12/02/2015 Ukraine: Daily HighlightsA new ceasefire agreement in Donbass signed in Minsk

02/12/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

A new ceasefire agreement in the Donbass signed in Minsk. Ukraine has agreed with the IMF about providing additional financial assistance. Battles in Donbass not cease. 161 candidates applied for the position of the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Key Events of Ukraine

• The Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on the rights of citizens to a fair trial, extending the guarantees of equality, transparency and openness of the trial. The law prescribes the grounds for disciplinary proceedings against judges, as well as the formation and activities of the High Council of Justice and the Judicial Council.
  The punishment for war crimes not only during the state of war, but also during a special period were legally toughen.
  Amendments to the Law on Anti-Corruption Bureau were adopted, according to which in addition to the punishment of corrupt officials confiscation of their property become possible. Head of the commission will be appointed by the president out of the three proposed candidates. Competition Commission on Elections of the Head of the Bureau received documents from 161 candidates. Salary planned for this position is 60 thousand UAH (about $3 thousand).
• Deputy Director of the Deposit Guarantee Fund reported that in Ukraine there are more than 10 troubled banks now, the estimated value of the assets of which are five to six times lower than the in the books and if they are sold in the current market conditions the Fund will receive even less. These banks owe the NBU more than 9 billion UAH of refinancing. The amount of the Fund's claims to these banks is about 50 billion UAH.
• The Ministry of Health has signed a loan agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the amount of $215 million for the development of health infrastructure in eight areas.
• The Cabinet signed a memorandum with the IMF, under which financial assistance to Ukraine will increase to $40 billion, including $17.5 billion provided under the new program. The lending program is designed for four years and will be derived from a variety of sources - the IMF, EBRD, EIB, the World Bank and the private sector.
• The World Bank is ready to give Ukraine up to $2 billion this year to support people in the povetry, reforms in the gas and banking sectors, the fight against corruption and improving the system of governance.
• Against the background of the memorandum with the IMF the hryvnia strengthened by 2%: 25.10 UAH / USD (-0.46 UAH), 28.40 UAH/ EUR (-0,47 UAH) 3.80 UAH / 10 RUR (-0 11 UAH).

Kyiv Life

• Director of the Kyiv subway stated that the technical condition of main assets is critical at the session of Kyiv City Council. More than 130 cars can not be repaired and are taken out of service. Tariff for the metro even after the doubling is still not covering all the costs.

Ukraine at War

• During the negotiations in Minsk Russia has deployed dozens of tanks, rocket launchers "Grad" and a considerable amount of ammunition over an uncontrolled part of the border to Ukraine, which were immediately used by terrorists in the region of Lugansk and Debaltseve.
  Polk "Azov" continues to successfully repel the militants attacks on Shirokino town 25 km from Mariupil. According to official statements, the Ukrainian army was not beseiged and continues to hold Debaltsevo foothold. Outskirts of Donetsk in the vicinity of the airport - Avdiivka, Pisky, Vodyane, Spartac are under fire. Intense battles do not stop along the front line from the Stanitsa Luganska to Mariupil.
• OSCE investigation confirmed that the firing on Kramatorsk on February 10 was done using cluster munitions from the south-east direction where is Horlivka controlled by the pro-Russian militants.
• Basmanny Court of Moscow confirmed the ban on leader of the Crimean Tatars Dzhemilev to enter Crimea occupied by Russia.
• The European Commission will provide humanitarian aid worth $15 million to support the temporary migrants from the Donbass.

Ukraine and the World

• The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France signed a memorandum on the principles of conflict resolution in the Donbass after 15 hours of negotiations. Contact group of Russian Ambassador to Ukraine, the OSCE, Ukraine and terrorist republics signed a new agreement on a ceasefire and the principles of peaceful settlement based on the memorandum. According to the agreement, Ukraine actually recognize subjectivity of "republics," undertakes obligations to finance the population living on its territory but control of the border could be obtained only in accordance with a number of unlikely conditions.
  Russia controlled fighters DNR and LNR immediately abandoned the termination of the fire on Ukrainian army and civil settlements. RF pushing the Ukrainian leadership to direct negotiations with the rebel leaders, legitimizing thus self-proclaimed "republic."
  OSCE mission said it was ready to carry out their duties set in the agreement.
  Ukraine's public and military experts have strongly criticized the signed agreements and believe that former President Kuchma took over the powers of the Verkhovna Rada. The document has no legal force without ratification by the Parliament, it is a declaration of intent, not an international treaty.
  French President Hollande admits new renegotiations in "Normand format" in a few weeks if ceasefire will take place. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Mogherini said that reached agreement is important but not decisive.
  According to the deputy head of the Central Election Commission Mahera elections in Donbass can be carried out only in the absence of pressure on voters by militants. The autonomous status of the region will require amending the Constitution by a constitutional majority of the Verkhovna Rada.
  Politicians of Poland and the Baltic states gave tough evaluation of the actions of leaders of France and Germany, stating that they have sacrificed Ukraine for economic benefits of their countries. The memorandum actually legitimizes the occupation of Donbass, does not guarantee peace, but only fixes the ceasefire, however, even this remains questionable.
  German Foreign Minister Steinmeier hopes for a ceasefire, but believes that the escalation of the conflict in Donbass can disrupt the compromise reached.
  Chairman of the US Senate defense McCain criticized Minsk Agreement, stating that they contribute to the freezing of the military conflict in Ukraine and led to believe in Putin's next lie who achieved his goals in Minsk.
  According to the former chairman of the Lithuanian Seimas Landsbergis, Minsk Agreement worse than signed in Munich in 1938. Sudeten SS men were not invited there to the negotiating table.
  Chairman of the Council of Europe Tusk said he hoped that the ceasefire in Donbass will not be disturbed, and the former Swedish Foreign Minister Bildt said that the ceasefire can be broken by militants.
  US Assistant Secretary of State Nuland said that the agreement signed in Minsk give a real chance to end the fighting in the east of Ukraine. State Department spokesman Psaki said that the US does not rule out the possibility of new sanctions against Russia and a decision on arms supply to Ukraine if the Russian Federation and DNR and LNR militants it controls will not fulfill entirety the Minsk Agreement.
• Carter, which is a supporter of supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine was appointed as US Secretary of Defense.
• French Foreign Minister Fabius said that the deal for the supply of helicopter carriers of "Mistral" class to Russia is suspended due to the failure of previous Minsk Agreement.
• The EU intends to apply new sanctions against individuals and companies in Russia despite the signing of the agreement in Minsk. Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the UK believe that the easing of pressure on the Russian is premature.

Trends

• Agreement signed in Minsk  grants amnesty to militants who took part in the hostilities, at the same time members of the Verkhovna Rada toughened criminal liability during a special period, which violates the Constitution in terms of equality of rights of citizens.