Ukraine News. Wednesday 15 August. [Ukrainian sources]

WEDNESDAY HEADLINES:
Putin hopes to negotiate with Trump all over Ukraine.  US to divest contingent of troops in Norway and place marines near the border with Russia.  Space forces needed by the United States to protect satellites from Russia and China, - Mattis.  Russia's actions in the Sea of ​​Azov are another attempt to destabilize Ukraine, the State Department of the USA.  Russia did not expect a serious Western response to its actions in Ukraine.  Adviser to Trump Bolton will visit Ukraine on a visit to the White House.  Turkish President signed a decree on increasing customs duties on US goods.

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Ukraine needs to bring the attention of the United States and Britain to the problems of Crimea and Donbass, so that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not decide the fate of the captured regions behind Kiev.

This was stated in an interview with "Apostrophe" security expert, veteran of foreign intelligence, Lieutenant-General Vasily Bogdan.

"The soft attitude of the leaders of some states, first of all the United States, gives Putin a reason to hope that he will somehow be able to negotiate with Washington on Ukraine behind her, but no agreements about us can not be without us. I once wrote about the fact that Ukraine can become a hostage to the geopolitical elucidation of relations, namely, the Kremlin is acting: a chain aggression has seized Transnistria, Georgia, Crimea, Donbass, Syria, Putin is trying to bargain for each of these positions, "the expert says.

He notes that Russia tries to ignore Minsk-1, Minsk-2 and Normandy format.

"We see that a position is a categorical" no "settlement, only on their terms and using that" formula of Steinmeier. "It actually conserves the situation in the temporarily occupied territories - they will remain under the protectorate of Russia, or about any kind of reintegration into Ukraine of language to go will not be. It will be a constant concern, or, say, so much as in the back, which is constantly twisting from side to side,"- said the general.

He expressed the opinion that in order to implement the Minsk agreements, it is necessary to intensify the connection of the United States and Britain as guarantors who at one time signed the Budapest memorandum.

"One of the guarantors of our sovereignty violated our territorial integrity, occupied the Crimea and part of the Donbas. If London and Washington were fully engaged in settling Russian aggression against Ukraine, then, in my opinion, there are optimistic expectations regarding the concessions of the Putin regime," Bogdan said.

He also called the division "at a certain stage of our problems with the Russian Federation the issue of Crimea and Donbass".

"They need to be united, and we must demand that the aggressor return all occupied territories, all of which should take place within the framework of international law and, most importantly, a bilateral treaty on friendship and cooperation between Ukraine and Russia. Now this sounds ironic, but it is still valid"- he concluded.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States and Norway have agreed to increase the contingent of American troops in the Scandinavian country. US Marines will be closer to the border with Russia.

This was announced by the Norwegian Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen.

According to him, on the rotational basis in the kingdom there will be 700 American marines, while now in Norway there are 330 military.

Previously, US soldiers were located near Trondheim, but after the adoption of the new agreement, the US Marines will also be stationed in Setermoen, much closer to the border with Russia.

Bucket-Jensen stressed that the increase in the American contingent was due to the Norwegian army's preparation and was not a "military escalation."

As it was reported, in Japan, 70,000 people protested against the US military base.

Recall that the US will allocate 200 million dollars to Ukraine in 2018 to enhance security and defense.

In addition, the US president signed a defense budget, which provides $ 250 million in aid to Ukraine in 2019.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The head of the Pentagon, James Mattheys, during his visit to Brazil, said that the United States needed Space forces to protect their satellites from Russia and China.

According to Censor.NET, referring to TASS, the newspaper The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

According to the publication, Mettis argues that the United States has no plans for the placement of weapons in space. He emphasized that satellites play an important role not only in conducting military operations, but also vital to the world economy, so it is important to defend them.

He reminded that in January 2007, China, using a ground-based missile, destroyed its own meteorological satellite to demonstrate to the United States its capabilities. Mettis noted that the creation of the Space Forces is a response to growing threats from other countries.

Recall, in June, US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to create Space Forces as a full-fledged AP of the country. The head of the White House has repeatedly expressed the idea of ​​forming such forces. Speaking in March in front of marines in Miramar, California, he emphasized that "the new US space strategy has recognized the cosmos as a zone of hostilities such as land, air and sea."

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The obstruction of international transport in the Azov Sea by Russia is an attempt to destabilize Ukraine.

This was stated by the State Department of the USA in response to a question from the Ukrainian Voice of America Service, reports Censor.NET.

"We consider barriers to international transport shipping in the Sea of ​​Azov from Russia another example of Russia's attempts to destabilize Ukraine. The United States continues to support Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity at internationally recognized borders, and we call on Russia to stop creating barriers for international shipping in the Azov Sea," - reported in the State Property Fund.

Recall, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Russia stopped for inspection 148 ships, which are heading to / from the Ukrainian ports "Mariupol" and "Berdyansk" through the Kerch Strait.

According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, since April 30, Russian occupation forces stop Ukrainian ships for inspection and identification of the ship's crew every day . Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelyan said on July 11 that since the end of April, Russian border guards detained almost 100 Ukrainian ships in the Azov Sea.

On the eve of the Deputy Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Person Georgy Tuk assessed the situation with Russian expansion in the Azov Sea as very complicated and said that the authorities of Ukraine are studying certain scenarios for Russia's response.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Kurt Volker stated that the policy of deterring Russia from Western countries with sanctions was unexpected for the Kremlin.

As Censor.NET informs, the Special Representative of the United States Department of State for Ukraine said during a discussion organized by the " Voice of America", which was devoted to the tenth anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war.

"Putin was expecting that the Western reaction to his actions in Ukraine would be negligible. In the case of the Crimea, he was right - there was no significant reaction. There were certain sanctions, but they did not have much power. Only when the Russian occupation touched Eastern Ukraine - the West had gone further and began to operate. The attitude of many Western European countries towards Russia has also changed, "said Kurt Volker.

In his view, Western countries realized that they could no longer ignore Russian aggression and should oppose it.

"Such a policy lasts for more than four years, and I think it was unexpected for Russia. Sanctions had a deterrent effect," adds the special representative of the United States.

According to Volcker, Russia begins to understand that it is impossible to be an empire and to have good relations with its neighbors at the same time.

"The Georgian lesson (2008 war - Ed.), Which affected the war in Ukraine: Russia felt that it could do it - to use military forces in another's territory, to interfere in the management of other countries," Volker said. In his view, the West should change this lesson to Moscow.

"If Russia occupies the Ukrainian territory and annexes the Crimea, then we have to say:" No, it does not work, you will not succeed. The result will be sanctions, isolation from the United States and the European Union. This will affect Russian interests. You simply can not continue to do this. "Then we need to find a solution to how Russia can come to peace and understanding with an independent Ukraine, to resolve the conflict," says Volker.

Earlier, Volker stated that the Ukrainian government should be active to be heard in the Donbas.

"The Ukrainian government has to do everything it can to hear the population in the Donbas. People living there are incredibly affected by many problems from water supply and electricity supply interruptions, switching off mobile networks, restricting freedom of movement, physical hazards and illnesses," he said. - says Volker.

He stresses that the residents of Donbass need the maximum support from the Ukrainian government. "He (the government - Ed.) Must be as active as possible to show this support," adds the special representative of the State Department.

Volker says that the Ukrainian government still needs to go a long way in transforming Ukraine into a "successful and prosperous democracy". However, in his opinion, much has been done in four years.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Advisor to US President Donald Trump Michael Bolton will visit Ukraine next week.
As Censor.NET reports, this is stated on the Facebook of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States.

The statement states: "White House spokeswoman Sarah Hakabi Sanders announced a visit to Ukraine by the US National Security Advisor, Ambassador John Bolton.

The visit will take place next week. During the visit, Ambassador John Bolton will meet with the leadership of Ukraine and Ukrainian high-level representatives."

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree to increase import duties on passenger cars, alcohol and tobacco from the United States.

This is reported by the official government edition of Turkey's Resmi Gazete.

The decree increased tariffs for import of cars into the country by 120%, alcoholic beverages by 140% and leaf tobacco by 60%.

In addition, new duties relate to the importation of cosmetics, rice and coal from the USA into Turkey.

Information on the signing of the decree was confirmed by Vice-President of Turkey Fuat Oktay on Twitter.

In particular, he specified that such measures were introduced in connection with the "attacks by American authorities on the Turkish economy."

On the eve of Erdogan announced a boycott of electronics from the United States.

Earlier, Erdogan called on the US authorities to change their attitude towards Turkey , threatening to seek new allies.

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will cut tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum against the backdrop of worsening diplomatic relations with Ankara.

Prior to this, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against two Turkish ministers due to their involvement in the prosecution of American pastor Andrew Branson, detained in 2016.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not change its position on the arrest of an American pastor.

US President Donald Trump said the United States would impose "big sanctions" against Turkey because of the holding of Ankara by American pastor Andrew Branson, accused of terrorism and espionage.

Branson has been working in Turkey for more than 20 years. He was detained in 2016 and accused of terrorism and espionage. Ankara claims that Branson allegedly assisted the groups that were behind the organization of the military coup in Truvia in July 2016.

On July 25, 2018, Branson was taken under house arrest. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Turkey should release him and release him to his homeland.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український