08/19/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -Changes to the Constitution are to be adopted during the session of the Verkhovna Rada on 27 August

Changes to the Constitution are to be adopted on 27 August

08.19.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Changes to the Constitution are to be adopted during the session of the Verkhovna Rada on 27 August.
• Kiev dropped to 132nd position out of 140 in standards of living rating among the largest cities in the world.

Key Events in Ukraine

• Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Parubiy said that the session of the Parliament to adopt the amendments to the Constitution in the first reading could take place on 27 August.
• Prime Minister Yatsenyuk believes that the privatization of the Odessa Portside plant should be postponed for a few months, as it will make it possible to sell it more expensive by at least $ 200 million.
• The Government approved a maximum amount of one-time assistance in case of  death or disability of volunteers, which amounts to 500 living minimum wages (UAH 609 thousand, which corresponds to $ 27.6 thousand.).
• The National Bank continues to maintain a stable official hryvnia exchange rate: 22.07 UAH/USD (-0.02 UAH), 24.36 UAH/EUR (-0,06 UAH), 3.36 UAH/RUR 10.

Kyiv

• According to the report on the quality of life in major cities around the world, published by The Economist in August 2015, Kyiv got the 132nd place in the list out of 140 due to the hostilities in the country and other causes. The evaluation was based on a set of criteria including the level of health care, culture, environment protection, education and sustainable development. Such downgrade led to a reduction of the tourist flow and accordingly reduction of budget revenues.

Ukraine at War

• The intensity of the fighting in the Donbass slightly decreased, with the exception of the surroundings of ​​Donetsk, where militants continued their shellings and attacks, using the heavy vehicles, artillery and MLRS.
• The Deputy Head of the OSCE mission in the Donbass said about the threat to the life of the observers from the militants and travel bans on the territory they control. The mission UAVs are subject to electronic jamming by the electronic warfare. The observers did not find the militants heavy machinery in five places for its storage, and recorded the moving of the "Grad" multiple rocket launchers  to Donetsk.
• The Prosecutor's Office claims that Sartana was shelled by the militants from the "Carnation" self-propelled units with the caliber of 122mm from the  distance of 12 km.
• According to media reports, the leadership of the self-proclaimed Donbass "republics" intends to hold a "referendum" to join Russia as an individual subject of the federation immediately after the "elections" in October.

Ukraine and the World

• NATO expressed concern about the sharp escalation of violence in the east of Ukraine and stated that any attempt of militants , supported by Russia, to capture new territories would be unacceptable for the international community. Russia is responsible for a political solution to the conflict.
• On the international markets oil prices dropped by more than 3% - to $ 47 per barrel. According to President of Kazakhstan Nazarbayev , the countries - suppliers of oil should be prepared for the prices at the level of $ 30- $ 40 per barrel. Accordingly, the prices for other raw materials and non-alloy steel will also decrease. Such situation may remain for five years.
• In September Ukraine plans to negotiate the delivery to Iran of 3 million tons of grain.
• Meeting in the "Normandy Four” format with Russian President Putin might be held after the talks of the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine in Berlin on August 24.
• Polish President Duda believes that there is no point to change the format of the Minsk talks since it completely ran its course. Negotiations to settle the Donbass crisis should involve large EU states, the US and Ukraine's neighbors. Ukraine's MFA stated that the format of the negotiations can be changed only when the participants reach the consensus.