Ukraine News in brief. Tuesday 22 August. [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY

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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
Meeting Volcker with Surkov, US clearly indicated who's the aggressor. The international community should continue diplomatic pressure on Russia - Mattis.  Crimeans must go to Kyiv to apply for American visa.  US delegation headed by Defense Minister Mattis arrived in Ukraine.  Volker and Grybauskaite discussed the situation in the Donbass: "It is extremely important that sanctions against Russia remain". "A key element of Russian aggression is the information war" - Poroshenko opened a new radio and television broadcasting station.  Restrictions imposed by Russia on vessels because of the Kerch bridge, are contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.  First batch of American coal sent to Ukraine.  Poroshenko called on the UN Security Council to consider the issue of Ukraine's lack of involvement in DPRK missiles.  US Special Representative discussed the situation in Ukraine with the head of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

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Meeting with the presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker is completing the collection of information on the situation in the Donbas.

As informs Цензор.НЕТ , the former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vladimir Ogryzko has declared about it in the commentary to the edition "GORDON".

"Volker is just collecting information, his meeting with Surkov is the last element of the campaign to collect data, Volcker needed to hear the other side, understand their logic." In parallel, he wants to listen to any arguments of the Russian side and to understand the position of the Russian Federation in more detail. To understand that from the first meeting no one ever expects any breakthrough results.They can not be by definition, as the parties, in fact, get to know each other. "Possibly, after analyzing this meeting, the Americans will put forward some proposals," Teal Ogryzko.

According to him, the United States is well aware that Ukraine has faced precisely Russian aggression.

"The meeting between Volcker and Surkov clearly indicates the Americans who are the parties to the conflict in the Donbass and who are the aggressor." The United States and Volcker in particular understand that this is Russia, not some "militiamen." This is a good sign. They will not play with the Russian Federation, they are going to talk very clearly and specifically about the situation in the east of Ukraine and how to react to it, Russia always wants to deceive someone, so we did not have to wait for honesty from Surkov at the meeting with Volker. And there would not have been such things with the Americans. reliable information to tell them what is not, will not work ", -. Ohryzko stressed.

On August 21, three hours of negotiations between Surkov and Volcker took place in Minsk in a closed regime for journalists. The American diplomat has not yet commented. The representative of Russia called the meeting "useful and constructive".

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The international community needs to continue to exert diplomatic pressure on the Russian Federation to compel it to implement the Minsk agreements.

This was announced by U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.

According to the Pentagon chief, he supports diplomatic efforts to cooperate with U.S. NATO partners and Ukraine and continue to pressure Russia to abide by the Minsk commitments.

He called for an immediate cease-fire in the Donbas, the removal of heavy weapons and unhindered access of OSCE observers to the conflict zone.

As previously reported, Jim Mattis and U.S. special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker are going to visit Kyiv this week.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

United States Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker and Head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius discussed the situation in Ukraine.

It is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

"The US decision to appoint an experienced diplomat who knows the region well knows that the US is interested in strengthening its role in Ukraine and in the region in search of a concrete solution to the situation," said Linkevičius.

According to the minister, the international community should intensify its efforts and urge Russia to fulfill its obligations undertaken several years ago, to withdraw weapons from eastern Ukraine and to stop the support of militants.

In turn, Volker emphasized that Lithuania's role in the resolution of conflicts in Ukraine is well-known and appreciated.

"The United States welcomes the principled position of Lithuania with regard to peace in Ukraine. We are monitoring the situation in Ukraine, and, like Lithuania, we are constantly and actively calling for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, "said the US Special Representative.

Volker had previously met Putin's Surkov adviser . It is also known that Volker will arrive in Ukraine on the eve of Independence Day, where, together with defense minister James Mattheys, will hold working meetings.

On July 7, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appointed Kurt Volcker as a Special Representative for Ukraine. Later, Tillerson said that the United States had appointed a special envoy for Ukraine on Putin's request.

Note that Vladislav Surkov is a representative of Russia in the Trilateral Contact Group on the settlement of the situation in the Donbas.

hromadske.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, instructed the Foreign Ministry to initiate a UN Security Council hearing on the issue of Ukraine's lack of involvement in North Korea's missile program.

This is reported by the presidential administration.

"Taking into account the conclusions of the commission (Interministerial Commission on the policy of military-technical cooperation and export control), I want to entrust the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with the preparation of a group of experts and to initiate consideration of this issue at a closed session of the UN Security Council," said Proshenko, adopting a report on the results of work Working Group on Verification of Information, set out in the article by The New York Times on August 14, 2017.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Klimkin wrote a letter to the editor of The New York Times and called for an international investigation into the supply of DPRK engines.

On August 14, The New York Times, referring to an expert from Michael Alleman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that the DPRK missile engines could be manufactured in Ukraine and through Russia to enter North Korea.

Later, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, said that Ukraine did not supply weapons and technology to North Korea .

Subsequently, the Yuzhmash Enterprise and the State Space Agency of Ukraine also denied the supply of rocket motors to the DPRK.

Poroshenko instructed to find a source for the "Fake" on the supply of DPRK engines, as well as invite authors of the article "On the supply of engines from DPRK to Ukraine."

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Valerii Chalyi has attended the ceremony of dispatching American thermal coal to Ukraine's Tsentrenerho JSC in the seaport of Baltimore, Maryland.

Censor.NET reports referring to a message by the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. on Facebook.

"The American side at the event was represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Commerce Israel Hernandez, Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy Wells Griffith and the management of XCoal," the message says.

The dispatch is effected under a contract between the Ukrainian state company Tsentrenerho and the U.S. company XCoal Energy and Resources signed as part of agreements reached between the U.S. administration and President Petro Poroshenko during his visit to Washington on June 20.

As previously reported by the embassy, the United States has become a reliable source of coal supplies in Ukraine after Russia seized control of significant coal reserves in the Donbas.

"The embassy continues to work with the partners in the U.S. to ensure greater energy security for our country, increase the stability within the energy sector, and facilitate the flow of foreign investment into the Ukrainian economy," the message reads.



ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Because of the construction of the arch of the Kerch bridge, Russia establishes restrictions for passing ships to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, which contradicts the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press service of the Ministry for Temporary Occupied Territories and internally displaced persons of Ukraine.

The arch height, according to the Russian project, will have a limit of 33 meters above sea level. In addition, if earlier the passage of the Kerch Strait was allowed to vessels up to 200 meters in length, now Russia claims to limit the permitted length of 160 meters.

According to the information of Mariupol port, at least 144 vessels that entered the port during the past year do not correspond to the new requirements to the size of the ships, which is 23 percent of the total. It is these vessels that account for 43 percent of the port's cargo handling.

The established restrictions will lead to the fact that only ships with a relatively lower total payload capacity (10,000 tons) will be able to enter the Mariupol seaport. This, in turn, will affect the competitiveness of the port, since such ships can transport goods within the Black and Mediterranean Seas. To other continents - to Asia, Africa and to American countries, transportation is carried out by vessels of ocean classes. As the vessel is larger in size, it is possible to reduce the cost of sea transportation per ton of cargo, the message says.



According to Article 44 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, "States bordering the straits should not interfere with the transit passage and should notify accordingly of any danger they are aware of for navigation in the strait or overflight." There should be no termination of the transit passage ".

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko opened a new radio and television broadcasting station in Bakhmutovka (Lugansk region) on Tuesday, which will ensure the broadcasting of Ukrainian TV and radio channels in the temporarily occupied territory of the Luhansk region.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"The opening of the TV tower in the village of Bakhmutovka is a step towards restoring the unity of Luhansk and all Ukraine ... Residents from the controlled territory and from the occupied cities and Regions of Luhansk region are returning to the uniform information space of our Motherland, "P.Poroshenko stated during the grand opening of the station.

The head of the Ukrainian state noted that "information war is the key element of Russian aggression". Taking this into account, P.Poroshenko stressed, the more important is the opening of a transmission station built with the help of the USA, with a 134-meter transmission tower with a radius of 50 km.

"This station will provide the broadcasting of 11 Ukrainian TV and 4 radio channels to our territory temporarily occupied by the Russian aggressor," the Ukrainian president said.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Special Representative of the US State Department for Ukraine Kurt Volker met with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite in Vilnius. They discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements and support for Ukrainian reforms.

This was reported by the press office of the President of Lithuania, reports Censor.NET with reference to LigaBusinessInform .

"In the conditions of the continuing occupation of the Crimea and Russian aggression in the Donbass, Ukraine needs international support, it is extremely important that the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and the EU continue until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented and the Crimea will not be returned to Ukraine, "It was informed.

It is also noted that the EU-Ukraine association agreement, which entered into force in September, is an important step forward for Ukraine on the European path. "However, the country still needs to support the implementation of comprehensive economic reforms and law enforcement reforms to combat entrenched corruption," it was reported.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Nevertheless, the official visit of the US delegation will be held on August 23-24.

This was at a briefing, the press secretary of the Defense Ministry Maxim Prouta, reports Censor.NET with reference to UNIAN.

"A US delegation led by US Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived in Ukraine and will take part in the celebrations marking the 26th anniversary of Ukraine's independence," he said.

Pruta reminded that Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak called this visit an extremely powerful signal about continued consistent support of Ukraine by the United States.

According to the head of the defense department, the United States is the main strategic partner for Ukraine in all dimensions: political, military and economic.

He called the all-round US assistance the determining factor in restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in internationally recognized borders.

"Today, on August 22, during the briefing of the Speaker of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, a delegation of the United States of America headed by US Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived in Ukraine to participate in the celebrations on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine. To be in Ukraine during the period of August 23-24, 2017, "the press service of the Defense Ministry noted.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Crimea falls within the consular district of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

As reported by Censor.NET citing UNIAN, this was announced by the press service of the U.S. Embassy in Russia.

According to the mission, all applicants permanently residing in Crimea and applying for immigrant visas and K visas (fiancé or fiancée) must apply for visas in Kyiv regardless of their citizenship.

The consular fees paid in Ukraine can not be used for applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassy/Consulates in Russia, and consular fees paid in Russia can not be used when applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

Yesterday, it became known that the U.S. will suspend the issuance of nonimmigrant visas throughout Russia. The Belarusians residing in the Russian Federation are advised to go for American visas to Kyiv, Warsaw or Vilnius.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The Kremlin actively uses the manipulation of public consciousness as one of the methods of information war against Ukraine.

This is stated in a report by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, head of the working group on the verification of information set forth in the NYT article of Aug. 14, Censor.NET reports.

"Russia has long been implementing a hostile policy against Ukraine, resulting in the annexation of Crimea and occupation of part of the eastern regions of Ukraine. Today, Russia's aggression against Ukraine is carried out in the form of a hybrid war, during which Russia, in addition to military operations, uses carefully planned information provocations, seeking to consistently discredit Ukraine as a reliable and predictable partner, in particular, in such sensitive areas as military and technical cooperation," the report says.

According to Turchynov, such provocations are intended among other things to manipulate public consciousness with the aim of camouflaging Russia's active participation in many destructive campaigns.

"In this context, the working group sees the NYT article of Aug. 14, 2017 as an element of information cover and distraction of the attention of the world community from Russia's alleged participation in the implementation of North Korean missile programs," the NSDC secretary sums up.

Earlier, The New York Times cited an expert analysis and classified assessments by American intelligence agencies stating that North Korea's success in testing an intercontinental ballistic missile that appears able to reach the United States was made possible by black-market purchases of powerful rocket engines probably from a Ukrainian factory with historical ties to Russia's missile program.

National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said in a commentary Ukraine has always complied with its international obligations, so the state defense and airspace industries have never delivered weapons and military technologies to North Korea.

Ukraine's PA Yuzhmash also said in a commentary that the article in The New York Times was a provocation.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The fighting in the Donbass continues because of the lack of guarantees for a truce by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As reported by Tsenzor.NET with reference to UNIAN, this was stated by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

"We will do everything possible to stop the shooting in the Donbas." The delay is only due to the fact that the Russian president refuses to publicly support the armistice, and therefore from direct orders to the Russian military and militants who are present in the occupied territory, to stop shooting", - he said.

"This time it is very important that a joint appeal is issued (the leaders of the Norman format countries), including the Russian president, to a joint and sustained cease-fire." I emphasize that this appeal must be made publicly", - added Poroshenko.

Earlier, during the negotiations of the Tripartite Contact Group (TAG) on the settlement of the situation in the Donbass, a decision was taken ona ceasefire with June 24 to August 31.

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

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the United States "not to cast a shadow on the wattle fence," explaining the suspension of the issuance of nonimmigrant visas by a reduction in the staff of the American embassy.
This is stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, reports Censor .

"The calculation is obvious - to try to provoke discontent of Russian citizens with the difficulties that arose due to the reduction of personnel of American diplomatic and consular institutions," the commentary says.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation considers that the problem lies in the insufficient efficiency of the visa departments of the US missions in Russia.

"While, for example, 16 Italian consular officers processed 478,000 visa requests last year, and 5 of their Spanish colleagues diplomats issued 877,000 visas to Russians, at times the greater number of US consulates could only" overpower "about 186 Thousand, "- pointed out in the Russian ministry.

Foreign Ministry advised the American colleagues "not to cast a shadow on the wattle fence" and not to use personnel reduction in Russia as an excuse for adding "irritants" In Russian-American relations.

On Monday, the US Embassy in Russia announced that "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." At the same time, as noted, since September 1, "the procedure for issuing nonimmigrant visas will be renewed, but in a significantly reduced amount." In addition, as stated in the embassy, ​​"changes in the number of employees of the US embassy will also affect the schedule of registration of a number of immigrant visas."

Read on "Censor.NET": Over the past two years, the harassment and surveillance of our diplomats in Moscow by the Russian special services has increased significantly. - The US State Department.

on July 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry demanded until September 1 to reduce the number of diplomatic and technical staff of the US Embassy in Moscow and In the consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok to 455 people. In addition, since August 1, the US Embassy in Moscow is forbidden to use the dacha in the Silver Forest and warehouses on Dorognaya Street in Moscow.

US State Department did not specify how many diplomats will have to leave the Russian Federation, but according to The Washington Post, it is about several hundred people.

Moscow's decision came after the US Senate voted overwhelmingly for an updated package of restrictive penal measures against Russia, Iran and North Korea.

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

If the Russian-terrorist forces go on the offensive in the Donbas, they will receive a worthy rebuff.

As reported by Tsenzor.NET with reference to UNIAN, this was stated by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

"I want to assure that the Ukrainian side was not and will not be the initiator of the escalation of hostilities, but any attempts by Russia and its puppets to go on the offensive will receive a resolute and uncompromising rebuff," he said.

Poroshenko also added that Russia continues to supply regular troops, militants, weapons and military equipment to the Donbas.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The US has extended sanctions against North Korea and added to the sanction list of four Russian citizens for their ties to the DPRK.

This is reported on the website of the United States Department of Finance.

The restrictions were imposed against Ruben Kirakossian, general director of Gefest-M, which, according to the US Treasury Department, is registered in Moscow and is affiliated with Korea Tangun Trading Corporation.

Gefest-M is also on the list. She is engaged in the wholesale trade of metals in primary forms.

Sanctions were also imposed against Andriy Serbin and Mikhail Pisklin, who in 2012 fled to Vladivostok's Legislative Assembly from the Right Cause party.

Fourthly, Iryna Hweish, Executive Director of Velmur Management, Singapore, has been added to the list.

It is noted that Pisklin and Serbian were working with a subsidiary Singaporean company Transatlantic Partners, which in turn collaborated with Velmur Management, buying fuel for the DPRK.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Russian hackers Fancy Bears kidnapped World Anti-Doping Agency Information on Tests for Footballers 2015 and 2016

It is reported by "Radio Liberty".

According to documents, positive tests for doping in 2015 were found at 150 athletes, in 2016 - 200 people.

The names of football players are not called, but indicate the names of laboratories, which, according to hackers, conducted tests. One of the positive tests was revealed by the laboratory in Moscow in 2015. According to hackers, with this publication they want to prove that football also uses doping.

WADA confirmed that the documents posted on Fancy Bears are genuine. They were received as a result of the ADAMS hacking system, which records all the results of doping tests.

Recall earlier Russian hackers Fancy Bears attacked the International Federation of Athletics.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

A prolonged ceasefire in the Donbas should be the first step towards restoring Ukraine's sovereignty.

As informs Цззор.НЕТ with the reference to UNIAN , about it the special representative of the State department of the USA on affairs of Ukraine Kurt Volker has declared.

"During his visit to Kiev, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated the main goals of the United States, first of all, the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a guarantee of security for all citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion." The first step along this path is a prolonged cessation Fire, "he said.

Recall leaders of the "Norman Quartet" (Ukraine, Russia, Germany,Supported the decision of the Tripartite Contact Group on the establishment of an armistice before the start of the academic year.

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

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov says that with the Russian-Belarusian joint military exercise "Zapad -2017" (West-2017) the Kremlin will test ground regarding the general readiness of its armed forces and the nation as a whole for a "big war" with the West.

"It's not only the Russian armed forces who are preparing for the war but the entire Russian state, along wit the corresponding expenditures of material and other types of resources. Thus, the Kremlin during the Russian-Belarusian joint military exercises Zapad -2017 is testing ground on how its armed forces and the nation as a whole are ready for a "big war" with the West," the NSDC's press service quoted Turchynov. In his opinion, against the backdrop of the difficult economic situation, which earlier forced the Kremlin to resort to a defense budget cut, such large-scale exercises cannot be simply an ordinary combat training routine.

"On the contrary, it is a demonstration of the determination of the Russian military and political leadership toward a tough response to any attempts by NATO/U.S. to react to the Kremlin's military endeavors in the post-Soviet space. Low attractiveness of socio-political and socio-economic model of modern Russia and growing restraints to its economic potential are forcing the Kremlin to resort to the 'last argument of kings' – military force. Consequently, new attempts of the Russian military intervention in the affairs of Ukraine, Belarus, South Caucasus and Central Asia countries cannot be ruled out in the outlined perspective," the NSDC secretary said......................

unian.info/politics