08/15/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Polish President Duda suggested to bring Ukraine's neighbors to the Minsk talks.

Polish President Duda suggested to bring Ukraine's neighbors to the Minsk talks

08.15.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Polish President Duda suggested to bring Ukraine's neighbors to the Minsk talks.
• A criminal case was opened against the "Rescue Committee of Ukraine" established by the former Prime Minister Azarov.

Key Events in Ukraine

• The prosecutor's office opened a criminal case against the "Rescue Committee of Ukraine", which was established last week in Moscow by the former Prime Minister Azarov for calling for the seizure of power using the mass media.

Ukraine at War

• The total number of attacks by militants on the Ukrainian army positions and resident areas has declined slightly, but in the neighbourhood of Donetsk, in contrast, it has increased. Ukrainian troops were allowed to return fire using artillery. Militants continue to prevent OSCE observers from inspecting the border with Russia and locations where heavy equipment and artillery are based. According to official statistics, two soldiers were wounded over the last 24 hours.
  Security Service of Ukraine captures a lot of saboteurs near front-line and neutralizes weapons caches.
• The Speaker of the General Staff Seleznev said that in the Donbas, only the first line of defense is built. The second and the third ones are still under construction.

Ukraine and the World

• The World marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Japan signed its surrender on August 15, 1945.
• Polish President Duda suggested President Poroshenko a new format of Minsk negotiations on the peaceful settlement in the Donbass involving Poland and other neighbors of Ukraine. He said that foreign ministries are preparing his meeting with the president Poroshenko. Poland will remain a reliable partner of Ukraine in the European continent to counter Russian aggression.
• European Foreign Policy Service has confirmed that the free trade zone agreement between Ukraine and the EU will take effect from January 1, 2016. The timeframe should not be changed, which was recognized at the trilateral meeting of Russia, the EU and Ukraine at the level of ministers.

The Trends

• MP Kupriy said that the ratification of the Rome Statute, introducing jurisdiction of the Hague International Criminal Court in Ukraine, is jeopardised personally by the President Poroshenko.
• President Poroshenko replaced the majority of heads of regional and district administrations of Ukraine. Observers believe that this is done on the eve of preparations for the local elections in the light of the parliamentary elections. The aim is to ensure the victory of his party, which mobilized the administrative resource.