Ukraine News. Friday 30 March. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY HEADLINES:
US Trump to Russia's Putin: "If you want to have an arms race we can do that, but I'll win".   US State Department deems unjustified Russia's decision to expel 60 US diplomats, close down consulate in St. Petersburg.  MP Savchenko loses appeal, remains in pretrial custody.  I do not know these companies, I do not understand who ordered, as ordered, - Tymoshenko about lobbyists in the USA.  Violinist, Stil, Browder: ex-KGB agent Karpychkov told about "shooting lists" of RF special services.  The Canadian Government is concerned about Russia's disinformation campaign.  We are worried about Russian cyber attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid, while part of them belongs to the senator of the RF, Babakov, who is under the sanction of the West for the occupation of the Crimea.  The issue of free provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine is not yet considered - the Government of Canada.  Review of visa requirements for Ukraine is not timely: there are a number of problematic issues, the Canadian government.  The closure of the US Consulate General in St. Petersburg will affect visa operations.  The Czech president has stated that there is no evidence of poisoning. US Department of State intends to require social networking pages, e-mail and telephone numbers for all foreigners applying for a US visa. Putin's top propagandist once again frightened Russians with Ukraine and spoke for new freedom of speech restrictions in Russia. In Russia, there will be great losses: in Ukraine assessed Putin's readiness for a "big war". Putin praised the test of a new powerful weapon.

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Two officials said Trump told Putin during a phone call last week after Putin's re-election: "If you want to have an arms race we can do that, but I'll win."

As reported by Censor.NET citing NBC News, Trump said that he hoped that Putin’s comments were just election rhetoric and bragged that he’d just secured a $700 billion defense budget, the largest the U.S. has ever had, he said, according to one of the officials.

Administration officials says Trump has recently taken a sharper tone on Putin behind the scenes, but the shift seems more a reaction to the Russian leader challenging the president's strength than a new belief that he's an adversary. Putin's claim earlier this month that Russia has new nuclear-capable weapons that could hit the U.S., a threat he underscored with video simulating an attack, "really got under the president's skin," one official said.

Another official, however, said Trump believes a stable U.S. relationship with Russia is important if the U.S. is going to find resolutions to other crisis, such as the conflict in Syria.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Heather Nauert says there is no justification for the Russia's decision to expel 60 U.S. staff and close down U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg.

"I want to remind you that there is no justification for the Russian response. Our actions were motivated purely by the attack on the United Kingdom, the attack on a British citizen and his daughter," Nauert told a briefing on March 29, Censor.NET reports.

"Remember, this is a first time that a weapons-grade nerve agent, Novichok, has been used outside of war on allied soil. We have not taken these steps lightly; we’ve taken these steps in concert with our allies across the world," she stressed.

"Twenty-eight countries now join the United States backing our allies in the decision to have kicked out 153 Russian spies from the various countries. Georgia is the latest country that has joined us in this effort. I believe they announced today that they would kick out one spy, which is significant, given that Georgia is in the backyard of Russia," Nauert said.

"As I understand it, Russia plans to take the same unjustified actions against 28 other countries, countries that stood in solidarity with the UK. Russia is further isolating itself following the brazen chemical attack. We are still reviewing the details of the Russian action, but let me say, again, that we reserve the right further to any Russian retaliation against the United States," the spokesperson said.

As reported, Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, remain critically ill in hospital, after they were found unconscious on a bench in the Wiltshire city on March 4. The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok and PM Theresa May said she believed Moscow was "culpable."

UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats as part of a "full and robust" response – prompting Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to say it will "certainly" expel British diplomats in response.

On March 16, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had "no reason to doubt the findings and assessments by the British government" which suggested Russian responsibility. He said the "UK is not alone" and Nato allies gave "strong political support" to Britain, following a joint statement from the US, France and Germany backing Mrs May's government and a pledge of support from Australia.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said that the U.K.'s government believes that it was likely Putin's decision to direct the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the U.K.

On March 26, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the United Nations in New York.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Kyiv-based appeals court upheld previous court ruling to remand non-affiliated MP Nadia Savchenko in pretrial custody.

As reported by a correspondent for Censor.NET from the courtroom, the court also partially granted the appeal of prosecutors - quashed the ruling of the Shevchenkivskyi district court of Kyiv saying that Savchenko’s detention was unlawful.



The lawmaker’s supporters booed the court decision.

"Ukrainian authorities are very much like the Russian ones. It is necessary to replace the authorities to have a fair trial. This has not been the case so far!" Savchenko stressed.




As reported, ex-MP Stepan Khmara and activist Irma Krat proposed to bail Savchenko out by standing surety for her.

Read more: PGO digs into Ruban and Savchenko’s possible contacts with Medvedchuk

On March 22, the law enforcers served Savchenko with charge papers and detained her inside the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the presence of journalists after the parliament stripped her of immunity and sanctioned her detention and arrest. She was remanded in pretrial custody until May 20 in a bail hearing held on March 23 after which the lawmaker went on a hunger strike.

On March 21, the members of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure and Support to Work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine unanimously upheld motions to detain, arrest, and bring to criminal responsibility non-affiliated MP Savchenko which were subsequently supported by the parliament's majority.

On March 15, Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko requested the Verkhovna Rada to strip MP Savchenko of immunity, detain and arrest her. The lawmaker is suspected of allegedly plotting an armed coup through acts of terrorism.

On March 12, Savchenko was summoned for questioning to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) due to an investigation in criminal proceedings against Volodymyr Ruban.

On March 8, Ruban was detained at a checkpoint in the Donbas with a batch of weapons. He was delivering these weapons from the occupied territory to the government-controlled part of the Donbas.

Ruban is suspected of plotting armed attacks on senior government officials, preparing a terrorist act with the use of weapons and explosives posing a threat to life and limb of people.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

MP Yulia Tymoshenko, chairman of the Batkivschyna All-Ukrainian Association faction, said that she had not ordered or paid for the services of Avenue Strategies - a company that, according to documents sent to the US Department of Justice, would carry out lobbying activities in favor of Tymoshenko on America's territory.

She also claims she does not know about Two Paths LLC (Delaware, USA), who signed a contract to provide these services in the interests of Tymoshenko and pledged $ 65,000 a month to pay for them. She reported this in a comment to the journalists of the Scheme program, Censor reports. NET with reference to Radio Liberty.

The journalists asked Tymoshenko whether she provided money to Two Paths LLC to pay for the services of the lobbyist firm Avenue Strategies.

"Categorically - no (I did not provide funds, ed.) I generally do not know these companies, I do not understand who ordered, as ordered. This is the same question for me as for you," Yulia Tymoshenko answered.



According to documents from the US Department of Justice, the contract with Avenue Strategies was signed not by Yulia Tymoshenko but by Two Paths LLC, acting on its behalf.

Also, in comments to "Schemes", Yulia Tymoshenko said she was not familiar with the head of the lobbyist company Avenue Strategies, a former assistant US president Donald Trump Berry Bennett, who had previously spoken in an interview with The Hill, who will work "only personally on Yulia Tymoshenko, in order to Arrange her several visits "to" I'm not familiar with Berry Bennett in principle, but if he is good at me if he is ready to cooperate or help me somehow with me, I'm absolutely for, "said the politician.

Also, Yulia Tymoshenko confirmed that she meets with American officials. "We have a lot of ties, these are friendly ties. These are the connections of people who look very good at Ukraine, we love Ukraine and work for Ukraine," said the leader of the Batkivshchyna. However, she noted that the money for these meetings does not pay: "Categorically - no."

On the same day, when Yulia Tymoshenko agreed to comment on the Scheme program after several failures, a news with the statement from Two Paths LLC appeared on the site "Obozrevatel". It says that the leader of the Batkivshchyna itself has nothing to do with financing lobbyists' services, and money for them will be paid by indifferent people. Who exactly is not specified.

"Finally, Yulia Tymoshenko agreed to comment on the question of American lobbyists who hired Two Paths LLC (USA) for six months for $ 65,000 a month. If she believes that she was hired by lobbyists for her without her knowledge and consent, the Ukrainian law The payment of such services to a people's deputy is interpreted by third parties as a gift, and the same law prohibits the deputies from accepting gifts from unauthorized persons if their value exceeds one living wage (UAH 3723). What should Tymoshenko do to not violate this norm? When it became known to her that she had made such a gift to her - she has to give up her officially. If she does not refuse, she will fall under the Law of Ukraine "On Prevention of Corruption"," journalist Natalia Sedletskaya.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

KGB ex-agent Boris Karpichkov, who also lives in the UK, said that he, along with ex-GUE officer Sergey Skripal, is in the so-called "Kremlin death list".
This was announced to him on the phone by an old acquaintance in the middle of February, informs Tsensor.NET with reference to NBC News .

"Be careful, take a look, something is likely to happen. This is very serious, you are not alone in the list (Ed.)," He warned Karpichkova.

According to NBC News, the name of the Violinist, whom Karpichkov did not know before being poisoned in Salisbury, is also on this list.

He said there were several other names on the list of former KGB agents, as well as Christopher Still, who investigated US President Donald Trump's relationship with the Kremlin.

In addition, the list includes the name of Bill Browder, the initiator of international sanctions against Russian officials related to the case of the deceased in jail in 2009, a lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

Karpychkov admitted that he initially took the conversation about the threat as a joke. However, after the poisoning of the Violinist, he realized that it was a handwriting of the FSB.

As previously reported, Scotland Yard experts came to the conclusion that S. Skryply and his daughter were first hit by the influence of nerve-paralytic substance at home. At the same time, according to the police, the highest concentration of poisonous substance was detected at the entrance door of the house.

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skryptal and his daughter, Julia, continues. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was injured as a result of poisoning with an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

It should also be noted that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, a former GRG employee Sergey Skrypala and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

On Wednesday, March 14, May announced the decision of London to send 23 Russian diplomats who work for intelligence: "This will be the largest single expulsion in more than 30 years. This (this measure) reflects the fact that the Russian state is not the first time acting against our country".

On March 20, 23 employees of the Russian Embassy in London, as well as their families left Great Britain.

At the EU summit, which ended March 23, the EU countries supported the United Kingdom. Some countries, including Poland, are considering the expulsion of Russian diplomats.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that 13 Russian diplomats are signing solidarity with their British partners and transatlantic allies and in coordination with the European Union.

The deportation of Russian diplomats was announced by the United States, Canada and 14 European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and others. In the statements of Washington and Ottawa, the expatriate diplomats who were expelled were accused of having links with Russian intelligence and "abusing diplomatic powers." In addition, the United States announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle.

As of March 28, after the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in Great Britain, 28 countries and NATO have expelled 152 Russian diplomats suspected of working on Russian intelligence.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The video of tests of the Russian heavy intercontinental ballistic missile "Sarmat" was published on the network.

The video was posted on the RF Ministry of Defense channel on YouTube.



It is noted that the tests were carried out at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The launch was successful and allowed to confirm the characteristics of the complex during pre-start and early rocket flight stage.

Earlier in the Russian military department, they said that on the space launch site of Plesetsk there were already second throwing tests of the missile.

Recall that the ballistic missiles "Sarmat" previously told Russian President Vladimir Putin during the appeal to the Federal Assembly.

As reported by the "Apostrophe", the Pentagon is upset, but not surprised by a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin on testing a strategic nuclear missile complex "Sarmati", a video he showed during a call to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on March 1.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

An attempt by Russia to mislead the population in different parts of the world is anxiety in Canada.

This is stated in the response of the Government of Canada to the report of the Standing Committee of the Federal Parliament on Defense, reports Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform.

"The Canadian Government insists on its concerns over Russian attempts to disinform both Russian and non-Russian speaking audiences about Russia's actions in Ukraine and other topics," the document says.

The government added that Canada, along with NATO and other allies, is working to provide objective factual information.

Let's remind, in a report released last December last year by the Canadian Defense Committee's Canadian Standing Committee on Canadian Support to Ukraine during the crisis and armed conflict, deputies are urged to help Ukraine to repel hybrid attacks, in particular in the cybernetic and informational spheres.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine has a national security problem in power supply. In the interests of guaranteeing national security, the Ukrainian government should cease to control Russian oligarchs over most of the Ukrainian electricity grid.

Such an advice was expressed by an economic expert, Senior Researcher at the Eurasian Center "Atlantic Council" Anders Aslund in his publication on the situation on the energy market of Ukraine, reports Tsensor. NET with reference to Ukrinform.

"Ukraine has a problem at the level of national security in its electricity grid. It goes beyond the understanding of the fact that 11 of the 24 oblenergos in Ukraine belong to the Russian group, most of which are under the leadership of Russian nationalist Alexander Babakov, who is under the sanctions of the countries concerned for his role in Russian occupation and annexation of the Crimea as vice-speaker of the Russian State Duma, "the American expert wrote.

In addition, Babakov appears in so-called Panamanian documents, added Aslund.

Under the sanctions requirements of the United States and European countries, Babakov's property and assets must be frozen.

"According to US and European sanctions, Babakov's assets should be frozen," says the expert.

The analyst advises the Ukrainian government to freeze its assets, taking into account the issues of national security.

"The Ukrainian government should block its assets for national security. We are concerned about Russian cyber attacks on Ukrainian networks, while their overwhelming majority is in the ownership, control and exploitation of the enemy," said Aslund.

The expert also drew attention to the fact that the other owner of a large part of the network is Konstantin Grigorishin. He, on the contrary, was a citizen of Russia, but then he received Ukrainian citizenship.

Aslund also reminded that the legislation on electricity markets in Ukraine was approved by the Verkhovna Rada in June 2017. Although the document came into force immediately, most of its provisions remain unfulfilled.

In addition, Aslund commented on privatization plans in Ukraine.

"Now the state owns minority stake in many oblenergos. Since each of these companies is actually controlled by one or two big businessmen, the government should sell minority packages at the minimum price set by the state, one interested buyer," the analyst advised.

This was partly made last year and the government predicted the sale of another ten minority stakes.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Canada supports the sovereignty of Ukraine, but does not provide free lethal weapons.

According to Tsensor.NET , referring to Ukrinform, this is stated in a written reply from the Government of Canada to the report of the Standing Committee of the Federal Parliament on Defense.

"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Ukraine in its efforts to maintain sovereignty, security and stability, but does not consider actively providing lethal support in the form of a free transfer of lethal weapons from one troop to another," the answer is stated.

The document states that the Canadian Government "remains in close contact with the Government of Ukraine regarding its request for military equipment."

Let's remind, in a report released last December last year by the Canadian Defense Committee's Canadian Standing Committee on Canadian Support to Ukraine during the Crisis and Armed Conflict, MPs urge the government to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Government of Canada is not currently considering the possibility of introducing visa-free travel for Ukrainians.

This is stated in the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee of the Federal Parliament on Defense, reports Tsensor. NET with reference to Ukrinform.

"The Government of Canada is determined to welcome all visitors to the country and facilitate their travel, but is currently not considering an active review of visa requirements for Ukraine," the document says.

The government added that they are closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine, but believe that the country does not meet the visa-waiver requirements put forward by Canada.

"These criteria include socio-economic conditions, migration trends, human rights record, identification documents and passport regime, as well as the ability to control the border and security situation," explains the document.

In addition, in Canada they emphasized that the country has a visa regime with most countries of the world and does not carry out an analysis on the basis of reciprocity.

"The visa regime is the most effective mechanism for identifying and stopping illegal immigration to Canada, as visa applicants are subject to security screening and health surveys, as well as the traveler's intention and his ability to stay in Canada," he said. noted in the text.

Recall: In a report released last December last year by the Canadian Defense Committee's Canadian Standing Committee on Canadian Support to Ukraine during a Crisis and Armed Conflict, the government called for the lifting of visa requirements for short-term travel by Ukrainians.

We will also add that Ukraine has canceled visas for Canadians in 2005.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The closure of the United States Consulate General in St. Petersburg will affect visa and consular operations.

As informs Tsensor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine, this was stated by the official representative of the US Department of State Heather Noethert.

"Of course, this will affect visa operations and consular activities," she told reporters.

Noorte reminded that the consulate served Russian citizens: granted US visas and interviewed.

"When we are forced to close our facilities when we are forced to reduce our staff, we have fewer people who can answer these questions," she said.

"Our priority should be whether or not there (in Russia - Ed.), Or in any country, deal with American citizens first and foremost, so we can work to help American citizens, which undoubtedly undermines our the ability to do it, but it is always our priority,"- added the representative of the State Department.

Asked the journalist why Russia decided to close the Consulate in St. Petersburg, H. Noert said: "I can not answer this question. You should ask Russia why they chose St. Petersburg."

"I am not going to compare each other," she said, answering the question, whether the closure of the Consulate General in St. Petersburg with the closure of the Consulate in Seattle.

On Thursday, Russia, which rejects allegations of involvement in the poisoning of a former member of the GRU, took appropriate diplomatic measures. Russia has declared non-gratuitous persons 58 employees of the American embassy and two US Consulate General staff in Yekaterinburg, they must leave Russia by April 5. In addition, consent was given to the opening and operation of the US Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skryptal and his daughter, Julia, continues. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was injured as a result of poisoning with an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

It should also be noted that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British Government had come to a conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, a former GRG employee Sergey Skrypala and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

On Wednesday, March 14, May announced the decision of London to send 23 Russian diplomats who work for intelligence: "This will be the largest single expulsion in more than 30 years. This (this measure) reflects the fact that the Russian state is not the first time acting against our country".

On March 20, 23 employees of the Russian Embassy in London, as well as their families left Great Britain.

At the EU summit, which ended March 23, the EU countries supported the United Kingdom. Some countries, including Poland, are considering the expulsion of Russian diplomats.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that 13 Russian diplomats are signing solidarity with their British partners and transatlantic allies and in coordination with the European Union.

The deportation of Russian diplomats was announced by the United States , Canada and 14 European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and others. In the statements of Washington and Ottawa, the expatriate diplomats who were expelled were accused of having links with Russian intelligence and "abusing diplomatic powers." In addition, the United States announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle.

As of March 28, after the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in Great Britain, 28 countries and NATO have expelled 152 Russian diplomats suspected of working on Russian intelligence.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Czech President Miloš Zeman said that Britain did not provide enough evidence to prove Russia's involvement in the Salisbury poisoning.

His words are given by the parliamentary listy.

He noted that Britain had not provided sufficiently convincing evidence to justify measures taken against Russia in the world.

"The United Kingdom has not yet provided any evidence, there is a suspicion, but this is not a proof. I understand the solidarity action, but I would like to see the evidence, "said the Czech head of state.

He stressed that he expects expulsion from Moscow of three Czech diplomats in response to the decision of Prague to send three Russian staff to the diplomatic mission. Zeeman added that this would create difficulties for the Czech Republic.

"Our embassy in Moscow is much less than the Russian embassy here, so it will create great difficulties for us," he said.

Recall that the daughter of the Violinist has come to life and can speak.

On March 26, Ukraine, the United States and EU countries announced that they were expelled by Russian diplomats because of the poisoning of the Violinist in Britain. The 15 countries of the European Union have stated that they are in solidarity with Britain. At the same time, a number of EU countries have not yet sent Russian diplomats.

The Russians said they would send at least 60 diplomats to the United States.

Earlier, British Prime Minister Teresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the country in connection with the possible involvement of Moscow in the poisoning of the former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. Also on March 26, it became known that Britain issued warrants for the arrest of Russian capital of dubious origin.

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 . They were found unconsciously on a bench in the city center. British intelligence considers Russia involved in the poisoning of the Violinist.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The rise in oil prices in the 2000s allowed President Vladimir Putin to deploy an attack on his closest neighbors and engage in a struggle with the West. The role of the US and the EU has also played a role.

This was stated in an interview with "Apostrophe" former deputy of the European Parliament Hans Liberty.

According to him, in the 90's, Russia, after the collapse of the USSR, was very weak, and the West, in these conditions, went on to expand the European Union and NATO. However, with rising oil prices, Russia began to intensify.

"On the basis of a powerful economic recovery in Russia, Vladimir Putin said:" I do not accept what has happened over the past ten years. I can not turn everything back, but at least I can stop it. "After that, a conflict began in South Ossetia, the Transnistrian problem had already existed, but it was underlined, and, of course, Ukraine was, of course, Ukraine," Svoboda says.

The key points in Russia's policy change were two well-known speeches by Putin in Munich (2007) and in Bucharest (2008). It was then that Russia became strong enough to afford an attempt to confront the West.

"Also, the overload experienced by the United States of America, and which were forced to reduce or withdraw forces from the Middle East, played a role. Europe became more fragile after enlargement," the former deputy speaks.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Well-known Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov called on the legislature to restrict freedom of speech in Russia.

This propagandist said, speaking at a meeting of the Federation Council.

He called for responsibility for the distribution of unconfirmed and false information on the Internet.

"It was a terrible lesson for us once and for all, but not in our territory." We saw the Maidan, which gave Maidan a lot of our vaccination to our society, but did not affect the necessary legislative framework, which means that we urgently need to change the legislation in terms of the distribution of false information and responsibility for it", - said Solovyov.

The propagandist substantiated the merits of restricting freedom of speech to ensure the safety of citizens.

As reported by the "Apostrophe", Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov on the air of the TV channel "Russia 1" drove one of his guests, expert Gregory Vinnikov after his words about the death of a pilot in Syria, Roman Filippov.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russia can start a big war at any moment, and for this it is enough only the decision of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the prospect of significant losses can restrain aggression.

Famous Ukrainian journalist Roman Tsymbalyuk spoke about this, reports Fakty .

"Because of the inevitable heavy losses on the Russian side, this scenario is unlikely, but you know, everything has now gone so far that for decisive action, if circumstances so arise, they will not expect anything - neither the world championship nor anything else. can make any decisions,"- said the journalist.

At the same time, Ukraine has a significant influence on the situation, which can restrain Russia.

"But the Kremlin will not act in a linear way, but it never acted, and they need some kind of drive to call someone" in defense. "But their emissaries can call them, but only if there is no power in Ukraine why the Russians can help. So, I think everything depends more on us than on them, "the journalist summed up.

As reported by the "Apostrophe", over the past day, militants of terrorist organizations of the DPR and LNR made 57 shells of the ATO's positions. Two Ukrainian soldiers were injured, and another military injury.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Over the past year, the population of the Russian Federation has become more politically active, and this tendency will continue, as the internal problems of the Kremlin continue to increase.

This is stated in the material of the private American intelligence-analytical company Stratfor, which is at the disposal of the "Apostrophe".

So, although the most massive protests in Russia are usually coordinated by key opposition figures such as Alexei Navalny, the wave of demonstrations after the deadly fire at the Winter Wheat mall in Kemerovo rose by itself through social networks and local media.

"It all began with a few hundred protesters and reached tens of thousands after the statements of Russian officials, for example, Tulenev (Governor of the Kemerovo region Aman Tulyeev, ed.) Called the" buzoters "of protesters, many of whom were relatives of the victims, and other high-ranking officials said that the members the families of the dead prefer to attract media attention instead of getting sad. One of the officials in Kemerovo was marked by a particularly compromising outbreak, saying why people are in a panic, because children die every day, "said Stratfor.

In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not meet the families of the victims during his trip to Kemerovo. His staging photography at the hospital later caused a violent reaction on the Internet.

"The avoidance of relatives and staging photos are commonplace methods of the Kremlin when it comes to internal tragedies and, as a rule, have the desired effect in rebuffing protests, but this time they have only heated up public indignation," the material said.

It is noted that demonstrations that were organized spontaneously in 20 cities and 15,000 protesters in Moscow, including many children and young people, were able to get together without official permission from the city authorities.

"Now the question is whether the Camerov tragedy will grow into a larger movement, and if so, then it will add Putin's internal problems - in addition to the stagnant economy, concerns about environmental and economic issues, unpopular plans for raising taxes and fighting between the elites. Faced with With all these problems at once, the president, re-elected just a couple of weeks ago, may fail his fourth term,"- summed up in Stratfor.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

If the Russian Federation does not act on the Ukrainian question , then the West will not be ready to force Moscow on them.

Russian analyst Dmitry Oreshkin said this "Apostrophe".

"I think it was very difficult for the West to achieve such a high degree of solidarity in the condemnation of Moscow's actions. The coordinated expulsion of diplomats by so many countries (because of the case of Sergei Skripal's poisoning in Britain, ed.) Is unprecedented. But this is a demonstrative action, which some states have supported purely symbolic, sending one or two diplomats, "he said.

Oreshkin added that he was able to make sure in conversations with American and European political analysts and politicians that the situation inside the West is not so clear. So, in the same France, many people would like to continue business as usual, because they need inexpensive energy resources, they need to do business with Russia.

"I think that a significant part of the resources of the Atlantic solidarity was used to demonstrate the expulsion of diplomats." The fact that a similar consolidated position can be formed on the issue of Ukraine seems dubious to me, one thing is a short-term action, and the other is long-term economic interests, "the expert said.

According to him, significant changes in the Ukrainian direction are unlikely to be expected. Although in Putin's Russia is increasingly difficult, and it's becoming increasingly clear that it is necessary to somehow remove the burden of problems. And he probably will somehow be removed.

"But not so fast, because immediately after the election it's Putin's start (to President Vladimir Putin, ed.) Not quite prestigious. He is not ready to go immediately to deal with the West, but the West is not ready to exert pressure on him. on the Ukrainian part, "he said.

However, Oreshkin added that the real policy, at least Putin's, always operates before it reports.

"When the Crimea was annexed, no one was provided with any informational showers, and if they now provide (" showers " about the possible solution by the Kremlin" Donbass problems"- ed.) , Then they think it is correct and necessary. There are no casualties in the Kremlin, therefore which immediately will calculate the author of this leak and punish. So, it is a rational and calculated step with some of the expected consequences for this person,"- he concluded.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український