Russian sanctions and adding new restrictions, but it was designed to mirror restrictions slapped on Russia’s diplomatic missions in the US in late December by the Obama administration as a punishment for Moscow’s alleged meddling in the US election.....................

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

UIA intends to receive valid permits valid from September for the Canadian city of Toronto and the capital of India - Delhi

This is reported by the official site of the State Aviation Service.

According to the agenda of the meeting of the commission, the text of which is published on the website of the State Aviation Service, the Airline's application for regular flights to Toronto (Canada) and Delhi (India) will be considered.

These directions in accordance with the applications submitted by the UIA must be effective from 1 September 2017 indefinitely.

The application for flights to Toronto involves three flights per week, in Delhi - four.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою  

Special Representative of the United States Department of State for Affairs of Ukraine Kurt Volker on August 21 met with the assistant of the President of Russia Vladislav Surkov in Minsk, said the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Dmitry Myronchik.

According to him, the meeting, which took place behind the closed doors, began at about 14:00, and ended after 17:00. About its results is not known at this time.

The parties discussed ways to resolve the conflict in the Donbas.

Communication with Kurt Volcker's media on August 21 was not scheduled. The US Embassy in the City of Radio Svoboda informed that his briefing for the press will be held on August 22 in Vilnius, where Volker is following Minsk to negotiate with the Government of Lithuania on the settlement of the Ukrainian issue, in particular the cessation of hostilities in the Donbas.

It is expected that the US special representative will talk about his talks with Vladislav Surkov.

August 23 Volker will go to Kyiv, where he will join US Secretary of Defense James Mattis during meetings with Ukrainian authorities to discuss "the next steps in diplomatic negotiations on the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою  

Today it became known that the US is suspending issuance of American visas throughout Russia for an indefinite period.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promises "not to rip off evil" on Americans in response to a refusal to issue US visas to Russia. As UNIAN correspondent reports in the Russian Federation, he said this at a joint press conference in Moscow with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri. "At the expense of our response, as I said, it is necessary to study in detail the decisions that the Americans have announced. We will see. I can only say one thing: we will not rip off evil on American citizens, "Lavrov said.

"If someone hoped that in this case a bad example would be contagious, he miscalculated," he said. As UNIAN reported on August 21, the US suspends the issuance of American visas throughout Russia for an indefinite period. "In connection with the measures taken by the Russian Federation to limit the number of employees of the US diplomatic mission in Russia, starting from August 23, 2017, the procedure for issuing nonimmigrant visas across Russia will be suspended. September 1, 2017, this procedure will resume in Moscow. The procedure for issuing nonimmigrant visas to US consulates in Russia will be suspended for an indefinite period, "the embassy said.

unian.net , Original in Russian / На русском

The main assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Surkov, was associated with insurgents controlling the territory in eastern Ukraine, since early 2014.

"Putin is the father of the separatist movement," said Valentin Nalyvaichenko, who headed the Security Service of Ukraine during the first 15 months of the uprising. "Surkov is a nanny."

Surkov did not answer the questions sent through the Kremlin's press service.

Russia says that it has an impact on the separatists, but denies control over them and represents the conflict in Ukraine as a civil war. She has repeatedly stated that she supports the peace agreements signed in Minsk, Belarus. These agreements are aimed at reintegrating the separatist region into Ukraine, but with giving it greater local autonomy.

But many people on both sides of the long conflict, as well as Western observers, believe that Russia's goals are more ambitious. They say that Moscow really wants to exchange peace in Ukraine for assurances that Kiev will not be too close to the West, and to weaken the international sanctions imposed on Russia for the annexation of the Crimea and the intervention of its army in eastern Ukraine.

The separatist movement "is a bargaining chip" in a larger geopolitical game, "said Alexei Alexandrov, a former chief separatist official who now lives in the Crimea, and says that the Kremlin has pushed him from the leadership position.

If Moscow does not get what it wants, said Nalyvaichenko, the former head of the security service of Ukraine, "they will support a boiling conflict," which will shake the pro-Western government in Kiev. European and American officials say that they will not trade the political options of Ukraine. As the polls show, Russian military interventions have united the Ukrainian public against Russia, so any political concessions to Moscow are practically impossible for Kiev.

When the two envoys meet in Minsk, Volcker will try to assess the situation and understand whether the Kremlin is ready to go beyond the status quo and strive to resolve the conflict, the US official said.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon and the State Department are seeking White House approval for the supply of anti-tank missiles and other weapons to Ukraine, plans that Russia has condemned as potentially provocative.

According to people familiar with his biography, 52-year-old Surkov - a former executive director of public relations, who served in military intelligence in the 1980s. In the 2000s, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff of Putin and helped develop the tightly controlled political system of the Russian leader.

When in 2014 protests against the pro-Russian president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych turned into violence, Surkov went to Ukraine to meet with Yanukovich, politicians and businessmen close to him, as well as with political leaders in the Crimea, Nalyvaichenko and another Ukrainian official said. Later, Yanukovych fled to Russia, and a new government came to power.

In March, small protests began in some parts of eastern Ukraine near the Russian border. The reason for the anger was that the demonstrators saw the growing influence of the West on the new government and the fear fueled by Russian propaganda that the new government was controlled by nationalists seeking to destroy Russian culture in Ukraine.

Collecting information, Surkov began to contact local activists, according to one of them.

In May 2014, a group of security veterans and the executive director of public relations came from Moscow to advise militants, "said Alexandrov, a former separatist leader. Some local residents perceived their appearance as a seizure of the Kremlin, coordinated by Surkov, he said.

"We gave them the keys to the city," said Alexandrov. "They pushed the first wave of leaders.".......................

unian.net , Original in Russian / На русском

The US Special Envoy has not commented on the meeting yet.

Assistant to the President of Russia Vladislav Surkov said that he had agreed with the US special envoy Kurt Volcker to continue joint work on Ukrainian issues, commersant.ru reports.

"We agreed that the current situation in the south-east of Ukraine can not be arranged by either the party or the external forces that contribute to the settlement," he said at the end of the meeting. - The commitment to Minsk agreements was not questioned: both parties offered fresh ideas and innovative approaches to their implementation. " This is the first talks between curators of the Ukrainian direction in the Kremlin and the new US presidential administration. The representative of Washington has already visited Kyiv and front-line cities of Ukraine in early July..........................

unian.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою  

Almost 4 million residents of eastern Ukraine are deprived of adequate medical and humanitarian assistance.
According to the Censor.NET with reference to UNIAN , this is stated in the report of the World Health Organization (WHO).

As experts note, in the east of Ukraine resources in the sphere of health have practically dried up, the scale of humanitarian financing is rapidly decreasing. In this case, hospitals and clinics are often under fire and are seriously damaged. As a result, millions of residents of the eastern regions do not have access to adequate medical care.

"Millions of people in the center of Europe have been left without medical care, hundreds of medical institutions have no equipment and medicines, medical workers live in fear of being hit by artillery shelling, many are leaving the country," said Nedret Emiroglu, director of the Infectious Diseases Unit of the WHO European Bureau.

According to the WHO, since the beginning of the conflict, 160 medical institutions on both sides of the line of contact came under attack. 130 of them either partially or completely stopped work.

"The heads of more than 400 hospitals report that they are sorely lacking medicine, while 3.8 million people in eastern Ukraine need medical assistance," the report said.

WHO calls on the international community to take urgent measures and provide the Ukrainians with the necessary support.

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