Ukraine News. Saturday 28 April. [Ukrainian sources]

SATURDAY HEADLINES:
In the US they were told whether Putin is ready to return the Donbas.  Merkel at a meeting with Trump supported the protection of Ukraine through tough anti-Russian sanctions.  Pompeo warned Turkey about sanctions in case of purchase of the missile system of the Russian Federation.  Merkel: The time of the postwar war has expired. You can not rely solely on the United States.  US Treasury Department does not guarantee the abolition of sanctions against Rusal after the departure of Deripaska.  Medvedev has proposed to impose individual sanctions against US citizens.  Medvedev explained the "emotions" of the fall of Russian markets through recent US sanctions: "Economics - in general, emotional history".  In Poland, it was proposed to change the format of the Ukraine-NATO Commission through the Hungarian veto.  A new blow to Putin's back: it became known about the important US agreement on Syria.  Britain will not recognize Russian diplomas.  Russia declares readiness for a new exchange of prisoners of war.  Wagner's Mercenaries are already fighting in Africa, where the Kremlin is trying to regain its influence in several countries at once.  Fitch updated ratings of Ukraine.  The film about the Holodomor in Ukraine "Gareth Jones" is filmed in Poland.

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Russia is ready to continue to spend resources in support of tension in the Donbass, which gives it some political benefits.

This opinion was expressed by an expert from the American Brookings Institution, a diplomat, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Stephen Pifer, reports the New Time magazine.

"The Kremlin probably believes that spending on staying in the Donbass is overwhelming. An active conflict undermines the actions of the Ukrainian government, exerts pressure on the state and complicates your successes - both economic and political," the expert believes.

According to him, the introduction of a peacekeeping mission with a strong mandate is a good option for completing the war, but Russia is not yet ready to go from the Donbas.

"If the option offered by Ukraine and supported by the West, the widespread deployment of peacekeeping forces to the border with Russia is accepted, then the peacekeeping force can indeed contribute to the settlement of the conflict, which could be a good political outlet for the Russian troops to they could get out of Donbass, although at the moment I'm not sure that Moscow is ready to make such a decision, "Pifer summed up.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump in Washington, said he supports the use of harsh sanctions against Russia to ensure the territorial integrity of Ukraine

Such words sounded in response to a question to Merkel, whether he fears that the United States will impose too severe sanctions against Russia, which seriously harm the German companies, Voice of America passes .

"The principle of the territorial integrity of the country, as in the case of Ukraine, should be supported and secured by action," Merkel said on the content of sanctions against Russia.

Merkel's visit to the United States takes place only a few days after the arrival of Macron's French President. In the center of its meeting with Trump trade between countries, Germany's defense spending, and others.

Also during a joint briefing with Trump, who was held in Kiev on Friday evening, April 27, 2018, the Chancellor noted that he was satisfied with the dialogue with the United States.

"We are working very closely together against Russia's illegal actions, such as the annexation of the Crimea and the situation in eastern Ukraine caused by Russia. I am very pleased to say that we are working closely with the US administration, completing the Minsk format," Merkel said.

At the same time, she stressed that the international community should respond to the Kremlin's unacceptable actions not only in Ukraine but also in Syria:

"Sanctions are within the competence of the Congress, but we are working closely with representatives of the Administration and the US Treasury Department and exchange views on the secondary impact of sanctions, and we are counting on the conflicts that we have with Russia, for example in Syria, and we agree on many issues. is interested in not having good relations with Russia, but when there are conflicts when something happens, as in Ukraine, for example, we must call things their names."

As previously reported, during the visit of the United States, the German government's leader had to discuss with Trump the fate of the Russian gas pipeline "North Stream 2".

There is currently no full details of this item.

Germany, recall, argues for the need to complete and launch the gas pipeline while the US opposes it.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Turkish Foreign Minister Mevliut Cavusoglu to acquire Russia's C-400 ground-air missile system.

This was reported by Reuters.

Pompeo reminded his Turkish counterpart that Ankara may face sanctions in the case of the purchase of the C-400.

The secretary said that the Russian system, radar and rocket batteries could not be integrated with the Allied forces in Ankara. He asked Cavusoglu to "consider closely the interconnected NATO systems."

According to Turkish defense officials, Ankara and Moscow signed an agreement according to which Russia will supply two S-400 systems to Turkey.

In December, Deputy Minister of Defense of Turkey said that the first deliveries of the missile system are planned for the first quarter of 2020.

The deal, worth about $ 2.5 billion, has raised concerns in the West, as Turkey is a member of NATO, and anti-aircraft systems can not be integrated into the Alliance's defense.

On April 26, the US Senate approved Pompeo as Secretary of State.

For the candidature of Pompeo voted 57 senators, 42 opposed.

That same day, Pompeo made an oath in Washington. He became the 70th Secretary of State in US history.

The US Senate Committee recently recommended Pompeo as Secretary of State. 11 senators voted for him, 9 politicians spoke against it.

Then, before the vote, President Donald Trump called the Republican senator Rand Polu, who stated his intention to vote against.

After the president's call, he stated that Trump assured him that his views on the main issues with Pompeo were completely identical. Rand Paul opposed the war in Iraq and demanded that Pompeo agree with Trump, who believes that the United States made a mistake by launching an Iraqi campaign.

Earlier it was reported that Trump confirmed the appointment of a candidate for the post of Secretary of State Pompeo with Kim Jong Yin .

March 13, Donald Trump appointed Mike Pompeo as US Secretary of State instead of Rex Tillerson. Prior to this, Pompeon was headed by the US Central Intelligence Agency.

While Mike Pompeo will undergo the approval process , his first duties will be US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The European Union and Germany must assume more responsibility in their own security and stop relying on an all-powerful partner in the United States.

According to Censor.NET, referring to Ukrinform, this opinion, first expressed after the arrival of US President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated on Friday during a joint press conference with her in Washington.

"The post-war time, which lasted more than 70 years after the war, has expired," the Chancellor stated.

According to her, Europeans can not afford to rely on the fact that when conflicts occur at their threshold, someone else will come and rescue.

"We have to make a contribution and it should grow in the coming years," Merkel said.

This, she explained, concerns both military participation and the tasks of providing assistance for the development of other countries and the fight against the causes of migration. But this also applies to being politically active. The Chancellor proudly noted that for the first time Germany has been involved in a small group regarding the Syrian settlement, and she wants to make a contribution. "This is our duty," she said.

"We have to learn to play our part," said the head of the German government.

Germany is a large and economically powerful country, but she still has a lot to do in the military and political spheres, she admitted. Germany grows out of the role that it did not show too much activity many years after the Second World War, realizing that during the times of National Socialism it made "unthinkable a lot of injustices." Now, the Germans, according to their leader, must learn to assume more responsibility.

At the same time, she pointed to the crucial importance of transatlantic relations and the fact that the EU and the US remained reliable partners and allies, in particular NATO. If there are political differences between certain issues, then they need to be discussed, called Merkel.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The US Treasury Department, in response to Oleg Deripaska's decision to drop its stake in En +, a major shareholder of UC Rusal, said below 50% stated that this alone was not the reason for the company to be removed from sanctions.

This is reported by Censor.NET  with reference to RBC.

"Reducing the ownership of [the company] by a sanctioned person is not necessarily a reason to exclude [the company] from the list of sanctions," - said the official representative of the US Treasury Department.

According to him, OFAC (the Office for the control of foreign assets, the Ministry of Finance department) "conducts a thorough analysis of the facts and circumstances of each of the requests for exclusion [from the list of sanctions] and does not publicly discuss specific cases and scenarios."

"The US Treasury does not notify its future actions or permissions (En + also asked OFAC to extend the period during which US investors may withdraw from shares or bonds of the company, and it expires on May 7, until October 31, 2018 - Ed.). At present OFAC can not offer additional guidance on the structures controlled by Oleg Deripaska, except for press releases, licenses and answers to standard questions, issued earlier", - added the representative of the US Department of the Interior.

But he once again pointed to the position of the agency, according to which "the way to weaken sanctions against Rusal lies through the exit of Oleg Deripaska from capital and the rejection of control over the company." UC Rusal and its main owner, Oleg Deripaska, fell under US sanctions on April 6. Earlier, the US Treasury Department noted that there was a possibility of lifting restrictions imposed on UC Rusal in the event that Deripaska would refuse to control the company.

April 16, it was reported that the shares of the company "Rusal" fell to the historical minimum and lost almost half the cost after the introduction of Washington new penalties. According to Forbes, due to the introduction of sanctions, Deripaska's wealth fell sharply by almost $1 billion and amounted to $5.3 billion. As a result, the Russian oligarch lost over 15 percent of the assets.

As reported, the US Treasury Department announced on April 6 that after consulting with the State Department, the  US administration imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, 12 companies, 17 government officials of the Russian Federation, and also against a Russian arms trade company and related bank.

Shareholders of companies from the list of sanctions in a few days lost billions of dollars. Also, with the fall faced and those Russian companies that formally did not fall under the sanctions. Only on Monday, April 9, the total loss of Russian billionaires amounted to about $16 billion.

Sanctions also led to a weakening of the Russian currency. April 10, the Moscow exchange rate euro for the first time since March 2016, overcome the mark of 80 rubles, the dollar - 64 rubles. As of 14:34 (for Moscow) the dollar was worth 64.7 rub., Euro - 80.1 rubles.

In response, the State Duma wrote a bill that would impose restrictions on the supply of goods and services to American descent.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev said that the law on counter-sanctions should allow for the imposition of individual sanctions against any natural or legal person-resident of the United States.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to RIA Novosti.

"They make decisions about our individuals simply because they do not like them, and we have such a right. They did not like a company - and we have such a right," the head of the Russian government said.

Previously, the State Duma issued a bill on the response to sanctions in the United States and other countries. The document gives the government the right to introduce 16 different measures in response to the president's decision. In particular, prohibit or restrict the import of agricultural, alcohol and tobacco products, as well as medicines from certain countries. In addition, the document provides for the possibility of prohibiting or restricting the export of rare earth metals from Russia, ceasing to cooperate with the atom, aircraft industry and missile engines.

Medvedev believes that the bill should provide for the possibility of imposing individual sanctions against any legal or physical person - a resident of the United States of America.

"And in this sense we will then make absolutely symmetrical," Medvedev said.

However, according to him, such decisions should not be automatic and extend to entire sectors.

As reported, the US Treasury Department announced April 6 that after consulting with the State Department, the US administration imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, 12 companies, 17 government officials of the Russian Federation, and against a Russian arms trade company and related bank.

Shareholders of companies from the list of sanctions in a few days lost billions of dollars. Also, with the fall faced and those Russian companies that formally did not fall under the sanctions. Only on Monday, April 9, the total loss of Russian billionaires amounted to about $16 billion.

Sanctions also led to a weakening of the Russian currency. April 10, the Moscow exchange rate euro for the first time since March 2016, overcome the mark of 80 rubles, the dollar - 64 rubles. As of 14:34 (for Moscow) the dollar was worth 64.7 rub., Euro - 80.1 rubles.

The Russian stock market fell on April 9 at its peak since March 2014 - the losses of MosBrish and RTS indexes amounted to 8.3-11.4% at the end of the day.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev believes that there were no fundamental reasons for turbulence in Russian financial markets that took place after the introduction of the next set of US sanctions.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax.

Medvedev explained the reaction of Russian markets to imposing sanctions exclusively on emotions.

"The emotionality of the reactions does not mean that there are some fundamental problems. Economics - in general, emotional history." The economy is much more dependent on people, see: foreign decisions, decisions of international organizations such as OPEC, regional conflicts and also natural disasters - everything is reflected in the world economy", - said the head of the Russian government.

Therefore, according to him, "such actions have been reflected in our stock exchange, in the foreign exchange market". "But now everything calmed down, because there was no - we immediately said it - no fundamental reasons", - said Medvedev.

He noted that there were no fundamental reasons, "because we have achieved a high degree of economic stability."

As reported, the US Treasury Department announced on April 6 that after consulting with the State Department, the US administration imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, 12 companies, 17 government officials of the Russian Federation, and also against a Russian arms trade company and related bank.

Shareholders of companies from the list of sanctions in a few days lost billions of dollars. Also, with the fall faced and those Russian companies that formally did not fall under the sanctions. Only on Monday, April 9, the total loss of Russian billionaires amounted to about $16 billion.

Sanctions also led to a weakening of the Russian currency. April 10, the Moscow exchange rate euro for the first time since March 2016, overcome the mark of 80 rubles, the dollar - 64 rubles. As of 14:34 (for Moscow) the dollar was worth 64.7 rub., Euro - 80.1 rubles.

The Russian stock market fell on April 9 at its peak since March 2014 - the losses of MosBrish and RTS indexes amounted to 8.3-11.4% at the end of the day.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

For Ukraine-NATO Commission meetings, it is necessary to find another format for meetings through the position of Hungary, said Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Chaputovych

This is reported by the Polish agency PAP.

"Perhaps we will find a way out, another, less formal format, so that Ukrainians can participate in this discussion," he explained.

Read also: Hungarian educational blackmail. Will Budapest block Ukraine's progress towards NATO

On April 23, Hungary for the third time blocked the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the level of foreign ministers .

The head of the Ukrainian delegation to NATO Vadim Prystaiko said that this behavior of Hungary did not become a surprise.

It was expected that the Alliance's meetings at the level of the Foreign Ministers would take place on April 27 in Brussels, during which the official Kyiv planned to hold a meeting of the commission.

Budapest continues to block the Euro-Atlantic initiatives of Ukraine because of the disagreement with the approved educational reform, which provides for a gradual transition to full schooling in the state language.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Ankara and Washington will join forces in Manibidzhi in northern Syria.

This was the result of a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told.

The Turkish foreign ministry said they are discussing "profitable offers" for the purchase of American anti-missile systems Patriot or other powerful anti-aircraft defense systems from Western partners.

It is worth noting that at the beginning of the month, it was announced that two American bases were being built in Manbig, where about 300 US soldiers were sent, military and construction equipment.

It is worth noting that such a decision of Turkey was called a "blow to the back" of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin:

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Britain blocked agreement with Russia on mutual recognition of education documents

It is reported by Russian "Interfax" with reference to the Russian embassy in London.

In addition, according to the embassy, ​​English schools also conduct "various politicized polls and anti-Russian speeches by teachers that make education uncomfortable for Russian students."

The embassy's report mentions that the British media reported a significant (almost 40%) reduction in the number of Russian-speakers in British private schools over the past two years.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

A new exchange of prisoners may take place shortly

This was stated by the representative of Russia in the Trilateral Contact Group Boris Gryzlov, reports Espresso.

It will take place in the format of "everyone at all", although it will be step by step. This is due to the fact that in Ukraine there are 5 times more prisoners than in the occupied territories.

How and when will a new badge take place May 4 in Minsk.



-According to Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Irina Gerashchenko, Ukraine has long been ready to exchange Ukrainian hostages for 23 Russians and is waiting for a specific response from representatives of the Russian Federation and ORDLOs , while the Kremlin, according to her, delayed the process of release of Ukrainian hostages.

espreso.tv    In Ukrainian/український

Russian military instructors, advisers and mercenaries from private military companies have appeared and are already active in Central and Eastern Africa, and Russian political technologists

are involved in preparing important elections immediately in several African states.
The Kremlin is struggling to regain the influence that the USSR has in many parts of the planet, and even to acquire brand new allies, Radio Liberty reports.

According to many sources, the head of the "African project" in Moscow is close to Putin and his clan, the Petersburg billionaire Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is associated with the funding of the "factory of trolls" in Olgina and the so-called "WCP Wagner", a Ukrainian-born GRU officer Dmytro Utkin .

In April, the Moscow newspaper Kommersant reported that Prizhozhin's political technologists began working in several countries in Africa, in particular, in South Africa, Kenya and Madagascar, where the presidential or parliamentary elections are scheduled for the next year or two. The project, Prizhozhin in Africa, which is coordinated by the political technologist Yaroslav Ignatovsky, is designed for 2 years, his predicted goal is to earn on export "proven" political technologies from Russia. Perhaps people of Prigogine also aimed at Nigeria, Libya, Zimbabwe and Chad. According to Kommersant, the project participants are only men with knowledge of foreign languages ​​that do not advertise their work.

In addition, Moscow officially and unofficially establishes its military presence in the Central African Republic, with which a military agreement was signed in Sochi in December 2017 during a visit to Russia by the President of the CAR Fosten-Arshanz Tuadera. It involves supplying the official government in Bangui with jet weapons, machine guns, machine guns and pistols, as well as training 1,300 Central African Army soldiers.

However, according to journalists from the Independent Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) , who have been watching closely for a new "Kremlin" African project for several months, "the wording of" civilian instructors "is likely to hide, a group of mercenaries from the related Kremlin and Prigozhin "PVK Wagner".

Under the banner of Le Monde, the Russian military in the Central African Republic received the complete disposal of the Berengo Palace near Bangui, the former state residence of 40 hectares of the famous Central African President-Emperor Jean-Beadle Bocassa who ruled from 1966 to 1979 and where his grave is.

Authors of the text from the group CIT with reference to the Central African and French media and other sources indicate that the Russian "instructors" also located near the deposits of gold, diamonds and uranium.

In addition, they guard the current leader of the CAR.

In fact, the Russians took the place of the French military, which was withdrawn from there in 2016, in the CAR.

In Africa, Russians are also actively interfering in Sudan and Libya.

For example, in Libya, they support field marshal Khalifa Hafthar, who opposes the internationally recognized government of Faiz Saraj.

Recall that on the night of February 7 to 8, 2018, US troops destroyed a number of Russian mercenaries, according to various estimates, from 300 to 500 people with tanks, artillery and light armored vehicles, targeting the seizure of oil fields in the Syrian city of Deir -ez-Zor . Another 74 militants disappeared without a trace.

At the same time, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova said that as a result of the US air strike in Syria on the night of February 8, only 5 Russians could perish.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The international rating agency Fitch Ratings has confirmed the long-term sovereign ratings of the issuer (IDR) of the issuer (IDR) of Ukraine in foreign and local currency at the level B- with a rating outlook "stable"

This is reported on the agency's website.

Short-term IDRs in foreign and local currency are confirmed at level B, the ceiling (the risk of limiting the transfer of foreign currency abroad and convertibility of currencies by the government of the rated country) is confirmed at the level B-.

The rating of long-term issues of priority unsecured bonds of Ukraine is confirmed at the level B-, short-term priority unsecured bonds in national currency - at level B.

"Despite significant progress in macro-stabilization, energy, pensions and the fight against corruption, the political risks for the reform agenda are tied to fragmented political forces, populist voices' growth and slow recovery after a deep crisis. Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2019. , which will increase the political value of reforms, "the statement said.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

In recent years, domestic political tension in Russia has reached a peak, which may lead to a military coup.

About this Russian military columnist Pavel Felgengauer told the "Apostrophe".

According to the columnist, the Kremlin's actions are primarily due to domestic political struggle, which was seriously aggravated for the first time since 2012.

"This is primarily reflected in foreign policy - both in Syria and Ukraine, and in the general deterioration of relations with the West, and even in relation to the crisis in Armenia, all of which can lead to and exacerbate the entire perimeter of foreign policy," But this is a reflection of the internal political struggle. I do not exclude even a military coup in Russia. This is perhaps an extremely unlikely scenario, but it can not be ruled out completely," he stressed.

"The fact that in Russia" everyone supports Putin on all issues "that the elections have passed - does not play any role, because we do not have democracy and the people do not solve anything. But within the ruling elite there is a sharp crisis: people do not know where to run, where to hide and what will be", - summarized Felgengauer.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the south of Poland, in the cities of Katowice, Dabrowa Gornicza, Sosnowiec and in the vicinity of the film, directed by Agnieszka Holland on the Holodomor in Ukraine, "Gareth Jones" is filming.

According to Cenzor.Net, referring to Ukrinform, during a press conference in Katowice, Holland emphasized that the Holodomor left a very deep wound in the minds of the Ukrainian people, and this tragedy can be compared with the Holocaust of Jews during the Second World War.

"In addition to Ukraine, people did not know about this hunger for a long time, but in Ukraine itself it was impossible to talk about this, and this memory somewhere has stopped in people," said Holland.

In general, the Silesian voivodeship in southern Poland will shoot 13 days. In them in mass scenes will take part up to 500 persons. Places and houses of this mountainous region of Poland in the film will replace Moscow, Munich, New York, as well as the Ukrainian Donbas.

Filming has already taken place in Ukraine. Apart from the south of Poland, they will also be held in Poland, Warsaw, Kalisz and will end in Scotland.

Famous British actors James Norton (in the role of Gareth Jones), Vanessa Kirby (in the role of Adi Brooks), Peter Sarsgaard (Walter Duranty) are filmed in the film. Russians in the film are partly played by Polish actresses Michalina Olshanskaya, Beata Pozniak and Krzysztof Pečinski.

Gareth Jones is a story of a well-known British investigating journalist who, despite the fatal danger, went to Soviet Ukraine to expose and bring to the world community the whole truth about the tragedy of the Holodomor. The total budget of the film production line of Ukraine (Kinorob), Poland (Film Produkcja) and Great Britain (Crab Apple Film) is about $ 10 million (UAH 262.2 million), of which nearly UAH 26 million is allocated by the State Committee of Ukraine for Ukraine.

The premiere of the film will take place in early 2019.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український