Ukraine News. Tuesday 17 April. [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY HEADLINES:
Putin remains the only trump card: the expert pointed to an alarming situation with the possible collision between the US and Russia.  In the West, they pointed to the next goal of the Kremlin after Ukraine.  Russia targets millions of web users in the west, say US and UK.  Putin support for Assad paints Russia into a dangerous corner.  UOC-Kiev Patriarchate urges Moscow Patriarchate to support the creation of a unified Orthodox Church in Ukraine.  Russia is conducting an informational war against Ukraine in order to disrupt the delivery of lethal weapons to us and weaken our defenses.  RosMMI picked up a fake about the detention of Ukrainian officials in the United States.  In the EU, a loud scandal surrounding the "North Stream-2" and Russian monopolist "Gazprom.  Brussels and Berlin promise to keep transit of gas through Ukraine after launch of the North Stream-2. US State Department officials: The severity of the North Stream 2 position is important to counter Putin's hybrid war with the rest of the world. Ukraine not intend to meet Hungary’s inappropriate demands. Russia is preparing to receive $3 billion from the sale of Euro bonds despite Western sanctions. 46 deputies of the European Parliament called for a boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In Iraq, two Russians were sentenced to life imprisonment for taking part in the ISIL.

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Today, the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in opposition to America remained the only trump card - a nuclear weapon.

Director of Military Programs at Razumkov Center Mykola Sungurovsky told the "Apostrophe" about this.

"Syria has once again undergone a red line on the use of chemical weapons that the United States and France and the West have put in. In this case, this weapon is a criterion, a key point. But in principle, the West is not happy with Russia's policy itself, and not only in Syria, many experts agree that maintaining the regime of Bashar al-Assad in power is not the main goal of Russian politics. The main goal is to show that Russia's "oh-haha", which everyone trembles before her, all of her are ready to give in to everything at the first request of her,"- he said.

According to Sungurovsky, if Russia succeeded in forcing US President Donald Trump to take any action or refuse to strike Syria, that would be a clear victory.

"But what is Russia and what is America? These are different weight categories: they can compete only in terms of (size) territory, and nothing more. By GDP, the difference is tens of times, on the military budget - also, for military power - there simply and only nuclear weapons are the only trump card in Putin's sleeve, and the development of all this situation has led to the fact that the two sides came to some critical boundary, followed by the Third World War, "he said.

The expert explained that this is a rather serious situation, a repetition of the Caribbean crisis, and both sides need great perseverance and prudence. At the same time, the States will not give back, otherwise they would show the whole world that they are weak. And therefore everyone is waiting for a response in response to Russia - she will give way or not.

"For [the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery], Gerasimov said (before the rocket attack on Syria, ed.) That" we will shoot down not only missiles, but also strike on launchers. "This is an irresponsible statement from the Russian side, therefore that they also have launches, from where these missiles will be released, they will be destroyed in a minute. And then - only nuclear forces (as a result, Russia did not respond by anything other than the terrible statements and fake attack on Syria in its TV, ed. )", - summed up Sungurovsky.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The next goal of the Russian President Vladimir Putin after Ukraine may be the Baltic States.

This was stated in an interview with "Apostrophe" by film documentalist and journalist Jonas Okhman.

"I myself am a Swede, I live in the Baltic States for more than a decade, as a journalist, translator and documentary, I worked on documentary films, including history. I was a student in Lithuania during the so-called" Lithuanian Maidan "when in 1991 the country announced Independence from the Soviet Union, these events made me very impressive, you know, I still live there, Lithuania is a small and very interesting country, "he said.

According to Okhman, when the Maidan began, he, like everyone in the Baltic States and especially in Lithuania, immediately realized what was happening.

"This is not the same thing as the Orange Revolution. I understood that something is changing very much, although I did not know what exactly," he said.

The journalist added that he served in the intelligence unit in Sweden, so he knows Soviet and Russian technology.

"And when I saw these" green men "in Crimea, I immediately realized that I see it: it's the GRU, the FSB, this is... My God! I realized that Putin came, and not only in Ukraine. Will it continue? It also depends on what I do, for example, I. If in Ukraine everything will end badly, then here in the Baltic States, too, something bad will start. And I live there and will not allow it! So, it is necessary to do something. then with our friends first in Lithuania, and then in Ukraine in the summer of 2014, we began to help. At first everything was spontaneous: packets of medicines, for example, were passed. But it was fast enough oh we found good contacts with people and become more serious work" - he concluded.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Joint warning issued on cyber intrusions that threaten home and business routers

The US and UK issued a joint warning on Monday that Russia was deliberately targeting critical western internet-based infrastructure with cyber intrusions that threatened home and business routers.

Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, said Washington had “high confidence” the Russian government was behind the alleged intrusions.

“We hold the Kremlin responsible for its malicious cyber activities,” she said, adding that officials were unable to determine the full scope of the claimed compromise.

US and UK officials have warned for months that Moscow is attempting to compromise electricity grids and other infrastructure such as banks, hospitals and air traffic control systems. But this is the first time the allies have issued specific guidance to civilians and companies on how to protect themselves. A joint report published on Monday includes advice on password and device security.

“Once you own the router, you own the traffic,” said Ms Manfra. Russia was trying to seize control of connectivity, including routers, firewalls and network intrusion detection systems, with a view to espionage, intellectual property theft or pre-positioning for offensive action, she said. 

“There are millions of machines being targeted globally,” said Ciaran Martin, head of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre. He framed the alert as part of an allied “fightback against state-sponsored aggression in cyber space”.

The joint warning comes as tensions between the US and Russia are elevated following the US-led military strikes on Syria at the weekend. The White House said earlier on Monday it was considering imposing more sanctions against Russia for supporting the alleged use of chemical weapons by the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

But Rob Joyce, cyber security co-ordinator at the White House, said Monday’s warning was not related to the strikes.

However, the bombing raids have drawn a sharp rebuke from Vladimir Putin, Russian president, who said Moscow “condemns the attack in the most serious terms”....................

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Four months ago, Vladimir Putin appeared in firm control of the agenda in Syria: Moscow’s military intervention, the Russian president confidently declared, had accomplished its aim of crushing Isis and all parties needed to move on to a political resolution.

But the US-led missile strikes on Syria have underlined the risks Moscow’s staunch support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad carries, as it pushes Russia into an increasingly dangerous corner and is damaging Moscow’s broader interests, diplomats say.

“They cast themselves as the protector of Syria’s sovereignty, the fighters against western schemes to push for regime change and partition that country, but they risk becoming partners with Assad in being international outlaws,” said a diplomat from a European country whose government is usually seen as Russia-friendly. “They are beginning to look like a pariah state, and more and more they are behaving like one.”

In aftermath of the suspected gas attack in Douma that killed dozens of people, US president Donald Trump made a point of criticising Mr Putin, saying Russia, along with Iran, was responsible for backing Mr Assad, while warning there would be a “big price to pay”.

Moscow has fiercely rejected accusations that the Syrian military was responsible for the attack and even denied that chemical weapons were used at all. Those denials were the latest in a series of Russian steps to block the extension of a 2013 inspection regime for Syrian chemical weapons and shield Mr Assad from international pressure.

Now, this position appears set to create new risks for Russia both economic and political. Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said on Sunday that Washington planned to impose new sanctions against Russia over its support for Syria, little more than a week after Washington triggered a sell-off in Russian markets with punitive measures against seven oligarchs, including Oleg Deripaska, that pushed Rusal, the country’s largest aluminium producer, to the brink of collapse.

Meanwhile, the US has pledged not to pull its estimated 2,000 troops from north-eastern Syria where they have been fighting Isis, until its goals are accomplished, while Mr Putin has warned against further strikes..................

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The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate urged the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate to support efforts to canonize the Ecumenical Patriarch of Ukrainian Church Independence.

According to Censor.NET, this is stated in a statement made public on the website of the UOC-KP.

It is noted that the statement was made in connection with the official announcement of the steps taken recently by President Poroshenko in support of numerous appeals from the Church and the public to the Ecumenical Patriarch and Constantinople Mother Church in recognition of the Ukrainian church autocephaly and the proclamation of the corresponding Tomos.

The text of the statement refers to the one-sided support of efforts aimed at recognizing the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as overcoming the existing church separation and the establishment of a single local Orthodox Church.

"The Kyiv Patriarchate highly appreciates the support and active support of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the fruit of which is the outcome of the negotiations in the Ecumenical Patriarchate, held on April 9 of this year, and further steps. The other day, the entire bishops of the Kyiv Patriarchate signed an appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with a request to provide A similar request was also signed by the bishopric of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. We express our hope that among the episcopate of the UOC-Mo the Skovsky Patriarchate are responsible hierarchs who are really concerned about the future of Orthodoxy in Ukraine and will support efforts for the canonical recognition by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Ukrainian Church Independence", - noted in the Kyiv Patriarchate.

"We also count on the support of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the entire Ukrainian society, for the understanding of other religious organizations in Ukraine. As far as we know, now, as never before, there is every reason to expect a positive decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch, but it is obvious that the opponents will not wait hands down, and will use all means to prevent Tomas from proclaiming autocephaly, "the statement said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The information about alleged "corruption procurement" by the Ministry of Defense, which is circulated in some media outlets, has signs of an information war on the part of Russia and may break the first delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine from the NATO country, which weakens the defense capability of our state.

This was stated by the chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defense, a representative of the faction "People's Front" Sergei Pashynsky on Tuesday in an interview with journalists, reports Censor. NET with reference to the press service of the People's Deputy.

He recalled that since 2014, in effect, there was a blockade by the NATO countries of the delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine.

"We survived our own resources at the expense of not being thoroughly robbed by the former army ministers. And, to our great happiness, since 2017, the first contracts for the delivery of lethal weapons have begun," he said.

As the MP said, one of such contracts concerned the supply of BMP-1AK Czech produced by the Polish company Wtorplast.

"It was the first contract where we got lethal weapons from the country, and when someone says that this is" not a contract, but pure corruption, "it does not cast a shadow on us, it throws a shadow on our partners, all of these contracts so that you know they are getting permission from their own governments, that's why we have to understand: if there is corruption, to bring the perpetrators, if there is no corruption, we, as the Committee, as the Verkhovna Rada, as well as the president, should react and not allow,"- stressed Sergey Pashinsky.

The People's Deputy noted that the Committee on National Security and Defense in accordance with the current legislation is obliged to control the effective use of budget funds by the authorities. Therefore, the information disseminated in the media on procurement by the Ministry of Defense will be carefully checked. According to Pashynsky, at a meeting of the committee (which will be held at 15:00 on Wednesday, April 18), in particular, representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense and NABU were invited. He also invited journalists to the meeting, where they will be able to put all the necessary questions. During the meeting, financial information on these purchases will also be partially declassified.

At the same time, as Sergiy Pashinsky noted, information about alleged "corruption procurement" of the Ministry of Defense, circulated in the media, raises a lot of questions as to its reliability, as well as to whom it is beneficial to disseminate such information. Moreover, according to the people's deputy, the fact that the journalists of the magazine who published this article interviewed him was amazed, but in the article he did not use any of his words.

"What is an article in the New Times is likely to be the total lack of competence of the people who work there, but there is a very interesting thing - anonymous sources, maybe these anonymous sources have a northern background? This is also a question for the SBU", - he remarked.

"Already on the second day after this, so to speak, the" Russian Today "channel, which specializes exclusively in information sabotage, made it the TOP news. This information is available in the Czech Republic, Poland. I publicly want to say that if this agent breaking the contract (its execution is still unfinished), then this is another article and other services should do it", - he emphasized.

In his opinion, all these facts point to an information war that Russia has been running against Ukraine for a long time.

"This is not a question of Pashynsky's citizen, it is a matter of state security, we should not relax, because the fact that there is no exacerbation at the front now does not mean that Putin has abandoned the plans of aggression, we are reforming our army. We have formed it, we have it we dressed it, we fed it, now we have to arm it with the best models of weapons", - Sergey Pashinsky has summed up.

Earlier in the publication "New Time" appeared an article, which refers to large-scale corruption in "Ukroboronprom" during the purchase of Polish infantry fighting vehicles.

"Ukroboronprom" for its part stated that the publication of "New time" for the purchase of BMP-1 is a lie and information diversion.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

On the Internet there was a fake about the fact that in the USA detained representatives of the space industry of Ukraine, who picked up the Russian media.

This is stated on the page of the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States on Facebook.

"The Ukrainian embassy in the United States refutes information on alleged detention of Ukrainian space agents participating in the Colorado Springs Symposium in the United States and allegedly leaving the US Ambassador to the United States to Colorado for clarification, a frank fake and a lie. The Ukrainian delegation is working on the planned program and continues to participate in the event, "the statement said.

Specifies that this could be a planned informational attack. In particular, one should pay attention to the dissemination of the news of the Russian media.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The longest in the history of the EU, the investigation has shown how Russia's energy giant Gazprom used its influence to exert pressure on some states in eastern Europe and to divide the EU's single energy market through compulsory pricing

This is stated in the article The Telegraph , reports RadioLemberg.

The report assumes that Germany was content with agreements with Gazprom, receiving a tangible advantage in gas prices and costs compared to other EU countries, and leaving the "front-line" EU members to the brutal Russians.

So, Bulgaria was considered by Russians almost as a colony, and Poland was forced to pay excessive prices for gas imported from Siberia.

The European Commission's Directorate of Competition has been very dismayed by the hidden bundle of files that were in the hands of European parliamentarians as a result of violation of the rules of confidentiality. Documents show that Brussels is aware of the state of affairs, but despite this, it is preparing to reach a comfortable agreement with the Kremlin, disregarding the basic principles of European law.

"It is a big deal, documents show that this is a systematic abuse of a dominant position and that it is clearly made for a political purpose. Gazprom has split the European energy market at every turn." Now, the European Commission is wondering whether it is worth bargaining for Eastern Europeans , as if they were not members of the EU in general, "said Alan Riley, an expert on energy law issues under the Atlantic Council of the United States.

It follows from the political context that the European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, conducted an aggressive and rather controversial campaign against American companies such as Google or Apple, calling openly the leaders of the Silicon Valley a threat to European democracy.

A key report entitled "Statement of Key Objectives" is a confidential charge against the Directorate General for Competition. She was written back in 2015 after four years of investigation and the most stunning "dawn raids" that the elite special group of the European Commission once conducted.

The report said that Gazprom violated numerous EU laws and had "aggressive behavior", dictating "unfair prices" and using its "dominant position." The European Commission required fines of 30% of the corresponding sales or 10% of full turnover.

"The European Commission believes that the offenses were intentional. Gazprom is fully aware of the unlawful nature of at least a few agreed or disproportionate measures," the report said.

The investigation revealed that Gazprom demanded $ 350 from Poland for a thousand cubic meters of gas, compared with $ 200, which Germany provided for further deliveries from Yamal, where the price would logically be higher. It is clear that the reason for such a policy is to punish Poland for refusing to give Moscow control over this infrastructure sector.

Germany's privileged prices make it possible to understand why Germany was the main advocate for Gazprom's interests in Brussels despite the Kremlin attacks on Western democracies.

The report also reveals the empty rhetoric of the European Union and risks turning into the biggest scandal in Brussels. Polish politicians argue that Germany has used its excessive influence on European institutions in order to reduce all the results of the investigation and bring everything into a friendly settlement of the problem with Gazprom, which maintains the status quo.

"What we have been told is that the European Commission is seeking a friendly settlement of the problem and has already decided to complete this case. It is a real treason, and Poland is one of the victims, and it is far from unique." These materials show that, beyond any doubt, Gazprom has been hitting European laws for years, and the European Commission is actually going to justify it all, they do it in the context of a quiet war with Moscow, all for mercenary purposes, "said Polish MP Jacek Saruish-Wolski.

During the investigation, Moscow had a monopoly on the territory of the former Warsaw Pact region, with more than two-thirds of natural gas supplies to a number of countries. These are three groups of gas pipelines, which provide 64% of all European gas imports. With the appearance of liquefied natural gas and the construction of LNG terminals in Poland and Lithuania, this dependence has slightly decreased, but global problems remain.

The main idea of ​​the 271-page document is that Gazprom implemented a market segmentation strategy for Central and Eastern European countries through contractual territorial prohibitions and prevented intra-European competition from hindering its contractual partners from reselling gas supplies to other countries. At the same time, Gazprom's market segmentation policy aims at preserving the existence of various gas prices among EU countries and the possibility of placing higher prices.

Gazprom controls the measuring devices and storage facilities, and also imposes its conditions for stopping the reverse of the gas from west to east, putting pressure on weaker states.

"Contracts fundamentally prohibit the resale of gas to other countries," the report said.

Thus, Gazprom prevented Poland from obtaining volumes of gas from Western wholesalers during the 2009 sharp gas crisis.

Bulgaria is generally isolated because it has no connections with neighboring gas networks. The document says that this country was the victim of "unheard of bullying." BEH, a state-owned Bulgarian energy holding," simply had no choice but to accept the unfair terms of trade imposed on him." Most of the details are outlined in the report, but there are allegations of open threats and blackmail in the East European press.

In the Baltic countries, gas prices arbitrarily vary from country to country, indicating the corresponding "rewards" or "punishment" for changing government policy towards Russia. Probable violations are a direct encroachment on the spirit and laws of the integrated market in Europe.

Gazprom has somewhat modified its policy, but many of its aspects remain unchanged.

"Despite numerous requests from Gazprom's clients to liquidate its bans, Gazprom either disagreed or simply ignored such requests," the report said.

One of the publicly disclosed documents reveals the view of the European Commission on Gazprom's proposal to resolve the situation. The document says that Gazprom's offer will enable this company to "continue its pricing policy" and that such a solution will not prevent another violation.

The European Commission recognizes that the adoption of such a proposal by the European Union "will be regarded as a defeat in the implementation of EU laws." But everything indicates that this was exactly what was planned. At the moment, the European Commission may be forced to adhere to a tighter line of conduct.

This scandal is, in a sense, the political equivalent of a diesel scam in the automotive industry and raises uncomfortable questions about the reliability of the German political system. It was angered by the Polish government, which is now faced with criticism of its judicial system by the EU and accusing Berlin and Brussels of the selectivity of moral principles.

The Social Democrats in the German coalition are supporters of the Kremlin and support the project of the Russian gas pipeline "North Stream 2". Former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is a member of the project's board of directors and receives a profit from Moscow. All the management of the North Stream 2 project is infiltrated by former KGB and Stasi officers.

The new gas pipeline increases the power of Gazprom and its influence by replacing the flow through the Druzhba gas pipeline going through the territory of Ukraine and serving as the key goal of the Kremlin geopolitical strategy. The report of the European Commission suggests that this is certainly not in the interests of all EU countries and does not exactly coincide with the EU's energy goals.

The project is currently at risk. The head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, was subject to new sanctions by the United States. It is hard to imagine that Shell, Engie and other companies in the North Stream 2 project will take risks by developing a project under such legal and political pressure.

-Recall that Germany allowed to build 55 kilometers of 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 the event of the completion of the Russian project on the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline, Europe should be ready to disconnect gas.

-US opposes North Stream-2 and impose sanctions.

-The European Parliament's Committee on Energy has supported "gas" changes that hamper the construction of the North Stream-2.

-Germany allowed construction 30 km of Russian gas pipeline "North Stream 2" in its exclusive economic zone.

-The European Commission said they would not support "North Stream 2".

-Finland allowed Russia to build "North Stream 2".

-The US is offering Europe gas instead of the Russian "North Stream-2".

-German Economy Minister supported North Stream 2.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Brussels and Berlin promise to guarantee transit of gas through Ukraine after the construction of the North Stream 2 pipeline

This was stated by Vice-President of the European Commission on Energy Union Maros Sheffovich, reports Ukrinform.

At the press conference, Vice-President of the European Commission recalled that despite the difficult conditions in recent years, in the last winter Ukraine was able to pump 97 billion cubic meters of gas in a reliable way, which became a new record.

"This confirms that the transit works well, that it is strategically important for the gas to be provided not only to such a large country as Ukraine, but also to Central and Eastern Europe, and our priority is to ensure that transit continues," said Sheffovich.

He also reminded. that "North Stream 2" can build if it will be built on the same rules as all the others in the EU.

"The best way to resolve all legal and political sensitive moments is through negotiations, in which we will be able to find solutions to all problems," says Sheffovich.

He noted that the 2019 year, when the Ukrainian-Russian gas contract expires, is approaching and political momentum should be given, in particular, through high-level meetings in order to stimulate all - Ukrainians, Russians, and the EC - to begin a very intensive work to to overcome all inconsistencies.

-Recall that Germany allowed to build 55 kilometers of 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 the event 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.

-The United States opposes the North Stream-2 and impose sanctions.

-The European Parliament's Committee on Energy has supported "gas" changes that hamper the construction of the North Stream-2.

-Germany allowed the construction of 30 km of Russian gas pipeline "North Stream 2" in its exclusive economic zone.

-The European Commission said they would not support "North Stream 2".

-Finland allowed Russia to build "North Stream 2".

-The US is offering Europe gas instead of the Russian "North Stream-2".

-German Economy Minister supported North Stream 2.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Arseni Avakov, the head of the MIA, discussed with the representatives of the US State Department the fight against the Russian hybrid war.

According to the  press service of the  Ministry of Internal Affairs, on April 17, the interior minister held working meetings with US Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Aaron W. Mitchell and acting president. Deputy Secretary of State for the Affairs of the Bureau of International Affairs in the field of combating illicit drug trafficking and law enforcement (INL) James Walsham, informs Censor.NET.  



"Mr Mitchell discussed political issues, namely, the plan for the de-occupation of the Donbas and the cooperation of the other parties with the aggressor country, and I am grateful to the US State Department for the strict, inappropriate position on the construction of the North Stream 2. The reliability of international partners on this issue is important a component of countering the Putin hybrid war with the whole world!"- Arsen Avakov said.



The Minister noted that with James Walsh they agreed on further joint plans for the reform of the National Police. The parties will focus on cooperation in the criminal bloc, counter narcotization and border security.  



Recall: Avakov is on a visit to the United States for talks with representatives of the State Department and the FBI. During the meeting, Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine - Vyacheslav Abroshkin, Head of the Criminal Police, and Administrator of the Office for Combating Drug Crime (DEA) of the US Justice Department, Robert Patterson, discussed the issue of counteracting drug abuse, including the joint counteraction to international drug trafficking.

Recall that the North Stream 2 project involves 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. The head of Gazprom said that after the construction of the North Stream-2 and the Turkish Stream gas transit through Ukraine would be reduced tenfold. Naftogaz's head Andrei Kobolev said that Ukraine's losses in case if Russia ceases gas transit will amount to $ 3.5 billion a year.

Germany became the first country in which Nord Stream 2 AG received a complete set of building permits. Finland, after Germany, issued a complete package of permits for the construction of the North Stream-2. Currently procedures for obtaining permits in other countries along the route of the gas pipeline - Sweden, Russia and Denmark - continue.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine intends to defend its position and will not comply with Hungary's inadequate requirements.
As reported by Censor.NET citing UNIAN, Ukraine’s Envoy to the Council of Europe Dmytro Kuleba said on air of one of Ukrainian TV channels.

"There is confrontation ongoing but neither our side nor theirs makes concessions. We are not afraid of this diplomatic standoff as we are sure we are taking the correct action in line with our international obligations," Kuleba said.

"We do not intend to dump our position. We do not want political confrontation with Hungary, nor do we want to meet inappropriate demands. We are not willing to satisfy them," the diplomat said.

According to him, despite tensions in bilateral relations caused by the education language, Hungary is interested in Ukraine’s security.

"Despite controversy in the field of education, sanctions against the Russian Federation have been extended," Kuleba said.

"As for the security, both Hungary and Poland have interest in Ukraine being a great power capable of defending itself and be Europe’s efficient eastern flank of in a broad sense. However, we should entertain no illusions, we must rely on ourselves, build up our own capabilities since everyone wants to be in friendly terms with a strong country," he said.

On Sept. 5, 2017, Ukraine's parliament adopted Education Act of Ukraine providing that education in schools can be held in the languages of ethnic minorities up to 4th grade. From the 5th grade up, school students are obliged to take all classes in Ukrainian, the only state language in Ukraine. The provision sparked criticism by Budapest, which threatened to block Ukraine decisions in the EU over the language provision. On Sept. 25, President Poroshenko signed the bill.

The Ukraine's Education Act has been opposed by Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, and Moldova.

The bill came into force on Sept. 28.

On Oct. 10, head of Hungarian Foreign Ministry Peter Szijjarto refused to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin during the former's visit to the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Ministry of Finance of Russia is preparing to sell another "portion" of Eurobonds worth $3 billion even despite the imposition of US and European sanctions.

This was announced by Minister of Finance of Russia Konstantin Vyshkovsky, reports Bloomberg.

"We are waiting for the opportunity window. The situation is far less favorable for entering foreign borrowing markets, "said Vyshkovsky.

Bloomberg reports that borrowing money in foreign markets has turned into a genuine endurance test for Russia since it began its aggression towards Ukraine.

Russia may launch a new tranche of Eurobonds on the market by April 22. The total amount of funds the Russian government plans to raise amounts to $3 billion, of which $800 million to cover past debt debts.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that foreign investors could lose $1.6 billion as a result of the introduction of new US sanctions against Russian oligarchs and their companies.

At the same time, the introduction of Britain's sanctions against Russia because of the poisoning of the Fiddler's family did not prevent the Russian Finance Ministry from immediately attracting $4 billion in international markets.

It was also reported that new sanctions could be inflicted on Russian state banks if they try to help companies that are subject to sanctions.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

46 deputies of the European Parliament signed a letter calling on EU countries to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia

This was announced by Ricard Josobic, Brussels correspondent for Radio Liberty on Twitter.

"46 members of the European Parliament have so far signed a letter addressed to all EU governments calling for a diplomatic boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia," Dzhosvyak wrote.

The letter states that the use of chemical weapons in the British city of Salisbury was the last drop of Putin's bullying over European values. Deputies mentioned the bombing of schools, hospitals and peaceful territories of Syria, the brutal invasion of Ukraine, the systematic hacking attacks of Russia, its disinformation campaign and interference in elections.

46 members of the European Parliament have so far signed a letter addressed to all EU government urging a diplomatic boycott of the #WorldCup2018 in #Russia.#Ukraine #Syria #Crimea #Salisbury pic.twitter.com/tCplejGwN1

— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) April 17, 2018

-In December, MEP deputy from the Green Party Rebecca Harms called on politicians and ordinary spectators to boycott the World Cup in Russia.

-Subsequently, it became known that during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the occupied Crimea, fan zones would not be enforced through sanctions.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The court in Iraq sentenced seven women-foreigners to life imprisonment or the death penalty for participating in the activities of extremist group "Islamic State" (ISIL), banned in many countries.

This is reported by the Russian BBC service with reference to the representative of the Human Rights Council under the head of Chechnya Heda Saratov.

It is noted that among the life-time convicts were two Russian citizens from Dagestan: Elvira Berehova born in 1997 and Alisa Ismayilova born in 1992.

The Russians have been convicted of articles on terrorism and illegal border crossing.

It is reported that both have young children: the first two, the second - three. According to Saratova, the issue of returning children to their homeland will now be resolved.

According to the Russian agency "RIA Novosti" with reference to Iraqi television, in addition to Russian, one citizen of France received a lifetime.

Three citizens of Azerbaijan and one in Kyrgyzstan have been sentenced to death.

Earlier, in Baghdad, sentences were issued for similar cases concerning foreigners. In early April six women from Turkey were sentenced to death.

In February, 16 Turkish women were sentenced to death in Iraq for joining the "Islamic State".

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український