Ukraine News. Friday 27 April. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY HEADLINES:
Russian MFA accuses Washington of invasion after US State Department officials walk through property in Seattle.  Russian spies kicked out from US included agents allegedly tracking defectors in this country.  New US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived at NATO meeting to discuss Russian aggression in Ukraine, Syria and Georgia.  US State Department urges Russia to end its aggression and fully implement Minsk agreements.  An important position in the US State Department is claiming a policy that is relevant to Ukraine.  Merkel in Washington to discuss Trump North Stream 2.  In the State Department, the most significant since the Cold War was the relevance of NATO because of Russia's aggression.  Poll ahead of presidential election 2019 shows Tymoshenko, Hrytseko, Boiko, Vakarchuk, Poroshento among top candidates.  Rusal will change the board to stop sanctions.  

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The officials of the U.S. Department of State walked through Russian property in Seattle earlier abandoned by Russian diplomats to confirm that it had actually been vacated.

Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department Heather Nauert tweeted on April 25. As reported by Censor.NET, the move triggered overreaction by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Today, @StateDept officials walked through the property in Seattle to confirm it had been vacated. We will secure and maintain it in keeping with our responsibilities. No “invasion,” just a firm, lawful response to #Russia’s continuing, outrageous behavior. 2/2

— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) April 25, 2018

Moscow was outraged by such actions of the State Department. The Russian embassy accused the U.S. authorities of violating Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and promised retaliatory measures, the Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported.

"Come peruse the U.S. authorities invading campus of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle. State-sponsored property grab is a rare sight indeed," spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, wrote on social media.

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

Among the dozens of Russian diplomats the US expelled last month were suspected spies who US law enforcement and intelligence officials believe were tracking Russian defectors and their families who had resettled in the US.

As reported by Censor.NET, officials briefed on the matter told CNN.

In at least one instance, suspected Russian spies were believed to be casing someone who was part of a CIA program that provided new identities to protect resettled Russians, the officials said.

That episode and other US intelligence raised concerns that the Russians were preparing to target Russian émigrés in the US labeled by the Kremlin as traitors or enemies, law enforcement and intelligence officials said.

The CIA declined to comment. The White House declined to comment.

The Russian embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

The concerns have been heightened following the poisoning in the UK of a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, who is a Russian citizen. British and US officials have blamed Russian intelligence for the use of a nerve agent in the attempted poisoning.

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.

BBC earlier reported that the 33-year-old left Salisbury District Hospital on Monday and has been taken to a secure location.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Immediately after swearing, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Brussels for a NATO ministerial meeting

This will be Pompeo's first meeting with NATO representatives. The meeting will discuss Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Georgia and Syria, as well as plans for improving security in the southern border areas of Europe.

The newly appointed Secretary of State will also call on allies to increase their military budgets to achieve the target of 2% of GDP for defense by 2024.

It is reported that the former director of the CIA has already been involved in US diplomatic negotiations.

-Recall that on April 26, the US Senate in full approved Mike Pompeo as US Secretary of State.

-Earlier, US President Donald Trump dismissed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and proposed the candidacy of CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

-For the post of director of the CIA, the US president appointed Gina Hapsal, who was previously the first deputy head of the department. Geselp has 30 years of experience in the CIA and has become the first woman in history who has headed this agency.

-The candidate for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the sanctions imposed on Russia through aggression in Ukraine should remain in force.

-On January 24, the US Senate Committee on International Relations supported the candidacy of Mike Pompeo , nominated by President Donald Trump for US Secretary of State.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The U.S. Department of State says Russia-led forces have intensified artillery strikes on Ukrainians in the Donbas and called Moscow to end its aggression.

State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert wrote on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.

22 Ukrainian soldiers wounded in last 48 hours in eastern Ukraine - highest number since July. Russia-led forces have intensified artillery attacks on Ukrainians defending their country. #Russia must end its aggression and fully implement the Minsk agreements.

— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) April 26, 2018

en.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

An American politician and expert on foreign policy, Paul Dobryansky, who has Ukrainian roots, can get one of the most important positions in the US Department of State.

Bloomberg reports.

"Trump Administration plans to nominate Pol Dobryansky, a high-ranking diplomat under President George W. Bush, for a high political office in the State Department," the statement said.

According to the publication, Dobriansky previously served as the United States Special Envoy in Northern Ireland, as well as the Under-Secretary of State for the United States in world affairs. It is assumed that it will replace Thomas Shannon. He has already announced his intention to retire.

Regarding the biography of politics, it is known that she was born in a family of Americans of Ukrainian descent. His father, Lev Dobryansky, has been chairing the Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America (UCCA) for many years.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

On Friday, April 27, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss with President Donald Trump the construction of the Russian gas pipeline North Stream 2 bypassing Ukraine during a visit to the United States

Deutsche Welle reports.

According to the publication, Merkel will try to convince Trump that Germany's dependence on Russian fuel is not as great as Washington believes, and Putin has no chance to blackmail Berlin with the threat of blocking gas.

"The share of Russian gas molecules in the total consumption of this fuel in Germany is not 60%, as someone assures, but only 37%," said Merkel advisers at a briefing.

According to German government experts, the surplus of liquefied natural gas available in the world market and incomplete capacities of receiving terminals in Europe will, if necessary, replace the entire volume of Russian pipeline gas going to Germany. At the same time, in Berlin, they admit that the prices for dropped gas are one third higher, but they are reminded that there is also gas from Norway, which is expected - from Azerbaijan and the deposits in the Mediterranean, which are currently under development.

Merkel will also discuss with Trump new US sanctions imposed on April 6 against Russian top officials, oligarchs and their companies.

"Currently, these sanctions have not affected our economy, but potentially can be even very painful, because through these oligarchs and their companies, German firms are closely linked with 's economy," said advisers to the chancellors.

German officials said that Merkel would "rejoice if the American president makes an exception for German firms."

-Recall, previously 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 case of the completion of the Russian project for the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline, Europe should be ready to shut down gas.

-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".

During a visit to Kyiv, Angela Merkel stressed in a conversation with Petro Poroshenko about the need to preserve the role of Ukraine as a transitor of Russian gas to Europe.]

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

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The US State Department has emphasized the most important NATO since the Cold War because of Russian military aggression against other countries

This was announced on Twitter by the US State Department spokeswoman Gizer Nayert.

NATO is the most urgent one ever since the Cold War. Today, we are focused on ongoing Russian aggression and the ability to threaten our neighbors, to invade them to try to force and blow them away, "Niyurt said.

The State Department spokesman stressed Russia's destabilizing activity in Ukraine, Georgia and Syria.

"NATO is a defensive alliance in the face of a threat," summed Nairt.

#NATO more relevant than any time since Cold War. Today, we focused on #Russia's continued aggression and ability to threaten, coerce, undermine, and invade its neighbors. Plays destabilizing role in #Ukraine, #Georgia, and #Syria. NATO is a defensive alliance in face of threat.

— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) April 27, 2018

_Recall that the new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to NATO meeting to discuss Russian aggression in Ukraine, Syria and Georgia.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Today's leader of the presidential rating is former Ukraine's PM Yulia Tymoshenko who now heads Batkivshchyna party.

As reported by Censor.NET citing UNIAN, the results of the latest poll conducted by Rating Sociologival Group in April show she is significantly ahead of her main competitors.

If presidential elections were to be held in the nearest future, Yulia Tymoshenko would enjoy the greatest support among those who intend to vote and came up with a definite choice (14 percent). Runner-up is Anatolii Hrytsenko with almost 11 percent followed by Yuriii Boiko (Opposition bloc), incumbent President Petro Poroshenko, and rock singer Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, all of them sealing some 9 percent of support.

Tymoshenko's political force, Batkivshchyna, is also topping the party polls with a wide margin (16 percent). The presidential BPP Solidarity has earned 7.5 percent and ranks seventh in the latest poll. The leader of a so-called anti-rating, the study notes, is incumbent President Petro Poroshenko.

The corresponding survey was conducted April 10-22 via personal formalized interviews among 6,000 respondents aged 18 and over. The error is said to be no more than 1.5 percent.

In February 2018, Rating Group published the results of its survey, the largest in recent years, where some 30,000 respondents were interviewed. According to the report, the leader of the presidential rating was also Yulia Tymoshenko.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

One of the largest aluminum producers in the world, Rusal, expects to withdraw from the US sanction list by changing the company's leadership.

This was reported by Reuters with reference to its sources in the company.

At the same time, Reuters sources reported that Deripaska is still not going to sell shares of Rusal and plans to maintain 48% of ownership after the company's management changes.

"Forty-eight percent is not a controlling stake, which, according to American law, allows you to impose sanctions on the company," reports Reuters.

Earlier, the US Treasury Department offered Rusal a way out of sanctions . To this end, Oleg Deripaska, who owns the company, had to sell it and completely deviate from its management and control.

At the same time, Deripaska reported that he was not going to sell his shares of the company.

Let's remind that in the United States sanctions against Russian oligarchs approaching Russian President Vladimir Putin in the case of Moscow's interference in the presidential election of 2016 have been imposed.

Shares of the Russian subsidiary of the Russian oligarch Deripaska doubled after the US sanctions. US companies began to cancel contracts with Russian organizations from the list of sanctions.

Poroshenko said that the NSDC had already prepared a package of sanctions against Russia , similar to the American one.

It was also reported that new sanctions could be inflicted on Russian state-owned banks if they tried to help sanctioned companies, in particular, Rusal.

In addition, international investors who bought Rusal securities may lose $ 1.6 billion through US sanctions.

The Russian company itself has already stated that it will export aluminum to China instead of the United States.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska has agreed in principle to relinquish control of aluminium producer Rusal by selling down his stake in parent company EN+, as he attempts to release the companies from crippling US sanctions.

The proposal, announced in a statement to the London Stock Exchange, has yet to be accepted by the US Treasury, which imposed sanctions on Mr Deripaska and his companies this month, as part of what the Trump administration described as a broad response to Russia’s “malign activity”.

In the statement EN+ said: “Mr Oleg Deripaska has agreed in principle to the chairman’s request that Mr Deripaska reduce his shareholding in the company to below 50%”.

Although the response from Washington is key, much will also depend on whether the Kremlin is prepared to back the proposal, which would see one of Russia’s highest profile businessmen severed from his assets under US pressure.

Under the proposed deal Mr Deripaska would reduce his stake in EN+, which serves as the holding company for his assets, from above 70 per cent to below 50 per cent. The company listed on the LSE last November in a $1.5bn flotation.

EN+, which is chaired by former UK energy minister Greg Barker, would also overhaul the board under the proposal, removing Mr Deripaska and adding new directors without links to the oligarch.

EN+ would also give up its rights to nominate the chief executive of Rusal and manage the business.

“If the plan is accepted the logical conclusion [for the US Treasury] will be to release Rusal from these sanctions,” a person familiar with the situation said. “Mr Deripaska has agreed to sever the link. He does not want to see the company he has built up crumble.”............................

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