Ukraine News in brief. Thursday 14 December. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY HEADLINES:
Canadian arms manufacturers now have the right to sell Ukraine Javelin.  Putin called the charges on Russia's contacts with Trump's campaign "a fabrication of the opposition".  In the Russian Federation, the US ambassador responded to the words about the Ukrainian Crimea.  Putin was asked about the massacre of his people by the inhabitants of Donbas.  In the Donbas there is no Russian army - Putin in response to a Ukrainian journalist.  Russia is preparing a new powerful cyberattack against Ukraine.  Putin said the need to exchange prisoners in the Donbas before the New Year. Putting peacekeepers to the Donbas: Putin made an important statement.  Russia is substantially increasing its nuclear potential.  Russian court denied Siemens the return of Crimean turbines. Ukraine counts on US assistance in the release of hostages Shakhtar beat Manchester City and went to the 1/8 finals of the Champions League.

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Canadian arms manufacturers now have the right to sell Ukraine Javelin antitank complexes due to the inclusion of the latter in the list of countries eligible for arms exports.

Said Canadian MP James Bezan broadcast "Voice of America" , said Tsenzor.NET.

He confirmed that Canada has brought Ukraine to the list of automatic control over the circulation of firearms (Automatic Firearms Country Control List). This means that Canadian exporters received permission from the government will be able to supply Ukraine banned some types of weapons and devices.

"After this resolution the Government of Canada can sell or transfer Ukraine" "Javelins" said Bezan.

Note the eve of Canada made Ukraine the list of countries eligible for the export of automatic weapons fire.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin called an investigation into Russia's interference in US elections and allegedly targeted contacts between Russian officials and Trump's campaign "a fabrication of the American opposition."

He stated this during an annual press conference.

"All this was invented by people who are in opposition to Trump, in order to render his work illegitimate. It is even strange to me. People are detrimental to the political situation in the country. And how do you generally imagine any electoral process around the world? Should I forbid any contacts? Our ambassador was accused of having met with someone. But this is a world practice, "Putin said.

He also said that the situation with the Russian propaganda channels of Sputnik and Russia Today in the United States, and their share in the total volume of information, is "very small compared to what the US media in the world do, and we in Russia. And where is the freedom to disseminate information? "

Donald Trump recently said that there was "no conspiracy" between his presidential campaign and Russia .

Earlier it was reported that the son-in-law, Tramp Kushner, was in charge of the contacts of Flanne with the Russian ambassador .

On December 1, Flenn admitted that he had given FBI 's false testimony on contacts with Russia and stated that he was ready to testify against Trump.

According to Reuters, Flenn and Ambassador of Russia to the United States Sergey Kislyak discussed the creation of an informal communication channel between the head of the White House and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Twitter has blocked more than 200 accounts due to the investigation into Russia's lobbying for US elections.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the Committee on Defense and Security in response to the words of the US Ambassador to Russia on the Ukrainian Crimea, they said that "it will be difficult for him to work in Russia."

This was stated by the first deputy chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council on Defense and Security Franz Klytsevych.

US Ambassador to Russia John Huntsman on the question of the Crimean affiliation replied that the peninsula is a territory of Ukraine.

"To improve the Russian-American relations, the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine is absolutely necessary," Huntsman said.

In response to this, Klyntsevich wrote:

"I think that after such statements John Huntsman will not be able to work in Russia. For his information, I also want to report that there are things that are more important than improving Russian-American relations. Moreover, the US, for its part, does not do anything for this. "

Earlier, the FSB of Russia, after checking, stated that it had not found violations in the words of candidates for the presidency of the Russian Federation, Ksenia Sobchak, that the Crimean peninsula belongs to Ukraine.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukrainian journalist Roman Tsymbalyuk during an annual press conference by the president of the Russian Federation, asking Vladimir Putin questions, said that his people are engaged in massacre in the Donbas.

A video with journalist's words and Putin's response is posted on YouTube.

"If you still win the elections, maybe you will continue to take such an absurd position on the Donbas, for peacekeepers? .. And in practice, the people who solve the issues there, they are engaged in the massacre of the population of Donbas..." asked Tsimbalyuk.

In turn, Putin again stated that there is no Russian army in the Donbas.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that there is no Russian army in the territory of the occupied Donbas.

He said this during an annual press conference, responding to a journalist's question from Ukraine.

"There is no Russian army on the territory of Donbas. There are certain military police forces that are self-sufficient, ready to repel attacks against the Donbas. We believe that this is in line with the interests of people living in that territory, "Putin said.

Speaking about the introduction of the United Nations peacekeeping mission to the Donbas , the Russian president said that he "agreed with Poroshenko that the OSCE mission should be equipped, then that it should be secured".

According to Putin, during a telephone conversation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested that UN peacekeepers not only be on the line of demarcation in the Donbass, but also throughout its territory.

"I thought and answered that she was right. But now it turns out that this is not enough. Everything is reduced to putting this territory under international control ... Kiev needs to negotiate with the Donbass, but Kiev evade direct contacts, "Putin said.

Answering a question about the Minsk format , which is intended to resolve the conflict in the Donbas, the president of Russia called it "low".

"In my opinion - because of the unconstructive position of Kyiv authorities. There is no desire to implement the Minsk Agreements, "Putin said.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the near future, another large cyberattack could be launched against Ukraine.

This was stated by the founder of the company in the field of cyber security, Dragos Robert Lee, reports The Atlantic .

Robert Lee was one of the leading experts who investigated previous large-scale cyber attacks against Ukraine. This implies an operation to dismantle power supply networks in December 2015, when 225,000 Ukrainians were left without light, as well as a cyberattack in December 2016, which led to the disconnection of electricity in some districts of Kiev. Previously, experts came to the conclusion that Russia was behind these attacks by hackers.

So, the founder of Dragos said that over the past few weeks, he recorded an unusual burst of activity in the same group of developers in Ukraine that developed a malicious software program used during a cyberattack in 2016. Did he note that with the last-year attack and by mid-November, this group showed little activity in Ukraine.

"According to our estimates, it would be wise to make an attack this month," says Robert.

However, the publication notes that this burst of activity may be intelligence, preparation for a later operation, or simply the intention to create fear of future burglary.

He also noted that the software used in cyberattack in 2016, the developers "sewed" more opportunities than was applied.

"It's more like a test than the final result," said the founder of Dragos.

Journalists previously assumed that a cyberattack against a non-NATO member state was a means of intimidating or deterring other countries, as the publication recalls.

Former Deputy Head of the National Security Agency of the United States, Chris Inglis, expressed concern about Russia's behavior, not its cyberattack technologies.

"Russia is worried about me rather than its technology, but its courage and willingness to cross the border, they have proved that they are ready to do what crosses each definition of the red line," Inglis said.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that before the New Year it is necessary to exchange prisoners in the Donbas.

He stated this during an annual press conference.

"People suffer and suffer innocently. It is necessary to make this good step on the eve of the New Year", - said the president of the Russian Federation.

Putin also said that "on behalf of Poroshenko, Medvedchuk is engaged in matters of exchange. Medvedchuk brought a list of 67 people on the one hand, and about 300 from the other."

"This was a Ukrainian list and agreed with him," he added.

Earlier it was reported that after the conversation with Putin, the leader of the "DPR" Zakharchenko declared the willingness of the prisoners of exchange , and the leader of the "LNR" - to check the health of Ukrainian hostages .

Adviser to the head of the SBU, Yuri Tandit, involved in the process of release of hostages, said that Ukraine is ready to hand over 306 detained or convicted people to fighters in exchange for 74 hostages of militants in the occupied Donbas.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was not against introducing peacekeepers to Donbass to a borderless area under uncontrolled Kyiv.

Putin said this at a press conference, UNIAN reports .

He noted that this decision was prompted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"We have drafted a draft resolution that the United Nations forces should take under the protection of the OSCE staff. After that, Mrs. Merkel told me on the phone:" Why only on the border, on the line of division? The OSCE staff, after all, move across the entire Donbas area, please agree that they should be protected everywhere, no matter where they appear, including on the border between Russia and Donbas, Russia and Ukraine, here in this part of the border" I thought and said, "Yes, you are right," and we immediately made adjustments to our resolution, "Putin said.

He stressed that he favored direct talks between the Ukrainian government and the so-called "LNR" and "DPR".

"Now it turns out that this is not enough, which in essence is all about to put this territory under international control. We do not mind this, but for this the Kiev authorities need to negotiate with Donbas themselves," the president said.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russia aggressively builds its nuclear forces and, by 2026, can deploy 8,000 nuclear warheads, while simultaneously upgrading underground command bunkers.

This is the publication of The Washington Free Beacon with reference to Pentagon staff.

Among the above-mentioned 8,000 nuclear warheads will be both strategic and tactical, part of the Moscow's doctrine on preventative use of nuclear weapons.

According to one Pentagon official, the Kremlin will violate the US-Russian agreement on the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms (START-III) from 2010, as well as the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Long Range Missiles (1987).

According to new data, Russia plans to "mix" its conventional armed forces with nuclear in future military conflicts, which further complicates the use of US nuclear weapons as a restraining factor.

At the moment, the Pentagon is carrying out a large-scale review of the concept of the US nuclear forces (Nuclear Posture Review), which will be presented to US President Donald Trump next month. The past review was conducted with Barack Obama in 2010, which resulted in a course aimed at reducing the nuclear arsenal. The reduction of nuclear forces was based on estimates - which are now considered false by many officials - that nuclear threats from Russia and other states have declined significantly and that Moscow and Washington no longer considered each other as opponents.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Moscow Arbitration Court denied the suit of the German concern Siemens regarding the return of the turbines that were sent to the Crimea.

Thus, Siemens's claim to its Russian partner, Technopromeksport, was rejected, reports Interfax.

The court also rejected Technopromeksport in a counterclaim on the invalidation of contract clauses with Siemens, which banned the supply of turbines to the Crimea to circumvent the sanctions of the European Union.

Earlier, the ninth arbitration court confirmed the refusal to arrest the Siemens turbines in Crimea within the framework of a dispute with the Rostelecom structures.

Recall July 5 Reuters reported that Russia sent gas turbines to the Crimea of ​​the German concern Siemens to Crimea , despite EU sanctions. Concern Siemens denied supplying turbines to the Crimea.

Later, the CEO of the Russian partner Siemens was dismissed. The Russian company acknowledged the supply of modernized Siemens turbines to Crimea.

Subsequently, new sanctions against Russia were approved by the EU through Siemens turbines. It was also reported that Russia threatened Siemens with sanctions due to EU restrictions.

On September 24, Siemens announced changes in the work with Russian customers after the delivery of turbines to Crimea.

Sanctions that prohibit European companies from working in the Crimea were approved in 2014 after the annexation of the peninsula.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine counts on United States assistance in relieving hostages in the Donbas and releasing political prisoners.

This was announced by First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Gerashchenko during a visit to the United States.

"We are counting on US assistance in releasing hostages and political prisoners illegally detained in ORDL, occupied by the Crimea and in Russia. Sanctions against the RF should continue until the full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and until all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine are released, "said Gerashchenko.

She also added that in 2018, the US defense budget provides $ 350 million for security assistance to Ukraine.

"It is extremely important that Ukraine's assistance programs for Ukraine include financing in 2018 programs for humanitarian demining and rehabilitation of servicemen injured in the ATO zone," Gerashchenko said.

Let's remind that in November the Committee of the US Congress approved a draft budget with allocation of Ukraine 350 million.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels.

This is Tsensor.NET reported in the press service of the National Security and Defense Council.



During the talks, the parties discussed the issue of counteracting Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and those hybrid threats that are now facing our country.

According to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, comparing with 2014, today in Ukraine is a qualitatively new army that is capable of defending the country.

"Given the challenges facing the state today, much of the state budget goes to the defense and security of Ukraine. Total spending on security and defense in 2017 exceeded 5% of GDP," he said, adding that a similar situation with the budget by 2018

In addition, the parties also discussed the reform of the security and defense sector of Ukraine, the transition to NATO standards and the difficulties on this path.

Turchynov thanked Y. Stoltenberg for a recent statement at the International Security Forum on November 17 in Halifax that the NATO door was open for Ukraine and Georgia, noting that Ukraine was "focused on reforms, on the modernization of the security and defense sector, the fight against corruption and the strengthening of democratic institutions ".

Oleksandr Turchynov stressed that the new important stage in the interaction between Ukraine and NATO could be the accession of our country to the Program of Advanced Opportunities.

"According to the conclusions of the military experts of the partner countries," he added, "Ukraine meets all the criteria that a potential member of the Program must meet."

The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine praised the solidarity and unity of NATO member states in restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. O. Turchynov also stressed that Ukraine was interested in holding a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of Heads of State and Government during the NATO summit in Brussels in July 2018.

"In addition, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said, we are interested in developing practical cooperation with NATO countries, in particular, in matters of military-technical cooperation, strengthening of the defense and security of military arsenals in Ukraine, cybernetic protection, etc."

In turn, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that Ukraine was important for the security of Europe as a whole.

"Allies are ready to continue to help your country on the way to its civilizational choice," he said.

As previously reported, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine O Turchinov is on a visit to NATO Headquarters.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Leaders of European Union countries approved the extension of economic sanctions against Russia for another 6 months.

This was reported by the Radio Liberty correspondent in Brussels, Richard Yosvyak.

"EU leaders have given a green light to continuing EU economic sanctions against Russia for another 6 months. The official continuation of the next week ", - he said.

Earlier, Reuters reported that EU leaders agree to extend economic sanctions against Russia on December 14.

The EU imposed sanctions against Russia through the annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the occupation of the Donbas.

Earlier in the Council of Europe, they said they were considering abolishing sanctions against Russia, which were imposed through aggression against Ukraine.

The sanctions against Russia were imposed by the European Union and the United States in 2014 through the annexation of the Crimean peninsula and occupation of the Donbas.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the United States of America has considered and recommended for approval the draft "2017 Act on Cooperation with Ukraine on Cyber ​​Security"

This is reported by the embassy Ukraine in the United States.

The bill states that US policy is to assist the Ukrainian government in improving its own cyber security strategy, in particular, in such areas as: installing the most up-to-date security updates on computers of government agencies, including software protection systems aimed at protecting objects critical infrastructure; reducing Ukraine's dependence on Russian technology; as well as building our country's own cybersecurity capabilities.

The document reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the Charter of Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and the United States, the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assistance, and the support of our country's cooperation with NATO.

Realization of this legislative initiative will be an important contribution to the struggle of Ukraine with the hybrid war of the Russian Federation. Co-authors of the document were Congressman-Democrat Boyle and Republican congressman Fitzpatrick.

Earlier it was recalled that the Defense Committee of Canada proposed to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons.

In June, the US Congress drafted a bill that would allow Ukraine to provide lethal weapons.

US President Donald Trump signed a $ 350 million law to provide security assistance to Ukraine.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український