Ukraine News. Wednesday 29 August. [Ukrainian sources]

WEDNESDAY HEADLINES:
McCain posthumously humiliated Putin: details became known. Trump communication with Russia: it became known about a long-time questioning by an important official in the United States.  The German partner of the North Stream-2 may withdraw from the project in the event of US sanctions.  Ukraine has filed a request from the United States to buy anti-aircraft defense systems .  In Germany, the golden statue of Erdogan was removed for security reasons.  Talks Volker and Surkov - "on the verge of death" - the ambassador.  Austrians understand that Ukraine is in a war and will not oppose the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation.  The Czech president called for the abolition of anti-Russian sanctions.  Putin on raising the retirement age in Russia: No further cancellation.  The FBI provided journalists with confidential information to justify tracking the necessary individuals.  In Russia, the video showed the "terrible" response to US sanctions.  The training of the Russian Army testifies to the preparation for a large-scale conflict, NATO.  

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American senator John McCain, who died at the age of 82 from a brain tumor, planned his own funeral in advance, and even chose people who will carry a coffin with his body on September 1.

This is reported by "Politico".

It is noted that among those who bear the body of a senator on a memorial service at the Cathedral of Washington was a Russian journalist Volodymyr Kara-Murza-Jr., but there is no Russian President Vladimir Putin on this list.

Except for him, the coffin with the policy will be carried by former vice president Joe Biden, a former senator-democrat from Wisconsin Ras Faigold, former Defense Minister William Cohen, and several McCain's friends, including actor Warren Beatty.

We note that McCain gave Kara-Murge a message asking him to carry his coffin in April through a common friend.

"I was beaten up with grief and lost the gift of speech. Of course, I agreed, and it would be an honor that most severely breaks the heart that one can imagine," the journalist said.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

For seven hours, the US Congress questioned an official of the Justice Department, Bruce Ohr, for his role in investigating possible ties between Russia and US President Donald Trump's team during the 2016 presidential election .

Radio Liberty reports.

So, on Tuesday, August 28, Ohr interviewed behind closed doors representatives of two Republican-led committees in the House of Representatives.

Or was suspected of having a relationship with Christopher Stil, a former British intelligence officer who formed a "dossier" on Trump's ties with Russia. Ohr was supposedly handed over to the FBI before the election.

Trump and individual House of Representatives contend that the Stil dossier containing a number of unconvincing allegations was the reason for the investigation.

apostrophe.ua    In Ukrainian/український

German energy concern Uniper may withdraw from North Stream 2 pipeline project in case sanctions are imposed by Washington

This was stated by Chief Financial Officer Christopher Delbruck, PRIME reported.

"Uniper can not risk because the US sanctions would mean a company's exclusion from payment transactions and the inability to use US dollars in trading operations, which is unacceptable, but the company hopes that everyone will remain wise in the current situation," Delbruck said.

Earlier in the US State Department said they could resort to sanctions against German energy companies and a number of other European countries involved in the construction of the North Stream 2 pipeline.

As you know, from the end of 2019, the North Stream 2 gas transport corridor will transport about 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas annually from the Russian Federation through the Baltic Sea to Germany.

Opponents of the project - including Poland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Moldova, the United States and Denmark - argue that North Stream 2 will increase EU dependence on Gazprom, which already supplies about one third of the EU's gas volume.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine has submitted to the United States a request for the purchase of anti-aircraft defense systems worth $ 750 million per unit, if necessary, at least three appropriate military complexes for the Ukrainian Army.

Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA Valery Chaly has informed about it , reports Radio HB.

"Our needs for the next period, in my opinion, are maritime and airspace; this is something without which we simply will not be able to provide defense of the country", - he said.

The ambassador also said that Ukraine needed unmanned aerial vehicles, counterbalanced radars and counter-naiper systems.

According to him, such a request was made at the meetings of the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States in Brussels and the meetings of the Ukrainian side with the adviser to Trump on national security John Bolton.

Also, the United States is considering supplying new patrol boats to Ukraine.

On August 14, US President Donald Trump signed the US defense budget, which provides $250 million in aid to Ukraine. It was preceded by the signing by the president of the approval of the Senate, who supported the draft budget.

Earlier it was reported that the United States plans to allocate $250 million to Ukraine under the bill on the "Budget for 2019 for national defense needs".

The United States has also put Javelin anti-tank systems in Ukraine. On April 30, President Poroshenko confirmed the arrival of Javelin to Ukraine . The president said that they should be put at the expense of the United States.

The Ministry of Defense noted that the Armed Forces will start working on complexes on May 2.

It was also noted that the defense budget of Ukraine for 2019 will be 200 billion hryvnias.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the German city of Wiesbaden, the four-meter golden statue of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was removed after a series of clashes involving dozens of people took place.

It is reported by the local police.

The sculpture was set up on the central square of Unity within the framework of the Wiesbaden Biennale. In 2018 the event was held under the slogan "Bad News".




Police reported that they decided to remove it for security reasons. Under this sculpture there were clashes between supporters and opponents of the Turkish president. The statuettes were even thrown into eggs and called "Turkish Hitler", reports the Air Force.

As Deutsche Welle adds , after establishing the statue of the police repeatedly received calls from the local, who viewed it as supporting Erdogan's policy.

In Germany there is a significant part of the Turkish minority, divided into two camps - opponents and supporters of Erdogan. Erdogan himself in March 2017 compared the top German leadership with the Nazis.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The US Embassy in Ukraine commemorates the deaths of Ukrainians under Iloyawsky and condemns Russia's military aggression against our state.

This is stated in Tweeter, a diplomatic mission, reports Censor.NET.

"This week, we honor the memory of those who perished under Ilovajsky and condemn Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. After the agreement to stop the fire, the Russian armed forces committed an illegal act of aggression, attacking Ukrainian troops on the territory of Ukraine," the statement said.

Recall that in late August 2014, soldiers of the ATO fell into an environment near the Ilyaevsk Donetsk region. Russian troops and terrorists fired a corridor, which, according to the agreement, were supposed to leave the Ukrainian military. Recently the GPU unveiled the final results of the investigation of the tragedy. According to the report of the GPU, under the Ilyakh regiment, the ratio of the forces of Ukraine and the aggressor was: the personnel - 1 to 18; armored vehicles - 1 to 16; artillery - 1 to 15, "Grady" - 1 to 24, and Russian invaders killed 366 Ukrainian soldiers. Another 429 were injured, 300 were captured.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In contacts of US Special Envoy for Ukraine on issues of Ukraine Kurt Volker with the assistant to the president of the Russian Federation Vladislav Surkov about the peacekeepers in the Donbas no progress

This was stated by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko, reports Hromadske.ua.

"Everything that is going to have to start within the framework of the Norman Group decisions." We have agreed with France and Germany that we are coming together with any decision. There can be no different offers from us, and, say, the United States. But unity and progress There is no progress, and the progress of this is also dependent on the Surkov-Volker track, which appears to be "on the verge of death." They were not going to meet in January, decisions were not made, "the diplomat said.

According to him, Volker is ready to work, but this delay shows that Moscow is not ready.

"If there are 6-7 meetings without a result - I have to change something, I can not look into Surkovo's soul, but so far there is no real work, we can not do much." The President of Ukraine says that the sooner the UN mission will be in the Donbass, the more likely it will be that people will not die, even if it will not be fast, it's a result, but it must be remembered that at least six months are needed from the UN decision to deploy - the number of peacekeepers - I will not say that, it is determined by the military, "Yelchenko said.

The diplomat assured that all the red lines that we will never pass are relevant. "The first is the deployment of the UN mission not only along the breeding line, as the Russian Federation wants, but along the whole line of the border, almost 450 kilometers. The second is the inadmissibility of the participation of military personnel of the Russian Federation or the personnel of the ODI countries (the countries of the collective agreement), but only then the election "- he said.

He also spoke about the proposal to bring several delegations of permanent representatives to the UN or experts to Donbas.

"Having visited the Donbass in Avdiivka with the delegation of ambassadors, I saw on my own eyes, we need to carry and show more respectable guests there." To sit at a table at the Council and discuss it is not so effective. Go and look at the reality - the more partners will see, then will understand better why Ukraine insists on such a mandate"- added the Permanent Representative.

As you know, on September 24-27, the visit of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko to the United Nations General Assembly in the United States is being prepared, which will consider the decision on a peacekeeping mission to Donbass under the auspices of the United Nations.

On Aug. 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced a possible resumption of talks with Volker with Vladimir Putin's assistant, Vladislav Surkov, who is in charge of the issue of Donbas.

The last meeting between Volcker and Surkow took place in Dubai in late January. On it the parties tried to agree on the format of the peacekeeping mission for the Donbas, but the result was not achieved.

Volker believes that UN peacekeepers should "replace" Russian troops in the Donbas.

Earlier, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko at a meeting of the press club within the framework of the XIII Meeting of Ambassadors to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ukraine is preparing for the General Assembly of the United Nations several "unpleasant surprises" for Russia.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The successive line of the Austrian government, which is voiced at all levels and enshrined in the coalition agreement, is to preserve anti-Russian sanctions

As Censor.NET informs, Oleksandr Shcherba, Ambassador of Ukraine to Austria, said about Espero.TV.

"The Austrians understand that there is something terrible in Ukraine, they understand that it is a war, they do not feel threatened, but they are very sympathetic, they are trying to help as a neutral country could help, they help with the rest of Ukrainian children, they treat ours soldiers who lost their limbs in the war, "said the ambassador.

According to him, the successive line of Austria, which is voiced at all levels and enshrined in the coalition agreement, is to preserve anti-Russian sanctions. In particular, Chancellor Kurtz always emphasizes that the country is moving in the wake of European policy towards Russia. At the same time, he believes that it will be possible to talk about the gradual lifting of sanctions when Russia begins to fulfill the conditions.

On August 22, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz said that Austria was fully committed to the EU's united stand against Russia.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

President of the Czech Republic, Mr Milos Zeman, invited the European Council to discuss lifting sanctions against Russia.

It is reported by SeznamZpravy.

At a meeting with Czech ambassadors in Prague Castle, Zehman noted that he supported the position of Prime Minister Andriy Babish, who advocated the abolition of anti-Russian sanctions.

"These restrictions are not profitable for anyone. I am pleased that the prime minister has publicly stated that they are ineffective, "said the Czech president.

He suggested the European Council begin to discuss the issue of lifting sanctions against the Russian Federation.

"The new government of Italy opposes sanctions, and Austria after the visit (President Vladimir Putin - ed.) Putin declares the same thing. The Czech Republic should be active in this matter", - said Zeman.

Earlier, Czech Prime Minister Andriy Babish said that the country will no longer accept any refugee because it accepts Ukrainians.

Recall, Deputy Prime Minister and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini at a press conference in Moscow said that Italy would "agitate" for lifting sanctions against Russia.

Also, Salvini said that he considered annexation of Russia Crimea "lawful", and the revolution in Ukraine - "fake". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine summoned the Ambassador of Italy through this statement.

It should be noted that after Putin's visit to the Austrian minister of foreign affairs, Carin Kneissel, the country's Chancellor, Sebastian Kurtz, said that Austria's policy on Russia has not changed.

On August 24, the United States issued a list of new sanctions against the RF imposed through the use of chemical weapons.

  hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on a pension reform.

He suggested raising the retirement age for women not up to 63, but to 60 years old, reports Censor.NET with reference to Gazeta.ru.

"The retirement age for women should be 60 years, instead of the government 63, for men - 65," Putin said.

Vladimir Putin explained that Russia is confronted with the results of the demographic pit 90s, which, according to Putin, is compared with "the demographic problems of the Great Patriotic War". "Every 25-27 years in adulthood, when it's possible to create families, start and grow children, we have a much smaller number of citizens than we could and should have been. Now this is precisely this, a very small generation born in the 90's, entering in the working age, in connection with this, the burden on the pension system is even greater, since it is built on the principle of a solidarity principle. The conclusion is understandable, the working-age population is decreasing - the possibilities for the payment and indexation of pensions are automatically reduced, which means that the necessary changes", - says Putin.

According to him, the time will come, "when the state will not have enough money to index pensions". "And then the regular payment of pensions can become a problem, as it was already in the 90's," he warns.

The president of the Russian Federation does not want to continue to increase the financing of the Pension Fund by covering the deficit at the expense of the federal budget. To this end, there are resources. In the current year, for these purposes, the budget will allocate 3.3 trillion rubles, of which 1.8 trillion rubles directly to secure payment of insurance pensions. Without changes at the target value of the average pension of 20 thousand rubles, the Pension Fund deficit would increase by one and a half times, up to 5 trillion rubles. "For comparison, this is more than all the costs of national defense and security of the country," Putin compares.

"Having chosen such a decision, we will sooner or later destroy our finances, we will be forced to borrow or print unpaid money, with all the consequences: hyperinflation and rising poverty. Without resources, we will not be able to guarantee reliable security of the country," - warns Putin, concluding the need for change. "Our inactivity now or taking temporary" cosmetic "measures would be irresponsible," he emphasizes.

"For many years, I have been very cautious, and sometimes even distrustful of any proposals for changing the pension system, and sometimes responded with a rather sharp response to these ideas. However, the trends that have emerged in the field of demographic development and the labor market are objective the analysis of the situation shows that it is impossible to delay further, "Putin said.

The need for change is primarily due to the need to raise retirement benefits, which, thanks to reform, will now increase by about one thousand rubles a year.

Also, the president of Russia has offered to issue citizens who have planned retirement within the next two years, a special privilege - to retire six months before the new retirement age.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The FBI's special agents provided confidential information to journalists to then, on the basis of media publications, request permission to monitor the necessary persons.

According to Cenzor.NET, referring to Espresso, a special FBI agent, Jonathan Moffa, said during a private hearing, reports Fox News.

According to him, such methods were constantly practiced in the FBI, but especially "blossomed" during the management of the department James Comi and his deputy Andrew McCabe.

Data sources, in particular, concerned dossiers with compromising information about US President Donald Trump.

Moffa told about this, answering a question about the FBI's request to set up an ex-advisor to Trump Carter Page's election headquarters.

Recall that Trump released James Comi from the post of FBI head in May 2017, when the bureau investigated possible links between the trilogue headquarters of Trump and Russia.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In Russia absurd video responded to the introduction of new sanctions in the United States.

Relevant frames are posted on the Roissa24 page on Facebook.

The footage shows how Russian pensioners are destroying Apple iPhone phones and the Apple tablet. They burn the first in a bucket, and break the second one, losing ground.

"We do not need American products, that's what will happen to US goods for your sanctions, Russia will live without Americans, and you will never be without Russia," say pensioners on the video.



As reported by the "Apostrophe", earlier in the social networks, ridiculed the reaction of the Russians to retire Kadyrov . Let's remind, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov has declared that his time as the head of the region has come to an end and on this post the Russian authorities need to find another person.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) stated that the military exercise "East-18" was a demonstration of Russia's preparations for a major conflict.

This was announced by the Acting Delegate of NATO Official Dylan White, reports Censor.NET with reference to the Russian Interfax.

"All countries have the right to train their armed forces, but it is important that this happens in a transparent and predictable way," he said.

White said that the "East-18" training demonstrates Russia's preparations for a major conflict, which, according to NATO, "fits into the picture" that the Alliance has been watching lately.

"Persistent Russia, a significant increase in its defense budget and military presence. Over the past years, we have seen a significant increase in the military potential of Russia, in particular in the Baltic and Black Sea regions, as well as in the Mediterranean, and has shown that it is ready to use military force against neighbors, namely Ukraine and Georgia, "said the NATO representative.

It should be noted that, according to Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, training "East-18" will be the largest in Russia since 1981.

It was also reported that the military will participate in these exercises in China and Mongolia. The United States is worried about the "East-18" training, as Russia will conduct a nuclear strike simulation.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український