05/28/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -Kyiv Security Forum-2015

Kyiv Security Forum-2015

05.28.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Kyiv Security Forum-2015.
• Russia classifed the information about the losses of its army in the Donbass.
• The explosion at the "Roshen" store in Kyiv.

Key Events of Ukraine

• President Poroshenko enacted the NSDC decision on energy security for the next heating season. The Cabinet is instructed to adopt a new energy strategy for the state, security agencies are to ensure the protection of power facilities. It is planned to conduct the financial audits of the state enterprises, as well as to take measures to ensure the sustainable operation of the power system, prevent the emergency situations, stimulate domestic oil refining, reduce the economy dependence on the fuel imports.
• The head of "Naftogaz" Kobolev considers the intentions of "Gazprom" to resolve the contentious issues in the Stockholm arbitration a civilized solution. The parties filed several counterclaims related to the natural gas transit and to the "take or pay" principle which provides for the full payment for the  natural gas contracted by Ukraine regardless of the actual imports, according to which Gazprom demands from Ukraine more than $ 8 billion for the 2014 supplies.
• Starting from the 2013 the Cabinet of Ministers contributed to the authorized capital of "Naftogaz" more than USD 100 billion  by issuing the domestic government loan bonds.
• The official hryvnia  exchange rate against the major currencies did not change: 21.05 UAH/USD (+0.01 UAH) 22.93 UAH/EUR (+0,07 UAH) 4.03 UAH/RUR 10 (-0.10 USD).

Ukraine at War

• The fighting did not stop along the entire contact line in the Donbass, in particular in the area of ​​the Donetsk airport and the surroundings​​ of Mariupol. Shyrokine, Schastya and Granitne were shelled. There are reports on the militants motor convoys transfer in the direction of Stanitsa Luganska. Another Russian "convoy" invaded Ukraine. According to official information, during the day Ukrainian army incurred no casualties, but field reports suggest otherwise.
• The leader of the militants DPR Zakharchenko claimed that the "Republic" clearly fulfilled its obligations according to the Minsk Agreement, however, it reserves the right to act at its discretion.
• President Poroshenko stated that he is ready to declare the martial rule within hours in case of the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass conflict zone.

Ukraine and the World

• In Kiev, the international forum on security was opened, where the President, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and the Prime Minister were present. NSDC Secretary Turchynov claims that Russian aggression can be stopped only by force. US Department of State representative Dobriansky said that Ukraine needs the maximum international support, and its future depends on it. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Vershbow stated that Russia is trying to waken a war in the whole Ukraine, moving weapons and mercenaries to the Donbass.  He confirmed that the United States would never recognize the annexation of the Crimea. One of the NATO speakers  declared that there is always place for Ukraine in the Alliance, but Ukraine will not be ready to join as long as it stabilizes the foreign policy situation and begins to implement the economic reforms. Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Pfeiffer said that the United States should be ready at any time to strengthen the support for Ukraine in case it carries out the necessary reforms.
• US Department of State spokesman Rathke considers the Russian President Putin's decision to classify the losses of the Russian army in peacetime an attempt to conceal the involvement of Russia in the conflict in Ukraine, and pressure on the freedom of speech.
• Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Deshitsa stated that the joint Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian brigade will not be used in the conflict zone in the Donbass.
• The Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation announced about the completion of the investigation regarding the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Savchenko, illegally captured and held in prison by the Russian authorities.

The Trends

• Foreign politicians during the Kyiv Security Forum expressly declared to the Ukrainian leaders that they expect them to implement  economic and political reforms. Only in this case the country would receive the full support of the international community.