Contents tagged with Ukraine

  • IMF recognizes status of Ukraine’s debt

    Ukraine’s debt to Russia is set to mature on December 20th.  Recently, however, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lifted the ban on lending to countries with existing overdue sovereign debt, so Ukraine’s unpaid "debt of Yanukovych" will not prevent the IMF from further cooperation with Kiev.

    The Executive Committee of the IMF officially recognized the $3 billion Eurobond that Ukraine owes to Russia as sovereign debt, not commercial. Consequently, Ukraine will have to demonstrate that it is …

  • Pyaterikova: Plotnitsky responsible for Cossack commander's murder

    Anastasia Pyaterikova, leader of the Luhansk Guard and famous for her fiery speeches given at separatist demonstrations in eastern Ukraine, blamed Igor Plotnitsky, the leader of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR), for the death of Pavel Dremov. Killed by an apparent car bomb on the way to a celebration of his wedding, Dremov was the commander of the Sixth Separate Motorized Rifle Cossack Regiment of the People's Militia of the LPR.

    As the "Fourth Authority" news outlet reported, a …

  • No delay in the introduction of EU-Ukraine free trade zone

    Despite the opposition of Moscow, an agreement on a free trade zone between the EU and Ukraine will begin effective January 1st.  The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, ended the delays that were hindering the Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.  The EU President stated this during a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, December 16th.

    “A comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU will become enforced as of January 1 …

  • Kiev District Administrative Court bans Communist Party

    In a controversial decision, the District Administrative Court of Kiev ruled to sustain the order of the Ukrainian Justice Ministry in full, banning the activities of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

    The relevant information is available on the court’s website.

    The Justice Ministry had brought a lawsuit against the Communist Party, requesting a ban on all activities of the political party. On Wednesday, Kiev’s Administrative Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff after deliberations with the …

  • Poroshenko: More evidence that Russia violated Minsk Agreements

    During his trip to Brussels, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said there is mounting evidence that Russia has violated the Minsk Agreements.

    "Regarding the discussion between members of the EU about extending the sanctions against Russia, I brought even more evidence of Russia's failure to comply with the Minsk Agreements; the supply of arms, and the sending of troops to the territory of Ukrainian”, Poroshenko said.

    Poroshenko is in the midst of his two day trip to the Belgian capital. …

  • Hostilities in Donbas region could resume before New Year

    Ukrainian intelligence has received indications that Russia is ready to expand the scope of the armed conflict in the Donbas region, and open hostilities may resume as early as the end of December, reported Ukrinform.

    "The situation in eastern Ukraine is extremely complicated.  An increase in the number and the scale of enemy provocations is leading to a deterioration of the situation in the Donbas region.  This includes attacks on Ukrainian Army positions by rebel soldiers… reinforced by …

  • Russia sends FSB patrol ship to protect disputed rigs in the Black Sea

    A Russian FSB ship has been tasked with ensuring the safety of the drilling rig "Tavrida" to protect "the economic interests of the Russian Federation." On Tuesday, December 15, the Border Service of the FSB in annexed Crimea sent a patrol ship, the "Amethyst," to protect from Ukrainian Navy the drilling rig "Chernomorneftegaz,” as reported by the Press Service of the Ministry.

    On the morning of December 15, the ship of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine came to the floating drilling …

  • Poroshenko: We must prevent Crimea from turning into a Russian military base

    At a briefing with the President of Poland, Petro Poroshenko stated that it’s important to prevent the annexed Crimea from becoming a Russian military base. The President of Ukraine thanked him for Poland’s firm position in support of Ukrainian sovereignty, independency and territorial integrity.

    He indicated that he and Duda have discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine including strategies to resolve the issue of non-recognition of the annexation and the continued illegal occupation of …

  • Ukraine stops goods and services supply to Crimea

    Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, stated that the turnover of goods and services between Crimea and Ukraine will completely cease within 30 days. Yatsenyuk stated that Ukrainian law prohibits the exchange of jobs, goods, and services between temporarily occupied Crimea and the other territories of Ukraine. Humanitarian aid and personal belongings of Ukrainian citizens are the only exceptions to this law.

    Prime Minister Yatsenyuk disclosed this information to the Ukrainian public, …

  • Russia to suspend free-trade treaty with Ukraine

    Effective January 1st, 2016, Russia is suspending its free-trade treaty with Ukraine.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin is reported to have signed a decree citing "exceptional circumstances, which impact the interests and economic security of the Russian Federation."

    Currently, Russia and Ukraine are engaged in trade in accordance with the free trade agreement between CIS countries. However, starting next year the economic part of Kiev's Association Agreement with the EU comes into force, …