Ukraine News. Saturday 18 May. [Ukrainian sources]

SATURDAY HEADLINES:
"We will return to Alaska again and we will arrive on the bridge!" - Russian residents are posting on their cars addresses addressed to the United States. It is impossible to negotiate: a well-known journalist appreciated the results of Merkel's meeting with Putin.  In Russia, they began talking about the exchange of Ukrainian political prisoners for the Kremlin's propagandist: In Poland, the school was evacuated by spraying an unknown substance.  Fear of the Third World: Russia has reported an alarming news for Putin.  "Imperial" calendars with Tsar Nicholas II are distributed in Kyiv.  US warns Germany of sanctions through Nord Stream 2 gas pipelinea. Man-dwarf: the network is rattling a joke over a photo of the leader of the DPR with Putin's deputy. SBU published a talk by the head of the "Wagner's PVK" on the evacuation of Russian technology from the Donbas.

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Residents of the Russian Federation place on their cars addresses addressed to the United States and Donald Trump, and are preparing to return to Alaska.



Someone after the occupation of the Ukrainian Crimea is preparing to annex from the United States, Alaska.



ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

Journalist and publicist Vitaly Portnikov believes that the meeting of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Vladimir Putin has proved that the head of the Kremlin is not ready to recognize the loss from the pressure of the West.

He writes about this in his column for Radio Liberty.

Portniks pay attention that the meeting in Sochi on May 18 did not bring any results. Merkel and Putin see the UN peacekeepers in the Donbass region completely differently.

"The meeting in" Norman format "is still said, but it does not name it. Merkel argues that such a meeting should bring concrete results - but so far, such results are not visible," he notes.

Also, Portnikov noted that the meeting did not agree on the issue of transit of Russian gas.

"We did not hear anything about the North Stream 2. Putin argues that transit through Ukraine and after the launch of a new gas pipeline will be preserved - but only if there are economic justifications for this. Merkel calls for Ukraine to maintain an important role in transit and preventing damage to its economy.This is not the same position, it is different positions.And there is nothing strange about it.Today, the Russian president is still not ready to admit that the pressure of the West will have devastating consequences for his country's economy. and saved TION power.

That is why it is possible to go to Putin. And to negotiate with him - you can not", - summarizes Portnikov.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

One of the main propagandists of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Kiselev, believes that the release of political prisoners, Roman Sushchenko and Oleg Sentsov, can be released for the release of the head of RIA Novosti Ukraine, arrested in Ukraine, by Kirill Vyshynsky.

He spoke on this at a protest action near the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow, according to RIA Novosti.

"I think that all means are good now, and Kirill should be free." Sušchenko, Sentsov are people who sit for terrorism and subversion, Cyril did not do anything like that; this exchange, of course, will not be equivalent, consciously. But, nevertheless, I think that Kirill should be free,"- said Kiselev.

Note that users of social networks critically perceived Russia's readiness to take action.

"What it was necessary to prove. Russians immediately become compliant when they begin to work with their own methods," wrote the famous Ukrainian journalist Denis Kazansky.

"Kiselyov? And here's from this place there are assumptions about a predetermined scenario of all this", "How important information he owns or they simply need to squeeze for maximum information noise" - they assumed in the network.

Recall that Vyshinsky suspected of committing state betrayal. He was arrested on May 15 in Kiev.

apostrophe.ua    In Ukrainian/український

In the city of Wejherowo of the Pomeranian Voivodship, in the north of Poland, one of the secondary schools was evacuated by 325 people, including almost 300 children.

This tells tvn24.

It is noted that this was due to the sputtering of an unknown substance at the educational institution's premises.

After the evacuation of more than 30 children complained of breathing problems and eye contamination, 17 of them were hospitalized in local hospitals.

At the scene of the event, a special group of chemical and ecological salvation was called.

According to preliminary estimates of the police, the reason for the deterioration of the health of children was the sputtering of tear gas.

The school's management decided to pre-term the completion of classes.

Recall that on May 8 in Cherkassy, ​​because of mass poisoning, 42 students of 2-9 grades of secondary school were hospitalized in the regional children's hospital. Students became angry at the morning line, they complained of nausea, headache, some fainted.

Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman flew to Cherkasy in connection with massive poisoning and hospitalization of students. He said that children in Cherkassy could be poisoned by spraying substances that are currently being tried by specialists.

President Poroshenko instructed to identify the causes of poisoning students in Cherkasy.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin must take into account that most Russians are afraid of the beginning of the Third World War because of Russia's activity in Syria.

About it Russian political scientist Dmitry Oreshkin told in a column on "Apostrophe".

According to statistics, 57% of Russian citizens are seriously worried about the possibility of the start of the Third World War between Russia and the United States through Syria.

"This is a completely mythological look, but it indirectly shows that the Syrian epic is unpopular in the eyes of the Putin's voter." People do not understand what Russia is doing to pursue their interests. "The conflict around the Crimea is closer to the Russians, they believe that it was necessary to select Crimea in Ukraine , because he is "Russian" and so on. That is, the Crimean mythology is deeply rooted,"- said the political scientist.

"Therefore, from any point of view, Putin is not interested in getting involved in the Middle East conflict. Heightened interest - yes, but himself fighting - at least. He has already lost a lot in Syria, and if he continues to disappear somewhere, helicopters and people will accumulate irritation, including among patriotic Putin's electorate, so he will remotely support the tension by throwing firewood there, "added Oreshkin.

More about the absence in Russia of victories in the Donbass, read in the material "Apostrophe" - It begins to annoy: Putin will "forget" about the Donbas.

 apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The network reports that in one of the churches of Kiev, parishioners distribute calendars depicting the last Russian emperor Nicholas II and the dubious contents of the inscriptions on the back.

This is the blogger Ukr_Che writes and publishes relevant photos in Twitter.

"Here are the calendars distributed in the church on Berezniaky...", - he writes.

On the obverse side of the calendar, Nicholas II is portrayed in the family and close people, and on the reverse there is the calendar itself for 2018 and the inscription: "Servite the emperor in the imperial ranks, the Bavarian representation of the Russian imperial union-order".



As reported by "Apostrophe", previously in Ukraine, created a humorous wall calendar with 11 Ukrainian politicians and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in the form of the characters "Games of the Thrones."

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US authorities warned Germany that the country should be prepared for sanctions in the event of the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline.

This was stated in an interview with Bloomberg by Peter Baier, envoy to the German Chancellor's Government Angela Merkel.

According to him, the official spokesman for the administration of the US president told him at a meeting in Washington last week that sanctions through the North Stream 2 were "likely".

It is noted that the construction of the gas pipeline will "signal the escalation of the economic conflict with Europe".

"This is an additional burden for transatlantic relations," Bayer said.

Previously, it was also reported that the United States could apply sanctions against members of the North Stream-2 construction.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks in Sochi and said that after the launch of the North Stream 2 pipeline, gas transit through the territory of Ukraine would continue if it was "economically feasible".

On January 31, 2018, Germany allowed the Nord Stream 2 to be built on its territory, and on March 27 it allowed construction.

Finland also allowed the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline in its economic zones.

Germany began to build a German section of the Russian gas pipeline North Stream 2 despite the lack of permits from all countries whose territory this gas pipeline should pass.

Poroshenko called supporters of the construction of a new Russian gas pipeline "accomplices of the Russian Federation" and said that "North Stream 2" monopolizes the supply of gas to the EU by Russia. Also, the President of Ukraine has agreed with Deputy Secretary of State Mitchell on joint actions to counter the construction of the North Stream-2.

On April 5, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called on the world not to support the construction of the Russian "North Stream-2".

In Finland, already challenged in the court a permit for the construction of the "North Stream-2". In addition, German environmentalists opposed the construction of the North Stream-2.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Deputy of the State Duma of Russia Nikolay Valuev met with the leader of the terrorist group of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, which caused a discussion in the network.

The photo from the meeting himself Valuev published on his page in Instagram.

As you know, Valuev is a professional boxer in heavy weight category and has a height of 2 meters, 13 centimeters, because of which Zakharchenko near him seems very small.

"I have talked a lot about history, about people, about the Motherland, only positive emotions from communication have remained, and I am glad to meet Zakharchenko Alexander Volodymyrovych", - commented on the photo of Valuev.



"Figasse, the second man-dwarf? Lower growth is only Gubin...", "Bibo / Bobo two ducks...", - responded users of the network.

apostrophe.ua    In Ukrainian/український

The Security Service of Ukraine issued a record of telephone conversations of one of the leaders of "PKC Wagner", citizen of the Russian Federation Dmitry Utkin, with his subordinates.

The record is about the evacuation of Russian military equipment destroyed by the Ukrainian army under Debaltsev. The record was made in 2015, the SBU press center reports on Facebook.

"Employees of the Ukrainian intelligence service during an assault on February 21, 2015, by personnel departments of the Russian Armed Forces and terrorists of Debaltsevo, intercepted the telephone conversations of the representatives of the special services division of the Russian Federation under the name of" PKC Wagner". The information received is another proof of Russia's military aggression and testifies to the significant loss of Russian troops during the "hybrid war" against Ukraine", - say the representatives of the department.

It is noted that the former officer of the Armed Forces General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Dmitry Utkin gave his subordinate, Russian citizen Sergei Kovalev a command to evacuate the specimens of Russian technology destroyed under Debaltsev, in particular, Armored Inspecting and Sentinel Machines KamAZ-43269 Dozor.

Earlier, the Ukrainian side during a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on the Situation in the Donbass addressed the head of the OSCE Mission, Erturula Apakan, with a request to check information on the participation of PKV Wagner militants in armed provocations in the Donbass.

On May 7, the SBU announced that the Russian officer is preparing Wagner's mercenaries for intelligence-terrorist activity on the territory of Ukraine.

On May 15, the SBU reported that about 100 mercenaries "PKC Wagner" will arrive in occupied Donetsk soon.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States has accused Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and Diosdado Cabelo of receiving revenues from drug trafficking and laundering "dirty" money in Russia.

For the first time, Washington has publicly linked Maduro, which is subject to US sanctions, with drug trafficking, reports Cenzor.NET with reference to Voice of America .

It is noted that Diosdado Cabelo is the second after Maduro, a man in the hierarchy of the governing body of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

The US Treasury Department issued a statement stating that Cabello confiscated small drug traffickers from drug dealers, assembled them in a large batch and exported through the state-owned Venezuelan airport.

"Cabello, together with President Maduro and other people, shared the proceeds from the supply of drugs," the statement said.

The money received from drug trafficking was washed off in Costa Rica and Russia.

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against Cabello, his wife and his brother. Apart from participating in drug trafficking, they are also charged with racketeering.

Recall that in November 2017, the United States of America announced the introduction of new sanctions against members of the government in Venezuela and other high-ranking officials who support the policies of the country's president, Nicholas Maduro.

Earlier, in early August, the United States imposed similar sanctions on Maduro himself, and a little later, on several members of the Constitutional Assembly of Venezuela, a body called to rewrite the constitution of the country.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Vadim Mikerin, who was sentenced by a U.S. judge to four years in prison in 2015, was deported by federal authorities in Washington on May 18, Russian state news agencies cited a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman as saying later that day.

Mikerin, 59, was an executive with a Maryland-based subsidiary of Tenex, a Rosatom-owned firm that supplies and exports uranium and enrichment services to nuclear power companies worldwide.

The U.S. Justice Department said Mikerin helped facilitate the payment of bribes made to win "improper business advantages" for U.S. firms that worked with Tenex.

Mikerin, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, was also ordered by the judge to forfeit more than $2 million.

He was released from prison on April 24, according to U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons records. Following his release, Mikerin was taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities pending his deportation, Russian news agencies reported.

U.S. authorities said in March that the U.S. company Transport Logistics International agreed to pay $2 million to settle charges that it bribed Mikerin to win contracts to ship uranium to the United States...........

rferl.org Click here for full access of entire article in English

Germany's economy minister has issued a warning to the United States about the risks of putting "America First," saying it will prompt European allies to respond in kind and put their own interests first.

"The U.S. are our friends and partners, and we want to defend our common values," Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said in in an interview with ARD television in Berlin on May 18, but he said Germany will go ahead with its joint Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline deal with Russia despite strong opposition from the United States.

"If it's America first, and they put their economic interest before others, then they have to expect Europe to define their own interests and fight for them," said Altmeier, who, along with his close ally German Chancellor Angela Merkel has described the pipeline deal as essential for Germany's economy.

Altmeier accused Washington of seeking to block the planned gas pipeline from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea so that U.S. companies can sell more liquefied natural gas to European markets.

The United States on May 17 threatened to use sanctions to try to block the pipeline deal, while President Donald Trump has called for increased U.S. liquefied gas shipments to Europe, saying it would help Europeans curb their reliance on Russian gas.................

rferl.org  In Ukrainian/український

President Petro Poroshenko claims that the growth of the minimum wage to 4.2 ths. UAH in the second quarter of this year is not a limit.

As informs Censor.NET with reference to UNIAN, the President said about this during a trip to Khmelnytsky.

According to him, the average salary in the country is now approaching 9 thousand UAH.

"Decisive steps must be taken to ensure wage growth. Last year, the decision was made to raise salaries to UAH 3.2 thousand - twice, then to 3.7 thousand. The president set the target to reach 4 thousand before the end of the year. But the difference between the minimum and the average is only 1.8 times unacceptable," he said.

As it was reported, from January 1, 2018, the minimum wage in Ukraine increased to 3,772 UAH from 3,200 UAH. The government intends to consider raising the minimum wage to 4,200 hryvnias already in the second quarter of this year if the necessary economic growth is reached.

On May 16, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman said that the average salary in Ukraine currently stands at almost UAH 8,000.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український