Ukraine News. Tuesday 10 April. [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY HEADLINES:
Ukraine to impose sanctions against Deripaska and other Russian oligarchs.  US Attorney Müeller is interested in donations Pinchuk to Trump Foundation for $150,000.  US will respond to a chemical attack on Assad forces in Syria, regardless of the UN Security Council resolution.  Russia violated the commitment to eliminate the program of chemical weapons in Syria.  SBU raids MP Nadia Savchenko’s apartment.  Hryvnia took second place among the most stable currencies of post-soviet countries.  "Emotional reaction" - Peskov about the reasons for the collapse of the stock exchange.  Merkel on North Stream 2: "It can not be that Ukraine will lose its status as a transitor of Russian gas".  Saakashvili intends to return to Georgia: We will end with the mafia and with this authority this year.  Merkel announced the meeting with leaders of Ukraine and France without Russia in May.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says Ukraine intends to impose sanctions against Russian businessmen which will echo the recent ones by the U.S. Treasury Department.

"I have instructed the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Cabinet of Ministers and the NSDC secretary to draft a resolution for further consideration by the National Security and Defense Council: sanctions will be imposed and they will be harmonized with the decision of the U.S. government as much as possible," Poroshenko tweeted, Censor.NET reports.

The president added that Deripaska and other Russian oligarchs will be added to the list of sanctions imposed by Ukraine against Russia.

On April 6, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added 15 Russian entities and 24 nationals into its sanctions list.

en.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

Special Attorney Robert Muller, who heads the investigation into Russia's interference in the presidential election, was interested in donating a Ukrainian businessman, Victor Pinchuk.

As informs Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform, this is stated in the expanded publication of the American central publication The New York Times.

"This year, investigators sent court requests to Trump Organization on a wide range of issues related to doing business with foreign countries. In return, the company handed over the documents regarding a donation of $150 thousand from the Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk in September 2015 at Donald Trump Foundation in exchange for a 20-minute appearance of Mr. Trump on video at a conference in Kiev of the same month, "reads the publication.

It specifies that it is a question of the conference Yalta European Strategy (YES). Then Trump during a direct incarnation criticized Barack Obama's policy.

"Our president is not so strong and does not do what Ukraine should do for Ukraine," said Trump then, adding that, because of this, Putin does not respect the president of the United States.

Thus, Pinchuk's contribution turned out to be the largest in the whole of 2015, which the Fund received from third-party donors, without taking into account the donations of Trump itself.

Pinchuk's payment "is interesting because it took place during an election campaign from a foreigner, and it looked like an attempt to buy for money a factor of influence," - quotes the publication of the ex-head of one of the tax units, overseeing the dismissal of organizations from taxation. He called the donation "an unusual amount for too short a speech".

Mr. Pinchuk is the son-in-law of former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, who was widely criticized for corruption, coercion and murder of journalists, as specified in the publication. Pinchuk himself was implicated in the illegal dumping on the US steel market and artificially understatement of product prices. In addition, he has been making multi-million dollar contributions to the Clinton Foundation since 2006.

As the publication writes, the appearance of this information has shown that Muller tracks all possible money transfers to the Trump Foundation, not only from Russia. Although it remains unclear what payments are still in the field of his vision.

According to several sources, Mueller also asked Trump Organization for documents, emails and other communications about several Russians, including those whose names had not previously been publicly associated with Trump.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States will respond to a chemical attack in Syria, regardless of whether the UN Security Council adopts a resolution or not.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nicky Haley, said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council reports, Censor.NET, referring to Reuters.

"We have reached the moment when the world needs to show that justice exists. The story will record the moment when the Security Council either fulfills its duty or demonstrates its complete defeat in an attempt to protect the Syrian people. In any case, the US will respond "- said Haley.

Recall that at the meeting of the UN Security Council, Nikki Haili also stated that the blood of Syrian children is in the hands of the Russian regime. She added that the UN member states allowed Russia to "undermine the authority of the organization."

Earlier, the humanitarian organization "White Helmets" reported that on the night of April 7, the helicopter dropped a barrel bomb with chemicals over the city of the Duma, which is considered the last center of resistance of jihadists and rebels in the region. Most affected civilians are women and children, activists said. Information about the attack was confirmed by the humanitarian organization "Union of Medical Assistance Assistance Syrians" (UOSSM), according to which the victims were not less than 150 people. The head of UOSSM Ghanem Tayyara called the "one of the most terrible" hiatus in the history of Syria.

The probable chemotac was sharply condemned by the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. France and a number of other countries in this regard convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to be held on April 9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Syrian state news agency SANA have named a statement about the attack by disinformation.

It should be noted that Ukraine is on the list of countries party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The ratification of the document took place in 1998. Of the 196 countries that may list, they have not joined the prohibition of chemical weapons in Egypt, North Korea, Palestine and Southern Sudan.

The Duma is the last city held by the Syrian opposition in the Eastern Guate. It is surrounded by Syrian troops, which are also supported by the Russian forces.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The spokeswoman for the White House, Sarah Sanders, said that Russia had violated the commitment to eliminate the Syrian weapons program.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Gazeta.ru.

"It is now also clear that Russia has violated its obligations to guarantee the elimination of the Syrian regime's chemical weapons program," Sanders said.

Also read: A massive decision on Syria will be taken within 48 hours, - Trump on "punishment" guilty for the chematak in the Duma

Earlier, the State Department of the United States also said that Iran and Russia are also responsible for the chematac, which is likely to take place in the Syrian city of Duma.

Earlier , the White Helmets humanitarian organization reported that on the night of April 7, a helicopter dropped a barrel bomb with chemicals over the city of the Duma, which is believed to be the last center of resistance of jihadists and rebels in the region. Most affected civilians are women and children, activists said. Information about the attack was confirmed by the humanitarian organization "Union of Medical Assistance Assistance Syrians" (UOSSM), according to which the victims were not less than 150 people. The head of UOSSM Ghanem Tayyara called the "one of the most terrible" chemistacles in the history of Syria.

The probable chemotac was sharply condemned by the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. France and a number of other countries in this regard convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to be held on April 9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Syrian state news agency SANA called the message of an attack by misinformation.

It should be noted that Ukraine is on the list of countries party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The ratification of the document took place in 1998. Of the 196 countries that may list, they have not joined the prohibition of chemical weapons in Egypt, North Korea, Palestine and South Sudan.

The Duma is the last city held by the Syrian opposition in the Eastern Guate. It is surrounded by Syrian troops, which are also supported by the Russian forces.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Operatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conduct search in the apartment of non-affiliated Ukrainian lawmaker Nadia Savchenko who was earlier remanded in custody on multiple charges.

As reported by Censor.NET, spokeswoman for the law enforcement agency, Olena Hitlianska told Liga.NET that the SBU conducts authorized search as part of the pretrial investigation.

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

The currency of the post-Soviet states in January-March 2018 showed a strengthening against the US dollar, while the Ukrainian hryvnia became one of the three leaders in strengthening the national currency.

This was reported in the Forex Club, with reference to the data of a quarterly survey, reports Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform.

"The currencies of the CIS countries strengthened against the US dollar in the first quarter of 2018. The Georgian lari (+6.4%), the Ukrainian hryvnia (+5.4%) and the Kazakhstan tenge (+4%) turned out to be the most stable currency," the statement reads.

Thus, the Georgian Lari is strengthened against the backdrop of global tendencies in weakening the US dollar, raising the discount rate and GDP growth rate by 5.4% in the fourth quarter. Georgia is growing business activity, retail sales and industrial production.

The Ukrainian hryvnia rose by 5.4%, gaining support from the inflow of foreign investment in Carry Trade operations. The increase in the discount rate by the NBU to 17% made hryvnia government bonds more attractive for investments. At the same time, the support of the hryvnia provided a strong euro and favorable conditions on global commodity markets.

Kazakhstani tenge strengthened by 4%, thanks to the steady export of raw materials and metals, accounting for more than 75% of all deliveries. At the same time, they affected the favorable price trends of commodity markets, the weakening of the US currency and demand from China.

According to forecasts of the Forex Club, the hryvnia may stabilize at the level of 25-27 UAH per dollar by the beginning of the summer. The support of the national currency will be provided by seasonal factors and a high discount rate.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Speaker of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov believes that the events on the Russian stock exchange are partly due to the state of affairs, as well as the emotional reaction.

He announced this to journalists on April 10, reports Censor.NET with reference to  RBC.

"The events on the stock exchange are" really very negative now, "said Peskov, answering the question whether there is a feeling for the president that the stock market collapses the situation out of control.

He also noted that the Kremlin is closely monitoring the situation on the stock market.

Asked about the possible appropriate sanctions against the US, Peskov said that now we can not "make hasty decisions" and we need to think about Russia's interests.

As it was reported, the US Treasury Department announced on Friday that after consultations with the State Department, the  US administration imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, 12 companies, 17 government officials of the Russian Federation, as well as against a Russian company dealing with weapons and related it's a bank

In this regard, Russian billionaires have lost over $12 billion in just one day, and on April 10, the euro exchange rate in Russia broke the mark of 76 rubles for the first time since May 2016.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel at a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the North Stream 2 project is impossible without determining the future role of Ukrainian transit.

According to Censor.NET, the press secretary of the head of state Svyatoslav Cegolko said on this page on Twitter.

"It can not be that Ukraine will lose its status as a transitor of Russian gas," the cabinet spokesman quoted the words of the German Chancellor on the North Stream 2 press secretary.

It should be noted that "North Stream 2" is a project of a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea extending over 1200 km, is an extension of the Northern Stream. The North Stream project envisages the construction and operation of two strands of a gas pipeline with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. Its route runs parallel to the operating trunk gas pipeline. The land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany and Finland has already been announced on the agreement to build the North Stream 2 in their territories.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, said that in May in Aachen, a meeting between the leaders of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ukraine and France could take place.

According to Censor.NET, the press secretary of the head of state Svyatoslav Cegolko said on this page on Twitter.

"The leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France will hold talks in Aachen in May," the spokesman of the President of Ukraine quoted the words of the German Chancellor.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US destroyer USS Donald Cook, equipped with 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles, arrived from the Cyprus port of Larnaca (Cyprus) on April 9 to coast of Syria.

According to the Turkish edition of Hurriyet, Censor.NET reports with reference to Gordon.

According to the publication, Russian planes have already approached the US ship four times, since it is located 100 km from the Russian naval base in Syrian Tartus.

The fact that USS Donald Cook is currently in the eastern Mediterranean is also reported by The Washington Post and Washington Examiner, but the US Navy has not commented on this information yet.

That same day, US President Donald Trump said Washington plans to take a decision on the chemical attack in the Syrian city of Duma within the next 24-48 hours.

Earlier, the humanitarian organization "White Helmets" reported that on the night of April 7, the helicopter dropped a barrel bomb with chemicals over the city of the Duma, which is considered the last center of resistance of jihadists and rebels in the region. Most affected civilians are women and children, activists said. Information about the attack was confirmed by the humanitarian organization "Union of Medical Assistance Assistance Syrians" (UOSSM), according to which the victims were not less than 150 people. The head of UOSSM Ghanem Tayyara called the "one of the most terrible" hiatus in the history of Syria.

The probable chemotac was sharply condemned by the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. France and a number of other countries in this regard convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to be held on April 9. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Syrian state news agency SANA called the report a misdemeanor attack.

White House Chief Donald Trump called the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad the "animal" , stressing the responsibility of Iran and Russia for the deaths of civilians.

It should be noted that it was Tomahawk, the United States, on April 7, 2017, struck at a Syrian government air base in Homs in response to a chemical attack in the province of Idlib.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український