04/12/2014 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Russian President Putin does not intend to change his policy towards Ukraine

04/12/2014 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the Day

National public broadcaster has be established. Militants have sharply intensified their attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops in Donbass. Russian President Putin does not intend to change his policy towards Ukraine.

In Ukraine

• Members of Parliament finally divided the committees and commissions. Yesterday was marked by the first brawl in Parliament. Flying fists broke out between MP Parasuk and MP’s representing "Petro Poroshenko Block", which he criticized for corruption.
• The Cabinet of Ministers created the state-controlled National public television and radio company. It will receive the ownership of all liquidated regional and national TV and Radio stations as well as “Ukrtelefilm” movie studio. This new entity will be controlled by the Television and Radio State Committee.
• Deposit Guarantee Fund listed additional 10 banks - the candidates for external control, on top of 26, which were already put under temporary administration in 2014.
• The hryvnia continues to drop: UAH/$ 15.30 (UAH 0.11), 18.86 UAH/€ 2.81 UAH/10 RUR. (UAH -0.18).
• Sales of new cars in Ukraine fell by more than half.

War in Ukraine

• The intensity of the shelling and attacks on the Ukrainian positions have dramatically increased after another Russian "humanitarian" convoy has dropped of its cargo. As a result of fierce fighting for the Donetsk airport against Russian forces, which have recently received reinforcements, defenders suffered heavy casualties and were forced to leave the old terminal. According to the General Staff, there is over 30 thousand militants fighting against Ukraine in Donbass region, of whom more than 10 thousand are Russian regular army soldiers. A very small percentage is accounted for local population.
• At a meeting with heads of law enforcement agencies President Poroshenko announced a full-ceasefire to start on December 9th, as well as further actions in the event of the agreement breach by militants.
• The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine supplied information showing that Russia has placed missile systems "Iskander" not only in Rostov region but in the Crimea as well.
• "Volia-cable" provider ceases activities in the territories under the control of the DNR(People’s Republic of Donetsk) and the LNR(People’s Republic of Luhansk). Business, controlled by the son of ex-President Yanukowich, continues to work and they are guarded by mercenaries from “Oplot”, which is subordinate to "President" DNR Zakharchenko.

Ukraine and the World

• President Putin addressed the Federal Assembly of Russia with annual statement, which promised significant improvements in business climate, as well as declared that Crimea has a sacred significance to Russian civilization. The main theme of the speech is, Russia will not change its policy towards Ukraine.
• Anti-Kadyrov's militia continues fighting In Grozny against the Russian army.
• United States House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning Russian aggression and approving additional measures to increase economic and political pressure on Russia. Also, there is a plan to supply defense and intelligence equipment to Ukraine.
• United States Secretary of State Kerry assured Georgian leadership in full support of country’s territorial integrity and promised to help solving the problem with Abkhazia. United States will help Georgia to obtain visa-free entry agreement with EU.
• OSCE(Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) has not been able to adopt a Declaration on the events in Ukraine because of different views on the causes of the crisis. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Klimkin believes that the OSCE was not able to achieve tangible results in resolving the conflict in the Donbass region.
• European Commission President Juncker stated that Russia has become a strategic issue for Europe, and he will make every effort to get it back as a strategic partner.

Trends

• Attempts to pacify Russian aggressors led to unnecessary casualties among the Ukrainian soldiers, who openly disagree with the President Poroshenko direction  towards “Peace” with Russian puppets of DNR(People’s Republic of Donetsk) and LNR(People’s Republic of Luhansk).