10/02/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - In Paris, the leaders of the "Normandy Four" agreed on the provisions to end the war in the Donbass

The leaders of the "Normandy Four" agreed on the provisions to end the war in the Donbass

10.02.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• In Paris, the leaders of the "Normandy Four" agreed on the provisions to end the war in the Donbass.
• The national debt of Ukraine exceeded $127 billion.
• Kiev is preparing to introduce a moratorium on the payments of the external debt.

Key Events in Ukraine

• The Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal case against former officials of the Agrarian Fund, involved in the theft of more than half a billion hryvnia from the budget.
• Interior Ministry filed a suspicion of organizing the mass riots in front of the Verkhovna Rada on August 31 against head of the Kiev regional branch of the "Svoboda" party Sabiy.
• The external debt of the country continued to grow and reached $127 billion. Reducing the debt of banks did not compensate for the growth of the debt of general government and monetary authorities sectors.
• The official  hryvnia rate did not change: 21,15 ₴/$, 23,60 ₴/€ (+0,01 UAH), 3,20 ₴/10 ₽ (-0,05 UAH).

Kyiv

• Kyiv is getting ready to temporarily stop payments on the debt of UAH 5.5 billion taken in 2005. Mayor Klitschko explained that the moratorium is needed to ensure the normal heating season. According to "Kyivenergo", the current debt for heating is about UAH 1.4 billion .

Ukraine at War

• In the Donbass,  at the demarcation line, the militants are observing the ceasefire for two days . One soldier was wounded as a result of trip wire explosion.

Ukraine and the World

• In Paris, was hold a meeting of the "Normandy Four" states heads, during which an agreement was reached on the complete cessation of fire, elections in the occupied territory according to the Ukrainian legislation and introduction of the amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution. After that planned the withdrawal of Russian troops and the transfer of control of the borders to Ukraine. According to French President Hollande, at the time of the election the provisions of the law on the special status of the territories of the Donbass will come into effect  on an ongoing basis. However, no party, except for Ukraine, assumes any liability for legislative recognision of the agreements.
• Russia claims that it is ready to supply natural gas to Ukraine on an advance payment even without signing of formal documents and protocols. Energy Minister Demchishin said that Ukraine will soon begin to inject Russian natural gas into storage facilities. At that, the declared supplies of natural gas from Europe were reduced.
• Minister of Economic Development Ulyukayev  again told about Russia's objections to restructure of debt in the amount of $ 3 billion received by the government of former President Yanukovych.
• Russia continues the bombings of Syria. Turkey and other countries, which formed a coalition to combat the Islamic state, demanded that Russia stop bombing the positions of groups, opposing Syrian President Assad, and switch to the fight against Islamic extremists.
• Germany allocates an additional € 30 million loan, with which the Ministry of Infrastructure plans to purchase two mobile substations for the restoration of the railway lines.