03/16/2015 Daily Highlights by the "Digests & Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency
Topics of the Day
Ukrainian pilot Savchenko resumed her hunger strike in a Moscow prison. Road accident involving an Ukrainian militaries in Kostyantynivka led to riots. President Poroshenko considers untimely the question of joining NATO.
Key Events of Ukraine
- President Poroshenko requires the Verkhovna Rada to adopt an appeal to the UN Security Council on the deployment of peacekeeping forces.
- The State Statistics Service noted a reduction of retail trade turnover in January-February of more than 20% compared to the same period of 2014, the largest drop recorded in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in Kiev.
- Ministry of Finance has increased the capital of Naftogaz by 17.2 billion UAH.
- Ukraine is consistently reducing the dependence on Russian natural gas. Import from Slovakia has grown tenfold and reached 7 billion m3 per day.
- NBU lowered the hryvnia exchange rate again: 21.77 UAH/USD (+0.14 UAH), 23.02 UAH/EUR (+0,09 UAH), 3.55 UAH/10 RUR.
Ukraine at War
- A child was killed as a result of hitting by an armoured vehicle in Kostyantynivka, a woman with another child were seriously injured. The city located in the frontal zone was gripped by riots with the requirements to punish the Ukrainian militaries. Police has localized the conflict and is searching for instigators.
- The monitoring mission of the OSCE offers to arrange an observation point at the Donetsk airport. At the time of the observers’ presence, the surrounding area was being shelled by small arms and mortars.
- Militants and the Russian army are continuing preparations for the offensive in Donbas. Russia is delivering arms and ammunition by rail through the uncontrolled border line and preparing another "convoy" to invade the Ukrainian territory.
- According to the President Poroshenko, the question of joining NATO can be considered only by referendum after carrying out the reforms.
Ukraine and the World
- Ukrainian deputy Savchenko, who illegally withheld by the Russian authorities, resumed hir hunger strike in a Moscow prison, demanding to recognize her as a POW and release immediately. She said that she was going to go without food to the bitter end.
- The head of Ukrainian branch of the IMF said the lack of reforms is the main risk of default loans.
- The US Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki contended that the film "Crimea. The Way Home", shown on the central Russian television, reveals the direct involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin into the planning and implementation of the annexation of Crimea.
- Russia expects the full repayment of loan taken by the Yanukovych regime by the end of 2015, and may block the negotiations between Ukraine and other international creditors to restructure the debt.
- Russian President Putin appeared before reporters after the 10-day absence, which sparked a wave of rumors about his overthrow or illness.
- Russia conducts unannounced exercises of the Northern Fleet and military forces in the Western Military District.
The Trends
- The TV channel "Inter", controlled by oligarch Firtash, bought a license to broadcast the Ukrainian version of "Euronews" channel. This will allow the Kremlin to interpret news in the Ukrainian version even after the National Council had prohibited broadcasting the Russian version of the channel by cable operators because of the pro-Russian interpretation of the events in Donbas.
- According to Ukrainian deputies - members of the Ukraine-NATO commission, the interaction with the Alliance is being slowed for three reasons: because of the position of the Defence Ministry, which impedes changing-over to the NATO standards of the Army and defence industry; the absence of a coordinating board for the cooperation with the trust funds established by the Alliance to support Ukraine and due to the requirements of Ukrainian legislation on customs duties for free delivery of aid.
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