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Russia refuses to take part in recapitalization of World Bank
Russia has refused to participate in the recapitalization of the World Bank (WB) due to disagreement over the new principles of its credit policy, TASS reports.
The United States has also decided to abandon its participation in the recapitalization; however, the US will retain a blocking minority stake, which will drop from 20% to 15%.
"We [Russia] proceed from the fact that we will not participate. Firstly, we are not happy with the fact that the IDA [part of the World Bank] is maintained …
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The USA urges Ukraine to establish an anti-corruption court and to raise gas tariffs
The USA called on Ukraine to establish an independent anti-corruption court and to raise gas tariffs, stated United States Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan on April 21 at a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin.
Sullivan pressed Ukraine to increase reform efforts and to adhere to the programs of the International Monetary Fund by adopting legislation to establish a truly independent, anti-corruption court and to raise gas tariffs to the level of import …
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Macron advises not to show weakness with Putin
French President Emmanuel Macron stated in an interview with Fox News Sunday that he sees Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “strong man” and advised not to be naïve when working with him.
“I think he’s a very strong man, he’s a strong president,” Macron commented. “He wants a great Russia. People are proud with of policy. He is extremely tough with minorities and his opponents,” Macron said, adding that he does not share Putin’s views on democracy. “He’s strong and smart—but don’t be naïve. …
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US Ambassador: Since 2014 the US has allocated almost $1 billion to improve Ukraine's security
Since 2014, the United States has funneled nearly a billion US dollars into Ukraine for improving security, US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch said in an interview with Zavtra, a joint project of Radio Liberty and 112 Ukraine, on the evening of April 22.
When asked when Ukraine would receive defensive weapons from the United States, Yovanovitch replied: "I cannot say anything new about this. You know, obviously, this is not the kind of information that we publicly speak about." …
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Ukraine’s National Bank and IMF negotiate fifth loan tranche
Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed the necessary steps to obtain the country’s fifth loan tranche.
The National Bank of Ukraine’s (NBU) press-service reported the results of the meeting between the Ukrainian Delegation, headed by Governor of the NBU Yakiv Smolii, and the IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton in Washington.
“Ukraine has made significant progress in stabilizing the economy and capacity-building for growth,” IMF’s First Deputy Managing …
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister discusses with G7 Foreign Ministers sanctions against Russia
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin took part in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven countries in Toronto, during which they discussed the situation in the annexed Crimea and the Donbas and counteracting Russian hybrid aggression.
"Thanks, Chrystia Freeland and all the Foreign Ministers of the G7 countries for friendly conversation... Ukraine is perceived as an integral part of the free world, a common democratic space. Our partners in the G7 see an …
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Poroshenko: Constantinople begins procedures to allow creation of independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church
The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (in Constantinople) has received a request from Ukrainian President Poroshenko to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to issue a Tomos of Autocephaly (document of independence) to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The motion is supported by a Verkhovna Rada decree and appeals from other hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The decision has been made to begin the procedures necessary to grant the Ukrainian Orthodox Church autocephaly, …
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Russia refuses to guarantee non-interference in US elections
Russia will not give the United States “unilateral guarantees” of non-interference in elections, said Andrey Krutskikh, Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cooperation on Information Security, in an interview with the newspaper Kommersant.
“We will not give any unilateral statements or assurances, and we most certainly will not admit guilt for certain incidents which Russia was purportedly involved in,” he said when asked whether Russia would guarantee non- …
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Macron: US and allies must stay in Syria after defeating ISIS
France, the US and their allies must remain in the Syrian Arab Republic after ISIS has been defeated “in order to build a new Syria” and limit Iran’s influence, said French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Even after the end of the war against ISIS, the US, France and our allies, all of the countries of the region, even Russia and Turkey, will play an important role in the creation of a new Syria. But of course, it is the Syrian nation that will determine the future,” Macron said in an interview …
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Kyiv: Budapest issued more than hundred thousand passports to Ukrainians in Transcarpathia
More than 100,000 Ukrainians in Transcarpathia have Hungarian passports, as stated by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar in an interview with Radio Liberty.
"Most of these passports were issued before Ukraine received a visa-free travel regime [with EU] and there was a practical benefit of having these passports. It was possible to cross the border without restrictions, to get a job in Hungary or in other countries,” the representative of the Foreign Ministry noted. …