Ukraine News. Monday 19 March. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY HEADLINES:
Facebook and Zuckerberg face a trillion penalty and bankruptcy for collecting personal data.  France renounces Russia's presidential vote in occupied Crimea.  EU has issued an official application to the Russian Federation in the case of the Violinist.  The RF requires Britain's evidence or apologies for the violinist.  Klimkin called for sanctions against Schroeder for "promoting Putin's projects abroad".  Berlin refused to impose sanctions on former Chancellor Schroeder at the request of Klimkin.  Sobchak asked Putin to pardon political prisoners Sentsov and Kolchenko.  Savchenko appealed to the president with a request to dismiss Prosecutor General Lutsenko.  France is firmly committed to the full restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, - Macron in a conversation with Putin.  Merkel is looking for an alternative to supplies of Russian gas.  Hungary is dissatisfied with the plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to restore the military unit in Transcarpathia.  More than 90% of the Crimean Tatars on the peninsula "completely ignored" the presidential elections of the Russian Federation - Chubarov.

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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he expected German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other NATO leaders to revamp their approach at the next NATO summit this summer, given a risk that Russia could gradually give more weight to nuclear weapons in its doctrine, exercises and new military capabilities.

"I think Chancellor Merkel and her colleagues will face new decisions at the NATO summit in July in Brussels. We must be alert and resolute," Stoltenberg was quoted saying by Welt am Sonntag, Censor.NET reports citing Reuters.

The NATO leader last week accused Russia of trying to destabilize the West with new nuclear weapons, cyber attacks and covert action, including the poisoning of a Russian former double agent and his daughter in the British town of Salisbury.

"We can always do more and must reflect on that now. Salisbury follows, by all appearances, a pattern we’ve observed for some years - Russia is becoming more unpredictable and more aggressive," he said.

Russia denies any involvement and says it is the U.S.-led Atlantic alliance that is a risk to peace in Europe.

"Russia must not miscalculate," Stoltenberg told the newspaper. "We are always ready to respond when an ally is attacked militarily. We want credible deterrence. We don’t want any war. Our goal is de-escalation."

Stoltenberg said hybrid warfare could be added to the agenda of the next NATO-Russia Council, a forum that brings together NATO ambassadors and Russia’s top diplomat to the alliance, despite the suspension of joint exercises and peacekeeping operations.

"Hybrid warfare is a possible topic for the NATO-Russia Council. We are now preparing the next meeting, so I don’t want to say too much," he told the newspaper, referring to increased use of "hybrid tactics" such as soldiers without insignia.

"It’s important that we sit together at the table and speak to each other," he said, urging Russia to abide by nuclear arms control treaties.

Stoltenberg listed as evidence of Russia’s threat its 2014 annexation of Crimea, support for separatists in Ukraine, military presence in Moldova and Georgia, meddling in Western elections and involvement in the war in Syria.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

France said it would not recognize Russia's election in the Crimean peninsula annexed by the Russian Federation.

"Challenging borders by force is contrary to international law, including commitments made by the Russian Federation," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement four years to the day after Russia formally annexed the territory from Ukraine in a move slammed by the West as illegal, Censor.NET reports citing The Local.

"France does not recognize the organization of Russia's presidential election in Crimea today," it added as Russians vote in an election overshadowed by a furious row with Britain and its allies over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in England.

Sunday marks exactly four years since President Vladimir Putin, who is seen as a virtual certainty for a fourth term, signed a treaty declaring Crimea part of Russia after taking control of the former Soviet territory following the ouster of a Russian-backed president in Ukraine's capital Kyiv.

It is Russia's first presidential election since the annexation, which prompted pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine to take up arms against the state, sparking a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

"Four years after the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and (the city of) Sevastopol, France remains firmly attached to the full restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders," the French statement said.

France, it said, was "concerned by the militarization of the peninsula and the deterioration of the human rights situation, particularly with regard to Crimean Tatars," a Muslim ethnic minority that mostly opposed the annexation.

The statement added that French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian would travel to Ukraine next week to discuss the situation in Crimea and eastern Ukraine with the country's officials.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The European Union "is extremely concerned about the assessment of the British Government that the Russian Federation is very likely to be responsible for the poisoning of the Russian" Violinist "ex-spy."

This is stated in a statement issued by the Council of Ministers of the European Union at the level of foreign affairs, published on Monday.

"The European Union strongly condemns the attack against Sergei and Julia Fiddlers in Salisbury," the statement said.

Ministers emphasize that the EU "is shocked to use for the first time in more than 70 years of the neuroparalytic substance of the military class developed in Russia."

"The use of any chemical weapons by any person is completely unacceptable and poses a threat to safety for all of us. Any such use is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, a violation of international law and undermines international rules based on the rules", - the statement states.

The European Union has put forward a number of requirements for Russia. In particular, he urged the Russian Federation to respond urgently to the question of the United Kingdom and the international community and to "ensure the prompt and full disclosure of its" Novice "program to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons."

"The EU expresses its full solidarity with Great Britain and its support for its efforts to condemn those responsible for this crime," the document said.

On March 14, British Prime Minister Teresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in connection with the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. In addition, Britain has declared the freezing of Russian assets in the country. Sanctions can affect Putin's immediate surroundings.

Also, Britain has warned citizens about the danger of traveling to Russia . In addition, May announced the meeting of the NATO Council on Chemical Weapons in Russia . Due to an international scandal, the Royal Family and British ministers will not go on World Cup 2018 in Russia . The British regulator in the field of broadcasting did not rule out blocking the Russia Today channel, working in Britain. Russia threatens to ban British media in case of Russia Today blocking.

March 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of 23 British diplomats "in response to Britain's actions." Also, the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced the closure of the British Council.

A United States spokeswoman at the UN, Nicky Hailey, said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Russia is responsible for a British chemical attack on Sergey Skripal and his daughter. The United States has supported the decision of Britain to send Russian diplomats .

Russian stock markets responded by a decline in Britain's statement.

A 66-year-old citizen of Russia Sergey Skrypal was hit by a hospital with severe poisoning on March 4. With him was his daughter.

Sergei Skripal, Colonel of Military Intelligence of Russia on retirement in 2006, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for espionage in favor of Britain. He was found guilty of giving testimony to Russian agents working under cover of the EU, the Secret Intelligence of Britain.

The former intelligence officer was fired in an exchange between the United States and Russia in 2010. He was pardoned by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Then Russia, besides Violinist, sent Igor Sutyagin, Alexander Zaporizhzhya and Gennady Vasilenko to the United States. At the same time, 10 people charged with espionage in favor of Russian citizens were sent from the United States, including Anna Chapman. Soon, Violin became a political refuge in the UK.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In Russia, Britain's accusation of an incident with the poisoning of former intelligence officer Sergei Skrypka and his daughter "loud". The Kremlin stated that "London, sooner or later, will have to either uphold their allegations to Moscow for some evidence, or apologize."

This was stated by the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, reports TASS.

"We understood the solidarity [of other countries with Great Britain] - both Euro-Atlantic and the other - but sooner or later these allegations will have to be answered. It will be necessary to either reinforce them with something - some evidence, or bring the corresponding apologies", - said Peskov.

Commenting on the situation, he said that he would not speak of "aggravation of relations with the West".

On March 19, the EU issued a formal application to the Russian Federation in the case of Violinist.

On March 14, British Prime Minister Teresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in connection with the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. In addition, Britain has declared the freezing of Russian assets in the country. Sanctions can affect Putin's immediate surroundings.

Also, Britain has warned citizens about the danger of traveling to Russia . In addition, May announced the meeting of the NATO Council on Chemical Weapons in Russia. Due to an international scandal, the Royal Family and British ministers will not go on World Cup 2018 in Russia . The British regulator in the field of broadcasting did not rule out blocking the Russia Today channel, working in Britain. Russia threatens to ban British media in case of Russia Today blocking.

March 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of 23 British diplomats "in response to Britain's actions." Also, the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced the closure of the British Council.

A United States spokeswoman at the UN, Nicky Hailey, said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Russia is responsible for a British chemical attack on Sergey Skripal and his daughter. The United States has supported the decision of Britain to send Russian diplomats .

Russian stock markets responded by a decline in Britain's statement.

A 66-year-old citizen of Russia Sergey Skrypal was hit by a hospital with severe poisoning on March 4. With him was his daughter.

Sergei Skripal, Colonel of Military Intelligence of Russia on retirement in 2006, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for espionage in favor of Britain. He was found guilty of giving testimony to Russian agents working under cover of the EU, the Secret Intelligence of Britain.

The former intelligence officer was fired in an exchange between the United States and Russia in 2010. He was pardoned by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Then Russia, besides Violinist, sent Igor Sutyagin, Alexander Zaporizhzhya and Gennady Vasilenko to the United States. At the same time, 10 people charged with espionage in favor of Russian citizens were sent from the United States, including Anna Chapman. Soon, Violin became a political refuge in the UK.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin stressed the importance of imposing sanctions against those "who are engaged in promoting Putin's projects abroad", in particular, the ex-chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder.

He told the Bild newspaper, Deutsche Welle reports.

"Gerhard Schroeder is Putin's most important lobbyist all over the world. Therefore, it is necessary to check how the European Union can act in this situation", - underlined the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Recall that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder headed the board of directors of the Russian state oil prospect Rosneft, despite the sharp criticism of this decision by the Germans.

In Germany, they criticized the nomination of former Chancellor Schroeder for Rosneft's board of directors.

According to experts, Germany's tight policy on Russia will not change under Merkel's rule despite the special attitude of some German political forces to Russia.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Berlin did not support the idea of ​​Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin on the imposition of sanctions against former German chancellor Gergard Schroeder

This is reported by DW.

"The federal government and the chancellor too, see no reason for such considerations," said the spokesman of the German government.

Recall Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Schroeder through his cooperation with Russia.

"Gerhard Schroeder is Putin's most important lobbyist around the world, so it's worth checking how the European Union can act in this situation," Klimkin said.

Schroeder served as Federal Chancellor for the period 1998-2005. Until the end of his term, the Chancellor "blessed" the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which resulted in Germany becoming dependent on Russian gas. After completing his political career, Schroeder took a seat at the Supervisory Board of Stream. Also, the ex-chancellor is the chairman of the board of directors of Rosneft.

However, later, the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Pavlo Klimkin, told Twitter that he did not call on Berlin to impose sanctions on the ex-chancellor.

"I want to clarify: I did not propose to impose sanctions on such individuals as Gerhard Schroeder, although it is necessary to be vigilant that Russia does not promote its dangerous projects in Europe," the minister said.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Candidate for the presidency of Russia Kseniya Sobchak handed to Putin a folder with the names of political prisoners, whom she asks for pardon. Putin promised to consider the appeal.

This is stated on the website of the headquarters of politicians.

The list of 16 people, including two Ukrainians, is Alexander Kolchenko and director Oleg Sentsov.

In addition to Ukrainian political prisoners in the Kremlin, Sobchak asks for Russians and Russians condemned for state security, extremism, "the use of violence" to police, drugs, and the like.

In August 2015, the Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in a strict regime colony in Rostov-on-Don.

He is accused of creating a terrorist organization on the territory of the annexed Crimea.

Kolchenko was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on similar charges.

On March 18, it was reported that a political prisoner detained in RF Kolchenko was sent to the SIZO for 13 days.

Residents of the city of Labitnangi in Yamal, where the term Sentsov, does not know anything about the Crimean director. Even if someone has heard about him, he refuses to speak to the camera.

The public has visited the city, where the colony number 8 "White Bear" is located, which holds Sentsova. In the correctional colony "White bear" only one person is recognized as a political prisoner, and this is Sentsov.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

People's deputy Nadiya Savchenko appealed to President Poroshenko to release Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko.

She reported on Facebook.

Savchenko has filed a complaint to Poroshenko, in which he stated that the prosecutor had violated the presumption of innocence against her as well as the prosecutor's oath.

Thus, the deputy asks the president to submit to the Council a written submission of consent to the dismissal of Lutsenko from the office of the Attorney General, and, after obtaining the consent, to dismiss him.

Also, Savchenko filed a disciplinary complaint against Lutsenko before the Qualification-Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors. The deputy asks the commission to bring the prosecutor general to justice.

"If the prosecutor allows himself to determine the guilt of an individual instead of a court, he replaces the lawful sentence of the court and puts himself above the judicial branch of government," she said.

Recall that Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said that the investigators of the GPU have evidence that the deputy Savchenko planned a terrorist attack in the hall of the Supreme Council.

After accusing the Prosecutor General's Office of intent to arrange a terrorist attack in Parliament, the People's Deputy Nadiya Savchenko offered to question her on a polygraph.

The council immediately excluded the parliamentary deputy Nadiya Savchenko from the Committee on National Security and Defense. March 16, the Standing Committee of the Council received a submission from the GPU to arrest Savchenko.

Previously, Savchenko came to the SBU for questioning and gave a briefing. At the briefing, the MP said that he saw parliamentary speaker Parubiy firing snipers at the Hotel Ukraine. Subsequently, she apologized to Parubia and stated that it was Pashinsky.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

President of France, Emmanuel Macron, during a telephone conversation with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, expressed support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
According to the press service of the Champs-Elysees Palace, Tsensor.NET reports.

So, during a conversation with Putin, Macron reminded of his commitment to a constructive dialogue between Russia, France and Europe. "The President of the Republic recalled that France continues to recognize the need to fully restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as to implement as soon as possible the Minsk treaties," the statement reads.

Earlier, Macron declared that the implementation of Minsk deals went into a dead end. "In connection with the Russo-Ukrainian crisis, the President of the Republic noted that the implementation of the Minsk treaties was deadlocked and stressed the need to take concrete measures to resolve the situation and alleviate the suffering of the people, consolidate the cease-fire and immediately implement the humanitarian measures proposed by France and Germany", - reported on the site of the Elysee Palace.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is looking for an alternative to gas supplies from Russia and Norway to reduce dependence on both countries.

Bloomberg reports.

It is noted that as the most realistic replacement, Merkel is considering the construction of terminals for receiving liquefied natural gas.

The publication notes that the restructuring in favor of LNG terminals is enshrined in a coalition agreement on the basis of recent elections to the Bundestag. The agreement envisages the development of the LNG industry for four years.

"Merkel supports any initiatives aimed at further diversification of gas supplies," the press secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Energy, Beata Baron, told the agency.

Currently, Germany does not have its own LNG terminal. The most realistic option is the construction of a terminal in Brunswick, the cost of the project is estimated at 500 million euros. The terminal is scheduled to open in 2022. Another project of similar value may appear in Duisburg, but it is not possible to implement it in such a short time.

At the same time, Merkel, as the publication notes, supports the Russian project "North Stream 2".

Vice President of Tellurian Inc. Tareq Suoki is convinced that Germany should develop a LNG industry to have additional arguments in talks with Moscow.

"Look at Lithuania. Investments in the LNG terminal provided them with options and turned Russians back to the negotiating table," he said.

-Recall, previously Germany allowed to build Russian "North Stream 2" in its territorial waters.

-The EU approved changes in legislation that would allow controlling the gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine.

-Denmark has passed a law that could hinder the construction of the North Stream 2.

-Poland plans to build its own gas pipeline to Denmark on the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

-Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany does not threaten the energy security of Europe.

-Head of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev said that in case of the completion of the Russian project for the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline, Europe should be ready to shut down gas.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Hungary Peter Siajarto expressed dissatisfaction with the plans of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to restore the military unit in Berehove in Transcarpathia

This is reported by "European truth".

According to him, Siiarto worries that the Ukrainian army intends to place a battalion of about 800 people in the city with the highest proportion of Hungarians among the population.

He added that the explanation of the Ministry of Defense that this step is necessary because of threats to the territorial integrity of the country, cause even more concern.

"This means that they regard the Hungarian national community as outrageous to Kiev, which is why Hungary categorically rejects it," said Ciarto.

It should be noted that on February 9, a meeting of the Beregovo City Council was held to discuss the placement on the territory of the former military unit of a separate battalion of the 128th Transcarpathian Mountain Infantry Brigade, which is currently based in Mukachevo, as well as in Uzhgorod and Vynogradov.

Oleg Mykats, Acting Commander of the Operations Command "West", was present at the meeting, who noted that in the event of a positive decision to restore or build the corresponding new objects in real by the end of 2019.

Previously, the 315th Guards Mechanized Order of the Bogdan Khmelnitsky Regiment was located in Berehovo. In 2003, the military unit was disbanded, and the property was transferred to the balance of the city council. Most buildings are now in a state of emergency. In addition, part of the land was sold to private owners.

-On March 7, Hungarian Ambassador to Ukraine Erno Keshken declared the need to establish a Hungarian autonomy on the territory of the Transcarpathian region.

-On the same day, the Society of Hungarian Culture in connection with the attacks on their office in Uzhhorod urged the OSCE to send a permanent mission to Transcarpathia.

-On March 11, OSCE representatives said that the organization would not enter a separate mission to Transcarpathia.

-On March 16, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that Hungary was approaching the red line very closely because of statements about the need to introduce UN peacekeepers to Transcarpathia.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, said that over 90% of the Crimean Tatars on the peninsula "completely ignored" Russian presidential elections.

As Tsensor.NET informs , about this on March 19 he told the Crimea.Rialia during an action under the Russian embassy in Ukraine.

According to the head of the Mejlis, over 90% of Crimean Tatars on the peninsula "completely ignored" Russian presidential elections.

Chubarov also expressed doubts about the statements of the Russian authorities of Crimea that the turnout on the peninsula exceeded 70%.

"The analysis shows that the turnout at polling stations was around 30% at 17:00 local time, and people simply did not go to the elections. They were taken out, all", - said Chubarov.

He added that in Crimea, people who demonstrate lack of loyalty to the actions of the Russian authorities of the peninsula, "must be prepared for repression every day."

Earlier, activist of the Crimean Tatar national movement Zair Smedliaev also said that in Crimea not more than 10% of Crimean Tatars voted.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український