Ukraine News. Thursday 3 May. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY HEADLINES:
"There are no" prohibitions "to execute requests for international legal assistance with the US does not exist in nature,".  We have ensured that Russia faces the real consequences of its aggressive actions - the new US Secretary of State Pompeo.  US and allies will consider introducing additional sanctions against Russia in case of its interference in elections in Ukraine.  While Putin will not choose peace, the US will continue to raise its price for aggression in Ukraine, Mitchell.  U.S. Treasury gives investors another month to retrieve funds from Russian companies.  Syria fled the Russian fighter, the pilots died.  Russian invaders in the Crimea must release a political prisoner Balucha, the US Department of State.  Lack of freedom of speech and access to information in Russia will lead to a doomed society.

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The General Prosecutor's Office denies the blocking of an investigation against former advisor to former President Viktor Yanukovych Paul Manafort.

As reports Censor.NET, this was written by the Deputy Prosecutor General Eugene Yenin on Facebook

"Frankly surprised at the latest publication in the New York Times regarding the suspension of the GPU's cooperation with US law enforcement agencies, in particular in Manaforth, and I hope that this is a common mistake in translation since there are no problems in international legal cooperation between the GPO and our American partners are not talking,"- he wrote.

He went on to say: "The best evidence of this is the return of more than 600 thousand dollars from the United States to Ukraine in the framework of proceedings related to the proceedings referred to in the New York Times.

There are no "prohibitions" to comply with requests for international legal assistance from the US do not exist in nature!

PS Well, finally, neither the US law enforcement, nor the FBI, nor Muller in the GPU with any requests for legal assistance in connection with the case of Manafort did not apply. That is, "to ban" there was nothing in principle.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United States has not left Russia without impact on the world stage.

Reported Cenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

At the official ceremony of taking the oath that took place in the building of the State Department, M. Pompeo said that he would fight all the threats faced by the United States in the world.

"We have ensured that Russia faces the real consequences of its aggressive actions," - said M.Pompeo.

He also confirmed that the United States "will soon transfer its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem - a few years earlier than planned."

Speaking about relations with Tehran, the head of the State Department stressed that "we are opposed to various manifestations of Iranian aggressive behavior, and we decide what to do in connection with an unnecessary nuclear deal (between the" six "and Iran - Ed.)".

As it was reported, in the coming days, US President Donald Trump should decide whether to remain Washington in this deal.

M.Pompeo noted that in relations with the Chinese People's Republic of China, they seek "to uphold the principle of reciprocity in our economic relations, and we also need to protect our intellectual property from them (from China - Ed.)."

The Secretary of State stated that there is "an unprecedented chance to change the course of history on the Korean peninsula."

"We are at the initial stage of work (from the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula - Red). Until now, it is not clear what the result will be", - warned M.Pompeo. According to him, "it's time to solve this problem once and for all, and we will not agree to a bad deal."

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Wess Mitchell said that in the event of Russia's interference in Ukraine's elections in Ukraine, the US and allies will consider introducing additional sanctions.

Reported Cenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"We, with our allies, have clearly stated that military or cyber intervention in the elections is unacceptable, we have imposed sanctions now and we will continue to coordinate with our allies to impose additional sanctions, if necessary," he told reporters on Wednesday in Kyiv on the outcome of the meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, answering questions about the possibility of introducing new sanctions against the Russian Federation in case of interference with the elections in Ukraine.

W.Michelle also added that the precondition for the lifting of sanctions could be the cessation of Russia's aggression in the Donbass and withdrawal of troops.

"We are open to dialogue with Russia, but we will raise the price until Russia chooses to stop the aggressive policy," said Assistant Secretary of State of the United States.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States is interested in finding a real solution to the conflict in the Donbas. Now President Vladimir Putin's election, but while he does not choose peace, the US "will raise the price of aggression for him."

This was stated by communicating in Kyiv with the press, US Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell, reports Censor. NET with reference to Voice of America. He also stressed that the "Javelin" provided to Ukraine should be used for defense. And delivered the news from a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of NATO countries in Brussels: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo supports Ukraine's membership in NATO.

"I just returned from a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, and at this meeting, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed strong support for NATO's open door policy, including Ukraine's efforts to bring Euro-Atlantic integration."

Asked if Ukraine should wait for a signal at the NATO Summit this summer, Mitchell replied: "We are currently working on this issue, we are negotiating with allies to coordinate the form of summit support for Ukraine. I can only say, both the United States and the Allies, are committed to an open door policy towards NATO, including Ukraine."

Commenting on the advancement of talks on a peaceful settlement in the Donbas, the Assistant Secretary-General said: "We have made significant efforts under Ambassador Kurt Volcker's mandate to expand Russia's chances of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. We have clearly stated that this is not an internal conflict, it's a war, and this is an ongoing act of aggression on the part of Russia.We are interested in finding a solution that would become a real United Nations peacekeeping mission and bring peace to the Donbas We are not interested in this just a fig leaf that Russia will cover its aggression. Pu And until he chooses peace, the United States will continue to raise the price of this aggression for him, "Mitchell said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department has extended for one month the term for investors to terminate any business activity with a number of Russian companies, including En+Group, GAS Group and RUSAL.

As reported by Censor.NET, this is stated in the General License No. 13A released on Tuesday, May 2.

The document in particular says that non-U.S. persons are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, June 6, 2018 to all transactions and activities necessary to divest or transfer debt, equity, or other holdings in En+Group, GAS Group and United Company RUSAL PLC blocked by the Ukraine Related Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 589; or to facilitate the transfer of debt, equity, or other holdings in the said blocked persons.

The same applies to Russia's Irkutskenergo, GAZ and Rusal Designates Activity Company that were not listed in the previous license No. 13 of April 6.

On April 6, the Office of Foreign Assets Control OFAC added 15 Russian entities and 24 nationals into the Ukraine Related Sanctions list.

As a result, Russia's richest oligarchs lost $12B in one day, Forbes wrote.

The sanctions also weakened the ruble as Russia's stock market saw the deepest drop since March 2014.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Syria killed a Russian fighter Su-30SM, resulting in both pilots being killed.

This is reported by the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

It is noted that the plane crashed around 9:45 am Moscow time over the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, when he climbed a height after take-off from the air base Khmeimim.

The department says that the plane was not shot. Most likely, the aircraft engine could hit a bird, because "no fire impact on the plane was not."

Meanwhile, a Syrian photographer and activist Mohammed Gorab has published pictures of the fall of an airplane.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The US State Department has called on Russian invaders in Crimea to release a political prisoner of Ukrainians, Volodymyr Baluch. Baluch is starving for 43 days and is not going to stop hunger.

This was reported by the US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nuaert on Twitter, reports Censor.NET with reference to LigaBusinessInform.

"Russian occupation authorities in the Crimea should release a political prisoner, Vladimir Baluch, who is starving for 43 days. It is unacceptable that Russia imprisones a citizen of Ukraine for hanging the Ukrainian flag in Crimea and refuses him to receive medical care," Nuaert  said.



Baluch announced an endless hunger strike on March 19.

Recall that the so-called court in the occupied Crimea recognized Baluch "guilty of storing ammunition and sentenced him to 3 years and 5 months of imprisonment in a colony-settlement, as well as a fine of 10,000 rubles (about 4600 hryvnia)." Baluch's defense and human rights defenders claim that he was the victim of repression for his pro-Ukrainian position - through the flag of Ukraine, which was in his yard.

Another case against the activist is "violated" by statements of the so-called head of the temporary detention facility in the village of Razdolnaya, Valery Tkachenko, who claims that Baluch had beaten him. At the same time, the activist himself and his defense declare that it was Tkachenko attacking him.

On March 19, the Kremlin controlled by the Razdolnensky District Court elected a safeguard measure for Volodymyr Baluch in this case in the form of detention until June 19, 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has repeatedly demanded the release of Baluch  and his state of health.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

First Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Emine Jaaparova said that the lack of freedom of speech in Russia would lead to a doomed society in which Russian citizens will be deprived of critical thinking.

She said during a round-table discussion at Ukrinform on World Press Freedom Day on "Freedom of Speech in Ukraine: Current State and Challenges," reports Censor.NET, referring to Ukrinform.

"We are sometimes reproached, saying that the Russian Federation is very active in its advertising, propaganda and wins in Ukraine on the information front.I think it's an illusion of victory.If you look in the long run, the complete lack of freedom of speech, the press, access to information , the fact that there is actually a norm in Russia, ultimately leads to a doomed society", - said Jaaparov.

She added that in such a state of affairs in Russia, her citizens do not have a chance to have a critical thinking.

"Therefore, for us, the absolute value is the protection of freedom of speech, because we do not want to follow the example of the Russian Federation," said Jaaparov.

The organizers of the "round table" are the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine; Department of Information Society of the Directorate General for Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe; NGO "Institute of Mass Information".

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The supply of American antitank systems Javelin to Ukraine is important, first of all, as a demonstration of support from Western partners, which is one of the main deterrent factors in Russia's aggression.

Anatoly Gritsenko, a former defense minister, told this "Apostrophe".

"Strategically important is the very fact of supplying Ukraine with the largest economic, political and military plan of the world's arsenal for Ukraine... It is important for Russia to understand that there is a world community around the world that does not accept the fact of aggression and violations of international law. A part of these partners is ready to help in a plan for military-technical cooperation , "he says.

At the same time, military expert Mikhail Samus noted that after the delivery of Javelin, Russia for a possible offensive will have to deliver to Donbas a new offensive weapon, which is threatened with a new portion of more severe sanctions.

"Russia is not capable of large-scale aggression right now, because it is in a not very stable economic situation, and it constantly tries to interfere in the internal affairs of other states, but it lacks the systemic capabilities to manage these crises ," the expert said.

apostrophe.ua    In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin was defeated in Ukraine as a result of sanctions from the West and the resistance of the Ukrainian Army, and in order to divert the attention of the Russian population, he entered the war in Syria.

This Russian Apologist Slava Rabinovich told the "Apostrophe".

"It seems that schoolchildren already know that in order to support Putin's RAM in Putin's control, Putin and his RAM are in need of a war. It is necessary for the perception of an external enemy, so that the people can unite around the leader and for all other similar tricks that cultivates Putin's propaganda in its mass media campaigns, "he says.

According to Rabinovich, Russia's president suffered a devastating defeat in Ukraine, when he captured Crimea without a land corridor across Mariupol, and when "sanctions, international pressure and resistance of the Ukrainian army stopped Putin in the East of Ukraine."

That is why the Kremlin had to take part in the war in Syria.

"But the groan can not lose, so in order to divert the attention of the population from complete defeat in Ukraine, he had to bother another war - in Syria, he thought that there would be the master of the situation - as in 2013, if I am not mistaken, the year when President [Barack] Obama inadvertently outlined some kind of "red line" for [Bashar] Assad, this line was the use of chemical weapons, and Assad once again crossed it.America, under Obama's leadership, did nothing and Obama began to lose his face. rescued Obama's face by some chemical weapons operation, in rhove imagining himself master of the world"- said the blogger.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український