Ukraine News in brief. Friday 2 March. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY HEADLINES:
EU promises US "decisive action" in response to Trump's introduction of duty on steel and aluminum imports.  Putin said that the information about the beginning of the "new Cold War" is propaganda.  Russia was accused of interfering in the US energy sector through Twitter and Facebook. The United States believes that Russia is responsible for the truce in the Syrian Eastern Guate.  Combat laser systems, intercontinental hypersonic missiles, underwater drones: Putin threatens world with Russia’s latest weapons.  Putin confirmed Russia has been developing destabilizing weapons systems in direct violations of its treaty obligations, - White House.  Gazprom intends to break contracts with Naftogaz for gas transit.  Groisman: Gazprom has resorted to the blackmail of Ukraine and Europe, but there is nothing with what we could not do".  Yanukovych says he will appeal to the EU, the US and Russia to "stop the war on the Donbas".  Yanukovych: Since 2010, Manaforth has been working on a voluntary basis.  The father of a prisoner in Russia, Roman Sushchenko, died.  “We shall seize Gazprom's assets if it fails to abide by Stockholm arbitration rulings,” – NSDC Secretary Turchynov. Yanukovych said that he wrote not one letter to Putin. Censor. NET publishes the full text of the second letter. Russian authorities do not let Ukrainian consuls to court in the case of Gryb. "Do you now ask Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine?" - Yanukovych did not answer the author Tsensor.NET, why asked to invade the army of the Russian Federation. When the occupied territories of Donbas pass under the control of Ukraine, people will be paid all the arrears of pensions.  

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The European Commission promises a solid reaction in response to the US imposed restrictions on the import of steel and aluminum

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Reuters .

"We are very sorry about this step, which, it seems, is a gross interference with the purpose of protecting the US domestic industry and should not be based on any national security considerations. We will not sit idly until our industry is exposed to unfair practices that endangering thousands of jobs in Europe. The EU will act firmly and respond appropriately to protect our interests, "said Juncker.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of duties on imports of steel and aluminum at 25% and 10% respectively.

European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said that the US decision on steel duties with the European Union would have a bad effect on transatlantic relations.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the words of analysts about the beginning of the "new Cold War" are propaganda.

He said this in an interview with NBC.

"In my opinion, those who say that a new Cold War has begun, are not analysts, they are engaged in propaganda," Putin said.

In his opinion, "the arms race started in 2002, when the US emerged from a treaty on missile defense."

In addition, in response to the question of the presenter, is not his declared new weapon only computer graphics, Putin assured that it had already successfully passed the test.

"All tests were successful. This weapon is at different stages of readiness. One still needs to be finalized, the other is already available to the troops and ready for use, "Putin said.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the world could be on the verge of a new round of nuclear arms race through Russia's development of a new medium-range missile

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Lamar Smith, the head of the US Congressional Committee on Science, Space and Technology, accused Russian entities of manipulating the American energy market through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The report said that in the period from 2015 to 2017, "Russian agents" secretly manipulated US domestic energy policy and disseminated propaganda materials. The authors of the document counted 9097 allegedly Russian messages or tweets regarding this area.

According to Smith, criminals have launched 4334 accounts in social networks.

Smith explained Russia's interference with the fact that it benefits from "sparking hostility" over the production of energy in the States.

This is especially needed, he stressed, in a situation where, due to the growth of American energy exports, Europe has less reason to rely on it in Russia.

It is also reported that the chairman of the committee in September 2017 sent letters to Twitter and Facebook with a proposal to study Russia's attempts to influence the energy market.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States believes that Russia is partially responsible for the truce in the Syrian Eastern Guate, where 100 people were killed.

This was at a briefing by the State Department spokeswoman Heather Noerth.

"The ceasefire clearly does not work, partly responsible Russia. Russia is responsible for stopping Syria, which attacks its own people, "she said.

Earlier, Noorte said that Russia had not coped with its obligations to destroy chemical weapons in Syria.

Earlier, a humanitarian armistice in the Eastern Guate was triggered by shelling.

Earlier, Russia announced the launch of a 5-hour "humanitarian pause" in Eastern Guy.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a "humanitarian" pause in the fighting in Eastern Guoth in Syria.

According to human rights activists, flight flights and artillery shelling of Eastern Guy by the regime of President Bashar Assad continue on February 18.

As a result, at least 540 people were killed. Another two thousand are injured. According to human rights activists, Russian naval aviation is involved in air flights.

On February 25, it became known that in the city of Al-Chiffonya in the Eastern Gut, they carried out a gas attack. As a result, one child died, another 16 people were taken to a hospital with symptoms of chemical poisoning. The attack took place less than a day after the United Nations passed a resolution on a 30-day ceasefire in Syria.

The UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution requiring an immediate 30-day ceasefire in Syria. The armistice was postponed several times , in particular, through Russia. Members of the Council could not agree with the Russian Federation on the text of the relevant document. But February 24 voted for the decision to deliver humanitarian aid to the regions and evacuate critically ill and wounded.

East Guta is one of the last regions of the country that remains under the control of the rebels. For four years, he is in the siege of the Syrian army and Assad allies. Among them - Russia. About 400,000 people in the region are cut off from humanitarian aid.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Delivering his state-of-the-nation speech on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin of Russia showed several new state-of-the-art weapons Russia developed to confront the "external threats."

As reported by Censor.NET, Putin said that Russia’s latest sophisticated weapons systems outmatch all existing defense technologies.





Strategic nuclear-propelled missile with nuclear warhead.


Combat laser systems

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Putin claims that Moscow has tested weapons that cannot be intercepted and would make NATO's missile defense "useless."

As reported by Censor.NET citing The New York Times, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Putin "has confirmed what the United States government has known all along": that Russia has been developing "destabilizing weapons systems for over a decade in direct violations of its treaty obligations."

She says President Donald Trump understands the threats facing America and says that America is "moving forward to modernize our nuclear arsenal and ensure our capabilities are unmatched."

The White House says U.S. defense capabilities "are and will remain second to none" as it responds to Russian President Vladimir Putin's boasts about developing a new array of nuclear weapons.

The United States says Russia acted irresponsibly by boasting of new nuclear weapons that President Vladimir Putin says are impervious to U.S. defenses.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says it was "unfortunate" to watch a video animation depicting "a nuclear attack on the United States" that accompanied Russian President Vladimir Putin's state-of-the-nation speech Thursday. She's calling the video "cheesy" and says that "we don't think it's responsible."

Nauert says the animation confirms that Russia has been creating destabilizing weapons systems for more than a decade in "direct violation" of its treaty obligations. She says the U.S. has long known that but that Russia had previously denied it.

Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White says the Defense Department isn't surprised by Russian President Vladimir Putin's claims of new nuclear weapons. She says the U.S. military is prepared to defend the nation.

Putin said that Russia has tested an array of new strategic nuclear weapons that can't be intercepted and would make NATO's missile defense "useless." He said the weapons include a nuclear-powered cruise missile, a nuclear-powered underwater drone and new hypersonic missile that have no equivalent elsewhere in the world.

White told Pentagon reporters that America's missile defense has never been about Russia.

The U.S. has consistently argued that missile defense systems in Europe are not aimed at Moscow, but instead designed to defend against threats from Iran, North Korea and rogue threats.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian Gazprom said it would initiate the cancellation of contracts for the supply and transit of Naftogaz of Ukraine.

This was stated by Gazprom's chairman Alexei Miller, said on the company's Twitter page.

"The Stockholm arbitration, based on double standards, has adopted an asymmetric decision on contracts for the supply and transit of gas from Naftogaz of Ukraine. Thus, the arbitration award significantly disrupted the balance of interests of the parties under these contracts, "Miller said.

He said that Gazprom opposed the "to solve problems in Ukraine at their expense."

"Gazprom is forced to immediately start the procedure for terminating contracts with Naftogaz of Ukraine for the supply and transit of gas in the Stockholm Arbitration," Miller said.

Naftogaz of Ukraine Gromadsky reported that they have not yet commented on such a decision by the RF.

"Naftogaz of Ukraine has not yet commented on Gazprom's statement, Alexei Miller. Naftogaz has not yet received any documents from Gazprom, "Gromadsky told the press service of the Ukrainian company.

On February 28, Stockholm Arbitration satisfied the demands of Naftogaz to Gazprom for a gas transit suit of US $4.673 billion. Thus, according to the results of two arbitrations between companies for the supply and transit of gas, Gazprom should pay NAK $2.56 billion.

Gazprom has confirmed its commitment to pay Naftogaz $2.56 billion, but said it does not agree with such a decision.

However, on March 1, Gazprom canceled supplies of gas already paid to Ukraine. Ukraine said that Gazprom will be penalized for refusing to supply gas.

Naftogaz called on Ukrainians to reduce the temperature in the premises by one degree in the afternoon and two at night. In addition, President Poroshenko called on Ukrainians to save gas and join the "Bring" initiative.

Naftogaz has not supplied gas from Russia since the end of 2015. According to the decision of the Stockholm arbitration, Ukraine is obliged to resume the supply of minimum volumes of gas from Russia in accordance with the provisions of the contract "take or pay".

Naftogaz is suing Gazprom from 2014 on two major issues - the price of Russian natural gas and transit of gas.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, after the verdict of the arbitration panel of Stockholm over the collection of more than $ 4 billion in favor of Ukraine under bonded contracts in 2009, has reduced the pressure on the gas transmission network and thus resorted to blackmail, both in Ukraine and in Europe.

According to Censor.NET with reference to the Government portal , the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groisman said in his address.

"Gazprom has resorted to blackmailing Europe and Ukraine, lowering the pressure in the gas supply system, which causes technical difficulties, but there is nothing that we could not handle," said Vladimir Groisman.

He emphasized that Naftogaz of Ukraine, as the key element of Ukraine's energy system, should always remember "who we are dealing with" and do everything possible to avoid failures and find options for fuel supply.

The Head of Government informed that he had a conversation with the leadership of NAC and set a clear task - to solve the problem of preventing problems and finding alternative sources of fuel for energy security.

"It is also important that local authorities keep track of the situation every hour, everything has to work fine, all services have already been transferred to a strengthened regime," added the prime minister.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ex-President Viktor Yanukovych says he will appeal to the EU, US and Russia to find ways to end the war on the Donbas.

This former fugitive president stated during a press conference in Moscow, reports Ukrinform.

He noted that in the near future he intends to appeal to the European Union guarantors who signed an agreement on the crisis settlement in Ukraine on February 21, 2014, as well as to the United States and Russia in search of ways to end the war on the Donbas.

Yanukovych said that the main thing for him was to "stop the war on the Donbas and establish negotiations between different parts of Ukraine", although he did not say whether he plans to return to Ukraine.

"For more than a year, I have no opportunity to participate in the trial, which deals with my case. I have gathered a lot of materials and I regularly hand them over to my lawyers, but I participate in the trial only through the media, all rights were deprived of me", - says Yanukovych.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said that he personally did not pay his adviser, political technician Paul Manafort, and since 2010 he has worked on a voluntary basis.

Yanukovych said this during a press conference in Moscow, responding to the question of The New York Times.

"With Paul Manafort, we began work in the second half of 2005. And he chose a parliamentary campaign in the spring of 2006, with the participation of Paul Manafort and his people who worked with the Party of Regions, "he said.

"Then there were elections in the fall of 2007, then the 2010 elections. All this time Manafort was dealing with the apparatus of the Party of Regions, "Yanukovych said.

"After the 2010 election, Manafort was my adviser on a voluntary basis. I met him always, when I was taking free advisers I had a lot. But when considered an issue between themselves, Manafort as a counselor took part in them. I did not have such personal contacts with him. He worked mainly with the administration of the president. So it was such an order, it was installed. After I left Ukraine, I did not see and hear Manafort, "Yanukovych added.

On August 19, 2016, deputy Sergei Leshchenko unveiled copies of documents of the "black bookkeeping" of the Party of Regions on the transfer of funds to the former adviser to Viktor Yanukovych, Paul Manafort. According to the documents, Manafort received more than $ 12 million from the Party of Regions from 2007 to 2009. It was also reported that the United States would investigate the possible involvement of Manafort in corruption schemes in Ukraine.

On October 30, 2017, Paul Manafort and his business partner, Rick Gates, have been charged with 12 points, including money laundering and secret collusion.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Vladimir Sushchenko, father of a Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was imprisoned in Russia, died.

This was reported by the prisoner's wife, Angelika Sushchenko.

"The father of his son did not wait ... the heart could not stand... Eternal memory....", - she said.

A correspondent for the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" in France, Roman Sushchenko, was detained in September 2016 in Moscow, when he arrived to visit relatives in Russia.

In October of that year, the FSB of Russia put Sushchenko on an official allegations of espionage .

Sushchenko's lawyer, Mark Feigin, said the Kremlin plans to convict Sushchenko to 20 years in prison. It was reported that journalist Sushchenko, detained in Russia, would be released individually. Attorney-at-law in the Russian Federation Suschenko, February 20, 2018, said that he had studied all 12 volumes of the case. Poroshenko said that Ukraine is ready to exchange Russian soldiers caught on Donbass hosted by Russian hostages in Russia, in particular to journalist Roman Sushchenko.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

“We shall seize Gazprom's assets if it fails to abide by Stockholm arbitration rulings,” – NSDC Secretary Turchynov

Naftohaz Ukrainy CEO Andrii Koboliev believes Russia is not going to comply with the ruling of the Stockholm arbitration court and is set to engineer an energy crisis in Ukraine by reducing the pressure in Ukraine’s gas transit system.

He said at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) held March 1, 2018, Censor.NET reports citing the NSDC press service.

The energy security issue was tackled at the meeting among other things.

In this regard, the NSDC has been tasked to initiate seizure of Gazprom's assets in Ukraine and abroad if the Russian company fails to comply with the Stockholm court rulings and take other measures to ensure Ukraine's energy security and uninterrupted gas transit supplies to Europe given severe weather conditions.

"We shall seize the property in case of non-fulfillment of the Stockholm arbitration rulings," the NSDC press service quoted Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov as saying.

Earlier, Gazprom received advanced payment from Naftohaz Ukrainy for gas supplies in March but transferred the money back. "Evidently, there will be no gas supplies to Naftohaz Ukrainy beginning on March 1," Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said.

Stockholm arbitration ruled Feb. 28 that Naftohaz be paid $4.63 billion. Following two arbitration proceedings, Gazprom owes $2.56 billion.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych at today's press conference in Moscow said that on March 1, 2014, he wrote two documents to Putin. One is a well-known letter requesting the introduction of troops, which on March 3, 2014, the postpred of the Russian Federation Vitaliy Churkin showed at a meeting of the UN Security Council. And the second document - Yanukovych showed only today. In this appeal, Yanukovych asks Putin to hold consultations, as well as to inform the world community that there was a coup d'état in Ukraine, and therefore he, calling himself legitimate, asks for consultations.

Recall that today, the president-fugitive Yanukovych gave a press conference in Moscow, which, in the presence of lawyers, answered journalists' questions about the events of February-March 2014.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Ukrainian consuls are not allowed to sit for the Krasnodar Regional Court (Russian Federation) in the case of a citizen of Ukraine illegally detained in Russia, Pavlo Gryb, kidnapped by the FSB on the territory of Belarus.

This was stated in his account on  Twitter by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin, reports Tsensor. NET.

"Our consuls are not allowed to sit in court in the case of Pavlo Gryb in Krasnodar. Total lawlessness and arbitrariness of the Russian pseudo-judicial system. It goes all the borders - violation of all international norms," ​​Klimkin said.

Recall Ukrainian Reserve Officer Igor  Gryb told about the kidnapping of his son's son in Belarus by special services of the Russian Federation : "The FSB drove Paul to Gomel under the guise of meeting with a girl and detained." Igor Gryb told that his son Pavlo Gryb on August 24 went to a meeting with a girl, whom he had previously only communicated through social networks, to Belarus. And then disappeared. When Igor arrived in Belarus, he was informed that his son was wanted by the initiative of the FSB of the Russian Federation. Paul's father is sure that the Russian intelligence services carried out this operation in order to lure his son into Belarus and  "put on him handcuffs there for posts in social networks."  Meanwhile, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine officially confirmed the crossing of Paul Gryb border with Belarus.

On August 30, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on European Integration Olena Zerkal stated that  "Belarus behaves as a partner in words, but in reality it works in a completely different way . " This statement sounded against the backdrop of a scandal surrounding the disappearance of Ukrainians Pavlo Gryb in Belarus.

September 7, Director of the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Kirillich said that 19-year-old Ukrainian citizens Pavlo Gryb, who disappeared in the Belarusian city of Gomel,  is in the administration of the FSB of Russia in Krasnodar . On September 11, Russian  lawyer Andriy Sabinin managed to meet with Paul Gryb. The Ukrainian said that he was taken from Gomel to unknown people and transferred to another unknown, and about a few days in the Smolensk region was issued a detention report. After that he was taken to Krasnodar.

On October 12, the father P. Gryba I. Gryb informed that the Russian side refused Ukrainian doctors to enter his son. "All attempts to get into a SIZO-5 m. Krasnodar was rejected without a response from the Russian side," he said.

October 18, the Zhovtnevy District Court of Krasnodar (RF) extended the  period of detention . Pavlova Gryb till January 4, 2018.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine  expressed resentment on  such a decision by the Russian court. The department was reminded that the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expressed its protest , since "the unwarranted detention of Paul Mushroom in the prison in Krasnodar for fabricated allegations is another testimony to the political nature of the case."

On November 20, the Ukrainian consul visited Pavlo Mushroom, the meeting lasted seven minutes. According to the results of this meeting, the father of the boy, Igor Gryb, said that Paul's health deteriorates, his body is stuffed with ulcers. The October District Court of Krasnodar (RF)  continued the detention of  P. Gryb until March 4, 2018.

On February 1, 2018 I. Grib reported on the unsatisfactory condition of his son's health and the lack of necessary medical care. According to him, there are no professional medical specialists from Pavlov's disease in Krasnodar and nobody will be able to provide the necessary medical assistance.

He also said that on February 1, a Krasnodar Regional Court hearing on a preventive measure was held, and the lawyer learned about the meeting by chance. "On February 1, in spite of all the terms, a meeting of the Krasnodar Regional Court to consider the appeal for a preventive measure was held by Pavel. The lawyer about the court session accidentally found out during the day." Everything was done so that the parents did not have time to arrive,"- said I. Gryb.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

At his press conference in Moscow, the Ukrainian president-fugitive Yanukovych did not answer the question of whether he appealed to Putin's president about the withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied part of Ukraine.

On the question of Tsensor.NET 's author Irina Romal'skaya about the circumstances of writing the notorious letter to the head of the Russian Federation, as well as the fact that Putin asked for him in exchange for the provision of military aid in 2014, and whether he subsequently requested that Yanukovich be removed from Putin by troops from Ukraine, cease to pursue Crimean Tatars and return the peninsula under the control of Ukraine, the ex-president managed to answer only one of the questions raised, saying that he had already answered other questions.




"I have answered all these questions. I am an appeal, I repeat, an appeal, which I wrote on March 1, 2014 in the city of Rostov in the first half of the day, and we sent this appeal together with my statement, issued by Churkin on behalf of the Foreign Ministry of Russia on the Security Council UN, I sent it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was not myself, there were enough people with me, we had a long time to consult. We had to find the right position and the reason for our appeal, the statement was an actual appendix to the appeal, which was based on the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation with Russia, which lies at the heart of this approach The statement was actually an application, and there were two of them before this appeal,"- said the president-fugitive.

Earlier it was reported that Yanukovych will give a press conference in Moscow on March 2, in which he will talk about "new evidence of the involvement of the current Ukrainian authorities in the shooting of protesters on the Independence".

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Immediately after the liberation of the occupied territories, the local population will receive pensions for the entire period from the beginning of the termination of payments.

As informs Tsensor.NET with reference to the press service of the Cabinet, the Minister of Social Policy informed the People's Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada during the "Hours of Questions to the Government".

Answering the question of the people's deputy concerning the implementation of pension payments to internally displaced persons, including in the occupied territory of Ukraine, the Minister stressed that the Government approved Resolution №365 allowed to renew pension payments to two hundred thousand citizens from internally displaced persons. Today, the number of internally displaced persons receiving pensions is about 530 thousand people.

"The number of citizens who receive a pension increases as people move to a controlled Ukraine territory. According to the law passed by the Verkhovna Rada, the occupation is responsible for the situation in the occupied territories, when these territories pass under the control of Ukraine, as happened in two In villages - Mayne and Gladosov - recently, people are paid all the arrears that were before them from pensions, a practice that the Government will continue", - said Andrew Reva.  

ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

A court in Russian-controlled Crimea has handed a suspended sentence of two years to a Crimean Tatar activist who opposes Moscow's rule over the Ukrainian region.

The Feodosia city court on March 1 found Suleyman Kadyrov guilty of publicly calling for the violation of Russia's territorial integrity.

The court also barred Kadyrov from "public activities" for one year, a sentence that prevents him from taking part in demonstrations.

Kadyrov vowed to appeal the verdict, which he said was "yet another proof that [the Russian authorities] are scared."

The charge stems from Kadyrov's 2016 Facebook post of a video about a pro-Ukrainian volunteer military unit and a comment in which he wrote, "Crimea was, is, and will always be Ukraine!"

Kadyrov pleaded not guilty, arguing that he has the right to express his opinion.

He said on March 1 that he expected the sentence against him.

"This is Russia. Its justice system has always been and will be dependent on the special services," Kadyrov said.

"It is not only about me; it is about all other political prisoners. We will go through all levels of this Russian 'injustice' system and turn to the European Court of Human Rights," he added.

Rights groups and Western governments have denounced what they call a campaign of oppression targeting members of the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatar minority and others who opposed Moscow's seizure of the Black Sea peninsula in March 2014......................

rferl.org Click here for full access of entire article in English

The European Commission calls on Ukraine and Russia to find immediate solutions in line with the decisions of the Stockholm Arbitration Tribunal.

"The Commission was informed by the Ukrainian authorities about their concern regarding a possible emergency situation in the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System (GTS)," Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič Friday said in a statement on Russian-Ukrainian natural gas situation in March 2018, Censor.NET reports.

"This issue is, according to the information so far available to the Commission, based on from three elements:

- Continuous low and varying pressure in gas supply from Russia to Ukraine for transit to the EU: this phenomenon is not new but was already investigated by the Commission and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) with Naftohaz and Gazprom last year. However under current circumstances (low temperatures, high domestic gas demand, expected direct imports from Russia) the low pressure in the Gas Transmission System becomes particularly problematic;

- Lack of direct supply from Gazprom to Naftogaz: it seems that Naftogaz and Gazprom have not managed to agree on the import terms of natural gas despite the decision of the Stockholm Arbitration Tribunal, which led to the refusal of the delivery of natural gas even for volumes pre-paid by Naftogaz;

- Increasing reverse flows from the EU at a short notice is challenging at the moment because of tight spot markets (low temperatures throughout EU) and difficulties to technically rearrange the flows within the Gas Transmission System.

"The Commission is currently further clarifying the facts with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas. However, it is the Commission's view that this situation raises concerns not only for the direct supply of natural gas to Ukraine but possibly also for the transit of gas to the EU," Šefčovič said.

"The Commission therefore calls on all parties concerned, companies and respective Ministries of Ukraine and Russia, to find immediate solutions in line with the decisions of the Stockholm Arbitration Tribunal. The Commission stands ready to steer a trilateral process which in the past has already proven to be effective in situations of disagreement," EC vice-president said. He also expressed intent to call the Ukrainian and Russian energy ministers in order to assess the situation and to agree on the necessary next steps.

"It is important that both Russia and Ukraine reaffirm their respective positions of a reliable supplier and transit country of gas, as was the case over the past years," the official stressed.

Earlier, Gazprom received advanced payment from Naftohaz Ukrainy for gas supplies in March but transferred the money back. "Evidently, there will be no gas supplies to Naftohaz Ukrainy starting from March 1," Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said.

Stockholm arbitration ruled Feb. 28 that Naftogaz be paid $4.63 billion. Following two arbitration proceedings, Gazprom owes $2.56 billion.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The German court has sent an alleged organizer of smuggling of cocaine from Argentina to Russia, Andrei Kovalchuk, under arrest before making a decision on Russia's request for extradition.

This was announced on Friday by Interfax, his lawyer Volodymyr Zherebyonkov, reports Tsensor. NET.

"The German court is of the opinion that Kovalchuk should be in custody while considering the issue of his extradition in Russia. The court did not see violations of the law against him, recognizing that Kovalchuk's health allows him to be arrested," the lawyer said.

He noted that because of the severity of the charges, the German court refused to consider a petition for the release of a Russian businessman on a pledge.

"The defense offered to consider the issue of Kovalchuk's release on bail, but the judge said" no, in this case it is useless, because a very serious charge has been presented", - Zhereb'onkov said.

He specified that in custody Kovalchuk will be in the city prison of Berlin.

In the courtroom, the figure was asked not to be arrested and promised to come at the first police request.

According to Zherebyonkov, Kovalchuk opposes his extradition to Russia, the Russian request for his expulsion will be examined by the German court in the usual manner. "He refused an expedited review of the request, which means he was against extradition, and the German court therefore decided to consider this issue in the normal way," he said. Zherebyonkov clarified that in connection with this consideration the issue of extradition may take "at least six months."

Kovalchuk was arrested on the eve of the Berlin suburb in his home. Police detained an entrepreneur at the request of their Russian counterparts. In Russia, Kovalchuk was declared an international wanted line by Interpol and arrested in absentia as part of an investigation into the so-called "cocaine case".

Russian law enforcement authorities consider him the main contributor to the case - the organizer of the smuggling of a large batch of cocaine from Argentina in the Russian Federation.

Recall that on February 22 it became known that six people were arrested in Russia and Argentina in the case of international drug trafficking . It was reported that the investigation was initiated after the Russian ambassador informed the Argentine authorities in December 2016 about the detection of suspicious baggage in the school building at the embassy. According to the Argentine police, in the 12 suitcases 360 packages of cocaine were discovered with a total weight of 389 kilograms. According to the authorities of Argentina, the cost of such a batch of drugs is about 50 million euros. According to preliminary data, found at the school at the Russian Embassy in Buenos Aires bags of 389 kg of cocaine replaced drugs for flour and installed GPS receivers.

In December 2017, flour under the guise of cocaine was delivered to Russia by diplomatic mail. At the same time, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev arrived in Argentina. The official purpose of his visit was to meet with Argentinean President Mauricio Macri, however, according to The Telegraph, he also had to carry bags of flour to Russia.

The Argentinean edition Clarin reported that the case of an attempt to send cocaine to Russia was arrested by a former employee of the Embassy in Argentina Ali Abyanov, as well as Vladimir Kalmykov and Ishimir Khudzamov. In Argentina, former police officer Ivan Bliznyuk and his friend, Alexander Chikala, were arrested. They led the MORAL Foundation (Mecenas Ortodoxos Rusos En America Latin, Russian Orthodox patrons in Latin America). A Russian Andriy Kovalchuk, who lives in Berlin, has been wanted.

All accused in the "cocaine case" have been charged with an attempt to smuggle narcotic drugs and an attempt to smuggle illegal drugs, especially in large quantities.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria called the anti-Ukrainian provocation of the speech of Patriarch RPC Kirill in the program "More from the Day" of the Bulgarian National Television on the "Civil War" in the Donbass.

It is reported by the press service of the department.

"The Embassy recalls that the Russian Federation, having carried out a temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, has grossly violated the norms and principles of international law, including the UN Charter, which is confirmed in the Resolution of the UN General Assembly" "A / RES / 68/262 dated March 27, 2014. In addition, the United Nations General Assembly resolutions" Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine) "approved by the General Assembly in 2016 and 2017 fairly recognize the Russian Federation as a state- occupation ante ", - the embassy reports.

For the original report in Ukrainian go here: apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US President Donald Trump has continued sanctions against Russia for her aggression against Ukraine.

This is reported on the website of the White House.

Thus, Trump continued presidential orders No. 13660 (from March 6, 2014), No. 13661 (from March 16, 2014) and # 13662 (from March 20, 2014) for another year.

These decrees emphasize that "the actions and policy of the Government of the Russian Federation against Ukraine undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine, threaten its security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity and promote the unlawful appropriation of its property."

These decrees of the US president were a reaction to Russia's occupation of Crimea. In particular, they block the property and assets of Russian politicians in the United States, who are responsible for the aggression of the RF against Ukraine.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin scares the Russians with the war with the West in order to force them to vote for the security forces and to strengthen the militaristic component in the Russian Federation.

The Russian opposition, Konstantin Borovoy, told this "Apostrophe".

"Can Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claim that Russia is preparing for a nuclear strike on the West and Putin's reciprocal threats?" "Yes, of course." According to this mobilization model, they are interested in creating a situation of confrontation and confrontation, "- he noted.

At the same time, Borovyi stressed that this is an advocacy campaign, not based on real events.

"It operates with virtual and fictitious phenomena and events. Today it is beneficial for the Kremlin to develop the theme of military confrontation, threats to the West, and, in essence, to frighten their own citizens, impose on them the dangers they are threatened and from which they can" protect "only Putin and his Kremlin environment", - summed up the expert.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Pro-EU parliamentary leaders from Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia say the continued presence of Russian troops in their countries is destabilizing.

The parliament speakers from the three countries issued a joint statement at the end of a one-day security conference in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, voicing their deep concern about the Russian military presence in the three former Soviet republics.

The statement said the three countries were "profoundly concerned about Russian troops" in Moldova, "and Russian occupation and other forms of military intervention" in parts of Georgia and Ukraine.

The statement also condemned Russia's "coordinated foreign support for separatist movements," and social-media "operations" to discredit pro-European governments.

"After 26 years Moldova still has an occupied territory," the country's speaker, Andrian Candu, said. "The same reality is faced by Georgia and Ukraine."

Russia has some 1,500 troops stationed in the Moldova's separatist Transdniester region, which declared independence from Chisinau in 1990 with Moscow's backing.

Russia claims they need to stay in Transdniester to ensure peace and to protect huge Soviet-era ammunition depots located in the area.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in 2008, which led to two breakaway Georgian regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, declaring independence. Russia has since been supporting the regions financially and militarily.................

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