09/22/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukraine and NATO signed an agreement on the status of the Alliance office in Kyiv

Ukraine and NATO signed an agreement on the status of the Alliance office  in Kyiv

09.22.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Ukraine and NATO signed an agreement on the status of the Alliance office  in Kyiv.
• In Donetsk, Rostov region of Russian Federation, the trial of Ukrainian deputy Nadiya Savchenko began.
• Representatives of the militants during the Minsk negotiations delivered an ultimatum to recognize their “elections” by Ukraine.

Key Events in Ukraine

• President Poroshenko held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council with the participation of NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg. He claimed that by supporting Ukraine, the Alliance strengthens its eastern borders, as a threat of Russia's aggression will last for years. Speaking about the prospects of cooperation with NATO, Poroshenko did not name the specific timing for conducting a referendum on accession to the Alliance, although the majority of Ukrainians support the Euro-Atlantic integration. According to him, it is now much more important to ensure the effective protection of the state border, than to get lethal weapon.
  Stoltenberg and NSDC Secretary  Turchinov signed a "road map" on strategic communication partnership program between the National Security and Defense Council and NATO International Secretariat. Foreign Minister Klimkin and NATO Secretary General signed an agreement on the status of the Alliance representation  in Ukraine.
  Prime Minister Yatsenyuk is sure that for effective protection against external threats Ukraine is forced to ask partners for help in the modernization of the Armed Forces in accordance with NATO standards and for supplies of lethal weapons.
• General Prosecutor Shokin signed a decree on the establishment of anti-corruption prosecutor's offices as an independent unit within the department.
• Energy Minister Demchishin said that the government will soon submit to the Parliament two fundamental laws and significantly change the rules on electricity and natural gas markets by making them more transparent and liberal, in accordance with the European standards.
• The World Bank changed the forecast for GDP decline in Ukraine, lowering it from 7.5% to 12%.
• The official hryvnia exchange rate slightly increased: 21,74 ₴ / $ (-0,12 UAH), 24,25 ₴ / € (-0,34 UAH), 3,29 ₴ / 10 ₽ (-0,01 UAH).

Ukraine at War

• Representatives of the militants in Minsk talks delivered an ultimatum in which they demand the recognition of their "elections" scheduled for October 18 and November 1, the amnesty and the amendments to the Constitution. President’s Representative to resolve the situation in the Donbass Gerashchenko said that Ukraine wants that the Donbass militants refuse to conduct the "elections." The OSCE Mission refutes the reports on intensive preparation of the Donbass "republics" leadership for  "local elections". According to the mission leadership , carrying out of such "elections" will ruin the peace process in the framework of the Minsk Agreement. After appearence of the  ultimatum, the  negotiations on withdrawal of weapons with the caliber of less than 100 mm and the tanks did not continue.
• The situation in the Donbass remains difficult . In the area of ​​Mayorsk in the Artemivsk direction,  militants attacked the Ukrainian army checkpoint using the small arms . They also shelled the position in several towns of Lugansk region. Ukrainian army did not open fire in response.
• Leader of the "Right Sector" Yarosh informed about  the consent of part of the fighters to join the "Alpha" SBU Special Forces  .

Ukraine and the World

• In Russia, in Donetsk, Rostov region,  a trial opened on the case of Ukrainian deputy Savchenko, captured by militants during fighting in the Lugansk region and transfered to Russia. She was charged with illegal border crossing and actions to annihilate the civilians. Savchenko claims that she did not shoot unarmed people, rejected the charges and demanded a lie detector check. The hearing will continue on September 29. The defense believes that the indictment in her case will be issued in late September-early October.
• The Ministers of Justice of the EU agreed on quota allocation for 120 thousand migrants. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary opposed that decision. The Czech Republic announced about its intention to hinder the implementation of this plan. The UN estimates that the number of migrants this year alone has already exceeded 300 thousand.
• The EU considers a law on civil service crucial for Ukrainian reforms and  obtaining of the assistance programs from the European Union by Ukraine.
• US Ambassador Pyatt reported on increase in the supply of nuclear fuel to Ukraine by Westinghouse company.