July 19, 2014

18/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

UN Security Council meeting, convened on the request of the United Kingdom because of the Malaysian airlines plane catastrophe, showed that the World is convinced of Russia being behind the terrorist attack. Countries require immediate investigation of the terrorist attack and bring to justice those responsible for the tragedy. China traditionally abstained.


Ukraine

  • President Of Ukraine, Mr. Poroshenko expressed condolences to families and friends of passengers deceased in the plane shot down by terrorists in Donbass, as statement of the press service on his official website calls.
  • Exchange rate of Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) slightly strengthened as exported by the NBU: 11.65 UAH / 1$ (-6 kop) 15.75 UAH / 1€ (-10 cop), 3.35 UAH / RUR (-5 kop).
  • IMF revised the outlook on Ukraine GDP, forecasting it to shrink by -6.5%. This is mostly due to the situation in eastern Ukraine. The next tranche of the IMF stand-by credit, amounting to $ 1.4 billion can be provided in August, as mentioned during the briefing following the termination of the IMF mission in Ukraine by its head Mr. Georgiev.
  • All flights over Donbas are canceled, as well as many airlines reduce or cancel their flights to Ukraine. 11 international flights were cancelled in Borispol.



Kyiv

  • Reports of public buildings mining are becoming commonplace in Kiev.
  • Anonymous calls of mining of "Petrovka" metro station and two major shopping centers, received on 18 of July. People were evacuated but no explosives found.
  • The biggest problem in Kiev being budget deficit of 3.2 billion UAH (only on protected items - salaries and funding for state programs), which is the result of poor planning and shortfalls of land lease and privatization.

Malaysia Airlines plane catastrophe

  • Official representative of the British Prime Minister stated that UK is confident that plane with 10 British citizens on board was hit by terrorists missile.
  • During the telephone conversation between President of Ukraine Mr. Poroshenko and US Vice President Mr. Biden, both sides agreed to coordinate the efforts to combat terrorism. Mr. Biden stated that US possess the evidence that missile shot at the Malaysian airliner was made from the area controlled by terrorists.
  • US President Mr. Obama in his speech at the White House laid responsibility for the situation in Ukraine on Mr. Putin and called catastrophe Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 a terrorist attack, as well as express readiness of the US to expand sanctions against Russia
  • SBU published online negotiations between terrorists, indicating complicity of Russian Federationin GRU General Staff members to the crime.
  • Terrorists prevent arrived OSCE observers to investigate the crash of a Malaysian airliner. Observers didn’t receive full access to the catastrophe site. OSCE President Mrs. Kanerva is sure that the cause of the crash was the rocket fired from areas controlled by DNR terrorists and that party that supplied weapons to terrorists assumes responsibility for the attack.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Klimkin stressed that black boxes of Boeing-777 are on Ukrainian territory and should be transferred to the government commission.
  • SBU chairman Mr. Nalivaychenko reported that during a video conference with terrorists negotiators were able to agree the possibility to work in the disaster zone within 20 kilometers from the crash site.
  • Videos showing terrorists removing to Russia missile complex «Buk», used to shot the Malaysian Airlines aircraft, appeared on Internet.

War in Ukraine

  • Ukrainian Armed Forces took control of the south-eastern part of Luhansk and once again unblocked the international airport, that have been repeatedly shelled by artillery and multiple rocket launchers «Grad» during the day.
  • Terrorists continue to attacks Luhansk. Death-toll is reported to exceed 20 civilians over the last day
  • Block-posts and columns Ukrainian Armed Forces have been attacked during the day in the combat areas of ​ Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Fights are ongoing on the border with Russia. Terrorists fired Donetsk international airport, Rubezhnoye and Metalist towns near Luhansk, as well as  Lysychansk, where petroleum refinery have been puy on fire. Large number of Russian citizens in unmarked uniforms were reported in Stanitsya Luhanskaya.
  • «Head of parliament» of DNR, based in Moscow, Russian citizen Mr. Pushilin wrote a resignation letter. This was stated by his "Deputy" Mr. Makovich. Ukrainian Office of Prosecutor General is investigating the case and accused Mr. Pushilin in creation of terrorist organization.

International

  • UN Security Council meeting, convened on the request of the United Kingdom because of the Malaysian airlines plane catastrophe, showed that the World is convinced of Russia being behind the terrorist attack. Countries require immediate investigation of the terrorist attack and bring to justice those responsible for the tragedy. China traditionally abstained.
  • Georgian Parliament ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union with 123 unanimous votes. Process of implementation was launched. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Klimkin attended the ceremony.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Klimkin, stated live on Hromadske TV that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova may be granted the NATO allies status without joining the alliance, on next NATO summit in Wales, due in September. Act «On Prevention of Russian aggression in 2014» passed 2 readings in the US Congress. The Act above all provides Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova with status of US key allies outside of NATO.
  • EU Council decision to extend sanctions against those involved in the aggression against Ukraine was published. Full list of businesses and individuals fallen under the sanctions will be published before the end of July.

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